Ben Swain qualified in 8th in the first day of KOH qualifying.
Ben Swain qualified in 8th in the first day of KOH qualifying.

Story and Photos by Valerie Douglas

Qualifying Day 1 of the Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries did not fail to entertain. Throughout the day, 49 drivers tackled last year’s qualifying course run backwards, which was just around 2 miles, with multiple lines available throughout the course that would, or would not, save a driver time. Yes, short cuts on this course were often slower.

For the first time all week, the sun came out, although the cold biting wind still cut through your jacket like a frigid knife. Sun meant dry qualifying, which many were thankful for as we have already seen snow on the lakebed this week. Today had 49 qualifying for starting order for KOH on Friday, 19 running the Last Chance Qualifier, and 14 were to run in Power Hour.

Tom Wayes was looking good in qualifying ... until he wasn't.
Tom Wayes was looking good in qualifying … until he wasn’t.

Power Hour was amazing to watch as some of the fastest drivers conquered the course…well, almost. Tom Wayes took a beautiful line off a ledge only to hit the flat part and throttle down a bit too much and bicycle the single seat car on its passenger side eventually going 3/4 of the way over.

Chris May is sitting in the 39th spot after the first day of qualifying, but that will certainly change when the next group of racers take the course tomorrow.
Chris May is sitting in the 39th spot after the first day of qualifying, but that will certainly change when the next group of racers take the course tomorrow.

Andrew McLaughlin from Letz Roll (oh, the irony) did an end-over-end landing on the wheels and continued on to the finish line – heck, he even qualified third on the day. The crowd went wild! Check out the spectacular photo sequence of his roll below. But wait, that’s not all! As McLaughlin crossed the finish line he nailed a rock that ended up costing him a tire and wheel.

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But the story of the day was not from Power Hour, but from the Gomez Brothers who qualified blisteringly fast earlier in the day. JP Gomez is sitting on the pole at the end of day one of qualifying. The little guy who really isn’t that quiet is definitely the dark horse to watch this year at the Nitto King of the Hammers powered by Optima Batteries.

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Live Feed of the 2016 Nitto King of the Hammers


