EVENT NEWS & RESULTS TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR PRO STOCK CAR PRO STOCK BIKE PRO MODIFIED SPORTSMAN LISTEN TO WFO RADIO LIVE			WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

 

MONDAY NOTEBOOK - BROWN GRABS INDY TITLE

All weekend at the U.S. Nationals, Antron Brown was a measure of consistency.

Monday was no different at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

Brown, the No. 1 qualifier, capped his memorable weekend by narrowly defeating Del Worsham in the finals.

Brown clocked a 3.813-second lap at 321.73 mph to edge Worsham’s 3.830-second run at 320.43 mph.

This was Brown’s third career U.S. Nationals victory. He also won the Big Go in 2000 and 2004, but those came in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. He now has 30 career NHRA national event wins.

“I’m speechless,” Brown said. “Words can’t even describe how this feels. This is one of the best wins of my career for sure. To come out here on race day, we weren’t the fastest car in all the rounds. We got two bullets shot at us by Larry Dixon, the champ, in the semifinals, and then Worsham. You have a slim chance of making it (when that happens), but we slivered through it. To get this win, it goes beyond words. You see Big Daddy Don Garlits here, Shirley Muldowney, (Kenny) Bernstein all the legends that have come through here. This goes back to my childhood dream when I was underneath those stands and I said ‘I wanted to do that (drag race) one day.’”

Brown’s victory march had him collecting wins over Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Dixon, Worsham’s Al-Anabi teammate, and then Worsham.

Brown’s win over Dixon was his first over the reigning Top Fuel world champ since he moved to Al-Anabi Racing in 2009.

Brown also is the first driver to win the Top Fuel title other than Tony Schumacher or Dixon in the last decade at the U.S. Nationals.

Brown, who drives the Don Schumacher Racing Matco Tools dragster, now has five wins this season – Las Vegas, Atlanta, Sonoma, Brainerd and Indy. Brown remains in second place in the point standings, 110 behind Worsham.

That differential will not matter now since the points were reset after Indy in preparation for the six race Countdown Playoffs, which begin Sept. 15-18 in Charlotte.

“We needed to have a good Brainerd to have a good Indy and we needed have a good Indy to have a good Charlotte,” said Brown, who recorded DSR’s 163rd NHRA national event win. “We have to go to Charlotte and take this momentum. We want to contend for the championship and be there at the end.”

Brown evened his season record to 4-4 against Worsham, and he has won four in a row. This was the first time in 2011 the drivers met in the finals.

“Del and I good friends and our kids play together, but when we race it is a battle, and I want to kick his butt bad,” Brown said. “He is running so good and I want to beat him in the worst way and he wants to beat me. There are no friends out there on the race track.”

Worsham is 6-2 in final rounds this season. His last race win came at Seattle last month when he defeated Tony Schumacher.

QUICK HITS: RACE REPORTING IN RAPID FASHION

TOP FUEL

ROUND ONE

MCMILLEN STAYS ALIVE IN COUNTDOWN – Terry McMillen entered first round against Rod Fuller 11th in the point standings, 18 points behind 10th place David Grubnic.

McMillen did get the crucial victory, but it came at a cost. Right after McMillen took the win light the engine on his dragster exploded. The back right tire also went flat on his dragster.

More critical than McMillen’s blown engine was the fact he was docked 10 of the 20 points he was awarded for the victory. McMillen lost 10 points because he oiled down the track and was fined $1,000. He also lost his elapsed time (3.91) and (276.97) mph for the round.

“I understand NHRA’s rule because we need to clean the sport up and do a better job,” McMillen said. “Boy, I tell you what in the heat of competition like this you got to do what you got do. I ran this puppy until I hung its tongue out, and I blew it up big. I didn’t want to do that, but it’s in trouble and it’s OK. We have more parts We knocked the tire flat and we destroyed all kinds of stuff on that run, and it was all brand new. But, my guys are the best in the business and we are going to get it fixed and we are going to come back and we are going to make up those eight points I’m back for this penalty.”

McMillen had no idea where Fuller was on the track. Fuller clocked a 3.966-second run.

“I never heard him or saw him (Fuller), but at that point you can’t lift,” McMillen said. “This thing is thousandths of a second between winning and losing, and you know what I’m not going to lift. I didn’t hear anybody on the radio, so I just kept my foot in it and I kept it going. It (the explosion) was happening at the lights and it is what it is. I just apologize to all the fans because of the oildown because I didn’t mean that and I’m sorry. The bottom line is I’m here to win this race, and I have to do what I have to do.”

When McMillen won his race, the track temperature was only 76 degrees because the outside temperature was only in the mid-60s.

McMillen did catch a huge break, when Grubnic lost to Larry Dixon in the opening round.

Dixon had a solid 3.850-second time at 316.01 mph, to edge Grubnic’s 3.896-second effort.

VANDERGRIFF SHOCKS SARGE – Tony Schumacher is tied with legendary “Big Daddy” Don Garlits for most Top Fuel wins at the U.S. Nationals at 8. The Sarge didn’t break that tie Monday.

