The Old Fifty One has got a new driver for 2006 as multi-time Pro Stock champ Niclas Andersson has vacated his ride in Micke Kagered's Methanol Funny Car that has yielded mixed results over the past few seasons.
With motivation from a blown big block Chevrolet, Niclas was fourth qualifier at 6.486, and then used consistent mid sixes and rapid reaction times to run to a semi final finish against Johansson, having defeated Marc Meihuizen in the quarter finals by a barely perceptible
0.000016 seconds, or 0.061 inches / 1.539mm.
The only semi-final spot not occupied by the Swedes was taken by Germany's Norbert Kuno and his blown Dodge Avenger. Having run to a tenth spot in the 2005 series, Kuno was lucky to get into the field with a 7.000 for fifteenth spot, but then benefitted from Freddie Fagerstrom's vicious tireshake in the first round and Marko Lantto's failure to fire in the second. However, the luck ran out in the semi's when a similar fate befell the red, white and blue Mopar, but a good start to the season nonetheless.
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