2017 NHRA FALL NATIONALS - DALLAS RESULTS
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SUNDAY - HIGHT, B. FORCE, LINE AND KRAWIEC VICTORIOUS SUNDAY AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
Robert Hight powered to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned victories in their respective categories at the fourth of six playoff events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
Hight raced to a 3.877-second pass at 332.34 mph in his AAA of Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS to defeat reigning world champion and category points leader Ron Capps’ 3.927 pass at 329.18 in his Napa Auto Parts Dodge R/T in the Funny Car final. It is Hight’s fourth win of the season, 41st of his career, third at Texas Motorplex and second in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. Hight remains second in the points standings with Capps in first by just 24 points.
“This was huge. A round win is worth 20 points but truthfully that final round win for us was 40 points,” said Hight, who was also the No. 1 qualifier at the event. “We were 44 back going into the final round and had we lost that’s 64. Winning brought it back to 24 which is a little over a round with two races left. That was a 40-point swing for us. That was big. We needed that one. We would have been pretty bummed leaving here over three rounds back.”
On his way to victory, Hight defeated Jim Campbell, Alexis DeJoria, who announced her retirement following the 2017 season, and Tim Wilkerson. Capps took down Del Worsham, 16-time world champion John Force and teammate Jack Beckman.
Force piloted her Monster Energy dragster to a Texas Motorplex elapsed-time record of 3.681 at 326.87 to defeat Shawn Langdon and his Global Electronic Technology dragster’s 3.693 pass at 326.56 in the Top Fuel finals. The victory, Brittany’s third of the season and sixth of her career, moves her into second in the points standings.
“It’s been quite a day. A lot needed to happen and it seemed to work in our favor,” Force says. “Really it was about us going rounds. We had Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence, the two people in front of us in the standings. Everyone has been struggling trying to take them down. They’ve been killing it. When we pulled up there I felt confident in us that we were going to turn those win lights on. That’s what we needed to do, we were able to do it and then we were able to take down Langdon and won the thing. This is a huge win. It’s a Countdown race. And we’re still climbing that ladder.”
Her route to victory included wins against Terry McMillen, Doug Kalitta and points leader Steve Torrence. Torrence, an East Texas native and the No. 1 qualifier, raced Force in a back-up vehicle after his Capco Contractors dragster lost control after crossing the finish line in his quarterfinal win against Richie Crampton. Langdon, who was racing in his first final round since his win at St. Louis in 2016, had round wins against Clay Millican, Terry Haddock and reigning world champion Antron Brown before falling to Force in the final.
Defending Pro Stock world champion Jason Line found himself in the winner’s circle for the second time this season and 27th time of his career, after running a 6.548 pass at 211.20 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro to take down Drew Skillman who lost on a red-light start.
“The truth is whit the playoff format, now is what matters,” Line said. “We are picking up at the right time. I’m hopefully giving Greg Anderson, Bo Butner and everybody else something to think about for the next couple of weeks. No questions it’s not over. For me it was do or die. If we didn’t win here this weekend the chances of winning the championship were going to be slim to none. Really had to kind of win. And I was lucky enough to win. Really a nice feeling.”
Line raced past Alan Prusiensky, Texas native Alex Laughlin and Brian Self on the way to his third final round of the season. Skillman bested veteran Jeg Coughlin, Bo Butner and points leader Greg Anderson before losing to Line. Anderson maintains the points lead by 15 points over Butner who is trailed by Line.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Eddie Krawiec rode his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 9.336 pass at 92.62 which was enough due to a red-light start from defending world champion Jerry Savoie. It is Krawiec’s sixth win of the season, 42nd of his career and second consecutive and third total at Texas Motorplex.
“This track really, leaving here kind of sets the tone for how that championship is going to shape up. I probably put more pressure on myself to do really good here,” Krawiec said. “You need to capitalize. For me, I had, I would say, a perfect weekend for how it worked out. I went out there got a lot of the little points in qualifying. I needed to capitalize, this was the opportunity for me to grab the ball and run with it. I think that was more of my drive for today. Lucky enough for me I had a great motorcycle under me.”
Krawiec road to victory was lined with wins over David Hope, Karen Stoffer and Scotty Pollacheck. The win puts him 107 points ahead of LE Tonglet who remains in second. Savoie, Tonglet's teammate, rode past Gunner Courtney, rookie Joey Gladstone and former champion Matt Smith.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 26-29, with the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.
SATURDAY - HIGHT, TORRENCE, BUTNER AND KRAWIEC TAKE NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS
Robert Hight powered to the Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fourth of six events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
In the final Funny Car qualifying session, Hight made a 3.871-second pass at 332.84 mph in his AAA of Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS to overtake points leader Ron Capps for his eighth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 57th of his career.
