Jay Payne leads the pack in Atlanta
COMMERCE, Ga. (April 27, 2007) -- In front of full stands at Atlanta Dragway, Jay Payne, driver of the Valvoline 2005 Stratus Pro Mod, made a quick jump to the top in the lone AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises qualifying session at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. The qualifying schedule was modified due to time constraints and will allow for two additional qualifying passes on Saturday, and full eliminations on Sunday.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Payne's field-leading 6.044/235.10 assured him a solid position in Sunday's show and the possibility to move up in the BAE Championship Cup points chase. Also solidly in the field are Canadian Raymond Commisso in his '67 Camaro and Tim Tindle in his Chuck Ford-tuned '67 Mustang, delivering 6.059 and 6.057 passes respectively.
Tindle, coming off his personal best 6.000/239.19-No.2 qualifying effort in Houston, said he's really pushing to reach the fives.
"This team has really been working hard, and the results speak for themselves. Chuck [Ford, Tindle's crew chief] and the boys have this Mustang really hopped up, and I'm thinking we've got one of those fives coming up really soon," Tindle said.
Troy Coughlin drove his turbo-powered 2006 GTO to a No.12 6.360/229.98, still working on mechanical and structural tune-up with the lone turbo entry. After sitting out the first two races while working on his hot rod, Coughlin said he's glad to be racing again and is looking to go rounds on Sunday.
"We certainly wouldn't go to a race unless we thought we were capable of making the show. I know the effort this group has put in has been second-to-none and I'd sure like to see the guys have something to show for all of their hard work," Coughlin said.
Qualifying is scheduled to continue tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday morning.
Qualifying after One Round
Jay Payne 6.044/235.1
Raymond Commisso 6.059/240.55
Tim Tindle 6.075/235.31
Dan Rowe 6.081/235.56
Shelly Payne 6.106/233.36
Joshua Hernandez 6.111/235.6
Troy Critchley 6.126/237.63
Mike Stawicki 6.185/230.37
Rick Stivers 6.213/209.79
Quain Stott 6.228/235.15
Eddie Ware 6.237/228.96
Troy Coughlin 6.360/229.98
Zach Barklage 6.385/221.2
Scott Ray 6.423/186.61
Matt Hagan 6.547/170.56
Tony Pontieri 6.936/185.08
Doug Palmer 7.229/117.5
Cody Barklage 9.406/103.91
Steve Engel 13.341 /61.69
Photo courtesy CompetitionPlus.com
