Smith’s Track Record In Pro Extreme Highlights Friday Qualifying At Kansas National Guard Independence Drags V
TOPEKA, KS (June 17, 2011) – It was the run Gaylen Smith had waited all year for and it couldn’t have come at a much better time.
Breaking in his striking new James Dean-themed ’59 Pro Extreme car hasn’t been easy, but things came together in a major way during qualifying of the Kansas National Guard Independence Drags V at Heartland Park Topeka on Friday.
With the setting sun serving as a picturesque background, Smith went 3.685 at 203.46 miles per hour – a massive career-best in the new car – jumping to the top of a loaded Pro Extreme field and setting a track record in the class in the process.
“This was a very great day. We put together three pretty good runs and this feels like a huge weight off our back,” Smith said. “This is the first time in the (3.60s) in this new car and it just feels great. It’s about time.”
Smith wasn’t the only driver to set a track record after three qualifying runs on Friday, as Mahana Al-Naemi continued his qualifying dominance in Pro Nitrous.
He went a track record 3.849 to move to the top spot, while Dan Millen’s final pass of 3.99 in Extreme 10.5 put him in front.
Terry Schweigert’s 4.19 gave him the lead in Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Cary Goforth’s 4.152 was just enough to keep him in the No. 1 spot in Extreme Pro Stock.
The final qualifying round starts at 12 p.m. on Saturday, with eliminations set to follow at 3:30 p.m.
Smith and his LenMar Motorsports team hopes Friday’s final pass is a sign of things to come, but he’ll have plenty of top company.
Frankie Taylor went an identical 3.685, but fell to second because of a slightly slower speed (203.16). KH Al-Thani went 3.726 and Mick Snyder followed with a 3.728 in a tightly-contested top half of the field.
“When you pull in the gates, you better be ready because these guys want your head,” Smith said. “We’re shooting to stay on top, go some rounds and hopefully come out on top.
“I think we have a hot rod that can definitely do it, we just have to keep our minds focused.”
Al-Naemi has been the top qualifier at each of the last two races in Pro Nitrous, and appears ready to make it three in a row after taking the top spot in each of the three qualifying passes.
The Al-Anabi Racing driver saved the best for last, putting together a brilliant run in the Kansas heat.
“This car is running good and running a 3.84 here is like going in the .70s,” Al-Naemi said. “My crew chief (Shannon Jenkins) was great and I really have to thank him and KH (Al-Thani). Every race I feel like I’m getting better.”
That certainly played out on Friday, as Jeff Naiser was the closest competitor, going a 3.873 – a career-best for him – to sit in second. Burton Auxier (3.88), Bob Rahaim (3.883) and Mike Castellan (3.889) are all close behind.
“There’s many, many talented drivers here. They know what they’re doing,” Al-Naemi said. “Our car is getting faster, so I hope I do very well.”
Millen shot ahead of three drivers in Extreme 10.5 on his final qualifying pass, becoming the only driver to reach the 3-second mark on Friday.
His Mustang still isn’t running in prime shape after his fiery crash in April at Palm Beach International Raceway, but Millen said the team took more positive steps at Topeka.
“We stepped the motor up a little bit,” Millen said. “We had to make the engine run a little smarter. We were off a lot, but it’s about as good as we can do in this weather. We were pretty happy with that, but we’re still working on the car a little bit.”
There isn’t much breathing room for Millen’s lead, as Lamar Swindoll (4.004 and a huge 204.26 mph), Frankie Taylor (4.019) and Billy Glidden (4.022) remain well within reach.
“Every race we’ve been to, it’s been anybody’s race,” Millen said. “When it’s warmer like this, it really brings the field together. It’s a much more even playing field.”
In Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Terry Schweigert jumped at the opportunity to make a statement in the class.
Just after Dave Vantine went 4.197 to unseat Schweigert, the Canadian standout pulled out his 4.19, leaving him thrilled about a possible No. 1 qualifying spot for the first time in 2011.
“We just gave it a bit more, but that was very, very good,” Schweigert said. “We knew we could go in the teens, so it was nice to see the number. It’s a very good feeling taking that No. 1 spot.”
Following Vantine is Kim Morrell, who went 4.21 and Casey Stemper, who turned in a 4.22 on his first pass.
Cary Goforth’s early success also stood up, as his 4.152 came during the first qualifying run.
“It’s a real honor and just a wonderful feeling to sit in this position with guys like Pete (Berner) and John (Montecalvo) behind you,” Goforth said. “Those are the guys you try to beat, so we’re honored to be in this spot and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Goforth, the points leader in XPS, will look to become the first No. 1 qualifier – if he remains in that spot – to win a race in the class this year.
Upsets have been prevalent during eliminations and plenty of top competition – Berner and Montecalvo both went 4.159 – will be gunning for Goforth on Saturday.
“You can get knocked off that pedestal real easy. We’re going to have to run better (on Saturday),” Goforth said. “There’s no easy draws in these fields.”
Charley Whittenburg was the top qualifier in Top Sportsman with a 4.246 and Alexander Oppen jumped to the top in Pro Junior Dragster thanks to a .003 reaction time.