“The last few races have been good,” said Hight, who now has three consecutive No. 1 qualifiers. “I wasn’t expecting that run. Jimmy Prock just has a good handle on this car hot or cold. I saw the scoreboard light up down there and I couldn’t believe it ran a .871. It blew me away. That was a back breaker and it was kind of a turning of the tables for the weekend for us. Capps was going to gain some points on us going into race day. As it turned out we gained two on him. It all adds up in the end.”
Hight will race Jim Campbell to open eliminations on Sunday. Qualified second is reigning world champion Capps who ran a 3.872 at 329.58 in his Napa Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T. He’ll race former world champion Del Worsham. Jack Beckman holds the third position.
East Texas native Torrence secured the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier after piloting his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.682 pass at 327.51 during Friday’s qualifying that held up through Saturday to earn Torrence his third No. 1 qualifier of the season, 16th of his career and first at his hometown track.
“This is huge to be able to come and perform well here in front of the hometown crowd,” said Torrence who lives in Kilgore Texas. “We’ve got a lot of fans, a lot of family, a lot of people that we work with, and employees of Capco. To come out here and run well for them, that’s what it’s about. And being able to show the guys that are working hard out there every day that what they’re doing is paying off. We’ve got a really good racecar and it’s something that they can be proud of.
Torrence will face off against Blake Alexander in round one. The winningest driver Top Fuel history, Tony Schumacher, piloted his U.S. Army dragster to the second qualifying position with a 3.692 at 327.66 earning himself a matchup against Terry Haddock to start eliminations. Three-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown is in third.
In Pro Stock, Butner raced a 6.588 at 208.94 in his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevrolet Camaro during the second qualifying round on Friday to secure his fifth No. 1 of the season and eighth of his career.
“We have a very good car and I think we should be able to go some rounds tomorrow, but my team has a lot of goals in mind and the main one is to get our three KB cars in the top three of the Pro Stock standings by the end of the year,” Butner said. “We know everyone is going to be fast tomorrow with the cooler conditions, but we know the importance of not trying to overpower the track and getting lane chase because that can be a huge factor on those cold weather days.”
Butner will line up against Shane Tucker to begin eliminations. Butner’s KB Racing teammate and reigning world champion Jason Line qualified in the No. 2 spot with a 6.622 pass at 208.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro and will take on Alan Prusiensky.
Krawiec, the Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader, secured his fourth No. 1 of the season and 37th of his career with his 6.860 pass at 196.53 from the first round of qualifying on Friday.
“This weather changes everything because you have to throw everything out the windows from the last few days since they produced some hot and greasy track conditions, and we are expecting much cooler weather tomorrow,” Krawiec said. “Ultimately, it’s about making clean, straight runs here at Texas Motorplex and I feel like I’ve gotten pretty close to getting my chassis where it needs to be and hopefully tomorrow’s conditions makes for some great racing.”
Krawiec will face David Hope in the first round. Reigning world champion Jerry Savoie is in the second spot with a 6.873 pass at 194.35 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki and will line up with Gunner Courtney. Andrew Hines is third on his Screamin’ Eagle / Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
Eliminations at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals begins Sunday at 11 a.m. Catch the action live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) at 2 p.m. ET.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Steve Torrence, 3.682 seconds, 327.51 mph vs. 16. Blake Alexander, 3.842, 314.46; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.692, 327.66 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, 3.841, 309.42; 3. Antron Brown, 3.696, 329.91 vs. 14. Shawn Reed, 3.816, 324.67; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.704, 330.07 vs. 13. Kebin Kinsley, 3.814, 318.32; 5. Brittany Force, 3.747, 324.90 vs. 12. Terry McMillen, 3.813, 311.85; 6. Leah Pritchett, 3.748, 323.89 vs. 11. Scott Palmer, 3.778, 324.90; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.748, 320.13 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 3.773, 323.58; 8. Richie Crampton, 3.749, 499.81 vs. 9. Billy Torrence, 3.771, 319.82.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Troy Buff, 3.974, 290.63.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.871, 332.84 vs. 16. Jim Campbell, Dodge Charger, 4.138, 304.67; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.872, 329.58 vs. 15. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.118, 252.05; 3. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.873, 332.34 vs. 14. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.992, 322.42; 4. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.873, 328.14 vs. 13. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.991, 324.51; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.909, 326.95 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.988, 328.30; 6. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.928, 331.94 vs. 11. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.987, 311.13; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.930, 327.59 vs. 10. John Force, Camaro, 3.957, 327.90; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.941, 323.43 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.947, 324.05.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jeff Diehl, 4.349, 282.24; 18. Robert Schwab, 6.203, 114.12; 19. Todd Simpson, 8.829, 76.28.
