SAME DAY COVERAGE
NHRA O'Reilly Summer Nationals
Topeka, KS.
By Susan Wade; Photos by Ron Lewis
POST RACE WRAP-UP - TOPEKA AWARD WINNERS
Biggest winner of the weekend -- David Grubnic
That's
bonzer, mate! The affable Australian recorded his first NHRA national-event
victory and jumped two places in the standings with Kalitta Motorsports'
Zantrex-3 Dragster to share the No. 3 spot with Larry Dixon, the bloke
he beat in the final round. Grubnic might be only slightly disappointed
-- the last time he faced Dixon in a final round, he earned $100,000 as
the Budweiser Shootout winner. This one netted just $40,000. Grubnic had
lost in seven previous final rounds (including five last year, all to
either Tony Schumacher or teammate Doug Kalitta). "You start wondering
if you should be doing this," he said of his previous 0-for-7 final-round
showing. "You question yourself. You worry. But you keep slogging
away."
Biggest loser of the weekend -- Del Worsham
This
is the repeat distinction no one wants, but CP has to give it to the hard-working,
hard-driving, snake-bitten Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo driver
after his fifth consecutive first-round exit. After nine races last season,
he was second in points. He's in 11th place heading to Chicago, where
he won the spring race in 2001 and 2002. Maybe he'll have the time --
the time of his life -- in Chicago . . .
The "General Motors Curse" Award -- Phil
Burkart
Ever since his Toyota Celica blew up in qualifying at Las Vegas and he
used the back-up Chevy Monte Carlo body with Toyota decals affixed to
it, Burkart hasn't won an elimination round. Actually, he had one of his
two DNQs and one of his five first-round defeats just before that. But
losing to Tommy Johnson Jr. on a holeshot at Topeka certainly added to
his frustration.
"Anyone who doesn't drive one of these things thinks it's just a
matter of focus or paying attention or something really simple,"
Burkart said. "This is not a video game, it's the real deal. Believe
me, it's such tiny fractions of a second you don't feel it, unless you're
really asleep. I wasn't asleep at all, and I was staged a little shallower
than he was, but to me it felt like I left right on time. I never really
saw him, and I thought I won.
"After all we've gone through, as hard as the guys have taken each
loss, this one just takes the cake as the worst way to end the day,"
the man who was points leader after the season's second event said. I
can't go back and get a do-over, I just have to tell the guys I'm sorry
and we'll get them next time. It doesn't seem real, it doesn't seem possible,
but there it is, in black and white. I never imagined this, didn't even
consider it a possible outcome, but it happened. I never saw something
like this coming."
The "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" Award --
Dave Connolly
The two-time Pro
Stock winner survived what he called "one of the craziest weeks of
my life." He didn't think he'd be at this race and wasn't sure if
he'd see any more this year, for that matter. But after the Carrier Boyz
intervened and took him and his third-place team under their umbrella
for this event, Connolly qualified second and was runner-up to Greg Anderson.
Connolly fielded questions from the media, discussed his financial and
racing options in public and behind the scenes, motivated crew chief Terry
Adams and his gang, figured out more about how to handle his new Chevy
Cobalt, and focused on the job at hand. In the process, he scored a holeshot
victory in Round 2 over points leader Warren Johnson (by .0014 of a second).
"It was a Cinderella story in the making," he said, "but
the shoe just wouldn't fit in the end. To even be here was a win by itself."
The "Dissed By Your Crew Chief" Award -- Larry
Dixon
Dick
La Haie showed his droll sense of humor after Dixon smoked the tires of
the Miller Lite/Ameriquest Dragster in the final round against David Grubnic,
joking that "everything was fine until Larry hit the gas pedal. We
gave him a perfectly good race car." But the Snake Racing crew chief
was quick to say, "Seriously, we had a clutch malfunction on that
run. It's pretty rare. It happened in the second round at Pomona earlier
this year. It appears that we have a decent hot-weather tune-up. I'm pleased
with the adjustments that we made and I'm very happy with the way the
car ran this weekend."
Dixon set a Heartland Park speed record at 331.61 mph during qualifying.
"I thought we had a really good car," Dixon said. "It was
phenomenal on race day until the final round. In the final, we had a clutch
error that caused us to instantly smoke the tires. We still have a great
car. If we can fix that, we should be a better car. If we can maintain
the type of performance that we've been able to put up at the past few
events, we should be in the thick of things come the end of the year.
If you have a good running car, the points will work themselves out."
The "While You Were Absent" Award --
Rod Fuller
Immediately
after he reached the final round at Bristol against Doug Kalitta and jumped
from 13th place in to 10th in the Top Fuel rankings, the Las Vegas driver
saw his David Powers Homes/Valvoline Dragster parked. Not only did he
lose his momentum, he also dropped from the top 10. A first-round loss
to Doug Herbert at Topeka didn't help.
The "I Drove My Best Race Ever -- And Lost" Award --
Tommy Johnson Jr.
The Funny Car runner-up
hadn't advanced past the second round in the Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo since
winning the season-opening Winternationals. But with his ugly 8.773-second
victory in the semifinals against Robert Hight, he gave team owner Don
Prudhomme two finalists for the first time in 43 races. The last event
at which both Johnson and Top Fuel teammate Larry Dixon were in the money
round was June 1, 2003, at Joliet, Ill.
"This is probably the best day of driving that I've had in my career,"
Johnson, who leads the Funny Car class in average reaction time this season,
said. "As a driver, I covered all the aspects that they judge you
on. I had great reaction times, kept the car in middle of the track, and
won a pedal-fest. We had the entire package all day. It was a great day,
not totally the performance we wanted, but we had a really good day for
our team."
Against No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight in the Auto Club of Southern California
Ford and in one of the wildest races of the day, Johnson pedaled his Skoal
car multiple times before it regained traction. After nearly crossing
the center line, he benefited from the tire-smoking Hight's supercharger
malfunction and beat the John Force Racing rookie as he coasted down track.
"It smoked the tires when I hit the throttle," Johnson said
of his Chevy. "I saw Robert smoke the tires also, and pedaled the
throttle. The car made a move to center line, so I knew I had to get away
from the center line. I had to calm myself down and ease into the throttle
again. I saw him with problems and eased into the throttle and after about
five pedal-jobs it hooked up and we took the win."
Against eventual winner John Force, Johnson lost traction and the chance
to earn his seventh career victory. "We had nothing to lose, so I
was ready to go for it," Johnson said. "We were the underdogs.
I had a good feeling that something would come out of it. Things were
going our way all day, but it wasn't to be. They're the best and had a
great car today. We needed a good points day after struggling at the past
few races. I was determined to get back into this points chase and not
lose sight of the top five. Even though we didn't win, we come out of
here with a lot of positives."
The "Beating Yourself Up -- You Crazy Critter" Award
-- Cory McClenathan
"This FRAM AirHog is really going in the right direction now. Unfortunately,
their driver let them down. I completely gave it away," McClenathan
said. "It's uncharacteristic of me. I hesitated on the starting line
and I shouldn't have. We had the car today to beat [Scott Kalitta]. Once
again, the driver let one get away. I feel bad for the team, FRAM and
all our sponsors and for the Carrier Boyz." Stop it -- you're scaring
the chickens -- and the Missus, too, to be honest.
The "Let's hear It For The Underdogs" Award --
Tim Wilkerson
The Funny Car privateer put the Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Monte Carlo
in third place in the order at Heartland Park. That was the second week
in a row that he started eliminations third or better. He's not in the
top 10 yet this season, but he's on the move. He's in 12th place, just
27 points behind No. 10 Bob Gilbertson. By the time the Aug. 19-21 O'Reilly
NHRA Mid-South Nationals rolls around, Wilkerson could grab that final
eighth berth for the Skoal Showdown. He's ninth on that list heading into
the Chicago event.
