2009 NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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EVENT FINAL - MCCLENATHAN, HIGHT SNAP LONG WINLESS STREAKS TO MAKE MAJOR MOVES IN COUNTDOWN
Edwards and Arana complete winner’s circle at Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals
Cory McClenathan and Robert Hight won their first races of the 2009 season Sunday at the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway to make huge moves in the Countdown to 1.
Joining McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Hight (Funny Car) in the winner’s circle at at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race playoff.
McClenathan, who pushed his FRAM Tough Guard dragster to a 3.857 at 312.64 mph in his final round win over rookie Shawn Langdon (3.980 at 280.49) and the Dixie Choppers/Lucas Oil team, entered the playoffs in fifth place, but he took advantage of early exits by the drivers ahead of him to move all the way into first place.
“I feel bigger than life sometimes,” said McClenathan, who last won in April 2008 at Las Vegas. “After I won, I was overcome with a sense of ‘Oh my God, it has been so long since I’ve won.’ It has been a year and a half, and that’s too long. My teammate (Tony Schumacher) wins so often, but I don’t. These are the moments I cherish the most.”
With his 31st career win, he has pulled even with Doug Kalitta as the second winningest driver in NHRA history to have never won an NHRA championship (Kurt Johnson, 39).
Hight, who was the 40th and final driver to clinch a playoff berth, vaulted from 10th place all the way up to third place with his first win in a year. His Auto Club Ford Mustang team defeated rookie Matt Hagan’s Shelor.com Dodge Charger R/T team in the final round, 4.097 at 307.02 mph to 4.103 at 308.07.
“It’s unbelievable the timing we’ve got right now because the first part of the year, we stunk this place up; it was terrible,” Hight said. “You start to begin to wonder if you can even win.”
Hight has now been to back-to-back final rounds and his win Sunday was his first since the 2008 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
“Jimmy Prock, for whatever reason, has it right now. Definitely, it’s due to ‘Guido’ (Dean Antonelli) and Ron Douglas (crew chiefs for teammate Ashley Force Hood). Right before Brainerd, we switched everything around just like their car, and they’ve helped us tremendously. Before, our engine would burn up, it would drop cylinders, and was just totally inconsistent. Now, we have a car like Ashley’s had all year long.”
Regular season champ Tony Pedregon remained in first place and Ashley Force Hood moved up a spot to second place.
In Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, form held as the top quailifiers – Mike Edwards in Pro Stock and Hector Arana in Pro Stock Motorcycle – each won on Sunday.
Edwards (6.618 at 209.39) and the A.R.T./Young Life Pontiac team defeated Greg Stanfield (6.650 at 207.75) and his Attitude Apparel Pontiac team to move into first place for the first time all season.
“My car was flawless. It went up and down track every time. It was a great weekend and a great start for this Countdown,” Edwards said. “You’ll never know how hard I’ve worked and how much I’ve wanted this. I know it’s a long way from being over, but it means a lot now.”
Arana ran a 7.004 at 189.31 on his Lucas Oil Buell, but it was a moot point because Karen Stoffer red-lighted aboard her GEICO Powersports Suzuki in the final. It was the second straight win for Arana, who moved into first place for the first time since his season-opening win.
“I’m still going to keep working hard,” said Arana. “I’d like to make three in a row now. I need to stay focused so I can have a shot at the title. I think have the motorcycle to win this championship."
The Countdown to 1 continues next weekend in Dallas with the second race in the six-race playoff, the O’Reilly SuperStart Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals, Sept, 24-27 at the Texas Motorplex.
SPORTSMAN RESULTS - MANZO LOGS NATIONAL EVENT WIN NO. 85, REICHERT CLOCKS NO. 20 AT zMAX DRAGWAY
NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car ace Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., notched another win this weekend at the Carolinas NHRA Nationals at 
zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. Manzo was among the six sportsman category racers to make it to the winner’s circle. He was joined by Top Alcohol Dragster racer Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., who scored the 20th NHRA national event win of his career.
