2020 NHRA INDY NATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
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SUNDAY - CAPPS GETS FIRST INDY WIN, JOINS S. TORRENCE, J. COUGHLIN JR. AND SAMPEY IN WINNER’S CIRCLE AT DODGE NHRA INDY NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory on Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil and also giving the longtime standout a win at every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and third straight at Indy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capps won for the first time in 2020 and 65th time in his career with a final-round run of 4.110-seconds at 294.63 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat J.R. Todd in a battle of former world champs. It also gives Don Schumacher Racing its seventh straight Funny Car win and the organization its 349th overall win. Capps beat Tim Wilkerson, Blake Alexander and Bob Tasca III to reach his first final round of the year, leading to a memorable celebration after the first-time Indy win.
"We've been coming here 23 years and I've never won at this track,” Capps said. “For a driver to say he has won on every track on the (NHRA) circuit, that tells you the talent that is around Don Schumacher, Dodge, Pennzoil, (and) especially NAPA Auto Parts. That's a huge accomplishment. I'm so proud to drive that race car. We've been coming to Indy so many years.
“My wife lives this dream through me. I get emotional here, but she understands the mood swings when you don't do well and you go home and it's something we love to do. It's the best job in the world. Our family members have been coming here for years wanting to be here when I won Indy. I'm so bummed they're not here, but this (trophy) is going back and it might be a week-long party. I can guarantee you that.”
Todd reached the final round for the first time in 2020 and 34th overall with victories against Mike McIntire, Cruz Pedregon and Paul Lee.
Defending and back-to-back Top Fuel world champ Torrence picked up his second win of the year and 38th overall in unconventional fashion on Sunday, outlasting Terry McMillen in the finals with a run of 4.273 at 224.17 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. Torrence smoked the tires and pedaled the car late in the run, but held off McMillen, who was late on the starting line. It gave Torrence his first victory since the NHRA restart last month, advancing to the final round after victories against Luigi Novelli, Justin Ashley and Leah Pruett.
“I’m not the best at pedaling one of these things, but I try to do my job,” Torrence said. “We go out there and we knocked the tire off, and it kind of surprised me, but I did the best I could do. All the guys at Capco, thank you for supporting us and I got my head out of my butt. We’re headed home with another Wally and it’s a blessing to be able to come back out here and get to enjoy what we enjoy doing. We just love to race.”
McMillen, who qualified in the No. 1 spot for the first time in his career, beat Lex Joon, Billy Torrence and points leader Doug Kalitta to reach the final round for the ninth time.
In Pro Stock, it was an all-Coughlin final round, as five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove past nephew and first-time Pro Stock finalist Troy Coughlin Jr. in the championship round with a 6.680 at 206.92 in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro. It gave the points leader his second win of the year and 65th in his career. Jeg Coughlin, who is retiring from full-time action following the season, knocked off Val Smeland, Elite Motorsports teammate Alex Laughlin and longtime rival Greg Anderson to reach his 114th final and first against his nephew.
“This is huge, without question,” Jeg Coughlin said. “I’ve loved having Troy Jr. coming with us week in, week out and I knew I would have my hands full with him in the finals. We’ve been pretty good and what a weekend. We’re going to celebrate and we’re looking forward to getting to the next race.”
Making just his second career NHRA Pro Stock start, Troy Coughlin beat fellow class rookie Kyle Koretsky, teammate and defending world champ Erica Enders and Jason Line, who won the previous race.
It was an emotional scene in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as Sampey picked up her first win since 2016 and 43rd overall, going 6.880 at 196.07 in the final round on her Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson EBR to beat Chris Bostick. Sampey, who celebrated her birthday on Friday, won for the third time at Indy. She knocked off Steve Johnson, defending world champion Andrew Hines and Scotty Pollacheck to reach the final round, adding another victory in her impressive career as the NHRA’s winningest female competitor.
“I just tried to stay calm,” said Sampey, who had a .001 reaction time in the finals. “I didn’t know if we were going to get the bike fixed and I just said I’m going to stay calm. They got it fixed and thank you to Vance & Hines and Harley-Davidson. I told you I was going to do this.”
Bostick played the underdog role well on Sunday, reaching his first career final round with wins against Angie Smith, Ryan Oehler, who won the previous race in Indy, and multi-time champ Eddie Krawiec.
