2023 NHRA U.S. NATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
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MONDAY FINAL - BROWN, CAPPS DEFEND INDY TITLES, HARTFORD, M. SMITH SCORE WINS
The Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals showcased impressive back-to-back victories for Antron Brown and Ron Capps, who triumphed in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, respectively, on Sunday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Additionally, Matt Hartford claimed his first Indy win in Pro Stock, while Matt Smith secured his second straight Pro Stock Motorcycle win. Altogether, the quartet solidified their positions as standouts in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
Brown qualified in the No. 15 spot but overcame the odds to reign supreme. Driving his Matco Tools/Toyota dragster, Brown clocked in at 3.779 seconds and reached a blistering speed of 328.54 mph to defeat Steve Torrence in the final round. This marked Brown’s second consecutive win of the season and an extraordinary 74th career victory. To reach the finals, he overcame formidable opponents, Brittany Force, Clay Millican, and points leader Justin Ashley.
Reflecting on his challenging journey, Brown expressed his admiration for the team’s resilience.
“It’s one of those weekends where we never quit, and that’s what you have to do to win the U.S. Nationals,” Brown said. “We went through all the trials and tribulations, and that’s what makes this win so special. We were coming off that win in Brainerd, and we got thrown a curveball. But we got this one done, and we’re going to remember this win for a long time.
“This is one that was a getting-dirty win. We went through all the pain, all the stuff, all the way through qualifying, and we found a way as a team. We never stopped believing. You’ve got to have faith. I love this team so much. They never quit and never stopped working, and all the credit goes to this team. They worked so, so hard and to win this two years in a row, it’s amazing.”
Meanwhile, Capps emerged victorious in the Funny Car class, securing his second consecutive win this season. Piloting his Hot Wheels/NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, Capps recorded a time of 3.986 seconds at 323.27 mph, overtaking J.R. Todd in the championship round. Along the way, Capps had to surpass Dale Creasy Jr., Matt Hagan, and Robert Hight. This noteworthy victory propelled Capps to claim the points lead and marked his 76th career win.
“You can’t dream this big. I mean, you could hope, and you can put all this stuff together and we did it to have some fun to do something cool for Indy,” Capps said. “This just doesn’t happen. You just put this together and hope that it’s going to have some success and you end up winning.
“This is an unbelievable thing. To win here, to win Indy with my brother Antron (Brown) again, is massive. This whole week has just been a blast and we earned every bit of it today. It was very cool.”
“It’s just amazing,” added Prudhomme. “When he first sent me the paint scheme, it brought a tear to my eye. I thought, ‘This thing’s beautiful.’ It’s just this is something I’m going to remember for a long time.”
Todd reached his fourth final round in 2023 on the strength of round wins against Blake Alexander, Bob Tasca III, and Cruz Pedregon. It’s also the 45th career final round for Todd.
Hartford delivered a commanding performance, claiming his first U.S. Nationals Pro Stock win. Piloting his Total Seal/GETTRX Chevrolet Camaro, Hartford crossed the finish line in 6.624 seconds at 206.57 mph, defeating Fernando Cuadra Jr. in the championship round.
Throughout the event, Hartford showcased his dominance, securing the No. 1 qualifying spot and triumphing over Mason McGaha, Camrie Caruso, and defending world champion Erica Enders en route to victory.
“I let the clutch out, I pulled second gear and never saw him, put it in fifth gear, and I’m still deaf from my crew chief screaming in my ear,” Hartford said. “When I got to the other end and realized I’d just won Indy, I just sat in the car for a few moments to take it all in.
“We came in here Friday night, and our goal was to qualify No. 1 Friday night. If we could do that, we felt it could stick and we would have four really good test runs. What we ran in the final was what we tested in one of the qualifying runs. The track conditions became basically what that was, so being able to be on the pole and have that test data played a huge role in the final.”
Cuadra Jr. reached the final round for the first time in his career, getting past Bo Butner, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Kyle Koretsky. Dallas Glenn will take the points lead into the Countdown to the Championship.
Smith showcased his prowess, securing his second consecutive win at The Big Go and third U.S. Nationals victory of his career. Smith’s path to success involved defeating John Hall, rookie Chase Van Sant, and points leader Gaige Herrera.
It’s been a challenging year for Smith, but he’ll now enter the Countdown to the Championship second in points and with plenty of momentum as he looks for a record seventh Pro Stock Motorcycle championship and fourth in a row.
“I’m not surprised at all,” Smith said. “I’ve got good power. This is our second year with the Suzuki program and we’ve got great power. The problem is that I can’t figure out how to make the clutch work. I need the parts to test because we’re not getting our 60-foot times where we need them. I think a 1.09 was my best and that’s not good enough. I’ve always said you need to be good at the last six races to win a championship, so now it’s time to turn it up.”
