Contested in the shadow of the famed St. Louis arch at multipurpose Gateway Int’l Raceway, last season’s event was the first to be held in cooler May climates after a change in the schedule from its traditional summer date.

 

 

		EVENT NEWS EVENT NOTEBOOK POINTS AFTER EVENT ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS FINAL ROUND RESULTS			EVENT GALLERY

 

SUNDAY FINAL - WILKERSON, FULLER, K. JOHNSON AND HINES WIN; FORCE EARNS 1,000TH ROUND WIN  

 
Tim Wilkerson denied John Force Racing's Mike Neff his first career win on the same day Neff's boss made history at the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol.
   
Wilkerson earned his first win at his hometown track, his second of the season and seventh of his career when he drove his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.874-second finish at 317.27 mph to Neff's
4.886 at 321.58 in his Old Spice Ford Mustang.
   
Early in the day, Force cemented his position as the most prolific Funny Car driver in NHRA history when he reached 1,000 round wins, the first driver to do so, in a first-round match-up with Ron
Capps.
   
The win marked Wilkerson's second victory over a JFR entry this year - he defeated team owner and driver John Force's daughter Ashley in Las Vegas. He enters the season's next event in Bristol leading the NHRA POWERade Series points for the first time in his 11-year career after qualifying No. 1 at the event.
   
"The emotions are out of control," Wilkerson said. "It was all I could do at the other end of the track just to get out of the car...It'll get the monkey off our back. We ended up qualifying No. 1 a couple of times this year and couldn't even get out of first round.

We're pretty proud (this win). My guys are just doing a terrific job working on my car, and the track was good all day."
   
After watching new teammate and Pro Stock Motorcycle transplant Antron Brown win two of the season's first six events, 2007 title contender Rod Fuller has his own reason to celebrate. Fuller piloted his Caterpillar dragster to a 4.525 at 328.70 around Tony Schumacher's 4.583 at 325.45 in his U.S. Army-backed dragster.
   
"I kind of had a chip on my shoulder from what happened to me last year, leading the points all year long and losing to (Schumacher, the reigning POWERade Series world champion)," Fuller said. "It's gratifying when you beat him. What else can I say about David Powers Motorsports? Four finals in a row for us and three wins. It just tells you how strong this organization is.
   
"I take a lot of pride in (Brown's) success because we're really close to each other. He gives me a lot of compliments by saying how much I helped him and I have helped him a lot. It's almost like we're brothers and it's like watching my little brother Tony racing. If I can't win I want him to win. I always say drag racing is like a merry-go-round. You just have to wait for your time to get on."
   
Kurt Johnson earned his first win since Phoenix of last year when he drove his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt to a 6.631 at 209.30 for a win over Dave Connolly's 6.651 at 208.78 in his Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt. It is his 37th career and third at Gateway (2005, 1998).
   
"It was pretty tough out there," Johnson said. "There was a lot of tire shake... I think everybody just kind of underestimated the race track. It was exceptional for me. We ran a .58 this morning and it's hard to touch it after that, but we knew we had to make some changes. We changed the gears around; we changed the clutch around. The whole ACDelco crew just came together and we did what we needed to do."
   
Andrew Hines turned in his 16th consecutive run in the six-second range to earn his second consecutive and 15th career win on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
   
"The V-Rod's just going straight, making good runs," Hines said. "It's the same engine we ran in Atlanta. We tried a different engine on Friday and it just didn't seem to have as many ponies as this one. We wanted to get back the No. 1 qualifying spot and we put the engine back in yesterday and just couldn't find the set-up because it was making so much horsepower here in St. Louis.

"It was throwing us for a loop...but winning from the No. 3 spot, that still means a lot. Four races in three finals and two wins, it's just a tribute to how good my team is."

SPORTSMAN WINNERS - Cordis Johnson (Competition), Peter Biondo (Super Stock), Gary Stinnett (Stock), Brina Splingaire (Super Gas)

 

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Sunday's final results from the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway.  The race is the seventh of 24 in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
 

 

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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - WILKERSON WOWS HOMETOWN CROWD AS GRUBNIC, LINE, SMITH LEAD PACE

It’s proving to be a golden season for independent team owner Tim Wilkerson.

