Skuza, Morgan, Wilson Lead Mopar Qualifying
Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Matco Tools SuperNationals Notes & Quotes May 18, 2002 TELEVISION TIMES: (ALL TIMES EASTERN) QUALIFYING: Sat., May 18; 5-7 p.m.; ESPN REPEAT: Sat., May 18; 10 p.m.-12 a.m.; ESPN2 FINAL ROUND: Sun., May 19; 7 10 p.m.; ESPN2 REPEAT: Tues., May 20; 2-4 p.m.; ESPN2 ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series teams completed the final day of qualifying for this weekend¹s Matco Tools NHRA SuperNationals at the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. NOTABLE: Cool weather conditions contributed to making this weekend¹s Pro Stock field the quickest in NHRA history with a 6.815-second elapsed time bump spot. Larry Morgan had the previous anchor of 6.831 seconds, set at Maple Grove Raceway last season just outside Reading, Pa. The following are notes and quotes from today¹s qualifying activity. DEAN SKUZA, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T Dean Skuza ran his three best qualifying passes of the season and landed the fourth-qualifying slot for tomorrow¹s event. Skuza logged a 4.849-second elapsed time at 310.91 mph, which is the quickest pass for the new Dodge Stratus R/T. ³We¹re real happy with where were at,² Skuza said. ³This is the first time this season we¹ve strung three-straight good qualifying runs together. We¹ve been a little conservative, but consistent. We definitely found something in Atlanta.² Skuza will face off against Johnny Gray in round one. GENE WILSON, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T Gene Wilson made his first sub 6.80-second elapsed time in NHRA Pro Stock competition. The Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T driver clicked off a career-best 6.799-second elapsed time at a career-best 202.91 mph. The run was good enough for the 11th qualifying position for the quickest field in NHRA Pro Stock history. ³This car is just flying right now,² Wilson said. ³The track was a little loose, but the car felt great and I knew I was on a pass. I can¹t say enough for this whole Mopar team and the Hemi Dodge Neon R/T. We¹ll see what we have for them tomorrow.² Wilson has a first round match up with No. 6 qualifier Arturo Delgado tomorrow. LARRY MORGAN, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T Larry Morgan also drove to career bests. Morgan, who pilots the blue Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T, logged a career-best 6.800-second lap at a top speed of 202.76 mph. Morgan earned the 12th-starting slot and will face off against fellow Dodge Neon R/T competitor and Atlanta Dragway national event winner Allen Johnson. ³I¹m real happy with that run,² Morgan said. ³We were real good down low and it made a nice move. The car was real smooth and the track is in great condition. I think we could have even been quicker like a 6.78.² Morgan made his one and only appearance in the semifinals during last year¹s Matco Tools SuperNationals. DARRELL ALDERMAN, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T Darrell Alderman missed the show for the first time this season. The three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion and pilot of the other Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T failed to make the field with a 6.860-second lap at 202.48 mph. ³I can¹t describe how disappointed I am,² said Alderman, who sat third in the Pro Stock points chase prior to this weekend. ³We had some clutch troubles this weekend and it bit us. The car just wasn¹t good off the starting line.² -30- David Harris, Cox Marketing Group Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series davidh@coxmarketinggroup.com (704) 799-2114 office (704) 756-9301 - mobile