J.R. Todd and Richie Crampton are doing what they have to do…but Tony Schumacher is not giving then much to take advantage of.

Crampton entered the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals ninth in the Top Fuel Countdown to the Championship standings, 211 points behind first-place Tony Schumacher. Todd was fifth, 128 points back.

J.R. Todd and Richie Crampton are doing what they have to do…but Tony Schumacher is not giving then much to take advantage of.

Crampton entered the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals ninth in the Top Fuel Countdown to the Championship standings, 211 points behind first-place Tony Schumacher. Todd was fifth, 128 points back.

Crampton and Todd both had strong evening qualifying sessions at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis…Crampton going to bed Friday first on the qualifying ladder after his 3.764 at 322.23 miles per hour while Todd was second after a 3.779/325.37 pass.

However, Sarge was right on their heels, third after a 3.780/326.16 pass.

Crampton, who ran early in the second session, was actually surprised his number held up.

“I was really surprised there wasn’t someone better than that,” he said. “A 3.76 is pretty strong but I didn’t know it was going to stay number one with such great cars running behind me. Great race track, great conditions and it worked out well for us.”

The Countdown has the drivers counting points and forgetting about superstition. Crampton is no different. Despite the thought that it’s difficult to win from the pole, he would be thrilled to clinch his first-career top qualifying spot during his rookie campaign.

“The bonus points are definitely what we’re looking for right now, but I’m not sure that number one thing is what we want right now,” Crampton said with a chuckle. “It seems like not a lot of people win from number one anymore. Actually it would be pretty cool for me to hold onto that and get my first number one qualifying position of the season.

“It would be huge. That’s one of the things I haven’t been able to do yet this year. I’m pretty excited about the way we ran tonight.”

He also thinks the quick evening run will give his race team some momentum for the weekend as he learns his way through his initial NHRA campaign.

“I have a great race car I get to drive in my rookie year, so I’m pretty spoiled,” Crampton said. “Every race track’s a new race track for me this season so finding success here, right out of the gate, is pretty exciting. It makes me even more excited for race day.”

Todd, who Connie Kalitta tapped to replace David Grubnic during the May race in Vegas, had the quickest pass during the afternoon session. He improved by .020 in the evening air.

The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals will continue Saturday with two professional qualifying sessions before Sunday’s elimination rounds.

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