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TASCA, DIXON, LINE AND ARANA WIN ACDELCO NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Bob Tasca completed a dream weekend Sunday by racing to his first career victory at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals.
Larry Dixon, Jason Line and Hector Arana also were winners at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at historic Gainesville Raceway.
Tasca, who earned his first No. 1 qualifying position on Saturday, finished the job Sunday by powering his Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang to a final-round performance of 4.200 seconds at 280.72 mph to hold off defending Gatornationals winner Tony Pedregon, whose Q Horsepower Chevy Impala trailed with a 4.536 at 210.90.
"I'm speechless," said Tasca, who defeated Jim Head, Tim Wilkerson and John Force to advance to the final round.
"It's one of those weekends where you qualify No. 1 and then have to beat John Force and Tony Pedregon to get your first win," Tasca continued. "Today is a culmination of 27 races and we've had our struggles as a team, including me as a driver. We're just determined to do well, and I can assure you that this won't be our last trophy. We have a championship-caliber program. What a special place this is and there's just a lot of energy here with the huge crowds. If you've got to pick a place to win your first race, I couldn't think of a better place to do it."
Points leader Ron Capps lost in the first round in his bid to win the first three races of the season, but maintained a 38-point lead over Tasca, who moved to second overall with the win.
Dixon raced to his first Top Fuel victory of the season and fourth at this event, posting a 3.898 at 311.05 in his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster to defeat Cory McClenathan, whose FRAM dragster lost traction early in the run and crossed the finish line in 4.570 at 192.60.
"It's hard to win these races, especially with a brand-new team," said Dixon, who beat Doug Kalitta, Morgan Lucas and Brandon Bernstein in earlier rounds. "They can have all the notes they want from last season but you don't have the same parts they had last season. They don't have the same blowers or the same clutch discs, and anyone who runs a fuel car will tell you that each of those parts has its own personality and you have to learn that personality and understand it, and they've been able to do that."
It is Dixon's first win for new team owner Alan Johnson. Dixon's first 43 wins came as driver for Don "The Snake" Prudhomme from 1995-'07.
"I know how hard it is to make these cars go down the track, but they make it look easy," Dixon said. "It's an a amazing group. Alan Johnson is a genius and (crew chief) Jason McCulloch is working right underneath him, and I'm happy for him to get his first win. I'm also happy for sheik [team co-owner Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani] and to be able to get his first win the third race out. I'm honored to be driving the car."
Despite a second round upset to part-time racer Bobby Lagana, Antron Brown held on to the series lead in Top Fuel.
Line earned his second win of the season in Pro Stock by outrunning Allen Johnson in the final round. Line used a quicker reaction time to take the win, powering his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.614 at 209.20 to hold off the quicker but losing J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus of Johnson, which finished in 6.607 at 209.01.
"The engine guy side of me is really upset that I had to win on a holeshot," said Line, who also won the Gatornationals in 2005. "We've really struggled all weekend. We did not run good. (Top qualifier Mike) Edwards made us look bad. Hats off to him, he's driving really good. But it was a great win, and I'm very excited. For me to do this good this early in the year, it hasn't happened before so I'm excited. I've been driving pretty good, and knock on wood, it stays that way."
In the first three rounds, Line outran Jim Yates, Kurt Johnson and Rickie Jones. He says it was a great confidence boost to get the win despite not feeling like he had the best car.
"The guys did a good job because we did not have the best car this weekend," said Line, who extended his series lead with his 17th career win. "I was thinking to myself before the weekend started, the guy who drives the yellow car, Mr. Coughlin (Jeg Coughlin), very seldom does he win having the best car and we need to do the same thing because you're not going to have the best car every weekend and you'll have to step up some other part of it, and for me, it's the driving part. I'm doing the best I can and I thank the guys for working with me at the shop because they really do try to help me."
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana raced to his second career victory with a 6.977 at 191.40 on his Lucas Oil Buell, to hold off final round opponent and event top qualifier Matt Smith, whose Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki slowed to a 7.133 at 185.51. With the win, Arana moved into the series points lead for the first time in his career. He beat Junior Pippin, defending world champ Eddie Krawiec and Shawn Gann to advance to his fourth career final round.
"It's really great to win this event, I've been coming here for a long time," said Arana, who won his first career race last June in Norwalk, Ohio after 18 seasons of trying. "I did it again. The first one wasn't a fluke and I'm going to win some more."
