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FORCE HOOD WINS HER SECOND CAREER RACE; SCHUMACHER WINS FIRST WITHOUT ALAN JOHNSON
Krisher, Treble round out winners at the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
BAYTOWN, Tex. – Ashley Force Hood raced to her second career victory on a record-setting day at the 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Sunday at Houston Raceway Park.
The 26-year old Force Hood defeated her former drag racing instructor, Jack Beckman, to earn the win that vaulted her up from 10th to third place in the Funny Car standings. The other winners at the fourth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Krisher (Pro Stock) and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
“Our first win was against my dad (14-time NHRA champion John Force in the final round at Atlanta, 2008) … so to be able to race against another team’s driver in the final and win it, we’re maybe a bit more cheerful than after that first win,” said Force Hood, who ran a 4.122 at 306.19 mph in the final found to nose out Beckman’s 4.227 at 303.43.
Schumacher’s win – a holeshot 3.881 at 314.75 (0.059 RT) in his U.S. Army dragster to Cory McClenathan’s 3.880 at 313.66 (0.098 RT) in his FRAM dragster -- was his first of the season and the first for the U.S. Army team since parting ways with longtime crew chief Alan Johnson, who tuned the Army dragster to five straight NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel world championships.
“Everyone knows we don’t have (Alan Johnson) anymore, and people said we couldn’t win without him, so we had to dig deep, and I love ‘suck it up’ moments – bottom of the ninth, bases loaded – and that’s what we had all day,” said Schumacher, who moved up from fifth place in the TF points all the way to second place with his 57th career win (breaking a tie with Joe Amato; he’s now solo sixth place on the all-time NHRA wins list).
The victory celebration was perhaps made just a bit sweeter for Schumacher as he used another holeshot to defeat Larry Dixon in the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster in the semifinals – 3.895 with a 0.082 RT to Dixon’s 3.889 with a 0.104 RT.
“Winning on a holeshot, those are just numbers, man,” Schumacher said. “Unless you have a great car that can leave like that, it doesn't mean anything, it takes the whole team. Take that exact same car with different pressure behind the barrel valve and it wouldn’t leave at all. It’s a group of guys doing a job and making me look good.”
In Pro Stock, Krisher ran a solid 6.587 in his Valvoline Chevy Cobalt to defeat Jeg Coughlin’s struggling 7.051 in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt.
“We did real good all day until the last round,” Krisher said. “I let out the clutch and the car just spun and didn’t go anywhere. We lost about six-hundredths to 60 feet and my light went right away with it. It was shaking and moving around, but I looked over and Jeggie was in worse shape than me so I decided I was going to stick with it.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Craig Treble steered his Team Scream Suzuki to a 6.915 that was more than enough to beat the 7.260 from first-year rider Douglas Horne, (Aberdeen, Md.), who was making just his second career start.
“Running out of my own pocket, I originally I had planned on cutting it off after Atlanta, but this buys us some time to try to find some financial backing, probably through Madison,” Treble said.
This race, though, may be remembered as much for what happened before the final rounds as what happened in the final rounds. Fans who were in their seats early witnessed two national records, a spectacular Top Fuel explosion (by European champion Urs Erbacher), the first heads-up duel between Larry Dixon and Tony Schumacher (won by Schumacher in the semifinals) and the third heads-up duel between Ashley Force Hood and John Force (won by Force Hood in the quarterfinals).
The new national records were set by Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). Smith broke Angelle Sampey’s nearly two-year-old record for elapsed time when he ran a 6.865 in a second-round win over defending series champion Eddie Krawiec.
Mike Edwards set the new record for speed when he became the first Pro Stocker to surpass 212 mph with his 212.03 mph run in his semifinal loss to Ron Krisher.
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Series resumes in a week with the April 2-5 SummitRacing.Com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Cory McClenathan; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Joe Hartley; 5. Antron Brown; 6. Morgan Lucas; 7. Brandon Bernstein; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Terry Haddock; 10. Del Cox Jr; 11. Urs Erbacher; 12. Spencer Massey; 13. Troy Buff; 14. David Baca; 15. Shawn Langdon; 16. Todd Simpson.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Tony Pedregon; 4. Del Worsham; 5. Tim Wilkerson; 6. Cruz Pedregon; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. John Force; 9. Jerry Toliver; 10. Jeff Arend; 11. Bob Bode; 12. Ron Capps; 13. Robert Hight; 14. Mike Neff; 15. Bob Tasca III; 16. Gary Densham.
