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 Sport Compact Series |
John Force and Ron Krisher also won in their respective categories at Heartland Park Topeka in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.
Will drove her KB dragster to a 4.744-second run at 304.53 mph, which was just enough to get past No. 1 qualifier Larry Dixon and pick up her first win.
“There are so many emotions because there were times when I thought I can’t do this, maybe I shouldn’t be racing, maybe I don’t belong in Top Fuel,” said Will. “But it’s what I love to do and through everything you just can never, never, never give up.”
Defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher strengthened his points lead with a first round win over Alan Bradshaw. The five-time world champion has a 109-point cushion over second place Antron Brown.
In Funny Car, 14-time POWERade Series world champion Force picked up his
first win of the season, driving his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang to a
4.996 at 299.66 past runner-up Tim Wilkerson. It was Force’s 126th career win
and 9th at Heartland Park Topeka. It
was also Force's first since his wreck in
“I didn’t want to go winless, not after that wreck and I didn’t want to get mental where I thought I had to quit,” said Force. “If you can’t do the job, then you’ve got to get out, and I didn’t want to get mental. I just told Wilkerson, ‘thank you, I needed this more than you needed the points or the money, I needed this mentally.’ Winning is what it’s all about.”
Wilkerson kept his points lead with his runner up finish and built a 81-point cushion over second-place Ashley Force after Ashley lost in the first round to her father John.
In Pro Stock, Ron Krisher drove his Valvoline Chevy Cobalt past Larry Morgan for his first win of the season. Krisher’s run of 6.758 at 204.70 was enough to put him in winner’s circle and give him his first win in over five years.
“I got my driving back, or more confidence in my driving and that’s what I needed,” said Krisher. “I lost confidence in my driving but we’ve got it back. We drove good today, nobody beat us up out there. We took every round.”
Kurt Johnson’s second-round win was strong enough to push him to the top of the Pro Stock point standings and give him a 20-point lead over second-place and defending world champion Jeg Coughlin.
The
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 11th annual Torco
Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals, June 5-8 at Route 66 Raceway in
**AGATE**
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka. The race is the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Hillary Will; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Cory McClenathan; 5. Brandon Bernstein; 6. Morgan Lucas; 7. Tony Schumacher; 8. Joe Hartley; 9. J.R. Todd; 10. Doug Herbert; 11. Rod Fuller; 12. Doug Kalitta; 13. David Grubnic; 14. Alan Bradshaw; 15. Bob Vandergriff.
FUNNY CAR:
1.
John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Tim
Wilkerson, Chevy Impala; 3. Gary
Scelzi, Dodge Charger; 4. Ron Capps, Charger; 5.
Bob Tasca III, Mustang; 6. Melanie
Troxel, Charger; 7. Jerry Toliver,
Charger; 8. Gary Densham, Impala;
9. Frank Hawley, Charger; 10.
Ashley Force, Mustang; 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger; 12.
Jack Beckman, Charger; 13. Cruz
Pedregon,
PRO STOCK:
1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus; 3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt; 5. Rickie Jones, Stratus; 6. V. Gaines, Stratus; 7. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP; 8. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 9. Warren Johnson, GXP; 10. Jason Line, GXP; 11. Jim Yates, GXP; 12. Justin Humphreys, Stratus; 13. Greg Stanfield, GXP; 14. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 15. Greg Anderson, GXP; 16. Todd Hoerner, Stratus.
Top Fuel -- Hillary Will, 4.744 seconds, 304.53 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.960 seconds, 281.42 mph.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.996, 299.66 def. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 6.183, 152.61.
Pro Stock -- Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.758, 204.70 def. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 12.144, 62.96.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Mark Niver, 5.490, 263.41 def. Chris Demke, 5.447, 264.49.
Top
Alcohol Funny Car -- Steve Harker, Chevy
Competition Eliminator -- David Rampy, Bantam Roadster, 7.317, 179.37 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 8.202, 162.47.
Super Stock -- Jeff Town, Buick Regal, 10.926, 114.75 def. Peter Biondo, Chevy Cobalt, 8.944, 147.33.
Super Comp -- Tim Ekart, Dragster, 8.866, 171.90 def. Tommy Phillips, Dragster, 8.861, 169.57.
Super Gas -- Tommy Phillips, Chevy Corvette, No Time, No Speed def. Bill Mitchell, Corvette, broke.
Super
Street --
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Brandon Bernstein, 4.625, 311.99 def. J.R. Todd, 4.667, 286.74; Tony Schumacher, 5.862, 235.97 def. Alan Bradshaw, 11.201, 84.69; Morgan Lucas, 4.749, 305.98 def. Rod Fuller, 4.856, 261.98; Larry Dixon, 4.630, 308.85 was unopposed; Cory McClenathan, 4.587, 314.46 def. Bob Vandergriff, 13.150, 74.69; Antron Brown, 4.612, 294.50 def. David Grubnic, 8.328, 89.43; Joe Hartley, 4.727, 311.85 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.327, 208.84; Hillary Will, 4.633, 310.91 def. Doug Herbert, 4.672, 308.43; QUARTERFINALS -- Dixon, 4.691, 302.14 def. Bernstein, 4.698, 309.70; Brown, 4.617, 318.99 def. Hartley, 12.117, 82.84; Will, 4.757, 292.58 def. Lucas, 4.780, 278.52; McClenathan, 4.660, 307.51 def. Schumacher, 5.657, 165.01; SEMIFINALS -- Will, 4.809, 291.51 def. McClenathan, 7.197, 116.27; Dixon, 4.787, 302.01 def. Brown, 5.079, 236.01; FINAL -- Will, 4.744, 304.53 def. Dixon, 4.960, 281.42.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.889, 307.79 def. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.849, 306.95; Gary Densham, Impala, 4.962, 304.32 def. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.648, 135.43; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.939, 309.06 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 6.199, 150.16; Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.940, 297.81 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.976, 303.03; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.956, 307.37 def. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, foul; Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.946, 305.22 def.
Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.950, 305.36; Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.927, 305.70 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.237, 219.72; John Force, Mustang, 4.890, 291.95 def. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.880, 307.93; QUARTERFINALS -- Wilkerson, 5.005, 298.01 def. Toliver, 5.021, 292.27; Capps, 4.969, 300.06 def. Troxel, 5.016, 298.01; J. Force, 4.980, 295.34 def. Densham, 7.356, 114.60; Scelzi, 4.997, 298.14 def. Tasca III, 4.983, 296.83; SEMIFINALS -- Wilkerson, 6.009, 194.32 def. Scelzi, 6.138, 210.70; J. Force, 5.009, 296.37 def. Capps, 7.119, 126.99;
FINAL -- J. Force, 4.996, 299.66 def. Wilkerson, 6.183, 152.61.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.772, 203.03 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.787, 203.34; Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.772, 202.82 def. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.741, 205.44; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.777, 203.19 def. Jason Line, GXP, 6.757, 203.25; Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.757, 204.11 def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.790, 202.67; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.751, 203.52 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.770, 203.00; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.737, 204.32 def. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.769, 203.03; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.754, 203.68 def. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.761, 203.12; Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.732, 203.92 def. Todd Hoerner, Stratus, 6.817, 202.76; QUARTERFINALS -- K. Johnson, 12.660, 67.98 def. Gaines, foul; Coughlin, 6.774, 204.17 def. Edwards, 6.793, 203.28; Morgan, 6.772, 203.22 def. Connolly, 14.645, 56.77; Krisher, 6.745, 204.01 def. Jones, 6.779, 203.25;
SEMIFINALS -- Morgan, 6.768, 203.25 def. Coughlin, 8.007, 124.43; Krisher, 6.750, 203.83 def. K. Johnson, 6.755, 204.54;
FINAL -- Krisher, 6.758, 204.70 def. Morgan, 12.144, 62.96.
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 779; 2. Antron Brown, 670; 3. Larry Dixon, 659; 4. Hillary Will, 567; 5. Cory McClenathan, 527; 6. Rod Fuller, 502; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 480; 8. Doug Kalitta, 418; 9. David Grubnic, 391; 10. Doug Herbert, 377.
Funny Car
1. Tim Wilkerson, 643; 2. Ashley Force, 562; 3. John Force, 520; 4. Cruz Pedregon, 508; 5. Robert Hight, 506; 6. (tie) Ron Capps, 435; Tony Pedregon, 435; 8. Gary Densham, 407; 9. Mike Neff, 393; 10. Bob Tasca III, 374.
Pro Stock
1. Kurt Johnson, 621; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 601; 3. Greg Anderson, 592; 4. Jason Line, 591; 5. V. Gaines, 514; 6. Mike Edwards, 497; 7. Allen Johnson, 494; 8. Ron Krisher, 444; 9. Greg Stanfield, 436; 10. Warren Johnson, 388.
BRISTOL,
Tenn. – Melanie Troxel became the first woman in NHRA history to win in both
Top Fuel and Funny Car when she raced to the Funny Car victory
Sunday at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Tony
Schumacher and Dave Connolly also won in their respective categories at
Bristol Dragway in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.
Troxel,
who earned four Top Fuel victories prior to switching to Funny Car this season, joined
her husband Tommy Johnson as one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to earn victories
in both nitro categories when she powered her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger
to a 5.066 at 310.27 to defeat rookie Mike Neff in the final round. She is the
second female to win in Funny Car in NHRA history, following Ashley Force's
gender-breaking victory last month in
“You
know I haven’t even given that any thought,” said Troxel, referring to being
one of fourteen drivers to get a win in both of NHRA’s nitro classes. “We
were so focused on going out there and getting some round wins and getting a
win. That’s kind of like icing on the cake.”
Tim
Wilkerson remained in the POWERade Series points lead in Funny Car, 23 points
ahead of Ashley Force, who lost to Troxel in the semis in the first all-female
Funny Car elimination round in NHRA history.
Defending POWERade Series world champion Schumacher raced his U.S. Army
dragster to his third win of the season in three consecutive final round
appearances. Schumacher’s run of 4.555 at 306.81 against runner-up Larry
Dixon’s U.S. Smokeless dragster gave him his second win at Bristol
Dragway.
“Through
the conditions we had all weekend, this was the perfect conditions to race
in,” said Schumacher. “When you race someone that’s up ahead in the points
it’s just a huge points spread. That was just a huge round.”
Schumacher
strengthened his points lead over second-place Antron Brown by 131 points. Brown lost
in the second round to Hillary Will.
In Pro Stock, Dave Connolly defeated Greg Stanfield in his second consecutive
final round appearance, driving his Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt to
a 6.731 win at 204.70 mph.
“It
makes you appreciate everything that much more,” said Connolly, who missed the
first three races of the season. “We got pretty lucky last weekend to go to
the final round and then to come out here and I’m taking cones out here in
qualifying and I would’ve never thought we would’ve made it to the winners
circle, but we did.”
Former
world champion Greg Anderson’s second round win was enough to push him to
the top of the point standings, two points ahead of teammate Jason Line.
The
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 20th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, May 30-June 1 at Heartland Park Topeka in
**AGATE**
BRISTOL,
Tenn. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Eighth
annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q at Bristol Dragway.
The race is the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP
FUEL:
1.
Tony Schumacher; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Brandon Bernstein; 4.
Hillary Will; 5. J.R. Todd; 6.
Antron
Brown; 7. Troy Buff; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Alan Bradshaw; 10.
Rod Fuller; 11. Cory McClenathan; 12. Doug Herbert; 13. Bob
Vandergriff; 14. David Grubnic; 15. Morgan Lucas; 16.
Todd
Paton.
FUNNY
CAR:
1.
Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger; 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang; 3. Robert
Hight, Mustang; 4. Jim Head,
PRO
STOCK:
1.
Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP; 3. Ron
Krisher, Cobalt; 4. V.
Gaines,
Dodge Stratus; 5. Greg Anderson, GXP; 6. Johnny Gray, Stratus; 7.
Mike Edwards, GXP; 8.
John
Nobile, Stratus; 9. Warren Johnson, GXP; 10. Todd Hoerner, Stratus;
11. Jason Line, GXP; 12. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt; 13. Kurt
Johnson, Cobalt; 14. Jim Yates, GXP; 15. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 16.
Max Naylor, Stratus.
Top
Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.555 seconds, 306.81 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.958
seconds, 253.37 mph.
Funny
Car -- Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 5.066, 310.27 def. Mike Neff, Ford
Mustang, 6.471, 146.21.
Pro
Stock -- Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.731, 204.70 def. Greg Stanfield,
Super
Stock -- Jim Harrington, Chevy Camaro, 9.785, 137.32 def. Michael Iacono,
Camaro, foul.
Stock
Eliminator -- Anthony Fetch, Chevy Camaro, 11.534, 109.64 def. Peter
Biondo, Camaro, 10.586, 123.78.
Super
Comp -- Mike Robilotto, Dragster, 8.910, 168.85 def. Franklin Di
Bartolomeo, Dragster, 8.942, 169.06.
Super
Gas -- Ray Connolly, Chevy Corvette, 9.911, 161.46 def. Mike Ruff, Chevy
Nova, 9.918, 141.08.
TOP
FUEL:
ROUND
ONE -- J.R. Todd, 4.589, 321.04 def. Rod Fuller, 4.635, 280.95; Larry Dixon,
4.621, 316.23 def. Doug Herbert, 4.679, 296.05; Brandon Bernstein, 4.586, 324.44
def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.740, 330.23; Doug Kalitta, 4.710, 308.64 def. Todd Paton,
broke; Tony Schumacher, 4.514, 325.45 def.
Alan
Bradshaw, foul; Antron Brown, 4.901, 321.12 def. Morgan Lucas, 7.892, 101.17;
Troy Buff, 4.666, 313.58 def. David Grubnic, 4.873, 314.83; Hillary Will, 4.555,
320.43 def. Cory McClenathan, 4.638, 329.34; QUARTERFINALS -- Dixon, 4.631,
300.73 def. Buff, 4.681, 305.15; Bernstein, 4.545, 326.71 def.
Kalitta,
4.810, 280.19; Will, 4.541, 319.14 def. Brown, 4.560, 328.14; Schumacher, 4.511,
321.42 def. Todd, 4.550, 330.80; SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 4.555, 317.05 def.
Bernstein, 4.600, 322.88; Schumacher, 4.501, 329.50 def.
Will,
10.925, 78.27;
FINAL
-- Schumacher, 4.555, 306.81 def.
FUNNY
CAR:
ROUND
ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.823, 311.77 def. Gary Densham, Impala,
5.685, 183.87; Jerry Toliver, Dodge Charger, broke def. Jim Head, Toyota Solara,
broke; Jim Head, Solara, 4.834,
319.29
def. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 6.482, 128.57; Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.791,
316.23 def.
Gary
Scelzi, Charger, foul; Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.877, 310.98 def. Tony Bartone,
Chevy Monte Carlo, 13.215, 69.40; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.746, 320.28 def. Del
Worsham, Impala, 4.790, 327.43; Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.898, 316.82 def. John
Force, Mustang, 9.004, 84.24; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.827,
316.52
def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.923, 313.88; Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.816,
319.29 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.827, 319.90; QUARTERFINALS -- Head, 4.851,
321.12 def. C. Pedregon, 7.017, 128.07; Troxel, 4.820, 321.73 def. A.
Force,
4.863, 314.90; Hight, 4.773, 314.31 def. Wilkerson, 4.884, 296.70; Neff, 4.828,
319.98 def.
Capps,
4.873, 315.27;
SEMIFINALS
-- Troxel, 5.639, 254.04 def. Head, 29.548, 36.25; Neff, 4.814, 289.82 def.
Hight, 4.884, 259.36; FINAL -- Troxel, 5.066, 310.27 def. Neff, 6.471, 146.21.
PRO
STOCK:
ROUND
ONE -- Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.764, 203.34 def. Jason Line, GXP, foul;
Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.781, 203.92 def. Todd Hoerner, Dodge Stratus,
6.781, 203.43; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.792, 203.19 def. Max Naylor, Stratus,
broke; Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.811, 203.00 def. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.813,
204.79; John Nobile, Stratus, 6.815, 203.55 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 7.036,
201.52; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.792, 203.68 def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.760,
205.57; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.777, 203.34 def. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.858, 200.83;
Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.775,
203.92
def. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.795, 202.18; QUARTERFINALS -- Gaines, 6.757, 203.31
def. Nobile, broke; Krisher, 6.740, 204.20 def. Gray, foul; Connolly, 6.769,
204.01 def. Anderson, foul; Stanfield, 6.757, 203.31 def. Edwards, 6.831,
203.49; SEMIFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.752, 203.68 def. Gaines, 6.749, 203.09;
Connolly, 6.756, 203.49 def.
Krisher,
6.729, 204.98;
FINAL
-- Connolly, 6.731, 204.70 def. Stanfield, 6.717, 204.42.
BRISTOL,
Tenn. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the
Eighth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q at Bristol
Dragway, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top
Fuel
1.
Tony Schumacher, 726; 2. Antron Brown, 595; 3. Larry Dixon, 561; 4.
Rod Fuller, 466; 5.
Hillary
Will, 455; 6. Cory McClenathan, 450; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 427; 8.
Doug Kalitta, 384; 9.
David
Grubnic, 360; 10. Doug Herbert, 343.
Funny
Car
1.
Tim Wilkerson, 552; 2. Ashley Force, 529; 3. Cruz Pedregon, 477; 4.
Robert Hight, 473; 5.
John
Force, 408; 6. Tony Pedregon, 404; 7. Mike Neff, 383; 8. Ron
Capps, 360; 9. Gary Densham, 356; 10. Del Worsham, 338.