Bob Vandergriff Jr. stunned Schumacher, the seven time world champion, with a 3.896-second lap at 314.90 mph. Schumacher’s U.S. Army dragster popped and banged right off the line and the parachutes deployed soon after.

Vandergriff came to Indy 12th in the point standings and with the win kept his chances alive to get into the six-race Countdown Playoffs, which begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C.

“We are going to have to keep winning and seeing Terry win in front of us put pressure on us,” Vandergriff said. “We are just going to have to go out and win the race, and it will take care of itself.”

NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart then said, ‘but you are not counting points?’

“Points for what?” said Vandergriff, who came to Indy 40 points out of 10th.

This was only the second time in Schumacher’s career he lost in the first round at the U.S. Nationals. The other time came in 2001 when he was beat by Andrew Cowin.

“The safety deal went off, but when I hit the throttle we had a hole out,” Schumacher said. “It is the third time we had that go out and you could be aggravated and you could be pissed off, but the fact is, it is there for safety. Possibly it is our fault. We had a fire (Sunday) and when you do damage you start to see the repercussions. Could I have beat him? I have no idea? I had a hole out.”

Becoming the all-time leader in Top Fuel wins at U.S. Nationals was the last thing on Schumacher’s mind.

“I just wanted to win the race,” Schumacher said. “Not at all was I thinking ‘Oh I have to beat Big Daddy.’ This is the Big Go and I have won this race eight times. To pass Big Daddy was not even on the top of the list at all for me. I respect being there with him and I almost do not want to pass him because being tied with Big Daddy is pretty cool. On the other hand, I sure want to win this race. I told him being that you taught me how drive a race car and put the engine behind us and have been like our life coach, if I win (the U.S. Nationals) you win too.”

KALITTA WINS, LOSES POINTS – After a moving tribute remembering Sept. 11, 2001, Doug Kalitta had the first win of eliminations, defeating Morgan Lucas.

Kalitta clocked a 3.929-second time at 304.25 mph., while Lucas came in at 3.957 seconds.

“That was awesome,” Kalitta said.

The track was oiled down by Kalitta and he was docked 10 points and fined $1000.

BROWN AVOIDS UPSET – Antron Brown was the No. 1 qualifier and he lived up to his ranking in the first round.

Brown raced past Shawn Langdon with a 3.829-second time at 317.42 mph. Langdon came in at 3.869 seconds at 312.86 mph.

“That was a tough round,” Brown said. “We are marching forward and we just have to keep digging.”

MASSEY, WORSHAM, BERNSTEIN MOVE ON – In the other first-round matchups, Spencer Massey, points leader Del Worsham, and Brandon Bernstein were all winners.

Massey moves on to meet Dixon in a second round heavyweight, Don Schumacher Racing, Al-Anabi Racing battle.

Worham had the top elapsed time of 3.825 seconds at 320.58 mph. Worsham defeated Troy Buff, who came in at 3.896 seconds.

“First round is tough,” Worsham said. “You are nervous up there and I see upsets everywhere, and to get the first-round win under our belt, I feel confident and good about the day.”

QUARTER-FINALS

MCMILLEN’S KNOCKED OUT OF PLAYOFF CONTENTION – Del Worsham ended Terry McMillen’s Countdown Playoffs dreams.

Worsham ran a blistering 3.813-second lap at 322.58 mph in his Al-Anabi dragster. McMillen was right with Worsham until about three-quarter track when he had some engine problems and slowed to 4.107 seconds at 228.42 mph.

“I saw his (McMillen’s) (first round) run and he was making a great run before his car blew up,” Worsham said. “I congratulate him and all the work and success, and it is too bad it didn’t work out for him. I have been in that situation myself multiple times, but this Al-Anabi team is running on mean right now. I saw Larry go 81 the pair in front of me and I know our cars are very similar, so 81 is a great round and I’m looking forward to the next round.”

That was the first time McMillen and Worsham met in eliminations.

McMillen ended the regular season with 576 points, while David Grubnic captured the coveted 10^th spot for the Countdown Playoffs at 583.

VANDERGRIFF JR. KNOCKED OUT OF PLAYOFFS – Bob Vandergriff Jr. shocked the competition by upsetting seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher in round one.

Vandergriff couldn’t match the feat in second round as he lost on a holeshot to Brandon Bernstein.

Vandergriff clocked a faster 3.841-second lap at 322.73 mph, but lost at the finish line to Bernstein’s 3.846-second run at 317.49 mph.

The difference in the race was at the starting line. Bernstein had a .055 reaction time while Vandergriff was at .086.

“That was a close race,” Bernstein said. “Bob is a great competitor and that is a great team over there and we knew they were going to step it up and try to run right with us. Good job by them, but a better job by our Copart/Mac Tools team. We have been struggling as everybody knows and man, maybe this our day.”

Vandergriff came to Indy 12^th in the point standings and saw his chances to get into the six-race Countdown Playoffs, which begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C., end with second-round defeat.

