Mike Edwards Looks to Start New Streak after NHRA Pro Stock Qualifying in Houston
- 14 Apr 2010
Number one qualifier or not, what Pro Stock powerhouse Edwards wasn't able to accomplish in qualifying he more than made up for during eliminations as he went on to win the Pro Stock class at the first ever 4-wide event in NHRA history. Looking to build on his success in Charlotte, Edwards managed to lay the first piece of groundwork and start what he hopes to be a new number one Pro Stock qualifying streak at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Baytown, Texas, just outside Houston. Numerous drivers and teams made career best passes during the Houston event but it still wasn't enough to top Edwards, who not only was the quickest of the Pro Stock pack during each of the four qualifying sessions, but also did so in what turned out to be the quickest Pro Stock Field in NHRA history. While E.T. is where it's at and what wins professional drag races, Edwards showed he is no slouch in the speed department either by posting a 212.43, a career best MPH. "Getting all the available bonus points during qualifying is really important and we had a really good handle on things on Friday and Saturday," said Edwards who also continues to hold down the number one spot in the 2010 K&N Horsepower Challenge. Somewhat of a rarity in other professional drag racing classes, being hands on in everything from car set-up to tuning is something that is quite prevalent for the drivers in Pro Stock, with Edwards among them. "For me, that's the way I like it," notes Edwards. "I know a lot of the Pro Stockers, or for the most part, work on their own cars in addition to driving." "I think that really helps as far as knowing what is going on with the set-up and then knowing how to adjust it after you make the run," he continued. After a fantastic showing during qualifying, Edwards and his team went into Sunday's eliminations ready to make up for bowing out in the semi-finals during the Houston event last year and rather high hopes of their first win at the event since the 2006 season. During the semi-final match up with Jeg Coughlin, the car had other ideas. "On Sunday we just went a little too far one way and just never got a handle on it," explains Edwards who had his opponent more than doubled on the tree. Edwards's car launched and shook the tires fairly hard in the top of first gear, abruptly bringing to an end the team's hopes of back-to-back victories. "It wasn't going to go no further, that was it," said Edwards. "I just shut it off since it wasn't going to make the run." With no rest in sight, Edwards and the rest of the Pro Stock contenders head to The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway for this weekend's SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals with all intentions of gaining as many precious points as they can for the K&N Horsepower Challenge, the largest single payday in NHRA Pro Stock. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
