NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY - FUNNY CAR DRIVER GARY SCELZI WINS CLOSE RACE AGAINST TEAMMATE AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK
In one of the closest races of the event, Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi narrowly
beat teammate Jack Beckman by .0013 seconds at the 20th annual O’Reilly NHRA
Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Scelzi and teammate
"Fast Jack" Beckman's Funny Car capper was even closer than the Pro Stock finale
as the two title contenders were separated by a mere .0013 seconds at the other
end. The two left within five-thousandths of a second of one another before
virtually staying glued together all the way down the strip. In the end,
Scelzi's Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger had barely inched ahead of Beckman's Mail
Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T to take the closest race of eliminations,
4886 at 314.61 mph to Beckman's 4.892 at 310.55 mph.
"We came into
this race thinking we'd better go to the final or win if we want to stay alive
in the Countdown," Scelzi said. "The first step was to get into the top four.
Now we need to build on that. We're in fourth but it's very bunched up. This is
exactly what NHRA wanted and right now it's pretty damn exciting."
It
was a day both men needed as Scelzi went from seventh to fourth in the Countdown
to Four standings. Beckman's runner-up finish lifted him from fifth to second
place, just 53 off the lead held by Robert Hight.
Pro Stock racer Dave
Connolly won his third NHRA national event in a row Sunday at Memphis
Motorsports Park to take command of the Countdown to the Championship.
Connolly once again outran former points leader Greg Anderson in the final
of the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil for
his sixth victory of the year. Just as he did two weeks ago in Indianapolis,
Connolly got the better of the three-time POWERade champion in an exciting final
that was decided by just .0187 seconds, 6.648 at 207.59 mph to Anderson's 6.658
at 208.65 mph.
"You couldn't ask for a better time to get hot,"
Connolly said. "It's just remarkable. I start to look back three or four years
when I was first getting started and every time I got to the final there was
Greg and he was beating me. Here we are a few years later and I've beaten him in
two finals in a row. Everything is just clicking right now and hopefully we
don't use up all our luck before we're done."
The Torco Chevrolet
Cobalt driver improves to 15-12 in final rounds and now leads Anderson in the
standings by 33 points.
Top Fuel pilot Melanie Troxel had the hardest
road to the trophy stand as she had to take out three of the men in the
Countdown to Four Top Fuel field, including Bob Vandergriff Jr., Brandon
Bernstein, and Doug Herbert in the final, 4.728 at 313.22 mph in her Vietnam
Veterans/POW-MIA dragster against Herbert's 4.901 at 290.57 mph in the Snap-on
Tools rail.
"I'm becoming more and more disappointed with not making
the Countdown and it's been tough but I stand by my decision to not ask my
teammate to take a dive for me," Troxel said. "You have to earn your way in and
at the time we weren't running well. We just didn't quite get it turned around
in time to make the field. All we can do is make the best of the situation and
try to win as many races as we can down the stretch."
Top Fuel points
leader Tony Schumacher was upset in Round 1 but avoided big damage in the
standings when Rod Fuller and Larry Dixon both bowed out in Round 2.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Andrew Hines collected his third win in a row at
Memphis Motorsports Park and surged into the POWERade lead by 24 points after
posting the quickest quarter-mile pass of eliminations in a final-round
trouncing of Steve Johnson, who broke just off the starting line. Hines would
have been tough to catch any way, even with Johnson's huge .042-second starting
line advantage, as his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod crossed the stripe
in 6.917 at 192.91 mph.
"To win here three years in a row doesn't get
much better," Hines said. "I guess the Countdown deal is working in our favor
now but if I had it my way I'd leave it the way it was, even though I probably
wouldn't have the points lead right now. We're pretty secure in the Countdown to
One now so hopefully we can roll this win over to Dallas and just keep rolling."
This is the first time this season that Hines has been atop the
points. With one Pro Stock Motorcycle race to go in the Countdown to Four, Hines
will clinch a spot in the final four-bike field of the Countdown to One by
simply qualifying for next weekend's Dallas event.
