Gatornationals : Gwynn Lowers Day-Old Drag Record to 5.220 Seconds

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Darrell Gwynn posted the quickest elapsed time in drag racing history Saturday as qualifying concluded for today’s Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Gwynn, 25, of Miami, drove his Top Fuel dragster through the quarter mile in 5.220 seconds, reaching a speed of 271.82 m.p.h. The time bettered the day-old record of 5.247 seconds set by Larry Minor.

Gwynn and Budweiser King teammate Kenny Bernstein each finished as No. 1 qualifiers in their divisions for the National Hot Rod Assn.’s $866,100 event.

Bernstein topped the Funny Car qualifiers, driving his Buick Le-Sabre to an elapsed time of 5.479 seconds and a speed of 264.31 m.p.h.

Bob Glidden earned his 10th consecutive Pro Stock pole position, driving a 1987 Ford Thunderbird to a track-record time of 7.410 seconds, with a speed of 186.21 m.p.h.

The Gatornationals produced the quickest 16-car Top Fuel and Pro Stock fields in history.

Richard Holcomb was the No. 16 Top Fuel qualifier at 5.586 seconds, and Scott Geoffrion was 16th in Pro Stock at 7.536.

Minor’s Friday time was good for second behind Gwynn, and Dick LaHaie was third with a 5.284.

Ed McCulloch was runner-up in Funny Car at 5.577 seconds, followed by Mark Oswald at 5.595.

Butch Leal was second to Glidden at 7.447.