Pesz Powers his way to Low Qualifier and Blows Doors off in Process

Madison, IL – Friday’s qualifying from the 2013 X-Treme Drag Racing League X-Treme Gateway Showdown included some exciting if not unexpected results. From the top, in Pro X-Treme, low qualifier Brandon Pesz’s ’53 Corvette did the opposite of blowing the doors off his competition, and did so twice to his own car! Points leader Pesz kept his Lethal Threat team busy, first in finding parts to the original door that flew off, and the second time in retrieving what they could of the spare door to enable them to come back tomorrow. He was, however, rewarded with a 3.628 ET at 208.91 MPH and the top qualifying spot.

In Pro Nitrous, it was Jeff Naiser who ran a 3.851 to a 3.869 for second qualifier Bob Rahaim, both in Chevy Camaros.

Pro Turbo ran as an exhibition with Todd Moyer prevailing over Mike Murillo, with a 3.908, 200.95 MPH, to Murillo’s 4.349 @ 145.16 MPH.

Dean Goforth’s 4.083, 177.58 MPH eclipsed Kevin Bealko’s 4.088, 177.21 MPH, to top the X-Treme Pro Stock field. Currently, Spring, Texas’ Rick Cowger in his ’08 Cobalt sits outside the field in ninth, .02 behind Rocky Watford in another Cobalt.

While Coby Jones’ 3.951 at 183.54 MPH leads Top Dragster qualifying, it was Dan Phelps’ third qualifying attempt that is perhaps even more memorable than Pesz’ flying doors. Phelps’ new 2013 RaceTech dragster suddenly became vertical to the track surface, returning to the ground in spectacular fashion while leaving the driver unscathed.

Bob Gulitti’s Camaro set the mark in Top Sportsman with a 4.177 at 171.16 MPH, over Rick Wilson in another Camaro, at 4.251 and 168.47 MPH. A little over .6 second separated Gulitti from the #6 qualifier, Doug Woody, who ran a 4.779, 146.67.

Pro Jr Dragster finished with Morgan Torres as top qualifier with a 7.902 at 83.49 and Jackson Core, Jr. was right behind with a 7.902 at 82.37.