A couple of surprise leaders are out of the gate early in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
While much of the pre-season predictions about who would contend in Top
Fuel revolved around a potential season-long rivalry with Tony
Schumacher and Larry Dixon, Antron Brown’s Matco Tools dragster has
been impressive in advancing to the final round in each of the opening
two races. In Funny Car, last season’s eighth-place points finisher,
Ron Capps, who failed to win a race in ‘08, has quickly erased those
memories with back-to-back wins and a top qualifying position in his
NAPA Dodge Charger.
Capps and Brown will try to increase their respective leads in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points standings at the tradition-rich
ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, March 12-15 at historic Gainesville
Raceway. The race, which will be televised on ESPN and ESPN2, is the
third of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.
Defending race winners include Tony Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg
Coughlin and Matt Guidera.