NHRA READING NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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EVENT FINAL - BECKMAN GETS SECOND WIN OF SEASON; SCHUMACHER, COUGHLIN, SMITH ALSO FIND WINNERS CIRCLE AT MAPLE GROVE
In a final round that matched teacher against student, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman raced to his second win of the season at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.
Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin, and Matt Smith also were winners at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Beckman drove his Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.183-second run at 291.57 mph past Frank Hawley for his first win at Maple Grove. Hawley, who owns a drag racing school, employs Beckman as a drag racing instructor.
“Racing Frank Hawley was huge,” said Beckman. “It’s like a little league pitcher that’s 
just a huge fan of the sport and they bring up Mickey Mantle to play ball with you. Frank has meant so much to the sport and having him back in the sport is only going to make it better.”
The weekend ended with all 10 spots in the Funny Car Countdown to the Championship playoffs claimed. By the end of the weekend, John and Ashley Force, Gary Densham, Beckman, Mike Neff and Ron Capps had all received their invitations.
In yet another dominant performance, Schumacher drove his dragster to a 3.845 at 313.88. It was Schumacher’s 10th win of the season and fifth consecutive win. The win also moved Schumacher within one win of Top Fuel legend Joe Amato, who holds the all- time wins record at 52.
“This has simply been incredible,” said Schumacher. “There really aren’t any words to describe it. It has been a gift of a year. Of all the years, this has been the most dominant we’ve ever been. It’s just an awesome car.”
Doug Herbert clinched his spot in the Countdown to 1, while ninth and 10th place drivers Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta, Kalitta Motorsports teammates, sit in the final two open spots in the category. Those final invitations will be issued after the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two weeks.
In Pro Stock, Cagnazzi teammates Jeg Coughlin and Dave Connolly met in the final round, but it was Coughlin who drove his Chevy Cobalt to an easy win at 6.650 at 206.39 after Connolly fouled out on the starting line. It was Coughlin’s second win of the season and 40th of his career.
“We were pretty fortunate here today,” said Coughlin. “To have Kurt Johnson and Dave Connolly both go red against you isn’t something you expect and we’ll take it, that’s for sure.”
Though Connolly finished second in the event, he clinched his spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs along with Mike Edwards and V Gaines.
Smith grabbed his fourth win of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his Buell to a 6.957 at 188.81 past runner-up Angelle Sampey.
“We had the fastest bike every round today,” said Smith. “We got over the transmission problems that we had Saturday and we really got it done today.”
Sampey, Matt Guidera, Eddie Krawiec, and Chris Rivas all clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1.
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Sunday's final results from the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The race is the 17th of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
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SATURDAY FINAL QUALIFYING -ANDERSON STEALS TOP SPOT FROM TEAMMATE; SCHUMACHER, PEDREGON, SMITH STAY NO. 1 IN READING
Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top spot from teammate Jason Line as qualifying came to an end at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.
Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, and Matt Smith remained No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
After watching his teammate take the No. 1 spot during Friday night qualifying, Anderson drove his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP to an impressive 6.611-second run at 208.84 mph in the heat of the day. It’s Anderson’s fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 67th of his career and fourth in Reading.
“The competition level in this Pro Stock class is absolutely the best it’s ever been,” said Anderson. “If you can be number one and three like (Jason and I) are, then you’ve really had a good run in qualifying and that really gets the whole team pumped up.”
Schumacher stayed in the top spot in Top Fuel after he drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.816-second pass at 316.67 mph to take the top spot in the category. It’s Schumacher’s sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 53rd of his career and sixth at Maple Grove.
“I feel great,” said Schumacher. “This track has always been one of those tracks where you can set low E.T. when it’s cloudy and cool, then its very difficult to get down the track when it’s hot out and we just did that twice.”
In Funny Car, Pedregon drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to a 4.109-second pass at 299 mph to take the top spot. It’s Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 35th of his career and second at Maple Grove Raceway.
“My main focus was to try to make another respectable run,” said Pedregon. “I think that run was good. We can’t be too complacent or over-confident. We know that every round we race tomorrow we’re going to be digging in.”
Smith kept the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.909 at 192.38. It’s Smith’s third of the season, 10th of his career and second consecutive No. 1 qualifier.
