| Elite Motorsports Pro Mod And Sportsman Crews Demonstrated Teamwork At Its Finest This Weekend |
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| Elite Motorsports Weekend Recap |
| FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series The weekend was full of emotion and hustle for Lyle Barnett’s Elite Motorsports Pro Mod team at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The talented driver experienced multiple ups and downs over the course of the event, including losing in the first round of eliminations despite setting the track speed record in the same pass. Barnett began his first trip to the historic race track without his Crew Chief, Justin Elkes. Travel complications delayed the skilled tuner and he didn’t make it to the track until about five minutes prior to the third qualifying pass on Saturday. Pro Mod crews run on efficiency and every member is vital. Despite the absence of his crew chief and going up in smoke near the finish line in his first qualifying pass, Barnett’s crew never lost sight of what was at stake. They knew that it would be a tight turnaround to tear things apart, diagnose any issues, and put the car back together in time for the second qualifying pass, which also served as the first round of the D-Wagon NHRA Pro Mod Shootout. The team immediately went into thrashing mode, with the unspoken understanding that timing, precision and communication would be key if they were to get to the staging lanes in time. In the true spirit of drag racing, Barnett’s Pro Mod competitor Stevie “Fast” Jackson (who was slated to compete against Barnett in the first round of the D-Wagon Pro Mod Shootout) was there to lend a hand to help his opponent get to the starting line on time and fully prepared. Unfortunately, Barnett’s car shut off early to give the win to Jackson. Things turned around for Barnett in the final qualifying session of the weekend. His powerful Twin Turbo Pro Mod machine hooked up early and held on for a ferocious pass of 5.806-seconds at 254.04 mph to qualify eighth. He faced Jose Gonzalez in the first round of eliminations this morning. Gonzalez got the starting line advantage and held on for the win, while Barnett’s powerful launch resulted in his best run of the weekend, a 5.774 at 256.16, setting the track speed record in the process. “This weekend was a whirlwind,” said Barnett. “Overall it was more successful than it may have appeared from the outside. To set a speed record our first time at a new track really shows just what this crew is capable of and I’m really proud of my team. Jose and the Q80 team are as good as they come, they’re the reigning champs, and Steve Petty knows how to get down the race track. “It may not have been the result we envisioned, but to see how everyone in the Pro Mod community rallied around us and pitched in to help when we needed it, that’s what this sport is all about – making each other better. We’ve still got a lot of racing left to do this season and I think everything we’re learning right now is about to pay off in a big way. We definitely feel like we have a car that can win, we just gotta string these good runs together! There was a huge shake-up in the points this week. The rest of the year is gonna be interesting. I’d like to thank my crew Justin Elkes, Ben Staas, Mike Earle, my dad, all of my sponsors, and the folks that stand behind my program. God bless the USA!” |
| Sportsman Summary – NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series In drag racing, it’s often true that you only get by with a little help from your friends. Going multiple rounds in their first national event appearances and even picking up a couple of class wins, the power of teamwork was evident in the efforts of the Patterson-Elite crew as Canadian drivers Terry Elias (FSS/B 2022 COPO), his son James Elias (FSS/A 2020 COPO), and their friend and mechanic John Harder (FSS/A 2020 COPO), all of Winkler, Manitoba, Canada, competed in their first NHRA national event in Super Stock. Their friend Larry Dyck (FS/B 2019 COPO), of East St. Paul, Manitoba, competed in the Stock Eliminator category. Kansas natives Todd Patterson (FSS/D 2019 COPO) and Aydan Patterson (FSS/F 2014 COPO) also participated in the Super Stock category for Patterson-Elite. When any one of the gorgeous Patterson-Elite COPO Camaros takes to the line, all heads turn. These sleek, finely-tuned machines beautifully encompass all that is American Muscle. J. Elias powered his red COPO to a victory in Super Stock class eliminations thanks in part to a stunning .009 reaction time. T. Patterson also snagged a Super Stock class win while T. Elias and Harder were runners-up in their class competitions. In addition to these impressive class wins, T. Patterson’s pass of 8.964-seconds landed him in the No. 2 qualifier position in a field of 47 competitive Super Stock entries. J. Elias and Harder also landed in the top half of the qualifying order in the No. 11 and No. 17 positions, respectively. From there, the Patterson-Elite team managed to turn on a few more win lights. J. Elias, T. Elias and T. Patterson powered through the first two rounds of Super Stock competition. In the third round, teammates T. Elias and T. Patterson faced off against each other. T. Patterson got the starting line advantage and held onto it for the round win, advancing his Patterson-Elite COPO Camaro to a quarterfinal appearance. |
| Photos |
With ominous clouds in the distance, Pro Mod driver Lyle Barnett prepares for launch in his Elite Motorsports Twin Turbo Chevrolet Camaro. Photo credit: Auto Imagery  Todd Patterson raced to a quarterfinal appearance in Brainerd, Minn. Photo credit: Auto Imagery |
 James Elias launches a powerful pass in his Super Stock COPO. Photo credit: Auto Imagery John Harder takes his Patterson-Elite Super Stock machine for a fast pass in Brainerd. Photo credit: Auto Imagery |
 Terry Elias catches the eyes of a packed audience at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Photo credit: Auto Imagery Larry Dyck takes to the line in his Stock Eliminator COPO. Photo credit: Auto Imagery |