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McClenathan, Hight Snap Long Winless Streaks to Make Major Moves in Countdown
Edwards and Arana complete winner’s circle at Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals
CONCORD, N.C. – Cory McClenathan and Robert Hight won their first races of the 2009 season Sunday at the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway to make huge moves in the Countdown to 1.
Joining McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Hight (Funny Car) in the winner’s circle at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race playoff.
McClenathan, who pushed his FRAM Tough Guard dragster to a 3.857 at 312.64 mph in his final round win over rookie Shawn Langdon (3.980 at 280.49) and the Dixie Choppers/Lucas Oil team, entered the playoffs in fifth place, but he took advantage of early exits by the drivers ahead of him to move all the way into first place.
“I feel bigger than life sometimes,” said McClenathan, who last won in April 2008 at Las Vegas. “After I won, I was overcome with a sense of ‘Oh my God, it has been so long since I’ve won.’ It has been a year and a half, and that’s too long. My teammate (Tony Schumacher) wins so often, but I don’t. These are the moments I cherish the most.”
With his 31st career win, he has pulled even with Doug Kalitta as the second winningest driver in NHRA history to have never won an NHRA championship (Kurt Johnson, 39).
Hight, who was the 40th and final driver to clinch a playoff berth, vaulted from 10th place all the way up to third place with his first win in a year. His Auto Club Ford Mustang team defeated rookie Matt Hagan’s Shelor.com Dodge Charger R/T team in the final round, 4.097 at 307.02 mph to 4.103 at 308.07.
“It’s unbelievable the timing we’ve got right now because the first part of the year, we stunk this place up; it was terrible,” Hight said. “You start to begin to wonder if you can even win.”
Hight has now been to back-to-back final rounds and his win Sunday was his first since the 2008 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
“Jimmy Prock, for whatever reason, has it right now. Definitely, it’s due to ‘Guido’ (Dean Antonelli) and Ron Douglas (crew chiefs for teammate Ashley Force Hood). Right before Brainerd, we switched everything around just like their car, and they’ve helped us tremendously. Before, our engine would burn up, it would drop cylinders, and was just totally inconsistent. Now, we have a car like Ashley’s had all year long.”
Regular season champ Tony Pedregon remained in first place and Ashley Force Hood moved up a spot to second place.
In Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, form held as the top quailifiers – Mike Edwards in Pro Stock and Hector Arana in Pro Stock Motorcycle – each won on Sunday.
Edwards (6.618 at 209.39) and the A.R.T./Young Life Pontiac team defeated Greg Stanfield (6.650 at 207.75) and his Attitude Apparel Pontiac team to move into first place for the first time all season.
“My car was flawless. It went up and down track every time. It was a great weekend and a great start for this Countdown,” Edwards said. “You’ll never know how hard I’ve worked and how much I’ve wanted this. I know it’s a long way from being over, but it means a lot now.”
Arana ran a 7.004 at 189.31 on his Lucas Oil Buell, but it was a moot point because Karen Stoffer red-lighted aboard her GEICO Powersports Suzuki in the final. It was the second straight win for Arana, who moved into first place for the first time since his season-opening win.
“I’m still going to keep working hard,” said Arana. “I’d like to make three in a row now. I need to stay focused so I can have a shot at the title. I think have the motorcycle to win this championship."
The Countdown to 1 continues next weekend in Dallas with the second race in the six-race playoff, the O’Reilly SuperStart Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals, Sept, 24-27 at the Texas Motorplex.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord. The race is the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Cory McClenathan; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Doug Foley; 5. Larry Dixon; 6. Rod Fuller; 7. Doug Herbert; 8. Terry McMillen; 9. Doug Kalitta; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Pat Dakin; 12. Spencer Massey; 13. Brandon Bernstein; 14. Antron Brown; 15. Morgan Lucas; 16. Terry Haddock.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. Ashley Force Hood; 4. Cruz Pedregon; 5. Bob Tasca III; 6. Jack Beckman; 7. Jim Head; 8. Jeff Arend; 9. Mike Neff; 10. Jerry Toliver; 11. Bob Gilbertson; 12. Tony Pedregon; 13. John Force; 14. Ron Capps; 15. Tim Wilkerson; 16. Del Worsham.