DIXON WINS HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE – In a meeting of powerhouse teams, Al-Anabi Racing driver Larry Dixon and Don Schumacher Racing’s Spencer Massey, Dixon came out on top.

Dixon, the reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champ, clocked 3.813-second run at 322.27 mph to drive around Massey. Massey recorded a 3.841-second lap at 321.12 mph.

“That was a big deal,” Dixon said. “Obviously, both cars are trying to win this race, but we are also fighting to try and move up in the top 10 and get as many of them nickel and dime points we can.”

Dixon’s career record against Massey in round two is 3-0.

BROWN MOVES ON – Antron Brown’s strong weekend at the U.S. Nationals continued in second round.

Brown clocked a solid 3.842-second time at 318.99 mph to defeat Doug Kalitta’s 3.863-second effort at 310.34 mph.

“You just want to win and it takes rounds to win,” Brown said. “That was a really close race and that that was a long tree, and I was ready to go. I just kept it back and we got around him and got that win and we are going to keep marching forward.”

Brown his career record against Kalitta to 15-6. Kalitta oiled down the track again, so he was docked 20 points and fined $2000.

 SEMI-FINALS

BROWN-DIXON –  Antron Brown has had a great weekend at the U.S. Nationals and it keeps getting better.

Brown, the No. 1 qualifier, beat Larry Dixon in heavyweight matchup between Don Schumacher Racing and Al-Anabi Racing dragsters.

Brown recorded a 3.819-second time at 322.65 mph to defeat Dixon who smoked the tires immediately after he left the starting line.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m excited right now,” Brown said. “We lost every way you can to Dixon and he and Tony (Schumacher) have been owning this track and it feels good to get this car in the finals. That was a race. My chutes were not coming out early and Mark (Oswald) and Brian (Corradi) (Brown’s co-chiefs) and this whole Matco Tools team has been marching. We have another round and we have to go after it.”

Brown advanced to his sixth final round this season and he has four race wins. This also is the sixth race in a row Brown has advanced to the semis or better.

Brown has two career victories at the U.S. Nationals in 2000 and 2004, but they came in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

WORSHAM DEFEATS BERNSTEIN – Del Worsham used another blistering run to move into the finals.

Worsham registered a 3.813-second time at 323.04 mph to edge Brandon Bernstein. Bernstein clocked a 3.831-second lap at 318.77 mph.

“I didn’t know Alan (Johnson) (the manager at Al-Anabi Racing) made an adjustment, but what a job he has done here (Monday),” Worsham said. “Brian (Husen) (Worsham’s crew chief) and the entire Al-Anabi Racing team and Sheik Khalid, the race car they have given me here (Monday) to this point has been unreal. Antron Brown I watched him over there and they are doing the same thing. His (co-) crew chief Brian (Corradi) raced me here in (20) 05 in the final round, so Brian and I have a little history at this track and last time it kind of went my way and I hope it does again.”

Corradi was Frank Pedregon’s crew chief when Worsham defeated Pedregon in the Funny Car finals at the 2005 U.S. Nationals. Worsham’s also made it to the finals of the U.S. Nationals in 1992 but lost to Cruz Pedregon in the Funny Car finals.

Worsham now has advanced to the semifinals or better in 12 of the last 16 races this season. He also has held the season points lead since after the second race of the year at Gainesville, Fla.

FINAL

BROWN WINS U.S. NATIONALS – Although Worsham and Brown are No. 1 and No. 2 in points this season, they never met in the finals.

And, Brown won a memorable final in his Don Schumacher Racing dragster against Worsham and the rival Al-Anabi Racing team.

Brown clocked a 3.813-second time at 321.73 mph to edge Worsham’s 3.830-second run at 320.43 mph.

Brown now has three career U.S. National victories at the U.S. Nationals. In 2000 and 2004, he won in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

Brown evened his season record to 4-4 against Worsham and he has won the last four.

 

---

 

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

 

Click to visit our sponsor's website

---

 

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK - BROWN THE MAN TO BEAT HEADING INTO ELIMINATIONS

BROWN KEEPS THE TOP FUEL POLE – Antron Brown didn’t record his best run of the weekend Sunday, but he didn’t care.

Brown, who pilots the Matco Tools entry for Don Schumacher Racing, clocked a 3.818-second elapsed time at 322.96 mph on Saturday night and that enabled him to grab the pole Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Brown’s No. 1 qualifying effort is the 28th of his career and his 17th in the Top Fuel ranks. Brown’s only other No. 1 qualifying performance in 2011 came at Seattle last month. Brown has two career victories at the U.S. Nationals in 2000 and 2004, but they came in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

The surprising part of Brown’s pole-winning elapsed time was it came Saturday night in hot, humid temperatures. The conditions were much cooler Sunday, especially in the fifth and final session Sunday night, which caused problems.

