NHRA FRAM AUTOLITE NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
In the heart of Northern California’s high-tech region and sponsored by Infineon Technologies, the facility annually plays host to some of the tour’s most dramatic moments. A $70 million modernization project was completed in 2002.
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ANDERSON RACES TO LANDMARK 50TH CAREER VICTORY AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS
Schumacher, Force and Smith also win at Infineon Raceway
Greg Anderson recorded his landmark 50th Pro Stock victory Sunday to highlight a spectacular day of drag racing at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Anderson became just the sixth professional and the 10th driver in history to win 50 NHRA races. He is the second quickest to the mark, winning No. 50 in his 189th career start. Legend Bob Glidden won 50 times in his first 139 races.
Anderson shared winner's circle with an emotional John Force, who defended fallen teammate Eric Medlen's Funny Car win here from a year ago. Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher dropped Bob Vandergriff to 0-10 lifetime in final rounds. Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Matt Smith padded his series lead with his third victory of the season, this one over first-time finalist Eddie Krawiec.
The Pro Stock final was a wire-to-wire performance for Anderson, who left first on teammate Jason Line and slowly crept away to take the stripe with a 6.657 at 207.72 mph over Line's 6.688 at 204.08 mph run in his identical Summit Racing Pontiac GTO.
"It's quite an accomplishment (to reach 50 wins)," Anderson said. "I don't know how to explain it. It's fitting that we had a struggle between No. 49 and No. 50. Fifty should be tough to get. It should be hard. We were cruising right along but then we got slapped in the face this summer. It's a real reminder to never get too cocky."
The Pro Stock section of the Countdown to the Championship is more than halfway full after Line and Allen Johnson clinched positions, joining Anderson, Jeg Coughlin, and Dave Connolly in the field.
Force immediately dedicated his Funny Car win to Medlen, the Northern California native and defending event winner who died earlier this year in a testing accident. He also presented the winner's trophy to Medlen's father John, who serves as a roving crew chief for his three remaining teams.
Final-round opponent Del Worsham put up a valiant fight, running a 4.851 at 314.68 mph in his Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevrolet Impala SS, his best pass of the day, but Force's Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang was just a little bit quicker, posting his 124th career win with a 4.831 at 320.58 mph. It was Force's seventh win at Infineon Raceway in 11 finals.
"We had a team meeting this morning and I said that between me, Ashley, and Robert [Hight], one of us had to win this race for Eric," said Force, who moved to seventh in the Countdown standings. "I remember how happy he was when he won here last year because he's from this area. He had that goofy smile and was eating ice cream and just having a blast. We wanted to win and dedicate it to Eric."
After a terrible start to the year, Force has now been to three finals in the last four races, winning twice. His final-round record is now 124-74. Worsham's last win came 43 races ago at the 2005 U.S.Nationals in Indianapolis. His runner-up finish did lift him to ninth place in the points, 85 behind Jim Head.
Robert Hight joined Ron Capps in the Countdown to the Championship group. They are the only two Funny Car racers to qualify so far.
Schumacher may have started his own career with a 0-8 mark in final rounds before scoring his first win, but he showed the hapless Vandergriff little mercy in Sunday's Top Fuel final, powering his U.S. Army dragster past Vandergriff to win with a 4.534 at 329.42 mph in his U.S. Army dragster. Vandergriff trailed with a 4.597 at 305.84 mph in his UPS dragster. It was Schumacher's 39th career victory.
It was obvious that Schumacher had the car to beat as he ran low elapsed time of every round -- running a 4.542, a 4.537, and a 4.558 – before lowering the boom in the final with the quickest and fastest pass of the entire weekend.
"Bob gave us a great race," Schumacher said. "He was next to us the whole way, we knew he would be, and we had to be prepared for that. He's been to 10 finals so he knows what he's doing and he'll win his before he's done, trust me. I told him he'll have his day and I believe that."
