2008 NHRA FINALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY FINALS - PEDREGON AND KRAWIEC WIN POWERADE SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROWNS
Dixon, Pedregon, Anderson and Rivas claim event titles at Auto Club NHRA Finals
Cruz
Pedregon earned his second NHRA Funny Car world championship title, and
first in 16 years, by racing to victory Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA
Finals in Southern California.Meanwhile, Eddie Krawiec won his first POWERade Series crown in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and did so without winning a race during the season. He joins Rob Bruins, the 1979 Top Fuel champ, as the only drivers in NHRA history to win a season title without earning an individual race victory.
After Pedregon won his first round meeting against Jerry Toliver, he secured his first title when his two closest challengers lost in the first round. Season-long leader Tim Wilkerson fouled against John Force and then Robert Hight lost to Pedregon's brother, Tony.
Pedregon then drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to his third straight event victory to close out the six-race Countdown to 1, NHRA’s Playoffs, by beating Ron Capps in the final round. It is Pedregon’s 26th career win and second here at his home track.
"I'm stunned," an emotional Pedregon said moments after his brother Tony eliminated the last racer within reach. "It's awesome Tony got that win right there because I'm standing here thinking of my dad (Frank) and that I hope he's proud of his sons. I was 18 when he died and Tony was 16 and now we each have two world championships. We've come a long way for a couple of Hispanic kids from Chino."
Krawiec
entered the Countdown to 1 in seventh place and finished runner-up in
four of the six races in the championship playoffs, securing his first
title and the fourth for Harley-Davidson and the seventh for Vance
& Hines Racing."Consistency pays off," Krawiec said. "It shows you that you just need to go rounds at the end. We made the Countdown in seventh place and have been in four of the last five finals. I haven't had a chance to get my first (event) Wally yet, but I've got a big gold Wally (for winning the championship). I do have a $75,000 check here though, so if someone wants to sell a Wally, I could buy one.”
Larry Dixon, Greg Anderson, and Chris Rivas also claimed race victories in their respective categories at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the season at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Dixon raced to his second win of the season in Top Fuel, holding off Rod Fuller in the final round. Dixon, who moved to second in the point standings with the victory, covered the distance in 3.833 seconds at 300.93 mph in his U.S. Smokeless dragster to take his 43rd career victory and first at the Finals. It was his fourth win at the historic Pomona track.
"The
car nosed over really, really, really badly on the other end and it
gave me the feeling it was going to blow up, but I wasn't at the finish
line yet," Dixon said. "Then I saw the win light come on and it blew
up, but I saw the win light come on, and that was all that mattered. We
hopped it up for the final and certainly needed it. 'Hot Rod' had been
cutting good lights all day and their car had been running good. You
can tell by the way we blew up that we left everything on the track. I
hate finishing second (in points), but as far as the bonus money that
gets passed around to the guys on the team, the difference between
fifth place, where we came into this race, and second, where we
finished, is monumental. We were racing to finish second, so I'm really
happy for them."Top Fuel season champ Tony Schumacher's record-breaking season ended when Fuller defeated him in the second round. Schumacher tied Anderson's 2004 season-marks for wins (15) and elimination round wins (76).
Anderson claimed his sixth Pro Stock victory of the season in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP when Kurt Johnson fouled at the start in his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt. It was Anderson’s 57th career victory and his fourth win at the Finals and seventh win at Pomona.
“It
is second place, but it was first place today," said Anderson, who
moved into second overall in the final point standings with his win.
"It was the highest position available, and it felt like we were going
for the championship there. I love racing Kurt. We always have great
battles. I wish that would have been for the championship, but second
ain’t so bad. Right now, we’re going to have to be happy with that, and
next year, we’ll have to try and rectify that. Maybe next year it will
be Kurt and I going for the championship on the last run here.”Newly crowned Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin lost in the first round to Allen Johnson.
Rivas continued his hot streak in Pro Stock Motorcycle by winning his third race in a row, defeating newly crowned season champ Krawiec in the final round. Rivas, who moved to second in the final point standings with the win, powered his G-Squared/Drag Specialties Buell to a performance of 6.929 at 191.95 to drive away from Krawiec’s Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson, which trailed at 7.009 at 190.46.