“The conditions (Sunday) were night and day difference (from Saturday),” Brown said. “The earlier run (Sunday) was worse than it was (Saturday night) because the sun was out. The last run, I mean the track just got like teeth in it. It was clawing away and I think everybody’s car underestimated it. We saw cars run 84s and 85s and stuff like that and we went for it. The problem was Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) (Brown’s co-crew chiefs) were trying to make the adjustments because the weather was starting to get a little bit dryer. Our tune-ups were getting overly tuned, you know what I mean, so they were trying to back things up and make it right. We were trying to run better, and something happened because before we got to half track I felt the car stumbling over itself. I felt the car and it felt like it had the brakes on. It was dragging. We will make the adjustments and I think we are ready for (Monday). (Monday) is going to be just like this, but even better. We are looking forward to people running high 70s or low 80s (Monday) for sure. We have to go back and go to work. (Monday) is going to a whole new day and it is race day. It is work day. We are going to put our heads down and dig deep and we are going to go after it.”

Brown came to Indy second in the point chase and he has four victories this season. The six-race Countdown Playoffs begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C. When the Countdown begins, the top 10 drivers in each pro category will have their points reset.

ZIZZO ENJOYS INDY – T.J. Zizzo runs a limited NHRA Top Fuel schedule, and he couldn’t be happier about competing at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

“It brings chills down my spine just thinking about racing here,” Zizzo said. “When I hopped in my car and drove down here (from Lincolnshire, Ill.) my spine was tingling. Being at Indy means the world to me. I was a kid here and I started out with my alcohol license here 20 years ago. All that stuff is really pretty spectacular to me and even our (car number) 317 is Indianapolis’ area code, so it is all good.”

Zizzo’s team was a little conservative on Friday and Saturday, but still did get in the field at No. 9 with a 3.919-second lap at 301.27 mph.

“Our first two runs of the weekend we were just gun shy,” Zizzo said. “The weather was poor and the track was hot and all that stuff. We just went up there (the first two times) and it was like making license runs. We stood on the gas (Saturday night) and it marched right to the finish line. Too bad it blew up about 900 feet - it caught the blower. It was a given today’s qualifying (Sunday) was going to be better. The idea for us as a race team is to improve from (Saturday). We weren’t conservative and we went after it.”

Prior to Indy, Zizzo raced at Pomona, Houston and Chicago, and he has one round win this season over Spencer Massey at Chicago.

“After Indy, we will go to Charlotte (Sept. 15-18), Vegas (Oct. 27-30) and Pomona (Nov. 10-13),” said Zizzo, who pilots the Peak Performance dragster.

As for 2012, Zizzo doesn’t have any official plans to announce.

“We are working on those right now as we speak,” Zizzo said. “We have plans with Peak, but we are not ready to go full-time just yet. I do not want to jump into that boat yet. I told myself probably three years ago that I would do anything to be on the (NHRA) tour full-time. If someone gave me $100 bucks to go to each race, I would go. Well, I have learned a little bit about business the last couple of years. I stopped running our body shop every day and really concentrated on this (racing) business, and I have learned that you know what if you are going to do this T.J. you are going to come out and do this successfully and do it correctly. I do not want to go out there on skin and bones. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it well.”

Zizzo said his goal is to run half of the 2011 NHRA national events and by 2014 he hopes to be on the circuit fulltime.


OILDOWN SESSION – The fourth Top Fuel dragster qualifying session was an unofficial oildown session.

Clay Millican, Luigi Novelli, Scott Palmer and Tony Schumacher each oiled down the track during their runs.

Palmer was docked 10 points by NHRA because he already oiled down the track this weekend. Millican and Schumacher both lost five points and Novelli didn’t lose any points because he had an oildown credit.

Schumacher had already used his one oildown credit that every driver was given by NHRA at the beginning of the season. However, since he made at least 25 runs without an oildown, he was able to keep his 3.974 time and 295.92 mph speed, but he was still penalized five points. Schumacher also oiled down the track on his fifth qualifying run and as a result was docked ten more points and fined $3,000.

Keeping that time and mph wasn’t beneficial for Schumacher since he already had a better 3.856-second time at 320.36 mph on Saturday night.

Millican wasn’t able to keep his 3.967 elapsed time at 286.86 mph because he had already used his oildown credit and didn’t have enough clean runs for another credit.

Palmer has now lost 15 points for oildowns this weekend and he was fined $3,000. Millican and Schumacher were each fined $1,000. 

 
68 AND STILL GOING – Luigi Novelli is 68 years young and still racing in the Top Fuel ranks. Novelli attempted to make the field at the 16-car U.S. Nationals, but came up short. Novelli’s best time was 4.094 seconds. For the record, Novelli wasn’t the oldest driver in the Top Fuel field, that honor went to 82-year-old Chris “the Golden Greek” Karamesines.

“I just do this for the love of the sport,” said Novelli, who lives in Crete, Ill., and owns the National Machine Repair company. “We like it, we enjoy it and it is a lot of work.”

