Just before the clouds opened up with a deluge that would force the cancelation of racing for the day in the United Association NHRA SuperNationals, the cars of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge treated the crowds at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park to one of the very best qualifying sessions ever, featuring a possible record-setting ET, the quickest-ever nitrous run, and the quickest-ever side-by-side pass in Pro Mod.
 
In the quickest side-by-side run ever, R2B2 Racing Raymond Commisso took the number one spot with a mind-blowing 5.894 at 244.60 mph, with Matco Tools/Lend America driver Joe Baker running right alongside with a smoking 5.911 at 244.83 mph. Commisso obliterated the Raceway Park Pro Mod Challenge track record and can possibly claim the Challenge record if he is able to run a 5.953 or quicker during eliminations. Just before the clouds opened up with a deluge that would force the cancelation of racing for the day in the United Association NHRA SuperNationals, the cars of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge treated the crowds at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park to one of the very best qualifying sessions ever, featuring a possible record-setting ET, the quickest-ever nitrous run, and the quickest-ever side-by-side pass in Pro Mod.
 
In the quickest side-by-side run ever, R2B2 Racing Raymond Commisso took the number one spot with a mind-blowing 5.894 at 244.60 mph, with Matco Tools/Lend America driver Joe Baker running right alongside with a smoking 5.911 at 244.83 mph. Commisso obliterated the Raceway Park Pro Mod Challenge track record and can possibly claim the Challenge record if he is able to run a 5.953 or quicker during eliminations.
 
Commisso said, "As I watched all of the cars go down the track in front of me, I kept getting more and more excited. I saw my teammate Melanie [Troxel] run a 6.03, and then Roger [Burgess] hit a 5.94, and I knew that we'd do great.
 
"I think the car hiked the front-end up until at least the eighth-mile, then I shifted and it picked right back up again, and then again when I hit third. The track was there, the conditions were there, and Al [Billes, crew chief] and the guys gave me a car that was anxious to make a run like that.  If the conditions are even close to what we had today, we should be able to back that up for sure, if not go even lower."
 
Rickie Smith accomplished the magnificent feat of running the quickest nitrous-powered run ever, even outpacing outlaw records. His blast of 5.951 at 237.67 mph broke the record of 5.963-seconds set in 2008 by Mike Castellana in Richmond, Va. as well as the 5.958-second outlaw record set in 2008 by Jim Halsey at the Shakedown at E-town at Raceway Park.  However pleased with his fortune on Saturday, Smith was quick to pass kudos along to his teammate Castellana.
 
"Don't go writing any record book entries just yet, this weekend is far from over and I know that Mike will be amped up and ready to go tomorrow. Their car can definitely run the numbers, too.
 
"The track was really solid and we just got a great hold of it today. These nitrous cars like some humidity in the air - it helps us run, so I'm feeling pretty good about tomorrow, too, given the rain stays away," Smith added.
 
In all, the top half of the 16-car field was all in the five-second zone, and the top 12 were 6.10-seconds or better. Brad Personett took top mph honors with his 246.53 mph blast that landed him in the 13th spot (6.252 seconds). His speed is the fourth-fastest Pro Mod speed in Challenge history.
 
Danny Rowe ran his Jimmy Rector-tuned Camaro to the third spot with a 5.927 at 242.63 mph, Tommy Gray blasted to fourth with a 5.933 at 242.71 mph, Jay Payne took fifth at 5.941 seconds, Roger Burgess was sixth at 5.945 seconds, and Rickie Smith and Mike Castellana were seventh and eighth at 5.951- and 5.996-second runs, respectively.
 
In the bottom half of the roster, Mike Knowles drive his B&J Transmissions/Knowles Enterprises entry to a stout 6.026-seconds at 239.40 mph, Melanie Troxel improved considerably to a 6.034 at 240.47 mph to take tenth, and Tim Tindle grabbed No. 11 with a 6.058 at a limping 210.64 mph. Current points leader Burton Auxier struggled in the first round and ran a 6.103 at 209.95 mph, shutting off early to avoid any possible engine damage as he was looking to find some "gremlins" that had been plaguing him recently.
 
Brad Personett landed No 13 in his Big 3 Turbo Camaro, Vinnie Budano took 14th with a 6.308 at 222.73 mph, Frank Patille was 15th with a 6.41 at 226.81 mph, and Dave Hance took the bump at 9.278-seconds.
 
With possible showers still in the forecast and the promise of high humidity almost guaranteed, Sunday's outlook is mixed. The current schedule is to run Pro Mod after the second round of nitro cars, and then run out the event, weather permitting.
 
Final Qualifying Order

1 Raymond Commisso 5.894 244.60
2 Joe Baker 5.911 244.83
3 Danny Rowe 5.927 242.63
4 Tommy Gray 5.933 242.71
5 Jay Payne 5.941 240.89
6 Roger Burgess 5.945 242.84
7 Rickie Smith 5.951 237.67
8 Mike Castellana 5.996 235.47
9 Mike Knowles 6.026 239.40
10 Melanie Troxel 6.034 240.47
11 Tim Tindle 6.058 210.64
12 Burton Auxier 6.103 209.95
13 Brad Personett 6.252 246.53
14 Vinny Budano 6.308 222.73
15 Frank Patille 6.41 226.81
16 David Hance 9.278 96.14

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