Wilkerson earned his fourth No. 1 qualifier in seven races at the 12th annual O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol on Saturday. He’ll face Tony Bartone in the first round when eliminations at Gateway International Raceway open Sunday.

It was the Springfield, Ill. native’s second top qualifier award at his hometown track and his 14th career No. 1. Wilkerson drove his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.744-second pass at 326.16 mph to pace the field.

“I feel pretty fortunate that we were No. 1 qualifier at all, let alone four times,” Wilkerson said. “We really seem to have the knack of hitting the run at the right time. I’m not trying to brag to you and tell you we know what we’re doing. So far it’s a knack. But we’re very happy with that, especially with as many people as we have here today.

“Dick Levi (of sponsor Levi, Ray and Shoup) is over there in the pit area, and just as happy as he can be. Believe me, I need that for my program. These cars, they don’t run on a lot of happiness, they run on a lot of cash.”

Australia native Dave Grubnic earned his first No. 1 qualifier of the year, the eighth of his career and his first in St. Louis when he turned in a 4.467 at 319.90 in his St. Louis Carpenters’ Union Top Fuel dragster.

“Obviously the conditions were fantastic today,” Grubnic said. “Everybody sort of stepped up. The (4.467) we ran in the early session was the quickest run of the year, which we’re obviously very happy about. (Team owner and crew chief) Connie Kalitta obviously is the main person behind the whole thing. He’s doing a great job tuning the car, and all my guys.

“Tomorrow’s another day. We’ll have to face that when we get up here. Consistency will be key. We know what we can get away with, but tomorrow we have to do it four times in a row. That’s going to be our goal.”

Jason Line picked up his first No. 1 qualifier of the year, the 14th of his career and his first at Gateway when he drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.571 at 209.23 around his teammate and Friday’s leader Greg Anderson.

“It’s very exciting to be No. 1, and even better to have my teammate (Anderson) No. 2,” Line said. “Being 1-2 is the ultimate thing for us. I haven’t looked at the weather but I know it’s supposed to get warmer.  It’ll be a whole new ballgame for us…I feel very confident that our guys are as good as anybody. It was a good day for us, and it’s been an exciting week for me.”

Defending NHRA POWERade Series world champion Matt Smith rode his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.901 at 190.32 to unseat Friday’s low qualifier, Chip Ellis. It was Smith’s second No. 1 qualifier of the year, the ninth of his career and his second consecutive at Gateway.

“Chip’s got a good bike too,” Smith said. “He’s been right there with us today both passes, and even yesterday. We’ll have our work cut out for us.

“We had two good runs today. We left a little on the table on the first pass. If we had had that one there it probably would’ve been an .89 or maybe even an .88.”

 

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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel -- 1. David Grubnic, 4.467 seconds, 326.32 mph vs. 16. Luigi Novelli, 5.772, 161.25; 2. Tony Schumacher, 4.495, 327.51 vs. 15. Morgan Lucas, 4.607, 326.32; 3. Hillary Will, 4.502, 326.95 vs. 14. Troy Buff, 4.603, 308.28; 4. Antron Brown, 4.517, 331.94 vs. 13. Brandon Bernstein, 4.575, 325.77; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.524, 312.42 vs. 12. Doug Herbert, 4.569, 322.81; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.528, 321.96 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.564, 323.04; 7. J.R. Todd, 4.537, 321.65 vs. 10. Alan Bradshaw, 4.550, 318.24; 8. Rod Fuller, 4.541, 326.08 vs. 9. Cory McClenathan, 4.542, 329.18.