Manzo knocked off former Jr. Drag Racing League competitor Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., to earn his 85th national event win. Manzo ran 5.541 seconds at 261.22 mph which was enough to cover Snyder’s 5.597-second, 255.29 mph effort. Manzo has won seven national events this year as well as five divisional races.
Reichert grabbed the win over Ken Perry, Richmond Hill, Ont., who is fresh off a win at the U.S. Nationals. Reichert peeled off a 5.270-second, 268.97 mph lap to Perry’s 5.397-second, 260.46 mph run. Reichert has made four final-round appearances at national events this year and has three wins. He also has four divisional event wins. Reichert is currently in a tight battle to retain his national championship title. He needs to fend of Jim Whiteley of Grand Junction, Colo., and Duane Shields of Boulder City, Nev.
Comp Eliminator Rick Brown of Lebanon, Ohio, scored his first win of the year ousting Kyle Koretsky, son of Pro Stock racer Kenny Koretsky, in the final. The win in Stock Eliminator went to Todd Hoven, Milltown, N.J., who wheeled his ‘’72 GTO around Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., who was driving his ’95 Camaro. Monroe, N.C., racer Joe Flynn outlasted Brian Forrester of Parrish, Fla., for the win in Super Comp while Steve Furr wheeled his ’68 Camaro Super Gasser to the win, beating out John Stover or Lock Haven, Pa., in his ’06 Corvette.
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - DIXON BLASTS TO A 3.844 TO EARN TOP QUALIFYING SPOT.
Cruz Pedregon, Mike Edwards and Hector Arana remain on top
Two-time champion Larry Dixon blew away the Top Fuel field Saturday to earn the No. 1 quaifying position for Sunday’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals, the first race in NHRA’s six-race playoff, the Countdown to 1.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in NHRA’s six-race playoff and it is the first of a four-races-in-four-weeks blitz that includes stops in Dallas, Memphis and Richmond to begin the Countdown to 1.
And the playoff opener will feature some intriguing first-round matchups, including most notably this trio of Funny Car faceoffs featuring Countdown to 1 drivers: Second-place Ron Capps vs. fourth-place Bob Tasca, third-place Ashley Force Hood vs. ninth-place Mike Neff and fifth-place Jack Beckman vs. eighth-place Del Worsham.
Dixon, a two-time world champ (2001-02) who finished the regular season in second place, earned the No. 1 with a 3.844-second pass at 313.66 mph in Saturday’s first session at zMax Dragway.
“Every session you just try to run the best that the conditions will allow,” said Dixon, who piloted the Al-Anabi dragster to his fifth No. 1 of 2008 and the 36th of his career. “Yesterday we ended up fourth quick (first session, fifth in the second) and then Alan (Johnson, team owner) and Jason (McCulloch, crew chief) have been working on different set-ups with the car just to make the engine run a little bit better. It ran better this morning; it was real good. We ended up on the pole by three-thou. That was on the right side of things for sure.”
In each of the three other categories, beginning with Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car, the No. 1 qualifiers from Friday held up on Saturday.
Pedregon, who missed the playoffs by just five points, earned his second No. 1 of 2009 and the 38th of his career with the 4.087 at 303.91 he delivered in Friday night qualifying.
“We’ve just got to go out there and race (Sunday). Qualifying’s over, and it’s great to be No. 1, it’s an honor. But now it’s time to go out there and go some rounds (Sunday). We want to win a race to salvage our year, so whoever’s in the other lane is going to have to beat us. We need the win, and we have a car capable of doing it. We just need to do it.”
Edwards secured his NHRA-best 11th No. 1 qualifier with the 6.614 at 208.36 mph that he posted in his A.R.T. Pontiac in Friday night qualifying. He also earned 10 of a maximum 12 bonus points.