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Sunday's final results from the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals
presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park. The race is the 19th of 23
in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Melanie Troxel,
4.728 seconds, 313.22 mph def. Doug Herbert, 4.901 seconds, 290.57 mph.
Funny Car -- Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 4.886, 314.61 def. Jack Beckman,
Charger, 4.892, 310.55.
Pro Stock -- Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt,
6.648, 207.59 def. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.658, 208.65.
Pro
Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.917, 192.91 def. Steve
Johnson, Suzuki, broke.
Super Stock -- Nick Morris, Ford Mustang,
11.013, 118.79 def. Tony Rhodes Jr, Chevy II, 10.797, 120.37.
Stock
Eliminator -- Jimmy Hidalgo Jr, Pontiac Firebird, 10.560, 121.05 def. Edmond
Richardson, Chevy Camaro, 10.569, 124.29.
Super Comp -- Terry Edwards,
Dragster, 8.922, 172.23 def. Jeff Cheney, Dragster, 8.934, 170.43.
Super Gas -- Caffey Broadus, Dodge Dart, 9.892, 146.77 def. Ron Erks, Chevy
Corvette, 9.888, 165.70.
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SATURDAY - FUNNY CAR POINTS LEADER ROBERT HIGHT STEALS NO. 1 QUALIFIER AWAY FROM FORCE AT SATURDAY QUALIFYING AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK
On a day when five of eight Memphis Motor Park records fell by the wayside, three year professional Funny Car driver Robert Hight denied rookie driver and teammate Ashley Force her first low qualifier award running a track-record 4.762 seconds at 320.36 mph at the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Almost as shocking was Pro Stock Motorcycle leader
Chip Ellis' jaw-dropping 6.892, the second quickest pass in class history. Max
Naylor earned more respect in the Pro Stock class with his second pole in as
many
races, while Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher got a wake-up call from
several of his rivals, who all posted big numbers in Saturday's cooler
temperatures.
Auto Club Ford racer Hight, who is married to Force's older sister Adria, gained his seventh low qualifier plaque of the season but he may have lost his favorite babysitter as he kept his daughter Autumn's aunt from the top starting position. Instead, Aunt Ashley will begin her quest for her first NHRA victory from the No. 2 position with a best of 4.810 at 316.38 mph in her nearly identical Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
"I think I'm gonna hide because there are all these little girls around here that are Ashley Force fans that probably want to take my knees out this afternoon," Hight said. "That includes my daughter. She had her third birthday this week and Ashley came over dressed as Hannah Montana because Autumn loves Hannah Montana. She even made Autumn little autograph cards like the racers have to give all her friends at the party. I may not even be welcome in my own house any more because she loves her Aunt Ashley so much.
"I feel bad for them because she's my teammate and she hasn't had a No. 1 qualifier yet. She would have several times this year if it wasn't for me. They're doing a great job and we need them running good so she can help us take out some of these guys in the Countdown. She's driving really well right now."
Championship contender Mike Ashley, who won two weeks ago in Indianapolis, failed to qualify for this event, his fifth DNQ of the year. Fellow Countdown participant Jim Head also missed the cut.
Top Fuel leader Schumacher shaved one-thousandth
of a second off Friday's e.t. to claim his ninth low qualifier award of the
year
with a 4.564 at 313.73 mph. But the U.S. Army racer won't rest easy knowing he
has four Countdown rivals within five-thousandths of his posted
number.
"It's brutal," Schumacher said. "I'm guessing if you look at all the qualifying sheets we all made it down the track every time as well. It's so close, but it makes it so fun. This is why people pay money to see us race. No one wants to see one guy running away with the points lead. It's so much better when it's tight. You have to bring your 'A game' every race."
Budweiser's Brandon Bernstein finished time trials second to Schumacher with a 4.566 at 326.71 mph. SkyTel's Larry Dixon and Matco Tool's Whit Bazemore were next with a pair of 4.568s, while Doug Herbert had a 4.569 in his Snap-on Tools rail.
