Johnson rockets to FC pole with 4.67; Schumacher, Stevens, Ellis also lead
By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. covered Route 66 Raceway in 4.672 seconds Friday night to highlight a very quick opening day of racing at the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. The $1.9 million race is the 10th of 23 on the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Johnson's pass was his best ever and the third quickest in class history. Richie Stevens also earned high praise for posting a 6.635 at 207.40 mph, the second quickest Pro Stock pass ever. Top Fuel's reigning champion Tony Schumacher continues to qualify well, carding a 4.484 at 329 mph to lead Top Fuel, while Chip Ellis teased the Pro Stock Motorcycle world with a track record 7.015.
Johnson could break a five and a half-year drought if his 4.672 at 328.70 mph in Funny Car keeps him in the No. 1 position through Saturday's final two qualifying sessions. Johnson last recorded a low qualifier at the first Pomona race in 2001, his initial event with Skoal and Don Prudhomme Racing. T.J.'s elapsed time was the third quickest ever and a personal best. The last time Chevy led Funny Car was at the fall Chicago race in 2005.
"I knew that was a good pass but I didn't know it was that good," Johnson said. "I had to drive it around quite a bit down there. My radio wasn't working and when I came around the corner they held up a No. 1 so I knew then it was quick. But when they said 4.67, I was like, 'What did you say?' I couldn't believe it.
"We've been a good solid team waiting for something like this to happen. I'm really happy for the guys. This is all due to their hard work. I just steer the thing."
Eric Medlen, Robert Hight, and Cruz and Tony Pedregon also recorded 4.6-second runs Friday. Ford teammates Medlen and Hight were second and third with Medlen posting a 4.681 in his Castrol Syntec car and Hight a 4.685 in the Auto Club Mustang. The Pedregon brothers were fourth and fifth in their Monte Carlos, Cruz carding a 4.689 and Tony a 4.694.
Dale Creasy Jr. of Beecher, Ill., represents the bump with a 4.836 at 293.28 mph in the Torco Chevrolet. POWERade points leader Ron Capps is not qualified at the midway point of qualifying. His best pass in the Brut Dodge was a 5.326 in Round 1.
Schumacher's 4.484 at 329.50 mph in a brand-new U.S. Army dragster set him up for his sixth low qualifier award of the year if that number holds. While the 4.48 was impressive, Schumacher seemed more pleased with the 4.62 he posted in Round 2.
"We made two runs in a row, yeah," Schumacher said. "You need a car that goes down the track more than once a weekend. I think we've finally got it. It's no secret that Alan [Johnson, crew chief] made a bunch of changes in the car since Topeka and we're just starting to see what it's all about now. So far, so good.
"The No. 1 spot hasn't been working for anyone this year but I'm not buying the curse thing. It's up to the team to get it done. We qualified No. 1 a bunch of times last year and won most of those races. It's just a matter of executing. There is no curse."
Doug Herbert, whose last win came here in the fall of 2004, is No. 2 after a 4.507 in the Snap-on Tools rail. Herbert's other run was a 4.52. Doug Kalitta, the winner of three of the last four races, is third with a 4.510 in the Mac Tools dragster.
Joe Hartley is the final qualifier with a best of 4.705. Season-long Top Fuel leader Melanie Troxel is not part of the top 16. She'll have a restless night as she waits for two more chances to improve Saturday.
It appears crew chief David Nickens has gained some control of Don Schumacher Racing's Mopar Dodge Pro Stock program as he tuned Stevens to the second quickest pass in class history, a 6.635 at 207.40 mph, in just his fifth race at the helm. The run set a Route 66 E.T. record and was the quickest and fastest run of Stevens' seven-year career.
"David did a lot with the motors over the past two weeks," Stevens said. "He really didn't have time to do much more than dyno them since he's been here but having a weekend off between Topeka and here gave him a chance to get them back to his shop and totally break them down and work some of his magic. I'm happier for him right now than anything else.
"We needed this to boost our morale. We've been in the dumps lately but this has us excited, especially with the King Demon Crown tomorrow. It's been a few years since I've been in that deal so to go in it with a car that just made the quickest Mopar pass of all time has me feeling pretty good. I think we have something for Kurt [Johnson, his first round opponent in the special race.]"
Mike Edwards, who has lost in the first round in four of the last five races since winning the Houston event, is second in the Young Life Pontiac with a 6.650. The only two-time winner in the class this year, Dave Connolly, stayed hot with a third-best 6.653 in the Skull Gear Cobalt. Class champion Greg Anderson is fifth overall with a 6.663.
Larry Morgan is on the bump with a 6.706 at 205.63 mph in his zMax Micro Lubricants Dodge Stratus R/T. The provisional bump is just five thousandths of a second -- and two cars -- off the quickest Pro Stock field ever.
It seemed appropriate that Ellis used a career-best elapsed time of 7.015 to lead the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle field ever assembled. The rider of the Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin blasted the track record of 7.093 seconds with his Round 1 run. By the end of the day, the top seven riders were all quicker than the year-old mark.
Perhaps the most perplexing thing was Ellis' inability to improve on the run in the much cooler evening session. After his opening pass, anticipation was high that he would become just the second rider ever to record a six-second run.
"All this hype about the sixes is just that, hype," Ellis said. "I just want to go out there and make the best pass we can make. We went 7.05 [in Round 2] and that's pretty good. If we work on making good passes then we'll have the success we want. If [a six-second run] happens, it happens.
"I thought the air was going to be a little better than it was [in Round 2.] The adjusted altitude dropped 300 feet in an hour and I figured it would keep dropping. George [Bryce, crew chief] had the tune-up but I begged him to let me put more fuel in it. That was my mistake."
The rest of the heavyweights are crowded near the top of the ladder. Reigning back-to-back champ Andrew Hines is second with a 7.038 on his Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod. Current point leader Angelle Sampey is third with a 7.058 on the U.S. Army Suzuki, while her teammate and third-place points earner Antron Brown follows in fourth with a 7.073.
Snap-on Tools rider Steve Johnson anchors the quick 16 with 7.138 at 187.52 mph. The previous quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle field was set last year in Gainesville when the bump spot was 7.149.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.484 seconds, 329.50 mph; 2. Doug Herbert, 4.507, 317.57; 3. Doug Kalitta, 4.510, 324.98; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 4.528, 327.19; 5. J.R. Todd, 4.529, 326.40; 6. David Grubnic, 4.531, 323.35; 7. Rod Fuller, 4.534, 330.96; 8. Hillary Will, 4.539, 323.35; 9. Larry Dixon, 4.540, 325.30; 10. Cory McClenathan, 4.576, 327.98; 11. Morgan Lucas, 4.592, 313.88; 12. David Baca, 4.597, 320.28; 13. Brandon Bernstein, 4.610, 324.75; 14. Andrew Cowin, 4.657, 316.38; 15. Scott Weis, 4.670, 324.83; 16. Joe Hartley, 4.705, 306.95.
Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.672, 328.70; 2. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.681, 327.51; 3. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.685, 328.06; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.689, 329.02; 5. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.694, 315.34; 6. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Charger, 4.700, 329.99; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.731, 320.97; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.742, 329.50; 9. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo, 4.756, 329.83; 10. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.761, 325.92; 11. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.801, 305.91; 12. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.802, 314.97; 13. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.804, 322.42; 14. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 4.810, 317.05; 15. Scott Kalitta, Monte Carlo, 4.831, 321.35; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.836, 293.28.
