The day Warren Johnson gets his new combination completely figured out will be the day the Pro Stock class pays. The veteran drag racer qualified No. 9 at a booming 208.26 miles per hour during the NHRA Fallnationals in Dallas, Tex.

“Looking at the stat sheet, we were quicker on every run, so we’re
starting to get a handle on this new approach we’re using with this GM
Performance Parts GXP, which is more driver-friendly in terms of
getting it down the racetrack, because it doesn’t want to move around
as much,” Johnson explained. “It also seems to have a bigger tuning
window.

Pro Mod racer Ray Vettel of Phillips, Neb., was examined and released
by doctors at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after his
Friday night qualifying accident at the NHRA Fallnationals in Dallas,
Tex

Pro Mod racer Ray Vettel makes contact with the Texas Motorplex concrete barrier during Friday's qualifying. (Roger Richards)

.
Vettel's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda hybrid went out of control
approximately 800 feet down the quarter-mile, crossed the centerline,
and impacted the right-side retaining wall. As a precautionary measure,
he was transported by medical helicopter to BUMC.

At each JEGS Pro Mod Challenge event, Ohio Crankshafts awards the low
qualifier of the 16-car field a $1,000 bonus and Josh Hernandez has won
more than his share of them.

Hernandez, the defending world champion from Conroe, Tex., decided he had a better use for the money.

Hernandez donated the $1,000 bonus from the NHRA Fallnationals in
Dallas, Tex., to a special project chassis builder Tim McAmis has
started.

There was a lot of shuffling that went on during the final day of Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying during the NHRA Fallnationals in Dallas, Tex..

Eddie Krawiec had a good view of the action from his perch atop the
qualifying ladder. His Friday evening 6.970-second run at 191.65 mile
per hour run went untouched although two other riders joined him in the
six second zone.

Krawiec, the Team Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson rider, scored his third No. 1 qualifier of the season.

The likelihood that anyone could touch Robert Hight’s provisional Funny Car No. 1 was slim, but in the rough and tumble world of nitro Funny Car, Robert Hight has learned nothing is untouchable, even a 4.063 elapsed time in the heat of the day.

“We came into here last year doing well and didn’t qualify,” Hight
explained, following qualifications at the NHRA Fallnationals in
Dallas, Tex. “My teammates know that feeling with John [Force] not
making the show in two events and Mike Neff this weekend. You’re always
wondering when it is your time in the barrel.”

Hight has learned quickly, ace tuner Jimmy Prock or not, you will do time in the barrel.

Top Fuel racer Larry Dixon knows all too well a wounded horse won’t win races. That’s why the jockey of the U.S. Smokeless-sponsored thoroughbred dragster skipped the final session of qualifying at the NHRA Fallnationals in Dallas, Tex.

He wasn’t conserving parts or saving money. Instead he wanted to give his crew the best opportunity to repair his limping ride.

“We had a fuel system malfunction and it ended up hurting the engine,”
Dixon admitted. “Instead of just making a run, we wanted to stay back
and make the car perfect for Sunday.”

After back-to-back DNQs, the 14-time world champion John Force and his crew chiefs were open to suggestions from within the camp.

Longtime Robert Hight tuner Jimmy Prock was all too eager to offer his
suggestions. Considering that Prock had tuned Force's son-in-law to low
elapsed time amongst the Funny Cars at this weekend's NHRA
Fallnationals, the boss and his crew were ready to listen.

The end result was the biggest
roar of the day from the Texas Motorplex crowd as he thundered to the
No. 7 position and for the 75th time in his career he will pull up
beside veteran and nemesis Cruz Pedregon. Tomorrow’s first round
match-up will only be the third head-to-head race at the Motorplex for
these two heavy-weights with Pedregon holding a 2-0 advantage.

 Four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi announced today that he will
step down from NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series competition at the end
of the 2008 season.