The "NHRA's Hottest Crew Chief" Award -
Jimmy Prock
Right
now that would be Jimmy Prock, who guided Robert Hight in the Team Castrol/Automobile
Club of Southern California Ford Mustang to his third No. 1 qualifier
position. He impressed with a track-record elapsed time of 4.729 seconds
at 324.75 mph, which held up as the top speed of the meet.
"Robert [Hight] and Jimmy Prock are as tough as they come out here
right now," runner-up Tommy Johnson said. Johnson took advantage
of Hight's mechanical troubles, keeping the John Force racing rookie from
advancing to his third final and second in three races.
"It was very disappointing. We blew out the burst panels [from the
supercharger] and it was dead. I know Tommy was in trouble, but it seemed
like it took him forever to come by us. It would've been great to get
a rematch with John [in the final], but hopefully we'll have some other
chances." With Prock tuning the car, he almost can count on it.
The "No More Firewood For You" Award -- Warren
Johnson
The Pro Stock veteran hasn't made the finals in any of the three events
since saying of the Wally statue he was presented in the Bristol winners
circle, "They make good firewood."
The "Oh, Man, Did You Get Lucky" Award -- (tie)
Doug Kalitta, Tony Schumacher
The Nos. 1 and 2 Top Fuel drivers missed opportunities at Topeka -- Kalitta
to extend his points lead by losing in the first round against Scott Palmer,
Schumacher by also smoking his tires against eventual winner Dave Grubnic
in Round 2. Kalitta kept his lead in the standings, but Schumacher reduced
the margin by 17 points. Schumacher, in the U.S. Army Dragster is juts
26 points off the pace Kalitta has set in the Mac Tools Dragster.
"Kalitta really opened the door for us by losing in the first round
and we could have left Topeka with the lead, but I guess it just wasn't
to be," said Schumacher. "The bottom line is we're going forward.
In two races, we've taken back 34 points from him. What I really feel
bad about is not being able to deliver a win for our fallen heroes on
Memorial Day weekend. Rest assured, they're all in our hearts and prayers
just the same."
SUNDAY FINAL - Grubnic Becomes First Non-North American
to Win an NHRA Top Fuel Event at O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals
Force wins third straight in Funny Car, NHRA-record 118th overall; Anderson wins third straight in Pro Stock
(5-29-2005)
- Australian Dave Grubnic sped past Larry Dixon in the finals
of the 17th annual O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park
Topeka to become the first non-North American to win an NHRA Top Fuel
event.
"Being the first Australian to win an NHRA event is big," Grubnic
said. "You don't think about that stuff in the car but I'm sure it'll
be party time down there when word reaches my fans. That's what it's all
about but I wouldn't be able to accomplish a thing without my crew, (team
owner) Connie Kalitta, and our sponsors, who are all very good friends
of mine."
In the other two pro categories, John Force (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson
(Pro Stock) extended their respective event winning streaks to three at
the $1.8 million race, the ninth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Grubnic, who had an 0-for-7 career final round record (0-for-5 in 2004),
drove his Zantrex-3 dragster to the finish line in 4.600 seconds at 320.28
mph for his first-ever Top Fuel victory.
"You do start to wonder to yourself if you can win, especially after seven runner-up finishes," said Grubnic, who had no trouble with Dixon's Miller Lite dragster, which lost traction almost immediately and spun its wheels near the starting line. "You wonder when people are going to give up on you and get someone who's lucky in the car or something. But all you can do is keep slogging away until it finally happens. Now the flood gates should open, right?"
Force, the
NHRA POWERade Funny Car points leader, ran a 4.809 at 320.97 in his Castrol
GTX Start Up Ford Mustang to easily defeat Tommy Johnson Jr.'s Skoal Racing
Chevy Monte Carlo and win his NHRA-record 118th career race and eighth
overall at Heartland Park Topeka.
"It's been awhile since we've done a stretch of three wins in a row,"
Force said. "This one was a lot of hard work. We all saw how many
people smoked the tires and our guys had to pull (the tune-up) back and
back and you wonder when you're gonna hit that point where it's too weak
to go."
Anderson, the reigning motorsports Driver of the Year in his Summit Racing
Pontiac, edged Dave Connolly for his third straight win at Heartland Park
Topeka and, like Force, his third win in as many weeks. Connolly was driving
on a one-week deal with Carrier Boyz Racing after his previous team owner
disbanded the team earlier in the week because of a lack of funding.
"This
brings back the feeling we had last year when we were winning lots of
races," Anderson said. "I told the guys awhile back that the
real measure of a championship team is not how they act when they're winning
everything but how a group responds to adversity. That's where you find
the difference between a team that wins one or two championships and then
fades away and one that is at a championship level for many, many years."
Anderson was winless in 2005 up until the O'Reilly NHRA Southern Nationals
May 12-15 and since then he has reeled off two more wins (Pontiac Performance
Nationals May 19-22 and this week) to pull within 13 points of Warren
Johnson for the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock points lead.
"A couple, three, four races ago I thought to myself that if we don't
get started soon it was going to be impossible to pull this thing out,"
Anderson said. "We made some serious moves, even down to me switching
cars, and luckily it all worked out. I credit the rest of the class for
forcing us to find another level. That's what this class is all about."
This was the third straight week of racing for the NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series in a stretch where there will be races in six of seven weeks.
After having this week off, the Series will return to action June 9-12
at the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway outside
Chicago.
Sunday's final results from the 17th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka. The $1.9 million race is the ninth of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- David Grubnic, 4.600 seconds, 320.28 mph def. Larry Dixon, 10.051 seconds, 101.08 mph.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.809, 320.97 def. Tommy
Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 8.167, 107.62.
Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.768, 203.65 def.
Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.907, 203.68.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Steve Torrence,
5.346, 259.26 def. Chris Demke, 5.693, 254.18.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Jay Payne, Chevy Camaro, 5.653,
256.16 def. Jackie Stidham, Camaro, 5.733, 250.55.
Competition Eliminator -- David Rampy, Bantam Roadster, 7.460,
156.97 def. Thomas Schmidt, Chevy Roadster, 8.721, 149.02.
Super Stock -- Justin Jenkins, Olds Calais, 9.851, 135.78
def. Ryan Montford, Chevy S-10, 9.558, 135.14.
Stock Eliminator -- Jerry Emmons, Chevy Chevelle, 12.040, 99.22
def. Bub Miller, Chevy Camaro, 11.386, 109.36.
Super Comp -- Steve Johnson, Dragster, 8.900, 173.34 def. Terry
Sullivan, Dragster, 8.908, 176.84.
Pro RWD -- Matt Hartford, Chevy Cavalier, 6.908, 205.60
def. Stephan Papadakis, Honda Civic, 6.940, 188.60.
Pro FWD -- Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda I-4, 8.051, 185.92 was unopposed.
Modified -- Justin Humphreys, Lexus GS300, 7.535, 184.55 def.
Ali Afshar, Subaru WRX, 19.559, 58.16.
Hot Rod -- Ron Lummus, Pontiac Sunfire, 7.864, 185.26
def. Kenny Tran, Honda Civic, 9.042, 175.50.
All Motor -- Tony Shagday, Accura RSX, 9.971, 134.55
def. Scott Kelley, VW Fastback, 18.256, 55.83.