Pro Stock -- 1. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.635, 207.40; 2. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GTO, 6.650, 207.27; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.653, 206.80; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.659, 207.27; 5. Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.663, 207.75; 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.664, 207.43; 7. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.667, 206.64; 8. Jason Line, GTO, 6.669, 206.99; 9. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.680, 207.02; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.683, 206.83; 11. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt, 6.683, 206.26; 12. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.686, 206.20; 13. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 6.691, 206.99; 14. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.693, 206.89; 15. Steve Schmidt, GTO, 6.704, 205.63; 16. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.706, 205.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.015, 189.26; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.038, 190.48; 3. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.058, 189.15; 4. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.073, 189.28; 5. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.081, 189.12; 6. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.081, 187.94; 7. Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.081, 187.00; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.093, 188.36; 9. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.102, 189.04; 10. Tom Bradford, Buell, 7.102, 187.55; 11. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.102, 185.23; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.105, 188.25; 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.114, 184.22; 14. Marco Andreano, Buell, 7.118, 184.65; 15. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.119, 188.44; 16. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.138, 187.52.
2006 NHRA Spring Joliet Coverage
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
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Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
RECORD-SETTING TIMES POSTED IN CHICAGO IN OPENING QUALIFYING ROUNDS;
NITRO POINTS LEADERS HAVE YET TO MAKE CUT
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9) -- Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. covered Route 66 Raceway in 4.672 seconds Friday night to highlight a very quick opening day of racing at the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. The $1.9 million race is the 10th of 23 on the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Johnson's pass was his best ever and the third quickest in category history. Richie Stevens also earned high praise for posting a 6.635 at 207.40 mph, the second quickest Pro Stock pass ever. Qualifying concludes on Saturday.
Top Fuel's reigning champion Tony Schumacher continues to qualify well, carding a 4.484 at 329 mph to lead Top Fuel, while Chip Ellis teased the Pro Stock Motorcycle world with a track record 7.015, which led the quickest NHRA motorcycle field of all time.
Johnson could break a five and a half year drought if his 4.672 at 328.70 mph keeps his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo No. 1 in Funny Car through the final two qualifying sessions. Johnson last recorded a low qualifier at the first Pomona race in 2001, his initial event with Don Prudhomme Racing.
"I knew that was a good pass but I didn't know it was that good," Johnson said. "I had to drive it around quite a bit down there. My radio wasn't working and when I came around the corner they held up a No. 1 so I knew then it was quick. But when they said 4.67, I was like, 'What did you say?' I couldn't believe it."
Schumacher's 4.484 at 329.50 mph in a brand new U.S. Army dragster set him up for his sixth low qualifier award of the year if that number holds. While the 4.48 was impressive, Schumacher seemed more pleased with the 4.62 he posted in the second round.
"We made two runs in a row, yeah," Schumacher said. "You need a car that goes down the track more than once a weekend. I think we've finally got it. It's no secret that Alan [Johnson, crew chief] made a bunch of changes in the car since Topeka and we're just starting to see what it's all about now. So far, so good."
Melanie Troxel and Ron Capps, the current points leaders in Top Fuel and Funny Car, have not qualified for their respective fields at the midway point of time trials.
It appears crew chief David Nickens has gained some control of Don Schumacher Racing's Mopar Dodge Pro Stock program as he tuned Stevens to his track record number in just his fifth race at the helm.
"David did a lot with the motors over the past two weeks," Stevens said. "He really didn't have time to do much more than dyno them since he's been here but having a weekend off between Topeka and here gave him a chance to get them back to his shop and totally break them down and work some of his magic. I'm happier for him right now than anything else."
Perhaps the most perplexing part of the Pro Stock Motorcycle action was Ellis' inability to improve on his opening run of 7.015 at 189.26 mph in the cooler evening session. After his first pass, anticipation was high that he would become just the second rider ever to record a six-second run, but he slowed to a 7.05 instead.
"All this hype about the sixes is just that, hype," Ellis said. "I just want to go out there and make the best pass we can make. We went 7.05 [in Round 2] and that's pretty good. If we work on making good passes then we'll have the success we want. If [a six-second run] happens, it happens."
NITRO POINTS LEADERS HAVE YET TO MAKE CUT
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9) -- Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. covered Route 66 Raceway in 4.672 seconds Friday night to highlight a very quick opening day of racing at the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. The $1.9 million race is the 10th of 23 on the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Johnson's pass was his best ever and the third quickest in category history. Richie Stevens also earned high praise for posting a 6.635 at 207.40 mph, the second quickest Pro Stock pass ever. Qualifying concludes on Saturday.
Top Fuel's reigning champion Tony Schumacher continues to qualify well, carding a 4.484 at 329 mph to lead Top Fuel, while Chip Ellis teased the Pro Stock Motorcycle world with a track record 7.015, which led the quickest NHRA motorcycle field of all time.
Johnson could break a five and a half year drought if his 4.672 at 328.70 mph keeps his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo No. 1 in Funny Car through the final two qualifying sessions. Johnson last recorded a low qualifier at the first Pomona race in 2001, his initial event with Don Prudhomme Racing.
"I knew that was a good pass but I didn't know it was that good," Johnson said. "I had to drive it around quite a bit down there. My radio wasn't working and when I came around the corner they held up a No. 1 so I knew then it was quick. But when they said 4.67, I was like, 'What did you say?' I couldn't believe it."
Schumacher's 4.484 at 329.50 mph in a brand new U.S. Army dragster set him up for his sixth low qualifier award of the year if that number holds. While the 4.48 was impressive, Schumacher seemed more pleased with the 4.62 he posted in the second round.
"We made two runs in a row, yeah," Schumacher said. "You need a car that goes down the track more than once a weekend. I think we've finally got it. It's no secret that Alan [Johnson, crew chief] made a bunch of changes in the car since Topeka and we're just starting to see what it's all about now. So far, so good."
Melanie Troxel and Ron Capps, the current points leaders in Top Fuel and Funny Car, have not qualified for their respective fields at the midway point of time trials.
It appears crew chief David Nickens has gained some control of Don Schumacher Racing's Mopar Dodge Pro Stock program as he tuned Stevens to his track record number in just his fifth race at the helm.
"David did a lot with the motors over the past two weeks," Stevens said. "He really didn't have time to do much more than dyno them since he's been here but having a weekend off between Topeka and here gave him a chance to get them back to his shop and totally break them down and work some of his magic. I'm happier for him right now than anything else."
Perhaps the most perplexing part of the Pro Stock Motorcycle action was Ellis' inability to improve on his opening run of 7.015 at 189.26 mph in the cooler evening session. After his first pass, anticipation was high that he would become just the second rider ever to record a six-second run, but he slowed to a 7.05 instead.
"All this hype about the sixes is just that, hype," Ellis said. "I just want to go out there and make the best pass we can make. We went 7.05 [in Round 2] and that's pretty good. If we work on making good passes then we'll have the success we want. If [a six-second run] happens, it happens."
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
-
jim sanders
- Posts:8740
- Joined:Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:54 am
- Location:St.Louis Mo.
- Contact:
wow look at those mph nunbers !! i am happy for pro70 getting to attend last night !!
Yup. Good to see the Hometown guy Dave Howard make the cut in P/S again. It would be even better to see him go rounds on Sunday. As grey as it looks out now, Friday's qualifying may be all they will get in. Too bad as Mike Strasburg's new TF dragster blew the tires off the line in the right lane in the early session. They made a qualifying run in the second session running early, but were bumped before it was over. Yesterday was in the 70's, but dropped to the lowers 60's upper 50's by the end of the night. There was also a fairly strong north wind. It got more than a few of 'em out of shape as they cleared the grandstands and got hit by the cross-wind. Rain is supposed to clear out later today. Hope they have a better day tomorrow.
15th Annual DRAGLIST Nationals Sometime in 2020. Somewhere in the USA.
SCHUMACHER CONTINUES QUALIFYING DOMINANCE; ELLIS JOINS MICKEY THOMPSON 6-SECOND CLUB
JOLIET, Ill. -- Tony Schumacher ran the quickest Top Fuel pass of the year - a 4.447 at 327.27 mph - to lead a record-setting two days of professional qualifying at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Qualifying ended Saturday with three of the quickest professional fields ever assembled.