Scelzi, a one-third partner with his brothers Jim and Mike in Scelzi
Enterprises, a custom truck body manufacturing company based in his
hometown of Fresno, Calif., said he will concentrate on maintaining and
growing the family business during these tough economic times.

The California native joined Don Schumacher Racing in the Funny Car
class in 2003 after capturing three Top Fuel championships (1997, 1998,
2000). In 2005, driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for DSR, he also claimed
his first Funny Car crown.

"After the season finale in Pomona, Calif., I'll be leaving Don
Schumacher Racing to go back to work at Scelzi Enterprises," said
Scelzi. "With the economy in the state that it is, business being off
in these tough economic times, and with all the travel that competing
on the pro NHRA circuit entails, I feel it is in my best interest to
leave Don Schumacher Racing a year before the contract is up and go
back to work at Scelzi Enterprises and get myself more involved with
what's going on there.

Fallen Pro Mod racer Steve Engel's presence will be sorely missed on
the NHRA JEGS Pro Mod tour. Here's a sampling of the numerous tribute
stickers floating around the pits.

Engel was severely injured during qualifying for the 54th annual Mac
Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend. He was airlifted to
Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and diagnosed with six broken
vertebrae, which were all repaired. He was in the throws of recovery
when he passed away at the age of 49. Engel is survived by his wife
Tonya and sons Stevie and Michael.

At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Racers for Christ Chaplain Larry Smiley will be
holding a special memorial service for Engel at the Racers for Christ
tent on the west side of the staging lanes at the Texas Motorplex. The
service is open to the public. 

Nearly 500 sportsman competitors from across the country have traveled to National Trail Raceway to compete at the Jegs NHRA
Northern SPORTSnationals this weekend. The SPORTSnationals series
concentrates its attention on the Sportsman ranks, while maintaining
the importance and thrills of a National event. Saturday’s action at
National Trail Raceway will include class eliminations in Stock and
Super Stock which features the popular Mopar Hemi Challenge. Also on
tap for Saturday is the Jegs Top Dragster Showdown.

Jason Coan of Greentown, Ind., came out on top in the battle of the ’32 Bantams as Coan took his Bantam down the track at 8.290 seconds, to lead the Comp Eliminator field.  Hot on his heels was defending Lucas Oil National Champion Frank Aragona Jr., out of Freehold, N.J., running an 8.292-second pass in the fellow Bantam Roadster.  Super Stock top qualifying time of the day went to Maryville, Tenn. resident Lee Sharp, driving his ’05 Cavalier to the line in 8.518 seconds.  Judy McCormack, of Oxford, Mich., took the top spot in Stock Eliminator, leading the class with her 11.770-second pass.

In other action, John Prime, from Thomastown, Conn., ran to a time of 6.799 seconds, at 201.58 mph, to lead the very fast Top Sportsman class.  Local favorite and Jegs sponsored racer Mike Coughlin of Delaware, Ohio, is keeping the Wally Trophy in sight by qualifying a close second.  In Top Dragster action, Tom Swigart of Xenia, Ohio powered his '32 Bantam to a 6.410-second run, while reaching speeds of greater then 200 mph.

The action continues tomorrow with qualifying and time trials scheduled for 8 a.m.  Special features include the Mopar Hemi Challenge at 1 p.m., the Jegs Top Dragster Showdown at 2 p.m., and the always exciting jet cars are scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m. 