Final round-by-round results from the 17th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer
Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth
of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Doug Herbert, 4.593, 322.27 def. Rod Fuller,
4.628, 321.27; Brandon Bernstein, 4.570, 327.51 def. T.J. Zizzo, 4.818,
247.88; Scott Kalitta, 4.556, 326.71 def. Cory McClenathan, 4.537, 325.06;
David Grubnic, 4.596, 322.81 def. John Smith, 6.604, 141.36; Tony Schumacher,
4.538, 322.88 def. Scott Weis, 4.604, 320.20; Morgan Lucas, 4.502, 328.94
def. Mitch King, 4.919, 279.96; Larry Dixon, 4.555, 328.54 def. David
Baca, 11.617, 87.12; Scott Palmer, 4.650, 328.70 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.357,
291.63;
QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 6.379, 246.48 def. Palmer,
10.090, 111.20; Dixon, 4.569, 326.56 def. S. Kalitta, 4.945, 254.90; Grubnic,
4.980, 308.71 def. Schumacher, 5.671, 215.31; Lucas, 4.570, 319.90 def.
Bernstein, 5.830, 149.12;
SEMIFINALS -- Grubnic, 4.691, 311.99 def. Herbert, 10.981, 79.91;
Dixon, 4.546, 328.46 def. Lucas, 9.416, 95.23;
FINAL -- Grubnic, 4.600, 320.28 def. Dixon, 10.051,
101.08.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.837,
323.35 def. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.860, 319.98; Ron Capps, Dodge
Stratus, 4.867, 315.93 def. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 8.047, 111.09; Tim
Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.862, 320.81 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo,
5.334, 212.63; Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.827, 322.34 def. Cruz Pedregon,
Monte Carlo, 5.301, 237.50; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.829, 313.29 def.
Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 4.988, 288.95; Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo,
4.949, 312.71 def. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica, 4.927, 314.97; Gary Scelzi,
Stratus, 4.839, 320.97 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.087, 292.46;
John Force, Mustang, 4.858, 312.28 def. Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo, 4.908,
316.45;
QUARTERFINALS -- Capps, 4.850, 316.60 def. Wilkerson,
4.938, 310.20; Force, 4.806, 321.42 def. Medlen, 4.818, 323.97; Hight,
4.871, 311.85 def. T. Pedregon, 8.742, 98.06; Johnson Jr., 4.987, 307.58
def. Scelzi, 11.529, 77.08;
SEMIFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 8.773, 196.64 def. Hight,
12.195, 71.21; Force, 4.839, 319.22 def. Capps, 11.927, 85.85;
FINAL -- Force, 4.809, 320.97 def. Johnson Jr., 8.167, 107.62.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.830, 202.91 def.
Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 8.323, 109.07; Warren Johnson, Grand Am,
6.784, 203.03 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.829, 202.91; Ron Krisher,
Chevy Cobalt, 6.792, 203.31 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.803, 202.45; Jason
Line, Grand Am, 6.757, 202.91 def. Rickie Smith, Chevy Cavalier, 6.820,
202.91; Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.815, 202.67 def. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt,
6.781, 203.86; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.777, 203.00 def. Kenny Koretsky,
Stratus, 6.839, 202.73; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.759, 203.31 def. Jeg
Coughlin, Stratus, 6.804, 202.91; Greg Stanfield, Cavalier, 6.826, 202.09
def. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.817, 201.13;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.841, 202.30 def. Stevens, 14.011,
60.77; Connolly, 6.796, 202.85 def. W. Johnson, 6.767, 203.09; Anderson,
6.795, 202.64 def. Edwards, 6.826, 202.94; Line, 6.773, 202.52 def. Krisher,
6.810, 202.58;
SEMIFINALS -- Connolly, 6.778, 203.43 def. Stanfield, broke;
Anderson, 6.775, 203.89 def. Line, 6.784, 203.09;
FINAL -- Anderson, 6.768, 203.65 def. Connolly, 6.907,
203.68.
SUNDAY NOTES - At Long Last Grubnic, Cinderella Goes AWOL and Force's Love Fest
The thrill of victory -- David Grubnic, the first non-North
American to win an NHRA Top Fuel race, said he hadn’t thought about
that distinction. “After going to seven final rounds and losing,
you tend not to think too far ahead.”
Said the understandably excited Grubnic, “I have a lot of people
to thank. It’s not about me.“ Still, he said he hardly could
think of all the people he ought to thank for bringing him to this point.
But he remembered some notables, starting with team owner Connie Kalitta.
“I owe him the world. He picked me out a year and half or two years
ago,” Grubnic said. “I owe him everything.” He added,
his own eyes as wide as dinner plates, that he loved watching crew chief
Jon Oberhofer and the gang when they congratulated him, especially “the
looks on their faces. I‘m up here representing all their efforts.
And God bless the United States and the people who live here.”
He even remembered to thank the people in Australia who fostered his love
for drag racing and made him want to make a career of driving a Top Fuel
dragster.
Top Fuel legend Shirley Mudowney, who was instrumental in bringing the
Zantrex-3 sponsorship that funds his car’s operation under the Kalitta
Motorsports umbrella, said she hoped she would be present whenever Grubnic
got his first triumph. She wasn’t. However, Grubnic said, “She
was with me when I won the Budweiser Shootout in Las Vegas last year,
and it was a privilege and honor. I meant to show her the trophy on the
TV broadcast, but I was just lost down there (at the top end) with (Funny
Car winner John) Force.”
He said beating Tony Schumacher in the second round was “psychologically
the toughest” of his four round-victories. Grubnic has won both
of their meetings this season, but last year was a different story. The
Army Dragster driver ended Grubnic’s Sunday five times, and three
of those occasions were the finals (at Seattle, Brainerd, and Dallas).
He said he told himself Sunday morning before the first round, “I
ain’t losin’ today! We had the attitude that were going to
haul ass and win.”
Different ending -- Pro Stock’s Dave Connolly said
of his runner-up finish, “It was a Cinderella story in the making,
but the shoe just wouldn’t fit at the end.”
He said to be at the race track at all, let alone advance to the final
round for the fourth time this season and remain third in the class standings,
“was a win by itself. The team showed what it was made of. We have
nothing to be ashamed of.”
His work in trying to preserve his operation is not over, although the
Carrier Boyz organization -- owners Andy and Mark Carrier -- funded his
trip to Topeka when former owner Mike Dzurilla parked the Chevy Cobalt.
The Carriers, who own the Fram Air Hog Dragster that Cory McClenathan
drives, are working to keep Connolly’s team intact under their banner.
“It was one of the craziest weeks of my life,” he said.
Greg Anderson, whom he defeated in the Las Vegas final round, said, “I’m
glad things are working out for him. It’d be a crying shame if he
could not have gone on.”
Rivals motivate him -- Greg Anderson, who earned his third consecutive
Pro Stock victory overall and at Heartland Park Topeka in the Summit Racing
Equipment Pontiac Grand Am, said he has been motivated by making sure
points leader Warren Johnson -- or anyone else -- get too far ahead of
him in the rankings.
He said he told himself earlier this year that “if we don’t
start now, we’re going to be in big, big trouble. You can’t
let ’em get too far out there. We made some serious moves.”
Anderson is just 13 points behind Johnson, his former boss who has turned
into probably his keenest rival.
He said he doesn’t consider himself and his team as strong as they
were when they dominated the class for the past two seasons but has his
confidence back. “It seems we’re pulling out of it, but I’m
not saying we’re 100 percent,” he said. “But that confidence,
that’s a big factor in deciding these races.” He said he can
envision improvements with the engine, car, and driver.”
He gave as much credit to the rest of the Pro Stock class as to his own
crew. “They forced our hand,” Anderson said. “They made
us dig, test, and look. They showed us the way home.”
Jinx continues -- Del Worsham hasn’t advanced past
the first round in the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo Funny
Car in five straight races. He ran well at the Houston race, but lost
in the semifinal to Cruz Pedregon. And that April 10 race is the last
time he has had any kind of success that counts. This time last year he
was in the thick of the points race, and even after last year’s
event he regained the lead he had enjoyed for a stretch of six races.