"We're still not really sure where that 6.92 came from," said Rivas, who finished second in the point standings, five points behind Krawiec. "I knew that we had left together and by the time I plugged third gear he had completely dropped back; I thought he had broken. We hit the rev limiter at the finish line so I knew it either had been a really good run or that it had broken the transmission. I did what I was supposed to do as a rider. I took out the reigning world champ and kept him from having the number-two spot, and I feel fantastic about that."
The 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season opens Feb. 5-8 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
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Sunday's final results from the 44th annual Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The
race is the final of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - COUGHLIN CLINCHES NHRA POWERADE SERIES PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Five drivers will battle for Funny Car crown, while three race for title in Pro Stock Motorcycle
Jeg Coughlin raced to his second consecutive and fourth NHRA Pro Stock world championship title Saturday by qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals.
He joins Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) as a 2008 POWERade Series champ as Countdown to 1 battles in Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be settled during Sunday’s final eliminations at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Coughlin, who advanced to three finals during the six-race playoffs in his Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt, needed only to qualify at this event to lock up the series title.
“We’re going to celebrate grand style, no question,” said Coughlin, who will start 13th in the final race of the season. “To win back-to-back championships is a great compliment to Cagnazzi Racing and it’s very exciting. My team performed flawlessly and that’s what it took in this Countdown to 1 and we just kept on ringing up round wins. The huge win two weeks ago in Las Vegas propelled us over the top. Chef Nicky (Morse, team chef) has a big celebration dinner whipped up for us tonight.”
Four of the five Funny Car championship contenders – Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon -- enter today’s 11 a.m. eliminations on the same side of the 16-car eliminations bracket. In first-round pairings, defending series champ Tony Pedregon and Hight will meet, while Cruz Pedregon and Wilkerson could race in the second round. Wilkerson faces a tough first round pairing against 14-time champ John Force.
Cruz Pedregon, who is 13 points ahead of Wilkerson, will try to win his second career title, the first since 1992.
“What a nerve-wracking day we had,” said Pedregon, the 1992 world champ, who entered the final two qualifying sessions outside the field in his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara. “We came through when we had to. That could’ve been our last run of the year. I’m glad we’re still in the hunt. I don’t want to get caught up in all the talk about winning a championship. We came in here with a thin points lead. Tim has been phenomenal and Robert has been there the last couple of years. At the end of the day, whoever wins this championship is going to earn it.”
Second-place Wilkerson led the point standings for much of the regular season in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala.
“We’re proud to be here, no matter what happens tomorrow,” Wilkerson said. “It’s been a great year and I’m looking forward to racing John tomorrow. To be the champ, you have to beat the champ and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no one better than John and it doesn’t get any better than that. I’m looking forward to it.”
Hight, who will be driving a home-team L.A. Dodgers-themed Auto Club Ford Mustang and will have legendary manager Tommy Lasorda in his dugout offering motivational support, likes his chances because at this track he has won three races in a row and four out of the last five. However, he faces defending champ Tony Pedregon, who is fourth overall and trails the leader by 61 points.
“Tomorrow is going to be exciting, and there’s no two ways about it,” said Hight, who trails by 39 points. “But we have to perform. We know what we have to do tomorrow. First, we have to beat the defending champion in the first round. We’re looking forward to getting pumped up and winning this race tomorrow. John is so pumped up you’d think he’s going for the championship. Tim is going to have a tough one in his first round.”
On the opposite side of the Funny Car bracket, Jack Beckman needs to win the race and have all four of his opponents lose early to have a chance to win his first championship.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending champ Matt Smith will battle Eddie Krawiec (-20) and Chris Rivas (-45) for the world championship crown. Smith earned his seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season with a performance of 6.962 at 188.86 on his NitroFish Wear Buell, while Krawiec qualified second on his Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson and Rivas was ninth on his G-Squared/Drag Specialties Buell.
“I’m going out there to try and win this race like we did last year and then there’ll be no question about who the champion is,” Smith said. “I have a fast enough bike to win the race. We’ll play it out tomorrow. We’re going to do the best job we can, run our race and not worry about who’s in the other lane. If we win all four rounds there’s no way we can’t win this championship. With the budget I have compared to some of the other teams I feel like I have done all I can do and I will feel good about the result no matter what it is.”
Schumacher, Mike Neff and Greg Anderson also claimed No. 1 qualifying positions at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the year.
Schumacher earned his ninth No. 1 of the season in Top Fuel, covering the distance in 3.827 at 315.93 in his U.S. Army dragster. If Schumacher wins the race he will set NHRA season records for most wins and elimination round wins.
In Funny Car, Neff earned his second top qualifying effort of the season with a 4.079 at 305.49 in his Old Spice Ford Mustang. Anderson secured his seventh No. 1 of the season in Pro Stock in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP with a run of 6.634 at 208.20.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the final 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. Tony Schumacher, 3.827 seconds, 315.93 mph vs. 16. Tim Boychuk, 3.925, 305.49; 2. Larry Dixon, 3.831, 309.70 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 3.907, 309.42; 3. Hillary Will, 3.835, 314.31 vs. 14. Troy Buff, 3.904, 302.96; 4. J.R. Todd, 3.848, 308.14 vs. 13. Urs Erbacher, 3.904, 309.20; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 3.849, 311.13 vs. 12. David Grubnic, 3.897, 310.20; 6. Cory McClenathan, 3.855, 314.31 vs. 11. Doug Kalitta, 3.884, 309.56; 7. Morgan Lucas, 3.855, 306.46 vs. 10. Doug Herbert, 3.877, 307.58; 8. Rod Fuller, 3.862, 310.34 vs. 9. Steve Torrence, 3.862, 313.22.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Vandergriff, 3.934, 307.65; 18. Mike Strasburg, 3.960, 311.49; 19. Antron Brown, 4.056, 256.26; 20. Steven Chrisman, 4.228, 275.00; 21. Arley Langlo, 17.610, 166.72.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.079, 305.49 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.200, 292.20; 2. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 4.082, 305.01 vs. 15. Jim Head, Solara, 4.187, 296.63; 3. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.092, 304.87 vs. 14. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.164, 294.43; 4. John Force, Mustang, 4.108, 303.78 vs. 13. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.151, 300.33; 5. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.110, 303.78 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.150, 300.33; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.118, 302.08 vs. 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.144, 299.86; 7. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.121, 302.01 vs. 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.123, 301.67; 8. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.122, 301.67 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.122, 298.14.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Bode, 4.203, 292.71; 18. Tony Bartone, 4.226, 282.36; 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., 6.733, 281.07; 20. Del Worsham, 10.950, 74.38.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.634, 208.20 vs. 16. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.692, 206.13; 2. Jason Line, GXP, 6.637, 208.39 vs. 15. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.692, 206.48; 3. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.643, 207.91 vs. 14. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.689, 206.99; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.643, 208.07 vs. 13. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.678, 207.05; 5. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.649, 208.36 vs. 12. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.678, 206.99; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.650, 208.46 vs. 11. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.675, 206.51; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.662, 207.18 vs. 10. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.670, 208.59; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.665, 207.78 vs. 9. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.665, 207.11.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Larry Morgan, 6.694, 206.45; 18. Bob Panella, 6.727, 205.69; 19. Ben Watson, 6.752, 204.20; 20. Gordie Rivera, 6.787, 204.05.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.962, 188.86 vs. 16. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.148, 184.14; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.987, 189.55 vs. 15. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.146, 182.43; 3. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.996, 191.29 vs. 14. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.135, 189.02; 4. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.003, 185.49 vs. 13. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.134, 185.84; 5. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.015, 187.39 vs. 12. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.117, 183.12; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.027, 188.83 vs. 11. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.110, 183.19; 7. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.049, 187.31 vs. 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.107, 186.56; 8. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.057, 184.75 vs. 9. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.094, 183.02.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Matt Guidera, 7.173, 183.39; 18. Valerie Thompson, 7.393, 181.62; 19. Freddie Camarena, 7.403, 179.06; 20. James Surber, 7.458, 176.51; 21. Ryan Schnitz, broke.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - TROXEL ASSUMES POLE IN HOT CONDITIONS THAT CONFOUND CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS
Todd, Line and Krawiec round out provisional pole-sitters
With air temperatures in the mid-80s and track temperatures exceeding 100 at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals on Friday, first year Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel delivered a stunning 4.105-second pass to assume the provisional pole in Funny Car.
The run was particularly impressive given the soaring heat that kept every one of the five championship contenders in Funny Car from getting his car down the Auto Club Raceway under power. The most notable of the five was points leader Cruz Pedregon, who remained unqualified and will have just two more attempts on Saturday to get in the field and keep his championship hopes alive.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth and final race in the NHRA Playoffs, the Countdown to 1, were J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). There will be two more rounds of qualifying on Saturday before the 16-car fields are set for Sunday's race.
Troxel’s 4.105 in her R2B2 Racing Dodge Charger matched Mike Neff’s 4.105 from Thursday, but she moved around Neff based on her superior 304.25 mph speed (vs. 299.13 for Neff).
“Some days you’ve got to be good and some days you’ve got to be lucky and today, getting it on speed, I think we were a little bit of both,” Troxel said.
Cruz Pedredon’s Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara team followed up a 4.478 on Thursday with a tire-spinning six-second run on an even steamier Auto Club Raceway drag strip on Friday to set the table for a high stakes Saturday qualifying session.
Last year, Cruz’s brother Tony Pedregon just needed to qualify to for all intents and purposes clinch the Funny Car championship and he just eked into the field at No. 16 in a dramatic late-Saturday afternoon qualifying session that may be foreshadowing for the final qualifying session of the 2009 season.
Among the chasers in Funny Car, second-place Tim Wilkerson (trailing Cruz Pedregon by 12 points) slipped from the eighth to 10th qualifying position, third-place Robert Hight (-39) slipped from fourth to seventh, fourth-place Tony Pedregon from third to sixth, and fifth-place Jack Beckman (-64), like Cruz Pedregon, also remained unqualified.
Todd’s 3.851 at 308.14 mph from Thursday held up Friday and he remained the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel and his Lucas Oil teammate Morgan Lucas remained No. 2, giving the struggling Lucas Oil team a boost.
“If we can go 1-2 on Sunday, that’d make (team owner) Forrest (Lucas) happy. He hasn’t had a lot to smile about this year,” Todd said. “I think (Saturday) is going to be the run when someone can improve on that 85, but I’m pretty happy that held up (Friday).”
Line assumed the provisional No. 1 from Thursday leader Dave Connolly with a stunning 6.658 at 208.39 in the heat in 
his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP.
“I think that’s a really good run (for these conditions) because that’s what we’re going to run (Sunday),” Line said. “But I don’t think that will hold up (Saturday), you’ll see faster.”
Krawiec, who is in second place in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings (19 points behind defending champion Matt Smith), improved by .004 on his No. 1 time from Thursday with a 7.013-second pass at 188.70 to maintain the provisional No. 1 qualifying position.
“The main focus is to get through qualifying and maintain that No. 1 position,” said Krawiec, who rides the Screamin Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. “I think we left a little something on the table (Thursday) and for us to go out and run as well as we did today gives us a lot of confidence.”
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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, final of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. J.R. Todd, 3.851 seconds, 308.14 mph; 2. Morgan Lucas, 3.855, 306.46; 3. Hillary Will, 3.860, 313.07; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.863, 311.13; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.870, 313.22; 6. Doug Herbert, 3.877, 307.58; 7. Larry Dixon, 3.880, 308.43; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.884, 309.56; 9. Cory McClenathan, 3.895, 306.40; 10. Urs Erbacher, 3.904, 309.20; 11. Troy Buff, 3.904, 302.96; 12. Tim Boychuk, 3.925, 305.49. Not Qualified: 13. Mike Strasburg, 3.933, 308.14; 14. Bob Vandergriff, 3.941, 302.62; 15. Rod Fuller, 3.944, 302.28; 16. Clay Millican, 3.963, 300.73; 17. Antron Brown, 4.875, 147.81; 18. Arley Langlo, 4.904, 166.72; 19. David Grubnic, 5.025, 141.25; 20. Tony Schumacher, 5.132, 133.10; 21. Steven Chrisman, 6.949, 89.97.