The other three Countdown to Four participants, "Hot Rod" Fuller (4.583), J.R. Todd 4.587), and Bob Vandergriff Jr. (4.589) ended up eighth, 10th, and 11th, respectively.
For the second event in a row, 54-year-old Pro
Stock sophomore racer Naylor has the quickest racecar in the factory hot rod
class. Following up his first career low qualifying effort two weeks ago in
Indianapolis,
Naylor backed-up his recent performance surge
with a personal-best 6.594 at
207.37 mph in his Jagermeister Dodge Stratus R/T to steal the pole away from Day
1 leader Dave Connolly. Greg Anderson moved to third with a 6.598 at 209.17 mph,
a track record top speed.
"I took delivery on a new Rick Jones car right after Chicago and we immediately went from a bottom-half car to a top-half car," Naylor said. "Ever since then we've been learning how to qualify and I think we're getting it figured out. Now we need to figure out how to go rounds on race day because there's a distinct difference."
In arguable one of the most impressive runs of the entire 2007 season, Pro Stock Motorcycle leader Ellis peeled off the second-quickest pass in class history -- a stunning 6.892 at 193.21 mph on his Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin -- to obliterate the MMP record by .0156 seconds, a quantum leap in drag racing. This was Ellis' third low qualifying effort in the last four races.
"I didn't think it would be that quick to be honest," said Ellis, who is within range of setting a national record should he run 6.870 or quicker Sunday. "Big George [Smith, tuner] got here this morning and said we'd run a .89 and I told him he was crazy. I thought the headwind was just too strong. But that .89 was out there and he went out and got it."
Of the eight riders in the Countdown to Four, six earned top-half berths. The only first-round match-up between championship contenders pits No. 3 qualifier Peggy Llewellyn (6.955) against No. 14 qualifier Karen Stoffer (7.043).
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, the 20th of 23 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, 4.564 seconds, 325.45 mph vs. 16. Doug Foley, 4.925, 213.16; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 4.566, 327.35 vs. 15. Hillary Will, 4.648, 318.24; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.568, 318.77 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.624, 318.17; 4. Whit Bazemore, 4.568, 320.13 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 4.612, 326.16; 5. Doug Herbert, 4.569, 320.20 vs. 12. Doug Kalitta, 4.608, 322.42; 6. Melanie Troxel, 4.575, 323.89 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.589, 317.12; 7. Morgan Lucas, 4.582, 323.66 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, 4.587, 316.52; 8. Rod Fuller, 4.583, 321.81 vs. 9. Cory McClenathan, 4.585, 321.42.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Luigi Novelli, 6.078, 157.21.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.762, 320.36 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Chevy Impala, 4.915, 309.84; 2. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.810, 316.38 vs. 15. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.915, 314.46; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Impala, 4.812, 314.39 vs. 14. Kenny Bernstein, Dodge Charger, 4.897, 309.98; 4. John Force, Mustang, 4.818, 317.05 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.890, 305.98; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.832, 313.73 vs. 12. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Solara, 4.887, 304.80; 6. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.840, 316.38 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.869, 315.34; 7. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.849, 309.06 vs. 10. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.867, 315.34; 8. Scott Kalitta, Solara, 4.852, 311.85 vs. 9. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.855, 315.12.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jim Head, 4.916, 319.37; 18. Mike Ashley, 4.916, 311.13; 19. Tim Wilkerson, 4.930, 311.49.
