The NHRA season has officially opened in Pomona, California where Australian Pro Stock driver Shane Tucker made his first competitive runs in the Auzmet Architectural Chev Cobalt.
There was plenty of emotion and nerves in the team leading up to the opening session of qualifying but once the team was on track it was all business.
With not a lot of data from testing in Phoenix, the team went in somewhat blind, with cool conditions delivering lots of horsepower to teams.
The first pass was an early shut off run as the team gained its NHRA water legs.
“(I’m) glad that one is in the books,” Shane said afterwards. “Rolled in the water box against my mate Dave Connolly in Q1 for my first NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock pass. Drove out okay for 30 feet then shook and was light on clutch after the 1-2 shift.”
With more clutch applied for Q2 a bizarre electrical problem caused a small fire in the car but there was little damage other than the missed opportunity at making a full pass.
“Well not the Q2 I wanted. Backed up after the burnout about to roll forward and dad gets on the radio to inform me the car’s on fire!” Tucker said. “The main power wire that has been the same way since new running through the carbon tubs to the battery decides it’s time to rub though and earth out. What the? Well better now than Sunday I guess and two more sessions tomorrow.”
Top image courtesy ESPN/NHRA, below image courtesy Janine Tucker.
{fcomment}