Tommy Johnson Jr., Richie Stevens Jr., and Chip Ellis all topped record groups in their respective categories, with Ellis becoming only the second rider in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle history to clock a sub-seven-second run. Johnson's 4.672 spanned to Tim Wilkerson's 16th-best 4.802 in Funny Car. Stevens' 6.635 bracketed Steve Schmidt's 6.700 in Pro Stock, and Ellis' 6.988 was anchored by Geno Scali's 7.119 on the bottom of the Pro Stock Motorcycle grid.
Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
Schumacher, a three-time and defending series champion, has now earned six low qualifier awards this year for his U.S. Army team, but he'd gladly trade them in for his first victory of the season.
"The win is the thing," Schumacher said. "We know we have the car and we know it'll turn around at some point for us. When it does this car is going to fly and we'll win a bunch of races."
Johnson's 4.672 at 328.70 looked untouchable Friday, but Whit Bazemore gave him a run in the day's only Funny Car session when he dipped to a 4.674 at 330.88 mph. Still, Johnson remained the low qualifier in his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the first time he's earned the No. 1 spot in five and a half years.
"We got the quickest field in NHRA history," Johnson said. "To lead after qualifying is impressive. To win the race against the quickest 16 ever would really be something. I hope we can get it done. We'd love to be the first No. 1 qualifier to win a race this year."
Nitro points leaders Melanie Troxel and Ron Capps sweated out Saturday's numerous rain delays and shortened schedule to move from out of the field to the top 16 in each of their categories. Troxel's 4.555 and Capps' 4.771 slotted them both in 12th place.
Stevens secured his third career No. 1 qualifier award with a 6.635 at 207.40 mph in his Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T. The run was the second quickest in class history and it got the attention of class dominator Greg Anderson, who qualified fifth with a 6.663.
"Hearing Greg say that they need to do something to catch that Mopar really gives you a boost of confidence," Stevens said. "To run big numbers is one thing. To run better than him is something else. It's a real credit to [crew chief] David Nickens and all the guys on this team. It's taken some time but it's coming around for us."
Ellis' 6.988-second run on his Drag Specialties S&S Cycle Buell V-Twin made him just the second Pro Stock Motorcycle rider to record a six-second pass.
"The thing of it is you need a bike that's good and you got to ride it good," Ellis said. "I'm really just glad we got to make a run at all the way the weather was. I've ridden a Funny Bike at 6.5-seconds and 200-plus mph a hundred times so it wasn't that big a deal to me. It was cool to do it on a Pro Stock Bike. I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet."
JOLIET, Ill. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.447 seconds, 329.50 mph vs. 16. Alan Bradshaw, 4.640, 315.64; 2. Doug Kalitta, 4.496, 326.71 vs. 15. Joe Hartley, 4.611, 316.82; 3. David Baca, 4.504, 331.69 vs. 14. Brandon Bernstein, 4.610, 324.75; 4. Doug Herbert, 4.507, 321.35 vs. 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.589, 314.31; 5. David Grubnic, 4.507, 323.35 vs. 12. Melanie Troxel, 4.555, 308.50; 6. Rod Fuller, 4.518, 330.96 vs. 11. Cory McClenathan, 4.552, 329.67; 7. Bob Vandergriff, 4.528, 327.19 vs. 10. Larry Dixon, 4.540, 326.00; 8. J.R. Todd, 4.529, 326.40 vs. 9. Hillary Will, 4.539, 323.35.
Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.672, 328.70 vs. 16. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.802, 314.97; 2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Charger, 4.674, 330.88 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.801, 305.91; 3. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.681, 327.51 vs. 14. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.788, 322.42; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.685, 328.06 vs. 13. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.782, 316.97; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.689, 329.02 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.771, 313.00; 6. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.694, 315.34 vs. 11. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.764, 325.45; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.731, 320.97 vs. 10. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.761, 325.92; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.742, 329.50 vs. 9. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo, 4.756, 329.83.
Pro Stock -- 1. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.635, 207.40 vs. 16. Steve Schmidt, Pontiac GTO, 6.700, 206.10; 2. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.650, 207.27 vs. 15. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.698, 205.13; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.653, 206.80 vs. 14. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 6.691, 206.99; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.659, 207.27 vs. 13. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.686, 206.20; 5. Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.663, 207.75 vs. 12. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.685, 206.89; 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.664, 207.43 vs. 11. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt, 6.683, 206.26; 7. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.667, 206.64 vs. 10. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.680, 207.02; 8. Jason Line, GTO, 6.669, 206.99 vs. 9. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.678, 206.83.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.988, 189.26 vs. 16. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.119, 188.44; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.020, 188.52 vs. 15. Marco Andreano, Buell, 7.118, 184.65; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.029, 190.48 vs. 14. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.115, 187.68; 4. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.051, 186.59 vs. 13. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.102, 185.23; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.058, 189.15 vs. 12. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.102, 189.04; 6. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.073, 189.28 vs. 11. Tom Bradford, Buell, 7.085, 187.55; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.079, 190.35 vs. 10. Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.081, 187.00; 8. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.080, 189.15 vs. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.081, 189.12.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Tony Schumacher ran the quickest Top Fuel pass of the year - a 4.447 at 327.27 mph - to lead a record-setting two days of professional qualifying at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Qualifying ended Saturday with three of the quickest professional fields ever assembled.
Tommy Johnson Jr., Richie Stevens Jr., and Chip Ellis all topped record groups in their respective categories, with Ellis becoming only the second rider in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle history to clock a sub-seven-second run. Johnson's 4.672 spanned to Tim Wilkerson's 16th-best 4.802 in Funny Car. Stevens' 6.635 bracketed Steve Schmidt's 6.700 in Pro Stock, and Ellis' 6.988 was anchored by Geno Scali's 7.119 on the bottom of the Pro Stock Motorcycle grid.
Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
Schumacher, a three-time and defending series champion, has now earned six low qualifier awards this year for his U.S. Army team, but he'd gladly trade them in for his first victory of the season.
"The win is the thing," Schumacher said. "We know we have the car and we know it'll turn around at some point for us. When it does this car is going to fly and we'll win a bunch of races."
Johnson's 4.672 at 328.70 looked untouchable Friday, but Whit Bazemore gave him a run in the day's only Funny Car session when he dipped to a 4.674 at 330.88 mph. Still, Johnson remained the low qualifier in his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the first time he's earned the No. 1 spot in five and a half years.
"We got the quickest field in NHRA history," Johnson said. "To lead after qualifying is impressive. To win the race against the quickest 16 ever would really be something. I hope we can get it done. We'd love to be the first No. 1 qualifier to win a race this year."
Nitro points leaders Melanie Troxel and Ron Capps sweated out Saturday's numerous rain delays and shortened schedule to move from out of the field to the top 16 in each of their categories. Troxel's 4.555 and Capps' 4.771 slotted them both in 12th place.
Stevens secured his third career No. 1 qualifier award with a 6.635 at 207.40 mph in his Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T. The run was the second quickest in class history and it got the attention of class dominator Greg Anderson, who qualified fifth with a 6.663.
"Hearing Greg say that they need to do something to catch that Mopar really gives you a boost of confidence," Stevens said. "To run big numbers is one thing. To run better than him is something else. It's a real credit to [crew chief] David Nickens and all the guys on this team. It's taken some time but it's coming around for us."
Ellis' 6.988-second run on his Drag Specialties S&S Cycle Buell V-Twin made him just the second Pro Stock Motorcycle rider to record a six-second pass.
"The thing of it is you need a bike that's good and you got to ride it good," Ellis said. "I'm really just glad we got to make a run at all the way the weather was. I've ridden a Funny Bike at 6.5-seconds and 200-plus mph a hundred times so it wasn't that big a deal to me. It was cool to do it on a Pro Stock Bike. I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet."