Pro
Stock
1.
Greg Anderson, 561; 2. Jason Line, 559; 3. Kurt Johnson, 545; 4.
Jeg Coughlin, 530; 5.
Allen
Johnson, 461; 6. V. Gaines, 460; 7. Mike Edwards, 443; 8. Greg
Stanfield, 401; 9. Warren Johnson, 355; 10. Ron Krisher, 327.
WILKERSON,
FULLER, K. JOHNSON AND HINES WIN;
FORCE EARNS 1,000TH ROUND WIN
MADISON, Ill. - Tim Wilkerson denied John Force Racing's Mike
Neff his first career win on the same day Neff's boss made history at
the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol.
Wilkerson earned his first win at his hometown track, his second
of the season and seventh of his career when he drove his Levi, Ray &
Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.874-second finish at 317.27 mph to Neff's
4.886 at 321.58 in his Old Spice Ford Mustang.
Early in the day, Force cemented his position as the most
prolific Funny Car driver in NHRA history when he reached 1,000 round
wins, the first driver to do so, in a first-round match-up with Ron
Capps.
The win marked Wilkerson's second victory over a JFR entry this
year - he defeated team owner and driver John Force's daughter Ashley in
Las Vegas. He enters the season's next event in Bristol leading the NHRA
POWERade Series points for the first time in his 11-year career after
qualifying No. 1 at the event.
"The emotions are out of control," Wilkerson said. "It was all I
could do at the other end of the track just to get out of the
car...It'll get the monkey off our back. We ended up qualifying No. 1 a
couple of times this year and couldn't even get out of first round.
We're pretty proud (this win). My guys are just doing a terrific job
working on my car, and the track was good all day."
After watching new teammate and Pro Stock Motorcycle transplant
Antron Brown win two of the season's first six events, 2007 title
contender Rod Fuller has his own reason to celebrate. Fuller piloted his
Caterpillar dragster to a 4.525 at 328.70 around Tony Schumacher's 4.583
at 325.45 in his U.S. Army-backed dragster.
"I kind of had a chip on my shoulder from what happened to me
last year, leading the points all year long and losing to (Schumacher,
the reigning POWERade Series world champion)," Fuller said. "It's
gratifying when you beat him. What else can I say about David Powers
Motorsports? Four finals in a row for us and three wins. It just tells
you how strong this organization is.
"I take a lot of pride in (Brown's) success because we're really
close to each other. He gives me a lot of compliments by saying how much
I helped him and I have helped him a lot. It's almost like we're
brothers and it's like watching my little brother Tony racing. If I
can't win I want him to win. I always say drag racing is like a
merry-go-round. You just have to wait for your time to get on."
Kurt Johnson earned his first win since Phoenix of last year
when he drove his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt to a 6.631 at 209.30 for a win
over Dave Connolly's 6.651 at 208.78 in his Charter Communications Chevy
Cobalt. It is his 37th career and third at Gateway (2005, 1998).
"It was pretty tough out there," Johnson said. "There was a lot
of tire shake... I think everybody just kind of underestimated the race
track. It was exceptional for me. We ran a .58 this morning and it's
hard to touch it after that, but we knew we had to make some changes. We
changed the gears around; we changed the clutch around. The whole
ACDelco crew just came together and we did what we needed to do."
Andrew Hines turned in his 16th consecutive run in the
six-second range to earn his second consecutive and 15th career win on
his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
"The V-Rod's just going straight, making good runs," Hines said.
"It's the same engine we ran in Atlanta. We tried a different engine on
Friday and it just didn't seem to have as many ponies as this one. We
wanted to get back the No. 1 qualifying spot and we put the engine back
in yesterday and just couldn't find the set-up because it was making so
much horsepower here in St. Louis.
"It was throwing us for a loop...but winning from the No. 3 spot, that
still means a lot. Four races in three finals and two wins, it's just a
tribute to how good my team is."
** AGATE **
MADISON, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories
at the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol
at Gateway International Raceway. The race is the seventh of 24 events
in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Rod Fuller; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Doug Kalitta; 4.
Hillary Will;
5. Larry Dixon; 6. David Grubnic; 7. Alan Bradshaw; 8.
Antron Brown;
9. J.R. Todd; 10. Morgan Lucas; 11. Bob Vandergriff; 12.
Doug
Herbert; 13. Brandon Bernstein; 14. Cory McClenathan; 15. Troy
Buff;
16. Luigi Novelli.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala; 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang; 3.
Cruz
Pedregon, Impala; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang; 5. Mike Ashley, Dodge
Charger RT; 6. John Force, Mustang; 7. Del Worsham, Impala; 8.
Tony
Pedregon, Impala; 9. Ron Capps, Charger; 10. Gary Scelzi, Charger;
11.
Ashley Force, Mustang; 12. Jerry Toliver, Charger; 13. Melanie
Troxel,
Charger; 14. Bob Tasca III, Mustang; 15. Scott Kalitta, Toyota
Solara;
16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 3. V.
Gaines, Dodge Stratus; 4. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP; 5. Jeg
Coughlin,
Cobalt; 6. Rickie Jones, Stratus; 7. John Nobile, Stratus; 8.
Allen
Johnson, Stratus; 9. Todd Hoerner, Stratus; 10. Jim Yates, GXP; 11.
Max Naylor, Stratus; 12. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 13. Greg Stanfield,
GXP;
14. Matt Hartford, Stratus; 15. Jason Line, GXP; 16. Mike
Edwards,
GXP.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 2. Matt Smith, Buell; 3.
Chip
Ellis, Suzuki; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson; 5. Angelle Sampey,
Buell; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 7. Chris Rivas, Buell; 8.
Steve
Johnson, Suzuki; 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 10. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki;
11. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 12. Matt Guidera, Buell; 13. Junior
Pippin,
Buell; 14. Hector Arana, Buell; 15. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 16. David
Hope, Buell.
