Quickest Pro Mod pass in history places Hernandez on top in Virginia
<p style="width:300px;float:left;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/hernandez-nhra.jpg" alt="hernandez-nhra" />
<br><font color="Navy">Hernandez could set a national record but he needs to run another pass this weekend of 5.959 seconds or quicker
to get it done.</font>
<P> (10-12-08) RICHMOND, Va. -- After showing a tiny bit of vulnerability in the first two rounds of professional qualifying, point leader and defending JEGS ProMod Challenge champion Josh Hernandez returned to form early Saturday afternoon and posted the quickest pass in Pro Mod history, a stunning 5.900 at 242.71 mph, to earn the Ohio Crankshaft Low Qualifier Award.
Hernandez could set a national record but he needs to run another pass this weekend of 5.959 seconds or quicker to get it done. Through qualifying, the national record belongs to Friday leader Tony Pontieri, who improved to 5.905 in Round 3. Pontieri has already backed up his run to make it official.
"Those 20 points are huge right now," Hernandez said, "because the way it's turned out, either we get 'em or Tony's going to get them. It's a swing of 40 points in the standings and at this point in the game, that's a lot."
The national elapsed time record is worth 20 points for the driver who sets it, making it vitally important for both Hernandez and Pontieri, who are 1-2 in the JEGS points. By rule, any record elapsed time must be backed-up by another run within one percent of the record pass during the same race weekend.
"I think we can make a run that will back it up," Hernandez said. "Of course, if we can do it, Tony can also so it's going to be interesting.
"This has been a real fun event so far. I'd have to think we've got most of the best Pro Mod racers in the country right here going at it and with the conditions we've seen, it's just a circus. Right now we're the lead clown but that could change real quick. Round 1 is going to be a nail-biter."
Both Hernandez and Pontieri's runs were quicker than the previous elapsed time record of 5.912 seconds set in March of 2007 in Gainesville, Fla.
The first round of eliminations will be run Saturday evening. Hernandez draws final qualifier Mike Janis, who set the bump with a very quick 6.033 at 238.81 mph. Pontieri faces veteran Taylor Lastor, who went 6.003 at 240.25 mph.
IHRA standouts Scott Cannon Jr. and Kenny Lang, the current point leader on the IHRA tour, are third and fourth, respectively. Cannon ran a 5.916, while Lang went 5.919.
<p style="width:300px;float:left;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/hernandez-nhra.jpg" alt="hernandez-nhra" />
<br><font color="Navy">Hernandez could set a national record but he needs to run another pass this weekend of 5.959 seconds or quicker
to get it done.</font>
<P> (10-12-08) RICHMOND, Va. -- After showing a tiny bit of vulnerability in the first two rounds of professional qualifying, point leader and defending JEGS ProMod Challenge champion Josh Hernandez returned to form early Saturday afternoon and posted the quickest pass in Pro Mod history, a stunning 5.900 at 242.71 mph, to earn the Ohio Crankshaft Low Qualifier Award.
Hernandez could set a national record but he needs to run another pass this weekend of 5.959 seconds or quicker to get it done. Through qualifying, the national record belongs to Friday leader Tony Pontieri, who improved to 5.905 in Round 3. Pontieri has already backed up his run to make it official.
"Those 20 points are huge right now," Hernandez said, "because the way it's turned out, either we get 'em or Tony's going to get them. It's a swing of 40 points in the standings and at this point in the game, that's a lot."
The national elapsed time record is worth 20 points for the driver who sets it, making it vitally important for both Hernandez and Pontieri, who are 1-2 in the JEGS points. By rule, any record elapsed time must be backed-up by another run within one percent of the record pass during the same race weekend.
"I think we can make a run that will back it up," Hernandez said. "Of course, if we can do it, Tony can also so it's going to be interesting.
"This has been a real fun event so far. I'd have to think we've got most of the best Pro Mod racers in the country right here going at it and with the conditions we've seen, it's just a circus. Right now we're the lead clown but that could change real quick. Round 1 is going to be a nail-biter."
Both Hernandez and Pontieri's runs were quicker than the previous elapsed time record of 5.912 seconds set in March of 2007 in Gainesville, Fla.
The first round of eliminations will be run Saturday evening. Hernandez draws final qualifier Mike Janis, who set the bump with a very quick 6.033 at 238.81 mph. Pontieri faces veteran Taylor Lastor, who went 6.003 at 240.25 mph.
IHRA standouts Scott Cannon Jr. and Kenny Lang, the current point leader on the IHRA tour, are third and fourth, respectively. Cannon ran a 5.916, while Lang went 5.919.