Arana Jr. knocked off Chris Bostick, Kelly Clontz, and Angie Smith to reach the finals for the second time in 2023 and the 32nd time overall. Herrera will open the playoffs as the points leader.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series opens its Countdown to the Championship playoffs with the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals on Sept. 14-17 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Penn.
SUNDAY QUALIFYING - HIGHT COMES UP BIG ON INDY SUNDAY, TORRENCE, HARTFORD, HERRERA SEAL NO. 1
Sunday was quite the day for Robert Hight as he pulled off dual victories by winning the Pep Boys All-Star Callout and then concluding with a No. 1 qualifying effort.
Also finishing off the day qualifying No. 1 were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Hight met rival Matt Hagan in the final round behind the wheel of his Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS with a run of 3.955 seconds and 321.58 mph. Hagan fell short with a time of 3.979.
"It's amazing to get this," Hight said. "Hagan really stepped up in the final round. We made the right decisions today, went out and did the job today. There's been a lot of double-ups at this race and I'd like to add my name to it. You've got to win on Sunday first to even have a chance, but we're looking forward to Monday. We're definitely coming around and coming together at the right time."
Hagan, driving his Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat, reached the final round after defeating Tim Wilkerson and John Force. As Hight aims for a clean sweep, he enters Monday's race as the No. 1 qualifier for the fourth time this season, starting with a matchup against Paul Lee.
Torrence secured his first career No. 1 qualifier at the prestigious event, The Big Go. His standout performance of 3.708 seconds at 329.42 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster remained unmatched since Friday. With 36 No. 1 qualifiers in his career, Torrence faces off against Will Smith.
"We've had a pretty consistent race car," Torrence said. "We utilized the track conditions today to prepare for tomorrow, and I feel really confident that the two runs we made today – even though we didn't make it down the track – what we learned today will be useful for tomorrow. I enjoy coming here, and we'll see what we can do tomorrow. Being No. 1 at Indy for the first time is really special to me, and now we'll see if we can go win this thing."
Current world champion Brittany Force remained second with a time of 3.709 at 333.25, while Doug Kalitta secured third place with a run of 3.717 at 328.54.
Hartford claimed his first No. 1 qualifier in his Total Seal/GETTRX Camaro, setting the pace with a time of 6.569 at 209.23 achieved on Friday. This marks his fourth No. 1 position this season, accentuating his remarkable progress. As he looks forward to eliminations, Hartford remains focused on the task ahead.
"To come to Indy and qualify No. 1 is a dream come true, plain and simple," Hartford said. "That 6.601 in those conditions, that's more impressive to me than the 6.56 we ran on Friday night. I need to get focused tonight, I'm going to have to do something to clear my head before I go to bed because getting up tomorrow it's a brand new day."
Troy Coughlin Jr. maintained his second-place spot with a run of 6.570 at 208.30, while Aaron Stanfield, the winner of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, secured third position with a time of 6.586 at 208.39.
Herrera continued his impressive season by claiming his eighth No. 1 spot in nine races, firmly establishing himself as the points leader. He dominated the track with a record-setting time of 6.746 seconds at 198.96 mph on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
His consistent performance throughout the weekend sets Herrera up for a competitive raceday, commencing with a matchup against Cory Reed in the opening round of eliminations.
"Running the .74 off the trailer, that was a big accomplishment for the whole team," Herrera said. "They worked pretty hard the last couple of weeks from Sonoma to here. All weekend, I've had a very consistent motorcycle, and today Andrew (Hines, crew chief) decided to play with tires a little bit. We were in full test mode today, and we're definitely ready for Monday. It would almost top the Western Swing to win Indy. That was a very big accomplishment for me and the whole team, but if I'm able to clinch here at Indy, this is the big race everyone talks about. It would definitely be amazing to win here."
Herrera’s teammate, Eddie Krawiec, qualified second with his 6.800 at 198.79 and Hector Arana Jr. took the third spot after going 6.828 at 199.11.
