Darren Nicholson TAD Post Qualifying Release

Darren Nicholson TAD Post Qualifying Release

MOHNTON, Pa.—Darren Nicholson, driver of Joe Cantrell’s J C Auto
Glass/B.R.A.K.E.S. Top Alcohol Dragster defeated Darvin Martinets to win the
rescheduled Englishtown Division 1 divisional race. The event was originally
rescheduled for the Atco divisional, but fellow semi finalist was unable to make the race
and the event was eventually canceled due to unsafe track conditions.

The win sure wasn’t an easy one. “The run was really pretty gnarly. It nosed over big
time about 600 feet out and a spark plug tub came out. I was sliding all over the place,
fighting to keep it straight and stay with the run. After all of that, I was relieved to find
out he never drove around me. If it was a regular qualifying run, I probably would have
shut it off and coasted to the side, but this was much more important than a qualifying
run,’ said Nicholson.

With the rescheduled final taking place at a national event, Darren and the team have the opportunity to double up. “It would be really cool if we could win the national event this weekend as well. Leaving with the divisional win and the national event win all in one weekend would be great. Unfortunately we didn’t qualify as well as I would have liked, but it’s still possible” quoted Nicholson, who qualified 7th.

Qualifying for the Top Alcohol classes was shortened to two runs after water started
seeping up through the shut down area. The Reading area had received over 6 inches of rain during the week leading up to the event and that water percolated up through the hot pavement, halting racing action for around 3 hours.

During the two sessions, Nicholson managed a 5.36 to qualify him in the #7 spot. The
second qualifying run, where Nicholson took the win, he ran slightly slower at 5.38 not
able to improve his spot.

Darren and the team will begin eliminations tomorrow morning, facing #10 qualifier
Richard Bourke. You can keep up with the team by listening to the live audiocast on
NHRA.com or watching the days racing live on ESPN3.com.