Novelli said his team is going to Reading, Pa. (Sept. 29-Oct. 2), and it may go to Las Vegas (Oct. 27-30) and Pomona (Nov. 10-13).

Novelli doesn’t have any plans of retiring anytime soon.

“I will keep doing this as long as I pass the physical, just like The Greek,” Novelli said. “This keeps you going. You have something you love to do, and you do it and it keeps your body and mind working. I have been doing this since I was 20 years old. I used to race midgets, stock cars, sprint cars and then I started drag racing and I used to do both of them together. I love the speed. I love the sport. I love the engines. I think it is a disease.”

Novelli said it is possible his daughter, Andrea Novelli, 34, might drive his Top Fuel dragster one day.

“She has a license to drive a top alcohol car,” Luigi said. “She hasn’t raced in races because we do not have a car. The plan was for her to get the license in alcohol and we would put her in something, and then take over driving my Top Fuel dragster eventually, if we do not go broke first.”

 

 

 

 
GRUBNIC KEEPS PERSPECTIVE – For the second year in a row, David Grubnic has entered the last race of the NHRA Top Fuel regular season, clinging to the No. 10 spot in the point standings.

Grubnic came into Sunday leading 11th place Terry McMillen by 18 points. One round victory is worth 20 points.

“We have short-term goals every weekend, which is to qualify well and go rounds,” Grubnic said. “If we stick to that, the rest of it should take care of itself. Ultimately, we want to be in the Countdown and that is our goal.”

The six-race Countdown Playoffs begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C.

“David is in a good spot obviously being in 10th, instead of trying to get into 10th,” said Doug Kalitta, who is Grubnic’s teammate at Kalitta Motorports. “David’s car has been running pretty good and I’m pretty confident they can get it done.” 

 

 

SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - WELCOME BACK, CORY MAC; DALE ARMSTRONG, TOO

BROWN BLASTS TO TOP OF TF LADDER - Most of Saturday, Mother Nature was winning the battle against the Top Fuel dragsters at the U.S. Nationals.

Saturday night, the hot, humid temperatures subsided a little bit and Antron Brown seized the moment.

Brown, who pilots the Matco Tools entry for Don Schumacher Racing, clocked a 3.818-second elapsed time at 322.96 mph to grab the provisional pole at Lucas Oil Raceway.

“We came out here (at Indy) and tested (last Thursday) and we tested all kinds of stuff,” Brown said. “We came up on stuff and we are back to our normal package here (at the U.S. Nationals), so we can finish the year out. Brian (Corradi) and Mark Oswald (Brown’s co-crew chiefs) and the boys have been refining things and making them better and better. They have been playing with stuff on the starting line, moving us way out and way in. They are going where they feel the starting line is the best so our car gets off to a good start. Our car went out and moved right back into the groove and it was just like it was on easy street. It was a dream to drive and the et showed for it

Brown thought his team was capable of taking the top spot after his DSR teammate Tony Schumacher recorded a 3.856-second lap, which held the pole briefly.

“We were one of the last cars to go, and when we saw Tony go that 85 he gave us the confidence to step our car up even more,” Brown said. “We felt confident enough to go out there and turn it up. What did we have to lose? Sometimes it will bite you and sometimes you are a hero and (Saturday night) we were heroes.”

Brown’s No. 1 qualifying effort, if it holds would be the 28^th of his career and his 17^th in the Top Fuel ranks. Brown last qualified No. 1 in Seattle last month.

“We are stoked to be No. 1 right now, but (Sunday) is going to be better and we will see if it holds up,” Brown said. “We are going to keep digging and see what happens.”

Brown came to Indy second in the point chase and he has four victories this season. The six-race Countdown Playoffs begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C. When the Countdown begins, the top 10 drivers in each pro category will have their points reset.

INDY ISN’T HOT ROD’S FAVORITE VENUE - Some drivers gush about everything about the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

Top Fuel driver Hot Rod Fuller isn’t one of them.

“I’m probably one of the few that Indy is Indy to me,” said Fuller, who is piloting the Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit dragster. “I actually prefer a couple of other races better than Indy, like Vegas and Charlotte. There is still the tradition here at Indy and you always want to win here at Indy. To me it is a lot more hype than substance.”

Fuller’s main issue with the U.S. Nationals is the venue.

“The facility is old and kind of outdated, and the pit areas are not all that great,” Fuller said. “To me if this represents basically the Super Bowl of our sport and series I think we need to do some fixing to these pit areas out here.”

Fuller did admit he doesn’t have any complaints about the U.S. Nationals fans.

“As far as the race itself, the fans here are great,” Fuller said. “The stands are always packed and we have over 100,000 spectators here this weekend. That part is awesome. To be back here racing with a team that I know can win the race feels really good as well.”

Fuller has competed in four races this season at Bristol, Chicago, Denver and Brainerd prior to Indy, and he is 14th in the point standings.

Fuller is racing a limited 2011 schedule, and he doesn’t have anything to officially report yet for next year.