This year couldn’t be more different for him. What’s especially
frustrating for him is that he has been running well but hasn’t
been able to parlay that into a round win. Again at Topeka, he qualified
in the top half of the field, ran extremely well in round one, and lost
again (this time to Tony Pedregon).
His 4.860-second elapsed time he registered in Round 1 -- with his outstanding
.061 of a second reaction time -- would have beaten the other first-round
winners: John Force, Gary Scelzi, Tommy Johnson Jr., Tim Wilkerson, Ron
Capps, Robert Hight, and Eric Medlen.
"Nobody has made an error against us since Houston, and that was
back in mid-April. Right now, what we're really good at around here is
making heroes out of other teams,” Worsham said. “They all
get the thrill of winning nail-biters against the CSK team. It's almost
beyond my comprehension.
"Run fast and lose -- I'm 100 percent sick of this song," Worsham
said. "Usually, I want to get right back on the track as soon as
possible, but frankly, right now I'm glad we have next weekend off. I
want to go home for a week with my wife and little girls and decompress.
I need to do that, because I'm about as compressed as I can be right now.
I'm not ready to pull my hair out, but I'm close."
Just kidding, Officer -- John Force was extolling the
virtues of racing at Heartland Park Topeka, saying that one of the best
things about coming to Kansas is being able to hang your gun in the back
of your truck. He added that it's a place where "they'll let you
drink your beer and cut you loose."
Intervened a police officer within earshot, "Just try it."
Force mentioned he has 118 career victories. He said the officer politely
replied, "I don't care if you have 218 wins."
I can't help it! I love 'em! -- That's what John Force
loves to say about his Funny Car rivals. He was saying that again this
weekend, and crew chief Austin Coil reminded him, "Get over it, Force.
Whip their ass, get the money, and get out of Dodge."
Top Fuel shockers
-- No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta lost traction -- and it appeared
probably his Top Fuel points lead, as well -- when he lost traction and
wiggled out of the groove in his first-round match- up against Scott Palmer.
The No. 16 qualifier ran a career-best speed of 328.70 mph to go with
his winning 4.650. Kalitta, who was late out of the gate in the Mac Tools
Dragster with a .069-second reaction time to Palmer’s .040, had
beaten Palmer in the semifinals at Bristol on his way to victory. He also
had beaten Palmer in their first 2005 meeting, at Las Vegas.
Palmer's Cinderella story almost added a second chapter against another
Doug -- Doug Herbert, who smoked the tires of his Snap-On Tools Dragster
immediately. But so did Palmer, and Herbert won the ugly pedalfest with
a 6.37-second elapsed time to Palmer's 10.09.
Schumacher couldn't take advantage of his opportunity, either. He struck
the tires in his next match-up, allowing David Grubnic to win handily.
Career best -- These three consecutive weekends of racing
haven’t taken a toll on Top Fuel contender Morgan Lucas. He earned
his first No. 1 qualifying position at Atlanta, reached the semifinals
at Columbus and Topeka, and set his career-best speed in the first rounds
as he beat Mitch King.
(It might seem like rubbing it in to say that the 21-year-old Lucas was
like a kid in a candy store after that Round 1 victory. King owns an old-fashioned
candy store and ice cream parlor, La King’s Confectionery on the
historic “Strand” on Galveston Island, Texas.)
Lucas had another treat in the second round. He eliminated Brandon Bernstein
to take a 2-0 record against the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster. Lucas Oil,
his parents' company, sponsors both cars.
Better showing -- Robert Hight and Eric Medlen fared better at
Heartland Park than they did at Bristol, the previous time they were 1-2
in the Funny Car lineup. Top qualifier Hight defeated Bob Gilbertson to
avenge the first elimination-round loss of his career (in February at
Pomona). Medlen knocked out Cruz Pedregon.
Medlen lost to boss John Force by one-hundredth of a second in Round 2.
Force wasn't sure at first who won the side-by-side battle of Castrol
Ford Mustangs until Medlen approached him after they got out of their
cars. "Eric was apologizing to me," Force said. "I figured
he must've whupped me."
Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang advanced to
the semifinal with a victory over Tony Pedregon.
Favorite teacher -- One family camping out on the Heartland
Park Topeka grounds had a message for Warren Johnson, the so-called “Professor
of Pro Stock” who’s continuing his “School’s Out”
Farewell Tour. Read the banner, “Thanks for the schooling, WJ.”
Johnson taught a first-round lesson to fellow veteran Larry Morgan. But
young Dave Connolly eliminated him on a holeshot in the second round.
Connolly had lane choice and saw Richie Stevens get squirrelly in front
of him in the left lane, so he switched lanes on Johnson at the last minute.
Triple play -- Pro Stock’s Mike Edwards knocked off Allen
Johnson in the first round for the third time in nine races this season.
They led off with each other also at Gainesville and Atlanta.
Topeka not top on his list -- Topeka will stand out in
Dave Connolly’s mind, but it seems the Pro Stock driver’s
trips to Kansas are tainted with unpleasant memories. Granted, this visit
has resulted in a remarkable performance, considering he and his team
had less than 72 hours to get itself together in the wake of the former
team owner’s financial withdrawal.
He was a first-round winner over the always tough Kenny Koretsky. (Ironically,
this time it was Connolly who might have deserved better the nickname
“Captain Chaos.”) But it isn’t the first time an unexpected
twist of circumstances swirled around the Topeka race for him.
Connolly is qualified for the King Demon Crown specialty race for the
Pro Stock class, which will go at the June 10-12 Carquest NHRA Nationals
in Joliet, Ill. However, last year the rain-delayed event finished at
Topeka, and Greg Anderson beat him and went on to win the event and earn
$50,000, including the $25,000 double-up bonus.
“That brings back a little bad memory in this spot,” Connolly
said.
He is waiting to see what will happen in the upcoming week regarding the
ownership of his team. Mark and Andy Carrier -- the Carrier Boyz, who
hastily and generously funded his participation at Topeka -- want to incorporate
the Pro Stock operation into the one they provide for Top Fuel driver
Cory McClenathan. But interest from Don Schumacher, who fields two Dodge
Pro Stock teams among his eight vehicles, has heightened the interest.
Connolly on Sunday did not rule out a move to Schumacher’s organization.
He said “there’s really no details on that situation yet.”
He said he has no obligation to continue driving a Chevy Cobalt. “There’s
no strings beyond this point,” Connolly said of his association
with GM. “I just want to look out for the future of me and the whole
team. We’ve got our team chemistry going, and hopefully we can stay
together, wherever that may be.
" Hopefully we can get
something a permanent before that race in Chicago and maybe have a better
deal working,” he said.
SATURDAY - KALITTA CLAIMS NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITION
AT O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS PRESENTED BY CASTROL GTX
Rookie Hight leads in Funny Car and reigning motorsports driver of the year Anderson leads way in Pro Stock
(5-28-2005)
- Doug Kalitta’s 4.505-second run from Friday held up Saturday
and he will enter Sunday’s final eliminations of the 17th annual
O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX as the No.
1 qualifier in Top Fuel for the fourth time this season and 27th time
in his career.
Kalitta, the current Top Fuel points leader, has three wins this year
and 22 for his career, but none previously in his Mac Tools dragster at
Heartland Park Topeka.
"We had such a nice solid run Friday that we were able to try different
things for our race-day setup today," Kalitta said. "It's one
of the big advantages of qualifying well early on. I'm excited about tomorrow.
There doesn't seem to be one lane that's better than the other so it should
be a great race."
Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were the other
top qualifiers in their respective categories at the $1.9 million race,
the ninth of 23 events on the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Kalitta will enter Sunday's final eliminations with a 43-point lead (684-641)
in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings over defending series champion
Tony Schumacher.
"It's critical for us to go rounds and stay ahead of [Tony] Schumacher,"
Kalitta said. "We're pretty tight in the points with him and we definitely
want to go at least as many rounds as he does. You try not to concentrate
on the points too much but they're always right there. Everyone knows
what's at stake."
The rookie Hight's
Auto Club Ford Mustang was the quickest car throughout Funny Car qualifying
and his second pass on Friday, at 4.729 seconds, was a track record that
earned him his third No. 1 qualifying position in nine career starts.
It was just a year ago at Heartland Park Topeka that Hight earned his
Funny Car license following his now-teammate Eric Medlen's first career
final round appearance.
"I remember being here one year ago and doing my licensing runs,"
Hight said. "(Team owner) John (Force) told me then that I wasn't
guaranteed a job but that he wanted me to go ahead and get my license
in case something came up. Now here I am one year later as the No. 1 qualifier
in one of the fastest Funny Cars in the world."
Reigning
motorsports Driver of the Year Greg Anderson earned the No. 1 qualifying
position in Pro Stock with a track record 6.716-second pass at 204.57
mph in the first of his final two qualifying runs Saturday. It is Anderson’s
second No. 1 qualifying position this season in his Summit Racing Pontiac
and the 35th of his career.
Anderson, who was winless in 2005 until back-to-back wins the past two
weeks (Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio), has won here in Topeka in both 2003
and 2004 and he appears poised to make it three in a row in both respects.
"We didn't forget how to race," Anderson said of his slow start
to the season. "We didn't get stupid overnight or stop making horsepower.
We just had some little tuning things that got us in those first few races
and some other cars got off to great starts. We panicked a little bit
and got defensive, which isn't our style. We finally went back to racing
the way we like to race and the results have been great."
Final eliminations in all four classes are scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the
17th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at
Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying,
which ended Saturday.
TOP FUEL -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 4.505 seconds, 329.26 mph vs. 16.
Scott Palmer, 4.865, 257.33; 2. Morgan Lucas, 4.520, 324.90 vs. 15. Mitch
King, 4.840, 299.20; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.523, 331.61 vs. 14. David Baca,
4.816, 303.98; 4. Tony Schumacher, 4.527, 319.67 vs. 13. Scott Weis, 4.671,
319.37; 5. David Grubnic, 4.549, 324.75 vs. 12. John Smith, 4.656, 307.72;
6. Scott Kalitta, 4.561, 327.90 vs. 11. Cory McClenathan, 4.626, 322.42;
7. Brandon Bernstein, 4.570, 326.08 vs. 10. T.J. Zizzo, 4.622, 318.02;
8. Rod Fuller, 4.602, 319.14 vs. 9. Doug Herbert, 4.622, 322.04.
FUNNY CAR -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.729, 324.75
vs. 16. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.983, 305.63; 2. Eric Medlen,
Mustang, 4.772, 324.59 vs. 15. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.981, 307.79;
3. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.783, 324.59 vs. 14. Gary Densham, Monte
Carlo, 4.949, 289.38; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.796, 323.58
vs. 13. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica, 4.938, 296.63; 5. Gary Scelzi, Dodge
Stratus, 4.800, 323.66 vs. 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.897, 320.20;
6. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.806, 317.19 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.878,
314.75; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.821, 322.11 vs. 10. Jeff Arend, Monte
Carlo, 4.876, 309.70; 8. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.847, 318.69 vs. 9.
Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.858, 323.35.
PRO STOCK -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.716, 204.82
vs. 16. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Stratus, 6.785, 203.46; 2. Dave Connolly,
Chevy Cobalt, 6.735, 204.85 vs. 15. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 6.785, 203.34;
3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.740, 205.10 vs. 14. Richie Stevens, Stratus,
6.785, 203.71; 4. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.743, 203.52 vs. 13. Rickie Smith,
Chevy Cavalier, 6.784, 203.37; 5. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.748, 204.32 vs.
12. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.779, 204.05; 6. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.753,
203.00 vs. 11. Greg Stanfield, Cavalier, 6.765, 204.08; 7. Larry Morgan,
Stratus, 6.754, 204.57 vs. 10. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.764, 204.39;
8. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.757, 203.92 vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Stratus,
6.757, 202.61.
SATURDAY NOTES - Remembering Our Heroes, Worsham Thanks Fans and The Return of Bobby Lagana
(5-28-2005) - Having some fun now --
After maintaining his Pro Stock top-qualifier position with his track-record
6.716-second elapsed time at 204.82 mph, Greg Anderson said, "I can't
explain how important confidence was to us last year. Now we're starting
to get that feeling back. We really feel great right now. It's absolutely
the best we've felt all year. And it's the best the car has performed
all year."
He said the engine program for his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand
Am and teammate Jason Line's KB Framers Pontiac is "absolutely, positively"
still being run by committee since specialist Joe Hornck left.
" I think it's working out real well,"
he said. "We're having a ball with it, to be honest with you. It's
been awhile since we've really been able to exercise some of our ideas.
Joe was a brilliant guy, and he was the boss, and he was absolutely smarter
than us. So we just kind of did everyhting his way and it certainly worked
out great for us. But we're having a little more fun now that we're able
to try out some of the stuff we've been thinking about."
No guarantees -- Robert
Hight got his Funny Car license at Heartland Park Topeka last May. And
when he did, he said, boss and father-in-law John Force told him that
didn’t mean he had a job driving the Auto Club of Southern California
Ford Mustang for certain.
“A year ago, I didn’t know what I’d be doing,”
he said. “I got my license here on Monday. John kept telling me,
‘I’m not guaranteeing you a job or anything. We’re just
going to get your license.’ A year later, I’m No. 1 qualifier
in one of the best Funny Cars in the country.”
One year later, with fluctuating weather conditions, a misbehaving clutch,
and teammate Eric Medlen, Tim Wilkerson, and Tommy Johnson Jr. hot on
his trail in the 4.7-second range, Hight indicated he was grateful his
track-record 4.729-second elapsed time from Friday night remained the
quickest.
However, he said earning his third top-qualifier position of the season
in the John Force-owned Mustang guaranteed nothing.
“One thing I’ve learned is there are no easy rounds,”
he said. “Back when I worked on John’s car in the mid-90s,
if you had your stuff together in the first and second round, you were
going to win. But not anymore. We’ve got to be on it tomorrow. We‘ve
got to fix this problem and roll right through.”
“These conditions make it easy for everybody to run good,”
Hight said. “Actually, it plays into our opponents’ favor.
Our previous history here lately is we have the best car when it’s
sunny. I think we’re better off when it’s hot. Whatever it
is, it is. We just have to do our job and do it right.”
His first-round foe is Bob Gilbertson, the driver who handed him the first
loss of his career, at the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif.
Alluding to the fact Medlen qualified No. 2, just .043 of a second behind
him with a 4.772 E.T., Hight said, “At Bristol, he was No. 1 and
I was No. 2. Shows you how good that worked -- we both lost in the first
round. We’d better get our stuff together the first round.”
Longstanding mark falls -- Larry Dixon toppled Mike Dunn’s
four-year-old track speed record in the final qualifying session with
a blast of 331.61 mph behind the wheel of his Miller Lite/Ameriquest dragster.
However, his 4.523-second elapsed time left him third in the order. That
gives him a Sunday morning date with David Baca, whom he beat in the opening
elimination round at Gainesville in their only 2005 meeting.