“Anytime you can pick up 18 points going into first round, that’s big. It’s almost a full round. I think it’s going to be exciting for all the Pro classes. It’s going to tighten things up, that’s for sure,” Edwards said.
The headline matchup in the first-round of Pro Stock will be top-seeded Jeg Coughlin lining up against second-seeded Jason Line, who will actually begin the day Sunday in third place after Edwards racked up enough points in qualifying to move into second place.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, third-place Arana’s run from Friday night (6.965 at 189.98) aboard his Lucas Oil Buell held up Saturday as well.
“This Lucas Oil Bike is an awesome bike; it’s running like it should. At first, I was skeptical about the new points system, but at this first event it has worked in my favor. I just gained nine points on Eddie [Krawiec], so I’m loving it. It is hard to make a decision about tuning because there are some things I want to try, but overall it is good for me.”
Final Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.844 seconds, 314.09 mph vs. 16. Terry Haddock, 3.934, 304.32; 2. Antron Brown, 3.847, 317.87 vs. 15. Terry McMillen, 3.934, 308.28; 3. Tony Schumacher, 3.848, 316.75 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 3.912, 308.21; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.852, 315.86 vs. 13. Doug Foley, 3.910, 312.64; 5. Doug Herbert, 3.852, 312.06 vs. 12. Pat Dakin, 3.901, 311.41; 6. Spencer Massey, 3.860, 310.63 vs. 11. Rod Fuller, 3.900, 312.13; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.863, 312.57 vs. 10. Doug Kalitta, 3.900, 312.93; 8. Morgan Lucas, 3.866, 313.22 vs. 9. Cory McClenathan, 3.877, 310.84. Did Not Qualify: 17. Dom Lagana, 3.953, 298.87; 18. Troy Buff, 3.983, 295.46.
Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.087, 303.91 vs. 16. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.223, 293.54; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.095, 306.33 vs. 15. Jim Head, Solara, 4.214, 300.53; 3. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.096, 307.09 vs. 14. Jerry Toliver, Monte Carlo, 4.148, 301.74; 4. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.099, 304.94 vs. 13. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.145, 300.33; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.100, 306.95 vs. 12. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.140, 303.23; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.105, 307.79 vs. 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.128, 302.41; 7. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.109, 308.50 vs. 10. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.122, 304.46; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.117, 305.70 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Solara, 4.119, 303.84.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Andy Kelley, 4.313, 282.54; 18. Justin Schriefer, 7.036, 93.86.
Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.614, 208.97 vs. 16. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.686, 207.75; 2. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.650, 208.10 vs. 15. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.677, 206.64; 3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.651, 208.04 vs. 14. Ryan Ondrejko, GXP, 6.674, 206.45; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.657, 207.59 vs. 13. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.670, 207.40; 5. Jason Line, GXP, 6.659, 207.94 vs. 12. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.667, 207.75; 6. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.660,
207.34 vs. 11. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.665, 207.88; 7. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.661, 207.27 vs. 10. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.664, 207.37; 8. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.662, 207.62 vs. 9. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.663, 207.21. Did Not Qualify: 17. V. Gaines, 6.693, 206.70; 18. Dave Northrop, 6.695, 206.10; 19. Rickie Jones, 6.713, 206.20; 20. Bob Benza, 6.759, 203.71; 21. John Nobile, 6.763, 206.54; 22. Ron Krisher, 6.783, 206.64; 23. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.984, 200.20.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.965, 189.98 vs. 16. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.268, 185.66; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 190.08 vs. 15. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.194, 184.88; 3. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.009, 189.84 vs. 14. Bailey Whitaker, Buell, 7.167, 184.37; 4. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.023, 183.92 vs. 13. Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.160, 182.82; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.024, 186.28 vs. 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.125, 186.85; 6. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.028, 187.21 vs. 11. LE Tonglet, Buell, 7.113, 185.54; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.050, 187.73 vs. 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.112, 185.13; 8. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.058, 186.48 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.096, 185.64.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - BROWN MAKES STRONG OPENING STATEMENT WITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1 IN TOP FUEL
Cruz Pedregon, Mike Edwards and Hector Arana round out provisional pole-sitters
The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race playoff, officially got underway Friday with Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown earning the provisional pole in Top Fuel at the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in NHRA’s six-race playoff and it is the first of a four-races-in-four-weeks blitz through Dallas, Memphis and Richmond to begin the Countdown to 1.
