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DRAG BOAT RACING, ANYONE?
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Rain delayed Friday's qualifying, but the outlook
for the rest of the weekend is great.
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OSBORNE QUICKEST
AFTER ONE
By David Harris
Mopar Parts Pro Stock driver Mark Osborne continued his mastery in
U.S. Nationals qualifying by grabbing the provisional number one slot
after the first round of qualifying for the 47th annual Labor Day classic
at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Osborne, who earned his first career and only number one qualifier
during last year's U.S Nationals, drove his new Hemi-powered Dodge Neon
R/T to a 6.903-second elapsed time at 198.44 mph, besting a large Pro
Stock field of 45 cars.
"The new track surface is just awesome," said Osborne, who won his
third career NHRA national event at Seattle International Raceway earlier
this year. "My hat's off to the NHRA and IRP for creating such a great
racing surface.
"These new Neon's just love that nice, cool air," Osborne continued.
"We went back to the wind tunnel following Brainerd (Minn.) and found
some things that will help. We also tested before we came here and found
out some things. There's a long way to go though."
Teammate Darrell Alderman placed himself solidly in the field with
a 6.949-second pass at 197.83 mph, taking the ninth position. The three-time
Winston Pro Stock World Champion talked about his run.
"It was really a pretty good run on through there," Alderman noted.
"All the shift points were real good and it felt fairly smooth. We did
rattle the tires a little bit in second and that might of slowed us
down a bit. But we're pleased with the start."
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