Mopar NHRA Notes from St. Louis
TELEVISION TIMES: (ALL TIMES EASTERN) QUALIFYING: Sat., June 29; 9-11 p.m.; ESPN2 REPEAT: Sun., June 30; 5-7 a.m.; ESPN2 FINAL ROUND: Sun., June 30; 810:30 p.m.; ESPN2 REPEAT: Tues., July 2; 2-4 p.m.; ESPN2 MADISON, Ill. -- Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series teams completed the first day of qualifying for this weekend¹s Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. DEAN SKUZA, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T Dean Skuza plugged his Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T into the 16th-qualifying position with a 5.771-second elapsed time at 171.91 mph. ³We¹re working on it,² Skuza said. ³The track is not in great shape. It¹s still 102-degrees at night, which isn¹t bad, but not optimal by any means. It¹s going to be tough tomorrow because it¹s going to be a lot like today.² GENE WILSON, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T A wild ride down the right lane during the second session tonight failed to help Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T rookie Gene Wilson crack the top 16. The Canton, Ga., resident logged a 7.016-second lap at 197.83 mph. ³We¹re having a little bit of trouble right now,² Wilson said. ³Things aren¹t going our way. The car in front of me put a little oil down on the track and I jumped sideways in third gear on that second pass. Luck just hasn¹t been on our side this weekend. We have good power and a good car. We just need a little break. We believe that tomorrow morning¹s run is going to be pretty good. It¹s another chance to get in to the show here.² LARRY MORGAN, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T Larry Morgan was close to cracking the top 16 in his blue Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T. The Newark, Ohio, resident sets 18th with a 6.928-second elapsed time at 198.82 mph, after the first day. The provisional bump spot is at 6.926 seconds. ³It was a good run,² said an unconvinced Morgan. ³We just feel that we can make up time in low gear. Once we get through that. (Crew chief) Terry (Adams) will sleep on it tonight and we¹ll get it right. Every thing Terry has done is the right thing, but the car is such a different car to try to get the set up for.² DARRELL ALDERMAN, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T Darrell Alderman grabbed the provisional 11th slot with a 6.905-second pass at 200.14 mph. The three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion currently holds fourth in the Pro Stock points chase. ³It felt like a good run,² Alderman said. ³But, we lost a little bit when we spun the tires in the first eighth of a mile. I didn¹t feel it shake. Either that, or it was a tad bit soft. Hopefully, we¹ll do better tomorrow.² -Mopar.com-