THOMPSON WINS 8th
ANNUAL NHRR
3 drivers - 6 wins - HSMS dominates Bowling Green
Bowling Green,
KY - June 18-20, 2010: For an unprecedented 6th time in 7 trips to Bowling
Green the High Speed Motorsports team stood in the winners circle.
More astounding is that fact that this years winner, Brad Thompson,
is the third team driver to win this prestigious event. Previously
the title went to drivers Sean Bellemeur and Troy Green.
As is common
in Kentucky this time of year, the weather was very hot and humid
- in a word oppressive. But that didn't stop crew chief Brett
Johansen from tuning Thompson to the #1 qualifying spot with
a 5.89 at 254.38.
After marching
through the field in eliminations Thompson landed in the winner's
circle with a 5.921 at 250.23 win in the final over Roger "Radar"
Lechtenberg in Dale Suhr's Iowa based fueler who smoked the tires
and pedaled to a 6.306 at 237.
According to
Johansen, "It's not getting any easier that's for sure but
winning never gets old. I can't say enough about Brad and the
guys, they were absolutely flawless all weekend. The car would
have ran another 255 or better in the final but it started to
black track just past half track and dropped #7 @ 4.8 sec. in
fact, the car never ran over 200 to half track all weekend and
Brad pedaled it every run."
As a side note,
Thompson won the 2008 NHRR in his own car so that means this
current combination has actually won 7 of the 8 events held in
Bowling Green. That kind of adds to the dominance factor.
2003 - Roger
"Radar" Lechtenberg - Dale and Kat Suhr Racing
2004, 2005, 2006 - Sean Bellemeur / HSMS
2007 - Troy Green - HSMS
2008 - Brad Thompson - Thompson Bless Racing
2009 - Troy Green - HSMS
2010 - Brad Thompson - HSMS
In the
heat of the day, the first qualifying session went off on Friday
afternoon.
Crews examined
the 130+ degree track hoping to get close on their initial tune-ups.
In a gutsy move,
the HSMS team chose to be the first pair out. Brad Thompson was
paired with Denver Schutz in the Raisin Express II entry.
Final adjustments by Crew Chief
Brett Johansen and Great White moved into the lights.
Tuned
on the side of caution, the leave was clean but a little soft.
No tire smoke
from either car as Schutz ran a solid 6.006 at 240.77 with Thompson
clicking it early to a 6.209 at just 227.10.
With no relief in the heat (but
solid data from Friday) the second qualifying session found Thompson
making a single in the right lane.
In spite of the high temps, the
track was in excellent condition and Thompson's leave racked
up good early numbers.
Right down Broadway Thompson
went low for the event with a solid 5.897 at 254.38.
The #1 qualifying spot came at
a price... a broken rod necessitated an engine swap which was
not something they wanted to do in 100 degree heat loaded with
humidity.
With the new Donovan
in place, they were ready for session three.
Their attempt to set the best
time even lower was foiled by a fuel leak which forced a shut
down.
Final qualifying order:
1. Brad Thompson 5.897 @ 254.38
2. Roger Lechtenberg 5.924 @ 223.99
3. Denver Schutz 5.962 @ 229.00
4. Troy Green 5.986 @ 249.39
5. Howard Haight 5.995 @ 242.15
6. Rick Rogers 6.011 @ 242.06
7. Ernest McClain 6.131 @ 226.39
8. Brendan Murry 6.146 @ 200.14
DNQ:
Dave Miller 6.421
Keith Bergen 6.753
Lincoln Hassell 6.970
Joe Krupinski 7.767
Randy Bridges 10.701
Sunday
Eliminations |