Pro Stock -- 1. Max Naylor, Dodge Stratus, 6.594, 207.37 vs. 16. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GTO, 6.655, 207.69; 2. Jason Line, GTO, 6.596, 208.68 vs. 15. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.654, 207.91; 3. Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.598, 209.17 vs. 14. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.646, 207.62; 4. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.601, 208.23 vs. 13. Craig Hankinson, GTO, 6.646, 207.46; 5. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.605, 207.91 vs. 12. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.640, 207.98; 6. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.607, 208.07 vs. 11. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.637, 207.66; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.619, 207.98 vs. 10. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.632, 207.88; 8. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.625, 208.04 vs. 9. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.626, 207.56.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Dave Northrop, 6.678, 207.30; 18. Steve Schmidt, 6.691, 206.04; 19. Ben Watson, 6.699, 204.88; 20. Bill Glidden, 6.704, 205.54; 21. Tom Hammonds, 6.719, 205.29; 22. Kenny Koretsky, 6.726, 206.07; 23. Justin Humphreys, 6.762, 203.92; 24. Todd Hoerner, 6.895, 202.15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.892, 193.21 vs. 16. Barry Henson, Suzuki, 7.115, 187.86; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.915, 192.99 vs. 15. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.065, 188.20; 3. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 6.955, 191.35 vs. 14. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.043, 190.08; 4. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.956, 190.70 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.029, 191.00; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.958, 191.76 vs. 12. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.015, 190.11; 6. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.961, 191.40 vs. 11. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.002, 189.39; 7. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 6.965, 191.57 vs. 10.
Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.996, 189.90; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.989, 192.49 vs. 9. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.996, 192.49.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Michael Phillips, 7.133, 187.63; 18. Shawn Gann, 7.160, 187.60; 19. Joe DeSantis, 7.180, 187.76; 20. Jim Randolph, 7.192, 188.94; 21. Michael Ray, 7.302, 177.95.
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FRIDAY - ASHLEY FORCE SITTING NO. 1 AFTER FIRST 2 ROUNDS OF QUALIFYING AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK
At a track known for it’s domination by John Force, it’s was his daughter, rookie sensation Ashley
Force, who was is in prime position to add
a No.1 qualifier to her fathers stellar seven No.1 qualifiers, five win career
at Memphis Motorsports Park at the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South
NHRA Nationals with a steady 4.810 at 316.38 mph.
Force shares her 4.810 second at 316.38 mph provisional low qualifier podium with points leaders Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) as well as red-hot Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis.
Force's run completed a sweep of the top three qualifying positions by John Force Racing Funny Cars. It's been a banner week for the 24-year-old daughter of drag racing legend John Force as she was voted the "Hottest Athlete" in the country by AOL readers, which prompted a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Monday evening. Now she's set to complete the best qualifying session of her rookie campaign.
"The most exciting thing of today is getting down
the track both times," said Force, who opened with a 4.905 in her Castrol GTX
Ford Mustang. "When you get down the track it allows the guys to push it harder
in the next run because you know you're in and you can afford to try things. To
have all three of our cars at the top really has everyone pumped up and excited,
especially dad [John Force] and his crew because they've been really down after
not qualifying in Indy.
"Being No. 1 is really cool but I would trade it for a win in a second. I keep having people come up and congratulate me on winning the AOL deal. That was a neat contest but the win I want is on the racetrack. I told the guys we have to win one so the AOL thing isn't our only win of the year."
Ashley's teammates Robert Hight and John Force, her famous father, follow in second and third place, respectively, making it a sweep for John Force Racing. Hight is just one thousandth of a second back with a 4.811 in his Auto Club of Southern California Ford, while Force posted a 4.821 in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang.
Top Fuel leader Schumacher used the last pairing
of the day to grab the No. 1 position away from early frontrunner Brandon
Bernstein. Schumacher's 4.565 at 325.45 mph in the U.S. Army dragster was just
enough to put him out front once again. Should the time hold it will mark
Schumacher's ninth pole of the season. Bernstein's hot rod wound up fourth with
a best of 4.573 at 327.35 mph.
"It won't hold up if it's in the 70s tomorrow like
they're saying," Schumacher said. "But if the track can hold more we should be
able to get more. We were soft just now in the middle so we have room to
improve. I'm sure there are other teams saying the same thing."
Winner of the last two national events, Pro Stock top qualifier Connolly remains the hottest driver in the class after a track record 6.673 at 205.26 mph in his Torco Chevrolet Cobalt.
