CHRIS McGAHA
HARLOW SAMMONS RACING CHEVROLET CAMARO
FRIDAY QUALIFYING – NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL DRAGWAY – BRISTOL, TENNESSEE
JUNE 19-21, 2015
ANOTHER PROVISIONAL POLE FOR CHRIS McGAHA ON FRIDAY IN BRISTOL
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 19, 2015) – Chris McGaha and the Harlow Sammons Racing Pro Stock team have started from the top of the pack three times so far this season, with McGaha earning the No. 1 qualifier position in Gainesville, Charlotte, and last weekend in Epping. So far at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, they are on chart to do it again and earn their fourth No. 1 of the year. They ended the first day of the event in possession of the provisional pole.
Last weekend in Epping at the New England Nationals, McGaha ran the table in qualifying, but their Camaro ran into trouble on raceday when they set out to chase that trophy that they so desire. The truth of the matter is that McGaha and his Harlow Sammons Racing team weren't actually planning to grab that top spot again this weekend in Bristol and were going to try a different approach with the hope of increasing their chances for success on Sunday.
"We were expecting everyone to turn up the wick, but they didn't – and here we are," said McGaha, who was third quickest in the first session with a 6.669-second pass at 206.54 mph and earned a bonus point. In the later session, he clocked a 6.647, 206.67 to grab three bonus points and the top spot. "The conditions did get a little bit better because the track started to cool off. We went up there conservative on the first run because we were trying not to jinx ourselves and be No. 1, but here we are. We stepped on it a little bit figuring everyone else would, too, but it is what it is."
Although racing under the lights is a lot of fun and a great show for the fans, McGaha says that the truly useful data for Sunday will likely be acquired on Saturday, when conditions are closer to what raceday will bring. The driver of the "Silver Bullet" Harlow Sammons Chevrolet Camaro is uncertain as to whether or not his current lofty spot in the qualifying order will hold, but he isn't altogether concerned.
"I wanted to get No. 1 at least once in my life and career; I had that ambition," said McGaha. "I was able to do that in Phoenix, and we were happy about that. But now it's becoming almost a common occurrence for us, and it seems like we need to change our pace a little more for Sunday. We might stay No. 1 tomorrow if we're running in the heat of the day, but you never really know. If we don't, you aren't going to see me shed a tear. But if it does hold, I'll take my No. 1 qualifier plaque from K&N, smile, and enjoy it."
CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS CHEVROLET CAMARO
Qualified: No. 1
QUALIFYING RESULTS
FRIDAY: 6.669 seconds, 206.54 mph (Session 1); 6.647 seconds, 206.67 mph (Session 2)
Event Schedule (all times Eastern)
Saturday, June 20: Two qualifying rounds, 12:30 PM & 3 PM
Sunday, June 21: Final eliminations starting with Top Fuel at 12 PM
Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2, all times Eastern)
Saturday, June 20: Qualifying, 8:00 PM. – 10:00 PM
Sunday, June 21: LIVE! Eliminations from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM