Pro Stock Review FHRA Nitro Nationals
Once again I was unable to attend the Alastaro in person, however I remained updated through a combination of the excellent web TV service and live updates from the ever informative Eurodragster team.
Before this event, the championship leader was Thomas Lindström with 184 points leading from Jimmy Ålund on 113.


Jimmy Ålund (right) with crew chief Petter watched the race while waiting for their turn

“Normal Service” was resumed in the Ålund camp at Tierp, but Thomas Lindström stayed on top when the two went to the final together.  Thomas won that final on a hole shot from a fast charging Jimmy.  Jimmy showed the power and speed we expected from the new Camaro and is clearly getting a good handle on the machinery, so the championship looks alive and vibrant.


It is great to see Richard “Nixxon” Sundblom on the entry list, a car with big top end speed like Richard’s could upset the game in Finland.

Micke Callin and Michael Malmgren both had uncharacteristically poor weekends in Tierp and will both be looking to make amends and restart their championship attacks for 2012. 

Thomas Lindström will not have it all his own way this year for certain, but which racer will take his winning streak away from him is anyone’s guess 


Thomas Lindström (center)

Friday Qualification

Lindström maintains his strangle hold on speed and traction with a solid 6.688.  With eleven cars chasing 8 places in eliminations, there must always be 3 on the outside looking in, after Fridays 2 attempts, these three are Ulf Wagnhester, Bo Pettersson and Christian Sagelv

Saturday Qualification

Very little changes in Saturday qualifications.  A few improvements are made by a few drivers, but the only position change is Ulf Wagnhester moving up one spot from last to 10th and therefore not changing the overall ladder

Elminations Results see below.

Next FIA Championship round is the NitrOlympx at HockenheimRing in Germany August 10-12th


Mats Jacobsson (near lane) and Christian Sagelv


Ulf Wagnhester (near lane) and Jan Palmqvist


Qualifying Results

ET Sec

KPH

Thomas Lindström SWE

6.688

335.12

Jimmy Ålund    SWE

6.711

333.42

Richard Sundblom FIN

6.776

327.69

Micke Callin SWE

6.807

317.84

Sampsa Palos FIN

6.816

329.55

Michael Malmgren SWE

6.829

327.32

Jan Palmqvist SWE

6.842

325.99

Mats Jacobsson SWE

6.936

322.65

Christian Sagelv SWE

6.974

317.42

Ulf Wagnhester SWE

6.984

318.89

Bo Pettersson SWE

7.501

255.63



Sunday – Eliminations
First pair in eliminations are Micke Callin (L) and Sampsa Palos(R)
Micke gets out of the box much quicker than Sampsa and holds on all the way for the win.  6.813 at 321kph for Micke to 6.395 at 328kph for Sampsa

Next pair is a rematch of the first elimination at Tierp, the Gulf oil Ford of Christian Sagelv against the Chevrolet Camaro of Jimmy Ålund.  Christian is very slow into stage, and at the hit, Jimmy moves hard left, but he holds on and drags the car back into the groove to grab the win light
6.937 for Jimmy to Christian’s 7.236

Next up we have Michael Malmgren against Richard Sundblom.  Nothing in it from the line, but the tail of Richards car is moving about before 1000ft and it looks like he clicks off.  Michael takes the win
6.880 for Michael 7.608 for Richard

Final pair are Thomas Lindström against Mats Jacobsson, and this round is all over before it starts, Thomas goes red and hands the next round to Mats

Sunday Eliminations Round 2
Winners and pairings from round one are

Micke Callin against Mats Jacobsson
Michael Malmgren against Jimmy Ålund

Mats goes red, and it looks like Micke sees it as he runs up into shake and backs right out.

Jimmy and Michael have raced each other a lot of times over the years and they know each other too well to play games on the line.  This time is no different, both men move into stage in their usual fashions, and the race is on.  It is a good drag race too which Jimmy takes with a 6.724 to Michaels 6.840

Sunday – Final
Sadly rain stops racing at Alastaro, so Pro-Stock is all done for the weekend.  The final would have pitted Jimmy Ålund against Micke Callin


On track - Jimmy Ålund


Micke Callin reached the final at Alastaro


Last second adjustments being done to the wheelie bars of Michael Malmgrens Pro Stocker


Thomas Lindström on his way back to the pits after a succesful qualification run


Text: Ian Hart
Photos: Patrik Jacobsson, Lena Perés & Åsa Kinnemar

This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #9/2012

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