JOLIET, Ill. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.447 seconds, 329.50 mph vs. 16. Alan Bradshaw, 4.640, 315.64; 2. Doug Kalitta, 4.496, 326.71 vs. 15. Joe Hartley, 4.611, 316.82; 3. David Baca, 4.504, 331.69 vs. 14. Brandon Bernstein, 4.610, 324.75; 4. Doug Herbert, 4.507, 321.35 vs. 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.589, 314.31; 5. David Grubnic, 4.507, 323.35 vs. 12. Melanie Troxel, 4.555, 308.50; 6. Rod Fuller, 4.518, 330.96 vs. 11. Cory McClenathan, 4.552, 329.67; 7. Bob Vandergriff, 4.528, 327.19 vs. 10. Larry Dixon, 4.540, 326.00; 8. J.R. Todd, 4.529, 326.40 vs. 9. Hillary Will, 4.539, 323.35.
Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.672, 328.70 vs. 16. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.802, 314.97; 2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Charger, 4.674, 330.88 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.801, 305.91; 3. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.681, 327.51 vs. 14. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.788, 322.42; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.685, 328.06 vs. 13. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.782, 316.97; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.689, 329.02 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.771, 313.00; 6. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.694, 315.34 vs. 11. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 4.764, 325.45; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.731, 320.97 vs. 10. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.761, 325.92; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.742, 329.50 vs. 9. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo, 4.756, 329.83.
Pro Stock -- 1. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.635, 207.40 vs. 16. Steve Schmidt, Pontiac GTO, 6.700, 206.10; 2. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.650, 207.27 vs. 15. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.698, 205.13; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.653, 206.80 vs. 14. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 6.691, 206.99; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.659, 207.27 vs. 13. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.686, 206.20; 5. Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.663, 207.75 vs. 12. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.685, 206.89; 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.664, 207.43 vs. 11. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt, 6.683, 206.26; 7. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.667, 206.64 vs. 10. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.680, 207.02; 8. Jason Line, GTO, 6.669, 206.99 vs. 9. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.678, 206.83.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.988, 189.26 vs. 16. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.119, 188.44; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.020, 188.52 vs. 15. Marco Andreano, Buell, 7.118, 184.65; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.029, 190.48 vs. 14. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.115, 187.68; 4. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.051, 186.59 vs. 13. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.102, 185.23; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.058, 189.15 vs. 12. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.102, 189.04; 6. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.073, 189.28 vs. 11. Tom Bradford, Buell, 7.085, 187.55; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.079, 190.35 vs. 10. Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.081, 187.00; 8. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.080, 189.15 vs. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.081, 189.12.
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
ANDERSON EARNS KING DEMON CROWN IN ROYAL FASHION: CLOCKS QUICKEST PRO STOCK PASS IN NHRA HISTORY
JOLIET, Ill. -- Three-time NHRA champion Greg Anderson used the quickest Pro Stock pass in NHRA history to capture the title of the 22nd annual King Demon Crown with a victory over teammate Jason Line Saturday at Route 66 Raceway.
Anderson's 6.620 at 208.20 mph earned him $50,000, while Line earned $10,000 for his runner-up finish.
The race between Anderson and Line's identical Summit Racing Pontiac GTOs was a stunner with Line shooting out to an early lead with a .017-second reaction time ahead of Anderson's .031-second start. But Anderson's hot rod tracked Line down and passed him just before the finish line to give Anderson his second King Demon Crown title in the last three years by just .003 seconds. Line finished with a 6.637 at 207.53.
"That was the best drag race I've ever been a part of," Anderson said. "I shoved it in high gear and peeked over and we were dead even. I thought there was no way I could do anything else to get ahead because he has the exact same stuff as we do. Somehow I crept ahead by an inch or two in the last hundred feet.
"For Jason to have a light like that and run a 6.63 and still not win is cruel. He's become quite a driver and he always races me tough. I think he just relaxes and has fun when we race one another and that's what it all about. We've got work to do tomorrow but we're going out as a team and celebrating this race tonight. We're going to spend some of that King Demon money."
The King Demon Crown invites the top eight qualifiers from the last 23 races, beginning at last year's eighth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chicago. Racers accrue points based on their qualifying position at each national event. A No. 1 qualifying effort is worth 175 points down to a 16th-place qualifying position, which is worth 85 points. Drivers who do not qualify for an event do not earn points at that race.
Additionally, the low qualifier at each event earns $3,000. Anderson had 10 No. 1 starts, meaning he won a total of $80,000 from King Demon Crown over the past year.
Starting the day as the No. 1 qualifier, Anderson beat Vieri Gaines and Richie Stevens Jr. to get to the finals. Second-place qualifier Line took out Allen Johnson and Erica Enders. Enders and Stevens earned $3,000 each for their semifinal finishes. Allen Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Warren Johnson, and Gaines received $2,500 apiece for making the field.
Anderson is now eligible for a $25,000 "double-up" bonus from NHRA should he win Sunday's race.
Although Anderson's final-round pass is the quickest ever it will not count as a national record because it didn't take place as part of the qualifying or elimination racing at this weekend's national event.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Three-time NHRA champion Greg Anderson used the quickest Pro Stock pass in NHRA history to capture the title of the 22nd annual King Demon Crown with a victory over teammate Jason Line Saturday at Route 66 Raceway.
Anderson's 6.620 at 208.20 mph earned him $50,000, while Line earned $10,000 for his runner-up finish.
The race between Anderson and Line's identical Summit Racing Pontiac GTOs was a stunner with Line shooting out to an early lead with a .017-second reaction time ahead of Anderson's .031-second start. But Anderson's hot rod tracked Line down and passed him just before the finish line to give Anderson his second King Demon Crown title in the last three years by just .003 seconds. Line finished with a 6.637 at 207.53.
"That was the best drag race I've ever been a part of," Anderson said. "I shoved it in high gear and peeked over and we were dead even. I thought there was no way I could do anything else to get ahead because he has the exact same stuff as we do. Somehow I crept ahead by an inch or two in the last hundred feet.
"For Jason to have a light like that and run a 6.63 and still not win is cruel. He's become quite a driver and he always races me tough. I think he just relaxes and has fun when we race one another and that's what it all about. We've got work to do tomorrow but we're going out as a team and celebrating this race tonight. We're going to spend some of that King Demon money."
The King Demon Crown invites the top eight qualifiers from the last 23 races, beginning at last year's eighth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chicago. Racers accrue points based on their qualifying position at each national event. A No. 1 qualifying effort is worth 175 points down to a 16th-place qualifying position, which is worth 85 points. Drivers who do not qualify for an event do not earn points at that race.
Additionally, the low qualifier at each event earns $3,000. Anderson had 10 No. 1 starts, meaning he won a total of $80,000 from King Demon Crown over the past year.
Starting the day as the No. 1 qualifier, Anderson beat Vieri Gaines and Richie Stevens Jr. to get to the finals. Second-place qualifier Line took out Allen Johnson and Erica Enders. Enders and Stevens earned $3,000 each for their semifinal finishes. Allen Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Warren Johnson, and Gaines received $2,500 apiece for making the field.
Anderson is now eligible for a $25,000 "double-up" bonus from NHRA should he win Sunday's race.
Although Anderson's final-round pass is the quickest ever it will not count as a national record because it didn't take place as part of the qualifying or elimination racing at this weekend's national event.
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
FORCE EARNS 120TH CAREER WIN; KALITTA CONTINUES HOT STREAK
JOLIET, Ill. - Drag racing legend John Force won his record 120th Funny Car race Sunday at Route 66 Raceway to close to within 48 points of the championship lead.
Doug Kalitta, Kurt Johnson, and Ryan Schnitz joined the 13-time series titlist in the winner's circle of the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, the 10th of 23 races in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Force's beat teammate Robert Hight in the money round with an off-pace 4.930-second pass at 233.60 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang after both men encountered engine trouble. Hight posted a 4.890 at 244.56 mph but left the starting line .057 seconds behind Force. Coming into this race, the 13-time champion had tried unsuccessfully on four different occasions to get his 120th victory.
"You get older and you start to wonder what it's going to take," Force said. "I've had to monitor how I sleep the night and what I eat. I used to coffee-up."