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Fourth annual JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., '32 Bantam, G/EA, 8.290 seconds, -0.590 (under index)

2) Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., '32 Bantam, G/EA, 8.292, -0.588

3) Jeff Taylor, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '05 Grand Am, H/SMA, 8.977, -0.583

4) Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '08 Cobalt, D/A, 7.778, -0.582

5) Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., dragster, A/ED, 6.646, -0.574

6) Lee Sharp, Maryville, Tenn., '08 G5, D/SMA, 8.451, -0.549

7) Rick Brown, Lebanon, Ohio, '00 S-10, B/TA, 8.333, -0.547

8) Nick Morgan, Newark, Ohio, '07 Stratus, B/AP, 7.353, -0.527

9) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '04 Cavalier, C/SMA, 8.351, -0.509

10) Bill Yates, Johnstown, Ohio, dragster, A/ED, 6.718, -0.502

 

SUPER STOCK

1) Lee Sharp, Maryville, Tenn., '05 Cavalier, SS/CM, 8.518 seconds, -1.282 (under index)

2) Irvin Johns, Charlestown, Ind., '08 Cobalt, GT/CA, 9.504, -1.196

3) Larry Hodge, La Place, Ill., '86 Monte Carlo, SS/KA, 10.370, -1.180

4) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.585, -1.165

5) Ronnie Terrell, Hebron, Ky., '85 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.149, -1.151

6) Charlie Bohannon, Valley Stn, Ky., '67 Corvette, SS/HA, 9.749, -1.151

7) Rich South, Pickerington, Ohio, '05 Sunfire, GT/EA, 9.802, -1.148

8) Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.605, -1.145

9) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.671, -1.129

10) Jim Evanuik, N. Versailles, Pa., '02 ZX-2, GT/A, 9.174, -1.126

 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Judy McCormack, Oxford, Mich., '03 Dakota, K/SA, 11.770 seconds, -1.180 (under index)

2) Greg Hill, Louisville, Ky., '71 Camaro, E/SA, 10.826, -1.174

3) Donnie Beeler, Elizabethtown, Ky., '67 Camaro, G/S, 11.028, -1.172

4) David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., '65 Coronet, A/SA, 10.128, -1.172

5) Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., '75 Buick Wgn, Q/SA, 12.934, -1.166

6) Bruce Witherspoon, Lansing, Mich., '90 Corvette, G/SA, 11.158, -1.142

7) Brett McFarland, Manchester, Ohio, '68 Camaro, A/S, 10.113, -1.137

8) Jim Marshall, Scottsville, N.Y., '80 Corvette, F/SA, 11.028, -1.122

9) Rick Winchester, Cincinnati, Ohio, '73 Camaro, H/SA, 11.328, -1.122

10) Terry Dye, Binghton, Mich., '91 Daytona, BF/S, 13.841, -1.109

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) John Prime, Thomastown, Conn., '68 Camaro, 6.799 seconds, 201.58 mph

2) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '06 Cobalt, 6.861, 204.32

3) Ronnie Davis, Suwanee, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.869, 201.61

4) Billy Thoman, Mt Washington, Ky., '63 Corvette, 6.870, 201.82

5) Tom Stultz, Terre Haute, Ind., '92 Firebird, 6.878, 202.45

6) Ralph Crocker Sr., Waterford, Mich., '02 Cavalier, 6.892, 203.28

7) Belva Brinegar, Middletown, Ohio, '03 Mustang, 6.911, 201.67

8) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '06 GTO, 6.922, 202.24

9) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.971, 200.11

10) Jeff Brooks, Fredericksburg, Va., '51 Henry J, 6.980, 197.16

 

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Tom Swigart, Xenia, Ohio, '32 Bantam, 6.410 seconds, 212.63 mph

2) Edward Dudley, Fishers, Ind., dragster, 6.628, 205.44

3) Bob Cireddu, Perry, Ohio, dragster, 6.906, 188.89

4) Tom Koenen, North Bend, Ore., dragster, 6.931, 193.65

5) Billy Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, dragster, 6.932, 191.70

6) Dean McIlvain, New Carlisle, Ohio, dragster, 6.942, 193.85

7) Marco Abruzzi, Warren, Ohio, dragster, 6.947, 195.39

8) Wayne Hofmann, New Preston, Conn., dragster, 6.966, 192.96

9) Ed Alessi Jr, Bethpage, N.Y., dragster, 7.003, 191.57

10) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., dragster, 7.018, 191.97