After his return on the European championship scene mid-season reigning champion Jimmy Ålund and team have shown good form performancewise. The event at Hockenheim was no different and Ålund qualified number one off the trailer with an impressive 6.75 sec. run (14 hundreds quicker than Micke Callin who was 2nd at the time). In the final qualification standings Ålund was ahead by 0.079 from no.2 qualifier Michael Malmgren.



But no matter how impressive and consistent most of Ålund´s runs are to watch, his decision to start the race season 2010 in the US contributes to the fact he will have nothing to do with the European Pro Stock Champion title 2010.

As things have progressed this season it has become a matter mainly between "the two Michaels´" and  Jan Palmqvist. 



Malmgren and Callin have taken turns in winning events (Callin the season opener in England with Malmgren runner-up, while  Malmgren won in Finland).

Although still without an event win Jan "Mr. Snowball" Palmqvist is soon beginning to be accustomed to finding himself in finals (in Finland and now at Hockenheim).

When entering the NitrOlympx the championship ranking for this top trio was that Michael Malmgren lead by 55 points to Michael Callin and 74 points to Palmqvist.



Jonas Engdahl does his first season in Pro Stock as the driver of the Samantha Racing Dodge Avenger. He has gained confidence quickly and shows a steep learning  curve and at Hockenheim Engdahl set a new personal record by 7.010. He qualified no.7  in the same performance range as veteran Richard Nixxon Sundblom, but was taken out in the quarter-finals by Malmgren. Engdahl and Samantha Racing might well be a force to count with in the longer perspective.

Sundblom´s season so far has not been what he hoped  and at Hockenheim the event resulted in the 6th qualification spot succeeded by a no-show in the quarter finals against Callin.



Tommy Leindahl´s Chevy Cobalt is probably the most commented car in the class from fans at all ages (including myself) for its heart warming appearance this season. And at a steady performance level in the 6.90´s Leindahl may well win runs. This time however his participation ended already in the quarter-finals after pulling a red-light against Palmqvist.

The Pro Stock class only non-scandinavian participant Harald Sturhan this time had no cure to prevent an early loss against  Ålund in the quarter finals.   



The award for "achievement of the event" I hand to Jan Palmqvist, who many might have thought would not make it past the semi-final with Ålund in the other lane, but Palmqvist under pressure just did his thing and managed a fine 6.87 run where "Jimma" hit tires shake for long enough time for Palmqvist to pass. The clock in Ålund´s lane stopped at 7.09 and "Jimma" somewhat surprising out of competition.

The other semi-final was between no.1 and no.2 points holders Michael Malmgren and Michael Callin. For Callin a win was crucial to improve his chances in last phase of the championship battle. The run was to be a thriller where Callin was out from the startline first and had the better 60-foot time but was caught up towards mid track by Malmgren and lost over the finish line by a mere 0.0089 sec. 

Leaving the NitrOlympx with only the European Finals event at Santa Pod remaining, Michael Malmgren´s championship lead appear comfortable (but still not certain) - now 76 points ahead of Michael Callin and 77 ahead of Palmqvist.  

FIA PRO STOCK
Winner: Final rained off

	QUALIFYING:		ET	MPH	KPH
1	Jimmy Ålund	SWE	6.747	205.03	329.9
2	Michael Malmgren	SWE	6.826	203.29	327.1
3	Michael Callin	SWE	6.898	201.55	324.3
4	Tommy Leindahl	SWE	6.920	200.55	322.7
5	Jan Palmqvist	SWE	6.924	202.48	325.8
6	Richard Sundblom	SWE	7.011	202.11	325.2
7	Jonas Engdahl	SWE	7.019	198.69	319.7
8	Harald Sturhan	GER	7.164	192.97	310.5

ELIMINATIONS:

Round 1:
Jimmy Ålund 6.780/327.94 def. Harald Sturhan 7.459/310.46 
Jan Palmqvist 24.719/45.49 def. Tommy Leindahl (red-light) 6.961/319.54
Michael Malmgren 6.801/326.02 def. Jonas Engdahl 7.010/320.11
Michael Callin 6.935/322.29 def. Richard Sundblom  no show

Round 2:
Jan Palmqvist 6.874/326.41 def. Jimmy Ålund 7.097/325.72
Michael Malmgren 6.836/327.79 def. Michael Callin 6.895/306.86

Final
Jan Palmqvist vs. Michael Malmgren - cancelled due to rain


Low Elapsed Time of the Meet: 6.747 sec. – Jimmy Ålund
Top Speed of the Meet: 205.05 mph / 329.93 kph – Jimmy Ålund