2008 NHRA U.S. NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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MONDAY FINAL - SCHUMACHER SETS NHRA TF RECORDS FOR CONSECUTIVE WINS AND WINS IN A SEASON, TIES AMATO FOR MOST TF WINS ALL-TIME
Robert Hight, Dave Connolly, and Steve Johnson round out winners at 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Five-time
champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday with his decisive final-round win over
longtime foe Doug Kalitta.
Schumacher set NHRA Top Fuel records for wins in a row (6) and wins in
a season (11) and he tied Joe Amato for most wins all-time in Top Fuel
(52). It was also his seventh Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win and third in
a row.
“We want people to remember this is one of the greatest teams ever,”
said Schumacher, who felt the pressure to perform. “You get to the
finals and you’re down to one round, you’re one four-second push of the
throttle away from setting all those records, one shot to do it … it’s
very intense. We had to stay focused. We had to stay a machine.”
The other winners at the world’s most prestigious drag race, the 18th
of 18 regular season races in the NHRA POWERade Series, were Robert
Hight (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro
Stock Motorcycle).
Meanwhile,
the playoff picture was settled this weekend with the last spot coming
down to a winner-take-all, heads-up race between Karen Stoffer and
Hector Arana and it was Stoffer who prevailed on a holeshot. The other
spot in play on Monday went to Pro Stock’s Greg Stanfield, who punched
his ticket when Warren Johnson lost in the first round to Dave Connolly.
And with the regular season complete now, the NHRA POWERade Series will
begin the turn for home with the start of the six-race Countdown to 1
playoff at the brand new zMax Dragway @ Concord, site of the Sept.
11-14 Carolinas Nationals.
With all of the pressure on Schumacher and the U.S. Army team to
deliver one more time, he steered the Alan Johnson-tuned machine to a
3.916 at 309.13 in the final round, good enough to achieve the
record-breaking win going away against Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster
(4.036 at 299.86).
“I don’t think it’s all set in just yet. Today was so special,”
Schumacher said. “It’s going to go on the trophy case as one of the
most special ones ever.”
Kalitta was looking for his first win of the year to extend his streak
of consecutive seasons with at least one win to 11, but he came up just
short. It is the fourth longest active streak in NHRA history -- behind
John Force's 22, Kurt Johnson's 14 and Angelle Sampey's 12 -- and
Kalitta will have six races left to keep it alive.
In
Funny Car, Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team were a bright spot
on an otherwise dreary weekend for John Force Racing – John Force
DNQ’d, Ashley Force lost in the first round and Mike Neff lost in the
quarterfinals – by edging past Jack Beckman’s Valvoline/MTS Dodge
Charger R/T team, 4.312 at 283.85 to 4.438 at 254.04, in the Funny Car
final.
“After first round (his fifth straight pass including qualifying where
he spun his wheels), I wouldn’t have bet on my team for anything,” said
Hight, who became the first Funny Car driver in 30 years to reach three
straight final rounds at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. “This wasn’t one
of the prettiest wins, but I’m definitely not going to give it back to
anybody,”
Beckman, meanwhile, continued his onslaught on the Funny Car class with
his third final round in a row and fourth in the last six races to move
all the way up from 13th place before the Western Swing to sixth place
now (a span of six races), including moving up from ninth to sixth at
this the final regular season race.
In Pro Stock, Connolly ended Warren Johnson’s playoff bid in the first
round and he ended Kurt Johnson’s bid to clinch the No. 1 seed – and
the 20-point bonus – in the semis en route to his third win of the
season and second straight Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. He powered the
Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt to a 6.743 at 206.04 in the final
to speed past Larry Morgan’s 6.797 at 204.70.
“To win one Indy is incredible … to win it twice in a row, I’m just
speechless,” said Connolly, who moved around Mike Edwards with his win
to finish the regular season in sixth place. When the points reset, he
will begin the playoffs 70 points behind Greg Anderson.
In
Pro Stock Motorcycle, Steve Johnson won for the first time in three
years, dating back to the 2005 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, and for the
fourth time overall in his career.
Johnson steered his Snap-on Tools Suzuki around Andrew Hines’ Screamin’
Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, 7.034 at 189.79 to 7.063 at
187.63. Hines actually got the jump on Johnson, 0.009 to Johnson’s
0.030, but Johnson rode around the three-time POWERade Series world
champion.
“We had a good horse and in my entire racing career I’ve never had the
horse that’s the big horse…I heard (track announcer Bob Frey) say ‘He
ran him down’ and it was (crew chief Mark Peiser). Mark has a little
understanding,” Johnson said.
The climactic Pro Stock Motorcycle race was won at the starting line
with Stoffer getting a .037 jump on Arana’s .061 to make her 7.019
stand up against Arana’s 7.017.
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Monday's final results from the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
The race is the 18th of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
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SUNDAY - CRUZ PEDREGON WINS U.S. SMOKELESS SHOWDOWN, TOP FUEL FIELD SET
Larry Dixon, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Matt Smith qualify No. 1
Cruz Pedregon capped a momentous Sunday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals by defeating Tim Wilkerson to win the U.S. Smokeless Showdown, the annual bonus race for Funny Cars, and the $100,000 first prize that comes with the title.
“I tried not to think about the money,” said Pedregon, a former POWERade Series and three-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals champion who won the bonus race for the first time in his career, powering the Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara past Wilkerson's Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala, 4.184 to 4.280. “I’m still kind of in shock (but) I’m going to enjoy this one.”
Cruz celebrated alongside his brother Tony Pedregon who earned the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car at the 18th and final regular season event in the 24-race NHRA POWERade Series season. Joining Pedregon on the pole of their respective classes were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Meanwhile, the Countdown to 1 playoff picture came into perfect focus as the Top Field was set with Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta securing the final two berths by virtue of Morgan Lucas’s DNQ; in Pro Stock, Warren Johnson needs to reach the final round – something he’s yet to do this season – to bump Greg Stanfield; and in Pro Stock Motorcycle it’ll be a winner-take-all matchup between 10th-place Karen Stoffer and 11th-place Hector Arana in the first round of Monday’s race to determine the final berth in the Pro Stock Motorcycle field.
“We can’t blame it on anyone else,” said Stoffer (7.071), who qualified 15th and will cede lane choice to the No. 2 qualified Arana (6.954). “The goal is to find the glitch (in the Geico Suzuki) tonight and come out and rock the mountain (Monday).”
The deepest field of the season resulted in a number of notable drivers who did not make the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals field, including Lucas in Top Fuel, John Force (who fell from sixth to eighth place)and Gary Scelzi in Funny Car, and 10th-place Greg Stanfield in Pro Stock (which opened the door for Warren Johnson).
Conditions were not ideal Sunday, but Tony Schumacher was able to power his U.S. Army dragster into the field with a 3.877 at 313.58 in the first of the final two qualifying rounds and he had the quickest pass in the final qualifying round. He’ll open with Bob Vandergriff Monday as he seeks to break the NHRA Top Fuel records for consecutive wins (5) and wins in a season (10) and tie Joe Amato’s record for most wins all-time in Top Fuel (52).
At the top of the Top Fuel class was U.S. Smokeless dragster pilot Larry Dixon, a three-time winner of the U.S. Nationals who is sitting on the pole in Indy for the second time in his career. He set the pace on Saturday with his 3.841 at 307.23 that held up on Sunday.
“It’s fine, but obviously the big prize is tomorrow,” said Dixon, who is currently in third place behind Schumacher and Antron Brown.
Tony Pedregon’s 4.073-second pass at 301.94 mph in his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala held up on Sunday to earn him his third No. 1 qualifier of the season. The two-time and defending POWERade Series champion has won 40 career races, second most in Funny Car, but never has he found his way to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner’s circle.
“This race is big,” said Pedregon, currently second to Tim Wilkerson in the Funny Car standings. “I’ve had some highlights in my career, won two championships, and there’s no question, if I win this race, it’d be right up there.
Allen Johnson lowered the No. 1 mark for the third straight day of qualifying, to 6.634 at 207.18, to earn his first career Indy pole in his Team Mopar J&J Racing and he will sleep on that career achievement tonight with another in his reach.
“To do anything here at Indy to get your name in the record books, I can’t explain how good it feels,” said Johnson, who earned his second No. 1 of the season and fifth of his career. “It’s a dream of everybody’s to win Indy. It would rank up there with winning a championship.”
Smith’s 6.932 at 189.90 aboard the Nitro Fish Buell earned him his second pole at Indy, the first coming in 2006 when he doubled up and won the race. Smith has actually been to three straight final rounds at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals with the one win in 2006.
“It’s good to come back here. This has been a good track for me,” said Smith, who will start from the pole for the fifth time in this season having won the previous four times. “We’re going to try to win us another one tomorrow.”
Also clinching playoff berths Sunday were Ron Krisher in Pro Stock and Craig Treble and Steve Johnson in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Funny Car field was already set coming into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday and can be seen on ESPN2HD at Noon to 2 and 7-10 p.m. ET.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Monday for the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the 18th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Sunday. DNQs listed below pairings.
TOP FUEL -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.841 seconds, 307.23 mph vs. 16. Troy Buff, 3.968, 297.02; 2. Cory McClenathan, 3.852, 312.57 vs. 15. Pat Dakin, 3.943, 305.70; 3. Hillary Will, 3.854, 314.53 vs. 14. Steve Torrence, 3.914, 302.41; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.868, 311.99 vs. 13. Rod Fuller, 3.903, 307.30; 5. J.R. Todd, 3.873, 309.91 vs. 12. Doug Kalitta, 3.901, 309.70; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.877, 314.75 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.901, 311.34; 7. Doug Herbert, 3.878, 312.06 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 3.893, 311.20; 8. Antron Brown, 3.878, 309.91 vs. 9. David Grubnic, 3.879, 311.05.
Did Not Qualify: 17. T.J. Zizzo, 3.980, 303.23; 18. Bruce Litton, 4.027, 301.27; 19. Morgan Lucas, 4.162, 304.05; 20. Luigi Novelli, 4.660, 272.56.
FUNNY CAR -- 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.073, 301.94 vs. 16. Matt Hagan, Toyota Solara, 4.208, 291.32; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.107, 302.62 vs. 15. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.202, 291.19; 3. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.109, 296.11 vs. 14. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.183, 298.67; 4. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.114, 303.03 vs. 13. Jim Head, Solara, 4.179, 291.82; 5. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.114, 297.48 vs. 12. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.172, 297.68; 6. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.117, 300.60 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.144, 298.47; 7. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.122, 302.41 vs. 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.139, 296.44; 8. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.128, 300.46 vs. 9. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.132, 300.20.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.211, 291.07; 18. Gary Scelzi, 4.233, 290.44; 19. Jerry Toliver, 4.235, 291.95; 20. John Force, 4.241, 288.21; 21. Bob Bode, 4.448, 294.24; 22. Jeff Arend, 6.816, 297.75.
PRO STOCK -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.634, 207.18 vs. 16. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.689, 206.67; 2. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.647, 207.37 vs. 15. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.688, 206.01; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.661, 207.18 vs. 14. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.688, 206.04; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.664, 206.26 vs. 13. Steve Schmidt, Cobalt, 6.688, 206.57; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.666, 207.72 vs. 12. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.687, 207.05; 6. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.667, 207.24 vs. 11. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.684, 205.98; 7. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.667, 206.99 vs. 10. Richie Stevens, GXP, 6.678, 206.45; 8. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.668, 208.33 vs. 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.671, 206.51.
