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Mike Castellana powered to the qualifying lead Friday during the E3 Spark Plugs 91���� Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Dragway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented Jerry Bickel Race Cars, is the first of 12 events this season.

Castellana ran a 5.753-second pass at 251.11 mph in the first of two qualifying sessions in his Al Anabi Racing ’69 Camaro to take the current No. 1 position.

“To come out in the first round of qualifying this season and qualify in the top spot shows the effort that my team put in to have a car we can make some great runs in,” Castellana said. “Our plan is to make sure we make the necessary adjustments to the car to continue being in that top spot tomorrow.”

Steve Jackson is currently qualified second with a 5.754 at 250.60 and Shane Molinari is initially qualified third with a 5.771 at 256.16.

Castellana finished the 2017 season second in the Pro Mod points standings as he chases his first category championship in 2018.

E3 Spark Plugs 91���� Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service qualifying continues Saturday at 1:30 p.m.