MADISON, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the 12th annual O'Reilly
NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International
Raceway. The race is the seventh of 24 in the NHRA POWERade
Drag
Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Rod Fuller, 4.525 seconds, 328.70 mph def. Tony Schumacher,
4.583 seconds, 325.45 mph.
Funny Car -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.874, 317.27 def. Mike Neff,
Ford Mustang, 4.886, 321.58.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.631, 209.30 def. Dave
Connolly, Cobalt, 6.651, 208.78.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.882, 194.13
def. Matt Smith, Buell, 8.098, 114.02.
Competition Eliminator -- Cordis Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 8.977, 148.30
def. Michael Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 8.611, 150.51.
Super Stock -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Cobalt, 8.776, 139.30 def. Bret
Voges, Chevy II, 9.675, 132.53.
Stock Eliminator -- Gary Stinnett, Chevy Camaro, 10.378, 120.71 def.
Donnie Beeler, Camaro, 11.260, 116.82.
Super Gas -- Brina Splingaire, Chevy Corvette, 9.912, 156.86 def. Ryan
Bolin, Ford Mustang, 9.893, 141.65.
MADISON, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the 12th annual
O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway
International Raceway, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Rod Fuller, 4.530, 328.06 def. Cory McClenathan, 10.845,
78.80; Alan Bradshaw, 4.561, 319.67 def. J.R. Todd, 4.542, 319.14;
Antron Brown, 5.929, 194.30 def. Brandon Bernstein, 7.869, 139.73;
Hillary Will, 5.648, 217.98 def. Troy Buff, 11.511, 90.31; Tony
Schumacher, 4.531, 323.97 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.604, 313.95; David
Grubnic, 4.542, 321.19 def. Luigi Novelli, 13.386, 92.94; Doug Kalitta,
4.549, 315.64 def. Doug Herbert, 7.609, 97.81; Larry Dixon, 4.721,
311.70 def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.786, 243.72; QUARTERFINALS -- Will,
4.629, 308.99 def. Dixon, 4.678, 309.42; Kalitta, 4.773, 283.07 def.
Brown, 10.922, 64.35; Fuller, 4.570, 325.45 def. Grubnic, 5.074, 209.69;
Schumacher, 5.286, 250.74 def.
Bradshaw, 9.761, 93.25; SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.575, 321.50 def.
Will, 11.349, 75.82; Fuller, 4.591, 320.51 def. Kalitta, 6.202, 156.46;
FINAL -- Fuller, 4.525, 328.70 def. Schumacher, 4.583, 325.45.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.828, 322.88 def. Tony
Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 9.509, 85.48; Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger RT,
6.579, 252.90 def. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 6.622, 138.12; Tony
Pedregon, Impala, 4.892, 297.42 def. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.869,
309.98; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.834, 301.00 def. Jerry Toliver,
Charger, 4.910, 308.85; Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.873, 311.34 def. Gary
Scelzi, Charger, 4.863, 314.17; John Force, Mustang, 4.862, 320.20 def.
Ron Capps, Charger, 4.856, 319.07; Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.904, 310.63
def. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.920, 292.46; Del Worsham, Impala, 4.817,
316.30 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.924, 310.13; QUARTERFINALS --
Neff, 4.924, 309.77 def. Ashley, 4.959, 295.79; Hight, 5.042, 300.60
def. J. Force, 5.811, 200.00; Wilkerson, 4.826, 310.20 def. Worsham,
7.533, 121.20; C. Pedregon, 5.080,
264.65 def. T. Pedregon, 12.046, 79.55; SEMIFINALS -- Neff, 4.852,
312.78 def. Hight, 7.377, 115.45; Wilkerson, 4.829, 314.83 def. C.
Pedregon, 6.886, 135.65; FINAL -- Wilkerson, 4.874, 317.27 def. Neff,
4.886, 321.58.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 9.327, 127.01 def. Greg
Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 10.155, 117.80; Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.812,
205.85 def. Mike Edwards, GXP, 18.309, 41.97; Allen Johnson, Stratus,
6.624, 208.94 def. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.630, 204.70; Kurt Johnson,
Chevy Cobalt, 6.581, 209.36 def. Todd Hoerner, Stratus, 6.619, 208.65;
Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.616, 208.49 def. Matt Hartford, Stratus, 11.651,
74.75; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.668, 208.10 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt,
6.641, 207.62; John Nobile, Stratus, 9.679, 158.91 def. Jason Line, GXP,
12.809, 66.19; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.619, 208.01 def. Jim Yates, GXP,
6.623, 206.57; QUARTERFINALS -- Gaines, 6.626, 207.91 def. Nobile,
10.602, 94.83; Connolly, 6.661, 207.43 def. A. Johnson, 14.206, 59.17;
Anderson, 6.623, 208.62 def. Jones, 6.648, 208.36; K. Johnson, 6.620,
209.33 def. Coughlin, 6.623, 208.01; SEMIFINALS -- Connolly, 8.851,
151.22 def. Anderson, 29.371, No Speed; K. Johnson, 6.619, 208.78 def.
Gaines, foul; FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.631, 209.30 def. Connolly, 6.651,
208.78.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.003, 187.76 def. Craig Treble,
Suzuki, 6.994, 191.40; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.959, 189.15 def. Matt
Guidera, Buell, 7.017, 186.12; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.002, 184.55 def.
Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.016, 189.04; Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.917, 191.51
def. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.086, 182.82; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson,
7.006, 189.63 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.197, 181.74; Chip Ellis,
Suzuki, 6.929, 188.75 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.055, 184.37; Andrew
Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.875, 193.49 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 6.995,
190.48; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.882, 193.10 def. David Hope, Buell, 7.232,
182.26; QUARTERFINALS -- Ellis, 6.972, 189.20 def. Johnson, foul;
Krawiec, 6.944, 188.52 def. Sampey, 6.961, 188.99; Smith, 6.936, 190.35
def. Rivas, 7.063, 183.57; Hines, 6.901, 192.63 def. Stoffer, 6.970,
187.21; SEMIFINALS -- Smith, 6.965, 187.89 def. Krawiec, 6.965, 189.26;
Hines, 6.905, 192.74 def. Ellis, 6.941, 187.34; FINAL -- Hines, 6.882,
194.13 def. Smith, 8.098, 114.02.
