A passing shower at just the right moment has put a halt to Friday’s opening day of competition at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway just moments from the beginning of the evening session.

Despite the delays point leaders Kenny Lang (Pro Modified) and John Montecalvo (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) both took advantage of their single passes on Friday with chart topping laps in their respective divisions.

With the passes Lang and Montecalvo put themselves one step closer to claiming a championship once the season is wrapped up on Sunday.

Kenny Lang

As for Friday a few minor accidents and early morning sprinkles delayed a majority of the opening day of competition. A passing storm in the early evening hours finally brought to an end to the final day of the Champion System Sportsman Nationals presented by VP and the first day of the IHRA World Finals at The Rock.

Two of the three professional categories got in a single pass during the opening round of qualifying on Friday and a majority of the Sportsman Nationals event went into the books, but the delays have forced the rest of the Sportsman Nationals to be finished on Saturday.

Once the Sportsman Nationals are in the books time trials will begin for the Tournament of Champions qualifiers followed by the final two professional qualifying sessions Saturday evening.

Sportsman Competition

In the single round of qualifying among the professionals point leader Kenny Lang (Grande Pointe, Manitoba) showed once again why he is the class of the field with a chart topping 6.032 second lap at 236.51 miles per hour to put him in the top spot after a single pass.

Fredy Scriba (Abingdon, Md.), pilot of the ’63 Corvette Sorcerer machine, qualified second with a 6.056 second pass. Pete Farber (6.157), Andrew Parise (6.387) and Dina Parise (6.466) round out the top five entering Saturday’s competition.

Second place man in points Ed Hoover, who is still holding on to a slim shot at the title, ran into trouble during his run and limped across the line. After one round he is currently not qualified.

In Elite Motorsports Pro Stock John Montecalvo (Center Moriches, N.Y.) took the top spot with a chart topping 6.358 second lap at 218.30 miles per hour. Bob Bertsch (Willis, Mich.) was just behind Montecalvo with a 6.385 second pass.

Frank Gugliotta (near) and John Montecalvo

Frank Gugliotta, who is chasing Montecalvo in the championship points, qualified third with a 6.405 second pass. Richard Freeman (6.406) and Pete Berner (6.408) round out the top five.

Top Fuel did not make a pass on Friday.

Racing will pick back up at 9 a.m. on Saturday with eliminations for the Sportsman Nationals followed immediately by time trials for the Tournament of Champions qualifiers and qualifying for the professional categories.

Sportsman Competition

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Results Friday afterqualifying for the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway, tenth of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.  Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

 Pro Modified -- 1. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.032, 236.51; 2. Frederick Scriba, Corvette, 6.056, 234.41; 3. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.157, 227.69; 4. Andrew Parise, Corvette, 6.387, 226.20; 5. Dina Parise, Corvette, 6.466, 225.45; 6. Andy Jensen, Chevy Camaro, 6.467, 214.21; 7. Mark Nielsen, Camaro, 6.467, 173.05; 8. Nick Montana, Chevy Bel Air, 6.482, 212.49; 9. Harold Martin, Martin M 4, 6.581, 223.10; 10. Adam Flamholc, Camaro, 6.615, 167.41; 11. Fidelio Montrond, Corvette, 6.791, 209.39; 12. Benny Alfonso, Pontiac Firebird, 7.987, 114.82; 13. Chris Russo, Corvette, 8.021, 204.88; 14. Tony Pontieri, Camaro, 8.094, 118.31; 15. Frank Patille III, Buick Special, 8.680, 117.12; 16. Tommy Gray, Camaro, 9.142, 89.89.  Not Qualified: 17. Ed Hoover, 14.046, 59.52.

Pro Stock -- 1. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.358, 218.30; 2. Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 6.385, 216.38; 3. Frank Gugliotta, Pontiac GXP, 6.405, 216.34; 4. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.406, 215.68; 5. Pete Berner, GXP, 6.408, 216.00; 6. John Konigshofer, Mustang, 6.417, 215.27; 7. Mark Martino, Cobalt, 6.442, 217.28; 8. John Pluchino, Mercury Cougar, 6.452, 214.79; 9. Ned Katuran, Cobalt, 6.466, 214.76; 10. Rocky Watford, Cobalt, 6.471, 216.58; 11. Trevor Eman, Ford Escort, 6.497, 214.28; 12. JR Carr, GXP, 6.500, 214.96; 13. Lester Cooper, Mustang, 6.609, 207.53; 14. Bert Jackson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.649, 179.76; 15. Carl Baker, Escort, 8.224, 120.49.  Not Qualified: 16. Ron Miller, DQ.