“I’m not worried about myself, I’m just worried if it’s going to shift or not,” said Smith, who struggled to get down the track during Saturday qualifying. “We have to just go back and tear the whole bike apart and find out what’s going on.”
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 17th 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, 3.816 seconds, 316.67 mph vs. Bye; 2. Rod Fuller, 3.861, 310.77 vs. 15. Doug Kalitta, 4.088, 309.77; 3. Doug Herbert, 3.884, 309.13 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.006, 289.76; 4. J.R. Todd, 3.888, 310.55 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.966, 297.81; 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.889, 307.16 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.931, 301.60; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.889, 307.72 vs. 11. Doug Foley, 3.931, 305.49; 7. Antron Brown, 3.892, 308.28 vs. 10. Cory McClenathan, 3.920, 306.53; 8.
Hillary Will, 3.894, 311.49 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.899, 310.63.
Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.109, 299.00 vs. 16. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.229, 287.41; 2. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.128, 302.41 vs. 15. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.225, 290.94; 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.134, 298.40 vs. 14. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.204, 290.32; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.137, 300.53 vs. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.189, 297.29; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.139, 300.73 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.169, 295.14; 6. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.143, 299.13 vs. 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.166, 296.76; 7. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.144, 298.60 vs. 10. Jim Head, Solara, 4.157, 285.71; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.144, 295.72 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.157, 294.82.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Gary Scelzi, 4.240, 296.89; 18. Matt Hagan, 4.262, 284.45; 19. Tony Bartone, 4.831, 288.21; 20. Jerry Toliver, 5.651, 285.17.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.611, 208.84 vs. 16. Rickie Jones, Dodge Stratus, 6.679, 206.29; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.614, 208.91 vs. 15. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.679, 207.02; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 208.91 vs. 14. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.670, 206.73; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.621, 207.88 vs. 13. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.654, 207.66; 5. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.639, 208.07 vs. 12. Richie Stevens, GXP, 6.653, 206.61; 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.642,
207.78 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.652, 207.72; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.646, 207.50 vs. 10. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.651, 207.50; 8. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.650, 207.88 vs. 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.651, 208.75.
Did Not Qualify: 17. John Nobile, 6.686, 207.40; 18. Dave Northrop, 6.686, 206.67; 19. Johnny Gray, 6.696, 206.54; 20. Gene Wilson, 6.706, 206.29; 21. Jim Cunningham, 6.792, 202.06; 22. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.873, 200.14; 23. Max Naylor, 14.177, 202.85.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.909, 192.38 vs. 16. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.066, 187.08; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.916, 193.88 vs. 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.065, 191.89; 3. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.941, 191.59 vs. 14. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.062, 185.08; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.943, 192.63 vs. 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.052, 188.04; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.955, 193.88 vs. 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.044, 189.98; 6. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.964, 190.65 vs. 11. Wes Wells, Suzuki, 7.033, 190.67; 7. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.972, 192.77 vs. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.996, 191.54; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.980, 191.46 vs. 9. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.991, 192.85.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Berry, broke.
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FRIDAY - SCHUMACHER TAKES PROVISIONAL TOP SPOT; PEDREGON, LINE, SMITH ALSO PROVISIONAL NO. 1 QUALIFIERS AT MAPLE GROVE
Cruz Pedregon, Jason Line and Matt Smith also were No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Schumacher drove his U.S. Army dragster to a strong 3.816-second pass at 316.67 mph to take the top spot in the category. It would be Schumacher’s sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 53rd of his career and sixth at Maple Grove.
“I knew that Alan (Johnson, crew chief) wasn’t going to go easy,” said Schumacher. “He was going to go out there and try to run what the track would take, which is the only way he knows how to run these things, you know, go all out and it was great.”
In Funny Car, Cruz Pedregon drove his Advanced Auto Parts Toyota Solara to a 4.109-second pass at 299 mph to take the provisional top spot. It would be Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 35th of his career second at Maple Grove Raceway.
“That’s a solid run,” said Pedregon. “It pulled the entire run. I just can’t thank the team enough. We were working on not spinning the tires in the middle but in the process Rahn (Tobler, crew chief) did step it up down low so it ran really good early and we were able to carry it through.”
Jason Line ran the quickest time in the Pro Stock category, driving his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.639 at 207.40. It would be Line’s third No. 1 qualifier of the season, 16th of his career and second at Maple Grove.
