One of the greatest parts of my job is getting a chance to experience races from many different vantage points, and during the first qualifying session today, I had the opportunity to join ND photog extraordinaire Jerry Foss as he ventured to the top end. I have to admit that in my nearly nine years on the ND staff, I haven’t gone to the top end a lot of times, but after my adventure this afternoon, I definitely think I will have to change that. As one might expect, it gives you a very different view and experience than watching from the starting line area.

It was an amazing, interesting, and fun experience, and there were many things that caught my eye. The obvious is seeing the drivers after the run with the raw emotion and initial reaction to the run, but I will save that for a moment because that is not what amazed or interested me most as I was down there. That instead goes to the track and safety workers. They work behind the giant inflatables that are on the left side of the track and are obscured from the view of most spectators, meaning most people don't get to see the great job they do. With everything that goes on on the top end, it could be a really chaotic place, but the Safety Safari and other officials have things down so well it never is — things work like a well-oiled machine, a carefully choreographed ballet, a … well insert your own favorite pun about things that are well planned and executed well here. I spoke with Kurt Johnson (no not the Pro Stock racer, silly, NHRA’s Kurt Johnson), and he said at an average race, they have 14 guys working at the top end, directing cars, assisting the drivers out, rolling up parachutes, and helping with whatever else needs to be done. Though the guys often occupy almost the same piece of real estate and are often working in nearly the same spot, they pull it off with great efficiency. It’s really an interesting thing to watch in action. We all know they are there, but I think we often forget about them since they do such a marvelous job.

Now onto the guys and gals the safety crew is up there assisting run after run. Watching the drivers emerge from their cars and seeing the unfiltered, genuine emotion from all of them is absolutely fascinating. Though it’s hard to keep up with the times and how each driver did on their run, it is readily apparent by how they come out of the car or carry themselves. This is most pronounced in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Take John Nobile in Pro Stock for example. He bounded out of his car, let out a loud, ‘Woo,’ then began asking anyone and everyone nearby, ‘What’d it run? What’d it run? What it ran was a 6.665 that moved him from 29th to 15th on the sheets.

Equally excited was newcomer Ryan Ondrejko, who ran a career-best 6.641 to move to the top half of the field — if he remains there, it will be his first ever start from the quick eight. “My first U.S. Nationals,” said Ondrejko excitedly. “I always wanted to come here when I was Sportsman racing but never could, so to be here and doing so well is so cool.”

On the other side of the coin, it was also painfully obvious when things didn’t quite go according to plans. Some drivers lingered a bit in removing their helmets or getting out of their cars as they contemplated what went wrong and what could have been. Others just shook their heads or found comfort with a fellow racer, explaining what they thought may have happened. Some bike riders found an out-of-the-way corner to escape everyone and collect their thoughts.

It was definitely an interesting way to watch the round of qualifying.