MARTIN, MI (July 15, 2011) – Joey Martin had never raced at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park before Friday.
But, like everywhere else he's been in 2011, the Pro Extreme standout made an immediate impression, the latest coming at the American Drag Racing League's (ADRL) Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII.
Martin and his popular Lowmad scorched the U.S. 131 track under the lights, going 3.664 at 205 miles per hour in the third qualifying session, putting him in the No. 1 spot and just missing out on yet another track record in the latest chapter of his remarkable 2011 season.
"Just like all of the other tracks we roll up to, we just want to go from point A to B," Martin said. "I'm in control of that, but we just have to race the track."
Martin has done that nearly flawlessly all year, but he had company on Friday on an entertaining and historic day of qualifying at U.S. 131.
Mahana Al-Naemi's 3.83 took the top spot – and the track record – in Pro Nitrous, while Frankie Taylor's Extreme 10.5 car went 3.88, setting a track record in the process in that class as well.
With a record-breaking 25-car field in Extreme Pro Stock, Cary Goforth's 4.119 was good enough for the top spot in that loaded class. Ashley Owens went an identical 4.119 to sit atop Pro Extreme Motorcycle, and Top Sportsman's first race as an official class in the ADRL was a rousing success with Marc Malcuit's 4.17 putting him in the No. 1 position.
The fourth and final round of qualifying for the Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII takes place at 12 p.m. on Saturday with eliminations to follow at 3 p.m.
Martin, though, once again stole all the attention late with his incredible 3.66, which just edged out points leader Jason Hamstra's 3.68 and Mick Snyder's 3.69.
It came after Martin struggled during his first two runs, but he figured out the track at the opportune time as he looks for his third straight ADRL win in Pro Extreme.
"We had to calm (the car) down a little bit," Martin said. "On that last pass, the car had never been tuned down that much this year. The track was not going to take the power like we've had it this year."
Al-Naemi moved closer to an impressive streak in Pro Nitrous, and if his 3.832 at 197 mph holds up, he will be the No. 1 qualifier for the fourth straight race in the ultra-competitive class.
"I was happy with that. When I feel the car goes on two wheels, I know it's going to be a good number," Al-Naemi said. "I'm getting more and more comfortable with each race."
That has been evident as the Al-Anabi Racing driver advanced his RJ Race Cars Camaro to the finals last month for the first time and appears close to his first ADRL win.
Right behind Al-Naemi in qualifying is Bob Rahaim, who went 3.858 at his home track, and Burton Auxier, who also went 3.858.
"(Saturday) is going to be different, but I will rely on (crew chief) Shannon (Jenkins) to make the right call," Al-Naemi said.
Frankie Taylor had the perfect call on his Extreme 10.5 car from the outset on Friday as it went 3.88 right out of the trailer.
That was exactly what the team had hoped for after changing the car back to a more consistent combination before this race.
"The car has its normal set-up back in it and everything worked in it today," Taylor said. "We're still learning these 10.5 cars a little, but this was pretty good. We've been trying a lot of stuff, but we're trying to win a championship now."
Others are, too, and Dan Millen's 3.967 and Billy Glidden's 3.978 have them second and third, respectively, through three qualifying rounds.
It was a remarkable debut for Cary Goforth's new Jerry Haas-built GXP, which went a class-best 4.119 right out of the gates on Friday.
Goforth's father, Dean, caught up to Cary, running a near-identical 4.119, landing in the No. 2 spot based on Cary's quicker speed (176.92 mph to 176.75 mph).
Cary saw it all as a win-win for the family after one day of racing.
"I'm pleased because dad's No. 2 and that could have gone either way. I'm just happy because he's got his confidence back," Goforth said. "I'm happy for him and I'm just as happy to be No. 1. Basically we're both No. 1."
Richard Penland shot to the third spot in a huge XPS field, going 4.126 with Pete Berner right behind with a 4.127.
Goforth hopes to finish the job on Saturday, but it will be difficult in a field that features 25 cars, an ADRL record for XPS, with the top 16 separated by just .058, which is another class record.
"We've got some good power in this new car and we're just scratching the surface with it," Goforth said. "What we need to do is get after it a little more (on Saturday). I believe it will take a 4.09. We had some missed opportunities the last couple races and we've got to go more rounds."
Ashley Owens returned in fine and familiar fashion, delivering a strong performance in the third qualifying session.
After easing in a new motor to start the day – running a pedestrian (for him) 4.20 – Owens and his Fast by Gast bike stepped up considerably, running a 4.119 at 174.69 mph to jump a number of riders.
"(The first pass) was just an easy pass. It was the first pass with a new engine and we just wanted to break it in and go from there," Owens said. "I thought that second pass was maybe even a little faster.
"But we'll go through everything and decide what we need to do. I'm not really happy with a (4.11), so we'll try to improve on that (on Saturday)."
Owens has close company after Kim Morrell went 4.132 in her third qualifying pass while Terry Schweigert's 4.135 on his final pass puts him in third.
In Top Sportsman, Malcuit's first run was more than enough to stand up as Top Sportsman made its official class debut at the Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII.
A total of 21 cars made passes on Friday, but none were better than Malcuit's run of 4.173 at 171.72 mph. Local native Don Klooster is second with a 4.212 and Charley Whittenburg sits right behind with a 4.214.
In Pro Junior Dragster, Trevor Wilson took the top spot with a .001 reaction time.
