The Riverbend Nationals’ race day is all that now stands between the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship competitors and Western Conference glory on Sunday, with the completion of qualifying today at the Dragway at The Bend’s Riverbend Nationals ahead of the beginning of racing for Super Street, Super Sedan and Top Sportsman.
At the close of qualifying today – where the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship was on-track alongside Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle (click here for their report) – it was Katrina Read (Super Street), Dean Jamieson (Modified Bike), Simon Barlow (Modified), Tony Miskelly (Super Sedan), Graeme Spencer (Super Gas), Taylor Horton (Junior Dragster), Darren Whitford (Top Sportsman), Milan Dokic (Supercharged Outlaws), Edge Mallis (Competition Bike), Nick Totsikas (Super Stock) and Craig Geddes (Competition Eliminator) who took out the honours for their respective brackets.
Super Gas top qualifier and Western Conference champion contender Graeme Spencer was more than happy with today’s results.
“I ran the top qualifying time on the first qualifier on Friday, so my first one was the best one,” Spencer grinned.
“We were out of the box running really well, so that was quite good.“
Today everything went well, I just had a bit of ET here, there and everywhere!” he laughed. “But it was pretty cool, and the meeting is running so well, it is awesome.
“I can’t wait to go racing tomorrow. I have Des (Woolstencroft) in the first round, and he came out pretty hot earlier with a .004 or something, so I will have my work cut out for me, it won’t be easy!
“I will try my best and do my best round by round. And of course, if we can get the Western Conference Championship, we would be very happy about that – I would have some celebrating to do, that is for sure!”
Likewise, for Competition top qualifier Craig Geddes who is in the process of hunting a tenth national championship, it was smiles all around at the close of racing today.
“It has been a fantastic day, the car was running well, and that is a new personal best for me of 6.76 – my previous best was a 6.84, so that is a considerable improvement,” Geddes said.
“The awesome track facilities and weather are all playing a part in awesome performances this weekend.
“We were really keen to get the TQ spot to gain any bye runs that are there in the early elimination rounds tomorrow to help navigate our way through eliminations and ultimately, hopefully, win the Western Conference!
“As long as nothing goes wrong we are feeling pretty confident for tomorrow, the car is performing well with no real problems, so hopefully we can put together decent runs and be there at the end of the day.”
The Riverbend Nationals will continue at Dragway at The Bend tomorrow, Sunday April 7, with on-track action from 10.00am local time. Eliminations racing for the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship will be held across the day, while Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will hit the track from 11.00am, 1.30pm and 4.15pm local time (note: daylight savings time ends tonight). For full event information, visit www.ndrc.tv