Funny Car -- 1. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 4.105, 304.25; 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.105, 299.73; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.108, 303.78; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.118, 302.08; 5. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.121, 302.01; 6. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.122, 301.67; 7. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.122, 298.14; 8. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.157, 301.13; 9. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.164, 294.43; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.169, 297.02; 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.176, 299.40; 12. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.187, 296.63. Not Qualified: 13. Ashley Force, 4.207, 302.62; 14. Del Worsham, 4.214, 293.86; 15. Bob Bode, 4.218, 292.39; 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.275, 281.07; 17. Cruz Pedregon, 4.478, 194.21; 18. Jack Beckman, 5.451, 129.84; 19. Tony Bartone, 5.870, 116.94; 20. Jeff Arend, 9.914, 78.69.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.658, 208.39; 2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.660, 207.75; 3. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.664, 207.43; 4. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.668, 207.18; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.670, 207.34; 6. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.675, 207.75; 7. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.675, 207.27; 8. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.676, 206.48; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.678, 206.95; 10. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.694, 206.29; 11. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.697, 206.70; 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.704, 206.04. Not Qualified: 13. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.705, 206.73; 14. Greg Stanfield, 6.707, 206.76; 15. Warren Johnson, 6.708, 207.69; 16. Richie Stevens, 6.711, 205.88; 17. Rickie Jones, 6.719, 205.51; 18. Ben Watson, 6.729, 204.20; 19. Bob Panella, 6.731, 205.69; 20. Gordie Rivera, 6.793, 204.01.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.013, 188.70; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.024, 186.48; 3. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.024, 185.33; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.033, 187.39; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.042, 188.28; 6. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.057, 184.75; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.107, 186.56; 8. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.112, 185.13; 9. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.123, 183.12; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.134, 185.84; 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.134, 185.03; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.135, 189.02. Not Qualified: 13. Chris Rivas, 7.136, 183.02; 14. Matt Guidera, 7.146, 183.39; 15. Mike Berry, 7.183, 184.14; 16. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.211, 181.40; 17. Shawn Gann, 7.212, 178.64; 18. Valerie Thompson, 7.230, 181.62; 19. Ryan Schnitz, 7.325, 178.19; 20. James Surber, 7.379, 172.59; 21. Freddie Camarena, 7.431, 179.06.
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THURSDAY - OLD SPICE PILOT MIKE NEFF SECURES PROVISIONAL POLE IN FUNNY CAR
Todd, Connolly and Krawiec round out provisional pole-sitters
NHRA Rookie of the Year favorite Mike Neff powered his Old Spice Ford Mustang to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway on Thursday.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth and final race in the NHRA Playoffs, the Countdown to 1, were J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). There will be one more round of qualifying on Friday and two on Saturday before the 16-car fields are set for Sunday's race.
Neff’s 4.105-second pass at 299.13 mph put the Old Spice Ford on the provisional pole in Funny Car for what would be, if it holds up, his second career No. 1 qualifying position.
“That was a very important run, getting down the track on that first run and getting down there solid,” Neff said. “There’s three runs left, but that was pretty solid. It’s a big run because now you’re not sweating it out (Friday) and Saturday.”
The same can be said for Funny Car points leader Cruz Pedregon who will go into the second day of qualifying not yet qualified. Seeking his second POWERade Series championship and first since 1992, Cruz Pedregon opened the big weekend with a balky 4.478 in his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara on the steamy Auto Club Raceway drag strip that left him temporarily on the outside looking in.
Second-place Tim Wilkerson (-12) opened with a 4.169 (No. 8), third-place Robert Hight (-39) led off with a 4.122 (No. 4), fourth-place Tony Pedregon (-62) opened with a 4.122 (No. 3) and fifth-place Jack Beckman (-64) slipped to a 5.451 to also go into Day 2 not yet qualified.
