NDRL drivers unloaded at US131 Motorsports park for the fifth round of the Race Star Wheels-NDRL Championship series, the Freedom Racing Engines Hot Rod Nationals. Drivers were ready on Friday for qualifying and the track was in prime condition but the drizzling rain would not let up so the night was called off putting pressure on the drivers as they would get one shot at the track on Saturday morning and straight into first round. Performance Automotive Racing Engines PRO Gas hit the track first with the top five all running within .009 of their indexes but none better than Bob Klink who was dead zero earning the bye run for round one and the Dishon Transmission Qualifying bonus. Semi final pairings found Nick Dishon chasing Brain Bruckman and pushing him under to meet up with Jim Hayes who advanced on a bye. The final was all Dishon as he left with the advantage and pushed Hayes under and taking the win on a double breakout. Renegade Racing Fuels PRO Comp rolled past the tower next and the qualifying numbers were just as good. Brett Edwards barely escaped Brian Bourne by .0002 earning the possible bye and the Dishon Qualifying bonus. Semi final pairings found Tom Mallack advancing over a red lite from Andrew Redpath to meet up with Todd Kapp who advanced with the bye. Kapp had the first bulb and was off to only see his win light come on when Mallack went red. Phenix Industries PRO 7.5 drivers showed no signs of letting up and Ohio Native Derek McCuistion found the top of the ladder besting Kerry Millet, James Hayes, Bo Boles, and Pat Malloy to round out the top five. McCuistions pass landed him the possible bye for round one and the Dishon Transmission low qualifier bonus. Semi final pairings had Verne Griffith advancing over Kelly Freels Key to meet up with McCuistion who survived a double red light start over Malloy. Final round was decided by eight thousandths as Griffith had a huge advantage but couldn’t cover the index while McCuistion was dead one to take the win. Ross Racing Engines PRO 7.0, the fastest cars in the series, came up last with Ronny Robinson running dead one to take the bye and the Dishon bonus money followed by Paul Applebaum, Don Nave, Dana Glick, and Cory Millet. Semi Final pairings found Jeffrey Sanborn advancing on a bye to meet up with Larry Harlen who advanced over Robbie Freels. The final was over quickly as Harlen flickered it red with Sanborn taking the win. The next round of racing, the ET Genie Fall Finals, will be at Beech Bend Raceway Park October 11-12. As always, we would like to thank our partners-- Ross Racing Engines, Phenix Industries, Renegade Racing fuels, Performance automotive Racing engines, Freedom Racing Engines. Gateway Kartplex, Lug Nutz, Competition Products, Howards Cams, ET Genie, DJ Safety, Sexton Wilbert Corporation Deist Safety, Xs Power, Saldana Racing Products, Moser Engineering, Hagerty, Dishon Transmission Service Powermaster, Biemer's BBQ, AACO Golf Carts and Parts, Callies Performance Products, Terry's Truck and Trailer Equipment, Chuck-A-Burger Drive-In Restaurant, Hot Heads Research, M&E Pump, Hoosier Gear, and DRE Engine Diapers.