Pro Stock -- 1. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.588, 208.94 vs. 16. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.730, 204.35; 2. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.622, 208.59 vs. 15. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.691, 206.86; 3. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.624, 208.04 vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.682, 205.79; 4. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.626, 207.27 vs. 13. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.679, 206.67; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.629, 208.49 vs. 12. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.659, 208.07; 6. Brian Self, Camaro, 6.635, 208.23 vs. 11. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.658, 207.43; 7. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.635, 207.78 vs. 10. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.647, 208.17; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.636, 209.04 vs. 9. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.636, 208.78.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Val Smeland, 6.779, 203.98.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.860, 196.53 vs. 16. David Hope, Buell, 7.166, 185.74; 2. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.873, 194.35 vs. 15. Gunner Courtney, Suzuki, 7.120, 186.15; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.878, 195.87 vs. 14. Mark Paquette, Victory, 7.086, 186.67; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.879, 195.53 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.011, 191.59; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.885, 194.07 vs. 12. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.007, 189.47; 6. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.887, 194.94 vs. 11. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.982, 191.16; 7. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.892, 194.16 vs. 10. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.957, 191.89; 8. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.900, 193.71 vs. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.914, 193.10.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.196, 187.76.
FRIDAY - TORRENCE, CAPPS, BUTNER AND KRAWIEC LEAD QUALIFYING AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX
Texas native Steve Torrence piloted his Top Fuel dragster to the top of the leaderboard Friday at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
Ron Capps (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fourth of six events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
Torrence, the Top Fuel points leader, raced a 3.682-second pass at 327.51 mph in the final qualifying session. The Kilgore, Texas resident is chasing his first No. 1 qualifier and victory at his home track.
"Going into tomorrow, and ultimately Sunday, confidence is for sure at t all-time high," Torrence said. "It's always good to win at your home track. We've just not been able to do it. It's been elusive. But ultimately, at the end of the day, what we need to do is get points. I've said before I think this championship could be decided by just a few points. To win here would be cool but we just need to go rounds and get points however we need to do it."
The winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, Tony Schumacher, is in second with his 3.692 pass at 327.66 in his U.S. Army dragster. Three-time and defending world champion Antron Brown currently holds the third spot.
Capps powered his Napa Auto Parts Dodger Charger R/T to a 3.872 pass at 329.58 to take the preliminary lead in the Funny Car field.
"For us to go up there and not go down (the track) on that first run and not gain points on Robert, and to have Courtney (Force) get three points on us who's third in points I mean yes, we are counting those little points," Capps said. "We're just trying to get our little points, and get that Mello Yello hat for No. 1 qualifier we haven't had one of those in a long time. It's going to be fun."
Capps' Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Jack Beckman, sits behind him in second after racing his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T to a 3.873 pass at 332.34. Rookie Jonnie Lindberg currently holds the third position.
Butner raced a 6.588 pass 208.94 in his Jim Butner's Auto Chevrolet Camaro during Friday's final qualifying round to sit atop of the Pro Stock ladder.
"We have to get through tomorrow and try to make two good runs," Butner said. "It's almost like showing up to a new track on Sunday, if the weather forecast is correct. Tomorrow is going to be a lot similar to today so we want to learn and get better. We made a fairly good run. We need to stay ahead of the pack."
Butner is trailed by KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson who ran a 6.626 at 207.27 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. Erica Enders, the two-time world champion, is in the third slot.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec, the defending event winner, currently leads the pack with a 6.860 pass at 196.53 on his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson from the first round.
"I made a really clean, very good run off the truck," Krawiec said. "We had the bike, obviously the tune-up, Andrew (Hines) and Matt (Hines), had the tune-up really right on, the chassis set-up was right. I've got to maintain, that's key. Get those little (qualifying) points and just keep moving forward."
Defending world champion Jerry Saovie is in the No. 2 spot with is 6.873 pass at 194.35 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki and Scotty Pollacheck rounds out the top three.