Day 1 Qualifying – 2016 Nitto King of the Hammers
1     KOH     RAUL GOMEZ     4483     2:04.16
2     KOH     JP GOMEZ     4482     2:05.32
3     KOHPH1     ANDREW MCLAUGHLIN     4493     2:10.89
4     KOHPH1     CASEY CURRIE     2     2:11.38
5     KOH1     PETE ANTUNAC     679     2:12.96
6     KOH1     JEFF RUSSELL     4427     2:13.47
7     KOH1     JASON T SHIPMAN     4414     2:14.48
8     KOH1     BEN SWAIN     36     2:16.21
9     KOHPH1     GARY FERRAVANTI SR     44     2:16.65
10     KOHPH1     ROB MACCACHREN     4415     2:18.72
11     KOHPH1     CODY WAGGONER     48     2:20.46
12     LCQ1     SHAD KENNEDY     3447     2:22.03     1st LCQ
13     KOHPH1     ALEX HARDAWAY     4481     2:22.33
14     KOH1     GARY FERRAVANTI JR     17     2:25.01
15     KOH1     MATT BURKETT     49     2:25.37
16     KOHPH1     ERIK MILLER     4421     2:26.75
17     KOH1     ROD KAVEN     833     2:26.99
18     LCQ1     CHRIS RIDGWAY     4844     2:28.45     2nd LCQ
19     KOH1     MACY HIGGINS     1215     2:29.70
20     KOH1     MARCOS GOMEZ     4486     2:30.28
21     KOHPH1     JON CAGLIERO     27     2:33.43
22     KOH1     JEREMY SCHNEIDER     4428     2:33.77
23     KOH1     BRENDON THOMPSON     5150     2:33.80
24     KOH1     RANDY RODD     4407     2:34.53
25     LCQ1     JASON BOND WAITS     4412     2:34.59     3rd LCQ
26     KOH1     DUSTIN ISENHOUR     4472     2:34.98
27     LCQ1     JIMMY HAUGHY     55     2:35.19     4th LCQ
28     KOHPH1     BEN NAPIER     4461     2:35.22
29     LCQ1     COREY KUCHTA     4464     2:35.42     5th LCQ
30     KOH1     CODY ADDINGTON     888     2:35.49
31     KOH1     DARREN HENKE     4441     2:36.95
32     KOH1     MARK DANZO     524     2:37.90
33     KOH1     CHRIS HOYT     53     2:38.68
34     KOH1     DON FISHER     1982     2:38.69
35     LCQ1     HAL DESCHAMP     4445     2:40.82
36     KOH1     JAKE YEOMAN     1977     2:40.91
37     LCQ1     JESSE JURADO     45     2:42.53
38     KOH1     MICHAEL FEAGINS     929     2:42.83
39     KOHPH1     CHRIS MAY     725     2:44.11
40     KOH1     SCOTT FOLEY     75     2:44.99     2:29.99 Penalties 15 sec
41     KOH1     TRAVIS  COOK     4440     2:45.86
42     KOH1     BRENT GOEGEBUER     4473     2:49.65
43     KOH1     ROBERT BUTLER     187     2:49.66
44     LCQ1     SHANE CHIDDIX     7777     2:51.16
45     KOHPH1     DOUG JACKSON     61     2:51.77
46     KOH1     CHAD WHEELER     4423     2:51.89
47     LCQ1     AIREN PATRICK     602     2:52.01
48     KOH1     JAY CALLAWAY     4410     2:53.72
49     KOH1     TROY STONE     429     2:55.99
50     KOH1     KENNETH GOODALL     7779     2:57.77
51     KOH1     JEREMY EALAND     1014     3:01.22
52     KOH1     TOM LIU     4402     3:01.63     2:46.63 Penalties 15 sec
53     KOH1     JEREMY HAMMER     97     3:01.83
54     KOH1     VANCE DEMARS     702     3:03.92
55     KOH1     CHRIS SOMMER     678     3:16.20
56     KOH1     MATT THORSON     666     3:23.25
57     KOH1     MIKE BOU     54     3:25.94
58     LCQ1     JOHN WEBB     4468     3:30.58
59     LCQ1     ALAN WOODSON     86     3:36.54
60     KOH1     JOE VARGA     2727     3:39.69
61     KOH1     MICHAEL ABBATTE     572     3:44.70
62     KOH1     MATT GAROFALO     928     3:44.85
63     KOH1     MEL WADE III     4451     3:50.50
64     LCQ1     GEORGE SCHOOLEY     4442     4:24.91
65     KOHPH1     PAUL HORSCHEL     19     4:44.70
66     LCQ1     DARRELL KREBSBACH     553     5:09.53
67     KOH1     LUCAS MURPHY     816     DNF
68     KOH1     BRIAN WOOD     4477     DNF
69     KOH1     MATT NIEMAN     4487     DNF
70     LCQ1     PHILLIP MCGILTON     47     DNF
71     LCQ1     STEVE DUKE     409     DNF     Rolled
72     LCQ1     FABIO MANNO     100     DNF     Rolled
73     KOHPH1     TONY PELLEGRINO     4485     DNF
74     KOHPH1     TOM WAYES     321     DNF
75     KOH1     DUSTIN SEXTON     4437     DNS
76     KOH1     PETER BASLER     4598     DNS
77     KOH1     JONATHAN TERHUNE     890     DNS
78     KOH1     JOSHUA BERTSCHY     4219     DNS
79     KOH1     RYAN STAMBAUGH     22     DNS
80     LCQ1     AARON PETERS     42     DNS
81     LCQ1     JOSH PATT     37     DNS
82     LCQ1     JOHN FAULKNER     4117     DNS
83     LCQ1     SHAWN HOLLAND     16     DNS
84     KOHPH1     JASON BLANTON     966     DNS