Eliminations for the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals begin at 10 a.m. ET on Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Monday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the 15th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Sunday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Steve Torrence, 3.708 seconds, 329.42 mph vs. 16. Will Smith, 3.822, 312.78; 2. Brittany Force, 3.709, 333.25 vs. 15. Antron Brown, 3.806, 327.74; 3. Justin Ashley, 3.714, 334.73 vs. 14. Doug Foley, 3.803, 316.75; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.717, 328.54 vs. 13. Spencer Massey, 3.795, 323.04; 5. Mike Salinas, 3.721, 335.32 vs. 12. Tony Schumacher, 3.784, 326.79; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.730, 331.69 vs. 11. Austin Prock, 3.781, 326.08; 7. T.J. Zizzo, 3.736, 330.07 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 3.777, 331.77; 8. Josh Hart, 3.744, 323.89 vs. 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.750, 321.73.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Buddy Hull, 3.823, 322.65; 18. Lex Joon, 3.858, 313.07; 19. Dan Mercier, 3.878, 310.41.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.853, 329.67 vs. 16. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 4.088, 301.40; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.864, 324.90 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.079, 310.41; 3. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.888, 331.77 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.072, 274.11; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.912, 323.19 vs. 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.037, 307.02; 5. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.917, 328.22 vs. 12. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.977, 321.88; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.931, 304.25 vs. 11. John Force, Camaro, 3.961, 326.48; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.934, 327.66 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.955, 328.78; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.945, 328.38 vs. 9. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.948, 323.81.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Dave Richards, 4.121, 308.35; 18. Justin Schriefer, 4.802, 176.40.
Pro Stock -- 1. Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.569, 209.23 vs. 16. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.704, 204.73; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.570, 208.30 vs. 15. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.664, 206.80; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.586, 208.39 vs. 14. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.641, 206.29; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.588, 208.68 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.641, 207.30; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.590, 209.01 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.627, 206.04; 6. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.599, 208.33 vs. 11. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.621, 206.20; 7. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.603, 208.42 vs. 10. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.617, 207.34; 8. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.604, 207.56 vs. 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.605, 208.97.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Fernando Cuadra, 6.727, 205.10.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.746, 198.96 vs. 16. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.162, 188.60; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.800, 199.29 vs. 15. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.114, 191.40; 3. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.828, 199.11 vs. 14. Chris Bostick, EBR, 7.068, 189.55; 4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.874, 198.15 vs. 13. John Hall, EBR, 7.027, 193.27; 5. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.878, 197.08 vs. 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.003, 196.39; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.881, 197.16 vs. 11. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.967, 192.47; 7. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.917, 196.64 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.940, 195.11; 8. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.917, 195.70 vs. 9. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.934, 195.68.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Wesley Wells, 7.226, 185.10; 18. Odolph Daniels, 7.324, 181.59.
Final round-by-round results from the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout at the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
PEP BOYS NHRA FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR SHOOTOUT:
ROUND ONE -- Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.989, 322.81 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.982, 323.74; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.967, 320.05 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.920, 162.63; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.935, 324.44 def. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 4.082, 288.58; John Force, Camaro, 6.770, 94.75 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 6.905, 94.68;
SEMIFINALS -- M. Hagan, 3.982, 323.89 def. J. Force, 3.991, 322.96; R. Hight, 3.997, 314.97 def. C. Pedregon, 4.004, 322.65;
FINAL -- R. Hight, 3.955, 321.58 def. M. Hagan, 3.979, 322.58.
#2FAST2TASTY SATURDAY - FORCE GETS HIS FIRST #2FAST2TASTY WIN, ASHLEY CONTINUES DOMINATION, A. STANFIELD, HERRERA WRAP UP FINAL EVENT OF 2023
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park came to a fitting conclusion as John Force, Justin Ashley, Aaron Stanfield, and Gaige Herrera emerged as the victors in their respective categories. The event was part of the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Force, the Funny Car legend, secured his first victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, defeating two-time world champion Ron Capps in the final round. Force, driving the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, clocked an impressive 3.989-seconds at 328.78 mph to claim the win. Force's triumph in the bonus race added another milestone to his illustrious career and legacy at the iconic Indy track.
"I want to win the Mission deal, but it was an opportunity that I got away with it," Force said. "You just do what you do and attack it. Some days, the good Lord lets me get away with it, and I did today. It was good to come in here to Indy and be able to do your job at my age."
In Top Fuel, Ashley continued his season's success, securing his unprecedented sixth victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Ashley's phenomenal run of 3.714 at 334.73 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Connect/Toyota Dragster earned him the win against Antron Brown in the final round.
Ashley's performance not only secured the bonus race victory but also earned him 21 playoff points when the Countdown to the Championship begins.
"These Mission #2Fast2Tasty points add up, especially because of when they come into play, which is after the points reset," Ashley explained. "It was critical for our team to take advantage of every opportunity we had during this challenge. I feel like we did a great job with that, and it's just a testament to the great team that we have."
Aaron Stanfield demonstrated his prowess in Pro Stock, winning the specialty race by defeating Kyle Koretsky in the final round. Stanfield drove his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro to a time of 6.630 at 207.56 mph, securing his second victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge this year.
Additionally, Stanfield's outstanding performance earned him the overall Pro Stock season title in the challenge.
"It's pretty cool, and to be honest with you, I didn't even know I had a shot to win this," Stanfield admitted. "Sometimes that's the best way to go into something like that. My guys gave me a really good hot rod today, and I drove good enough to get it done. It's always good to do it at Indy."