Did Not Qualify: 17. V. Gaines, 6.689, 206.45; 18. Rob Mansfield, 6.692, 206.13; 19. Jim Yates, 6.692, 205.88; 20. Johnny Gray, 6.703, 205.38; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.705, 205.82; 22. John Nobile, 6.707, 206.76; 23. Greg Stanfield, 6.707, 205.69; 24. Max Naylor, 6.739, 204.98; 25. Kevin Lawrence, 6.758, 204.17; 26. Danny Gruninger, 6.766, 204.26; 27. Bob Benza, 6.774, 204.20; 28. Erica Enders, 6.801, 201.76.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.932, 191.16 vs. 16. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.072, 190.11; 2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.954, 190.67 vs. 15. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.071, 188.83; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.969, 191.92 vs. 14. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.062, 187.31; 4. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.970, 190.81 vs. 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.058, 187.44; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.984, 192.03 vs. 12. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.052, 191.43; 6. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.987, 188.65 vs. 11. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.048, 186.92; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.990, 191.02 vs. 10. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.034, 189.28; 8. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.022, 190.27 vs. 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.033, 190.43.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Shawn Gann, 7.072, 190.14; 18. Wes Wells, 7.078, 189.71; 19. Junior Pippin, 7.098, 187.11; 20. David Hope, 7.105, 186.15; 21. Mac McAdams, 7.145, 186.64; 22. Jim Underdahl, 7.184, 185.82; 23. Redell Harris, 7.192, 185.92; 24. Valerie Thompson, 7.195, 182.45; 25. Darin McCurdy, 7.311, 180.65; 26. Buddy Robinson, 7.416, 179.78; 27. Ryan Schnitz, 10.061, 176.01.
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U.S. SMOKELESS SHOWDOWN
Final round-by-round results from the U.S. Smokeless Funny Car Showdown, a special race-within-a-race during the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park:
ROUND ONE -- Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.226, 292.52 def. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 5.674, 126.51; Del Worsham, Impala, 4.227, 291.51 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 5.239, 130.96; John Force, Mustang, 4.241, 284.56 def. Ashley Force, Mustang, 5.125, 204.57; Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.141, 299.13 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.226, 291.26;
QUARTERFINALS -- T. Wilkerson, 4.230, 282.84 def. J. Force, 5.524, 134.50; C. Pedregon, 4.243, 284.62 def. D. Worsham, 4.407, 241.02;
SEMIFINALS -- Wilkerson, 4.230, 282.84 def. J. Force, 5.524, 134.50; C. Pedregon, 4.243, 284.62 def. Worsham, 4.407, 241.02;
FINAL -- C. Pedregon, 4.184, 291.32 def. Wilkerson, 4.280, 278.58.
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SATURDAY - COUNTDOWN SPOTLIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST ON STANFIELD, STOFFER
Larry Dixon, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Hector Arana qualify No. 1
Heading into Sunday’s final day of qualifying at the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the hottest seats in the house will be under Greg Stanfield and Karen Stoffer.
Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claimed the provisional No. 1 qualifying positions at the 18th and final regular season race of the NHRA POWERade Series season, but the focus on Sunday’s final two rounds of qualifying will be on the drivers hanging on to the final playoff berths in Pro Stock (Stanfield) and Pro Stock Motorcycle (Stoffer).
Neither of those drivers has successfully qualified for Monday’s race and if they don’t get in during one of the final two qualifying rounds on Sunday, they may be bumped from the six-race Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoff, which begins Sept. 12-14 at the Carolinas Nationals.
In fact, Stoffer would be passed by Arana if she DNQs. Stanfield, meanwhile, does still have some room for error; if he DNQs, 11th place and six-time world champion Warren Johnson (qualified fifth with a 6.668) would still need to reach the final round to bump him.
There are also two notable driver not yet qualified in Top Fuel: Morgan Lucas and Tony Schumacher.
Lucas, sporting the special Lucas Oil Stadium wrap on his dragster, is currently in 11th place and needs to get in the show to have a shot at bumping 10th-place Doug Kalitta or ninth-place Dave Grubnic.
Schumacher, meanwhile, has to get in the show to have a chance to set the NHRA Top Fuel record for consecutive wins (6) and wins in a season (11) and tie Joe Amato for most wins all-time in Top Fuel (52).
In the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle bonus race, Eddie Krawiec defeated Harley-Davidson teammate Andrew Hines to win and the $25,000 first-place purse. It was his first event title of any kind in the NHRA POWERade Series.
“This (Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson) team had a lot of faith in me and I’m really glad it’s starting to show,” said Krawiec.