This race also marked the debut of the 3-2-1 bonus for the Top 3 qualifiers in each qualifying session.
Brown, in only his second year in Top Fuel after a decade competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle, earned the provisional No. 1 with a 3.847-second pass at 317.87 mph in Friday night’s second session at zMax Dragway.
“With the new point structure, our goal is to run consistent and fast,” Brown said. “That was a good run. Actually, we made two runs and got five bonus points. That’s really important in the Countdown (to 1). This new point structure is mind-boggling for the crew chiefs because you need to get down the track on each run, but you have to try and be in the top three. It’s very tricky.”
It was quite an opening statement by Brown and the Matco Tools team to their two nearest chasers – Larry Dixon and Al-Anabi and Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army – who have combined to win the last seven Top Fuel championships.
Eleventh-place Cruz Pedregon, the last man out in the frantic race for the 10th and final playoff berth in Funny Car, exacted a small slice of revenge with a 4.087 at 303.91 in his Advance Auto Parts Toyota to earn the provisional No. 1.
“We just didn’t get things going this summer and we missed the Countdown. I still think that, run for run, we’ve got one of the best cars out here,” Pedregon said. “We worked all summer to make this Advance Auto Parts car as good as it is. Now, we’re just keeping track of our own points so we can see how we stack up against everyone 
else.”
If nothing changes in Pro Stock Saturday, Edwards (6.614 at 208.36 mph), the third-place driver entering the Countdown to 1, would collect his NHRA-leading 11th No. 1 qualifier of the season in his A.R.T. Pontiac.
“The (qualifying bonus points) are going to help you if you can go out there and run good every session,” Edwards said. “I’m excited about it. Anytime you pick up one point it’s crucial. We got a couple of points tonight, four counting both runs. It makes you want to go out there now and instead of maybe having, I wouldn’t call it a ‘throwaway’ session, but you better go out there and get it going. Three points is three points and that can add up huge.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, third-place Arana (6.965 at 189.98) picked up where left off at the recently completed Mac Tools U.S. Nationals where he qualified No. 3 and won for the third time this season.
“As soon as I got home (from Indy), we didn’t waste any time. On Tuesday morning, we were taking the motor apart, and we sent parts back to Larry Morgan, so they went over the engine again. I just hope they don’t get upset with me for the extra work because I do have a great chance to win the championship, and I definitely want to put this Lucas Oil (Buell) in the winner’s circle," Arana said.
Qualifying resumes Saturday with Rounds 3 and 4 before the 16-car fields are set for Sunday’s final eliminations.
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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord, 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.847 seconds, 317.87 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.850, 315.05; 3. Doug Herbert, 3.852, 312.06; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.860, 314.61; 5. Larry Dixon, 3.873, 314.09; 6. Morgan Lucas, 3.875, 313.22; 7. Spencer Massey, 3.895, 308.50; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.900, 312.93; 9. Pat Dakin, 3.901, 311.41; 10. Rod Fuller, 3.904, 307.79; 11. Doug Foley, 3.910, 312.64; 12. Cory McClenathan, 3.910, 301.54. Not Qualified: 13. Terry Haddock, 3.911, 300.46; 14. Shawn Langdon, 3.918, 286.13; 15. Terry McMillen, 3.957, 308.28; 16. Troy Buff, 3.990, 295.46; 17. Clay Millican, 4.005, 303.50; 18. Dom Lagana, 4.187, 234.86.
Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.087, 303.91; 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.096, 307.09; 3. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.113, 307.58; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.119, 305.77; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.122, 306.33; 6. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.122, 304.46; 7. Del Worsham, Solara, 4.136, 301.94; 8. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.145, 292.77; 9. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.148, 301.74; 10. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.148, 300.53; 11. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.158, 304.05; 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.164, 301.00. Not Qualified: 13. Jack Beckman, 4.167, 290.01; 14. Jim Head, 4.240, 299.66; 15. Andy Kelley, 4.292, 282.54; 16. Bob Gilbertson, 4.307, 289.26; 17. Jeff Arend, 4.348, 246.35.
Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.614, 208.36; 2. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.650, 208.10; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.657, 207.59; 4. Jason Line, GXP, 6.659, 207.94; 5. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.660, 207.34; 6. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.661, 207.27; 7. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.662, 207.69; 8. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.662, 207.62; 9. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.663, 207.21; 10. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.664, 206.83; 11. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.665, 207.88; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.667, 207.75. Not Qualified: 13. V. Gaines, 6.674, 206.70; 14. Ryan Ondrejko, 6.683, 205.91; 15. Dave Northrop, 6.693, 205.07; 16. Warren Johnson, 6.699, 207.34; 17. John Nobile, 6.704, 206.54; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.705, 206.83; 19. Rickie Jones, 6.754, 204.39; 20. Bob Benza, 6.811, 202.82; 21. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.848, 200.20; 22. Ron Krisher, 6.939, 206.29; 23. Steve Spiess, 11.010, 80.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.965, 189.98; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 190.08; 3. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.023, 183.92; 4. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.028, 187.21; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.054, 183.74; 6. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.063, 188.96; 7. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.069, 183.49; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.076, 185.00; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.096, 185.64; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.112, 184.90; 11. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.113, 185.54; 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.125, 186.85. Not Qualified: 13. Douglas Horne, 7.127, 182.48; 14. Junior Pippin, 7.188, 182.48; 15. Joe DeSantis, 7.227, 183.94; 16. Bailey Whitaker, 7.305, 180.62.
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EVENT PREVIEW - ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS IN CONCORD
For 18 events, from February through August, NHRA race teams have grinded and gutted it out to 
identify the top 10 teams in each pro category that will have the opportunity to compete for drag racing’s ultimate prize -- NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.
A few teams have dominated. Some have sacrificed. Some barely slipped into the field in the closing seconds. There was passion. Determination. Even controversy.
Now, the real work begins.
The top 10 teams in each pro category will begin their quests for world championship glory at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17-20 at the spectacular zMAX Dragway, Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of Drag Strips.” The race is the first of six championship playoff races to determine the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champions. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Justin Humphreys (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the event, which will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) will open the Countdown to 1 at the top of their respective categories, each riding momentum from outstanding performances in the regular season. After the championship point standings were reset by NHRA, each top seed will start the playoffs with a 30-point lead over the second-place driver. Each of the subsequent drivers throughout the top 10 will be separated by 10-point increments. The 10th place competitor in each category will be only 110 points behind the leader.
Last year the format produced three surprise world champions. Schumacher was the only regular season champ to finish the deal. Krawiec strung together four runner-up finishes and came from seventh place in the points to win the bike title. Cruz Pedregon won the Funny Car crown from a fourth-place starting point by winning the last three races. In Pro Stock, Coughlin was third when the Countdown to 1 began.
This year, parity has been a buzz word in each pro category. While Brown, Ron Capps, Coughlin and Krawiec led their categories in regular season victories, many other drivers in each class also claimed wins along the way, which sets the stage for what promises to be a dramatic six-race championship showdown in each category.
“It’s going to be a real tough road to the title,” said six-time world champ Schumacher, who starts his title defense from the No. 3 position, “but I truly believe we’re going to be a serious player throughout.”