PRO STOCK:
1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Jeg Coughlin; 3. Mike Edwards; 4. Jim Yates; 5. Jason Line; 6. Steve Spiess; 7. Warren Johnson; 8. Larry Morgan; 9. Greg Anderson; 10. Tom Hammonds; 11. Rickie Jones; 12. Kurt Johnson; 13. David Beckley; 14. Justin Humphreys; 15. Allen Johnson; 16. Johnny Gray.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 2. Douglas Horne; 3. Matt Smith; 4. Andrew Hines; 5. Eddie Krawiec; 6. Hector Arana; 7. Matt Guidera; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Karen Stoffer; 10. Michael Phillips; 11. Shawn Gann; 12. Junior Pippin; 13. David Hope; 14. Mike Berry; 15. LE Tonglet; 16. Wes Wells.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fourth of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.881 seconds, 314.75 mph def. Cory McClenathan, 3.880 seconds, 313.66 mph.
Funny Car -- Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang, 4.122, 306.19 def. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.227, 303.43.
Pro Stock -- Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.587, 211.00 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 7.051, 165.94.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.915, 193.46 def. Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.260, 155.60.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Cory McClenathan, 3.873, 311.27 def. Shawn Langdon, 10.272, 71.86; Larry Dixon, 3.856,313.44 def. Urs Erbacher, 4.072, 224.85; Clay Millican, 3.893, 307.23 def. Troy Buff, 5.893, 103.52; Antron Brown, 3.840, 313.88 def. Todd Simpson, broke; Brandon Bernstein, 3.887, 315.49 def. Terry Haddock, 3.958, 304.05; Tony Schumacher, 3.897, 308.78 def. Del Cox Jr, 3.974, 300.80; Morgan Lucas, 4.636, 220.69 def. David Baca, 6.799, 88.03; Joe Hartley, 4.004, 303.43 def. Spencer Massey, 5.274, 138.37;
QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.434, 230.37 def. Lucas, 4.434, 230.37; Hartley, 4.083, 294.31 def. Millican, 5.142, 152.07; Dixon, 4.400, 248.43 def. Bernstein, 5.072, 165.17; McClenathan, 3.909, 303.23 def. Brown, 3.883, 310.63;
SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.895, 310.91 def. Dixon, 3.889, 307.02; McClenathan, 3.985, 296.70 def. Hartley, 5.082, 150.18;
FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.881, 314.75 def. McClenathan, 3.880, 313.66.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.437, 230.37 def. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.498, 211.13; Del Worsham, Solara, 4.087, 308.64 def. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.321, 232.55; Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.640, 201.82 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 5.148, 188.91; Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.834, 250.64 def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.898, 170.92; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.954, 246.80 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.353, 144.78; John Force, Mustang, 4.168, 298.21 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.914, 118.95; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.182, 286.86 def. Gary Densham, Dodge Stratus, 9.786, 99.66; Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.161, 302.55 def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 5.409, 140.99;
QUARTERFINALS -- Beckman, 4.172, 298.01 def. Wilkerson, 4.148, 303.91; T. Pedregon, 4.177, 296.05 def. C. Pedregon, foul; Worsham, 4.867, 209.23 def. Hagan, 5.933, 124.43; Force Hood, 4.454, 240.51 def. Force, 7.380, 70.40;
SEMIFINALS -- Beckman, 4.171, 298.34 def. T. Pedregon, 4.279, 266.37; Force Hood, 4.173, 303.23 def. Worsham, 4.791, 192.66;
FINAL -- Force Hood, 4.122, 306.19 def. Beckman, 4.227, 303.43.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.589, 210.37 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.689, 209.98; Jim Yates, Pontiac GXP, 6.607, 209.39 def. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 7.442, 150.58; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.614, 209.85 def. David Beckley, Stratus, 6.602, 209.62; Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.598, 209.98 def. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.592, 210.54; Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.594, 209.62 def.Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.554, 211.99; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.565, 211.36 def. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.591, 210.14; Jason Line, GXP, 6.549, 211.20 def. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, foul; Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.601, 210.77 def. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.614, 208.94;