Funny Car -- 1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.744, 326.16 vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.824, 318.77; 2. Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger RT, 4.768, 327.82 vs. 15. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.822, 324.98; 3. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.771, 317.94 vs. 14. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.818, 322.11; 4. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.773, 325.45 vs. 13. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.806, 317.64; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.786, 322.04 vs. 12. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.804, 320.13; 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.794, 326.08 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.803, 320.36; 7. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.796, 316.30 vs. 10. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.802, 327.59; 8. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.797, 320.36 vs. 9. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.798, 319.67. Did Not Qualify: 17. Jack Beckman, 4.834, 318.32; 18. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.838, 318.62; 19. Gary Densham, 4.852, 307.09.

Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.571, 209.23 vs. 16. John Nobile, Dodge Stratus, 6.641, 208.39; 2. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.590, 208.52 vs. 15. Matt Hartford, Stratus, 6.640, 207.56; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.595, 208.49 vs. 14. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.639, 207.75; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.597, 207.56 vs. 13. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.634, 206.23; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.598, 209.39 vs. 12. Todd Hoerner, Stratus, 6.634, 207.75; 6. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.608, 208.81 vs. 11. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.627, 206.07; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.614, 208.30 vs. 10. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.627, 208.23; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.615, 208.01 vs. 9. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.619, 207.50. Did Not Qualify: 17. Tom Hammonds, 6.641, 206.95; 18. Steve Schmidt, 6.646, 207.69; 19. Johnny Gray, 6.648, 207.21; 20. Larry Morgan, 6.656, 207.18; 21. Warren Johnson, 6.661, 208.62; 22. Kenny Koretsky, 6.662, 206.23; 23. Lamar Swindoll Jr, 6.665, 205.72; 24. Justin Humphreys, 6.668, 207.24; 25. Steve Spiess, 6.673, 206.20; 26. Jim Cunningham, 6.790, 202.18.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.901, 191.32 vs. 16. David Hope, Buell, 7.138, 184.14; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.907, 191.62 vs. 15. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.081, 185.46; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.943, 191.84 vs. 14. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.029, 189.63; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.945, 191.10 vs. 13. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.007, 188.54; 5. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.961, 187.86 vs. 12. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.007, 188.65; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.964, 191.62 vs. 11. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 6.995, 191.02; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.966, 189.50 vs. 10. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.994, 188.38; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.989, 192.38 vs. 9. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.993, 188.86. Did Not Qualify: 17. Wes Wells, 7.174, 184.62; 18. Redell Harris, 7.268, 183.67; 19. Angie McBride, 11.799, 66.74.

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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - TROXEL TURNS PERFORMANCE AROUND; GRUBNIC, ANDERSON, ELLIS ALSO LEAD AFTER FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING

Melanie Troxel’s black clouds lifted literally and figuratively during Friday qualifying at Gateway International Raceway.

Troxel drove her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to a 4.802-second pass at 327.59 mph to lead the NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car field into the second day of qualifying at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol after early morning thunderstorms.

Her Dodge started to skate on the track but Troxel never lifted off the throttle for her best run of the year, after making the field only twice in six races so far this season.

Troxel won this event in 2007 while still in Top Fuel.

“We definitely had way too good of a team to be running the way we’ve been running, and we knew just over the last couple of races that we were turning the corner,” Troxel said. “We could see the performance coming around, we knew it was going to change, it was just a matter of time, when that would happen. This track was really good to me last year, so it’s perfect that this is the race where we got it turned around.”

Dave Grubnic piloted his Kalitta Motorsports dragster to a 4.519 at 326.32 for the provisional No. 1 position.

“We’re very happy with that run,” Grubnic said. “It’s good to be back. The run felt great. Watching the Funny Cars, they seemed to be struggling a lot, moving around and so forth. One of the things I paid attention to is making sure the car stayed in the groove. But honestly, I really didn’t have to do anything. The car just went straight down there. Full credit to (team owner and crew chief) Connie Kalitta and all my guys. They did the job. They made the car run, they put the numbers in there. It’s great to be back – it’s great to be No. 1.”

Greg Anderson and his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP team believes ideal weather conditions Saturday will yield new No. 1 qualifiers, but Friday’s runs provide key data for the future. He turned in a 6.646 at 206.83.