Schumacher, who is fresh off his record-tying eighth Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win in Indianapolis in his U.S. Army dragster, is again one of the favorites in Top Fuel. However, Brown, who won five times and swept the Western Swing in his Matco Tools dragster, finished the regular season as the top seed. Two-time world champ Larry Dixon won five times in his new Al-Anabi Racing dragster. Other Countdown qualifiers in Top Fuel are Brandon Bernstein, Cory McClenathan, Spencer Massey, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta and Clay Millican.
In Funny Car, Tony Pedregon took the top seed with a late season surge in his Q-Horsepower 
Chevy Impala, which he finished off under the direction of a new crew chief. Capps jumped out to a hot start in his NAPA Dodge Charger and led the standings for much of the season, winning five times. However, Capps’ charge cooled in the final two regular season events as the veteran driver suffered back-to-back first round losses. He is ready to see his team put their winning ways back in overdrive in the playoffs.
“Right now a lot of teams are waking up a little bit before the Countdown starts, and just in time,” Capps said. “And it’s time for us to get back the form that we had earlier in the year.”
The real Funny Car drama was for the final playoff spot. Tensions ran high at Indy as Robert Hight claimed the 10th position over defending series champ Cruz Pedregon and rookie Matt Hagan.
“At the beginning of every season your biggest fear is to not make this Countdown,” Hight said. “When you look at the class and the field of these Funny Cars and how good the cars are that are out there it is not that easy to make this top ten. Cruz Pedregon is a great racer, reigning world champ. He is an awesome driver. They have a great team over there. It just shows you how tough this is. We just pulled this out.”
Other Funny Car Countdown qualifiers are Indy winner Ashley Force Hood, Bob Tasca III, Jack Beckman, Tim Wilkerson, John Force, Del Worsham and Mike Neff.
Coughlin ended his dominating regular season performance in Pro Stock with a win at Indy and seems poised to earn his fifth world championship crown. He has proven to be a master of the Countdown format, winning the last two championship titles.
“Keeping that No. 1 ranking was a big goal and it’s great to get it done because we worked darn hard for it,” said Coughlin, who raced to seven regular season victories in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt. “Now we start over, for all intents, and we need to reset and get set for the playoffs. It's going to be a thrill. It’s a six-race dash for the Full Throttle championship. Let me tell you, it’s going to be one interesting battle in Pro Stock.”
Coughlin’s Countdown competition will come from Summit Racing Pontiac teammates and past world champs Jason Line and Greg Anderson, and red-hot Mike Edwards, who claimed 10 No. 1 qualifying positions and three victories during the regular season in his ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP. Others in the 200-mph category who are in the championship mix include Allen Johnson, Greg Stanfield, Ron Krisher, Kurt Johnson, Rickie Jones and Johnny Gray.
Krawiec, who won his ’08 title without winning a race, cleared that obstacle this season by visiting winner’s circle four times on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. At one point in the season he built a seven-race final round streak. With the consistency he displays on the bike, he certainly has to be considered a heavy favorite to repeat.
If Krawiec is the favorite, then the darkhorse is veteran rider Hector Arana, who won regular season races at Gainesville, Brainerd and Indy on his Lucas Oil Buell. With some engine-building help from veteran Pro Stock racer Larry Morgan, Arana is enjoying the best season of his 19-year racing career and starts the playoffs with a lot of confidence.
“A while back, Larry Morgan told me that he didn’t know if he could help our engine program, but he wanted to take a look at it just to see,” Arana said. “I didn’t waste any time. I took one of our engines, and I didn’t ship it to (Morgan’s shop in) Ohio, I drove it there, and he told me, ‘I think I can make it better.’ That’s when we started to turn the corner. With the Countdown [to 1] coming up, I can assure you that my engines are coming apart, and they are going back to Larry’s before we get to Charlotte.”
Other two-wheel Countdown qualifiers are three-time world champ Andrew Hines, Matt Smith, rookie Doug Horne, Craig Treble, Michael Phillips, Matt Guidera, Shawn Gann and Karen Stoffer.
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