Camrie Caruso Makes the Most of Frustrating NHRA Season Opener, Indicates Plans to Test Ahead of Pomona

GAINESVILLE, FL – Mother Nature thwarted the plans of some of the NHRA’s best drivers, including Pro Stock standout Camrie Caruso, at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The talented driver experienced her first DNQ (Did Not Qualify) at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opener thanks in part to the final qualifying session being canceled due to inclement weather.

This was the first time in Caruso’s incredible Pro Stock career that she did not get into the qualifying field. With 22 Pro Stock machines on the property and only 16 spots on the ladder, Caruso just missed the cut qualifying No. 17 with a pass of 6.599 seconds at 208.84 mph.

Each of Caruso’s qualifying attempts improved upon the previous one, demonstrating her signature persistence and dedication to improvement as she worked to power her Aqua Prop/Big Jeff Audio/True Brand Chevrolet Camaro into the field.

“We saw progress with each run,” said Caruso. “We had a lot of issues, unfortunately, in Q1 and Q2 that happened. We’re going to get better. We’re going to go testing and we’re going to make it right because we hate this. I hate this for my sponsors and my team. I hate this for me. But we’re going to do better and we can do better. I have a great team behind me. There’s highs and lows in everything. This is a pretty big low and it kind of caught me by surprise. I never thought we would DNQ. I’ve never DNQ’d in any class I’ve ever run. I am happy for Brandon (her Aqua Prop teammate and sponsor). He’s worked his butt off. I wish I could have lined up right behind him on race day to support Aqua Prop but we’re going to work hard and push forward.”

Caruso’s Aqua Prop teammate Brandon Foster qualified in the No. 12 position with a stout run of 6.579 at 208.14. In the first round of competition, he defeated Troy Coughlin Jr. with a blistering pass of 6.531 at 210.47. In the quarterfinals, he gave Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson a run for his money in a great side-by-side drag race, but ultimately he was defeated. However, making it to a quarterfinal finish in his debut event is certainly encouraging as he prepares for the rest of the season.

“The weekend was not all bad,” remarked Caruso. “I got to spend some wonderful time with my sponsors Big Jeff Audio and True Brands. And I had the opportunity to do color commentary on the PA with the legendary Alan Rinehart. That was a fun experience.”

Caruso and Foster now have their sights set on the next event of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. March 21-24.