NHRA POWERade Drag Racing returns to Virginia for the first time in five years, bringing nitro-fueled thunder to the hallowed battlegrounds where Civil War cannons once roared. 

 

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SUNDAY FINAL

 

LINE MOVES CLOSER TO CLINCHING FIRST POWERADE PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP; McClenathan and Medlen also earn victories at Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals

 

 

Jason Line raced to his fourth Pro Stock victory of the season Sunday at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals and moved closer to securing his first NHRA POWERade world championship title.Cory McClenathan and Eric Medlen also were winners at the $1.6 million race at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Line, who set a national performance record of 6.558 seconds during the weekend and scored the single race maximum of 138 points, now leads teammate Greg Anderson by 119 points. In the final, the former NASCAR dyno operator drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO to a 6.597 at 208.42 to hold off Tom Martino, who clocked a 6.645 at 207.78, also in a GTO. To advance to the final, Line defeated Erica Enders, Dave Connolly and Anderson in an important semifinal showdown.

“This is such a huge, huge step toward the championship," said Line, who can clinch the title if he scores 20 more points than Anderson at the upcoming ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Oct. 26-29 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"It was tough to race Greg in the semifinals because we all knew what was on the line, but we just raced like we have all year: straight up," continued Line, also the 1993 NHRA Stock Eliminator world champion. "This whole team is special, from the guys at the track to the guys at the shop. It’s good that no matter what, the championship is staying with us."

 McClenathan powered his FRAM Boost dragster to his 29th career victory and fourth at VMP with a final round performance of 4.644 seconds at 304.74 mph to hold off Rod Fuller, whose Valvoline/David Powers Homes dragster lost traction at the start.

McClenathan defeated Dave Grubnic, David Baca and series leader Doug Kalitta to advance to the final.

“Thank God we're racing in Virginia again,” said McClenathan who last won at Atlanta Dragway in 2004. “I love racing here. It’s been a long time, a long struggle. The Carrier Boyz have been great; they never doubted my ability or questioned anything that happened. We just stayed together and went after our goals. This win is for them and all our sponsors. I don’t know that anyone would have picked me at the start of the day to win the race.”

With his semifinal finish Kalitta increased his POWERade Series lead to 83 over Brandon Bernstein and 89 over Tony Schumacher, who lost in the first round.

Medlen earned his second victory of the season and sixth of his career by defeating Cruz Pedregon in the Funny Car final. Medlen’s Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang posted a 4.814 at 301.00, while Pedregon’s Advance Auto Parts Chevy Monte Carlo ran 4.873 at 297.02 in the runner-up effort.

“The only thing that could have been better this whole weekend would have been to race one of my teammates in the final," said Medlen, who beat Tim Wilkerson, Jack Beckman and Scott Kalitta in earlier rounds. "I wish that (countdown to) the championship deal started right now. If it did and this was next year we’d be right in the thick of it. I’ll tell you: There’s nothing better than winning a race in Funny Car.”

Series leader John Force, who received minor burns to both legs when his Castrol GTX Mustang suffered an engine explosion in a semifinal loss to Pedregon, increased his points lead to 46 over first-round loser Ron Capps and 54 over teammate Robert Hight.

 

 

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SATURDAY QUALIFYING

 

 

 

 

SCHUMACHER, MEDLEN AND LINE EARN NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT TORCO RACING FUELS NATIONALS

Tony Schumacher set a single season record Saturday at Virginia Motorsports Park with his 12th No. 1 qualifying effort of the year. Eric Medlen and Jason Line also secured top qualifying spots in their categories at the $1.6 million Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals, the 21st of 23 races in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag RacingSeries.

Schumacher's 12 low qualifiers breaks the mark of 11 he set in 2005. His only challenge for this weekend's top qualifying spot came from Rookie of the Year candidate J.R. Todd, who powered his Skull Shine dragster a 4.528 at 318.39 mph during Saturday's first session. In the end,Schumacher's Friday pass of 4.512 at 313.37 mph in his U.S. Army dragster was enough for his 34th career No. 1 position.