Mac Tools ace Kalitta chipped away at Melanie Troxel's lead in Top Fuel by dismissing her in the final round with a 4.503 at 330 mph. With a career-best four wins in his last five races, Kalitta is unquestionably the hottest driver on tour. He may have only gained one round on Troxel at this event but his recent run has trimmed her once daunting lead from 174 to 71 points.
"Rahn [Tobler, crew chief] has a very aggressive tune-up but it's also very safe," Kalitta said. "We were able to stay in the same lane all day and the car was perfect. [Team owner Connie Kalitta] has pulled back a little and let Rahn run the car the way he wants to run it. It's great to see him develop that confidence in what he's doing."
Johnson and Anderson had another great Pro Stock final with Johnson scoring his 34th victory and second of the year by .03 seconds. The Chevrolet Cobalt driver used a great .012- to .050-second reaction time advantage to steal this one away as Anderson's quicker 6.641 at 208.10 mph lost to Johnson's 6.646 at 207.46 mph.
"It was fun to race Greg in the final,” Johnson said of his former teammate. "It's all-star boxing when the helmets are on but we're friends again at the other end. Everyone has an opponent that brings out the very best in you. For me that person is Greg."
Schnitz collected his first win of the season and the fourth of his brief 34-race career at the starting line when first-time finalist Matt Guidera got a little too excited and jumped the Christmas Tree by -.004 seconds. It might have been a moot point as Schnitz zoomed to a 7.064 at 182.03 mph to Guidera's 7.105 at 185.08 mph.
"It was Matt's first final and that probably played in my favor," Schnitz said. "He ended up pushing the Tree just a little too hard. I'm sure his pulse was up. He's a good rider and he has a great bike. He'll win one real soon. I just hope it's not against me."
JOLIET, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Melanie Troxel; 3. Cory McClenathan; 4. Alan Bradshaw; 5. Doug Herbert; 6. Bob Vandergriff; 7. J.R. Todd; 8. David Baca; 9. Rod Fuller; 10. Hillary Will; 11. Brandon Bernstein; 12. Tony Schumacher; 13. Morgan Lucas; 14. Larry Dixon; 15. Joe Hartley; 16. David Grubnic.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Robert Hight, Mustang; 3. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger; 4. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo; 6. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo; 7. Ron Capps, Charger; 8. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 9. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo; 10. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo; 11. Whit Bazemore, Charger; 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 14. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo; 16. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO; 3. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus; 4. Jim Yates, GTO; 5. Jason Line, GTO; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 7. Mike Edwards, GTO; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 9. V. Gaines, Stratus; 10. Steve Schmidt, GTO; 11. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 12. Erica Enders, Cobalt; 13. Warren Johnson, GTO; 14. Dave Northrop, Stratus; 15. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt; 16. Dave Howard, Cobalt.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Ryan Schnitz; 2. Matt Guidera; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 4. Chip Ellis; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki; 6. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 7. Matt Smith; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 9. Tom Bradford; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 13. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 14. Chris Rivas; 15. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 16. Marco Andreano.
KING DEMON CROWN:
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO; 2. Jason Line, GTO; 3. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus; 4. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt; 5. V. Gaines, Stratus; 6. Warren Johnson, GTO; 7. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the tenth of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.503 seconds, 330.23 mph def. Melanie Troxel, broke.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.930, 233.60 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.890, 244.56.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.646, 207.46 def. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.641, 208.10.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.064, 182.03 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, foul.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Todd Datweiler, 11.505, 73.11 def. Sean O'Bannon, broke.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.573, 257.53 def. Steve Harker, Dodge Avenger, 5.648, 258.12.
Competition Eliminator -- Tony Stephenson, Pontiac GTO, 7.837, 167.97 def. Jeff Taylor, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.963, 149.27.
Super Stock -- Michael Mans, Pontiac Firebird, 9.532, 139.67 def. Gary Stinnett, Chevy Camaro, 9.385, 140.75.
Stock Eliminator -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.713, 116.29 def. David Rampy, Camaro, 11.175, 110.68.
Super Comp -- Ron Erks, Dragster, 8.898, 166.44 def. Jason Kenny, Dragster, 8.894, 166.76.
Super Gas -- Jeff Cheney, Chevy Camaro, 9.906, 154.35 def. Ray Connolly, Chevy Corvette, 9.880, 161.32.
Super Street -- Joe Urbino, Chevy Malibu, 10.931, 126.34 def. Steve Domingues, Chevy Camaro, 10.898, 145.20.
King Demon Crown -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.620, 208.20 def. Jason Line, GTO, 6.637, 207.53.
Top Alcohol Funny Car Allstars -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.546, 261.07 def. Cy Chesterman, Monte Carlo, 5.721, 254.52.
Top Alcohol Dragster Allstars -- Marty Thacker, 5.370, 262.64 def. Steve Torrence, 6.483, 164.81.
Competition Eliminator Allstars -- Jeff Taylor, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.928, 149.48 def. Glen Treadwell, '23 Ford Roadster, 8.033, 159.76.
Super Stock Allstars -- Don Duke, Chevy Nova, 16.229, 65.67 def. Kevin Smith, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Stock Allstars -- Don Pires Jr., Chevy Nova, 10.644, 120.44 def. Mickey Whaley, Nova, 11.976, 101.81.
Super Comp Allstars -- Shawn Langdon, Dragster, 8.947, 150.65 def. Gary Stinnett, Dragster, 8.911, 174.39.
Super Gas Allstars -- Rock Haas, Chevy Corvette, 9.965, 145.81 def. George Smith, Chevy Camaro, 9.888, 153.30.
Super Street Allstars -- Lynn Hoosigian, Chevy Chevelle, 10.898, 137.53 def. Michael Ruff, Chevy Camaro, foul.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- J.R. Todd, 4.550, 322.34 def. Hillary Will, foul; Bob Vandergriff, 4.750, 314.90 def. Larry Dixon, 4.893, 298.93; Cory McClenathan, 4.515, 330.96 def. Rod Fuller, 4.526, 323.97; Doug Herbert, 4.553, 323.12 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.670, 284.03; Alan Bradshaw, 4.545, 325.77 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.603, 307.93; Doug Kalitta, 4.498, 332.18 def. Joe Hartley, 5.016, 215.31; David Baca, 4.543, 327.82 def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.580, 326.56; Melanie Troxel, 4.524, 327.19 def. David Grubnic, 5.541, 263.62; QUARTERFINALS -- Bradshaw, 4.620, 312.71 def. Todd, 4.770, 300.66; Troxel, 4.505, 319.98 def. Herbert, 4.529, 325.53; McClenathan, 4.552, 327.19 def. Baca, 9.322, 91.27; Kalitta, 4.507, 331.53 def. Vandergriff, 4.565, 326.71; SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 4.472, 330.47 def. McClenathan, 5.135, 174.14; Troxel, 4.478, 327.11 def. Bradshaw, 5.144, 195.68; FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.503, 330.23 def. Troxel, broke.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.935, 276.86 def. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.311, 213.50; Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.761, 316.38 def. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.766, 329.18; Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.500, 305.36 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 9.573, 120.60; Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.811, 318.32 def. Whit Bazemore, Charger, 4.904, 241.63; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.729, 324.75 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.735, 316.60; Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.032, 271.95 def. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 13.877, 78.15; John Force, Mustang, 4.761, 325.53 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.201, 213.64; Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.783, 329.75 def. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo, 7.581, 102.22; QUARTERFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.772, 303.50 def. Johnson Jr., 4.752, 324.44; Medlen, 4.800, 320.51 def. T. Pedregon, 6.585, 133.71; Hight, 4.725, 331.36 def. Capps, 4.944, 256.80; Force, 4.729, 327.03 def. Burkart, 4.829, 330.07; SEMIFINALS -- Force, 4.730, 327.82 def. Medlen, 4.973, 242.84; Hight, 4.700, 330.55 def. Scelzi, 4.720, 332.10; FINAL -- Force, 4.930, 233.60 def. Hight, 4.890, 244.56.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.666, 206.92 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.668, 206.83; Jim Yates, GTO, 6.690, 206.07 def. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.712, 206.16; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.672, 207.11 def. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt, 7.189, 155.15; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.658, 207.30 def. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.713, 205.82; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.674, 206.26 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.703, 205.72; Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.675, 207.11 def. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.722, 205.63; Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.674, 206.95 def. Steve Schmidt, GTO, foul; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.683, 206.48 def. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 14.371, 58.38; QUARTERFINALS -- Yates, 6.696, 206.04 def. Edwards, 6.918, 164.27; K. Johnson, 6.669, 207.18 def. Connolly, foul; Stevens, 6.681, 206.10 def. Line, 6.670, 206.76; Anderson, 6.669, 206.80 def. A. Johnson, 11.503, 75.29; SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.644, 207.56 def. Stevens, foul; K. Johnson, 6.667, 207.27 def. Yates, 6.672, 206.29; FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.646, 207.46 def. Anderson, 6.641, 208.10.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.128, 184.12 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, foul; Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.091, 184.60 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.094, 185.61; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 12.386, 61.23 def. Tom Bradford, Buell, foul; Matt Smith, Buell, 7.088, 184.67 def. Marco Andreano, Buell, 8.606, 101.75; Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.083, 185.61 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.195, 181.67; Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.106, 187.00 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.199, 184.35; Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.021, 186.10 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.157, 185.33; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.125, 190.24 def. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.163, 185.54; QUARTERFINALS -- Hines, 7.081, 188.73 def. Brown, foul; Schnitz, 7.161, 182.65 def. Smith, 7.180, 181.59; Guidera, 10.740, 75.03 def. Sampey, foul; Ellis, 7.088, 184.50 def. Stoffer, 7.196, 182.97; SEMIFINALS -- Guidera, 7.167, 182.01 def. Ellis, 7.149, 184.62; Schnitz, 7.132, 182.90 def. Hines, foul; FINAL -- Schnitz, 7.064, 182.03 def. Guidera, foul.
