BAYTOWN, Texas – Roger Burgess took the provisional No. 1 qualifying position on Friday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race taking place during the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
Burgess paced the field with a pass of 5.873 seconds at 247.79 seconds while behind the wheel of turbo-charged Pro Care Rx 1953 Corvette.
"We found something on the first run and were able to make an adjustment. Steve (Petty) never holds back, he goes for it. Even though most people thought the track didn't look good, he had his own opinion and exercises it. I drive what he gives me. We’ll give that one to the tuner,” said Burgess following the run. "We still have some technical issues that we are sorting through. But once it goes, it is a pleasure to drive. It's the easiest to drive, most fun racecar I've ever driven."
The drivers in first and second in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series point’s standings are both currently outside the field of 16. Khalid Balooshi, winner of the first two events is 18th with a best of only 9.516 seconds at 92.86 mph. Second in points, Rickie Smith sits 20th with a pass of 13.269 seconds at 66.05 mph.
The final Pro Mod qualifying session is set for 12:45 p.m. on Saturday and will be followed by the first round of eliminations at 3:15 p.m.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Results Friday after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the 24th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Royal Purple Raceway, third of 10 events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Saturday's final eliminations.
Pro Modified -- 1. Roger Burgess, Chevy Corvette, 5.873, 247.79; 2. Danny Rowe, Chevy Camaro, 5.954, 246.53; 3. Ed Hoover, Camaro, 5.958, 243.72; 4. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.963, 241.67; 5. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.969, 246.44; 6. Scott Ray, Corvette, 5.986, 238.85; 7. Melanie Troxel, Camaro, 5.992, 246.30; 8. Raymond Commisso, Camaro, 6.031, 246.26; 9. Donald Martin, Camaro, 6.047, 243.11; 10. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.070, 245.94; 11. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.086, 234.66; 12. Chip King, Daytona, 6.091, 248.48; 13. Troy Coughlin, Pontiac GTO, 6.097, 245.58; 14. Mike Janis, Ford Mustang, 6.116, 226.32; 15. Steve Matusek, Mustang, 6.236, 235.89; 16. Brad Personett, Camaro, 6.246, 220.19.
Not Qualified: 17. Jay Payne, 8.696, 108.01; 18. Khalid Balooshi, 9.516, 92.86; 19. Dennis Radford, 10.325, 87.40; 20. Rickie Smith, 13.269, 66.05. 7.182, 206.89; 18. Von Smith, 7.886, 122.43; 19. Donald Martin, 8.629, 124.60; 20. Raymond Commisso, 13.731, 86.31.
