*7th September:* Day two of searching for ex-pat UK Fuel Smax Smith at New England Dragway started with downpours which were the remains of Hurricane Gustav, writes Eurodragster.com's US Correspondent Ed O'Connell:
©Eurodragster.com
The rain ends but the skies don't clear as the leading edge of another hurricane, Hanna, is moving in. I arrive at Epping which is on hurricane schedule, meaning that the 2:00 pm Pro session will go off at 1:00 pm.
The Leverich Racing dragster which Smax is driving in Top Fuel has arrived and a serious thrash is going on in his pit to get the car together to make the first session and beat Hanna. They just have time to warm the car up on alcohol and are still assembling the engine as it rolls into the staging lanes.

There is a cylinder out at the hit and at least one more goes out down track on a clean but sluggish run of 6.06. The bump spot which was 8.42 after last night's session moves up to 5.2 in this session, so they don't make the field. The cloud cover is so black it looks like Armageddon rather than Hanna may be approaching so a final night qualifying session looks unlikely /(and in fact didn't happen - Ed/

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