SATURDAY - TOP FUEL’S MCMILLEN EARNS FIRST CAREER NO. 1, JOINED BY TOP QUALIFIERS JOHNSON JR., LINE AND M. SMITH AT DODGE NHRA INDY NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
Veteran Top Fuel driver Terry McMillen qualified No. 1 for the first time in his NHRA career on Saturday, powering to the top spot during the final qualifying session of the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and third straight at Indy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McMillen, who has two career victories, jumped from 14th to the No. 1 position with a run of 3.807-seconds at 312.28 mph on his final pass of the day in his 11,000-horsepower AMALIE Motor Oil dragster. He will take on Lex Joon to open eliminations, looking for his first win of 2020.
“This is amazing,” McMillen said. “We know we’ve got a really good car right now and to finally get that green hat (for the No. 1 qualifier), there’s nothing like it. Tomorrow is race day and it’s a different day, but going into the show everyone knows we’re No. 1. More importantly, my team is going to have something to remember because this was just an awesome day.”
Defending world champion Steve Torrence qualified second in Top Fuel with a 3.814 at 321.81 and Leah Pruett was third with a 3.840 at 318.02. Points leader Doug Kalitta starts eliminations from the 12th spot after going 4.007 at 275.96 in qualifying.
Johnson stayed hot in Funny Car action, qualifying No. 1 for the second time in three races with his pass of 3.976 at 318.54 in his 11,000-horsepower MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It is the 20th career top spot for Johnson, who hasn’t qualified outside of the top two since the NHRA restart last month. He will face Alexis DeJoria to kick off eliminations and is looking for his second victory of the 2020 campaign. Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan, who advanced to the final round at the most recent race, is second after going 3.982 at 320.81 and DSR made it a clean sweep in the top three after Ron Capps went 3.987 at 317.05. Points leader Jack Beckman qualified in the 15th spot.
Coming off a victory at the most recent Pro Stock race, which was at the first event of the NHRA restart in Indy, Line qualified in the top spot in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday, going 6.574 at 208.75. Line, who is retiring from Pro Stock competition following the season, earned his second straight No. 1 qualifier and 57th of his career. He will meet Robert River to begin eliminations. Teammate Greg Anderson is a spot behind after going 6.592 at 208.46 and points leader Jeg Coughlin Jr. qualified third with a 6.593 at 206.42.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith rode to the top spot with a run of 6.807 at 199.23 on his Denso/Stockseth/MSR EBR. It gives Smith his 39th career qualifier and he will race Kelly Clontz in the first round of eliminations. Smith, who is second in points, is looking for his first win of the 2020 season after advancing to the final round at the first race of the PSM year, which took place last month in Indy. Eddie Krawiec took the second spot thanks to his 6.817 at 199.08, while Ryan Oehler, the current points leader and winner of the opening race of 2020, starts from third after going 6.840 at 197.71.
In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars this weekend, Khalid AlBalooshi drove to the No. 1 spot for the second straight race in his ProCharger-powered Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro with a run of 5.761 at 251.72. The former world champ will meet Chip King to open eliminations. Jason Scruggs qualified second with a 5.811 at 249.81 and reigning world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson is a spot behind with his 5.788 at 247.47.
Eliminations for the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday. Television coverage includes live action on the FOX national broadcast network starting at 1 p.m.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the Inaugural Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, the fifth of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Terry McMillen, 3.807 seconds, 312.28 mph vs. 16. Lex Joon, 4.444, 189.58; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.814, 321.81 vs. 15. Luigi Novelli, 4.358, 206.42; 3. Leah Pruett, 3.840, 318.02 vs. 14. Shawn Langdon, 4.187, 216.69; 4. Clay Millican, 3.841, 313.22 vs. 13. Joe Morrison, 4.146, 273.83; 5. Cory McClenathan, 3.864, 317.49 vs. 12. Doug Kalitta, 4.007, 275.96; 6. Doug Foley, 3.868, 312.28 vs. 11. Pat Dakin, 3.967, 308.28; 7. Antron Brown, 3.868, 311.41 vs. 10. Justin Ashley, 3.957, 308.43; 8. Billy Torrence, 3.907, 318.24 vs. 9. Terry Totten, 3.933, 289.88.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Kyle Wurtzel, 4.818, 153.54; 18. Kim Davidson, 5.589, 116.41.
Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.976, 318.54 vs. 16. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 5.134, 145.64; 2. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.982, 320.81 vs. 15. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.621, 179.90; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.987, 317.05 vs. 14. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.516, 189.95; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.988, 316.38 vs. 13. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.314, 236.05; 5. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.004, 317.05 vs. 12. Mike McIntire, Camry, 4.288, 223.99; 6. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.074, 308.92 vs. 11. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.252, 292.14; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.108, 255.97 vs. 10. Bob Bode, Mustang, 4.173, 250.18; 8. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.122, 280.60 vs. 9. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.165, 267.64.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.574, 208.75 vs. 16. Robert River, Chevy Cobalt, 6.839, 202.00; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.592, 208.46 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.673, 208.49; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.593, 206.42 vs. 14. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.655, 208.33; 4. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.594, 208.88 vs. 13. Troy Coughlin Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.643, 205.66; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.599, 209.14 vs. 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.631, 208.49; 6. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.603, 207.02 vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.625, 208.65; 7. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.605, 209.07 vs. 10. Bruno Massel, Camaro, 6.622, 206.86; 8. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.606, 208.42 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.609, 207.72.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Alan Prusiensky, 7.217, 176.65; 18. Mason McGaha, 18.524, 44.40.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.807, 199.23 vs. 16. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 19.336, 33.96; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.817, 199.08 vs. 15. Tiffany Butler, 7.526, 176.77; 3. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.840, 197.71 vs. 14. David Barron, EBR, 7.165, 186.43; 4. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.847, 195.00 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.141, 190.54; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.855, 196.93 vs. 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 7.072, 192.60; 6. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.878, 196.50 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.987, 192.19; 7. John Hall, Suzuki, 6.888, 194.44 vs. 10. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.938, 195.76; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.889, 198.79 vs. 9. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.914, 194.66.
Pro Modified -- 1. Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.729, 251.67 vs. 16. Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.917, 244.47; 2. Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.749, 251.86 vs. 15. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 5.914, 204.08; 3. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.788, 247.47 vs. 14. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.909, 244.34; 4. Jeff Jones, Chevy Corvette, 5.794, 249.81 vs. 13. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.882, 247.66; 5. Chad Green, Corvette, 5.795, 250.51 vs. 12. Jim Whiteley, 5.855, 241.71; 6. Steve Matusek, Ford Mustang, 5.799, 253.80 vs. 11. Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.851, 255.82; 7. Brandon Pesz, Camaro, 5.826, 247.93 vs. 10. Bo Butner, Camaro, 5.848, 247.66; 8. Jeffery Barker, Camaro, 5.828, 249.67 vs. 9. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.838, 250.13.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Brandon Snider, 5.931, 240.68; 18. Justin Jones, 5.948, 226.92; 19. Todd Tutterow, 6.019, 243.50; 20. Doug Winters, 8.103, 112.98.
FRIDAY - NHRA DIV 3 LODRS/REGIONAL RESULTS
The following are Friday's Alcohol qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, North Central Division event at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Rachel Meyer, Mount Vernon, Mo., 5.220 seconds, 280.43 mph
2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.277, 274.83
3) Jackie Fricke, Flemington, N.J., 5.332, 271.30
4) Mick Steele, Kodak, Tenn., 5.463, 264.65
5) Will Smith, Northport, Ala., 5.482, 261.17
6) Krista Baldwin, Pittsboro, Ind., 5.869, 259.46
7) Brandon Greco, Roscoe, Pa., 6.838, 102.40