Pedregon’s 4.073-second pass at 301.94 mph in his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala put him in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifier of the season.
“We knew the conditions were very good. We’ve been too conservative for the last, really, dozen races. We figured it would go or smoke the tires and it went,” said Pedregon, currently second to Tim Wilkerson in the Funny Car standings.
Dixon, a three-time winner at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, glided down the track in his U.S. Smokeless dragster in 3.841 seconds at 307.23 mph to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel.
“This is a special place. If you’re going to peak, this would be a nice time to do well,” said Dixon, who is currently in third place behind Schumacher and Antron Brown. “But I’m not writing any acceptance speeches yet. I’m just really happy with the run.”
With the humidity about half what it was on Friday, Johnson lowered the No. 1 mark to 6.657 at 206.76 in his Team Mopar J&J Racing and he suspects that the Sunday morning session may be even quicker. Still, he’s happy to be where he is.
“It makes you sleep better (and) to qualify No. 1 at Indy has been a dream of mine,” said Johnson, who is looking for his second No. 1 of the season and first since Phoenix.
Arana, who entered this race in 11th place and 12 points behind Karen Stoffer for the 10th and final playoff berth, set the Pro Stock Motorcycle pace with his 6.954-second pass at 189.79 mph aboard his Lucas Oil Buell.
“I don’t know what will happen with the weather, but I sure want to hold on (to the No. 1 qualifying position),” Arana said. “Lucas Oil came by with some of the Colts players (the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts play in Lucas Oil Stadium) so they’re going to be my bodyguards (Sunday) and help me hold onto No. 1.”
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Results Saturday after the first three of five rounds of qualifying for the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, 18th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.841 seconds, 307.23 mph; 2. Cory McClenathan, 3.852, 312.57; 3. Hillary Will, 3.854, 314.53; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.868, 311.99; 5. J.R. Todd, 3.873, 309.91; 6. Doug Herbert, 3.878, 312.06; 7. Antron Brown, 3.878, 309.91; 8. David Grubnic, 3.879, 311.05; 9. Clay Millican, 3.893, 311.20; 10. Bob Vandergriff, 3.901, 311.34; 11. Doug Kalitta, 3.901, 309.70; 12. Rod Fuller, 3.903, 304.67. Not Qualified: 13. T.J. Zizzo, 3.923, 303.23; 14. Tony Schumacher, 3.929, 307.16; 15. Morgan Lucas, 3.934, 304.05; 16. Pat Dakin, 3.949, 302.28; 17. Steve Torrence, 4.006, 249.49; 18. Troy Buff, 4.037, 258.47; 19. Luigi Novelli, 4.091, 272.56; 20. Bruce Litton, 4.455, 181.67.
Funny Car -- 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.073, 301.94; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.107, 302.62; 3. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.109, 296.11; 4. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.114, 303.03; 5. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.114, 297.48; 6. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 4.117, 300.60; 7. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.122, 302.41; 8. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.128, 300.46; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.132, 300.20; 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.139, 296.44; 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.144, 298.47; 12. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.183, 298.67. Not Qualified: 13. Jeff Arend, 4.193, 297.75; 14. Matt Hagan, 4.208, 291.32; 15. Frank Hawley, 4.218, 293.98; 16. Gary Scelzi, 4.218, 290.44; 17. Bob Bode, 4.241, 294.24; 18. John Force, 4.243, 288.21; 19. Jim Head, 4.253, 279.73; 20. Jerry Toliver, 4.276, 289.38; 21. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.384, 272.34; 22. Bob Tasca III, 4.441, 207.43.
Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.657, 206.76; 2. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.660, 206.89; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.661, 207.05; 4. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.667, 206.95; 5. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.668, 207.88; 6. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.671, 206.45; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.676, 206.67; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.677, 206.26; 9. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.688, 206.01; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.689, 205.51; 11. Rob Mansfield, GXP, 6.692, 206.01; 12. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.694, 206.39. Not Qualified: 13. Jim Yates, 6.694, 205.26; 14. John Nobile, 6.696, 205.76; 15. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.699, 205.76; 16. Johnny Gray, 6.699, 205.07; 17. Rickie Jones, 6.700, 205.41; 18. Justin Humphreys, 6.701, 206.26; 19. Steve Schmidt, 6.701, 206.07; 20. Steve Spiess, 6.705, 205.72; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.708, 205.19; 22. Richie Stevens, 6.721, 204.94; 23. Greg Stanfield, 6.727, 205.29; 24. Max Naylor, 6.735, 204.98; 25. Kevin Lawrence, 6.770, 203.16; 26. Bob Benza, 6.810, 203.34; 27. Danny Gruninger, 6.833, 201.82; 28. Erica Enders, 6.835, 201.58; 29. Mark Buehring, 6.897, 199.32.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.954, 190.65; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.961, 190.11; 3. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.978, 190.81; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 190.30; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.984, 192.03; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.990, 191.02; 7. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.010, 187.55; 8. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.033, 186.69; 9. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.034, 189.28; 10. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.048, 186.92; 11. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.052, 191.43; 12. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.052, 189.52. Not Qualified: 13. Karen Stoffer, 7.064, 188.83; 14. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.064, 187.31; 15. Junior Pippin, 7.071, 187.11; 16. Michael Phillips, 7.078, 189.87; 17. Matt Guidera, 7.086, 187.44; 18. Shawn Gann, 7.089, 189.02; 19. Wes Wells, 7.133, 189.71; 20. Redell Harris, 7.158, 182.53; 21. Mac McAdams, 7.159, 186.64; 22. Valerie Thompson, 7.163, 182.45; 23. David Hope, 7.167, 186.15; 24. Jim Underdahl, 7.187, 185.82; 25. Buddy Robinson, 7.346, 179.78; 26. Ryan Schnitz, 7.425, 176.01; 27. Darin McCurdy, 7.658, 174.05.
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SATURDAY - RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE
Saturday's final results from the 17th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Pro Bike Battle -- Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.060, 188.15 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, foul.
Final round-by-round results from the 17th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
ROUND ONE -- Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.998, 188.89 def. Angelle Sampey, Buell, broke; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 189.28 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, foul; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.961, 187.89 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.037, 184.45; Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.033, 186.10 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, broke;
SEMIFINALS -- Krawiec, 6.990, 191.02 def. Ellis, foul; Hines, 6.981, 190.30 def. Smith, 6.970, 190.11;
FINALS -- Krawiec, 7.060, 188.15 def. Hines, foul.
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FRIDAY - HIGHT SALVAGES OTHERWISE OFF-DAY FOR JOHN FORCE RACING
McClenathan, Allen Johnson, Krawiec round out provisional pole-sitters
Robert Hight salvaged an off day for John Force Racing by powering his Auto Club Ford Mustang to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Friday.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers on the first of three days of qualifying at the world’s most prestigious drag race, the 18th and final regular season event in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series season, were Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The six-race Countdown to 1 playoff begins in two weeks with the Sept. 12-14 Carolinas Nationals.
Hight’s 4.114-second pass at 297.48 mph put him in position to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 27th of his career at what he coined to be “his new hometown, his new home track.”
“I don’t think (the 4.114) will hold up (Saturday) night, we’re running a little later, the track will be a little better so we’ll have to run better than a 4.114 and I honestly think we can improve,” said Hight, who now resides with most of his JFR teammates almost full-time in Indianapolis.
The other John Force Racing drivers provisionally qualified No. 12 (Mike Neff, 4.349), No. 13 (Ashley Force, 4.357), and No. 14 (John Force, 4.416).
Meanwhile, the DHL Funny Car made its first pass down the track since Scott Kalitta’s fatal accident at Englishtown. Jeff Arend opened the Funny Car session, after an emotional acknowledgement of the car's return to racing, by powering the Toyota Solara to a 4.193 at 297.75.
“One of the coolest things at this U.S. Nationals was getting to see that Scott Kalitta car back on the track,” Hight said.