QUARTERFINALS -- Yates, 6.619, 209.69 def. Morgan, 6.751, 208.94; Coughlin, 6.591, 209.72 def. Spiess, 6.606, 209.65; Edwards, 6.565, 211.76 def. W. Johnson, 6.649, 210.73; Krisher, 6.567, 210.73 def. Line, 6.573, 210.83;
SEMIFINALS -- Coughlin, 6.595, 209.52 def. Yates, 6.616, 209.85; Krisher, 6.573, 210.44 def. Edwards, 6.576, 212.03;
FINAL -- Krisher, 6.587, 211.00 def. Coughlin, 7.051, 165.94.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.987, 190.16 def. Wes Wells, Suzuki, 13.663, 55.04; Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.978, 188.02 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.988, 192.44; Douglas Horne, 6.945, 189.28 def. David Hope, Buell, 7.123, 187.11; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.885, 192.33 def. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.123, 181.67; Hector Arana, 6.949, 191.54 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, foul; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.946, 186.61 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.204, 185.77; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.809, 122.73 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, foul; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.893, 192.36 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.063, 186.77;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hines, 6.934, 189.58 def. Johnson, 7.011, 190.75; Horne, 7.026, 187.76 def. Arana, foul; Smith, 6.865, 193.16 def. Krawiec, 6.932, 191.00; Treble, 6.915, 192.71 def. Guidera, 6.976, 189.26;
SEMIFINALS -- Horne, 7.049, 186.56 def. Hines, foul; Treble, 6.912, 193.54 def. Smith, 6.917, 179.68;
FINAL -- Treble, 6.915, 193.46 def. Horne, 7.260, 155.60.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Antron Brown, 317; 2. Tony Schumacher, 297; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 296; 4. Larry Dixon, 279; 5. Cory McClenathan, 270; 6. Morgan Lucas, 230; 7. Doug Kalitta, 204; 8. Shawn Langdon, 170; 9. Joe Hartley, 167; 10. Spencer Massey, 156.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 294; 2. Del Worsham, 265; 3. Ashley Force Hood, 261; 4. Bob Tasca III, 257; 5. Tony Pedregon, 232; 6. Jack Beckman, 231; 7. Matt Hagan, 210; 8. John Force, 200; 9. (tie) Robert Hight, 196; Mike Neff, 196.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 343; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 317; 3. Mike Edwards, 286; 4. Allen Johnson, 260; 5. Greg Anderson, 248; 6. Ron Krisher, 247; 7. Kurt Johnson, 219; 8. Jim Yates, 189; 9. Greg Stanfield, 186; 10. Rickie Jones, 168.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Matt Smith, 194; 2. Hector Arana, 172; 3. Andrew Hines, 152; 4. Craig Treble, 151; 5. Douglas Horne, 125; 6. Eddie Krawiec, 107; 7. Steve Johnson, 105; 8. Shawn Gann, 104; 9. Karen Stoffer, 87; 10. Matt Guidera, 84.
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES (SPORTSMAN)
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final round results from the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park:
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.360, 265.17 def. Chris Demke, DQ.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Steve Harker, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.638, 227.31 def. Marty Nothstein, Chevy Impala, 5.619, 259.51.
Competition Eliminator -- Jacklyn Gebhardt-Still, Dragster, 7.621, 126.34 def. Glen Treadwell, Dragster, foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Kenny Doughty, Chevy Chevelle, 11.463, 114.01 def. Anthony Bertozzi, Chevy Camaro, 10.588, 118.98.
Super Comp -- Tommy Phillips, Dragster, 8.909, 171.21 def. Al Kenny, Dragster, foul.
Super Gas -- David Jones, Pontiac Firebird, 9.877, 161.44 def. Steve Cohen, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.874, 164.05.
Super Street -- Craig Abbott, Chevy Vega Wagon, 10.854, 131.68 def. Greg Parson, Chevy Nova, foul.
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