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues March 27-29 with the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Larry Dixon; 2. Cory McClenathan; 3. Brandon Bernstein; 4. Bobby Lagana Jr.; 5. Morgan Lucas; 6. Tony Schumacher; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Shawn Langdon; 9. Doug Kalitta; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Terry McMillen; 12. Urs Erbacher; 13. Michael Gunderson; 14. Del Cox Jr; 15. Joe Hartley; 16. Spencer Massey.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang; 2. Tony Pedregon; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. John Force; 5. Ashley Force Hood; 6. Tim Wilkerson; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Jerry Toliver; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Jack Beckman; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Jeff Arend; 13. Jim Head; 14. Mike Smith; 15. Mike Neff; 16. Robert Hight.
PRO STOCK:
1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP; 2. Allen Johnson; 3. Greg Stanfield; 4. Rickie Jones; 5. Greg Anderson; 6. Mike Edwards; 7. Kurt Johnson; 8. Jeg Coughlin; 9. Tom Martino; 10. Johnny Gray; 11. Steve Spiess; 12. Jim Yates; 13. Ron Krisher; 14. Larry Morgan; 15. Justin Humphreys; 16. V. Gaines.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Hector Arana; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Shawn Gann; 4. Andrew Hines; 5. Karen Stoffer; 6. Eddie Krawiec; 7. Steve Johnson; 8. Angie McBride; 9. Matt Guidera; 10. Douglas Horne; 11. Redell Harris; 12. Michael Phillips; 13. Craig Treble; 14. Wes Wells; 15. Ryan Schnitz; 16. Junior Pippin.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sunday's final results from the 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 3.898 seconds, 311.05 mph def. Cory McClenathan, 4.570 seconds, 192.60 mph.
Funny Car -- Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.200, 280.72 def. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.536, 210.90.
Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.614, 209.20 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.607, 209.01.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Hector Arana, Buell, 6.977, 191.40 def. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.133, 185.51.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.283, 271.41 def. Bill Reichert, 10.857, 99.47.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.528, 262.69 def. Steve Harker, Monte Carlo, 16.718, 54.36.
Competition Eliminator -- David Eaton, Roadster, 6.719, 202.36 def. David Rampy, Roadster, 7.315, 172.83.
Super Stock -- Herbie Null, Chevy Camaro, 10.000, 132.70 def. James Caro, Dodge Stratus, 8.463, 150.16.
Stock Eliminator -- Scott Helms, Chevy Impala, 13.348, 98.13 def. Anthony Fetch, Chevy Camaro, 11.262, 111.24.
Super Comp -- Brian Forrester, Chevy Corvette, 8.934, 172.43 def. Dick Ouding, Dragster, foul.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from the 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Morgan Lucas, 4.041, 296.37 def. Joe Hartley, 8.675, 88.98; Antron Brown, 3.920, 305.63 def. Clay Millican, 3.958, 307.09; Shawn Langdon, 3.895, 309.27 def. Terry McMillen, 4.056, 298.01; Brandon Bernstein, 3.903, 313.88 def. Urs Erbacher, 4.104, 291.38; Larry Dixon, 3.882, 312.50 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.945, 309.20; Cory McClenathan, 3.922, 308.85 def. Michael Gunderson, 4.170, 283.07; Tony Schumacher, 3.920, 308.14 def. Del Cox Jr, 4.452, 207.40; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.307, 210.21 def. Spencer Massey, 10.288, 77.67;
QUARTERFINALS -- Lagana Jr., 4.410, 202.91 def. Brown, 6.096, 132.14; Bernstein, 3.935, 315.42 def. Langdon, 10.806, 78.42; McClenathan, 4.270, 269.62 def. Schumacher, 4.389, 236.38; Dixon, 3.885, 311.77 def. Lucas, 3.928, 309.42;
SEMIFINALS -- McClenathan, 4.342, 193.29 def. Lagana Jr., 10.231, 82.04; Dixon, 4.091, 260.71 def. Bernstein, 5.546, 128.49;
FINAL -- Dixon, 3.898, 311.05 def. McClenathan, 4.570, 192.60.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.146, 304.32 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.894, 169.98; Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.143, 301.40 def. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.196, 302.08; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.198, 297.48 def. Jim Head, Solara, 4.210, 300.86; Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.118, 304.19 def. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.195, 298.34; John Force, Mustang, 4.156, 304.60 def. Mike Smith, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.296, 257.87; Jerry Toliver, Monte Carlo, 4.240, 257.24 def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.428, 269.13; Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.198, 300.93 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.164, 298.67; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.153, 294.37 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.177, 302.41;