Herrera showcased his dominance by clinching his fourth win in six races in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
Herrera, riding his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, defeated Eddie Krawiec in a thrilling finals clash with a time of 6.759 at 199.11 mph. Herrera's exceptional performances throughout the season translated into 13 additional playoff points in the Countdown to the Championship, highlighting his remarkable 2023 campaign.
"It's been very exciting. Mission is a very big sponsor for us, so to be able to represent for them is big," Herrera expressed. "Not only that, but to have both bikes in the final, it was awesome for the whole team and for Mission and our Vance & Hines Suzukis. I'm very ecstatic to get this overall win. I got four out of six of them, and this whole season has been incredible."
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge is a unique addition to the NHRA calendar, providing extra excitement for fans, teams, and drivers. The bonus race offers additional opportunities for drivers to accumulate points, making it a win-win situation for all involved.
Qualifying for the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will resume on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET, promising more high-octane action for drag racing enthusiasts.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING - HIGHT PUTS JOHN FORCE RACING ATOP U.S. NATIONALS FC FIELD; TORRENCE, HARTFORD HERRERA MAINTAIN TOP SPOTS
Robert Hight claimed the provisional No. 1 spot on Saturday during the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Steve Torrence, Matt Hartford, and Gaige Herrera also maintained their provisional No. 1 positions during the 15th race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
Hight, behind the wheel of Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS, clocked an impressive time of 3.853 seconds at 329.67 mph underneath the lights at The Big Go. Should this hold, Hight will celebrate his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and the remarkable 81st of his career.
This performance provides the multi-time champion with significant momentum heading into Sunday’s Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout.
“That was big. We stayed and tested Monday after Brainerd, and things went really well,” Hight said. “So far, our first three runs here have been pretty impressive. When the car responds to what Jimmy [Prock, crew chief] is doing and it runs what he says it’s going to run, you can’t be any more confident than that.”
Despite the formidable competition, Hight remains optimistic, underscoring the fine-tuning efforts of his team.
“They’re fine-tuning this thing right now; it’s not just ‘make a bunch of changes and see what sticks.’ They’re fine-tuning parts of the run, and that’s how you become consistent and win.”
In the specialty event, Hight eagerly selected back-to-back world champ Ron Capps for Sunday’s race, setting the stage for an intense showdown. Bob Tasca III picked John Force, Matt Hagan chose Tim Wilkerson, and Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria emerged as the final pairing.
Torrence maintained his Top Fuel dominance with a remarkable run of 3.708 seconds at 329.42 mph in his powerful Capco Contractors dragster on Friday.
Torrence is in pursuit of his second No. 1 qualifier of the season, which would mark the 36th of his career. With his sights set on his third overall win at The Big Go and his second victory in three years at the notorious event, Torrence faces stiff competition from defending world champion Brittany Force, who secured the second spot with a time of 3.709 seconds at 333.25 mph. Doug Kalitta remains in contention in the third spot following his run of 3.717 seconds at 328.54 mph on Friday.
Matt Hartford continued to assert his dominance in Pro Stock, holding on to the No. 1 spot with an impressive run of 6.569 seconds at 209.23 mph in his Total Seal Camaro. This performance marks his bid for a fourth top qualifier position this season. Hartford further displayed his prowess by posting the quickest run during Saturday’s session, as he remains focused on securing his first Indy triumph.
“We’re sitting potentially as the No. 1 qualifier at Indy,” Hartford said. “It’s a lifelong dream come true. There are two things that would make this season better: No. 1, to win the championship, and No. 2, to win Indy. Our goal is to go four rounds here on Monday and four rounds for every race in the Countdown and see where the points stack up.”
Troy Coughlin Jr. maintained his second position with a run of 6.570 seconds at 208.30 mph, while Aaron Stanfield remained in third with a time of 6.586 seconds at 208.39 mph.
Herrera, the current points leader, showcased his dominance with two strong runs, further solidifying his hold on the No. 1 spot. Although he didn’t surpass his outstanding track-record run of 6.746 seconds at 198.96 mph on Friday, Herrera’s performance makes it likely to secure his eighth No. 1 qualifier in nine races—an extraordinary feat given the fierce competition in the category.
“I was very pleased with that run, but I have to give all the credit to (crew chief) Andrew (Hines) and all the crew guys,” Herrera said. “Andrew has tons of data and all that, but he adjusts per the weather. It’s always last minute before we roll up. Andrew is finishing the final touches before the pass because he wants max performance on every pass.
“We’re off to a very good start, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next two days. Hopefully, it keeps going into Monday.”
