After 22 cars made qualifying attempts for the ADRL Summer Drags VIII in Friday’s lone Pro Extreme (PX) qualifying session, it was the Garret Race Cars-built ’69 Camaro driven by former class champion (2006) Bubba Stanton that held the top spot with a 3.669-seconds pass at 207.04 mph over the eighth mile at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI.

“I didn’t really expect that,” Stanton admitted. “I figured it’d be a .69 or .70, but we gave it our best guess and it took what we gave it. I guess we got lucky.”

After previously working with hired crew chiefs, Stanton and team owner Roger Henson are making the tune-up calls on the car together and the Potts Camp, MS-based driver said it’s a much more relaxed and enjoyable arrangement.

“We just talk about things and decide what we’re going to do. That’s it; no arguing, no drama,” he said. “It’s still a new car and it feels like we finally got the bugs worked out and calmed it down and now it’s going down the track.”  

Following Stanton on the provisional qualifying list were 2009 champ Frankie Taylor, Brandon Pesz, Alex Hossler and Von Smith, with Mike Recchia in the 16th-place bump spot. Current points leader Mick Snyder, who has won the last three PX races, failed to make a clean pass and was mired in 20th place.   

Due to two heavy rain storms, only one of three scheduled qualifying sessions were completed for Pro Extreme, but an early 10 a.m. start on Saturday prior to eliminations will allow all PX competitors two more opportunities to improve their positions.

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