* This was Warren’s second national event with a new race car designed for warm weather. In fact, it arrived at Gateway with only eleven previous passes down the quarter-mile.

* 34 cars attempted to make the 16-car Pro Stock field, with current IHRA Pro Stock racer John Nobile capturing the final qualifying position with a 6.910-second elapsed time.

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* Veterans Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan, Darrell Alderman and Richie Stevens were among those not making the cut, as well as former NBA players Tom Hammonds and Larry Nance.

* The Pro Stock field was now comprised of Pontiac Grand Ams & Firebirds, Chevy Cavaliers and a Camaro, Olds Cutlasses, Dodge Avengers and R/Ts, and a Ford Mustang.

* Winners in the other professional categories included Doug Kalitta over Kenny Bernstein in Top Fuel, Tony Pedregon over Tommy Johnson Jr. in Funny Car, GT Tonglet over Shawn Gann in Pro Stock Bike and Taylor Lastor over current Pro Stock racer Randy Daniels in Pro Stock Truck.

WJ’S GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN A NUTSHELL

“It’s a decent facility, although a little cramped for parking, especially for the sportsman categories who have to park in the middle of the circle track. They’ve been addressing the racing surface each year, and it’s not bad. It’s smooth enough that we can get down it – it just doesn’t have any traction when it’s extremely hot, making it pretty dicey for everybody.”