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MADISON, Ill. – Steven Whiteley powered to a first round victory over Harold Martin Saturday in J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series action at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. This is the ninth of 10 events in the 2015 season and the racing this weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park is presented by Precision Turbo and Engine.
Earlier in the day, Whiteley raced his 2014 Y-NOT Racing/J&A Service Cadillac CTS-V to his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season and second in his career based on his Friday run of 5.820 seconds at 246.35 mph.
In the first round, Whitley faced Harold Martin in his Martin Motorsports ’15 Corvette and continued his dominating performance with a winning run of 5.833 at 249.10, to Martin’s trailing run of 9.484 at 99.970. Whiteley will face Mike Knowles when eliminations continue Sunday at 12:45 p.m.
Points leader Mike Janis was outside the 16 car field going into the final qualifying session but raced to the second qualifying position and he went on to win his first round matchup as he defeated Pete Farber. Janis will face Bob Rahaim in the second round.
“Indy, Charlotte and here we have been having a lot of trouble on Friday,” Janis said. “We have been saving the best for last on Saturday. This is our lively hood we are trying to win this championship and bring it home to Buffalo, New York.”
Troy Coughlin, Knowles, Rickie Smith, Bob Rahaim, Gerry Capano and Chip King were also among the first round winners. Coughlin trails Janis by 48 points and will race King on Sunday.
“Another round for us,” said Coughlin. “A lot of the guys that are way up in the top of this thing are still going so it will be a good fight clear to the end for sure. Janis is pretty strong right now and the hottest guy on the tour and a bunch of us have to take him out.”
Charlotte winner Danny Rowe, who crashed his new Corvette yesterday and qualified with his ’68 Camaro today, lost when his car failed to fire at the start of his first round pairing.
Second round pairings will also feature Capano vs. Smith.
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