Driving his Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS on Saturday, Kyle Koretsky posted a 6.510 ET at 211.00 mph to earn his second Number One qualifier by edging out his KB teammate and the defending Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson, who also ran a 6.510 elapsed time but was a tick slower. Koretsky is in fifth place in Countdown points but is yet to win in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Aaron Stanfield (last week's winner) ran a 6.511 ET at 210.97 mph with Enders also running a slower pass with a 6.511 elapsed time for fourth.
Matt Smith unloaded his DENSO/Stockseth Auto Parts Buell and ran a 6.709 ET at 202.82 mph to set a track record in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Smith took a hit in the Countdown to the Championship points last weekend in Charlotte at zMAX Raceway and was excited about posting his career best run. Angelle Sampey qualified second with a 6.726 ET with Eddie Krawiec, Angie Smith, and Joey Gladstone rounded out the top five in Saturday’s qualifying. Smith has a first round bye in with Angelle Sampey facing Malcom Phillips Jr.
Erica Enders Wins Pro Stock at World Wide Technology
Number One qualifier Kyle Koretsky drew a bye in Round One of eliminations before outrunning Deric Kramer in the quarterfinals at 11th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis. In his semifinal round Erica Enders was off the tree first and carded a 6.533 ET to Koretsky’s 6.541 elapsed time. Dallas Green opened with a win against Mike DePalma and then pulled a holeshot win over last weekend’s Pro Stock winner Aaron Stanfield.
Matt Hartford, who was runner-up at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, grabbed a quick lead with .004-second reaction time before severe tire shake caused him to back off the throttle. Dallas Glenn advanced to the third final round of the season and the eighth of his short career. Both Glenn and Enders are 1-1 against each other in Pro Stock final rounds. When Glenn left early (-075 RT), Enders earned her eighth Wally of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Series in Pro Stock. Enders heads to Texas with a 120 points lead over Stanfield.
Matt Smith Wins Pro Stock Motorcycles at Midwest Nationals
After a free pass in Round One, Matt Smith eliminated Kelly Clontz and Joey Gladstone enroute to the Final Round in Pro Stock Motorcycle on Sunday. Veteran drag racer Jerry Savoie has thirteen round wins at St. Louis and eliminated Ryan Oehler with one of the quickest passes of the weekend. Savoie then eliminated Number Two qualifier Angelle Sampey before relying on a holeshot win to take down Eddie Krawiec. Both Smith and Savoie nailed the start but Smith’s 6.756 ET topped Savoie’s 6.819 elapsed time.
Smith had polished off a near perfect weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway with a Pro Stock Motorcycle Wally and records at both ends of the classic track and the 36th career victory in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. The win moved Smith to the points lead 21 points ahead of Joey Gladstone. Angie Smith is 90 points back in third with Eddie Krawiec (-106) and Steve Johnson (-107) rounding out the top five.
UP COMING:
NHRA Texas FallNationals
Stampede of Speed is a ten-day festival of music, drag racing and amazing fan experiences on Oct. 7 through Oct. 16 leading up to the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals hosted at the historic Texas Motorplex on Oct. 13-16 in Ennis, TX.