MADISON, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional
categories following the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway, the seventh of 24
events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 608; 2. Antron Brown, 540; 3. Larry Dixon,
469;
4. Rod Fuller, 434; 5. Cory McClenathan, 418; 6. Hillary Will, 381;
7.
Brandon Bernstein, 353; 8. Doug Kalitta, 328; 9. David Grubnic, 323;
10. Doug Herbert, 310.
Funny Car
1. Tim Wilkerson, 497; 2. Ashley Force, 473; 3. Cruz Pedregon,
425;
4. Robert Hight, 399; 5. John Force, 375; 6. Tony Pedregon, 370; 7.
Gary Densham, 325; 8. Jack Beckman, 321; 9. Ron Capps, 308; 10.
Del
Worsham, 306.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 527; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 520; 3. Kurt Johnson,
508; 4.
Greg Anderson, 505; 5. Allen Johnson, 426; 6. Mike Edwards, 392; 7.
V.
Gaines, 386; 8. Warren Johnson, 317; 9. Greg Stanfield, 308; 10.
Justin Humphreys, 286.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Andrew Hines, 405; 2. Matt Smith, 349; 3. Chip Ellis, 325;
4.
Matt Guidera, 296; 5. Angelle Sampey, 231; 6. Eddie Krawiec, 220; 7.
Chris Rivas, 191; 8. Karen Stoffer, 154; 9. Hector Arana, 150; 10.
Shawn Gann, 149.
NHRA
CONGRATULATES PATRICK ON HER INDYCAR SERIES VICTORY
GLENDORA, Calif. -- NHRA congratulates Danica Patrick on her recent
IndyCar Series victory in Japan, as she joins a long list of NHRA female
racers who have won major auto racing events dating back to the
mid-1970s.
NHRA's first major female winner was Shirley Muldowney, who earned a Top
Fuel victory in 1976. She has been followed by eight other women who
have won major national events in the 57-year history of NHRA. The most
recent, Peggy Llewellyn, became the first black woman to win an NHRA
race, claiming the Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in Dallas last October.
Angelle Sampey, who competes in Pro Stock Motorcycle, has the most NHRA
victories for a woman with 41. Muldowney, who earned 18 NHRA victories
in her career, and Sampey each have won three NHRA world championships.
Other women to earn NHRA professional-category victories are Lucille Lee
(Top Fuel), Lori Johns (Top Fuel), Shelly Anderson (Top Fuel), Cristen
Powell (Top Fuel), Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Melanie
Troxel (Top Fuel).
In 1966, Shirley Shahan officially broke the gender barrier in NHRA
competition by becoming the first woman to win a national event,
claiming a victory in Stock at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the
United States. According to an ESPN Sports Poll, NHRA is the second most
popular form of auto racing in the United States.
* * *
Women in NHRA Drag Racing, a brief history:
Female leaders in NHRA victories:
1. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 41 (first at Reading 1996, last
at Houston 2007)
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, 18 (first at Columbus 1976, last at
Phoenix 1989)
3. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 5 (first at Houston 2004, last
at Atlanta 2007)
4. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, 4 (first at Reading 1993, last at Seattle
1996)
Lori Johns, Top Fuel, 4 (first at Pomona 1 1990, last at Memphis 1991)
6. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, 3 (first at Pomona 1 2006, last at St.
Louis 2007)
7. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel, 1 (Atlanta 1982)
Cristen Powell, Top Fuel, 1 (Englishtown 1997)
Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 1 (Dallas 2007)
Female leaders in qualifying:
Angelle Sampey, PSM, 44 (first at Reading 1996, last at Reading 2007)
Shirley Muldowney, TF, 13 (first at Columbus 1976, last at Phoenix 1989)
Melanie Troxel, TF, 3 (first at Bristol 2006, last at Denver 2007)
Lucille Lee, TF, 1 (Denver 1982)
Lori Johns, TF, 1 (Denver 1991)
Shelly Anderson, TF, 1 (Pomona 2 1994)
Cristen Powell, TF, 1 (Seattle 1998)
Erica Enders, PS, 1 (Topeka 2006)
Female series world champions:
Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel -- 3, 1977, 1980, 1982
Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 3, 2000, 2001, 2002
Women in NHRA Notes:
* Barbara Hamilton was the first female to receive an NHRA license,
1964.
* Shirley Shahan was the first woman to win an NHRA national event,
1966, Stock at the
Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
* Shirley Muldowney was the first woman to get her license in Top Fuel
and became the
first woman to clock a four-second run, 1989 NHRA Keystone Nationals,
Reading, Pa.,
4.974 seconds.
* Shirley Muldowney was the first female to advance to a final round in
Top Fuel, 1975
at Columbus, Ohio, lost to Marvin Graham.
* Shirley Muldowney was the first female to win in Top Fuel, 1976 at
Columbus, Ohio,
defeating Bob Edwards; She earned 18 career victories, second all-time
for females
behind Angelle Sampey (41).
* Shirley Muldowney was the first female to qualify No. 1 in a pro
category, 1976 at
Columbus, Ohio, with a performance of 6.031 seconds, 229.00 mph.
* Shirley Muldowney was the first driver (either gender) in NHRA history
to repeat as Top
Fuel champion after her initial title in 1977 ('80 & '82).
* Shirley Muldowney was the only female driver to be included in NHRA's
list of top 50
drivers as part of its 50th anniversary celebration in 2001. She was
ranked No. 5 on the
prestigious list ahead of Kenny Bernstein (No. 6) and Joe Amato (No. 9).
* Shirley Muldowney vs. Lucille Lee was the first and only all-female
Top Fuel final in
NHRA history, taking place in 1982 at Columbus, Ohio. Muldowney won.
