CompetitionPlus.com attended 24 out of 24 NHRA POWERade Championship Drag Racing events. Logging nearly 10,000 words per event, we brought you the inside and outside of every event from February until November. We brought you the chills, the spills, the inside stories and the truths behind the numbers. For the next few days we will recap the exciting 2008 championship tour in two parts. Part 1 will recap the first 17 events up until the Countdown to One began.
CompetitionPlus.com attended 24 out of 24 NHRA POWERade Championship
Drag Racing events. Logging nearly 10,000 words per event, we brought
you the inside and outside of every event from February until November.
We brought you the chills, the spills, the inside stories and the
truths behind the numbers. For the next few days we will recap the
exciting 2008 championship tour in two parts. Part 1 will recap the
first 17 events up until the Countdown to One began.
#1 NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals – Pomona, Ca
Defending Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his 42nd
career victory Sunday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.
Robert Hight and Greg Anderson also were winners in their respective
categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the first of
24 races in 2008.
Schumacher, who with the victory moved to second on the Top Fuel
all-time wins list behind legend Joe Amato (52 wins), covered the Auto
Club Raceway at Pomona quarter-mile dragstrip in 4.499 seconds at
331.28 mph in his U.S. Army dragster, while final round opponent Cory
McClenathan trailed in his FRAM dragster at 4.536 at 329.26.
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#2 NHRA CSK Nationals – PHOENIX, AZ.
Returning to the site of
his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon raced to his first win of
the season during Sunday’s finals at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals
at Firebird International Raceway.
Jack Beckman and V Gaines
also were winners at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the
2008 season.
Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless
Tobacco dragster to a 4.532 second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave
Grubnic, to pick up his first win of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of
his career. The win ties him with Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time
wins list and second overall in Top Fuel.
“Any time you get a win it’s
special,” Dixon
said. “Donnie Bender (crew chief) has been on our team since 1999 and he’s never
been on a car that’s won here. When you think about that, it would be nice to
get that one out of the way. I’m dedicating this win to
him.”
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#3 – NHRA ACDELCO Gatornationals – Gainesville, Fla.
Defending NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car world champion Tony Pedregon raced to his first victory of the season and 37th
Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Guidera also were winners at the NHRA POWERade Series race, the third of 24 in 2008.
Pedregon clocked a 4.921 at 315.27 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala at
the historic Gainesville Raceway quarter-mile dragstrip to edge veteran
racer Gary Densham at the finish, whose Racebricks Impala trailed with
a 4.924 at 309.13. In the first three elimination rounds Pedregon
defeated Jerry Toliver, Ashley Force and Jim Head.
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#4 NHRA Springnationals – Houston, Texas
Antron Brown capped off an historic Sunday afternoon at the 21st annual
O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil when he powered
his Matco Tools dragster past Larry Dixon U.S. Smokeless dragster to
become the first driver in NHRA history to win races in Pro Stock
Motorcycle and Top Fuel.
He followed Del Worsham (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt
Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) into the winner’s circle at the fourth of
24 races in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Brown had won 16 races in Pro Stock Motorcycle before making the jump
to the 7,000-horsepower Top Fuel class this year and he’d not been able
to get past the quarterfinals until Sunday when he sped past Dixon in a
terrific final, 4.605 (at 320.28 mph) to 4.621 (at 309.06).
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#4 NHRA Summit Nationals – Las Vegas Nationals
Tim Wilkerson broke a three and ½ year winless streak and denied Ashley
Force her first career Funny Car win in the process at the ninth annual
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway.
Wilkerson, a Springfield-Ill.-based auto service shop owner, drove his
Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.962 at 292.58 to a win over
Force, who turned in a 4.993 at 313.95 in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
Despite the loss, Force leaves the event as the first woman in NHRA
history to top the Funny Car point standings as the tour moves to
Atlanta.
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#6 – NHRA Summit Southern Nationals – Atlanta, Ga.
In a final round for the ages Ashley Force beat father John, becoming
the first woman in NHRA history to win a national event in Funny Car at
the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
Ashley faced father and NHRA legend John Force in the final round,
driving her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang pass the iconic legend with a run
of 4.837 at 320.36. Though John was competing in his 500th race and
came within one round win of reaching 1,000, it was the younger Force
who stood in the winner’s circle at the end of the event.
“I’m just happy to win an event,” said Force. “That was the main thing.
Being a female, that’s exciting for the record books and everything,
but my team, we just wanted to get our first win. To get it finally
done here in Atlanta, we’re just a little bit relieved but so excited
as well.”
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#7 – NHRA O’Reilly Midwest Nationals — St. Louis, Mo.
Tim Wilkerson denied John Force Racing’s Mike Neff his first career win
on the same day Neff’s boss made history at the 12th annual O’Reilly
NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol.
Wilkerson earned his first win at his hometown track, his second of the
season and seventh of his career when he drove his Levi, Ray &
Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.874-second finish at 317.27 mph to Neff’s
4.886 at 321.58 in his Old Spice Ford Mustang.
Early in the day, Force cemented his position as the most prolific
Funny Car driver in NHRA history when he reached 1,000 round wins, the
first driver to do so, in a first-round match-up with Ron
Capps.
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#8 – NHRA O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals — Bristol, Tn.
Melanie Troxel became the first woman in NHRA history to win in both
Top Fuel and Funny Car when she raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday
at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Tony Schumacher and Dave Connolly also won in their respective
categories at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
event.
Troxel, who earned five Top Fuel victories prior to switching to Funny
Car this season, joined her husband Tommy Johnson as one of 14 drivers
in NHRA history to earn victories in both nitro categories when she
powered her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to a 5.066 at 310.27 to defeat
rookie Mike Neff in the final round. She is the second female to win in
Funny Car in NHRA history, following Ashley Force’s gender-breaking
victory last month in Atlanta.
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#9 – NHRA O’Reilly Summer Nationals — Topeka, Ks.
Hillary Will became the 11th woman in NHRA history to win a national
event when she raced to the win in the Top Fuel category at the
O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals.
John Force and Ron Krisher also won in their respective categories at
Heartland Park Topeka in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.
Will drove her KB dragster to a 4.744-second run at 304.53 mph, which
was just enough to get past No. 1 qualifier Larry Dixon and pick up her
first win.
“There are so many emotions because there were times when I thought I
can’t do this, maybe I shouldn’t be racing, maybe I don’t belong in Top
Fuel,” said Will. “But it’s what I love to do and through everything
you just can never, never, never give up.”
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#10 – NHRA Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals – Chicago, Ill.
One day after his second explosion fit for the highlight reels
this season, Tony Pedregon powered his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to
a trip to the winner’s circle at the 11th annual Torco Racing Fuels
Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
Another Tony – Chicago’s own Tony Schumacher – took center stage in Top
Fuel with an event-best time and speed in the final round, while Kurt
Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle) drove away
with event titles as well.
Pedregon was uninjured in an accident during qualifying Saturday. This
win was his third at Route 66 Raceway, his second of the year and the
38th of his career. He turned in a 4.818-second run at 319.75 mph to
deny Scott Kalitta his first Funny Car win since 1989.
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# 11. NHRA LUCAS OIL SUPERNATIONALS – ENGLISHTOWN, NJ.
Five-time POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his
first win at Englishtown in 12 years of competition at the Lucas Oil
NHRA SuperNationals.
The event was overshadowed by the loss of Funny Car driver Scott
Kalitta, who died from multiple injuries suffered after his car went
out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday.
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson, and Chip Ellis also won in their
respective categories in the 11th of 24 events on the POWERade Series
schedule.
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#12. NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals – Norwalk, Ohio.
Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel victory Sunday at the
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and dedicated his first win of
the season to the memory of his two young sons who were tragically
killed in a highway auto accident in late January.
Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners of the
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment
Motorsports Park.
Herbert, who has titled his season campaign “For My Boys,” powered his
SnaponFranchise.com dragster to a 4.636 second run at 311.70 mph to
beat final-round opponent Brandon Bernstein, who posted a 4.611 at
313.58 in his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. It was Herbert’s 10th
career victory and first since the 2007 season.
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#13. NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals – Denver, Co.
Five-time POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his
sixth win this season at the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals.
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith also won in their
respective categories in the 13th of 24 events on the POWERade Series
schedule.
This was the first NHRA event in history run at 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Schumacher drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.007-second run at 304.05
mph to defeat runner-up Antron Brown to pick up his 47th win and pull
within five of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins all-time.
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#14. NHRA CSK Nationals – Seattle, WA.
After a shaky first half of the season that included six DNQs, Tony
Bartone raced to his first NHRA POWERade Series victory Sunday at the
21st annual Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals after more than six
years of professional racing.
Bartone defeated veteran driver Ron Capps, also looking to break out of
a winless streak that dates back to Richmond 2007, in the final round.
Bartone powered his Canidae Pet Foods Chevy Monte Carlo to a
4.454-second pass at 238.17 mph to get the long-awaited win, while
Capps posted a 4.708 at 227.46 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.
Tony Schumacher and Jason Line also were winners at scenic Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series.
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#15. NHRA Fram Autolite Nationals, Sonoma, Ca.
NHRA Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher continued his season-long domination
by winning the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals Sunday to sweep of the
three-race Western Swing and win for the eighth time in 15 races
overall.
He became the fourth Top Fuel driver (Larry Dixon in 2003 and Cory
McClenathan in 1997 and Joe Amato in 1991) and the sixth driver overall
(PS Greg Anderson in 2003, FC John Force in 1994) to sweep the Western
Swing, the grueling stretch of three-races-in-three-weeks through
Denver, Seattle and Sonoma.
“It’s been a lot of fun, the last couple of races have just been
outstanding,” said Schumacher, who ran a 3.886 at 307.93 in his U.S.
Army dragster to defeat local-favorite Hillary Will (Eureka, Calif.)
and her KB Racing team’s 3.988 at 306.19 in the final. “Who would not
trade places with our car? I love having the bulls-eye on me.”
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#16. NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals — Brainerd, Minn.
Tony Schumacher raced to his fourth consecutive victory and ninth of
the season Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd
International Raceway, and moved within two of all-time Top Fuel wins
leader Joe Amato’s longstanding record of 52 victories.
Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith also earned victories in
their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
event, the 16th of 18 events in the Countdown to 10, NHRA’s regular
season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs,
begins Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway at Concord, near Charlotte, N.C.
Schumacher powered his U.S. Army dragster to a performance of 3.865
seconds at 310.05 mph to outrun Cory McClenathan’s FRAM dragster, which
trailed at 3.900 at 306.74 in the final round. Schumacher earned his
third win at the scenic Minnesota dragstrip by defeating Rod Fuller and
Doug Kalitta in the early rounds.
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#17. NHRA Toyo Tire Nationals – Reading, Pa.
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.
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#18. NHRA MAC Tools U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis, Ind.
Five-time
champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday with his decisive final-round win over
longtime foe Doug Kalitta.
Schumacher set NHRA Top Fuel records for wins in a row (6) and wins in
a season (11) and he tied Joe Amato for most wins all-time in Top Fuel
(52). It was also his seventh Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win and third in
a row.
“We want people to remember this is one of the greatest teams ever,”
said Schumacher, who felt the pressure to perform. “You get to the
finals and you’re down to one round, you’re one four-second push of the
throttle away from setting all those records, one shot to do it … it’s
very intense. We had to stay focused. We had to stay a machine.”
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