Sam Hubinette vs Ken Gushi Sam Leads – Gushi has had some issues thru the day, he had to be push started for his second qualifying run because he didn’t have 1st gear. Sam has a good run, ken loses drift near the clipping zone, adv Sam 8-0 Gush leads – gush having problems off the line, Sam passes him and is halfway thru the course before Gush gets to the bank. Gushi with some big problems, Sam moves on.
Miki vs Forsberg
Miki leads – Forsberg is tight on Miki thru the whole course, he has good angle behind him. Miki was on the right line, chris took too shalllow of a line off the bank, Adv Miki 8-5.
Forsberg leads – Forsberg opens up a good lead and is very tight on the clipping zone, Miki is playing catching up. The crowd cheers for both drivers equally, they want one more time… Score is 8-5 for Forsberg, 13-13 we’re going ONE MORE TIME!!!
OMT Miki leads – Miki has a great line, but Forsberg stays on his door thru most of the course! Adv 9-8
Forsberg Forsberg leads – Miki is tight on Forsberg too! 75mph exiting the bank, this is a podium-quality race! 9-7 Miki gets the run win and moves on 17-16.
Nishida vs Pawlak
Nishida leads – Nishida has a big gap on the bank, but Pawlak gets closer thru the “power alley”. Nishida gets the adv, 7-4
Pawlak leads – Pawlak has a lead off the bank like Nishida did, but Pawlak was off the clipping points. Robbie washed out exiting the power alley, adv Pawlak 6-5, Nishida moves on!
Dai vs Tuerck
Dai leads – Dai’s GTO looks huge next to the Solstice! Dai has great angle off the bank and a bit of a lead, but Tuerck closes the gap towards the end! Score is 8-8!
Tuerk leads – they are side by side thru most of the course, side by side… 9-8 adv Yoshihara, ONE MORE TIME!!!
Quick tire change…. The skies have opened up, we have rain!! This changes things…
OMT Dai vs Tuerck
Dai leads – these runs are much slower. there’s no smoke in the rain. Adv Tuerk 8-6
Tuerk leads – Tuerk looks comfortable in the rain, he’s probably drifted in the rain a lot back home! Tuerk moves on, 8-6 run score 16-12.
Tanner vs Mohan
Tanner leads – Tanner runs the course well, Mohan spins out at the exit of the bank. Tanner makes it run like a normal run… Adv Foust 9-0
Mohan leads – Mohan spins thru the power alley, Tanner is tight on him but drifts by him with inches to spare! Kyle nearly spins a 360… 9-0 run score, Foust moves on!!
Takatori vs Grunewald
Takatori Leads – Takatori loves the rain! Conrad spins out thru the power alley… Takatori gets the adv 7-0 Conrad Leads – Takatori is tight on Conrad, both cars make it thru the course cleanly. Takatori moves on 15-6
Kazu Hayashida vs Rhys Millen
Kazu Leads – Kazu hasn’t driven in the rain yet… Kazu braked just before the bank and nearly caused an accident!! He was going too fast… 8-0 adv Millen
Millen looks good in the rain! Millen leads – the rain hasn’t phased rhys, maybe it’s all the rally racing! Kazu braked again just before the bank. Great run for millen, 8-0 millen, 16-0 Rhys moves on!
Darren McNamara vs Tony Angelo Dmac Leads – Darren is used to the rain in Ireland. Darren is running with no top!! Darren has a good run, tony hits the plastic barriers near the clipping point. Adv 7-3 Dmac Tony leads – tony has a big lead, darren slowly closes the gap. Darren moves on.