Dunn set the previous speed mark at 331.53 mph in May 2001. Until Dixon
made his run Saturday, Top Fuel was the lone class in which neither end
of the track record had been broken.
Kalitta pacing himself -- Quickest Top Fuel qualifier
and points leader Doug Kalitta’s first opponent Sunday in the Mac
Tools Dragster will be No. 16 Scott Palmer, and that’s the driver
he knows he must focus on first. However, he is completely aware of Tony
Schumacher, his closest challenger in the standings. Schumacher and the
U.S. Army Dragster trail by 43 points.
“We’re pretty tight in the points with him,” Kalitta
said. “We’re just going rounds. We‘re hoping to get
the win. Hopefully we won’t concentrate on the points.”
He said he was a bit surprised that the class-leading 4.505-second elapsed
time he established in Friday’s first session would stand four qualifying
sessions. He said that’s “not normally” the case: “Usually
on Friday we get a good run in, particularly if you can get past that
night session, your chances are pretty good Saturday to hold onto it.
“We just tried to race the track today,” he said, adding that
he thinks crew chief Rahn Tobler will “have something for tomorrow.”
Prepared -- Tony Schumacher will start fifth in the Top
Fuel order, facing Scott Weis. Although his best qualifying effort of
4.527 seconds and 319.67 mph ranked him behind Doug Kalitta, Morgan Lucas,
and Larry Dixon, the reigning champion made an impressive 4.535-second
pass at 318.32 mph in the heat of the day. That, he indicated, was a positive
sign.
"That was solid," Schumacher said. "To go out there when the track is hot and greasy and put up that kind of a number is outstanding. Those conditions will likely be the kind we'll face tomorrow."
He hinted that he wasn't overjoyed about his qualifying performance.
"We start fresh tomorrow," Schumacher said.
After eight races, Schumacher and leader Doug Kalitta are locked in a
tight point battle. But like Kalitta, Schumacher said he isn't worried
about the 43-points gap between himself and the points leader. Winning
rounds is what counts.
"Every round is so critical," the U.S. Army driver said. "We
really can't get caught up in worrying about what Kalitta is doing on
race day. We have to worry about ourselves and handle our own business
before taking a look elsewhere."
Schumacher and Kalitta have three victories each in the first eight races.
No stress -- Dave
Connolly, who never has telegraphed any stress this week despite the prospect
of his third-place Pro Stock effort this season dissolving, drove the
team's Chevrolet Cobalt into the No. 2 qualifying position. He built on
his 6.751-second ET. from Friday night, then improved it to 6.735 seconds
to remain second. That's where he'll begin Sunday eliminations, too, racing
No. 15 Kenny Koretsky (6.785).
"For us to be back racing after all that's happened this week, and
then to qualify second, shows how good this team is under pressure,"
Connolly said after working diligently to find a new home for the team
after the former owner stunned them Monday with his sudden decision to
fold the racing operation. "
“We made two pretty strong runs on Friday and Terry (Adams, the
crew chief) tried some different things on Saturday's runs. We'll be ready
Sunday."
Andy and Mark Carrier, Top Fuel team owners, rescued the team when it looked like it couldn't be in Topeka. They kept the team in tact and financed the trip from Mansfield, Ohio, to Topeka. The Carriers also indicated a willingness to buy the team.
"I can't thank the Carriers enough for what they've done for me and my team," said Connolly. "They wanted to keep the team together."
Remembering our heroes -- Tony Schumacher’s U.S.
Army Dragster this weekend is carrying special decals with the words "National
Moment of Remembrance -- Memorial Day 3 p.m." It has become tradition
that on Memorial Day, at precisely 3 p.m., Americans are asked to observe
a one-minute silence to honor those who died in service to our nation.
The time was chosen because it's when many Americans are enjoying their
freedoms on the national holiday.
"Memorial Day is so important for all of us," Schumacher said.
"We need to make sure that we properly express our gratitude to those
who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I know I will be pausing
on Monday at 3 p.m. to say thank you."
Out of the Twilight Zone -- Bobby
Lagana Jr., landed the No. 15 spot in the Top Fuel order Friday with a
5.059-second elapsed time and 206.57-mph speed. While that was far off
leader Doug Kalitta’s 4.505/329.26, it was a triumph of sorts for
the journeyman racer.
He’s back in the Bill Miller-owned dragster, which is fresh from
fabricator Don Long’s shop -- for the second time already this season.
The car was junked in the opening round of the Winternationals when a
piece came loose and cut the right rear tire, injuring driver Brady Kalivoda.
Then, in Lagana’s debut for Miller at Houston, the brakes went away,
triggering an accident with the top-end wall and competitor T.J. Zizzo.
Lagana said before qualifying Friday that the warm-up earlier that day
was the first time the car had been fired up and the first time he had
sat in it since the Houston mishap. He said his first run would be a deliberately
aborted run, and it was.
As for qualifying strategy Saturday, Lagana said before qualifying opened,
“We’ll take tomorrow as tonight comes.”
Lagana said he needs to get used to the Miller crew after campaigning
his family’s Twilight Zone Dragster for years with dad Bobby Lagana
Sr., brother Dom, crew chief Jay Lewis, and his familiar gang.
Top Fuel marks same -- Track records fell in the Funny
Car and Pro Stock classes. But even in the cooler conditions Friday, the
Top Fuel marks stayed intact. Doug Kalitta couldn't improve on the 4.487-second
elapsed time he clocked last May. No one could top Mike Dunn's speed record
of 331.53 that has held up since May 2001.
Thanks to the fans -- Sunshine Saturday morning
replaced cold, rainy, windy conditions at Heartland Park. But the Checker
Schuck’s Kragen Funny Car team couldn’t get over how many
fans stayed well into Friday night -- until about 11 p.m. -- to watch
qualifying for this ninth of 23 races on the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing
Series schedule.
Del Worsham shut off his CSK Chevy Monte Carlo early on his first lap,
sensing engine trouble, then claimed the eighth spot with a 4.847-second
run at 318.69 under the lights.
"I wish we could thank each and every one of these amazing fans who
stuck with us all day," Worsham said. "When the rain stopped,
the temperature started dropping, and all these people had come dressed
for a nice 75-degree afternoon. I wish I had the souvenir blanket
concession, because they were looking for ways to stay warm.”
Teammate Phil Burkart, who was 13th overnight with a 4.938-second effort
from his first run, said, “The people who came out here today and
stayed around for 12 or 13 hours in the rain and then the cold deserve
a merit badge or something."
Yeah, that’s the ticket -- In Friday’s late
qualifying session, Eric Medlen improved from 15th in the Funny Car order
to second. Teammate Robert Hight, who like Medlen had worked for several
years on the Ford Mustangs in the John Force Racing organization before
getting the chance to drive, led the field in both opportunities.
The rookie set the track elapsed-time record in his second attempt with a 4.729-second pass that was 43-hundredths of a second quicker than No. 2 Medlen.
Boss Force, the 13-time champion and the class’ current points
leader, found himself seventh. Force greeted Hight, clapping and cheering
for him. The first thing he said to Hight was “I think you guys
must be cheating.”
Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah -- When T.J. Zizzo became a father last year,
he carried a “New Daddy On Board” sign on h is Top Fuel dragster.
Now that daughter Maddie is approaching her first birthday, Zizzo has
replaced that graphic on his Torco-sponsored entry with a picture of her
and a cartoon balloon that reads, “My daddy’s faster than
your daddy.”
Like father, like son -- While Gary Scelzi goes for his second $40,000 Funny Car victory and a chance to take the points lead from John Force tomorrow, his son Dominic will be going for a $1500 winners purse in a Junior Sprint Car race at the Palace Nationals in Lemoore, Calif. He’s competing Saturday in heat races that will determine the order of the 20-24 cars in Sunday’s main event.