Herrera’s teammate, Eddie Krawiec, stayed second with his 6.807 at 198.79 from Friday, and Hector Arana Jr. remained third after going 6.873 at 198.76.
Qualifying continues on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET at the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, with the semifinals at 3:20 p.m. and the finals at 5:15 p.m., with television coverage taking place from 4-5:30 ET on FOX.
Saturday's results after the first three of five rounds of qualifying for the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 15th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Steve Torrence, 3.708 seconds, 329.42 mph; 2. Brittany Force, 3.709, 333.25; 3. Justin Ashley, 3.714, 334.73; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.717, 328.54; 5. Mike Salinas, 3.721, 335.32; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.730, 331.69; 7. T.J. Zizzo, 3.736, 330.07; 8. Josh Hart, 3.744, 323.89; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.750, 321.73; 10. Austin Prock, 3.781, 326.08; 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.784, 326.79; 12. Spencer Massey, 3.795, 323.04; 13. Doug Foley, 3.803, 316.75; 14. Will Smith, 3.822, 312.78; 15. Antron Brown, 3.856, 321.50; 16. Lex Joon, 3.858, 311.27. Not Qualified: 17. Buddy Hull, 3.863, 314.39; 18. Dan Mercier, 3.878, 310.41; 19. Clay Millican, 4.589, 171.62.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.853, 329.67; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.864, 324.90; 3. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.888, 331.77; 4. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.912, 323.19; 5. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.917, 328.22; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.931, 304.25; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.934, 327.66; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.945, 328.38; 9. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.955, 328.78; 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.974, 292.08; 11. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.977, 321.88; 12. John Force, Camaro, 3.989, 328.78; 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.048, 308.28; 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.072, 274.11; 15. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.079, 310.41; 16. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.089, 277.15. Not Qualified: 17. Dave Richards, 4.121, 308.35; 18. Justin Schriefer, 4.802, 176.40.
Pro Stock -- 1. Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.569, 209.23; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.570, 208.30; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.586, 208.39; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.588, 208.68; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.590, 209.01; 6. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.599, 208.33; 7. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.603, 208.42; 8. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.604, 207.56; 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.605, 208.97; 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.622, 206.57; 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.627, 206.04; 12. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.641, 206.29; 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.645, 208.01; 14. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.661, 206.89; 15. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.701, 206.80; 16. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.794, 205.10. Not Qualified: 17. Mason McGaha, 6.979, 205.47.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.746, 198.96; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.800, 199.29; 3. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.828, 199.11; 4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.877, 198.55; 5. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.878, 197.08; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.881, 197.16; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.917, 195.70; 8. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.934, 195.68; 9. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.935, 196.99; 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.940, 195.11; 11. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.967, 192.47; 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.003, 196.39; 13. John Hall, Buell, 7.027, 193.27; 14. Chris Bostick, EBR, 7.068, 189.55; 15. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.114, 191.40; 16. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.210, 181.25. Not Qualified: 17. Wesley Wells, 7.226, 185.10; 18. Odolph Daniels, 7.324, 181.59.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING - TORRENCE AND TASCA LIGHT UP THE NIGHT IN FIRST DAY NHRA U.S. NATIONALS QUALIFYING
Four-time Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence dominated the first day qualifying at the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals on Friday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Joining Torrence atop their respective divisions were Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Torrence raced to the provisional No. 1 position with a quick run of 3.708 seconds at 329.42 mph in his powerful Capco Contractors dragster. If his performance holds, Torrence will secure his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 36th in his career. He is aiming for his third overall win at The Big Go, the world's biggest drag race.
"This is a huge confidence builder," Torrence said. "You have to come to Indy and be ready to endure it, and today is the longest day. Everybody likes to see these things at night and the fire coming out of them. It's just exciting, and it adds a different element to it. We all say we're riding on fire-breathing dragons, but until the nighttime, you don't get to see it."
Tasca III continued his strong performance this summer by securing the provisional No. 1 spot. Tasca powered his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang to a run of 3.864 at 324.90. If he maintains his position, Tasca will earn his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season. He currently sits fourth in points and has a chance to move up to third with a strong weekend.
"I give all the credit to the guys; we worked really hard on Monday at Brainerd testing some things we felt we needed to change, and you saw some of that tonight," Tasca said. "It felt so good, it sounded good, it was smooth, and I came back to the guys, and I said, 'When you pull it up on the computer, you're going to smile.'"
Hartford made a strong first-day impression by taking the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.569 at 209.23 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro. This puts Hartford in line for his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season. Despite struggling in recent races, Hartford is determined to make a comeback at the U.S. Nationals.
"It's running pretty good right now... It's up to me to drive well because we know we've got power," Hartford said.