“There’s still nothing concrete, but it looks like it looks really good for next year with DIGIORNO and the Nestle people and the Yas Marina Circuit,” Fuller said. “Just  like anything else in the world today we need financial backing and that’s where the Nestle and DIGIORNO and their other brands come along.”

When Fuller isn’t driving, he is a full-time employee of the Yas Marina Circuit as the driver of the dragster and he also runs their drag racing school and their dragstrip in Abu Dhabi.

WELCOME BACK DALE – Former long-time Kenny Bernstein crew chief Dale Armstrong joined the Copart team as a consultant for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Brandon Bernstein, Kenny’s son, drives the Copart dragster.

And Brandon was thrilled to have Armstrong, one of the most respected drivers and crew chiefs in NHRA history, onboard.

Armstrong guided Kenny Bernstein to five world championships – four in Funny Car (1985-88) and Top Fuel (1996).

“I grew up with Dale Armstrong,” Brandon said. “As a kid, I’m running around the pit area and he was the crew chief for dad. It has been really cool having him back here and telling old stories. It has brought back a lot of memories and we have laughed a lot.”

Armstrong is just joining Bernstein’s team for this race.

“Hopefully Dale sees something that the other guys don’t,” Brandon said. “Todd (Smith) and Donnie (Bender) (Bernstein’s crew chiefs) are doing a terrific job and they are busting their butts trying to make this car do exactly what they want it to do. Really, Dale is here just to observe and be another set of eyes. He has a wealth of knowledge that these guys can pull from and if he sees something that maybe is not what he thinks is right it may trigger a light bulb in their heads to make it better. We are just thankful that he (Dale) made the commitment to come out and actually help us out.”

Bernstein came to Indy seventh in points, and he’s optimistic about what his team can accomplish the remainder of this season.

“It is coming, it really is,” Brandon said. “We are so close to really being a team that can go rounds every weekend. That is the name of the game, consistency of our race car and that’s what we have fought. We do well in qualifying, but the consistency doesn’t stay there throughout race day.”

Armstrong last worked in the NHRA as the crew chief on Jerry Tolliver’s ROCKSTAR energy drink Toyota Funny Car for a limited number of races in 2007.

CORY MAC ENJOYING INDY – At the start of the 2011 season it seemed unlikely Cory McClenathan would race much in Top Fuel NHRA national events.

Just prior to the end of the 2010 season it was announced Cory Mac would be replaced in the Don Schumacher Racing Prestone/Fram dragster by Spencer Massey.

Cory Mac, however, has done plenty of networking and he has found some limited rides most recently at Brainerd and the U.S. Nationals for Santo Rapisarda. Rapisarda runs a major crane business in Australia.

“It is nice to be back,” McClenathan said. “It is typical Indy, everybody wants to win it and obviously I do as well. But, with a brand-new team and race car and everything else, we are going to walk before we run so to speak.”

Cory Mac said he also will drive the Rapisarda Racing/Titans Cranes team, which is based in Sydney, Australia, at Phoenix (Oct. 14-16), Las Vegas (Oct. 27-30) and Pomona (Nov. 10-13).
“I think I’m going be in Charlotte (Sept. 15-18) driving for Dexter Tuttle,” McClenathan said.

On Tuesday, Cory Mac will board a flight and he will be racing for Rapisarda Racing in Sydney next weekend.

Cory Mac doesn’t have any definite plans to announce for 2011 yet.

“We haven’t got that far talking-wise, but Santo (Rapisarda) is a smart man,” McClenathan said. “Santo is a good businessman. They are real big in the crane business back in Australia, but they do not do much in the United States. Right now, he would like to be competitive in the NHRA circuit, and I’m trying to help that work out for him and it helps me because I love to drive. I love to put together new deals. Everything on this dragster we are driving here (at Indy) is new. It was built over at DSR (Don Schumacher Racing) and all the Fram boys helped us over there. Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara did a lot of work on this car and they are helping tune it this weekend.”   

MILLICAN HOSTING BURNOUT AGAIN – When Top Fuel driver Clay Millican isn’t racing, he is in front of the camera – literally.

Millican will once again be hosting Burnout: The Ultimate Drag Race Challenge for season 2 on MTV2.

“It is an absolute smash hit on MTV2,” Millican said. “Things went wonderful and we are working on season 2 already. We are going to keep it a secret as to what location we are going to use for season 2. This past year, we were at Universal Technical Institute in Avondale, Ariz., and we have not really decided what location we will do season 2.”

According to Millican, season 2 of Burnout will air in the fall of 2012.

“It’s such a cool deal,” Millican said about the TV show. “We get kids involved with drag racing and give them opportunities that they would get nowhere else. There are just a lot of opportunities out there for kids to get involved with cars whether it be working on race teams or just anything to do with cars. There are a lot of cars that go up and down the road and that’s what makes this country operate is cars.”

Millican is thrilled to competing at the U.S. Nationals.