Angelle
Sampey vs. Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle (Reading 2002) is the
only other allfemale
professional final in NHRA history. Sampey won.
* Angelle Sampey is the first female to win a championship in Pro Stock
Motorcycle (3
time champ-- 2000, 2001, 2002); Sampey also is the female pro competitor
with the
most victories, 41.
* Rachelle Splatt was the first female to clock a 300 mph run in NHRA
history, posting a
speed of 300.00 mph at Houston Raceway Park in 1994. On that run she
became the
16th and final member (only female member) of the Slick 50 300-MPH Club.
* Melanie Troxel is the quickest and fastest woman in NHRA history,
clocking a time of
4.458 seconds (Oct. '05, Dallas) with a career-best speed of 332.51 mph
(Feb. '07,
Pomona 1).
* Shelly Anderson is the first and only woman to win the NHRA Top Fuel
Shootout, a
lucrative bonus event for the quickest Top Fuel competitors. She won in
1994, her only
final round appearance in the event, and remains the only female to ever
advance to the
final for the Shootout. She also is the only female to have ever won an
NHRA bonus
event.
* Erica Enders is the only female to ever qualify for the K&N Horsepower
Challenge, a
special bonus event for Pro Stock drivers.
* No female driver has ever won in Funny Car or Pro Stock.
* No female driver has ever qualified No. 1 in Funny Car.
* Erica Enders became the first woman to advance to a final round in Pro
Stock at the
2005 Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway near
Chicago. She
defeated Ron Krisher, Mike Edwards and Warren Johnson in early rounds
before losing
to Jason Line on a red-light start in the final. She advanced to her
second career final in
March 2006 at Gainesville, Fla., and also posted a runner-up finish, to
Tom Martino.
* Ashley Force became the first female driver to advance to a final
round in Funny Car at
Las Vegas 2 2007; She advanced to her second career final at Houston
2008 and third
at Las Vegas 1 2008.
* Erica Enders became the first woman to qualify No. 1 in Pro Stock
history at the 2006
O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.).
* Melanie Troxel (TF) and Erica Enders (PS) became the first women to
earn No. 1
qualifying positions in pro categories at the same national event
(Topeka 2006).
* Lucinda McFarlin, of Victoria, Texas, and Erica Enders, of Houston,
are the only
female Pro Stock drivers to win a round of eliminations in the 200-mph
category.
McFarlin defeated Don Beverley in the first round of the 1992 national
event at
Memphis, Tenn. for her only round win and Enders earned her first round
victory by
defeating Rickie Smith in the first round of the 2005 Toyo Tires NHRA
Nationals at
Reading, Pa. Judy Lilly, Shirley Shahan, and Shay Nichols have all
qualified for
NHRA events in Pro Stock, but did not win a round of eliminations.
* Women have won back-to-back national events during three seasons --
1982 when
Shirley Muldowney won Top Fuel at Gainesville, Fla. and then Lucille Lee
won the
next event at Atlanta; in 2004 when Karen Stoffer won Pro Stock
Motorcycle at Houston
and Angelle Sampey won the following event at Atlanta; and in 2007 when
Karen
Stoffer won at Gainesville, Angelle Sampey won the following event at
Houston and
Stoffer won the next event at Atlanta.
* Melanie Troxel (TF) holds the record for most consecutive final round
appearances for
a woman in a professional category, at six ('05 Pomona 2 - '06 Las Vegas
1).
* Melanie Troxel holds the record for most consecutive final rounds by a
Top Fuel driver
(any gender) to start a season in NHRA history, at five (2006).
* With her victory at Dallas in 2007, Peggy Llewellyn became the first
black female to win
in a pro category in NHRA history.
* The most female drivers in professional categories to compete in a
single NHRA
POWERade Series event is eight, multiple times in 2007 (first at St.
Louis). Those
women included participants in each of the four pro categories: Melanie
Troxel and
Hillary Will in Top Fuel; Ashley Force in Funny Car; Erica Enders in Pro
Stock; and
Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer, Peggy Llewellyn and Connie Cohen in Pro
Stock
Motorcycle.
* The most women to advance to final rounds at a single event is three,
accomplished at
the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in 2006. Angelle Sampey won in PSM,
while
Melanie Troxel (TF) and Erica Enders (PS) posted runner-up efforts in
their categories.
* Eight women have qualified No. 1 in a pro category in NHRA history:
Shirley
Muldowney, Lucille Lee, Lori Johns, Shelly Anderson, Cristen Powell,
Angelle
Sampey, Melanie Troxel and Erica Enders. The most No. 1 qualifying
positions
earned by a female in NHRA history is 44 by Sampey.
* Nine women have won in a pro category in NHRA history: Shirley
Muldowney, Lucille
Lee, Lori Johns, Shelly Anderson, Cristen Powell, Angelle Sampey, Karen
Stoffer,
Melanie Troxel and Peggy Llewellyn. The most victories earned by a
female in NHRA
history is 41 by Sampey.
LEADING
ENGINEER IN CAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO WORK WITH NHRA ON FUTURE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
L.
Daniel Metz, Ph.D., P.E., to work with world’s largest sanctioning body on car
and motorcycle vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and accident reconstruction
Glendora, California - Tuesday,
March 25, 2008
By: NHRA Media
Communications
NHRA has retained the services of L. Daniel Metz,
Ph.D., P.E., to provide valuable technical analysis and engineering expertise to
the sanctioning body on short- and long-term initiatives in both the
professional and sportsman categories.
Metz has more than 35 years of experience in automobile and
motorcycle vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and accident reconstruction. He
will be called upon, by NHRA, to provide third-party analysis utilizing his vast
years of experience in engineering and proprietary computer animated design
software. His analysis will be shared with not only the racing community,
but SFI as they develop specifications for all classes in NHRA Drag
Racing. This initiative is part of a multi-prong approach by
NHRA to make the vehicles in both professional and sportsman racing safer, while
enhancing NHRA and SFI’s rule-making process.