“We’ll see whether (that time) stands up or not,” said Line. “I think the weather’s going to be better tomorrow and I seriously doubt that it will hold but if it does, great, and if it doesn’t, I think we can go faster than we did today too.”
Points leader Greg Anderson sits third in the field while defending event winner Dave Connolly is 10th.
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith had the fastest run on
“The conditions are pretty good,” said Smith. “The track’s really tight and I think a lot of people missed it on the first pass. We hit it pretty good. We’d tweaked the tune up just a bit and went a little faster so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Points leader Andrew Hines sits sixth while defending event winner Matt Guidera is 11th.
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday’s eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
ANDERSON STEALS TOP SPOT FROM TEAMMATE; SCHUMACHER, PEDREGON, SMITH STAY NO. 1 IN READING
Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top spot from teammate Jason Line as qualifying came to an end at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.
Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, and Matt Smith remained No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
After watching his teammate take the No. 1 spot during Friday night qualifying, Anderson drove his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP to an impressive 6.611-second run at 208.84 mph in the heat of the day. It’s Anderson’s fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 67th of his career and fourth in Reading.
“The competition level in this Pro Stock class is absolutely the best it’s ever been,” said Anderson. “If you can be number one and three like (Jason and I) are, then you’ve really had a good run in qualifying and that really gets the whole team pumped up.”
Schumacher stayed in the top spot in Top Fuel after he drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.816-second pass at 316.67 mph to take the top spot in the category. It’s Schumacher’s sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 53rd of his career and sixth at Maple Grove.
“I feel great,” said Schumacher. “This track has always been one of those tracks where you can set low E.T. when it’s cloudy and cool, then its very difficult to get down the track when it’s hot out and we just did that twice.”
In Funny Car, Pedregon drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to a 4.109-second pass at 299 mph to take the top spot. It’s Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 35th of his career and second at Maple Grove Raceway.
“My main focus was to try to make another respectable run,” said Pedregon. “I think that run was good. We can’t be too complacent or over-confident. We know that every round we race tomorrow we’re going to be digging in.”
Smith kept the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.909 at 192.38. It’s Smith’s third of the season, 10th of his career and second consecutive No. 1 qualifier.
“I’m not worried about myself, I’m just worried if it’s going to shift or not,” said Smith, who struggled to get down the track during Saturday qualifying. “We have to just go back and tear the whole bike apart and find out what’s going on.”
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 17th 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, 3.816 seconds, 316.67 mph vs. Bye; 2. Rod Fuller, 3.861,
310.77 vs. 15. Doug Kalitta, 4.088, 309.77; 3. Doug Herbert, 3.884, 309.13 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.006, 289.76; 4. J.R. Todd, 3.888, 310.55 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.966, 297.81; 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.889, 307.16 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.931, 301.60; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.889, 307.72 vs. 11. Doug Foley, 3.931, 305.49; 7. Antron Brown, 3.892, 308.28 vs. 10. Cory McClenathan, 3.920, 306.53; 8.
Hillary Will, 3.894, 311.49 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.899, 310.63.
Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.109, 299.00 vs. 16. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.229, 287.41; 2. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.128, 302.41 vs. 15. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.225, 290.94; 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.134, 298.40 vs. 14. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.204, 290.32; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.137, 300.53 vs. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.189, 297.29; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.139, 300.73 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.169, 295.14; 6. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.143, 299.13 vs. 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.166, 296.76; 7. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.144, 298.60 vs. 10. Jim Head, Solara, 4.157, 285.71; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.144,
295.72 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.157, 294.82.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Gary Scelzi, 4.240, 296.89; 18. Matt Hagan, 4.262, 284.45; 19. Tony Bartone, 4.831, 288.21; 20. Jerry Toliver, 5.651, 285.17.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.611, 208.84 vs. 16. Rickie Jones, Dodge Stratus, 6.679, 206.29; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.614, 208.91 vs. 15. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.679, 207.02; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 208.91 vs. 14. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.670, 206.73; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.621, 207.88 vs. 13. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.654, 207.66; 5. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.639, 208.07 vs. 12. Richie Stevens, GXP, 6.653, 206.61; 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.642,
207.78 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.652, 207.72; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.646, 207.50 vs. 10.
Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.651, 207.50; 8. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.650, 207.88 vs. 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.651, 208.75.