KING DEMON CROWN:
ROUND ONE -- Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.677, 206.20 def. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.695, 206.83; Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.694, 206.07 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, foul; Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.703, 205.88 def. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.685, 206.23; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.664, 206.89 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Line, 6.650, 206.67 def. Enders, 6.718, 206.48; Anderson, 6.656, 206.89 def. Stevens, 6.701, 206.48; SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.620, 208.20 def. Line, 6.637, 207.53.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Melanie Troxel, 840; 2. Doug Kalitta, 769; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 639; 4. David Grubnic, 592; 5. Larry Dixon, 541; 6. Rod Fuller, 537; 7. Morgan Lucas, 529; 8. Tony Schumacher, 504; 9. Cory McClenathan, 495; 10. Doug Herbert, 454.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 833; 2. John Force, 785; 3. Robert Hight, 647; 4. Eric Medlen, 604; 5. Tony Pedregon, 562; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr. 536; 7. Whit Bazemore, 503; 8. Gary Scelzi, 473; 9. Del Worsham, 469; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 467.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 726; 2. Jim Yates, 616; 3. Jason Line, 612; 4. Kurt Johnson, 565; 5. Dave Connolly, 564; 6. Erica Enders, 550; 7. Mike Edwards, 534; 8. Larry Morgan, 466; 9. Warren Johnson, 452; 10. V. Gaines, 449.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Angelle Sampey, 432; 2. Andrew Hines, 418; 3. Antron Brown, 358; 4. Chip Ellis, 300; 5. Ryan Schnitz, 286; 6. Karen Stoffer, 267; 7. Matt Smith, 231; 8. Matt Guidera, 221; 9. (tie) Geno Scali, 218; GT Tonglet, 218.
JOLIET, Ill. - Drag racing legend John Force won his record 120th Funny Car race Sunday at Route 66 Raceway to close to within 48 points of the championship lead.
Doug Kalitta, Kurt Johnson, and Ryan Schnitz joined the 13-time series titlist in the winner's circle of the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, the 10th of 23 races in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Force's beat teammate Robert Hight in the money round with an off-pace 4.930-second pass at 233.60 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang after both men encountered engine trouble. Hight posted a 4.890 at 244.56 mph but left the starting line .057 seconds behind Force. Coming into this race, the 13-time champion had tried unsuccessfully on four different occasions to get his 120th victory.
"You get older and you start to wonder what it's going to take," Force said. "I've had to monitor how I sleep the night and what I eat. I used to coffee-up."
Mac Tools ace Kalitta chipped away at Melanie Troxel's lead in Top Fuel by dismissing her in the final round with a 4.503 at 330 mph. With a career-best four wins in his last five races, Kalitta is unquestionably the hottest driver on tour. He may have only gained one round on Troxel at this event but his recent run has trimmed her once daunting lead from 174 to 71 points.
"Rahn [Tobler, crew chief] has a very aggressive tune-up but it's also very safe," Kalitta said. "We were able to stay in the same lane all day and the car was perfect. [Team owner Connie Kalitta] has pulled back a little and let Rahn run the car the way he wants to run it. It's great to see him develop that confidence in what he's doing."
Johnson and Anderson had another great Pro Stock final with Johnson scoring his 34th victory and second of the year by .03 seconds. The Chevrolet Cobalt driver used a great .012- to .050-second reaction time advantage to steal this one away as Anderson's quicker 6.641 at 208.10 mph lost to Johnson's 6.646 at 207.46 mph.
"It was fun to race Greg in the final,” Johnson said of his former teammate. "It's all-star boxing when the helmets are on but we're friends again at the other end. Everyone has an opponent that brings out the very best in you. For me that person is Greg."
Schnitz collected his first win of the season and the fourth of his brief 34-race career at the starting line when first-time finalist Matt Guidera got a little too excited and jumped the Christmas Tree by -.004 seconds. It might have been a moot point as Schnitz zoomed to a 7.064 at 182.03 mph to Guidera's 7.105 at 185.08 mph.
"It was Matt's first final and that probably played in my favor," Schnitz said. "He ended up pushing the Tree just a little too hard. I'm sure his pulse was up. He's a good rider and he has a great bike. He'll win one real soon. I just hope it's not against me."
JOLIET, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Melanie Troxel; 3. Cory McClenathan; 4. Alan Bradshaw; 5. Doug Herbert; 6. Bob Vandergriff; 7. J.R. Todd; 8. David Baca; 9. Rod Fuller; 10. Hillary Will; 11. Brandon Bernstein; 12. Tony Schumacher; 13. Morgan Lucas; 14. Larry Dixon; 15. Joe Hartley; 16. David Grubnic.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Robert Hight, Mustang; 3. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger; 4. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo; 6. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo; 7. Ron Capps, Charger; 8. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 9. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo; 10. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo; 11. Whit Bazemore, Charger; 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 14. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo; 16. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO; 3. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus; 4. Jim Yates, GTO; 5. Jason Line, GTO; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 7. Mike Edwards, GTO; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 9. V. Gaines, Stratus; 10. Steve Schmidt, GTO; 11. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 12. Erica Enders, Cobalt; 13. Warren Johnson, GTO; 14. Dave Northrop, Stratus; 15. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt; 16. Dave Howard, Cobalt.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Ryan Schnitz; 2. Matt Guidera; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 4. Chip Ellis; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki; 6. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 7. Matt Smith; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 9. Tom Bradford; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 13. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 14. Chris Rivas; 15. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 16. Marco Andreano.
KING DEMON CROWN:
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO; 2. Jason Line, GTO; 3. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus; 4. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt; 5. V. Gaines, Stratus; 6. Warren Johnson, GTO; 7. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the tenth of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.503 seconds, 330.23 mph def. Melanie Troxel, broke.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.930, 233.60 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.890, 244.56.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.646, 207.46 def. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.641, 208.10.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.064, 182.03 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, foul.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Todd Datweiler, 11.505, 73.11 def. Sean O'Bannon, broke.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.573, 257.53 def. Steve Harker, Dodge Avenger, 5.648, 258.12.