"Indy was a big race for us and a big win, especially with the Countdown to Four starting and there only being four races until the next cutoff," Connolly said. "So to come in here and pick it up where we were leaving Indy is exciting."
Pro Stock Motorcycle leader Ellis knocked half a tenth off the former MMP elapsed time record with his 6.997 at 187.44 mph on his Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin. And he did it without the help of crew chief George Smith, who was grounded in route from Wisconsin when his airplane flew through a flock of birds.
"It's been a crazy day but I like how it ended," Ellis said. "George called and we talked about what to do and he said, 'Handle it.' So that's what we did. I tuned the thing and George Bryce came over and did the clutch and it all worked out."
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, 20th of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.565 seconds, 325.45 mph; 2. Larry Dixon, 4.568, 318.77; 3. Doug Herbert, 4.569, 313.44; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 4.573, 327.35; 5. Cory McClenathan, 4.585, 321.42; 6. Morgan Lucas, 4.590, 323.66; 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.592, 323.89; 8. J.R. Todd, 4.595, 312.06; 9. Doug Kalitta, 4.608, 322.42; 10. Whit Bazemore, 4.608, 320.13; 11. Rod Fuller, 4.608, 319.75; 12. Clay Millican, 4.612, 326.16; 13. David Grubnic, 4.624, 318.17; 14. Hillary Will, 4.694, 318.24; 15. Bob Vandergriff, 4.710, 308.07; 16. Doug Foley, 4.925, 213.16. Not Qualified:
17. Luigi Novelli, 11.294, 98.31.
Funny Car -- 1. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.810, 316.38; 2. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.811, 314.02; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.821, 316.45; 4. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.852, 311.85; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.867, 302.69; 6. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.869, 311.70; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.873, 311.99; 8. Jerry Toliver, Solara, 4.887, 304.80; 9. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.898, 309.06; 10. Jeff Arend, Impala, 4.915, 309.84; 11. Mike Ashley, Charger, 4.916, 311.13; 12. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.920, 312.28; 13. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.922, 300.26; 14. Jim Head, Toypta Solara, 4.927, 319.37; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.933, 302.08; 16. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.954, 301.74. Not Qualified: 17. Tony Pedregon, 5.507, 191.19; 18. Cruz Pedregon, 7.828, 105.93; 19. Kenny Bernstein, 8.111, 166.91.
Pro Stock -- 1. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.673, 205.41; 2. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.688, 205.29; 3. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.695, 205.88; 4. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.697, 205.07; 5. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.700, 205.54; 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.709, 205.76; 7. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.713, 204.88; 8. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.715, 203.86; 9. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.719, 205.29; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.723, 204.63; 11. Jason Line, GTO, 6.729, 205.44; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.736, 204.94; 13. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.737, 204.54; 14. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.749, 204.91; 15. Craig Hankinson, GTO, 6.750, 204.08; 16. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.751, 205.66.
Not Qualified: 17. Steve Schmidt, 6.751, 205.01; 18. Mike Edwards, 6.753, 204.20; 19. Dave Northrop, 6.756, 203.77; 20. Justin Humphreys, 6.762, 203.92; 21. Ben Watson, 6.769, 202.33; 22.Kenny Koretsky, 6.790, 203.61; 23. Todd Hoerner, 6.895, 202.15; 24. Bill Glidden, 9.340, 99.52.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.997, 187.44; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.018, 188.60; 3. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.056, 186.98; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.060, 188.33; 5. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.065, 186.20; 6. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.095, 184.83; 7. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.096, 185.49; 8. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.114, 186.72; 9.Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.123, 187.65; 10. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.129, 185.79; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.131, 185.18; 12. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.137, 187.76; 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.154, 181.94; 14. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.157, 183.15; 15. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.162, 185.15; 16. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.173, 186.98. Not Qualified: 17. Joe DeSantis, 7.180, 187.76; 18. Karen Stoffer, 7.186, 186.67; 19. Barry Henson, 7.195, 182.90; 20. Michael Ray, 7.302, 177.95; 21. Jim Randolph, 7.462, 183.34.
