<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Payne1.jpg" alt="Payne1" align="right"borders="0"/>
MADISON, Ill. (May 4, 2007) - Pro Mods won the first round with Mother Nature Friday night as the only class with four wheels to fully qualify at the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. With very little rubber on the un-proven surface, the cars shot down the track largely off-pace from the dramatic record-setting runs NHRA crowds have become accustomed to by the full-bodied door-slammers, but the session was exciting none-the-less.
At the end of the round, defending World Champion Jay Payne led the pack, taking the provisional pole position for the second week in a row. Payne sits on top with his 6.183/233.88 blast - a number that wouldn't have even made the field in the race at Atlanta last weekend.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Saitz1.jpg" alt="Saitz1" align="left"borders="0"/>Series newcomer Dan Saitz popped and crackled down the track in his twin-turbo-powered 2007 Mustang, stepping into the top-half at 6.930/188.75 - the provisional No. 7 spot.
"I'm just glad we got down the track," said Saitz, a Fenton, Mo. resident. "We needed to get some numbers so we could see what it would take, and we'll just give it another shot whenever we have a chance tomorrow. For right now, I'm just happy to be in the field."
Series points-leader Josh Hernandez blasted his Howard Moon-tuned '68 Camaro into the No. 2 spot with a 6.191/234.09 shot. Raymond Commisso, currently second place in AMS points race, struggled with the conditions and sits just outside the pack at No. 17.
Driving nearly a half-mile on the quarter-mile track, Australian Troy Critchley took the scenic route to the finish line, getting out of the groove and showing the fans both sides of the flagship AMS Staff Leasing 'Jackhammer' '70 Plymouth Barracuda.
Car owner and series title sponsor Dave Wood said, "I'm just glad Troy kept the black side down. The weather really threw a wrench into our plans for the weekend, but at least Josh and Troy got down and are both in the show for now. We'll see what tomorrow holds."
The AMS Pro Mod Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. continues qualifying Saturday at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals and will contest eliminations on Sunday, May 6.
Photos by Les Welch
Pro Mods win Round One with Mother Nature in Madison, Jay Payne on Top
MADISON, Ill. (May 4, 2007) - Pro Mods won the first round with Mother Nature Friday night as the only class with four wheels to fully qualify at the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. With very little rubber on the un-proven surface, the cars shot down the track largely off-pace from the dramatic record-setting runs NHRA crowds have become accustomed to by the full-bodied door-slammers, but the session was exciting none-the-less.
At the end of the round, defending World Champion Jay Payne led the pack, taking the provisional pole position for the second week in a row. Payne sits on top with his 6.183/233.88 blast - a number that wouldn't have even made the field in the race at Atlanta last weekend.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Saitz1.jpg" alt="Saitz1" align="left"borders="0"/>Series newcomer Dan Saitz popped and crackled down the track in his twin-turbo-powered 2007 Mustang, stepping into the top-half at 6.930/188.75 - the provisional No. 7 spot.
"I'm just glad we got down the track," said Saitz, a Fenton, Mo. resident. "We needed to get some numbers so we could see what it would take, and we'll just give it another shot whenever we have a chance tomorrow. For right now, I'm just happy to be in the field."
Series points-leader Josh Hernandez blasted his Howard Moon-tuned '68 Camaro into the No. 2 spot with a 6.191/234.09 shot. Raymond Commisso, currently second place in AMS points race, struggled with the conditions and sits just outside the pack at No. 17.
Driving nearly a half-mile on the quarter-mile track, Australian Troy Critchley took the scenic route to the finish line, getting out of the groove and showing the fans both sides of the flagship AMS Staff Leasing 'Jackhammer' '70 Plymouth Barracuda.
Car owner and series title sponsor Dave Wood said, "I'm just glad Troy kept the black side down. The weather really threw a wrench into our plans for the weekend, but at least Josh and Troy got down and are both in the show for now. We'll see what tomorrow holds."
The AMS Pro Mod Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. continues qualifying Saturday at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals and will contest eliminations on Sunday, May 6.
Photos by Les Welch
