NHRA VIRGINIA NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing returned to Virginia in 2006 with a race that shattered Professional performance barriers, and the 2007 follow-up also produced eye-popping performances. The track’s reputation for being able to handle all that the teams can dish out makes it a perfect venue for the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock teams to begin their crucial three-race run to the world titles.


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

SATURDAY - CRUZ PEDREGON DELIVERS A STUNNING NO. 1 QUALIFYING RUN IN FUNNY CAR

Schumacher, Anderson also earn provisional poles at fourth of six races in the Countdown to 1

Cruz Pedregon bolstered his flickering championship aspirations Saturday with a stunning 4.041 at 306.88 in his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to claim the No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) rounded out the No. 1 qualifiers at the 22nd of 24 NHRA POWERade Series races this season and the fourth race in the six-race NHRA Playoff, the Countdown to 1.

Pedregon entered the weekend 115 points behind Tim Wilkerson and he’ll go into Sunday with a 109-point deficit, essentially needing to win six more rounds (drivers earn 20 points for each round-win) than Wilkerson with just 12 rounds of racing left.

“It sends a message that we’re hanging in there for this championship. The Advance Auto Parts car is flying,” said Pedregon, who sits on the pole for the third time this year and 36th time in his career.

Pedregon will face Tony Bartone (4.157) in one of several compelling first-round Funny Car matchups;* * * others to watch include Robert Hight vs. John Force and Tim Wilkerson vs. Ashley Force.

Schumacher’s 3.771 seconds at 317.05 from Friday night held up Saturday so he’ll start from the pole for the seventh time this season. He’ll open with No. 16 qualifier Scott Palmer as he seeks his 14th win of 2008, 55th of his career, but just his first at Virginia Motorsports Park.

“For the U.S. Army, outstanding job; (Sunday) is a big day, huge,” said Schumacher, who can clinch his fifth straight and sixth overall POWERade Series world championship by winning the race and having a number of drivers behind him eliminated early. “Right now we absolutely have to win first round. We’ve come way too far to get this far ahead and give up anything.”

Pro Stock’s Anderson delivered the top qualifying pass Saturday with his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP on the final qualifying pass of the weekend when he matched Jeg Coughlin’s 6.554 but earned the pole by virtue of his track record speed of 210.21 mph.

Anderson was the regular season champion in Pro Stock, but he’s lost three straight rounds after opening the playoffs with a win over Dave Connolly and has slipped to fourth place, 62 points behind Coughlin.

“We haven’t won a race since Denver and we want to win a race,” said Anderson, who will open with Steve Spiess (6.590) in the first round of Sunday’s race. “I’ve got to win a race. I’ve got to get that winning groove back before I can win a championship. If I can’t win a race I don’t deserve to win a championship.”

It was the sixth No. 1 of the season and the 68th of his career for Anderson, who paced the quickest field in Pro Stock history and the first to have a driver (Rickie Jones Jr., 6.591) DNQ with a six-fifty pass.

The race begins Sunday at 11 a.m.

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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorprorts Park, the 22nd 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, 3.771 seconds, 317.05 mph vs. 16. Scott Palmer, 8.610, 71.88; 2. Hillary Will, 3.799, 315.49 vs. 15. T.J. Zizzo, 4.195, 213.03; 3. Doug Herbert, 3.814, 311.70 vs. 14. Tim Boychuk, 3.906, 304.80; 4. Cory McClenathan, 3.815, 312.64 vs. 13. Morgan Lucas, 3.890, 307.30; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.815, 308.35 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.873, 308.00; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.816, 312.06 vs. 11. J.R. Todd, 3.845, 311.77; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.823, 315.56 vs. 10. David Grubnic, 3.837, 306.26; 8. Antron Brown, 3.823, 308.57 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.824, 312.71.

Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.041, 306.88 vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.157, 292.71; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.041, 306.74 vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Dodge Charger, 4.125, 299.00; 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.041, 304.80 vs. 14. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.088, 295.98; 4. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.047, 309.98 vs. 13. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.081, 301.00; 5. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.048, 304.46 vs. 12. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.079, 302.48; 6. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.056, 304.32 vs. 11. John Force, Mustang, 4.078, 298.21; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.059, 301.54 vs. 10. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.078, 296.70; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.070, 303.64 vs. 9. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.078, 302.55. Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Tasca III, 6.860, 299.06; 18. Gary Densham, 8.946, 295.14.

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.554, 210.31 vs. 16. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.590, 208.39; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.554, 209.10 vs. 15. John Nobile, Dodge Stratus, 6.590, 209.01; 3. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.555, 209.59 vs. 14. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.589, 208.55; 4. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.559, 210.11 vs. 13. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.584, 209.04; 5. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.561, 209.79 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.578, 208.81; 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.565, 209.10 vs. 11. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.573, 209.14; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.567, 209.26 vs. 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.571, 209.17; 8. Jason Line, GXP, 6.568, 209.59 vs. 9. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.568, 208.71. Did Not Qualify: 17. Rickie Jones, 6.591, 207.66; 18. Dave Northrop, 6.600, 208.36; 19. Warren Johnson, 6.604, 210.37; 20. Richie Stevens, 6.604, 209.04; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.629, 207.62; 22. Roger Brogdon, 6.678, 205.29; 23. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.765, 202.61.

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FRIDAY - SCHUMACHER BLISTERS VMP TRACK TO EARN PROVISIONAL NO. 1

Neff, Connolly also earn provisional poles at fourth of six races in the Countdown to1

Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher blistered the Virginia Motorsports Park track with a run of 3.771 seconds at 317.05 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position after the first of two days of qualifying Friday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.

Mike Neff (Funny Car) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) rounded out the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 22nd of 24 races this season and the fourth race in the six-race NHRA Playoff, the Countdown to 1.

Schumacher, who enters the weekend with a 166-point lead over Cory McClenathan, made quite an opening statement in his bid to clinch his fifth straight and sixth overall world championship.

“That’s as Army strong as it gets. That’s a pretty stout run,” said Schumacher, who is bidding for his seventh No. 1 of 2008 and the 54th of his career for the U.S. Army team.

Neff hammered his Old Spice Ford Mustang down the track in 4.041 seconds at 304.80 mph to earn the provisional top spot in Funny Car. The No. 1 would be the second for one of the favorites to win the 2008 Auto Club Road to the Future award.

“That is fantastic. That was bitchin’. I mean, conditions are great here. It just makes it so much fun to get back to these conditions. We should see these conditions for the last two races of the season as well,” said Neff, who was joined by teammates Ashley Force (No. 2 at 4.048), Robert Hight (No. 6 at 4.070) and John Force (No. 10 at 4.080) among the 12 provisionally qualified cars in Funny Car.

“All the Force cars make a lot of power and I think this is when it shows, when the conditions are like this and you’re actually able to use it,” Neff said.

For Connolly, if the 6.574 at 209.07 in his Lucas Oil Chevy Cobalt holds up Saturday, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and the eighth of his career. Connolly entered the weekend in sixth place, 94 points behind Jeg Coughlin.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t want more than to go coast to coast, stick this thing in the No. 1 spot and win the race because right now, as far as the Countdown goes, we’re struggling, we’re a little behind. It’s do or die. It’s a critical weekend for us and we’re glad we hit the ground running so far,” Connolly said.

Meanwhile, every Countdown to 1 driver is among the qualified save for one, points leader Coughlin. He’ll have two more chances on Saturday to get into the 16-car field or face what would be a devastating DNQ.

Racing resumes Saturday with the third and fourth qualifying sessions, beginning at Noon at 2:30 p.m.

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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.771 seconds, 317.05 mph; 2. Hillary Will, 3.799, 315.49; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.815, 305.56; 4. Larry Dixon, 3.816, 312.06; 5. Antron Brown, 3.823, 308.57; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 3.824, 312.71; 7. Cory McClenathan, 3.846, 312.64; 8. Rod Fuller, 3.853, 312.78; 9. Doug Herbert, 3.874, 311.70; 10. Morgan Lucas, 3.890, 307.30; 11. Tim Boychuk, 3.906, 304.80; 12. J.R. Todd, 3.976, 298.34. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Vandergriff, 4.240, 265.69; 14. David Grubnic, 4.778, 151.02.

Funny Car -- 1. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.041, 304.80; 2. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.048, 304.12; 3. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.049, 306.74; 4. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.059, 300.06; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.070, 303.64; 6. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.070, 300.13; 7. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.071, 309.98; 8. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.078, 296.70; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.079, 302.48; 10. John Force, Mustang, 4.080, 298.21; 11. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.083, 301.00; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.089, 300.40. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Tasca III, 4.090, 299.06; 14. Jeff Arend, 4.092, 302.55; 15. Jerry Toliver, 4.107, 298.87; 16. Ron Capps, 4.135, 295.98; 17. Gary Densham, 4.144, 295.14; 18. Tony Bartone, 4.191, 292.71.

