Team Speed Society: NHRA Fallen Patriots Route 66 Nationals Qualifying Update
Qualifying is completed here in Joliet, Illinois at the NHRA Fallen Patriots Route 66 Nationals and team Speed Society’s drivers are all qualified solidly in their classes going into raceday.
In Pro Stock, Alex Laughlin put the Gas Monkey Energy Camaro into the 11th spot with a solid 6.643 ET at 209 MPH. Laughlin and crew chased a minor wiring gremlin in the first two sessions, costing them precious data and a late evening shot that provided good air and a great opportunity to lay down a solid number on Friday evening. “It wasn’t anything major, but in these cars, even the most minor issues can cost you a few horsepower, and a few horsepower out here is a big deal. But we found the problem and we got some good data [Saturday] so I think we’ll be okay.” said Laughlin yesterday afternoon. He will face Tanner Gray in the opening round in the yet another renewal of the rivalry between the young guns.
In Top Fuel, Speed Society’s drivers sit in the #2 and 3 spots and look to carry the momentum from those strong qualifying efforts into raceday. Clay Millican also lost all of Friday to a gremlin, traced to a faulty spark plug wire that was causing the engine to lose fire in a cylinder in both of the opening day’s sessions. The nitro cars had a late night Friday, with the second session providing stellar conditions that Millican and his Great Clips/Parts Plus team were unable to take advantage of. In fact, the Tennessee based team went into the fourth session on the outside looking in after smoking the tires around 60′ on the first session on Saturday. David Grubnic pulled out all the stops for the last-ditch effort on Saturday though, laying down a stellar 3.739 at 325 MPH to vault the team to the #3 overall qualifying spot. Said Millican, “Grubby said we were shooting for a 78, so he’s kind of pulling his hair out trying to figure out why it threw down a 73, but we dang sure ain’t complaining!” Millican will line up alongside Kyle Wurtzel in the first round on Sunday.
Leah Pritchett took a little different approach, laying down a stellar 3.76 in the opening session to ensure there would be no drama for the Papa John’s Pizza dragster. She would improve on that number in Saturday’s final session when she laid down a 3.723 at 326 MPH to jump to the #2 spot on the ladder. Pritchett sits second in points behind Steve Torrence and would love to make up ground on the Texan this weekend, so each point really matters. “We had an incredible day,” said Leah of Saturday’s effort. “We got all six bonus points in qualifying today. I couldn’t be prouder of our team, earning 9 out of twelve points. That’s a testament to their hard work. We feel good!”
Pritchett will face off with rookie Troy Coughlin Jr in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
Tune in on FS1 at 3pm Eastern to catch all of the action from Route 66 Raceway.