Qualifying at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals continues Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
THURSDAY SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING
COMP (SESSION ONE)
1 590 K/AA Clint Neff, Arvada CO, '32 Bantam 7.528 8.30 -0.772
2 469 BB/A Clark Smiley, Denver City TX, '09 GXP 7.192 7.96 -0.768
3 42 H/EA Kevin Self, Caddo OK, '32 Bantam 8.852 9.56 -0.708
4 43 A/ND Craig Bourgeois, Metarie LA, Haas-Chevy 6.841 7.53 -0.689
5 7 B/DA Troy Galbraith, Indianapolis IN, Spitzer 6.762 7.43 -0.668
6 4548 D/A Keith Mawhee, Carrollton TX, '02 Cavalier 7.716 8.35 -0.634
7 550 A/DA Will Hatcher, Satanta KS, Chassis Craft 6.556 7.17 -0.614
8 51 C/A Don Thomas, Amarillo TX, '09 GXP 7.362 7.96 -0.598
9 440D F/SMA Scott Cashio, Ventress LA, '09 Cobalt 8.665 9.26 -0.595
10 41 D/SM Keith Hall, Ravenna TX, '05 Cavalier 8.448 9.04 -0.592
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SUPER STOCK (SESSION TWO)
1 4615 SS/CM Christopher Dodd, Double Oak TX, '10 Coba 8.425 9.50 -1.075
2 4473 FSS/C Arthur Kohn, Richmond TX, '15 Camaro 8.649 9.65 -1.001
3 45 GT/KA Chris Chaney, Claremore OK, '90 Camaro 9.922 10.90 -0.978
4 4701 SS/KA Jason Stoll, Frederick OK, '88 Firebird 10.286 11.25 -0.964
5 4549 GT/IA Korey Mawhee, Frisco TX, '95 Achieva 9.692 10.65 -0.958
6 373 FSS/B Bill Skillman, Greenwood IN, '17 Mustang 8.249 9.20 -0.951
7 598X SS/JA Tyler Wudarczyk, Wakarusa KS, '88 Camaro 10.066 11.00 -0.934
8 7114 SS/VX Ashlyn Sacchette, Fountain Valley CA, '56 10.666 11.60 -0.934
9 4343 SS/GA Craig Gualtiere, Amarillo TX, '67 Nova 9.617 10.55 -0.933
10 445 GT/IA Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '87 Cam 9.732 10.65 -0.918
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STOCK (FINAL)
1 4000 U/SA Jackie Hibbard, Humble TX, '74 Maverick 13.649 14.85 -1.201
2 7702 T/SA B.J. Graham, Tempe AZ, '75 Mustang 13.221 14.40 -1.179
3 430E FS/AA Erica Enders, Slidell LA, '17 Camaro 8.259 9.40 -1.141
4 4228 FS/F Thomas Marlow, Mesquite TX, '10 Mustang 10.094 11.20 -1.106
5 4311 FS/C Jeff Lopez, Irving TX, '14 Camaro 9.228 10.30 -1.072
6 5250 FS/C Todd Patterson, Augusta KS, '13 Camaro 9.314 10.30 -0.986
7 4133 G/SA Butch Marlow, Canton TX, '69 Camaro 11.043 12.00 -0.957
8 4041 G/SA Verne Buchanan, Conway AR, '73 Mustang 11.085 12.00 -0.915
9 4109 D/S Sheila Holt, Houston TX, '66 Nova 10.588 11.50 -0.912
10 473 FS/C Arthur Kohn, Richmond TX, '14 Camaro 9.398 10.30 -0.902
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TOP DRAGSTER (SESSION 2)
1 4979 Wade Pennington, Ada OK, Monden-Chevy 6.048 231.75 231.75
2 58 Jeff Koron, Hays KS, Undercover-Chevy 6.105 231.48 231.48
3 4030 William Kruse, Alvin TX, Uyehara-BAE 6.105 230.84 230.84
4 45 Danny Nelson, Batesville AR, Racecraft-Bran 6.113 230.29 230.29
5 49 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, ProFab-Chevy 6.164 225.33 225.33
6 479W Wynette Hudgins, Clyde TX, TNT-Chevy 6.177 229.27 229.27
7 492G Wayne Johnson, Kress TX, American-Chevy 6.179 225.56 225.56
8 48 Bob Henry, Owasso OK, RaceTech-Chevy 6.190 222.51 222.51
9 9 J.R. Baxter, Waxahachie TX, Miller-Chevy 6.198 198.93 201.58
10 4746 Mark Jones, Marrero LA, Spitzer-Chevy 6.199 222.77 222.77
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TOP DRAGSTER (SESSION 2)
1 4656 Monte Weaver, Lubbock TX, '63 Corvette 6.370 224.85 224.85
2 44 Allen Firestone, Velma OK, '16 Camaro 6.397 213.67 213.67
3 405 Keith Raftery, Lake Charles LA, '68 Camaro 6.505 211.59 211.59
4 7 Mark McDonald, Boonville IN, '67 Mustang 6.522 209.49 209.49
5 4147 Greg Lair, Canyon TX, '15 Camaro 6.536 215.10 215.62
6 4059 Jim Thorp, Mertzon TX, '17 Camaro 6.557 219.69 219.69
7 406 Glenn Wright, Odessa TX, '12 Camaro 6.621 208.10 208.10
8 38 Tommy Turner, Naples FL, '12 GXP 6.654 211.53 211.53
9 430Y Trent Wilson, Castroville TX, '68 Camaro 6.694 206.10 206.10
10 409 Kamron Wright, Odessa TX, '12 GXP 6.791 202.03 202.03
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