Competition Eliminator -- Tony Stephenson, Pontiac GTO, 7.837, 167.97 def. Jeff Taylor, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.963, 149.27.
Super Stock -- Michael Mans, Pontiac Firebird, 9.532, 139.67 def. Gary Stinnett, Chevy Camaro, 9.385, 140.75.
Stock Eliminator -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.713, 116.29 def. David Rampy, Camaro, 11.175, 110.68.
Super Comp -- Ron Erks, Dragster, 8.898, 166.44 def. Jason Kenny, Dragster, 8.894, 166.76.
Super Gas -- Jeff Cheney, Chevy Camaro, 9.906, 154.35 def. Ray Connolly, Chevy Corvette, 9.880, 161.32.
Super Street -- Joe Urbino, Chevy Malibu, 10.931, 126.34 def. Steve Domingues, Chevy Camaro, 10.898, 145.20.
King Demon Crown -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.620, 208.20 def. Jason Line, GTO, 6.637, 207.53.
Top Alcohol Funny Car Allstars -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.546, 261.07 def. Cy Chesterman, Monte Carlo, 5.721, 254.52.
Top Alcohol Dragster Allstars -- Marty Thacker, 5.370, 262.64 def. Steve Torrence, 6.483, 164.81.
Competition Eliminator Allstars -- Jeff Taylor, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.928, 149.48 def. Glen Treadwell, '23 Ford Roadster, 8.033, 159.76.
Super Stock Allstars -- Don Duke, Chevy Nova, 16.229, 65.67 def. Kevin Smith, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Stock Allstars -- Don Pires Jr., Chevy Nova, 10.644, 120.44 def. Mickey Whaley, Nova, 11.976, 101.81.
Super Comp Allstars -- Shawn Langdon, Dragster, 8.947, 150.65 def. Gary Stinnett, Dragster, 8.911, 174.39.
Super Gas Allstars -- Rock Haas, Chevy Corvette, 9.965, 145.81 def. George Smith, Chevy Camaro, 9.888, 153.30.
Super Street Allstars -- Lynn Hoosigian, Chevy Chevelle, 10.898, 137.53 def. Michael Ruff, Chevy Camaro, foul.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- J.R. Todd, 4.550, 322.34 def. Hillary Will, foul; Bob Vandergriff, 4.750, 314.90 def. Larry Dixon, 4.893, 298.93; Cory McClenathan, 4.515, 330.96 def. Rod Fuller, 4.526, 323.97; Doug Herbert, 4.553, 323.12 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.670, 284.03; Alan Bradshaw, 4.545, 325.77 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.603, 307.93; Doug Kalitta, 4.498, 332.18 def. Joe Hartley, 5.016, 215.31; David Baca, 4.543, 327.82 def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.580, 326.56; Melanie Troxel, 4.524, 327.19 def. David Grubnic, 5.541, 263.62; QUARTERFINALS -- Bradshaw, 4.620, 312.71 def. Todd, 4.770, 300.66; Troxel, 4.505, 319.98 def. Herbert, 4.529, 325.53; McClenathan, 4.552, 327.19 def. Baca, 9.322, 91.27; Kalitta, 4.507, 331.53 def. Vandergriff, 4.565, 326.71; SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 4.472, 330.47 def. McClenathan, 5.135, 174.14; Troxel, 4.478, 327.11 def. Bradshaw, 5.144, 195.68; FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.503, 330.23 def. Troxel, broke.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.935, 276.86 def. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.311, 213.50; Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.761, 316.38 def. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.766, 329.18; Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.500, 305.36 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 9.573, 120.60; Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.811, 318.32 def. Whit Bazemore, Charger, 4.904, 241.63; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.729, 324.75 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.735, 316.60; Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.032, 271.95 def. Bob Gilbertson, Dodge Stratus, 13.877, 78.15; John Force, Mustang, 4.761, 325.53 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.201, 213.64; Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.783, 329.75 def. Mike Ashley, Monte Carlo, 7.581, 102.22; QUARTERFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.772, 303.50 def. Johnson Jr., 4.752, 324.44; Medlen, 4.800, 320.51 def. T. Pedregon, 6.585, 133.71; Hight, 4.725, 331.36 def. Capps, 4.944, 256.80; Force, 4.729, 327.03 def. Burkart, 4.829, 330.07; SEMIFINALS -- Force, 4.730, 327.82 def. Medlen, 4.973, 242.84; Hight, 4.700, 330.55 def. Scelzi, 4.720, 332.10; FINAL -- Force, 4.930, 233.60 def. Hight, 4.890, 244.56.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.666, 206.92 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.668, 206.83; Jim Yates, GTO, 6.690, 206.07 def. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.712, 206.16; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.672, 207.11 def. Mark Pawuk, Cobalt, 7.189, 155.15; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.658, 207.30 def. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.713, 205.82; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.674, 206.26 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.703, 205.72; Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.675, 207.11 def. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.722, 205.63; Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.674, 206.95 def. Steve Schmidt, GTO, foul; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.683, 206.48 def. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 14.371, 58.38; QUARTERFINALS -- Yates, 6.696, 206.04 def. Edwards, 6.918, 164.27; K. Johnson, 6.669, 207.18 def. Connolly, foul; Stevens, 6.681, 206.10 def. Line, 6.670, 206.76; Anderson, 6.669, 206.80 def. A. Johnson, 11.503, 75.29; SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.644, 207.56 def. Stevens, foul; K. Johnson, 6.667, 207.27 def. Yates, 6.672, 206.29; FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.646, 207.46 def. Anderson, 6.641, 208.10.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.128, 184.12 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, foul; Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.091, 184.60 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.094, 185.61; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 12.386, 61.23 def. Tom Bradford, Buell, foul; Matt Smith, Buell, 7.088, 184.67 def. Marco Andreano, Buell, 8.606, 101.75; Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.083, 185.61 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.195, 181.67; Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.106, 187.00 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.199, 184.35; Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.021, 186.10 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.157, 185.33; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.125, 190.24 def. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.163, 185.54; QUARTERFINALS -- Hines, 7.081, 188.73 def. Brown, foul; Schnitz, 7.161, 182.65 def. Smith, 7.180, 181.59; Guidera, 10.740, 75.03 def. Sampey, foul; Ellis, 7.088, 184.50 def. Stoffer, 7.196, 182.97; SEMIFINALS -- Guidera, 7.167, 182.01 def. Ellis, 7.149, 184.62; Schnitz, 7.132, 182.90 def. Hines, foul; FINAL -- Schnitz, 7.064, 182.03 def. Guidera, foul.
KING DEMON CROWN:
ROUND ONE -- Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.677, 206.20 def. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.695, 206.83; Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.694, 206.07 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, foul; Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.703, 205.88 def. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.685, 206.23; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.664, 206.89 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Line, 6.650, 206.67 def. Enders, 6.718, 206.48; Anderson, 6.656, 206.89 def. Stevens, 6.701, 206.48; SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.620, 208.20 def. Line, 6.637, 207.53.
JOLIET, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the tenth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Melanie Troxel, 840; 2. Doug Kalitta, 769; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 639; 4. David Grubnic, 592; 5. Larry Dixon, 541; 6. Rod Fuller, 537; 7. Morgan Lucas, 529; 8. Tony Schumacher, 504; 9. Cory McClenathan, 495; 10. Doug Herbert, 454.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 833; 2. John Force, 785; 3. Robert Hight, 647; 4. Eric Medlen, 604; 5. Tony Pedregon, 562; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr. 536; 7. Whit Bazemore, 503; 8. Gary Scelzi, 473; 9. Del Worsham, 469; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 467.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 726; 2. Jim Yates, 616; 3. Jason Line, 612; 4. Kurt Johnson, 565; 5. Dave Connolly, 564; 6. Erica Enders, 550; 7. Mike Edwards, 534; 8. Larry Morgan, 466; 9. Warren Johnson, 452; 10. V. Gaines, 449.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Angelle Sampey, 432; 2. Andrew Hines, 418; 3. Antron Brown, 358; 4. Chip Ellis, 300; 5. Ryan Schnitz, 286; 6. Karen Stoffer, 267; 7. Matt Smith, 231; 8. Matt Guidera, 221; 9. (tie) Geno Scali, 218; GT Tonglet, 218.