By moving into second place, Schumacher, along with Brandon Bernstein, Larry Dixon, and J.R. Todd, managed to clinch positions in the Countdown to the Champion field Sunday, leaving just three open slots in the Top Fuel category.
Although he was a slight underdog in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final, Smith responded with a slightly quicker reaction time on his Torco Buell and then managed to hold off Kraweic's Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to win by a tenth of a second: 6.992 at 189.10 mph to Krawiec's 7.090 at 190.16 mph.
"Dad [former Pro Stock driver Rickie Smith] won his first race here (1993, Pro Stock) and I was in that picture so it's special to come back and win one for myself," Smith said. "This ended up being our day I guess. It's mind-blowing the season we're having."
Smith got some company in the Countdown to the Championship field when Sampey earned enough points to secure a position in the top eight. Krawiec's runner-up result moved him into 10th place in the standings, 29 markers behind the final Countdown spot.
The NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship continues with the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 9-12 at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway.
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Sunday's final results from the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. The race is the 15th of 23 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.534 seconds, 329.42 mph def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.597 seconds, 305.84 mph.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.831, 320.58 def. Del Worsham, Chevy Impala, 4.851, 314.68.
Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.657, 207.72 def. Jason Line, GTO, 6.688, 204.08.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Matt Smith, Buell, 6.992, 189.10 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.090, 190.16.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.346, 272.45 def. Brandon Lewis, 5.429, 265.48.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Jay Payne, Ford Mustang, 5.583, 250.00 def. Jason Rupert, Chevy Camaro, 10.995, 72.23.
Competition Eliminator -- Tom Mettler, Dodge Dakota, 7.404, 182.28 def. Doug Lambeck, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.455, 158.63.
Super Stock -- Brad Plourd, Olds Calais, 9.239, 132.79 def. Jody Lang, Chevy Malibu, 10.921, 118.36.
Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 13.127, 67.07 def. Jeff Lane, Chevy Corvette, foul.
Super Comp -- Justin Lamb, Dragster, 8.920, 171.69 def. Sheldon Gecker, Dragster, 8.896, 172.36.
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Final round-by-round results from the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the 15th of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Larry Dixon, 4.951, 269.78 def. Mike Strasburg, 8.303, 102.86; J.R. Todd, 5.327, 240.68 def. Brandon Bernstein, 5.415, 174.05; Doug Kalitta, 5.242, 293.92 def. Clay Millican, 7.400, 111.02; Tony Schumacher, 4.542, 327.82 def. Cory McClenathan, 5.451, 196.67; Bob Vandergriff, 4.618, 320.51 def. Melanie Troxel, 6.134, 164.43; Doug Herbert, 4.725, 308.00 def. Morgan Lucas, 7.207, 112.80; Rod Fuller, 4.553, 325.92 def. David Grubnic, 5.788, 161.29; Hillary Will, 4.656, 321.58 def. Whit Bazemore, 6.533, 140.15;
QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 4.821, 288.70 def. Dixon, 5.251, 243.24; Vandergriff, 4.689, 314.61 def. Todd, foul; Fuller, 4.600, 325.53 def. Kalitta, 4.654, 320.43; Schumacher, 4.537, 327.43 def. Will, 4.688, 301.87;
SEMIFINALS -- Vandergriff, 4.626, 319.37 def. Fuller, 4.921, 317.94; Schumacher, 4.558, 321.73 def. Herbert, 6.603, 158.71;
FINAL -- Schumacher, 4.534, 329.42 def. Vandergriff, 4.597, 305.84.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.843, 315.86 def. Kenny Bernstein, Dodge Charger, 9.041, 93.42; Jeff Arend, Chevy Impala, 4.869, 320.97 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 6.896, 130.15; Tommy Johnson Jr., Impala, 4.913, 312.93 def. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.884, 311.63; Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.038, 253.85 def. Mike Ashley, Charger, 6.584, 147.28; Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.900, 301.67 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 7.565, 112.25; Del Worsham, Impala, 4.899, 320.97 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.986, 292.46; Gary Densham, Chevy MonteCarlo, 4.959, 305.49 def. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 5.765, 205.72; John Force, Mustang, 4.793, 324.36 def. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.948, 291.38;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 4.881, 316.23 def. Densham, 7.534, 125.06; Worsham, 4.929, 314.02 def. Arend, 4.912, 312.42; J. Force, 5.165, 308.35 def. C. Pedregon, 6.258, 163.77; Hight, 4.903, 311.85 def. Bartone, 4.916,