“Any time I can step on the gas it is a fun deal,” said Millican, who is from Drummonds, Tenn., near Memphis. “We have a great team and we brought a brand new sponsor to the sport (in Parts Plus), and there is not a lot of that going on in today’s economy. The absolute 100 percent plan is to be out here (in the NHRA) racing full time with Parts Plus making a lot of noise. We are going stir up a lot of problems the rest of the year for all these guys trying to win a championship.”

Millican has competed in five races this season, and he has yet to get a round win.

  

---

 

FRIDAY - INDY IS TOP FUEL, FRIDAY IS FOR NITRO

DIXON GRABS PROVISIONAL POLE – All season, reigning Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been lost in the shadow cast by his Al-Anabi Racing teammate Del Worsham, the Top Fuel points leader.

Dixon, who is fifth in the points, was back in the spotlight Friday night at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Dixon grabbed the provisional pole with a 3.883-second time at 315.56 mph at Lucas Oil Raceway.

“It was nice to get the No. 1 spot,” Dixon said. “I do not think anybody on the Al-Anabi team has any expectations that will stay low. We have to step up because we know the competition will as well. But for (Friday night), it was a great run.”

Normally when drivers in NHRA Pro classes are No. 1 qualifiers they come into the media room for a press conference.

Dixon, however, didn’t do that Friday night because less than 10 minutes after Top Fuel qualifying finished Darin Bay, driver of the Incinerator jet dragster, was involved in a high-speed accident while making an exhibition run.

Bay lost control of his dragster in the Lucas Oil Raceway Park shutdown area and made contact with the retaining wall, where it appeared to launch into the air.

Bay was successfully extracted from the vehicle and transported to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in downtown for further observation.

“You are concerned for safety, first and foremost,” said Dixon when asked about his thoughts about Bay’s crash. “I have been in a lot of spills at a lot of speed and you know all your safety equipment is your best friend and you hope it did the same for him.”

Although temperatures were hot and humid Friday in Indy, Dixon isn’t worrying about any variables Saturday.

“My job is the same,” Dixon said. “I just have to get the car down the car down the track the best I can. I do not even know what the weather reports are like and I do not even care. That’s Jason (McCulloch)(Dixon’s crew chief) and Ronnie Thompson’s (Dixon’s assistant crew chief) job and I know they will do the best so I do not worry about it.”

MCMILLEN GAINS SOME GROUND – Terry McMillen came to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals with a sense of urgency.

McMillen came to Indianapolis No. 11 in points, 19 points behind No. 10 David Grubnic.

McMillen, who pilots the Amalie Oil/Wolverine dragster, collected one bonus point with his 3.893-second time at 317.64 mph. Only Larry Dixon (3.883) and Morgan Lucas (3.891) recorded faster elapsed times on Friday.

“This is Indy, the biggest race of the year,” McMillen said. “The two things people remember is the world championship, who won it and who won Indy. On top of that it, this is another race within a race for us because obviously our goal is to stay ahead of David Grubnic and Bob Vandergriff. We are less than a round out and we need round wins and we need to be one better than everybody else, but that is not an easy task.”

Unlike most of the NHRA Top Fuel teams, McMillen didn’t participate in Indy’s test session last week.

“We have seen the improvements over the last few races,” McMillen said. “The car is improving in its qualifying positions and it is becoming more consistent. We just need to establish that consistency on race day and that is the objective this weekend. If we can establish that then we certainly should be able to go some rounds. Hopefully we get ourselves in the 10th spot.”

FARMERS IS BACK WITH PALMER – Top Fuel driver Scott Palmer has Farmers Insurance as his primary sponsor for the second race in a row.

“I told them (Farmers Insurance officials) up front that we trying to get the car figured out at Brainerd (the last race),” said Palmer, who failed to qualify at Brainerd. “They understood and they are planning to do a couple of more races this year at least, and we will see what happens. If things work out we would like to go to Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Pomona, that is our goal. We will probably miss Reading (Pa.) and Charlotte.”

Palmer has competed in seven races this season and is 21st in the point standings.

Friday Palmer was No. 16 on the qualifying ladder after slowing to a 4.761-second run.



 

 GREEK A SPRING CHICKEN? - Top Fuel fixture Chris "The Greek" Karamesines, in his middle-80s, was visiting with fellow driver Antron Brown, who suggested he not miss the chance to visit with Don Schumacher and Don Garlits. Said Karamesines, "They're too old for me."
 
When introducing Karamesines to the throng of fans attending Friday's DSR open house, Jack Beckman said that Karamesines "served in the U.S. Army in Germany when they split it in two in 1945. He served during the Allied occupation of Germany."

WHAT'S IN THE CARDS? - Don Schumacher threw out a cryptic comment Friday during general remarks to the crowd attending his annual open-house fundraiser at his Brownsburg, Ind., racing headquarters, hinting that his 2012 team might have a bit of a different look. After he left the stage, Schumacher clarified -- sort of -- "I'm not looking to add anything. I'm not looking to subtract anything. You never know what might happen. I always have interesting things going on in my operation." He said he's "not planning to get into Pro Stock or Pro Stock Motorcycles," not seeking to add any non-nitro-class vehicles.