Herrera continued his dominant season by setting an impressive Pro Stock Motorcycle track record. Herrera, the current points leader, raced his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a blistering run of 6.746 at 198.96. If he maintains his performance, Herrera will secure his eighth No. 1 qualifier in nine races.
The magnitude of The Big Go is not lost on Herrera, who aims to add another spectacular moment to his successful 2023 campaign.
"That 6.74 was a perfect run for us, for the team," Hartford said. "The guys at the shop have put in countless hours, and that pass right there showed it... Everything has been going smooth as can be. We're here at Indy. This is where I made my debut last year, so it's kind of got a special feeling to me."
The qualifying rounds will continue on Saturday at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Friday's results after the first one of five rounds of qualifying for the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 15th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Steve Torrence, 3.708 seconds, 329.42 mph; 2. Brittany Force, 3.709, 333.25; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.717, 328.54; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.721, 335.32; 5. Leah Pruett, 3.730, 331.69; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.733, 331.69; 7. T.J. Zizzo, 3.736, 330.07; 8. Josh Hart, 3.744, 323.89; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.750, 321.73; 10. Austin Prock, 3.781, 326.08; 11. Doug Foley, 3.803, 316.75; 12. Will Smith, 3.822, 312.78; 13. Lex Joon, 3.902, 313.07; 14. Antron Brown, 4.399, 182.08; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5.118, 138.88; 16. Dan Mercier, 5.719, 109.19. Not Qualified: 17. Spencer Massey, 6.059, 104.55; 18. Clay Millican, 6.860, 87.05; 19. Buddy Hull, 11.798, 61.62.
Funny Car -- 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.864, 324.90; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.886, 327.43; 3. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.888, 331.77; 4. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.917, 328.22; 5. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.928, 316.60; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.931, 304.25; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.934, 327.66; 8. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.966, 324.12; 9. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.977, 321.88; 10. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.072, 274.11; 11. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.079, 310.41; 12. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.121, 308.35; 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.203, 291.70; 14. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.282, 216.20; 15. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.729, 169.72; 16. John Force, Camaro, 4.862, 217.84. Not Qualified: 17. Paul Lee, 6.170, 107.36.
Pro Stock -- 1. Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.569, 209.23; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.570, 208.30; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.586, 208.39; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.588, 208.68; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.590, 209.01; 6. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.599, 208.33; 7. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.603, 208.42; 8. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.604, 207.56; 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.605, 208.97; 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.676, 207.37; 11. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.794, 205.10; 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.979, 205.47; 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 7.660, 141.37; 14. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 11.036, 105.50; 15. Bo Butner, Camaro, 11.268, 130.27; 16. Eric Latino, Camaro, 13.548, 63.73.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.746, 198.96; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.807, 198.79; 3. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.873, 198.76; 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.881, 197.16; 5. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.882, 199.79; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.884, 197.68; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.917, 195.70; 8. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.934, 195.68; 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.999, 195.42; 10. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.003, 196.39; 11. John Hall, Buell, 7.048, 194.97; 12. Chris Bostick, EBR, 7.068, 189.55; 13. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.123, 192.06; 14. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.226, 187.29; 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.226, 185.10; 16. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.680, 135.97. Not Qualified: 17. Angie Smith, 9.531, 94.99.