Pro Stock -- 1. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.574, 209.07; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.586, 209.33; 3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.587, 209.43; 4. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.587, 208.65; 5. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.588, 209.33; 6. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.591, 209.17; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.595, 208.17; 8. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.597, 207.88; 9. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.601, 208.62; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.604, 208.36; 11. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.607, 208.20; 12. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.609, 208.01. Not Qualified: 13. Jeg Coughlin, 6.609, 207.75; 14. Rickie Jones, 6.615, 207.50; 15. Warren Johnson, 6.618, 209.72; 16. Steve Spiess, 6.622, 208.07; 17. Justin Humphreys, 6.628, 207.85; 18. Richie Stevens, 6.629, 206.92; 19. John Nobile, 6.633, 208.36; 20. Dave Northrop, 6.633, 206.92; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.656, 207.62; 22. Roger Brogdon, 6.726, 205.04; 23. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.801, 201.28.

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EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS SHOT IN SEASON OF UPSETS AS POWERade SERIES HITS BACKSTRETCH OF COUNTDOWN PLAYOFFS

It’s the season for the impossible.

Let’s take the NFL, for instance.

Nobody guessed the Miami Dolphins – then dubbed the worst team in pro football for good reason – would roll all over a humbled New England Patriots in a 38-13 decision in Week 3.

Over on the college football front, it’s been the same. Three of the five teams featured on Sports Illustrated’s preview covers (hello, jinx) have already experienced embarrassing defeats that left devoted fans in Ohio, Florida, Georgia and Southern California deflated and confused.

The most obvious example? No one but the most gristled Oregon State season ticket holder (should one exist) would’ve picked the Beavers to beat USC, the sure-footed golden boys from Southern California who were practically crowned the 2008 BCS champions before the year’s first kickoff. But they did, just like both the Northsiders and Southsiders from Chicago made Major League Baseball’s post-season, and a man named J.R. Todd beat Tony Schumacher in Dallas on a day when, for the first time in NHRA history, all four reigning POWERade Series world champions lost in the final round at the same event.

Todd, who hadn’t seen a final round in more than a year, seemed the least likely candidate to cool Schumacher’s run of dominance. But he did, at least for one race. And even though Todd may not be in the hunt for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship title, nine other drivers besides Schumacher still are – just as all 10 drivers in all four pro categories are still mathematically eligible to be crowned champions this year. It’s the perfect playoff scenario: where fans can still have faith in a season that’s yielded more than one upset.

“The FRAM guys are great and they're a championship-caliber race team,” said Cory McClenathan, who at 166 points out has the best shot mathematically at overtaking Schumacher. “We're not out of this thing. We go to Richmond in a couple of weeks and I've had a lot of good luck at that track so we can't wait to get there.”

The day of Todd’s win was historic, indeed. The champs, Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Smith all seemed to have a solid chance to win – yet not one came away with a Wally. Instead, Greg Stanfield, Chris Rivas and Tim Wilkerson walked away heroes.

Granted, the Top Fuel field is probably wishing on a whole lot of stars these days. They’ll need almost total self-destruction from Alan Johnson and his U.S. Army crew to unseat the five-time and defending world champion. But is it impossible? No.

No one will be mathematically eliminated from the hunt until after this race, the third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. After this event, only two remain in the 2008 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Of the four categories, Funny Car and Pro Stock have seen the most movement.

In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson, a three-time world champion who’s been crowned bridesmaid the last two seasons, is hungry for his fourth title – but he dropped from first in the points to fourth after handing a stunning first-round win to Steve Spiess in Memphis. Anderson was bounced on a holeshot, meaning he actually had the faster car and would’ve won if he’d beaten Spiess at the starting line.

In Funny Car, independent team owner/driver Tim Wilkerson’s Cinderella story continued with his second consecutive playoff

win. Wilkerson defeated three John Force Racing drivers, starting with John Force himself, to do it. He handed Force himself a loss in the second round after beating Melanie Troxel first, then downed Robert Hight and Ashley Force for his second Wally in as many events. Wilkerson’s opponents were actually happy when the body-shop owner from Springfield, Ill. started winning in the early season, but they may have a few voodoo dolls in his likeness now.

“I heard I was down and out after getting whupped first round in Charlotte, and that motivates me,” said Wilkerson, who held the points lead through the majority of the regular season. “When I was a kid, I wrestled in high school. I wasn't very big or very good, and I sparred with this kid who was a state champion. My coach would say, ‘When you wrestle with him, you don't even look like the same wrestler. Why don't you treat everyone else that way?’ I've been thinking about that. When I race these champions, I don't go out there thinking we're going to get beat by them. All year, we've been racing everybody like it's the last race of our life.”

The standings in Pro Stock Motorcycle are no less dramatic. Defending world champion Matt Smith sits atop the points but his hold is a tenuous one. Eddie Krawiec and Chris Rivas are both within 100 points of him. They won’t race in Richmond, and you can be sure that week off won’t bring a lot of rest for them.