Championship Drag Racing

Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
Sonoma, CA
(July 28-30)

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Driver Profile

Dave Grubnic Optima Batteries dragster

Somona, Sunday: Dave Grubnic, driver of the 330-mph, pink and black StriVectin-SD Top Fuel dragster, led the qualifying efforts of Kalitta Motorsports in Sonoma. He qualified for final eliminations in the No. 3 spot (4.554 at 331.36 mph). He defeated the No. 14 qualifier Cory McClenathan (4.700 at 319.07 mph) in the first round of eliminations in a very close drag race, 4.606 at 321.58 mph to 4.699 at 315.49 mph.

In the second round, Grubnic faced off against Top Fuel rookie J.R. Todd. Grubnic was in the lead at the half-way point down the quarter-mile and then both dragsters started losing traction. Both drivers tried furiously to get their entries to regain grip but, unfortunately for Grubnic, the blower belt on his dragster failed and that let Todd get around him for the close win, 5.410 at 192.25 mph to 5.152 at 270.81 mph.

Grubnic’s booming 331.36-mph blast in the final qualifying session set a new track record at Infineon Speedway.

Grubnic remains in fifth place in POWERade championship points (881).

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