“Dan will work closely with NHRA’s technical department to
provide all interested parties with valuable computer modeling data and analysis
to improve upon NHRA’s safety record and SFI’s rule-making process,” said
Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA.
Having written nearly 70 scientific papers, which have been
published in a variety of publications, Metz has worked with practically every
manufacturer and racing organization in the world, as well as numerous
engineering firms and federal and state transportation and law enforcement
agencies. In the United States and abroad, he has worked with Formula 1
and FIA, IRL, SCCA and USAC, in addition to many auto racing teams.
Metz has delivered hundreds of lectures, speeches and seminars on
the subjects of accident reconstruction and vehicle dynamics throughout the
world. He is a registered affiliate of the SAE Automotive Resources Institute as
well as registered member of the Partner Program at Engineering Dynamics Corp.,
the world’s leading manufacturer of accident reconstruction software.
Metz received his Ph.D. from Cornell University, his MSME from the
University of Detroit and his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from
the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) and is an emeritus professor in the Department of
Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering at the University of
Illinois. Presently, Metz is an Adjunct Professor of
Mechanical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Headquartered in
Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag
racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140
member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series’
provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA
develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, and the NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by
AAA. The NHRA also offers the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League
for youths ages 8 to 17.
DIXON
PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF 2008 AT SITE OF FIRST CAREER WIN; BECKMAN, GAINES ALSO
WINNERS AT CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
Chandler, Arizona
By:
NHRA
Media
Communications
Returning to the site of his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon
raced to his first win of the season during Sunday’s finals at the Checker
Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Jack Beckman and V Gaines also were winners at the second
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the 2008 season.
Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster to a 4.532
second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave Grubnic, to pick up his first win
of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of his career. The win ties him with
Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time wins list and second overall in Top
Fuel.
“Any time you get a win it’s special,” Dixon said.
“Donnie Bender (crew chief) has been on our team since 1999 and he’s never
been on a car that’s won here. When you think about that, it would be nice to
get that one out of the way. I’m dedicating this win to him.”
Defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher
collected his first semifinal finish of the season after losing to Dixon on a
holeshot, while two-time defending event winner “Hot Rod” Fuller’s day was
cut short after falling to Grubnic in the semifinals.
Still recovering from a bad case of the flu, Beckman drove
his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.868 second run at
320.20 mph past runner-up Robert Hight, collecting his first win in Phoenix and
fourth career win.
“I guess the flu this year is immune to (flu shots),”
Beckman said. “You get up in the morning and you just feel bad and you look at
the back of the cold medicine and it says do not operate heavy machinery and
I’m not sure if that counts as a nitro Funny Car, so I didn’t want to take
anything, but after the second round I finally had to take some Tylenol.”
It was a tough first round for many Funny Car drivers, with
defending event and POWERade Series world champion Tony Pedregon, 2003 Phoenix
winner Ron Capps, and 14-time world champion John Force all falling early.
V Gaines grabbed his first win in seven years, driving his
Kendall Dodge Stratus to a 6.702 at 205.38 run past 2006 POWERade Series world
champion Jason Line. Gaines’ last win came against Tom Hammonds in Dallas in
2001.
“It’s been a long dry spell,” Gaines said. “They said
when I beat Greg Anderson (in the semifinals) that this was the first time I’d
beat him since 2001, so that’s bitter sweet.”
Though he lost in the second round to Gaines, three-time
world champion Greg Anderson kept his point lead in Pro Stock heading into
Gainesville.
* * *************************************************
Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Larry Dixon;
2. David Grubnic; 3.
Tony Schumacher; 4. Rod
Fuller; 5. Bob Vandergriff; 6. Mike Strasburg; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Brandon
Bernstein; 9. Doug Herbert; 10.
J.R. Todd; 11. Troy Buff; 12. Doug
Kalitta; 13. Morgan Lucas; 14. Hillary
Will; 15. Cory McClenathan; 16.
Steven Chrisman.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Jack Beckman,
Dodge Charger; 2. Robert Hight,
Ford Mustang; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr.,
Charger; 4. Jim Head, Toyota Solara; 5. Bob
Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo; 6. Gary
Scelzi, Charger; 7. Scott Kalitta,
Solara; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy
Impala; 9. John Force, Mustang; 10.
Ron Capps, Charger; 11. Tim
Wilkerson, Impala; 12. Tony Bartone,
Monte Carlo; 13. Tony Pedregon,
Impala; 14. Jerry Toliver, Charger;
15. Gary Densham, Impala; 16.
Mike Neff, Mustang.
PRO
STOCK:
1. V. Gaines,
Dodge Stratus; 2. Jason Line,
Pontiac GTO; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy
Cobalt; 4. Mike Edwards, GTO; 5.
Warren Johnson, GTO; 6. Greg
Anderson, Pontiac GXP; 7. Kurt
Johnson, Cobalt; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 9.
Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 10. Matt
Hartford, Stratus; 11. Max Naylor,
Stratus; 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus;
13. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt; 14.
Greg Stanfield, GXP; 15. Kenny
Koretsky, Cobalt; 16. Justin
Humphreys, GTO.
Sunday's final results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.532 seconds, 327.19 mph def. David Grubnic, 5.002 seconds, 259.26 mph.
Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.868, 320.20 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 8.030, 105.28.
Pro Stock -- V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.702, 205.38 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 20.239, 39.18.
Super Stock -- Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 8.903, 145.91 def. Gary McGlasson, Chevy Camaro, 10.041, 128.82.
Stock Eliminator -- Toby Lang, Chevy Chevelle, 11.707, 111.18 def. Bobby DeArmond, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.927, 180.24 def. Ken Mostowich, Chevy Cavalier, 8.910, 175.89.
Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Chevy Corvette, 9.933, 142.79 def. Tommy Turner, Corvette, 9.948, 153.18.
Super Street -- Ryan Smith, Ford Falcon, 10.965, 122.98 def. Leroy Duran, Chevy Camaro, 10.970, 116.79.