297.94;
SEMIFINALS -- Worsham, 4.898, 317.94 def. Hight, 12.593, 75.98; J. Force, 4.910, 295.14 def. Johnson Jr., 4.911, 305.42;
FINAL -- J. Force, 4.831, 320.58 def. Worsham, 4.851, 314.68.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Yates, Pontiac GTO, 6.680, 206.16 def. Kenny Koretsky, Chevy Cobalt, foul; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.663, 207.62 def. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.645, 207.08; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.663, 207.27 def. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.644, 206.70; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.651, 206.99 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.663, 206.32; Jason Line, GTO, 6.641, 208.33 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.688, 207.27; Allen Johnson,Stratus, 6.643, 207.24 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.792, 206.92; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.631, 207.94 def. Bob Panella, Stratus, 6.679, 206.99;
Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.643, 206.86 def. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.687, 206.92;
QUARTERFINALS -- Connolly, 6.657, 207.18 def. Coughlin, 6.682, 206.86; A. Johnson, 6.660, 206.86 def. K. Johnson, 6.722, 207.18; Line, 6.666, 207.85 def. W. Johnson, 6.681, 207.50; Anderson, 6.629, 208.55 def.
Yates, 6.680, 207.24;
SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.645, 208.07 def. A. Johnson, 6.659, 207.15; Anderson, 6.642, 207.78 def. Connolly, 6.657, 206.83;
FINAL -- Anderson, 6.657, 207.72 def. Line, 6.688, 204.08.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Smith, Buell, 6.981, 188.36 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.049, 187.94; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.967, 190.86 def. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.077, 188.07; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.054, 189.04 def.
Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, foul; Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.954, 191.00 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.064, 187.73; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.902, 192.93 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.046, 189.31; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.984, 193.54 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.023, 192.49; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.070, 189.58 def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, broke; Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 6.936, 189.50 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.030, 186.98;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson, 7.035, 190.54 def. Treble, 7.084, 189.98; Smith, 6.973, 190.00 def. Gann, 7.055, 189.98; Llewellyn, 6.970, 190.59 def. Ellis, 7.008, 189.68; Krawiec, 6.946, 192.28 def. Hines, 7.044, 192.96;
SEMIFINALS -- Smith, 7.026, 187.55 def. Llewellyn, 7.431, 181.57; Krawiec, 7.014, 189.79 def. Johnson, 7.057, 188.52;
FINAL -- Smith, 6.992, 189.10 def. Krawiec, 7.090, 190.16.
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - ASHLEY, HERBERT, ANDERSON AND SAMPEY CLAIM NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS
Currently third in the POWERade points, Funny Car
racer Mike Ashley took a big step towards securing one of the seven
remaining spots in the Countdown to the Championship field with a top
qualifying performance Saturday at the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA
Nationals.
Ashley (4.743) and Top Fuel leader Doug Herbert (4.556) both used their Friday night passes to wrap up their No. 1 spots at Infineon Raceway, while Pro Stock front man Greg Anderson needed to improve to a 6.605 to stay on top. Angelle Sampey shocked the Pro Stock Motorcycle class with her final-round run of 6.924, which came in the heat of the day. Final eliminations begin Sunday at noon (PT) with three-hours of television coverage provided by ESPN2 at 8 p.m. (ET).