"I always talk about how important these qualifying points are,"Schumacher said. "Look at it this way; Brandon Bernstein has one more round win than me this year but we're more than half a round ahead of him in the points standings. That's solely from qualifying better than him all year. I'd say qualifying points are very important."

In an interesting twist to the Top Fuel championship battle, Schumacher, Bernstein and points leader Doug Kalitta are all on the same side of the 16-car ladder for Sunday's 11 a.m. eliminations.

"This race has become a do-or-die deal in my book," Schumacher said. "It's time for one of us to step up and make a statement. We need to winthis thing, period."

Medlen waited until the second-to-last pairing of qualifying to nudge John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight off the Funny Car podium with a track record time of 4.728 seconds at 311.49 mph in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang. Hight fell to second in his Auto Club Mustang, while team owner and current points leader Force quietly assumed the third position with a 4.765 at 315.78 mph in his Castrol GTX Mustang.

"It's cool to have our three Fords 1-2-3 on the ladder," Medlen said. "We take a lot of pride in that because our job is to put Ford on top and when you have all three cars up there like that I think it's pretty phenomenal, especially in this day and age of drag racing."

Ron Capps, who entered the race one point behind Force in the championship standings, is a distant 13th here with a best of 4.848 at 283.73 mph in his Brut Dodge Charger. He now trails Force by six pointsin the series standings.

For the second race in a row, Line out-performed Summit Racing Pontiac GTO teammate Greg Anderson and put himself in position to claim a Pro Stock national record and 20 bonus points, which could represent a 40-point swing in the championship standings. At the last race, Line stole the record away from Anderson during eliminations. Here he did it
during the second day of qualifying, setting both ends of the national record with a performance of 6.571 at 209.49 mph to lead the quickest field ever.

"That record might not stay with me," Line said. "Greg could easily take it away. I know that car can go quicker and faster than it did today. It'll all depend on the conditions we see tomorrow. I know the mindseton our team is to go as fast as we can every round. We don't change that in eliminations."

First-round pairings for professional eliminations
Sunday for the Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia
Motorprorts Park, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which
ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.512 seconds, 313.37 mph vs. 16. David
Baca, 4.661, 305.70; 2. J.R. Todd, 4.528, 318.47 vs. 15. Bobby Lagana
Jr., 4.645, 305.01; 3. Rod Fuller, 4.543, 317.79 vs. 14. Doug Herbert,
4.642, 305.70; 4. Doug Kalitta, 4.549, 313.73 vs. 13. Hillary Will,
4.634, 307.72; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.552, 319.75 vs. 12. Morgan
Lucas, 4.601, 311.70; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.557, 318.77 vs. 11. Steve
Torrence, 4.593, 316.82; 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.567, 308.64 vs. 10. Troy
Buff, 4.586, 311.49; 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.569, 321.73 vs. 9. David
Grubnic, 4.581, 310.91.

Funny Car -- 1. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.728, 311.49 vs. 16. Tim
Wilkerson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.883, 303.30; 2. Robert Hight, Mustang,
4.751, 311.05 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.882, 306.12; 3. John
Force, Mustang, 4.765, 315.78 vs. 14. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.852,
307.44; 4. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.770, 310.77 vs. 13. Ron
Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.848, 302.21; 5. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 4.784,
307.09 vs. 12. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.844, 302.08; 6. Tony Pedregon,
Monte Carlo, 4.788, 312.28 vs. 11. Mike Ashley, Charger, 4.838, 302.01;
7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.788, 308.92 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon,
Monte Carlo, 4.833, 307.16; 8. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.815, 309.42
vs. 9. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.831, 304.87.

Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.571, 209.49 vs. 16. Erica
Enders, Dodge Stratus, 6.630, 208.20; 2. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.584,
209.17 vs. 15. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.625, 207.02; 3. Kenny Koretsky, Chevy
Cobalt, 6.594, 208.84 vs. 14. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.623, 208.01; 4.
Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.594, 208.94 vs. 13. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.623,
207.98; 5. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.601, 207.88 vs. 12. Mike Edwards,
GTO, 6.615, 209.10; 6. Tommy Lee, Cobalt, 6.602, 208.17 vs. 11. Tom
Martino, GTO, 6.615, 208.71; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.604, 208.49 vs.
10. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.614, 207.62; 8. Dave Connolly, Cobalt,
6.612, 208.91 vs. 9. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.613, 209.01.