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
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Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
NHRA POWERADE SERIES POST RACE NOTES:
Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
June 8-11, Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
TOP FUEL
· Doug Kalitta continued his hot streak with his fourth event win in five races. He drove his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster to a 4.503-second finish at 330.23 mph over Melanie Troxel, whose Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels dragster broke near the starting line. Troxel coasted to the top end at 10.273 at 82.18.
· Kalitta is now just 71 points behind Troxel, the POWERade points leader.
· After qualifying No. 1, defending category world champion Tony Schumacher’s Sunday eliminations jinx continued with a first-round loss to No. 16-seed Alan Bradshaw. Schumacher’s U.S. Army dragster struggled at the top end of the track – but Bradshaw’s advantage started at the starting line, where he got a quicker jump at the Christmas tree.
· Schumacher has qualified No. 1 at six events this year, but has yet to win an event in 2006. He advanced to the semifinals in Phoenix and Bristol.
· Alan Bradshaw earned his second career round win in the first round of eliminations – against No. 1 qualifier and defending world champion Tony Schumacher. Bradshaw’s only other round win was also against Schumacher, Chicago’s hometown hero.
· Schumacher earned the Budweiser Shootout award, while his U.S. Army crew’s top performance earned the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship award for this event.
FUNNY CAR
· John Force earned his 120th career win – but it wasn’t a smooth ride. Force and teammate Robert Hight, Force’s son-in-law, were neck-and-neck when both Mustangs experienced mechanical issues and slowed to cross the finish line. Force clocked a 4.930 at 233.60 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, while Hight drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.890 at 244.56.
· Tommy Johnson Jr., who earned his first No. 1 qualifier since Pomona 2001 when he drove his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a 4.672 at 328.70, exited in the second round to defending category POWERade world champion Gary Scelzi. POWERade points leader Ron Capps, who made the cut for the event in the final qualifying round, advanced to the second round, where he was defeated by Hight.
· Johnson earned the Skoal Showdown award.
· Eric Medlen earned the Motel 6 “Who Got the Light” award when he defeated Del Worsham by a .0007-second margin of victory in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.
· Medlen’s crew earned the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship award for this event.
PRO STOCK
· Kurt Johnson drove his AC Delco Chevy Cobalt to his second win of the season on a holeshot in 6.646 at 207.46. Defending category POWERade world champion Greg Anderson narrowly missed his chance to double-up on award money when he finished second in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO (6.641, 208.10).
· Anderson captured the King Demon Crown title in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO, earning $50,000 in the race-within-a-race bonus event for the category’s top drivers, when he defeated his teammate Jason Line, who earned $10,000 for the runner-up finish.
· No. 1 qualifier Richie Stevens Jr. reached the semifinals, where he was defeated by the eventual runner-up.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
· Ryan Schnitz drove his Trim-Tex Drywall Products Buell V-Twin to the fourth win of his young career when he defeated surprise finalist Matt Guidera with a 7.064 pass at 182.03. It was Guidera’s first career appearance in the final round.
· Chip Ellis became only the second rider in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle history when he rode his Drag Specialties Buell to a 6.988-second run at 189.26 mph during the third round of qualifying. Defending category world champion Andrew Hines was first to join the elite Mickey Thompson 6-second Pro Stock Bike Club when he powered his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.991 in Ganesville of 2005. Ellis earned $3,000 for the pass.
· Ellis advanced to the semifinals, where Guidera beat him on a holeshot.
POWERADE FAN NATIONALS
· Matt Sackman, 13, of Channahon, Ill., defeated hundreds of fan participants to become the local POWERade Fan Nationals Event Champion for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. Sackman, a driver in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Dragster League, will travel to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to compete for the ultimate 2006 POWERade Fan Nationals title in November.
Ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
June 8-11, Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
TOP FUEL
· Doug Kalitta continued his hot streak with his fourth event win in five races. He drove his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster to a 4.503-second finish at 330.23 mph over Melanie Troxel, whose Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels dragster broke near the starting line. Troxel coasted to the top end at 10.273 at 82.18.
· Kalitta is now just 71 points behind Troxel, the POWERade points leader.
· After qualifying No. 1, defending category world champion Tony Schumacher’s Sunday eliminations jinx continued with a first-round loss to No. 16-seed Alan Bradshaw. Schumacher’s U.S. Army dragster struggled at the top end of the track – but Bradshaw’s advantage started at the starting line, where he got a quicker jump at the Christmas tree.
· Schumacher has qualified No. 1 at six events this year, but has yet to win an event in 2006. He advanced to the semifinals in Phoenix and Bristol.
· Alan Bradshaw earned his second career round win in the first round of eliminations – against No. 1 qualifier and defending world champion Tony Schumacher. Bradshaw’s only other round win was also against Schumacher, Chicago’s hometown hero.
· Schumacher earned the Budweiser Shootout award, while his U.S. Army crew’s top performance earned the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship award for this event.
FUNNY CAR
· John Force earned his 120th career win – but it wasn’t a smooth ride. Force and teammate Robert Hight, Force’s son-in-law, were neck-and-neck when both Mustangs experienced mechanical issues and slowed to cross the finish line. Force clocked a 4.930 at 233.60 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, while Hight drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.890 at 244.56.
· Tommy Johnson Jr., who earned his first No. 1 qualifier since Pomona 2001 when he drove his Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a 4.672 at 328.70, exited in the second round to defending category POWERade world champion Gary Scelzi. POWERade points leader Ron Capps, who made the cut for the event in the final qualifying round, advanced to the second round, where he was defeated by Hight.
· Johnson earned the Skoal Showdown award.
· Eric Medlen earned the Motel 6 “Who Got the Light” award when he defeated Del Worsham by a .0007-second margin of victory in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.
· Medlen’s crew earned the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship award for this event.
PRO STOCK
· Kurt Johnson drove his AC Delco Chevy Cobalt to his second win of the season on a holeshot in 6.646 at 207.46. Defending category POWERade world champion Greg Anderson narrowly missed his chance to double-up on award money when he finished second in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO (6.641, 208.10).
· Anderson captured the King Demon Crown title in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO, earning $50,000 in the race-within-a-race bonus event for the category’s top drivers, when he defeated his teammate Jason Line, who earned $10,000 for the runner-up finish.
· No. 1 qualifier Richie Stevens Jr. reached the semifinals, where he was defeated by the eventual runner-up.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
· Ryan Schnitz drove his Trim-Tex Drywall Products Buell V-Twin to the fourth win of his young career when he defeated surprise finalist Matt Guidera with a 7.064 pass at 182.03. It was Guidera’s first career appearance in the final round.
· Chip Ellis became only the second rider in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle history when he rode his Drag Specialties Buell to a 6.988-second run at 189.26 mph during the third round of qualifying. Defending category world champion Andrew Hines was first to join the elite Mickey Thompson 6-second Pro Stock Bike Club when he powered his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.991 in Ganesville of 2005. Ellis earned $3,000 for the pass.
· Ellis advanced to the semifinals, where Guidera beat him on a holeshot.
POWERADE FAN NATIONALS
· Matt Sackman, 13, of Channahon, Ill., defeated hundreds of fan participants to become the local POWERade Fan Nationals Event Champion for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. Sackman, a driver in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Dragster League, will travel to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to compete for the ultimate 2006 POWERade Fan Nationals title in November.
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
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Rapid Randy Baker
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No... NHRA doesn't send them... gotta check DR Central... bp
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
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