This is Ashley's fourth No. 1 qualifying effort of the season and fourth of his career. His Friday night run of 4.743 at 326.79 mph in his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger was completely unchallenged Saturday with the quickest run of the day John Force's 4.870 in his Castrol High-Mileage Ford Mustang.
"It's exciting to qualify No. 1," Ashley said. "With the conditions
the way they are, I figured Friday's run would hold. This is our fourth
one and that's a real testament to our team. Making the Countdown
requires points and we got the most you can get in qualifying, but they
add up a lot faster when you're winning rounds on Sunday."
Riding a streak of two straight victories, "Fast Jack" Beckman is second on the Sonoma grid with a 4.759 at 324.67 mph. He was second quickest of Saturday's action with a 4.873 in his Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger.
The monster match-up of Sunday's first round in Funny Car will pit Ashley Force against her 14-time champion father John. Ashley has the higher-qualified car and will enjoy lane choice over her dad, whom she beat earlier this year in Atlanta in their only previous head-to-head match-up.
A veteran of 301 drag races, this is just the fourth time Herbert has qualified No. 1 in Top Fuel. Now he'll try to convert his quick start into his ninth career victory. His Snap-on Tools dragster ran a 4.556 at 315.64 mph Friday night in a session that was called off midway through the round due to a local noise curfew.
Herbert hopes the No. 1 effort leads to going more elimination
rounds, which in turn will increase his chances of getting a spot in
the top eight of the POWERade Countdown to the Championship.
"The Countdown has added so much excitement," Herbert said. "Normally at this time of the year if you're 10th in the points or whatever you're thinking, 'oh well, we'll try to finish in the top 10, I guess.' Now we're thinking about making the Countdown field and then making a real run at the title. I think it's a great deal."
Points leader "Hot Rod" Fuller made the biggest move of the day in his Peterson CAT dragster, going from out of the field to the No. 3 spot with a 4.562 at 323.66 mph.
Anderson knew Pro Stock would collectively be quicker Saturday as San Francisco's cool morning fog lingered over the quarter-mile track. He also knew he'd need to improve if he wanted to retain his No. 1 ranking in the qualifying field. He was right on both accounts and he responded perfectly with a track-record 6.605 at 208.20 mph to earn his Summit Pontiac GTO team its ninth No. 1 start of the year, fifth at this track and 60th of his career.
"We needed a 'get well weekend' and it's great to get it done here,"
said Anderson, who now has 60 low qualifying efforts in his career.
"It's not over yet but we've taken a step in the right direction. Our
confidence has been down over the last four races and it feels good to
get back on track. It was starting to get embarrassing."
The super summer of Allen Johnson continues here with a No. 2 qualifying effort, courtesy of a 6.612 at 207.21 mph in his J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge.
Sampey's run was a shocker as it took place when Saturday's temperatures were at their highest in the fourth and final qualifying session. Still, the three-time champion seemed unaffected by it all, running a 6.924 at 193.40 mph on her U.S. Army Suzuki to earn her fourth No. 1 qualifier award of the season.
"A 6.92 out there in that heat is pretty awesome," Sampey said. "We'll have to change our tune-up throughout the day tomorrow if, hopefully, we are lucky enough to go four rounds. It'll be cool in the morning like it was today, then it'll get hotter and I'm sure there'll be a little humidity to deal with. That's the crew chiefs job to deal with all that. I just need to concentrate on my lights and my riding."
After improving to a 6.929 at 190.70 mph in the morning session, Friday leader Andrew Hines looked to be a lock for the Pro Stock Motorcycle pole, but the Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider will have to chase the race trophy from the No. 2 slot instead.