ARMY CREW MEMBER’S FAMILY EXPANDS – U.S. Army Top Fuel team crew member, Tyler Clouser, and wife, Kelly, recently welcomed their first child, Elijah, who tipped the scales at 10 lbs., 10 oz.

IT' S ONE RACE, BUT WHAT A GOOD RACE IT'S GONNA BE - There will be a familiar face in Kenny Bernstein’s Copart Top Fuel dragster pits this weekend.

Former long-time Bernstein crew chief Dale Armstrong joined the Copart team as a consultant for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Brandon Bernstein, Kenny’s son, drives the Copart dragster.

Armstrong, one of the most respected drivers and crew chiefs in NHRA history, has been away from the sport for awhile. Armstrong last worked in the NHRA as the crew chief on Jerry Tolliver’s ROCKSTAR energy drink Toyota Funny Car for a limited number of races in 2007.

“I watch it (drag racing) on TV all the time and Kenny contacted me,” Armstrong said. “They needed a little help and I have no qualms about doing it really, I just didn’t want to come and intrude with the crew and stuff. I talked to all of them and I talked to Kenny a lot and they prevailed on me to come back here just to have another set of eyeballs watching and see if there is anything I can see or help them with. I’m just sort of standing back watching. There might be something I can help them with and there might not.”

Armstrong is just joining Bernstein’s team for this race.

“They are getting into the Countdown (Playoffs) now and this is the U.S. Nationals,” Armstrong said. “This car is really competitive, there is just a couple of little issues with the tuneup. They have been getting a lot of help from Tim Wilkerson, who has helped them out a lot with blowers and so forth. The car is right there on the edge of running good, it just needs to do the same thing every time it goes down the track and it can be a good competitive car. It is not like anything needs a complete overhaul.”

Brandon Bernstein is seventh in the point standings. The top 10 drivers in NHRA’s pro categories earn a bid into the Countdown Playoffs which begin Sept. 15-18 at Charlotte, N.C. The final race of the regular season is the U.S. Nationals.

Kenny Bernstein is glad to have Armstrong onboard in Indy.

“Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) have been running some very competitive numbers,” Bernstein said in a press release. “We are trying to hone in on one particular area that has affected our consistency and we hope that Dale’s extra set of eyes might benefit us.

“It took some time talking to get Dale to consider coming back and we were lucky to get him to agree to one weekend.”

Armstrong joined Bernstein as a crew chief in 1982 and he led Bernstein to four Funny Car titles in a row from 1985-88. Armstrong also was the crew boss when Bernstein won the 1996 Top Fuel world championship.

Armstrong last worked with Bernstein in 1997 at the U.S. Nationals.

In addition to their championships, Armstrong helped tune Bernstein to the first 300-mph run down the quarter-mile in NHRA history in 1992.

Bernstein and Armstrong won 45 national events together.

“If I can help them make the thing run just a little bit better or a little more consistent, that would help, but I do not know if there will be anything I can help with or not,” said Armstrong, who lives in Temecula, Calif., between Los Angeles and San Diego. “You would be surprised how fast all of this stuff (with these cars) changes. All the controls and all the stuff now is way more than when I was doing it. I’m excited to be back for one weekend. I wouldn’t want to have to get on an airplane again every weekend or two weekends. This flight was enough. By the time I got here (to Indy) my skinny little a** was sore already. I wasn’t ready to go any farther.”

REUNITED - There will be a familiar face in Kenny Bernstein’s Copart Top Fuel dragster pits this weekend.

Former  Bernstein crew chief Dale Armstrong will join the Copart team as a consultant for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Brandon Bernstein, Kenny’s son, drives the Copart entry.

“Todd (Smith, crew chief) and Donnie (Bender, assistant crew chief) have been running some very competitive numbers,” Bernstein said in a press release. “We are trying to hone in on one particular area that has affected our consistency and we hope that Dale’s extra set of eyes might benefit us.

“It took some time talking to get Dale to consider coming back and we were lucky to get him to agree to one weekend.”

Armstrong, one of the most respected drivers and crew chiefs in NHRA history, has been away from the sport for awhile.

“It has been four years since I have been out there actively running, and it is no secret that a lot has changed,” Armstrong said in the press release. “Don’t expect any Hail Mary passes. Todd and Donnie will be turning the wrenches and doing their jobs. We will just be there to lend any assistance we might be able to provide. We have no aspirations to get actively involved in racing again, so we are here just for this single event.”

Armstrong joined Bernstein as a crew chief in 1982 and he led Bernstein to four Funny Car titles in a row from 1985-88. Armstrong also was the crew boss when Bernstein won the 1996 Top Fuel world championship.

Armstrong last worked with Bernstein in 1997 at the U.S. Nationals.

In addition to their championships, Armstrong helped tune Bernstein to the first 300-mph run down the quarter-mile in NHRA history in 1992.

Bernstein and Armstrong won 45 national events together.

---