Last year, Cruz’s brother Tony Pedregon just needed to qualify to for all intents and purposes clinch the Funny Car championship and he just eked into the field at No. 16 in a dramatic late-Saturday afternoon qualifying session that Cruz obviously would just as soon not repeat.
Todd raced down the track in 3.851 seconds at 308.14 mph to earn the provisional top spot in Top Fuel. It was a glimmer of hope in an otherwise difficult season for Morgan Lucas’s tag-team partner on the Lucas Oil team.
“Besides the win in Dallas, I’d just as soon forget this season. It’s been a long season,” Todd said.
The season hasn’t been much more memorable for Lucas, but he lit up the Auto Club Raceway scoreboard with his own 3.855 at 306.46 to lock up the top two spots for the Lucas Oil team.
“That’s how we planned it and you can’t get much closer than that,” Todd said. “I don’t know if that will hold up through the weekend, but it’ll get us in the show and that’s what it’s all about.”
Connolly, also flying Lucas Oil colors on his Chevy Cobalt, ran a 6.660 at 207.75 to claim the provisional pole in Pro Stock. It would be his third No. 1 of 2008 and the eighth of his career.
“That was a good way to hit California with a good pass and take the No. 1 spot,” Connolly said. “But we’re definitely talking premature especially with that good session coming up Saturday morning.”
Krawiec, in second place in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, directed his Screamin Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the provisional No. 1 position on the strength of a 7.017-second pass at 187.23.
"The most important thing of course is to come in and, right from the beginning, run well," said Krawiec, whose gunning for his fourth No. 1 of the season. "We were able to grab the No. 1 spot and hopefully the heat will come in and that will stay No. 1. There are a lot of guys and girls out there who can go to the No. 1 spot who can step in there and play a big part of this deal, so it's important to stay on top and not let Mat (Smith) get that extra one point that gives him a 20-point lead on us."
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Results Thursday after the first one of four rounds of qualifying for the 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, final of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Friday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. J.R. Todd, 3.851 seconds, 308.14 mph; 2. Morgan Lucas, 3.855, 306.46; 3. Hillary Will, 3.860, 313.07; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 3.863, 310.77; 5. Doug Herbert, 3.877, 307.58; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.889, 311.41; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.892, 309.56; 8. Troy Buff, 3.904, 302.96; 9. Tim Boychuk, 3.929, 305.49; 10. Mike Strasburg, 3.933, 308.14; 11. Rod Fuller, 3.944, 302.28; 12. Urs Erbacher, 3.953, 301.33. Not Qualified: 13. Larry Dixon, 4.529, 169.64; 14. Bob Vandergriff, 4.867, 150.25; 15. Arley Langlo, 4.904, 166.72; 16. David Grubnic, 5.733, 111.04; 17. Cory McClenathan, 5.734, 110.04; 18. Tony Schumacher, 6.449, 91.49; 19. Clay Millican, 6.951, 83.28; 20. Antron Brown, 7.099, 88.60; 21. Steven Chrisman, broke.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.105, 299.13; 2. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 4.121, 302.01; 3. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.122, 301.67; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.122, 298.14; 5. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.129, 302.21; 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.144, 282.95; 7. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.150, 293.41; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.169, 297.02; 9. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.186, 297.61; 10. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.207, 302.62; 11. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.213, 292.46; 12. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.214, 293.86. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Bode, 4.218, 292.39; 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.275, 281.07; 15. Cruz Pedregon, 4.478, 194.21; 16. Jack Beckman, 5.451, 129.84; 17. Bob Tasca III, 5.518, 129.93; 18. Tony Bartone, 5.870, 116.94; 19. Jim Head, 7.431, 86.38; 20. Jeff Arend, 9.914, 78.69.