Three female riders are in the top half of the field. Sampey is on top, Peggy Llewellyn is fifth with a career-best 6.963 on her Klement Motorsports Buell, while Karen Stoffer is sixth with a 6.976 on her Geico Suzuki.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the 15th of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Herbert, 4.556 seconds, 315.64 mph vs. 16. Morgan Lucas, 4.695, 313.00; 2. Melanie Troxel, 4.561, 326.63 vs. 15. Bob Vandergriff, 4.675, 315.34; 3. Rod Fuller, 4.562, 323.66 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.671, 310.34; 4. Tony Schumacher, 4.574, 327.27 vs. 13. Cory McClenathan, 4.668, 320.13; 5. Whit Bazemore, 4.582, 323.58 vs. 12. Hillary Will, 4.651, 319.22; 6. Doug Kalitta, 4.585, 316.15 vs. 11. Clay Millican, 4.628, 290.32; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 4.602, 326.56 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, 4.613, 317.49; 8. Larry Dixon, 4.609, 316.23 vs. 9. Mike Strasburg, 4.612, 322.50.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger, 4.743, 326.79 vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.965, 294.69; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.759, 324.67 vs. 15. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.945, 305.22; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Impala, 4.762, 320.97 vs. 14. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.943, 311.20; 4. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.764, 318.32 vs. 13. Jeff Arend, Impala, 4.922, 316.60; 5. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.774, 322.04 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.877, 308.99; 6. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.788, 321.27 vs. 11. Gary Densham, Chevy MonteCarlo, 4.871, 313.29; 7. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.791, 324.12 vs. 10. John Force, Mustang, 4.870, 315.71; 8. Kenny Bernstein, Charger, 4.794, 324.98 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.821, 318.17.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.605, 208.23 vs. 16. Bob Panella, Dodge Stratus, 6.661, 206.89; 2. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.612, 207.56 vs. 15. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.659, 207.56; 3. Jason Line, GTO, 6.613, 208.59 vs. 14. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.657, 207.24; 4. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.622, 207.02 vs. 13. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.655, 206.48; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.634, 207.21 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.651, 206.92; 6. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.636, 207.30 vs. 11. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.648, 207.37; 7. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.640, 207.21 vs. 10. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.648, 208.04; 8. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.644, 206.67 vs. 9. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.647, 207.53.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.924, 193.40 vs. 16. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.150, 190.43; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.929, 193.79 vs. 15. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.115, 189.31; 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.932, 194.07 vs. 14. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.083, 189.95; 4. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.952, 190.81 vs. 13. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.080, 186.90; 5. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 6.963, 189.95 vs. 12. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.062, 185.59; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.976, 191.76 vs. 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.051, 188.67; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.980, 189.66 vs. 10. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.027, 190.92; 8. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.995, 189.87 vs. 9. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.005, 188.54.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - HERBERT, ASHLEY, ANDERSON AND HINES LEAD QUALIFYING AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS
Doug Herbert raced to the qualifying lead Friday in Top Fuel at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals.
Mike Ashley, Greg Anderson, and Andrew Hines also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at Infineon Raceway.
Herbert posted a leading performance of 4.556 seconds at 315.15 mph in his Snap-on Tools dragster to earn the top spot, however 10 Top Fuel racers didn't get to run in the second session after a lengthy oil clean-up forced NHRA officials to stop racing at the mandatory 10 p.m. track curfew. Herbert will try to hold the position through Saturday's action to see if he can claim his first low qualifier award in almost two years.
"We obviously got a lucky break but luck is like a bank and it seems like we've made a lot of deposits this year so we'll take it," Herbert said. "It was a good run and maybe it would have been good enough any way. Probably someone would have passed us but we'll never know now."
POWERade points leader "Hot Rod" Fuller made two runs but still hasn't been down the track under power as of yet and is outside the field in 18th place.
Funny Car leader Ashley continues to impress, setting a track speed
record with his top-qualifying 4.743 at 326.79 mph in his Torco Dodge
Charger. The New Yorker has three previous No. 1 qualifying efforts
this season.