Did Not Qualify: 17. John Nobile, 6.686, 207.40; 18. Dave Northrop, 6.686, 206.67; 19. Johnny Gray, 6.696, 206.54; 20. Gene Wilson, 6.706, 206.29; 21. Jim Cunningham, 6.792, 202.06; 22. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.873, 200.14; 23. Max Naylor, 14.177, 202.85.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.909, 192.38 vs. 16. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.066, 187.08; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.916, 193.88 vs. 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.065, 191.89; 3.
Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.941, 191.59 vs. 14. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.062, 185.08; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.943, 192.63 vs. 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.052, 188.04; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.955, 193.88 vs. 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.044, 189.98; 6. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.964, 190.65 vs. 11. Wes Wells, Suzuki, 7.033, 190.67; 7. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.972,
192.77 vs. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.996, 191.54; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.980, 191.46 vs.
9. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.991, 192.85.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Berry, broke.
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, 17th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.816 seconds, 316.67 mph; 2. Rod Fuller, 3.861, 310.77; 3. Doug Herbert, 3.884, 309.13; 4. Morgan Lucas, 3.889, 307.16; 5. Larry Dixon, 3.889, 306.53; 6. Antron Brown, 3.892, 308.28; 7. Hillary Will, 3.894, 311.49; 8. J.R. Todd, 3.903, 310.55; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.911, 310.63; 10. Doug Foley, 3.931, 305.49; 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.931, 299.20; 12. Cory McClenathan, 3.933, 306.53. Not Qualified: 13. Doug Kalitta, 3.945, 309.77; 14. Clay Millican, 4.062, 297.16; 15. David Grubnic, 6.626, 90.18.
Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.109, 299.00; 2. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.128, 302.41; 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.134, 298.40; 4. John Force, Mustang, 4.139, 300.73; 5. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.143, 299.13; 6. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.144, 298.60; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.144, 295.72; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.146, 300.53; 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.157, 294.82; 10. Jim Head, Solara, 4.157, 285.71; 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.166, 296.76; 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.169, 295.14. Not Qualified: 13. Gary Scelzi, 4.176, 296.89; 14. Jack Beckman, 4.179, 297.29; 15. Jerry Toliver, 4.182, 285.17; 16. Robert Hight, 4.196, 278.40; 17. Gary Densham, 4.205, 285.59; 18. Tony Bartone, 4.227, 288.21; 19. Matt Hagan, 4.341, 282.72; 20. Melanie Troxel, 4.893, 185.13.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.639, 207.43; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.646, 207.85; 3. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.649, 207.82; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.649, 206.92; 5. Richie Stevens, GXP, 6.653, 206.61; 6. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.654, 207.37; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.654, 206.89; 8. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.659, 206.86; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.660, 206.67; 10. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.667, 206.70; 11. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.670, 207.30; 12. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.673, 208.10. Not Qualified: 13. V. Gaines, 6.682, 206.45; 14. Rickie Jones, 6.707, 205.19; 15. Dave Northrop, 6.712, 205.35; 16. Gene Wilson, 6.715, 205.22; 17. Greg Stanfield, 6.733, 205.44; 18. Johnny Gray, 6.734, 205.32; 19. Jim Yates, 6.735, 205.19; 20. John Nobile, 6.762, 206.67; 21. Max Naylor, 6.775, 202.85; 22. Jim Cunningham, 6.821, 202.06; 23. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.953, 198.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.909, 192.38; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.941, 192.66; 3. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.941, 191.59; 4. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.964, 190.40; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.984, 191.54; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.006, 191.97; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.006, 190.65; 8. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.017, 192.41; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.019, 193.54; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.038, 190.40; 11. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.052, 188.04; 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.066, 189.20. Not Qualified: 13. Paul Gast, 7.079, 186.28; 14. Wes Wells, 7.136, 187.60; 15. Shawn Gann, 7.141, 188.78; 16. Mike Berry, 7.142, 186.54; 17. Connie Cohen, 7.705, 149.48; 18. Angie McBride, 8.349, 111.76.
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THURSDAY PREVIEW - WILL MARCHES TOWARD FIRST PLAYOFF BERTH STRONGER FROM CONSTANT EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
Hillary Will remembers standing on the vault runway, staring down the toughest skill she’d ever tried in practice – a twisting series of quick, powerful motions that would send her, hopefully, to a stuck landing on the other side of the apparatus.