Scelzi owns the car. Pals Tony Stewart of NASCAR Nextel Cup fame and Danny Lasoski, a World of Outlaws icon, are sponsors of the No. 20 Scelzi Enterprises Express.
“Dominic’s car owner has a brand-new bullet, just fresh off
the dyno, [that] makes more power than we’ve ever had,” Gary
Scelzi said. “We’ve got a ton of right rears. We got wings.
We’re ready to go, whatever it takes.”
Dominic Scelzi, 8, won the 2004 Kerman (Calif.) track championship in
Kids Karts with seven straight victories.
“This is his first year in Junior Sprints,” his proud papa
said. “He can’t win the championship, because he’s going
to miss too many races, racing with his dad.”
Giving back -- While Funny Car veteran Tommy Johnson Jr. is in the neighborhood, he’ll visit his native Iowa on Tuesday-- but he’ll be on official business for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, sponsor of the Snake Racing-owned Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo he drives. He’ll present the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office in Ottumwa with a Polaris Ranger 6x6 utility vehicle.
USSTC is donating the special rescue utility vehicle as part of its Operation
Ranger program. The May 31 event is part of a national program that donates
Polaris Rangers to a select number of law enforcement, firefighting, emergency
medical service, search and rescue, and wildlife conservation organizations
across the nation.
“It’s great that I’ve got a sponsor like U.S. Smokeless
Tobacco Company that sees the importance in giving back to the community,”
Johnson said.” “I feel honored to have been the person chosen
to present the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office with the Ranger.
Plus it’s neat to get back to my roots and visit Ottumwa. I always
enjoy going home to Iowa.”
Johnson was born in Ottumwa and lives in Avon, Ind., near boss Don Prudhomme’s
shop in Brownsburg, Ind., near Indianapolis.
"Our Company's Operation Ranger exists both to recognize the service
of our nation's emergency responders and to give back to the communities
in which our employees live and work," said Jon Schwartz, USSTC spokesman.
"To date, the Company has donated special rescue vehicles to nearly
160 emergency services organizations in a total of 49 states since the
program's 2002 inception. Like the other winning recipients, the Wapello
County Sheriff's Office was selected for this award because of its unique
need for a versatile, practical vehicle that will enhance their emergency
response capability within their coverage area, much of which is not accessible
with traditional departmental vehicles."
Johnson was third in the Funny Car lineup after Friday qualifying with
a 4.796-second, 323.58-mph nighttime pass. If he maintains that, he would
match his best qualifying position of the season,which came earlier this
month at Atlanta Dragway.
FRIDAY - ANDERSON CLAIMS NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITION AFTER FIRST TWO ROUNDS AT O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS
Rookie Hight leads in Funny Car and points leader Doug Kalitta
leads in Top Fuel
Reigning motorsports Driver of the Year Greg Anderson reset his own track
record en route to earning the provisional Pro Stock No. 1 qualifying
position Friday at the 17th annual O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals.
Anderson established
the record on his second run of the day in his Summit Racing Pontiac Grand
Am, recording a pass of 6.725 seconds at 204.82 mph. In the first round,
Kurt Johnson set a track record for speed when he hit 205.10 in his AC
Delco Chevy Cobalt.
"When it gets cold like this we love it because you can make all
the power in the world, but the track temperature got down to 65 degrees
and you really had to thread the needle to get your car down the track,"
said Anderson, alluding to the numerous racers who failed to make a full
pass in the second session. "If you went dead-straight down the groove
you posted a big number. If you were six inches one way or the other,
your car turned sideways."
Anderson is the two-time defending champion at Heartland Park Topeka,
as well as the two-time defending NHRA POWERade champion, and he comes
into this weekend's race having won the last two events (O'Reilly Southern
Nationals and Pontiac Performance Nationals).
"It's difficult to drive in conditions like this but it's also a
lot of fun because your heart is going and you know that if you drive
well, you can really fly," Anderson said. "We won't have this
tomorrow. It's supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny, so we'll see consistency
but not numbers like we saw tonight."
Rookie
Robert Hight had the quickest ride in Funny Car qualifying, sewith his
category-best time of 4.729.
"This Auto Club Mustang is unbelievable," said Hight, who drove
around his lane quite a bit during his record run. "It does 4.70s
anywhere. It's a great race car and a great race team. That was a wild
ride, but very exciting."
In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta’s 4.505-second pass at 329.26 in his
Mac Tools dragster led the 16-car field heading into the final day of
qualifying.
"The
conditions tomorrow should still be pretty good so we'll try to run some
more good numbers and get ready to race. I'm still not ready to say we
have the best car out here because this sport can be so humbling, but
we are happy with the car right now, that's for sure."
The final two rounds of qualifying are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m. Saturday.
Final eliminations in all four classes are scheduled to begin Sunday at
11 a.m.
Results Friday after qualifying for the 17th annual O'Reilly NHRA
Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka, ninth
of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying
will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 4.505 seconds, 329.26 mph;
2. Morgan Lucas, 4.520, 324.90; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.527, 319.67; 4.
David Grubnic, 4.549, 320.74; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.570, 326.08; 6.
Doug Herbert, 4.622, 322.04; 7. T.J. Zizzo, 4.622, 318.02; 8. John Smith,
4.656, 307.72; 9. Cory McClenathan, 4.668, 313.29; 10. Scott Weis, 4.671,
319.37; 11. Rod Fuller, 4.800, 285.77; 12. Mitch King, 4.840, 299.20;
13. Scott Palmer, 4.865, 257.33; 14. Larry Dixon, 5.019, 203.31; 15. Bobby
Lagana Jr., 5.059, 206.57; 16. Luigi Novelli, 5.647, 168.60.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.729, 324.75;
2. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.772, 324.59; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte
Carlo, 4.796, 323.58; 4. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.800, 323.66; 5.
Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.806, 317.19; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo,
4.815, 319.82; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.821, 322.11; 8. Del Worsham,
Monte Carlo, 4.847, 318.69; 9. Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.878, 314.75; 10.
Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo, 4.879, 241.02; 11. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo,
4.892, 305.98; 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.897, 320.20; 13. Phil
Burkart, Toyota Celica, 4.938, 296.63; 14. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo,
4.949, 289.38; 15. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 6.346, 140.81; 16. Jack
Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 7.368, 119.98.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.725,
204.82; 2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.735, 204.85; 3. Kurt Johnson,
Cobalt, 6.740, 205.10; 4. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.743, 203.43; 5. V. Gaines,
Dodge Stratus, 6.748, 204.11; 6. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.753, 203.00; 7.
Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.757, 203.92; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.757,
202.61; 9. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.759, 204.57; 10. Warren Johnson, Grand
Am, 6.764, 204.39; 11. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Cavalier, 6.765, 204.08;
12. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 6.785, 203.34; 13. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus,
6.785, 203.43; 14. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.786, 203.37; 15. Richie Stevens,
Stratus, 6.788, 203.71; 16. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.836, 201.37.
FRIDAY NOTES - Connolly Carries On, Streaks Continue and WJ Reflects
Carriers, Cory Mac welcome Connolly -- Before the Carrier
Boyz stepped in to help Dave Connolly salvage his outstanding Pro Stock
season, megateam owner Don Schumacher had expressed interest in incorporating
the young Ohioan into his fold that already includes Pro Stock drivers
Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Richie Stevens among its eight drivers/bike riders.
Connolly’s agreement with GM could have posed a dilemma for Schumacher’s
Dodge team, but Schumacher stood by the starting line, encouraging Connelly
Friday. However, Andy Carrier said he and brother Mark don‘t have
to arm wrestle Schumacher for custody of Connolly.