THURSDAY SPORTSMAN -
COMP (FINAL)
1 3038 I/D Andrew Holt, Columbus OH, Holt-Honda 6.488 7.17 -0.682
2 32 F/SMA Todd Frantz, Louisville KY, '05 Cobalt 8.569 9.25 -0.681
3 704 K/AA Kayla Mozeris, Phoenix AZ, '32 Bantam 7.508 8.18 -0.672
4 5008 H/A Travis Gusso, Souix Falls SD, '10 Cobalt 8.588 9.25 -0.662
5 11 C/DA Steve Szupka, Northhampton PA, Spitzer 6.920 7.58 -0.660
6 4800 E/SM Keith Hall, Ravenna TX, '05 Cavalier 8.424 9.08 -0.656
7 220 B/AP Jeff Taylor, Sellersburg IN, '08 Cobalt 7.220 7.87 -0.650
8 717 G/A Mike DePalma, Fort Worth TX, '08 G5 8.354 9.00 -0.646
9 3076 A/ED Robert Bailey, Wabash IN, Agan-Olds 6.576 7.21 -0.634
10 5622 B/EA Jim Greenheck, Schofield WI, '12 Camaro 7.617 8.25 -0.633
CLICKER HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
HEMI CHALLENGE (FINAL)
1 1968 Steve Comella, Webster NY, '68 Dart 8.313 161.07 161.07
2 1058 James Daniels, Bristol PA, '68 Dart 8.398 157.65 157.65
3 350 Jim Pancake, Cardington OH, '68 Dart 8.418 158.46 158.46
4 2113 Anthony Rhodes, Charleston SC, '68 Barracuda 8.513 158.63 158.63
5 364 Tony DePillo, Dayton OH, '68 Barracuda 8.557 157.14 157.14
6 4300 Lloyd Wofford, Jonesboro AR, '68 Barracuda 8.631 154.47 154.47
7 3806 Mike Skinner, Columbus OH, '68 Barracuda 8.632 156.05 156.05
8 5651 Rick Johnson, Wayzata MN, '68 Baracuda 8.816 152.06 152.06
9 5529 Russ Campbell, Springfield MO, '68 Barracuda 8.886 151.24 151.24
10 1945 Gary Wolkwitz, Whitehouse Station NJ, '68 Dart 8.918 156.23 156.23
CLICKER HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
TOP SPORTSMAN (FINAL)
1 3190 Glenn Butcher, Doylestown OH, '69 Camaro 6.107 230.45 230.45
2 409 Kamron Wright, Odessa TX, '19 Camaro 6.109 233.60 233.60
3 411M David Cuadra, Leon MX, '23 Mustang 6.131 231.36 231.71
4 6 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, '18 Camaro 6.168 232.75 232.75
5 3685 Eric Burnett, Charlestown IN, '17 Corvette 6.244 234.17 234.17
6 46 Florentino M Rodriguez, Villa Hidalgo MX, '15 6.266 227.31 227.31
7 4880 Jimmy Lewis, Forney TX, '08 GXP 6.315 221.96 221.96
8 406 Glenn Wright, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.331 227.46 227.46
9 4059 Jim Thorp, Mertzon TX, '20 Camaro 6.341 226.24 226.24
10 323F Bob Mandell III, Culleoka TN, '55 BelAir 6.363 217.53 217.53
CLICKER HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
TOP DRAGSTER (FINAL)
1 4360 Ross Laris, Raceland LA, Racecraft-Chevy 6.102 226.70 226.70
2 4369 Holden Laris, Raceland LA, Racecraft-Chevy 6.102 210.77 210.77
3 3536 Tony Elrod, Howell MI, American-Chevy 6.104 201.73 206.51
4 3505 Jim Prevo, Mundelein IL, VRN-Chevy 6.107 222.58 222.58
5 7 Al Peavler, Olney IL, American-Chevy 6.109 205.01 205.01
6 8 Dane Ward, Mena AR, Nelson-Chevy 6.112 227.69 227.69
7 503A Jeff Koron, Hays KS, Undercover-Chevy 6.113 230.88 230.88
8 4 Rusty Baxter, Beckville TX, Racecraft-Chevy 6.122 224.28 224.28
9 459D J.R. Baxter, Waxahachie TX, Miller-RCEE 6.122 220.73 227.96
10 4059 Jim Thorp, Mertzon TX, Spitzer-Chevy 6.122 216.55 216.55
CLICKER HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
WEDNESDAY QUALIFYING - BAILEY, COMELLA, NEAL, WONG SET THE PACE FOR BUSY FIRST DAY
The first day of the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals is in the book. Robert Bailey (Competition Eliminator), Steve Comella (Hemi Shootout), Ernie Neal (Super Stock) and Paul Wong (Stock) set the pace for Wednesday's qualifying.
Bailey jumped out early amongst the 63 entries on hand for the Competition Eliminator division as he drove his A/Econo Dragster to the top spot with a 6.576 elapsed time, -0.634 under the index. Defending event champion Doug Engels was second quickest with a -.611 under, 7.389 performance against the D/Dragster Automatic standard. Jim Greenheck was third with a 7.649, -.601.
Comella was the top runner in the first session of the Dodge Hemi Challenge, stopping the timers with an 8.353 elapsed time. James Daniels was second with an 8.449, while Anthony Rhodes' 8.560 put him in third.
Neal's Super Stock/P Automatic 1996 Caprice picked up where he left off in last year's qualifying, leading the first two sessions with a -.1.64 under performance with an 11.010 elapsed time. Dan Jacobs' GT/K Cavalier was second quickest with a 9.380 elapsed time, -1.370 under. John Fogle was third with a -1.343 under the GT/IA standard with a 9.370. There were 139 entries making qualifying runs on the first day.
And a truck shall lead them. There are not many times a pickup truck will outrun a Mustang, but it happened in the Q-2 session when Wong's T/Stock Automatic Chevrolet C-10 ran a 12.525 elapsed time, -1.875 under his 14.40 index. Robin Lawrence's stick-shifted Factory Stock/G Mustang, who led the first session, was second best with a -1.504 under the index with a 9.846 elapsed time. Marty Buth's N/Stock Automatic 1985 Mustang was third quickest with a -1.480, 11.520. There are 139 entries in competition.