As a young gymnast not even yet 13 years old, Will practiced the Tsukahara, a half-twist onto the vault with a back flip and twist on the other side, again and again. With the help of a spotter, an equivalent of a crew chief, she learned each piece of the skill until she could put it all together.
She never used it in competition.
Now, at 28 years old, she’s mastering quite a different sport, and different skills. No less extreme, no less intricate, and no less mental – but now her career, and her love of the sport, depends on using those lessons she learns expressly for the high-level competition that still sometimes makes her nervous.
Will and the rest of the elite drivers of the NHRA POWERade Series come to Maple Grove Raceway Aug. 14-17 for the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, the next-to-last event in the 18-race regular season before the Countdown to the Championship fields are set, and the six-race playoffs begin.
Will should enter the event with a comfortable hold on a playoff position, if her card hasn’t already been punched. But this season has been the opposite of easy for her.
Two years after her pro debut Will earned her first Top Fuel win, in Topeka, where she piloted her KB Racing dragster to a 4.744-second pass at 304.53 mph after beating veteran driver Larry Dixon off of the starting line. She was one of three women to win NHRA POWERade Series events within a five-week span. Ashley Force became the first woman to win in Funny Car in Atlanta, while Melanie Troxel, the other female in the category, followed quickly behind with a win in Bristol, Tenn.
On June 1, Will stood in her first pro winner’s circle. A media crush immediately followed and maybe for the first time, Will truly saw what it was like to see her face and her words everywhere.
Then, just as she had gotten into the rhythm of checking items off of the schedule, her season turned 180 degrees beneath her, throwing her off balance. Her Kalitta Motorsports teammate Scott Kalitta, her mentor, died from injuries sustained in a racing accident in Englishtown, N.J.
In one month, Will negotiated the most difficult experiences of her life. She’s handling the pain like a driver, she said. She feels no less pain, but is learning how to focus on tasks, and let go of the sadness or nerves when she needs to.
“I think drivers do have the ability to just turn off emotions, because you just have to get in the car and drive, and sometimes the less you think, the less emotion you have, the better,” Will said. “Sometimes the first rounds makes you really nervous and your heart’s beating really fast, but you can’t let that affect your driving. I remember it was hard after Eric (Medlen) died (in a testing accident in March 2007). I remember it was hard to get back in the car when Cory McClenathan crashed in front of me in Bristol.
“For a second, you think ‘why do I do this?’ Then it just kind of reinforces how much you love to drive. So you get back in, turn off your emotions and just do it. I think the more you do it, the more you love it, and that allows you to do it, because you love it, regardless of whatever might happen.”
Will proved her team is a genuine threat and not a one-race luck story when they put together a runner-up finish in Sonoma, Calif. at the end of July. There she lost a close contest to category dynamo Tony Schumacher and his Alan Johnson-led U.S. Army team. She’s convinced that her team’s solid performance thus far this year will continue and lead to more success, even as changes to the Kalitta Motorsports racing stable continue. Driver Jeff Arend was just tapped successor to Scott Kalitta, and a few crew chief changes have been made to the four-car team as well. Jim Oberhofer, Will’s current-day equivalent of her spotter, will continue on her dragster.
“I’m hopeful that more good things are in store for our team,” Will said.
After Sonoma, Schumacher held a 396-point lead over surprise contender Antron Brown. Will sat seventh in the points, with Doug Herbert and her Kalitta teammates Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta behind him in ninth and 10th.
In Funny Car, independent driver/team owner Tim Wilkerson continued his shocking success with a total of four wins so far for the year and his invitation to the playoffs already delivered. John Force Racing’s Robert Hight was second with three victories so far this season, with Tony Pedregon behind him in third behind the power of two trips to the winner’s circle in 16 events. Ashley Force, daughter of team owner and driver John Force, was fourth after her Atlanta win.
Five Pro Stock drivers have already clinched their spots in the Countdown after 16 events. Greg Anderson, his Summit Racing Equipment teammate Jason Line, Kurt Johnson, defending champ Jeg Coughlin and Allen Johnson have all secured their spots. Dave Connolly has charged back from missing the first five races of the season to win a pair of events and put himself into playoff contention.
Andrew Hines leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle category with two wins, and is followed closely in the standings by reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith, who won his third race of the season last weekend in Brainerd.
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