QUARTERFINALS -- Force, 4.178, 300.73 def. Toliver, 5.582, 134.26; T. Pedregon, 4.233, 297.35 def. Worsham, 4.517, 231.71; Hagan, 4.171, 297.61 def. Force Hood, 4.179, 292.27; Tasca III, 4.191, 296.18 def. Wilkerson, 4.201, 296.37;
SEMIFINALS -- Tasca III, 4.170, 291.19 def. Force, 4.370, 238.93; T. Pedregon, 4.160, 300.60 def. Hagan, 4.161, 302.62;
FINAL -- Tasca III, 4.200, 280.72 def. T. Pedregon, 4.536, 210.90.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Rickie Jones, Dodge Stratus, 6.642, 207.50 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 14.082, 48.00; Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.650, 207.69 def. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.648, 208.68; Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.659, 208.10 def. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 14.610, 57.76; Jason Line, GXP, 6.605, 208.65 def. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.658, 207.66; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.646, 207.75 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.655, 207.62; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.608, 204.51 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, 16.152, 49.01; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.608, 208.81 def. Tom Martino, Stratus, 6.642, 207.56; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.612, 208.30 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 7.952, 124.53;
QUARTERFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.617, 208.52 def. Coughlin, 11.177, 83.78; Jones, 6.648, 207.75 def. Edwards, 6.625, 209.20; Stanfield, 6.652, 208.04 def. Anderson, 6.618, 208.49; Line, 6.612, 208.46 def. K. Johnson, 6.662, 208.39;
SEMIFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.709, 207.24 def. Stanfield, 7.180, 149.10; Line, 6.617, 208.94 def. Jones, 10.627, 84.75;
FINAL -- Line, 6.614, 209.20 def. A. Johnson, 6.607, 209.01.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.042, 191.29 def. Wes Wells, Suzuki, 7.148, 189.87; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.982, 189.12 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.099, 189.23; Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.005, 188.83 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.099, 184.98; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 192.66 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 9.212, 102.35; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.936, 192.11 def. Redell Harris, Buell, foul; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 189.66 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.999, 188.99; Angie McBride, Buell, 6.994, 188.10 def. Douglas Horne, 7.066, 185.31; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.959, 190.43 def. Ryan Schnitz, Kawasaki, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hines, 7.070, 185.79 def. McBride, broke; Smith, 7.021, 186.82 def. Johnson, 7.083, 188.33; Gann, 7.027, 188.67 def. Stoffer, 6.986, 189.10; Arana, 6.942, 191.84 def. Krawiec, 7.031, 188.89;
SEMIFINALS -- Smith, 7.039, 187.86 def. Hines, 7.119, 185.08; Arana, 6.981, 192.17 def. Gann, 7.052, 188.25;
FINAL -- Arana, 6.977, 191.40 def. Smith, 7.133, 185.51.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Antron Brown, 259; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 239; 3. Larry Dixon, 206; 4. Doug Kalitta, 194; 5. Tony Schumacher, 181; 6. Cory McClenathan, 178; 7. Morgan Lucas, 176; 8. Shawn Langdon, 137; 9. Spencer Massey, 122; 10. Joe Hartley, 95.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 263; 2. Bob Tasca III, 225; 3. Del Worsham, 188; 4. Robert Hight, 164; 5. Mike Neff, 163; 6. Tony Pedregon, 160; 7. Matt Hagan, 157; 8. Jim Head, 155; 9. John Force, 146; 10. Ashley Force Hood, 145.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 285; 2. Allen Johnson, 228; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 223; 4. Greg Anderson, 212; 5. Mike Edwards, 211; 6. Kurt Johnson, 182; 7. Greg Stanfield, 176; 8. Rickie Jones, 137; 9. Ron Krisher, 134; 10. (tie) Johnny Gray, 116; Jim Yates, 116.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Hector Arana, 117; 2. Matt Smith, 98; 3. Andrew Hines, 74; 4. Shawn Gann, 72; 5. Karen Stoffer, 56; 6. Angie McBride, 55; 7. (tie) Steve Johnson, 53; Eddie Krawiec, 53; 9. Craig Treble, 34; 10. (tie) Matt Guidera, 32. Michael Phillips, 32; Wes Wells, 32; Redell Harris, 32.
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