8) Mike Bucher, Columbia Station, Ohio, 7.419, 105.28
Not Qualified
9) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 11.250, 83.85
10) Julie Nataas, Santa Monica, Calif., 20.560, 21.43
11) Shawn Cowie, Langley, B.C., (no time)
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Ray Drew, Hales Corners, Wis., '14 Mustang, 5.629 seconds, 256.02 mph
2) Rob Pfeister, Bedford, Ky., '04 Camaro, 5.913, 239.44
3) Chip Beverett, Portage, Ind., '18 Camaro, 5.990, 248.25
4) Phil Esz, Amelia, Ohio, '17 Camaro, 6.792, 169.85
5) Aryan Rochon, Dade City, Fla., '18 Camaro, 7.581, 112.75
6) Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, '19 Camaro, 8.293, 159.83
7) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '19 Camaro, 10.146, 84.44
8) DJ Cox Jr., Whiteford, Md., '19 Camaro, 14.017, 61.02
Not Qualified
9) Jonnie Lindberg, Brownsburg, Ind., '16 Camaro, (no time)
10) Chris Foster, Davenport, Iowa, '16 Monte Carlo, (no time)
THURSDAY - NHRA DIV 3 LODRS/ REGIONAL RESULTS
The following are Thursday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, North Central Division event at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis:
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '14 Camaro, I/AA, 8.011 seconds, -0.649 (under index)
2) Sean Dodd, Double Oak, Texas, '06 Cobalt, C/EA, 8.063, -0.637
3) Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., dragster, C/DA, 6.939, -0.621
4) Todd Frantz, Louisville, Ky., dragster, A/EA, 7.307, -0.603
5) Ed Bennett, Carleton, Mich., dragster, A/D, 6.441, -0.599
6) Scott Chamness, Kankakee, Ill., dragster, B/D, 6.673, -0.597
7) Terry Smith, Liberty Twp, Ohio, dragster, A/DA, 6.486, -0.584
8) Chad Voges, Saint Peters, Mo., '32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.610, -0.570
9) Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., dragster, D/D, 7.233, -0.567
10) Gary Coccaro, Panama City, Fla., '10 Colbalt, H/AA, 8.675, -0.545
SUPER STOCK
1) Don Kennedy, Portland, Tenn., '05 Sunfire, GT/EA, 9.102 seconds, -0.998 (under index)
2) Lisa Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., '90 Sunbird, GT/LA, 10.093, -0.957
3) Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., '87 Camaro, GT/IA, 9.695, -0.955
4) Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '05 S-10, SS/TB, 8.945, -0.955
5) Irvin Johns, Memphis, Ind., '08 Cobalt, GT/FA, 9.299, -0.951
6) Drew Skillman, Greenwood, Ind., '10 Mustang, FSS/C, 8.707, -0.943
7) Ernie Neal, Columbus, Ind., '05 Cavalier, GT/G, 9.263, -0.937
8) Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., '06 Colbalt, GT/HA, 9.573, -0.927
9) Jeff Bryson, Washington, Ill., '02 Alero, GT/QA, 10.833, -0.917
10) Christopher Dodd, Double Oak, Texas, '08 Cobalt, GT/EA, 9.190, -0.910
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Patrick Downing, Petersburg, Mich., '10 Mustang, FS/J, 10.803 seconds, -0.997 (under index)
2) Julie Biermann, Xenia, Ohio, '68 Firebird, D/SA, 10.566, -0.984
3) Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., '15 Camaro, B/SA, 10.304, -0.946
4) Randi Lyn Shipp, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '67 Firebird, D/SA, 10.620, -0.930
5) Wayne Stephenson, Westfield, Ind., '79 LeBaron, K/SA, 11.727, -0.923
6) Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., '15 Camaro, C/SA, 10.489, -0.911
7) Lyn Smith, Pontiac, Ill., '73 Century, I/SA, 11.391, -0.909
8) Ben Wenzel, Freeland, Mich., '67 Camaro, C/S, 10.448, -0.902
9) Craig Saurbaugh, Grand Haven, Mich., '66 Nova, F/S, 10.918, -0.882
10) Doug Duell, Newburgh, Ind., '69 Barracuda, C/SA, 10.519, -0.881
OAKLEY MOTORSPORTS TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Jimmy Fallon, Trenton, Ohio, '68 Camaro, 6.287 seconds, 223.65 mph
2) Kynon Dinkel, Terre Haute, Ind., '04 Cavalier, 6.318, 222.44
3) Tom Stultz, Terre Haute, Ind., '68 Firebird, 6.404, 215.37
4) Lester Johnson, Cynthiana, Ky., '55 Bel Air, 6.423, 235.15
5) Glenn Butcher, Doylestown, Ohio, '69 Camaro, 6.560, 207.27
6) Belva Brinegar, Middletown, Ohio, '03 Mustang, 6.567, 210.28
7) Gary Wojnowski Jr., Brunswick, Ohio, '09 Cobalt, 6.578, 212.90
8) Billy Thoman, Mt Washington, Ky., '63 Corvette, 6.579, 210.37
9) Curt Fredrich, Burlington, Wis., '68 Camaro, 6.586, 210.60
10) Vince Nannini, Lake Bluff, Ind., '97 Cutlass, 6.604, 210.70
OAKLEY MOTORSPORTS TOP DRAGSTER
1) David Nation, Mound City, Kan., dragster, 6.104 seconds, 224.36 mph
2) Tom Elliott, Brooks, Ky., dragster, 6.112, 224.28
3) Pascal Lecompte, New Baltimore, Mich., dragster, 6.130, 231.75
4) JB Strassweg, Evansville, Ind., dragster, 6.135, 219.90
5) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, dragster, 6.138, 223.62
6) Al Peavler, Olney, Ill., dragster, 6.149, 209.01
7) Aaron Stanfield, Bossier, La., dragster, 6.175, 222.58
8) Zach Sackman, Channahon, Ill., dragster, 6.176, 223.95
9) Danny Nelson, Batesville, Ark., dragster, 6.197, 227.31
10) Al Kenny, Kuntztown, Pa., dragster, 6.213, 221.20
