Route 66 NHRA Nationals Thursday Sportsman Recap
CHICAGO – Over 370 of the best Lucas Oil sportsman competitors in the nation hit the track Thursday at Route 66 Raceway. Qualifying and time trials filled the day’s racing activities as racers prepared for final eliminations on Friday.
Friday’s schedule includes two rounds of competition for Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Comp, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster competitors have only one round scheduled for Friday.
DragChamp will post JEGS Allstars results and updates beginning Saturday.
See our Route 66 Nationals pre-race picks here.
Route 66 Nationals Thursday Recap
Competition Eliminator
After one round of qualifying, Doug Engels held down the top spot. Engels drove his D/ED dragster to a -.661 under 7.249 lap to nail down the one spot. Brian Browell was second in his D/D dragster with a -.618 under 7.22 effort.
Comp Eliminator Qualifying Order
Super Stock
Jason DeForrest lead the 54-car Super Stock field with a -1.072 under 9.028 lap in his GT/EA ’05 Cavalier. Marion Stephenson grabbed the two spot with a -1.027 under 9.623 pass in his GT/IA ’06 Camaro.
Final Super Stock Qualifying Order
Super Stock Eliminations Ladder
Stock Eliminator
Jerry Bennett grabbed the top spot in Stock with a -.975 under 10.575 pass in his D/SA ’71 Duster. Bennett was followed by Ryan Mangus in his FS/C ’15 Challenger. Mangus posted a -.962 under 9.338 lap.
Stock Final Qualifying Order
Final Eliminations Ladder – Stock Eliminator
Top Sportsman
After two rounds of qualifying, Bryan LaFlam sits atop the Top Sportsman field with a 6.169, 233 mph blast from his ’67 Mustang. LaFlam edged out perennial top qualifier Lester Johnson. Johnson posted a best lap of 6.294 in his turbocharged ’55 Chevy.
There will be one more qualifying attempt on Friday morning prior to first round of eliminations.
Top Sportsman Qualifying Order
Carl Root 
Carl Root
Top Dragster
Ashley Johnson drove to the top spot with a 6.100, 220 mph lap. The run was dead on the class index of 6.10. Chassis builder Danny Nelson captured the two spot with a 6.121 pass in his dragster.
Like Top Sportsman, competitors will receive one more qualifying attempt Friday morning before moving into eliminations in the afternoon.
Top Dragster Qualifying Order
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