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EVENT PREVIEW - PRO STOCK DRIVER KURT JOHNSON FEELS COUNTDOWN ADDS NEW EXCITEMENT TO O’REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
When asked which track is their favorite, most drivers on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series might pause or hesitate as they think about the 21 dragstrips they compete at during a regular season. For Pro Stock driver Kurt Johnson, that pause is about as long as some of his best reaction times at the light.
“I love racing in Memphis,” said Johnson, who won at Memphis Motorsports Park in 2006. “It’s got great barbeque, a real good starting line, and it’s a track that we did really well at last season.”
“Memphis was one of those tracks that we had never won at and had always struggled with,” Johnson said. “To get that win last year and finally conquer it was a great feeling for me and my team. I’m just really looking forward to going back there.”
The O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals, September 14-16, is the second of four races of the Countdown to the Chamionship playoffs when the top eight drivers in the point standings will compete for the final four spots before the Countdown Championship round — a two-race showdown in Las Vegas and Pomona for the 2007 POWERade world championship titles. Johnson, who is currently sitting in that fourth and final cutoff spot, understands how important this year’s event in Memphis is and just how much help defending his event title can give him.
“We’re thoroughly confident with the upswing we’ve had the past couple of races,” Johnson said, whose had a runner-up and semifinal finish in the past two races. “Having the win there last year and having the notes that we have from the event on top of that success gives us a lot of confidence heading there.”
Johnson says that the addition of the Countdown to the Championship has placed a lot of emphasis on the four races within the playoff, including Memphis. It’s a pressure that Johnson feels will show how important the teams, not the driver, are to winning a championship.
“It definitely puts a lot more pressure on you with only four races to get in the top four, and having a crew like this one really helps to relieve some of that pressure,” Johnson said. “There’s definitely a lot more pressure but you’ve just got to be able to deal with it and the way my crew puts these cars together really helps us to do that.”
Currently sitting in the fourth spot, only 74 points ahead of eighth place driver, team owner, and father, Warren Johnson, Kurt says that success in Memphis will come in points gained, not just seconds saved.
“It’s a situation that nobody has had to deal with before,” Johnson said, commenting on the Countdown playoff. “We have to get as many points as we can in these four races, so the tension is really high. But you’ve got to be able to control that and keep your composure and not get too high or too low. Working with the team that I have will really help.”
Pro Stock drivers battling Johnson for a spot in the top four in the Countdown include recent Mac Tools U.S. Nationals event winner Dave Connolly, two-time Memphis winner Greg Anderson, who has seven wins in eight final round appearances this year, and defending POWERade series world champion Jason Line.
In the Top Fuel category, Arkansas native and 2005 Memphis winner Rod Fuller looks to keep his championship hopes alive in Memphis. Defending world champion and 2007 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Tony Schumacher, as well as two-time Memphis winner Larry Dixon and red-hot Brandon Bernstein, who has five wins in seven final rounds this season, are all looking to stay in the top four in the point standings with a good run at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Funny Car is full of talented drivers all trying to advance to the Countdown Championship. Defending and five-time event winner John Force hopes that experience will give him the edge. Coming off his Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win in Indianapolis, Mike Ashley hopes to ride his success to a second win in the Countdown Playoff and Funny Car driver Ron Capps hopes to repeat his 2000 win in Memphis.
The Pro Stock Motorcycles are returning again to Memphis Motorsports Park as current points leader Matt Smith, defending event winner Andrew Hines, and two-time event winner Angelle Sampey will all be fighting for the Mid-South Nationals win.
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. on September 14 and Noon and 2:30 p.m. on September 15. Eliminations start at 11 a.m. on September 16.
TICKETS: For tickets, call (866) 40-SPEED. Tickets also are available online at memphismotorsportspark.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hour of qualifying highlights at 12 a.m. (ET) on Sept. 16. ESPN2 and ESPN 2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11 a.m. (ET), followed by three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sept. 16.
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a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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Click to visit our sponsor's website