“(That run is) definitely going to go down tomorrow,” Anderson said. “It’s kind of a neat thing – you come out this morning, and first of all we didn’t think we’d get to run today, looking at the weather and this all happening, and we thought you know what? This is going to be a bonus day. This is going to be a fun day because no matter what we run today, it’s probably not going to hold up tomorrow.”

Chip Ellis will earn his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 13th of his career if his 6.957 at 190.22 on his Schumacher Racing Suzuki holds up.

“I tell you, as tough as the competition is anymore, whether you’re No. 1 or 16, we can still win,” Ellis said. “What a great day for Don Schumacher Racing and Schumacher Electric on our Suzuki. The first round we left a lot in it. This round we got it tuned up and running great

 

 

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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway, seventh of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. David Grubnic, 4.519 seconds, 326.32 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 4.521, 328.86; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.536, 325.37; 4. Rod Fuller, 4.541, 323.04; 5. Cory McClenathan, 4.542, 329.18; 6. Hillary Will, 4.549, 326.95; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 4.576, 323.81; 8. Larry Dixon, 4.618, 285.71; 9. Morgan Lucas, 4.622, 326.00; 10. J.R. Todd, 4.626, 321.65; 11. Doug Kalitta, 4.680, 311.27; 12.   Doug Herbert, 4.874, 288.64. Not Qualified: 13. Alan Bradshaw, 6.808, 113.91; 14. Bob Vandergriff, 10.579, 80.99; 15. Troy Buff, 11.787, 85.55; 16. Luigi Novelli, 13.217, 83.84.

Funny Car -- 1. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 4.802, 327.59; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.806, 317.64; 3. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.813, 321.04; 4. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.818, 322.11; 5. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.819, 320.13; 6. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.822, 324.98; 7. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.822, 316.08; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.825, 315.71; 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.848, 316.90; 10. John Force, Mustang, 4.869, 306.19; 11. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.882, 272.01; 12. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.883, 301.27. Not Qualified: 13. Robert Hight, 4.897, 302.28; 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.909, 311.49; 15. Mike Ashley, 4.923, 313.44; 16. Jack Beckman, 4.930, 291.07; 17. Gary Densham, 4.936, 262.54; 18. Cruz Pedregon, 5.190, 223.02; 19. Tony Bartone, 5.825, 167.18.

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.646, 206.83; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.648, 207.15; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.648, 205.85; 4. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.655, 207.24; 5. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.656, 207.37; 6. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.657, 206.99; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.657, 206.67; 8. Steve Schmidt, Cobalt, 6.665, 206.64; 9. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.668, 207.24; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.673, 206.89; 11. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.679, 205.66; 12. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.692, 207.30. Not Qualified: 13. Jason Line, 6.692, 205.69; 14. Matt Hartford, 6.693, 205.51; 15. Jim Yates, 6.698, 204.54; 16. Tom Hammonds, 6.704, 204.94; 17. Max Naylor, 6.704, 203.37; 18. Todd Hoerner, 6.708, 206.16; 19. Kenny Koretsky, 6.711, 205.07; 20.Johnny Gray, 6.733, 203.68; 21. Larry Morgan, 6.736, 204.98; 22. Rickie Jones, 6.738, 205.41; 23. John Nobile, 6.740, 205.44; 24. Lamar Swindoll Jr, 6.849, 202.48; 25. Jim Cunningham, 6.865, 200.86; 26. Steve Spiess, 11.249, 87.48.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.957, 190.22; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.957, 190.08; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.982, 189.07; 4. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.982, 187.86; 5. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.994, 187.70; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.000, 188.99; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.008, 190.89; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.008, 190.08; 9. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.011, 188.49; 10. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.021, 189.50; 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.044, 188.38; 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.058, 187.31. Not Qualified: 13. Junior Pippin, 7.065, 186.51; 14. Mike Berry, 7.079, 188.12; 15. David Hope, 7.169, 184.14; 16. Joe DeSantis, 7.191, 184.72; 17. Wes Wells, 7.227, 183.57; 18. Redell Harris, 7.246, 182.03; 19. Angie McBride, 9.806, 83.74.

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