"I've been No. 1 before and it's great but I'd rather win the race," Ashley said. "We need the points for the Countdown deal. I have to tell ya, when you pull up to the line for Friday night qualifying your stomach is in knots. You either run a hero number or smoke the tires and end up staying up all night worrying if you can make the field Saturday. This Friday night session is as important as any single round of racing. There's a lot of pressure."
Ashley Force rebounded well from her crash last Sunday in Seattle with a 4.791 at 324.12 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Her father John is 11th with a 4.871 in his Castrol High-Mileage Mustang.
Looking to become the sixth driver in NHRA history to earn a sweep of the Western Swing, "Fast Jack" Beckman is second on the grid after a 4.759 at 324.67 mph in the Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T.
Anderson and Allen Johnson both recorded 6.612s in Pro Stock but
Anderson's Summit Racing Pontiac GTO gets the top spot due to his
faster top speed of 208.07 mph. Johnson topped out at 207.21 mph in his
J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus.
"It seems like four years, not four races," Anderson said of the time between his top qualifying efforts. "We've been struggling lately. That's no secret. Since we got a bit of a lead in the points we thought we'd try some things. But we've gotten way off pace and I can't blame it all on experimental parts. Plus I haven't been driving very well."
Three-time and reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hines was the quickest of both Friday sessions on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, claiming the provisional pole with a 6.962 at 190.03 mph. He opened with a 7.001 at 189.50 mph.
"It's definitely good to get back to sea-level conditions," Hines said. "We've been No. 1 here the last two years so we're trying to make it three in a row. There's a great fan base here that really likes the motorcycles and that makes it so fun."
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Herbert, 4.556 seconds, 315.64 mph; 2. Melanie Troxel, 4.561, 326.63; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.575, 324.90; 4. Whit Bazemore, 4.582, 323.43; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.585, 316.15; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.602, 326.56; 7. Mike Strasburg, 4.612, 322.50; 8. J.R. Todd, 4.613, 290.51; 9. Clay Millican, 4.628, 290.32; 10. Larry Dixon, 4.631, 316.23; 11. Hillary Will, 4.651, 319.22; 12. Cory McClenathan, 4.668, 320.13; 13. David Grubnic, 4.671, 310.34; 14. Bob Vandergriff, 4.675, 315.34; 15. Morgan Lucas, 4.695, 313.00; 16. Alan Bradshaw, 4.764, 302.48.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger, 4.743, 326.79; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.759, 324.67; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.762, 320.97; 4. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.764, 318.32; 5. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.774, 322.04; 6. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.788, 321.27; 7. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.791, 324.12; 8. Kenny Bernstein, Charger, 4.794, 324.98; 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.821, 318.17; 10. Gary Densham, Chevy MonteCarlo, 4.871, 313.29; 11. John Force, Mustang, 4.871, 277.89; 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.877, 307.72; 13. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.965, 294.69; 14. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 5.036, 289.94; 15. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 5.038, 228.54; 16. Jeff Arend, Impala, 5.042, 294.75.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.612, 208.07; 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.612, 207.21; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.631, 206.92; 4. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.636, 206.26; 5. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.644, 206.67; 6. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.648, 207.05; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.649, 206.73; 8. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.650, 207.02; 9. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.652, 206.48; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.655, 206.48; 11. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.657, 206.42; 12. Justin Humphreys, GTO, 6.669, 206.80; 13. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.672, 206.92; 14. Bob Panella, Stratus, 6.675, 206.83; 15. Jason Line, GTO, 6.679, 206.29; 16. Erica Enders, Stratus, 6.681, 206.23.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.962, 190.03; 2. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.968, 191.08; 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.983, 191.95; 4. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.986, 189.20; 5. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 6.997, 187.50; 6. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.021, 186.46; 7. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.028, 186.51; 8. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.042, 186.18; 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.046, 188.38; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.058, 187.11; 11. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.089, 187.26; 12. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.107, 186.56; 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.142, 182.75; 14. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.149, 187.21; 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.150, 186.48; 16. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.181, 186.69.
