Las Vegas: Team Koretsky final qualifying report

Team Koretsky
NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Qualifying: Richie Stevens
Session #1 Friday: 7.075 seconds at 195.34 mph (# 24)
Session #2 Friday: 7.045 seconds at 195.93 mph (#24)
Session #1 Saturday: 7.030 seconds at 196.10 mph (#22)
Session #2 Saturday: 7.046 seconds at 195.93 mph (#23)

Qualifying: Kenny Koretsky
Session #1 Friday: 7.074 seconds at 195.70 mph (# 23)
Session #2 Friday: 7.047 seconds at 195.53 mph (#25)
Session #1 Saturday: 7.045 seconds at 195.34 mph (#25)
Session #2 Saturday: 7.034 seconds at 195.70 mph (#24)

Team Koretsky misses Vegas field

LAS VEGAS -- If you didn't get into the 16 car field during Friday evening's qualifying session, chances are you didn't get into the Pro Stock field at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals. Neither Team Koretsky car made the field on Friday.

Then, with the heat soaring on Saturday, both the Valspar Refinish/Snap-On Pontiac Grand Am of Richie "the Kid" Stevens, from New Orleans, and the Cyclo Industries/Valspar Refinish Grand Am of team owner and driver Kenny Koretsky, from Richboro, Pa., faced an uphill battle. It was a battle that both drivers lost. Stevens finished in the No. 23 spot on the qualifying grid, Koretsky 24th.

Team manager Eddie Guarnaccia, Jr., said this regarding the weekend's qualifying, "Even though we tested well last week at Atlanta, I always said until we showed up at a race with our peers we don't know how good the testing went. The second thing is that the tune-up at Las Vegas is unique. Finally, when you only have one good session and you miss the tune-up on that session, you've got very little hope in the hot temperatures here in Vegas. In our case, we just didn't hit the tune-up on Friday night and when we did on Saturday it was too hot. Although we ran well we still didn't get in. That's racing. That's what goes on in this deal.

"I think you will see the results of our test session next week at Houston. Houston going to be on the other side of the map - - good barometer, great air and good track conditions. If we don't run well in Houston, I'd be real surprised."

Stevens is also looking to Houston. He said, "Houston is my home track. It the closest track we have to New Orleans. I always look forward to going to Houston every year. We haven't been doing too well lately. I want to go into Houston with a positive attitude. I want to do good. I just want to qualify. Give me a chance on Sunday. I want to make a good showing, especially in front of the hometown fans."

On his way to Houston, Koretsky found a ray of sunshine in his qualifying passes in Las Vegas. "Even with the heat, we improved each time down the track. That encourages me as the team heads to Houston. I am disappointed about not qualifying here, especially for all the Team Koretsky sponsors, but look to make Houston our coming out party," said Koretsky.

Next up for Team Koretsky is the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, the fifth of 23 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional qualifying begins on Friday, April 12 and concludes with eliminations on Sunday, April 14.

-tk-