They’re still trying to work out the details of purchasing Mike
Dzurilla’s operation. Dzurilla announced this past week that for
financial reasons he was going to disband his racing operation.
Andy Carrier said Connolly wanted to be able to keep the same personnel
who helped him win twice in three final-round appearances in eight races
so far this season. “Their team was why he was doing so well,”
Carrier said, who added that he was happy to help because “they
were going to be able to keep their group and keep their crew. Grump (engine
guru Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins) is part of the deal.”
Top Fuel’s Cory McClenathan, who drives the Carrier Boyz Fram Air
Hog Dragster, said he’s happy to have a new teammate, even if it
officially for now is for only one race.
“If it were me, I’d want to see somebody step up and help,”
McClenathan said. “I mean, he was third in points.”
He said Connolly’s agreement with GM and Mac Tools “fits in
with our program. His car looks good with the Carrier Boyz logo on it.”
“I’ve got to give that kid credit,” Carrier said. “He
has not been deterred one bit. He is really mature for a 21-year-old.”
“He has some good karma going,” McClenathan said. “He
wants to keep it.
Connolly, who McClenathan said “didn‘t have time to think -- they barely had time to get their butts here" -- said, “After what has happened to this team this week, it is great to have someone step up to the plate and ensure that we will be racing in Topeka. Just this one race could have big implications on our championship points. We are very thankful to the Carrier Boyz for allowing us to continue racing."
Said McClenathan, “I like the kid’s attitude. He’s
really down to earth. He’s a good kid. Hey -- at 42, I could be
his dad. That’s scary.”
Hornick finds a home -- Pro Stock rookie Erica Enders,
plagued by DNQs, said, "It's no secret that we haven't had the year
that I'd hoped for so far.” Now she has the “secret weapon”
Greg Anderson employed in his pursuit of two class championships and a
handful of NHRA records -- engine specialist Joe Hornick. About one week
after Anderson cut Hornick loose from the Ken Black-owned organization,
Victor Cagnazzi snapped up the horsepower expert as a fulltime addition.
"I believe in hiring quality people and letting them do what they
do best," Cagnazzi said. "We are doing everything we can to
build a team that not only can consistently qualify but also has a realistic
chance to win races. Unfortunately in Pro Stock, that's no easy task,
and as you can see it takes time."
Cagnazzi’s team led the Pro Stock field at Heartland Park Topeka
with driver Steve Johns. No one expects Hornick’s arrival to translate
to such a dramatic turnaround. It didn’t Friday, as Enders failed
to qualify in the rain-delayed first session and was 18th of the 23 entrants.
She had no better luck with her second attempt. Her crew pushed the car
from the starting line with a mechanical problem. That is at least the
third time this year she has experienced mechanical glitches in the Friday
night session.
However, Enders said she’s not used to struggling for this long
a stretch.
"Anyone who knows me,” Enders said, “knows I'm very competitive
and, of course, I want to do well at every race I'm at. It's been a bummer
to DNQ at the last several races, but nobody on the team is giving up.
My guys are still optimistic, and we are still working very hard to find
more horsepower for our SunCom Wireless Cobalt.”
New marks -- Greg Anderson has had both ends of the track
record since May 2003, but his 6.808-second E.T. and 202.94 mph didn’t
hold up Friday night. V Gaines took the early lead by lowering the E.T.
record to 6.748 seconds in the Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus, and Kurt Johnson
initially was third in the order with a record speed of 205.10 mph from
the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt.
Then in the second session, four others improved on Gaines’ time.
Greg Anderson was quickest at 6.725 seconds at 204.82 mph. Dave Connolly
was second at 6.735, Kurt Johnson was third at 6.740, and Jason Line was
fourth at 6.743.
Stitches and straw -- Warren Johnson is making his
last visit as a fulltime driver to Heartland Park Topeka. And he said
he certainly remembers his first, in 1989. The place left him in stitches.
"This race was memorable because of two strange things that happened
to me during the weekend,” Johnson, who was No. 1 qualifier that
year in the ACDelco Olds Cutlass at the event called the ACDelco Nationals,
said. “First, while changing engines on Saturday night, I slipped
and a head gasket bit me. That required a trip to the hospital for five
stitches on my left thumb that I had to race with on Sunday.
"To top that,” he said, “I lost a race due to a piece
of straw. When the NHRA first went there in 1989, the facility was still
under construction, and they covered the raw dirt with straw to hold the
dust down. As a result, with the incessant wind we have there, there were
tiny pieces of straw flying everywhere.” After beating Bob Glidden,
he recalled, "I was racing [Darrell] Alderman in the second round
and seemed to have him covered when the car suddenly and inexplicably
nosed over in third gear. When I pulled the hood scoop off afterward,
there was straw stuck in the air bleeds. It was undoubtedly one of the
most unusual ways to lose a race that I have ever experienced."
Alderman beat Joe Lepone, as the Pro Stock field contained Oldsmobile
Cutlasses, a Chevy Beretta, Dodge Daytonas, Pontiac Firebirds, Trans Ams
and Grand Prix, and Glidden’s Ford Probe. Other winners that weekend
were Funny Car’s Mark Oswald and Top Fuel’s Dick La Haie,
the current Larry Dixon crew chief who was driving a dragster daughter
Kim tuned.Kim La Haie is now Kim Richards, a key member of Brandon Bernstein’s
team.
Rookies rule -- Eric Medlen was a Funny Car rookie when
he pulled into Heartland Park Topeka last year. But he set the track elapsed-time
record of 4.739 seconds in a second-round victory over his boss, John
Force. And reached the first final round of his career.
"People came up to me and said, 'Man, your first final. Are you nervous?'"
Medlen said. "I told them, 'Not really. It's not really my first
final. I've been in a hundred of them, just not sitting in the [driver's]
seat."
He lost to Whit Bazemore in the final round.
Another John Force Racing rookie led the field after Friday’s opening
session. Robert Hight went to the top with the 4.779-second run at 324.75
mph. He bettered that at 4.729 in the later session.
Five tough victories? -- Warren Johnson said the evolution
of the racing surface at Topeka has been intriguing to follow but that
nothing can overcome nature.
"When Heartland Park first opened, it was a pretty nice facility,
and we raced there before the sports cars. Unfortunately, the drag strip
was part of the road course, and the roundy-rounders put a pretty substantial
berm in the right lane, which made it impossible to get down.
Fortunately, they addressed the issue, which improved the racing significantly.
Since then, it has been a pretty decent facility, good enough that we
used to run two races here. One thing that is a given is that the wind
will be howling and changing directions. The performance has not been
that strong, simply because of the track elevation, and, on occasion,
the time of year we run. However, over the years we’ve been able
to do a pretty good job of adapting to whatever Mother Nature throws at
us there, so I’m not about to complain."
Guess not. He has had five victories in 21 previous starts. No one in
his class has more victories here.
More superlatives -- With his victory last week at Columbus,
Ohio, John Force became NHRA’s first driver in any class to win
at least three races in 15 consecutive seasons. He has won at least once
for 19 consecutive years. He’s on his way to extend to 355 the number
of consecutive events for which he has qualified a Castrol GTX Funny Car.
That streak started with the 1988 season-opening Winternationals.
Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey has the second-longest
streak among active competitors at 124 races. The second longest active
Funny Car streak is 95 events, by Tony Pedregon, who won the 2003 series
championship for John Force Racing in the Castrol SYNTEC Ford that Eric
Medlen drives.
No-shows-- Top Fuel leader Doug Kalitta wasn’t alone in
not making a second pass Friday night. Morgan Lucas, Tony Schumacher,
and T.J. Zizzo made the same choice. 
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