 

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FRIDAY QUALIFYING

 

ANDERSON POSTS MILESTONE PERFORMANCE AT TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS

 

Greg Anderson made drag racing history Friday when he recorded the sport's first 6.5-second Pro Stock pass. Anderson covered Virginia Motorsports Park's quarter-mile track in 6.598 seconds to lead qualifying at the $1.6 million Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher and Robert Hight are the other provisional qualifyingleaders at the event, the 21st of 23 races in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series.

A potential national record, Anderson's mark could be worth 20championship points if it holds through the weekend. Currently, Anderson trails Summit Racing Pontiac GTO teammate Jason Line by 56 points forthe top spot in the POWERade standings. Line is second here with a 6.602at 209.26 mph, the fastest Pro Stock speed in history.

"It's a lot of fun to race under conditions like this," Anderson said. "Everyone in the pits is smiling because everyone just ran their personal bests. Whenever you do that, you've accomplished something and we're all there."

Anchored by Virginian Jim Yates' 6.658, the Pro Stock class has set its quickest field ever for the second race in a row.

Schumacher's 4.512 at 313.37 mph in his U.S. Army dragster came in thefirst Top Fuel session. If Schumacher's top qualifying effort holds it would be his 12th of the season, an NHRA record.

"It's a brand-new track for all of us, basically," Schumacher said. "I can't even remember running here. They've repaved it and it's different than it was, but we came out and went 4.51. Perfect. The weather is supposed to be great tomorrow so I can't see that 4.51 holding. We should be way quicker. We'll be in the 4.40s for sure. You couldn't ask for better air. Everyone is running great."

Rookie of the Year candidate and three-time season winner J.R. Todd was one of the drivers to improve in the cool night air of the second session, posting a 4.534 at 313.68 mph to move up to second place in his Skull Shine dragster. POWERade Series leader Doug Kalitta is fourth with a 4.549, which he posted on the last run of the day in his Mac Tools dragster.
Hight, who has had the best Funny Car in posting final round appearances at the last three races, including two victories, continues to dominatein his Auto Club Ford Mustang, racing to the provisional pole with a4.751 at 311.05 mph.

Hight leads his category with eight No. 1 qualifying performances this season, and hopes to make it nine tomorrow.

"We had to stay aggressive with the tune-up because the track was goodand the conditions were great," said Hight, whose car lost traction in the first round.

"If we had tried to back it down it would have shook the tires. As usual, Jimmy [Prock, crew chief] came through with theperfect tune-up and it went right down through there."

Eric Medlen and John Force followed Hight on the ladder, making it a clean sweep for John Force Racing. Medlen was second with a 4.757 at 310.41 mph in his Castrol Syntec Mustang, while Force had a 4.765 at315.70 mph in his Castrol GTX Mustang.

Championship contender Ron Capps' machine lost traction in the quicker evening session and dropped to 10th on the grid with his opening pass of 4.867 in his Brut Revolution Dodge Charger.

Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at noon and 2:30 p.m. for Sunday's 11 a.m. eliminations.

Results Friday after qualifying for the Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorprorts Park, 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.512 seconds, 313.37 mph; 2. J.R. Todd,
4.534, 318.47; 3. Rod Fuller, 4.543, 317.79; 4. Doug Kalitta, 4.549,
313.73; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.552, 317.57; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.557,
314.75; 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.567, 290.19; 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.569,
321.73; 9. David Grubnic, 4.581, 310.91; 10. Morgan Lucas, 4.601,
311.70; 11. Hillary Will, 4.634, 307.72; 12. Troy Buff, 4.647, 291.89;
13. Steve Torrence, 4.656, 316.82; 14. David Baca, 4.672, 305.70; 15.
Scott Weis, 4.683, 311.56; 16. Clay Millican, 4.721, 297.02.

Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.751, 311.05; 2. Eric
Medlen, Mustang, 4.757, 310.41; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.765, 315.78;
4. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 4.784, 307.09; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy
Monte Carlo, 4.813, 306.33; 6. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.831,
304.87; 7. Mike Ashley, Charger, 4.838, 302.01; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger,
4.844, 302.08; 9. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.852, 307.44; 10. Ron
Capps, Charger, 4.867, 302.21; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.885,
303.30; 12. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.890, 304.67; 13. Tony
Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.923, 296.70; 14. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo,
4.937, 260.31; 15. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.985, 250.27; 16. Frank
Pedregon, Stratus, 5.039, 264.80.

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.598, 208.94; 2. Jason
Line, GTO, 6.602, 209.26; 3. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.605, 208.49; 4.
Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.605, 207.75; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy
Cobalt, 6.613, 209.01; 6. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.614, 207.46; 7. Jeg
Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.618, 208.49; 8. Tom Martino, GTO, 6.622, 208.17; 9.
Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.623, 207.82; 10. Erica Enders, Stratus, 6.630,
207.75; 11. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.638, 207.40; 12. Kenny Koretsky,
Stratus, 6.641, 208.26; 13. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.643, 207.46; 14. V.
Gaines, Stratus, 6.652, 207.91; 15. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.652, 207.18;
16. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.658, 207.02.

 

 

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RESCHEDULED WEEKEND -

 

RAIN-DELAYED TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS SET TO GO THIS WEEKEND AT VMP
 
NHRA POWERade Series world championship battles will resume in three professional categories this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park during the rain-delayed Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals. Heavy rains that saturated the Mid-Atlantic region last weekend forced NHRA officials to move the $1.6 million event to Oct. 13-15. The race, which will be telecast on ESPN2 HD (Sunday, 7-9:30 p.m. ET), is the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The event marks a return to the NHRA POWERade Series schedule for Virginia Motorsports Park after a five-year hiatus. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) were winners at VMP in 2000, the last time the track hosted the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body.
 
NHRA POWERade Series points races are intense in all three professional categories that are scheduled to compete here. Doug Kalitta holds a 52 point lead over Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel, while Brandon Bernstein is third, 62 points back.
 
“With only three races left this year, every single point counts, so we certainly want to qualify well and hopefully go some rounds," said Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools dragster who has earned a category-leading five victories this year. “We should see some great performances at VMP. The track is very close to sea level and the weather is supposed to be cool. I know our Mac Tools team will be trying to put up some big numbers for the fans.”
 
In Funny Car, 13-time world champ Force holds a 1 point lead over Ron Capps. However, the hottest driver in the class may be Robert Hight, winner of two of the last three events. Hight sits 35 points back in third place.
 
"We've got a car that can win this thing," said Hight, who drives the Jimmy Prock-tuned Auto Club Ford Mustang in the Force Racing stable. "Now we have momentum and we control our own destiny. That's all we could ask for."
 
Jason Line leads three-time defending world champ and KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson by 56 points in Pro Stock.
 
Anderson will have to be on his game to wrestle the series lead away from Line, who recently lowered the national E.T. record to 6.609 seconds at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO.
 
“When racing does get underway, I have to have a perfect weekend if I’m going to catch up to Jason," said Anderson, a three-time winner this season in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO. "No, make that a perfect three races. And while most people think either Jason or I have it locked up, we can’t forget that there are still several other drivers with a chance at the championship. That’s why I’ve got to be at the top of my game. There’s no room for a bad race.”
 
Pro qualifying sessions are set for 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday, and noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
 
Tickets are available by calling Virginia Motorsports Park at (804) 862-3174. The value of tickets purchased for last weekend's rainout will be honored at this weekend's race, or next season's event.

 

 

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SATURDAY -

 

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FRIDAY -

 

FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT VMP CANCELED DUE TO RAIN SHOWERS

Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to cancel Friday's racing at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.The $1.6 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, marks the first time NHRA has held an event at the quarter-mile drag strip near Richmond, Va. since 2000. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin( Pro Stock) earned victories here that season.
Weather permitting, two rounds of pro qualifying will be held Saturday (noon and 3 p.m.) to set the 16-car fields in the three pro categories for Sunday's 11 a.m. eliminations.

The value of tickets purchased for Friday's racing can be applied to tickets for Saturday and Sunday or next season's event.
 

 

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