Qualifying resumes on Thursday with class eliminations for Super Stock and Stock, starting at 8 AM.
COMP (Q1)
1 3076 A/ED Robert Bailey, Wabash IN, Agan-Olds 6.576 7.21 -0.634
2 5212 D/DA Doug Engels, Watertown SD, Stevens 7.389 8.00 -0.611
3 5622 B/EA Jim Greenheck, Schofield WI, '12 Camaro 7.649 8.25 -0.601
4 5008 H/A Travis Gusso, Souix Falls SD, '10 Cobalt 8.655 9.25 -0.595
5 1 A/AA Ryan Priddy, Chino CA, '18 Camaro 6.516 7.11 -0.594
6 220 B/AP Jeff Taylor, Sellersburg IN, '08 Cobalt 7.276 7.87 -0.594
7 3038 I/D Andrew Holt, Columbus OH, Holt-Honda 6.578 7.17 -0.592
8 1160 F/D Al Ackerman, Hague NY, ProStart-Chevy 8.003 8.59 -0.587
9 704 K/AA Kayla Mozeris, Phoenix AZ, '32 Bantam 7.598 8.18 -0.582
10 4800 E/SM Keith Hall, Ravenna TX, '05 Cavalier 8.499 9.08 -0.581
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
HEMI CHALLENGE (Q1)
1 1968 Steve Comella, Webster NY, '68 Dart 8.353 159.95 159.95
2 1058 James Daniels, Bristol PA, '68 Dart 8.449 157.06 157.06
3 2113 Anthony Rhodes, Charleston SC, '68 Barracuda 8.560 157.14 157.14
4 3806 Mike Skinner, Columbus OH, '68 Barracuda 8.632 156.05 156.05
5 364 Tony DePillo, Dayton OH, '68 Barracuda 8.644 155.47 155.47
6 350 Jim Pancake, Cardington OH, '68 Dart 8.649 158.11 158.11
7 5529 Russ Campbell, Springfield MO, '68 Barracuda 8.886 151.24 151.24
8 1945 Gary Wolkwitz, Whitehouse Station NJ, '68 Dart 9.097 145.36 145.36
9 484B Cleve Stewart, Memphis TN, '68 Barracuda 9.366 145.30 145.30
10 328X James Hensler, Noblesville IN, '68 Barracuda 11.068 82.31 82.31
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
SUPER STOCK (Q2)
1 354E SS/PA Ernie Neal, Columbus IN, '96 Caprice 11.010 12.65 -1.640
2 3858 GT/K Dan Jacobs, Elizabeth IN, '03 Cavalier 9.380 10.75 -1.370
3 2426 GT/IA Johnny Fogle, Norway SC, '05 Cavalier 9.307 10.65 -1.343
4 3336 SS/MA Travis Morgan, Brazil IN, '77 Firebird 10.563 11.85 -1.287
5 1633 SS/JA Lincoln Morehead, Marlboro NY, '89 Camaro 9.763 11.00 -1.237
6 391 GT/FA Irvin Johns, Memphis IN, '05 Cobalt 9.045 10.25 -1.205
7 3777 FGT/C Brandon Daugherty, Sheperdsville KY, '07 8.610 9.80 -1.190
8 4312 FGT/B Paul Candies, Des Allemands LA, '12 Mustng 8.015 9.20 -1.185
9 4026 FSS/D Michael Bryant, New Orleans LA, '15 Camaro 8.738 9.90 -1.162
10 3215 GT/LA Ron Terrell, Hebron KY, '87 Camaro 9.891 11.05 -1.159
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
STOCK (Q2)
1 7784 T/SA Paul Wong, Las Vegas NV, '86 C-10 12.525 14.40 -1.875
2 308 FS/G Robin Lawrence, Galesburg IL, '13 Mustang 9.846 11.35 -1.504
3 3657 N/SA Marty Buth, Freeport IL, '84 Mustang 11.520 13.00 -1.480
4 3040 K/SA Robert Holmes, Dayton OH, '74 Firebird 11.307 12.65 -1.343
5 159 FS/D Victor Cagnazzi, Mooresville NC, '23 Cama 9.261 10.60 -1.339
6 2800 K/SA John Fisher, Wake Forrest NC, '80 Cordoba 11.322 12.65 -1.328
7 3139 EF/S Ron Seibenick, Perry OH, '86 Tempo 16.122 17.45 -1.328
8 1762 I/SA Glenn Briglio, Massapequa Park NY, '89 Ca 10.980 12.30 -1.320
9 383 FS/D Larry Hill, Hickory KY, '15 Challenger 9.291 10.60 -1.309
10 1967 J/SA Jim Marshall, Indian Land SC, '78 Camaro 11.196 12.45 -1.254
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
