"Live From" Summernationals - Englishtown, NJ

[Jack Matyas]

What a day - plenty of highs and lows in the sportsman ranks .There were those who didn't have a chance but ended up winners and those who thought they had it in the bag but are now headed home .This heat and humidity made plenty of tempers flare -- even for the smallest thing .And then there were the big challenges like the track conditions to contend with .........My take is - and I've been coming here for more than forty years --- its the "Summernationals " and stuff is going to happen .But I've never seen track conditions like these ......ever ! ! !

I took a few photos today that were "just because " pics .Later ........

[boostedf22c]

Originally Posted by Eric Merryfield

Carey to put it in perspective....the Beagle did a 1.416 and a 1.46....60 foot can't always trust 60 foot due to wheelie size, but I might have spun a bit.

Eric

Sounds like the Beagle just keeps bounding!! Good luck tomorrow Eric!!

[Tom Goldman]

Thumbs up to David for letting NHRA's crew know what garbage the track was. No excuse for the conditions that Stock and SS ran on the starting line. .

[Jack Matyas]

Good morning - well its a much better deal here at Raceway Park today - even at this hour the temps are only around seventy with a slight breeze - alot nicer than yesterday that turned out to be an oven .

Racing ? I wish I could tell you how terrific it was but the truth is most are looking to just get down the track and not overpower it .I've never seen so many lining up on the starting line " out of the groove " and most with great results .Even the lower horsepower cars were smokin' em - something we rarely see .I witnessed several LT1 powered cars with huge amounts of smoke coming off their tires a few feet out .Most of us don't want to hear it but getting traction with 140 plus degrees of track temperature can't be easy .

In a few hours we'll start up again with Stock and S/S that are in round three .............

[Jack Matyas]

It suddenly dawned on me - with class runoffs and the factory showdown they( NHRA ) skipped one important part - didn't see much in the way of tech or teardowns afterwards ......I personally don't agree with that but its not my call .Its always been part of class racing - something we expect ! ! And we know its about money .....its always about the money .

[Jack Matyas]

Stock and S/S have 3rd and 4th rounds finished .After watching both I can tell you what a difference a day makes as I only saw one really bad spin and that was a S/S heads-up run where the car could have been 'tuned up' too much .As my pictures will show the track temp was 114 at the highest - a big difference from yesterdays 140 .

On another note - good thing I stuck around as the boss is rubbing elbows again with his comp buddies ........I've got to get him focused to the task at hand ...........

[Ken Miele]

Thanks Jack for keeping everyone updated. I had to jump camps and shuffle Sal Biondo running comp and the Hawk and Cook CJ around, we wanted to be on time when called to the staging lanes.

I know I kid Jack allot, but he does a great job reporting and I do appreciate all that he does. Its been another crazy week at the races. Between the in car cams, photos, reporting, racing and crewing, its hard to believe I got it all done. Not complaining here, I love what I do, it just goes by so fast you don't know your having fun until it all over. You say to yourself..... wow, I had a great week at the races... where did the time go.

Besides thanking Jack, I would like to thank Anthony Bongiovanni for letting me drive one of his Cobra Jets the last few races. You could not ask for a nicer car owner, he is a class act along with his team. I'm glad to see Anthony in the semi's, I wish him the best tomorrow at his home track.

I am home now, but I have some more photos from todays action....

[Ken Miele]

Some more photos from John DiBartolomeo DRAG RACING ACTION Magazine... http://www.dragracingaction.com/. I can always count on John to get great action shots.

[chris ok]

Thanks for the photos and updates. Leaving soon from LI to watch Sunday finals, my only day off now that I can go.
Stay cool....... I hope.......

[Dan Bernay]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

What a day - plenty of highs and lows in the sportsman ranks .There were those who didn't have a chance but ended up winners and those who thought they had it in the bag but are now headed home .This heat and humidity made plenty of tempers flare -- even for the smallest thing .And then there were the big challenges like the track conditions to contend with .........My take is - and I've been coming here for more than forty years --- its the "Summernationals " and stuff is going to happen .But I've never seen track conditions like these ......ever ! ! !

I took a few photos today that were "just because " pics .Later ........

Looks like weather may cooperate today with cooler track temps?
Hopefully that will help, still a shame racers had to deal with such a bad situation.
Good luck to all remaining sportsmen racers .