Rain disrupts Mopar® Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil; Elimination Rounds Rescheduled for Monday

Rain disrupted National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series activities for a second day at the Mopar® Express Lane SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park and forced the postponement of competition. After Saturday qualifying was shortened due to weather, a persistent drizzle began at the tail end of Sunday’s opening round of Top Fuel eliminations, resulting in a lengthy delay through the late afternoon until officials made the decision to move the balance of the eliminations contest to 10 a.m. Central Time on Monday morning.

Prior to the rain delay, six Top Fuel pairs were able to get in elimination runs including No. 2 qualifier Leah Pruett and her Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Pennzoil dragster after extending her streak of qualifying among the quick half of the field to all five national events so far this season.

After 19 consecutive races in which the HEMI®-powered racer advanced to the quarterfinals or better, Pruett was looking to shake off some of the bad luck that had vexed the team in the opening round of two previous events. Her Mopar rocketed off the start with an impressive 0.020-second reaction time, but a mechanical glitch early in the run hampered her forward motion and despite efforts to peddle her way down the track, Pruett was unable to advance.

However, Pruett will have another chance on Monday to vie for a Wally trophy at the Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil aboard her 2021 Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) from the No. 10 position on the eliminations ladder. She’ll face No.7 Arthur Kohn in the opening round while her teammate, No. 13 seed Mark Pawuk will line up his Empaco Equipment Mopar Drag Pak against No. 4 seed David Barton. Funny Car eliminations have also been rescheduled for Monday with three Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcats starting from the top half of the eliminations ladder. No. 3 qualifier Ron Capps will have lane choice over Paul Lee in the opening round, while No. 4 seed Cruz Pedregon will begin his day facing off against Terry Haddock, and from his No. 6 spot, Matt Hagan will battle against Chad Green.

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