PRO STOCK:
1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP; 2. Greg Stanfield; 3. Allen Johnson; 4. Steve Spiess; 5. Tom Hammonds; 6. Kurt Johnson; 7. Johnny Gray; 8. Jason Line; 9. Ronnie Humphrey; 10. Jeg Coughlin; 11. Rodger Brogdon; 12. Greg Anderson; 13. Warren Johnson; 14. Larry Morgan; 15. Ryan Ondrejko; 16. Vinnie Deceglie.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Hector Arana; 2. Karen Stoffer; 3. Eddie Krawiec; 4. Shawn Gann; 5. Michael Phillips; 6. Douglas Horne; 7. Steve Johnson; 8. Junior Pippin; 9. Andrew Hines; 10. Craig Treble; 11. Matt Smith; 12. LE Tonglet; 13. Angie McBride; 14. Jim Underdahl; 15. Joe DeSantis; 16. Bailey Whitaker.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Sunday's final results from the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord. The race is the 19th of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 3.857 seconds, 312.64 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.980 seconds, 280.49 mph.
Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.097, 307.02 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.103, 308.07.
Pro Stock -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.618, 209.39 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.650, 207.75.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Hector Arana, Buell, 7.004, 189.31 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, foul.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Final round-by-round results from the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Cory McClenathan, 3.861, 315.05 def. Morgan Lucas, 7.429, 93.67; Shawn Langdon, 3.881, 312.50 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.889, 314.68; Rod Fuller, 3.884, 310.55 def. Spencer Massey, 4.315, 210.64; Tony Schumacher, 3.861, 316.60 def. Clay Millican, 3.922, 311.63; Larry Dixon, 3.850, 314.61 def. Terry Haddock, broke; Terry McMillen, 5.223, 167.51 def. Antron Brown, 6.849, 115.05; Doug Foley, 3.945, 252.61 def. Brandon Bernstein, 5.843, 137.13; Doug Herbert, 3.937, 308.00 def. Pat Dakin, 4.040, 264.65; QUARTERFINALS -- Foley, 4.175, 207.94 def. Herbert, 5.176, 135.05; Langdon, 3.887, 311.34 def. McMillen, 8.991, 80.69; Schumacher, 3.874, 313.88 def. Fuller, 3.888, 311.20; McClenathan, 3.861, 315.86 def. Dixon, 3.875, 311.20; SEMIFINALS -- Langdon, 3.826, 315.78 def. Schumacher, 3.865, 314.31; McClenathan, 3.868, 314.31 def. Foley, 3.872, 294.31; FINAL -- McClenathan, 3.857, 312.64 def. Langdon, 3.980, 280.49.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.149, 303.57 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 5.294, 143.28; Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.136, 306.95 def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.133, 302.21; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.141, 305.91 def. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.169, 292.46; Jim Head, Solara, 4.155, 301.40 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.409, 277.83; Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.090, 307.16 def. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.165, 296.83; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.105, 308.99 def. Jerry Toliver, Monte Carlo, 4.147, 304.46; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.160, 300.46 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.950, 173.72; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.673, 275.56 def. Del Worsham, Solara, broke; QUARTERFINALS -- Hagan, 4.143, 304.67 def. Arend, 5.518, 139.56; Force Hood, 4.159, 303.71 def. Head, 5.501, 134.02; Hight, 4.142, 305.15 def. Tasca III, 4.367, 242.84; C. Pedregon, 4.155, 306.53 def. Beckman, 4.424, 219.40; SEMIFINALS -- Hagan, 4.102, 307.72 def. C. Pedregon, 4.204, 279.04; Hight, 4.128, 305.63 def. Force Hood, 4.138, 306.67; FINAL -- Hight, 4.097, 307.02 def. Hagan, 4.103, 308.07.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Tom Hammonds, Chevy Cobalt, 6.636, 207.56 def. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 6.642, 208.14; Johnny Gray, Dodge Stratus, 6.645, 207.91 def. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 12.645, 68.82; Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.638, 207.59 def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.645, 209.30; Jason Line, GXP, 6.629, 209.01 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.640, 208.30; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.657, 207.46 def. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.626, 208.94; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.594, 209.62 def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.653, 208.23; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.635, 208.33 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, foul; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.629, 208.55 def. Ryan Ondrejko, GXP, 7.075, 204.14; QUARTERFINALS -- Spiess, 6.654, 207.75 def. Gray, 6.660, 207.82; Stanfield, 6.664, 207.66 def. K. Johnson, 6.647, 208.17; A. Johnson, 6.644, 207.85 def. Line, 6.688, 208.81; Edwards, 6.620, 209.52 def. Hammonds, 6.633, 207.98; SEMIFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.650, 208.01 def. Spiess, 7.307, 144.27; Edwards, 6.606, 209.20 def. A. Johnson, foul; FINAL -- Edwards, 6.618, 209.39 def. Stanfield, 6.650, 207.75.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.088, 186.02 def. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.072, 184.95; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.070, 185.82 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.061, 187.05; Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.052, 192.22 def. LE Tonglet, Buell, foul; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.970, 188.44 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, foul; Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.118, 186.05 def. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.085, 184.37; Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.011, 190.06 def. Bailey Whitaker, Buell, foul; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.983, 190.67 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, foul; Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.144, 183.69 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.077, 187.50 def. Pippin, foul; Gann, 7.039, 188.96 def. Phillips, 7.053, 188.28; Arana, 7.012, 188.67 def. Johnson, 8.138, 111.94; Krawiec, 7.119, 184.04 def. Horne, foul; SEMIFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.054, 189.44 def. Gann, 7.112, 185.23; Arana, 6.997, 190.14 def. Krawiec, 6.991, 187.99; FINAL -- Arana, 7.004, 189.31 def. Stoffer, foul.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Cory McClenathan, 2,162; 2. (tie) Antron Brown, 2,152; Tony Schumacher, 2,152; 4. Larry Dixon, 2,141; 5. Shawn Langdon, 2,113; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 2,098; 7. Spencer Massey, 2,076; 8. Morgan Lucas, 2,065; 9. Doug Kalitta, 2,042; 10. Clay Millican, 2,031.
Funny Car
1. Tony Pedregon, 2,148; 2. Ashley Force Hood, 2,147; 3. Robert Hight, 2,120; 4. Ron Capps, 2,115; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,112; 6. Jack Beckman, 2,103; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 2,076; 8. John Force, 2,070; 9. Del Worsham, 2,053; 10. Mike Neff, 2,045.
Pro Stock
1. Mike Edwards, 2,198; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 2,142; 3. (tie) Jason Line, 2,136; Greg Stanfield, 2,136; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,128; 6. Greg Anderson, 2,092; 7. Kurt Johnson, 2,079; 8. Johnny Gray, 2,053; 9. Ron Krisher, 2,040; 10. Rickie Jones, 2,020.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Hector Arana, 2,194; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,185; 3. Andrew Hines, 2,125; 4. Douglas Horne, 2,101; 5. Karen Stoffer, 2,094; 6. Matt Smith, 2,093; 7. Shawn Gann, 2,092; 8. Michael Phillips, 2,085; 9. Craig Treble, 2,072; 10. Matt Guidera, 2,020.
LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RESULTS
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Bill Reichert, 5.270, 268.97 def. Ken Perry, 5.397, 260.46.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.541, 261.22 def. Mick Snyder, Ford Mustang, 5.597, 255.29.
Competition Eliminator -- Rick Brown, Chevy S-10, 8.563, 126.28 def. Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Cavalier, foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Todd Hoven, Pontiac GTO, 11.425, 110.02 def. Jeff Strickland, Chevy Camaro, 10.947, 114.63.
Super Comp -- Joe Flynn, Dragster, 8.904, 173.16 def. Brian Forrester, Dragster, 8.940, 159.38.
Super Gas -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.905, 157.06 def. John Stover, Chevy Corvette, 9.897, 153.44.
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