Pro Stock -- 1. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.660, 207.75; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.664, 208.04; 3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.670, 207.34; 4. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.674, 206.76; 5. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.675, 207.30; 6. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.675, 207.27; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.677, 207.18; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.678, 206.95; 9. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.694, 206.29; 10. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.697, 206.70; 11. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.704, 206.01; 12. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.705, 206.48. Not Qualified: 13. Greg Stanfield, 6.707, 206.13; 14. Warren Johnson, 6.708, 207.69; 15. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.709, 206.73; 16. Rickie Jones, 6.727, 205.22; 17. Ben Watson, 6.729, 204.20; 18. Bob Panella, 6.731, 205.69; 19. Richie Stevens, 7.269, 164.11; 20. Gordie Rivera, 7.832, 130.73.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.017, 187.23; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.024, 186.48; 3. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.024, 185.33; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.058, 188.28; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.107, 186.56; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.109, 183.67; 7. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.112, 185.13; 8. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.123, 182.62; 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.134, 185.84; 10. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.134, 185.03; 11. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.135, 189.02; 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.138, 182.53. Not Qualified: 13. Matt Guidera, 7.167, 182.21; 14. Mike Berry, 7.198, 181.37; 15. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.211, 181.40; 16. Shawn Gann, 7.212, 178.64; 17. Valerie Thompson, 7.255, 178.50; 18. Ryan Schnitz, 7.374, 175.91; 19. Freddie Camarena, 7.482, 179.06; 20. James Surber, 7.548, 160.98; 21. Chris Rivas, broke.
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EVENT PREVIEW - CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE LINE IN POMONA FINALE'
Winning this year’s POWERade Series Funny Car world championship is as easy as sinking a putt, Cruz Pedregon said. And if
Honest golfers admit that unless you’ve got Tiger Woods’ ability and the swagger to match, a putt with money on it probably still makes you sweat, no matter how many greens you’ve walked. If you extend that analogy to NHRA POWERade Series Drag Racing, Pedregon’s seen a lot of grass.
Three of the four 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship titles will be decided when the world’s fastest motorsport comes to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 13-16. Tony Schumacher claimed his fifth consecutive and sixth overall title in Las Vegas after yet another season of domination.
It’s been 16 years since Pedregon won his first – and only - world championship title. After that, he didn’t see first place from April 25, 1998 until April 2, 2008 and with his second consecutive win last weekend, equaling his win total from the previous 10 years, Pedregon elbowed his way back to the top of the standings with only the final event of the year standing between him and his second title.
That, and a few other hungry drivers.
Pedregon knows he’s blessed. At some point winning those four rounds on race day felt more like winning 80, he said. And yet, the same steady approach that has kept him bobbing just below the surface of the upper echelon of POWERade Series success for so long has carried him once again to the top.
Pedregon intends to stay there.
“The winning has been such icing on the cake,” Pedregon said. “The fact we’re ahead of the points right now is 100,000 percent amazing. I’m just really enjoying it, but it’s not over yet. It’s such a difficult task, but we’re on the green. We just have to put the ball in the hole and close this thing out. The opportunity doesn’t come very often.”
It’s hard to believe that Pedregon has had a few droughts. Games he’s played and bets he’s made with himself and his crew mark the time.
In 2005, after only winning one early-season event all year, Pedregon decided he wouldn’t cut his hair until he won again.
Months passed and his hair grew. Outward. In all directions. No gel could contain it. He wore a lot of hats.
His team hasn’t had much time to play games these days, he said, and Pedregon is fine with that. Right now he and his team are focused on continuing to mesh the individual efforts they’ve turned on so well in the postseason.
They’ll need to hold off Cinderella-story Tim Wilkerson and John Force Racing’s Robert Hight to earn the title. The face-off with a JFR entry harkens back to Pedregon’s 1992 world champion win, when he held off John Force to become the only man to win the world championship other than Force himself from 1990-2002.
In Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin has all but clinched his second consecutive and fourth overall world championship title. He holds a 123-point edge on second-place Greg Anderson.
The battle in Pro Stock Motorcycle is just as close as the one in Funny Car. Matt Smith has a precarious hold on the top spot, with only a 19-point lead on No. 2 Eddie Krawiec and a 39-point lead on Chris Rivas. It would be Smith’s second title in a row and Krawiec’s first.
