Pro Stock racer Kurt Johnson may have moved away from Minnesota decades ago, but a sense

KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner
in each round of competition. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th
national event win of his career.

of the home state spirit inspired the veteran into his third win of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season.

KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner in
each round of competition during the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th national
event win of his career, and fourth at Brainerd International Raceway,
tying him with his father Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen and Lee Shepherd
for the most by a Pro Stock competitor at the Minnesota quarter-mile.

Reigning POWERade champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. secured his chance to
defend his world title by racing to a third-place finish Sunday at the
27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Coughlin joined Greg Anderson, Kurt Johnson, and Jason Line on the list
of qualified racers that will begin a six-race fight for the 2008 title
on Sept. 11 in Charlotte. Six more racers will join them to fill out a
10-car playoff field.

"It's an exciting time for Victor Cagnazzi Racing and everyone at
JEGS," Coughlin said. "When you start the season as defending world
champions you set a lot of goals for your team. The most obvious one is
to repeat as champions. The first big step towards that goal is making
sure you're in the playoffs. We've cleared that hurdle now so there's a
sense of excitement and relief.

"We've gained some momentum over the past few races and we want to
continue building on that heading into the Countdown to 1. I feel like
we've got some work to do in the four weeks before the playoffs start
but the entire team should certainly enjoy this accomplishment."

SCHUMACHER CLAIMS 50TH CAREER VICTORY AND EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO FOUR AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS

 
Local favorite Johnson, Pedregon and Smith also earn victories at Brainerd International Raceway
 
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.

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following
the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International
Raceway, the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
-

Top Fuel

1. Tony Schumacher, 1,532; 2. Antron Brown, 1,051; 3. Larry Dixon, 988;
4. Cory McClenathan, 987; 5. Rod Fuller, 958; 6. Brandon Bernstein,
922; 7. Hillary Will, 874; 8. Doug Herbert, 807; 9. Doug Kalitta, 701;
10. David Grubnic, 685.

Sunday's final results from the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 16th of 24 in the
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
 

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.865 seconds, 310.05 mph def. Cory McClenathan,
3.900 seconds, 306.74 mph.

Final round-by-round results from the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 16th of 24 events in
the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Rod Fuller, 3.942, 306.46 def.
Brandon Bernstein, foul; Morgan Lucas, 3.926, 298.21 def. Antron Brown,
4.234, 247.47; Doug Kalitta, 3.972, 305.22 def. Doug Herbert, 3.980,
280.66; J.R. Todd, 3.964, 289.07 def. Larry Dixon, 3.970, 304.39; Tony
Schumacher, 3.900, 309.70 was unopposed; Cory McClenathan, 3.897,
309.84 def. Luigi Novelli, 11.368, 84.36; Steve Torrence, 3.887, 307.16
def. Hillary Will, 3.993, 305.56; Bob Vandergriff, 3.910, 310.70 def.
David Grubnic, 3.989, 276.86;

QUARTERFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.968, 303.91 def. Todd, 4.980,
157.74; Schumacher, 3.920, 306.46 def. Fuller, 3.982, 301.07;
McClenathan, 3.939, 304.74 def. Vandergriff, 4.296, 245.40; Torrence,
3.885, 307.72 def. Lucas, 3.925, 302.35;

SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.885, 310.13 def. Kalitta, 4.222, 229.90; McClenathan, 3.951, 305.36 def. Torrence, 7.992, 78.90;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.865, 310.05 def. McClenathan, 3.900, 306.74.

Ashley Force raced to her second career No. 1 qualifying position in
as many events during the 28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at
Brainerd International Raceway and a drag racing fan is really happy
for her.

The 25 year old sophomore driver for John Force Racing
was the quickest of the field and for her efforts Tami Carey of Hugo,
Minn., won a new Whirlpool washer and dryer as part of the BrandSource
“Win with Force” promotion. At sixteen select events during the 2008
POWERade Drag Racing Series when any one of the four John Force Racing
Funny Cars qualifies No 1 at the event one lucky winner wins a
Whirlpool washer and dryer set.

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 27th
annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the
16th 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, 3.864 seconds, 312.21 mph vs.
Bye; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.869, 308.00 vs. 15. Hillary Will, 4.546,
177.07; 3. Cory McClenathan, 3.877, 311.77 vs. 14. Luigi Novelli,
4.204, 269.13; 4. Larry Dixon, 3.899, 306.88 vs. 13. J.R. Todd, 4.027,
273.11; 5. Doug Herbert, 3.901, 306.60 vs. 12. Doug Kalitta, 4.013,
297.61; 6. David Grubnic, 3.910, 306.19 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.988,
290.88; 7. Antron Brown, 3.929, 306.19 vs. 10. Morgan Lucas, 3.984,
300.80; 8. Rod Fuller, 3.933, 308.71 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.972,
303.16.

SCHUMACHER SEEKING FOURTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY FROM NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITION AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
 
Ashley Force, Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also claim No. 1 qualifying positions at Brainerd International Raceway
 

Tony Schumacher will attempt to win his fourth consecutive race and ninth overall Sunday from the No. 1 qualifying position.

Tony
Schumacher will attempt to win his fourth consecutive race and ninth
overall Sunday from the No. 1 qualifying position at the Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
 
Ashley Force, Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also were No. 1 qualifiers
and will lead their respective categories into Sunday's 11 a.m.
eliminations 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, begin Sept. 11-14 at zMax
Dragway at Concord near Charlotte, N.C.

Pro
Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith didn't feel like doing much after
scoring his third top qualifying effort of the season. The defending
world champion said he wanted to sit in some water, preferably at a
local hospital, and get rid of what he considers to be a kidney stone
ailing him.