McClenathan glided down the track in 3.852 seconds at 312.57 mph in the FRAM dragster to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel. He came one pair ahead of teammate and class dominator Tony Schumacher, winner of five straight races, but the “Sarge” spun the wheels on his 
U.S. Army dragster.
“Our (Fram) team is getting better and better and this is a great time for that (with the playoffs set to begin in two weeks),” said McClenathan, who is currently in second place.
Johnson’s 6.713 at 201.85 in his Team Mopar J&J Racing Dodge may be good enough to survive the weekend if the warmer temperatures that are predicted materialize.
“With that run, I think the conditions will be the best right there of all the weekend,” said Johnson, who is looking for his second No. 1 of the season and first since Phoenix.
Krawiec’s 7.106 at 184.02 earned him the Pro Stock Motorcycle pole and, like Johnson, he will become an avid weather-watcher over the next two days.
“I don’t know if it will stick … the weather’s the only thing we cannot predict,” said Krawiec, who previously qualified No. 1 this season at Norwalk and Denver.
Qualifying continues with two more rounds on both Saturday and Sunday before the 16-car fields are set for the traditional Labor Day Monday final eliminations.
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Results Friday after the first of five rounds of qualifying for the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, 18th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday and Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 3.852 seconds, 312.57 mph; 2. J.R. Todd, 3.873, 309.91; 3. David Grubnic, 3.879, 311.05; 4. Larry Dixon, 3.883, 305.56; 5. Hillary Will, 3.884, 313.00; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.901, 309.70; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.913, 303.43; 8. T.J. Zizzo, 3.926, 303.23; 9. Clay Millican, 3.986, 301.67; 10. Steve Torrence, 4.006, 249.49; 11. Troy Buff, 4.037, 258.47; 12. Pat Dakin, 4.045, 283.61. Not Qualified: 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.114, 278.40; 14. Doug Herbert, 4.118, 260.71; 15. Bruce Litton, 4.455, 181.67; 16. Antron Brown, 5.123, 135.21; 17. Bob Vandergriff, 6.379, 92.66; 18. Brandon Bernstein, 7.175, 88.14; 19. Luigi Novelli, 7.445, 86.45; 20. Tony Schumacher, 8.604, 70.46.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.114, 297.48; 2. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.132, 300.20; 3. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.139, 296.44; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.179, 293.03; 5. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.184, 293.79; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.184, 289.38; 7. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.193, 297.75; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.218, 290.44; 9. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.231, 293.60; 10. Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.241, 294.24; 11. Matt Hagan, Solara, 4.288, 284.87; 12. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.349, 225.56. Not Qualified: 13. Ashley Force, 4.357, 218.51; 14. John Force, 4.416, 275.28; 15. Bob Tasca III, 4.441, 207.43; 16. Tony Bartone, 4.616, 193.54; 17. Tommy Johnson Jr., 5.161, 150.50; 18. Frank Hawley, 5.170, 146.38; 19. Jerry Toliver, 5.499, 126.28; 20. Del Worsham, 6.141, 104.10; 21. Jim Head, 11.197, 74.75.
Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.713, 201.85; 2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.731, 204.39; 3. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.733, 205.85; 4. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.735, 204.54; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.738, 203.95; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.745, 203.86; 7. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.746, 203.83; 8. John Nobile, Stratus, 6.749, 203.89; 9. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.751, 203.89; 10. Jason Line, GXP, 6.752, 204.11; 11. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.752, 203.89; 12. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.758, 203.46. Not Qualified: 13. Jim Yates, 6.758, 203.19; 14. Richie Stevens, 6.758, 203.16; 15. Steve Spiess, 6.760, 202.85; 16. Steve Schmidt, 6.762, 203.49; 17. Greg Stanfield, 6.763, 203.58; 18. Ron Krisher, 6.764, 202.52; 19. Larry Morgan, 6.772, 202.97; 20. Rickie Jones, 6.778, 202.76; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.784, 203.22; 22. Johnny Gray, 6.797, 202.33; 23. Max Naylor, 6.801, 202.48; 24. Rob Mansfield, 6.826, 202.76; 25. Kevin Lawrence, 6.841, 201.43; 26. Danny Gruninger, 6.855, 200.68; 27. Jim Cunningham, 6.879, 198.96; 28. Mark Buering, 6.932, 197.71; 29. Bob Benza, 7.302, 198.15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.106, 184.02; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.140, 181.42; 3. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.141, 181.81; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.177, 181.79; 5. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.189, 179.37; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.211, 182.80; 7. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.218, 180.07; 8. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.226, 179.76; 9. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.244, 179.09; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.259, 178.68; 11. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.262, 178.40; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.270, 183.17. Not Qualified: 13. Valerie Thompson, 7.290, 176.67; 14. Wes Wells, 7.316, 181.40; 15. Junior Pippin, 7.320, 175.52; 16. Mike Berry, 7.337, 177.32; 17. David Hope, 7.342, 177.28; 18. Redell Harris, 7.414, 175.11; 19. Jim Underdahl, 7.420, 178.54; 20. Mac McAdams, 7.459, 173.49; 21. Steve Johnson, 7.494, 152.97; 22. Ryan Schnitz, 7.575, 167.82; 23. Buddy Robinson, 7.586, 170.56; 24. Darin McCurdy, 7.658, 174.05; 25. Hector Arana, 9.134, 98.39; 26. Shawn Gann, DQ.
THURSDAY - MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS: NHRA’S PRESTIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF SPEED AND HIGH PERFORMANCE RACES INTO 54th YEAR AT ORP
As NHRA celebrates the 54th anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race is set to provide its traditional offering of the very best in speed and high performance for countless thousands of hot rodding enthusiasts. More than 1,000 competitors in 12 different racing categories will perform in front of the standing-room only crowd during the much-anticipated Labor Day classic.
This year, the event will feature added drama as it is the last race in the Countdown to 10, the final event in the regular season before the playoffs – the Countdown to 1 -- begins in the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship. Championship-contending teams in each of the four pro categories will be reduced to 10 following this event, and their point totals will be adjusted by increments of 10 from first to 10th. The first place driver in each class also will receive a 20 point bonus.
Throughout the years fans at ORP have cheered on drag racing immortals like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Bob Glidden, and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme as they raced to the winner’s circle at more than 250 mph to etch their names into the NHRA record book. Today’s stars – such as six-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Tony Schumacher and four-time winner John Force – will be racing with extreme determination at more than 300 mph to solidify their status as modern-day legends. For many of the competitors, the race has evolved into much more than an annual contest of speed. For those who seek to become a part of its mystique, winning the event has become a must-do to complete any great driver’s resume.
Schumacher (Top Fuel); Mike Ashley (Funny Car); Dave Connolly (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners in their respective pro categories.
This year’s edition of the famed event will feature intense side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle chase their share of the $2.5 million purse, a position in the POWERade Countdown to 1, and more importantly, a spot in history. Teams in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where NHRA’s future stars earn their racing stripes, also will compete during the weekend.
There are also two lucrative bonus events guaranteed to increase the level of excitement for fans during the weekend. The world’s eight best Funny Car drivers will compete for the $100,000 winner’s share in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown on Aug. 31, and the eight-best Pro Stock Motorcycle riders will race for their share of the top prize in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle on Aug. 30.
Prior to the start of official racing at ORP, fans can get a taste of the excitement on Wednesday, Aug. 27th at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Fan Fest, which will feature a display of race cars, interactive displays and team transporters at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. The Fan Fest, which starts at noon (CT), also will feature a premier autograph session with many of the top professional drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as “The Nationals” and first held at an abandoned airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in 1961.
In 1958, led by Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward and Howard Fieber, 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention in creating O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility’s first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960.
During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in 1961. The historic three-year pact was signed and sealed under a tree in Detroit Dragway’s pits, and O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis eventually became the home of NHRA’s biggest annual event. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979.
The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and ORP constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. Prior to the 2003 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, eight new luxury suites were added along the top of the west-side grandstands of the drag strip, giving fans a unique perspective of the action on the famed quarter-mile track. In 2006, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. In early 2007, the track, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park, announced its first track entitlement with O’Reilly Auto Parts.