TOPEKA, KS (June 17, 2011) – It was the run Gaylen Smith had waited all year for and it couldn’t have come at a much better time.
Breaking in his striking new James Dean-themed ’59 Pro Extreme car hasn’t been easy, but things came together in a major way during qualifying of the Kansas National Guard Independence Drags V at Heartland Park Topeka on Friday.
With the setting sun serving as a picturesque background, Smith went 3.685 at 203.46 miles per hour – a massive career-best in the new car – jumping to the top of a loaded Pro Extreme field and setting a track record in the class in the process.
“This was a very great day. We put together three pretty good runs and this feels like a huge weight off our back,” Smith said. “This is the first time in the (3.60s) in this new car and it just feels great. It’s about time.”
Smith wasn’t the only driver to set a track record after three qualifying runs on Friday, as Mahana Al-Naemi continued his qualifying dominance in Pro Nitrous.
He went a track record 3.849 to move to the top spot, while Dan Millen’s final pass of 3.99 in Extreme 10.5 put him in front.
Terry Schweigert’s 4.19 gave him the lead in Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Cary Goforth’s 4.152 was just enough to keep him in the No. 1 spot in Extreme Pro Stock.
The final qualifying round starts at 12 p.m. on Saturday, with eliminations set to follow at 3:30 p.m.
Smith and his LenMar Motorsports team hopes Friday’s final pass is a sign of things to come, but he’ll have plenty of top company.
Frankie Taylor went an identical 3.685, but fell to second because of a slightly slower speed (203.16). KH Al-Thani went 3.726 and Mick Snyder followed with a 3.728 in a tightly-contested top half of the field.
“When you pull in the gates, you better be ready because these guys want your head,” Smith said. “We’re shooting to stay on top, go some rounds and hopefully come out on top.
“I think we have a hot rod that can definitely do it, we just have to keep our minds focused.”
Al-Naemi has been the top qualifier at each of the last two races in Pro Nitrous, and appears ready to make it three in a row after taking the top spot in each of the three qualifying passes.
The Al-Anabi Racing driver saved the best for last, putting together a brilliant run in the Kansas heat.
“This car is running good and running a 3.84 here is like going in the .70s,” Al-Naemi said. “My crew chief (Shannon Jenkins) was great and I really have to thank him and KH (Al-Thani). Every race I feel like I’m getting better.”
That certainly played out on Friday, as Jeff Naiser was the closest competitor, going a 3.873 – a career-best for him – to sit in second. Burton Auxier (3.88), Bob Rahaim (3.883) and Mike Castellan (3.889) are all close behind.
“There’s many, many talented drivers here. They know what they’re doing,” Al-Naemi said. “Our car is getting faster, so I hope I do very well.”
Millen shot ahead of three drivers in Extreme 10.5 on his final qualifying pass, becoming the only driver to reach the 3-second mark on Friday.
His Mustang still isn’t running in prime shape after his fiery crash in April at Palm Beach International Raceway, but Millen said the team took more positive steps at Topeka.
“We stepped the motor up a little bit,” Millen said. “We had to make the engine run a little smarter. We were off a lot, but it’s about as good as we can do in this weather. We were pretty happy with that, but we’re still working on the car a little bit.”
There isn’t much breathing room for Millen’s lead, as Lamar Swindoll (4.004 and a huge 204.26 mph), Frankie Taylor (4.019) and Billy Glidden (4.022) remain well within reach.
“Every race we’ve been to, it’s been anybody’s race,” Millen said. “When it’s warmer like this, it really brings the field together. It’s a much more even playing field.”
In Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Terry Schweigert jumped at the opportunity to make a statement in the class.
Just after Dave Vantine went 4.197 to unseat Schweigert, the Canadian standout pulled out his 4.19, leaving him thrilled about a possible No. 1 qualifying spot for the first time in 2011.
“We just gave it a bit more, but that was very, very good,” Schweigert said. “We knew we could go in the teens, so it was nice to see the number. It’s a very good feeling taking that No. 1 spot.”
Following Vantine is Kim Morrell, who went 4.21 and Casey Stemper, who turned in a 4.22 on his first pass.
Cary Goforth’s early success also stood up, as his 4.152 came during the first qualifying run.
“It’s a real honor and just a wonderful feeling to sit in this position with guys like Pete (Berner) and John (Montecalvo) behind you,” Goforth said. “Those are the guys you try to beat, so we’re honored to be in this spot and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Goforth, the points leader in XPS, will look to become the first No. 1 qualifier – if he remains in that spot – to win a race in the class this year.
Upsets have been prevalent during eliminations and plenty of top competition – Berner and Montecalvo both went 4.159 – will be gunning for Goforth on Saturday.
“You can get knocked off that pedestal real easy. We’re going to have to run better (on Saturday),” Goforth said. “There’s no easy draws in these fields.”
Charley Whittenburg was the top qualifier in Top Sportsman with a 4.246 and Alexander Oppen jumped to the top in Pro Junior Dragster thanks to a .003 reaction time.
