NHRA WINTERNATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY FINAL - SCHUMACHER, HIGHT AND ANDERSON RACE TO VICTORIES AT 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.
"It has been an outstanding week," said Schumacher of his second Winternationals victory and sixth at the historic track. "The car was so consistent all weekend. It’s always great to win at Pomona and this is our second Winternationals win. I’ve loved being in California this week. I’m going home to 13-inches of snow tomorrow (in Chicago)."
Schumacher dedicated his trophy to fellow competitor Doug Herbert, whose two young sons were killed in a traffic accident in North Carolina two weeks ago.
"We’re all part of a family when something like that happens," Schumacher said. "I really wanted Doug to have this trophy. It was bittersweet having to race him in the second round. We were able to go on and get the win so this trophy is going to Doug."
Hight earned a first round victory when Ron Capps crossed the centerline, then raced to wins over veterans Gary Densham and John Force in the next two rounds, before defeating Pedregon in the final. He says days like this that feature a lineup of very tough opponents is going to be very common this season.
"It’s going to be a tough year," said Hight, who finished second in the POWERade Series standings in 2007. "There are an awful lot of really good cars out there. It’s going to be hard to win the championship this year, but it’s going to be exciting."
Defending Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon received burns to his right hand but was otherwise OK after taking a wild ride in a first round loss to John Force. The engine on Pedregon’s Q Horsepower Chevy Impala exploded in a spectacular fireball near the finish line, sending chunks of the carbon-fiber body that covers his chassis flying into the air.
"There was no warning," said Pedregon, who was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and was later released and returned to the track to cheer on brother Cruz.
"A lot of times when something happens to your car, like when you drop a cylinder, you feel it, and I would have reacted," Pedregon continued. "But it blew up, and I had instant flames, like a flame-thrower in my face and the scary part was I didn't know where I was. I hit the wall very hard and I feel very lucky. This is a little bit of a glitch for us, but this is why we have depth. We have good people and I feel fine - I feel great. I'm anxious to get back in the seat at Phoenix, and hey, if this is what it takes to get to the top, these are unfortunate things, but in terms of safety, to have a high-speed wreck like that, blow a motor and go into the wall a couple of times at close to 300 mph, I think it proves a lot about the safety features we've added to these cars."
"Anytime you match up against Jeg you better bring everything you’ve got," said Anderson, a three-time series champ who finished second to Coughlin in last year’s Countdown to the Championship. "I knew no matter what we ran, he’d be right there and he was. We’re going to try to win every race this year, but it’s going to be the toughest year in the class because these guys out here aren’t going to give an inch."
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 24th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals, Feb. 22-24 at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix.
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Sunday's final results from the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - BROWN ENTERS FIRST TOP FUEL RACE IN NO. 1 SPOT; WILKERSON, ANDERSON ALSO NO.1 AT CARQUEST AUTO PARTS WINTERNATIONALS
Tim Wilkerson and Greg Anderson also were the No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the first of 24 events in the 2008 season.
Brown, who earned 11 No. 1 qualifying awards in nearly a decade of racing on two wheels, was able to stay at the top of the field after a competitive day of qualifying. His run of 4.495 at 330.07 from Friday in his Matco Tools dragster was good enough to lead the 16 car field.
“It’s just an unreal deal out here right now,” Brown said. “For a kid out of Chesterfield, N.J. to come out here, race Pro Stock Motorcycle in NHRA drag racing, then get the chance to race all of the different (Top Fuel) drivers that I look up to is just unbelievable. And then to go out there and run a 4.495 is even better.”
Wilkerson took the No. 1 spot on the final Funny Car qualifying session of the event. Wilkerson drove his Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.790-second run at 325.22 mph. It’s Wilkerson’s second No. 1 qualifier at the Winternationals and 11th of his career.
“We left a lot on the table after the morning run today and really had our backs against the wall coming into the last run,” Wilkerson said. “We had about three different timing scenarios made up on my graphic editor depending on whether or not we were in the show and after the morning run when we were still in we decided to stick the top one in there and go for the throat and it just happened to work.”
Greg Anderson remained the leader in Pro Stock, driving his Summit Racing equipment Pontiac GXP to a track record run of 6.629 at 209.39.
“We knew we didn’t make a real clean run on Thursday so we thought as the week went and the track got better we should be able to make a better run, and we did just that,” Anderson said. “Thankfully we were right on that.”
Final eliminations for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first 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. Antron Brown, 4.495 seconds, 331.61 mph vs. 16. Urs Erbacher, 4.859, 310.05; 2. Larry Dixon, 4.497, 325.14 vs. 15. Troy Buff, 4.675, 291.51; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.513,331.77 vs. 14. Doug Kalitta, 4.615, 319.67; 4. Morgan Lucas, 4.514, 333.33 vs. 13. Bob Vandergriff, 4.590, 311.56; 5. Hillary Will, 4.521, 334.65 vs. 12. J.R. Todd, 4.570, 327.74; 6.Alan Bradshaw, 4.524, 306.40 vs. 11. Doug Herbert, 4.545, 327.98; 7. David Grubnic, 4.530, 318.62 vs. 10. Rod Fuller, 4.539, 327.51; 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.532, 330.23 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 4.533, 330.31.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steven Chrisman, 4.932, 291.51.
Funny Car -- 1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.790, 325.22 vs. 16. Gary Densham, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.866, 316.75; 2. Jerry Toliver, Dodge Charger, 4.790, 320.51 vs. 15. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.864, 295.72; 3. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Dodge RT, 4.810, 327.90 vs. 14. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.845, 321.42; 4. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.818, 322.65 vs. 13. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.845, 322.27; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.823, 321.88 vs. 12. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.845, 325.45; 6. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.828, 309.77 vs. 11. Bob Bode, Monte Carlo, 4.841, 316.01; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.830, 321.27 vs. 10. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.840, 321.65; 8. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.836, 325.30 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.837, 319.14.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jim Head, 4.875, 325.06; 18. Mike Ashley, 4.899, 323.66; 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.917, 313.51; 20. Terry Haddock, 5.267, 206.04; 21. James Day, 5.447, 218.55; 22. Tony Bartone, 5.679, 174.10; 23. Del Worsham, 7.733, 317.79.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.629, 209.39 vs. 16. Johnny Gray, Dodge Status, 6.718, 205.79; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.644, 208.23 vs. 15. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.715, 206.67; 3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.644, 208.62 vs. 14. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GTO, 6.711, 206.51; 4. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.652, 209.04 vs. 13. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.704, 206.32; 5.Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.652, 208.30 vs. 12. Matt Hartford, Status, 6.695, 206.48; 6. Jason Line, GTO, 6.656, 208.81 vs. 11. Bill Glidden, GTO, 6.694, 206.92; 7. Justin Humphreys, GTO, 6.660, 207.94 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.684, 206.61; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.661, 207.85 vs. 9. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.671, 206.92.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Tom Hammonds, 6.721, 207.37; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.725, 205.63; 19. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.737, 205.38; 20. Ben Watson, 6.737, 204.76; 21. Jim Yates, 6.745, 204.91; 22. Gordie Rivera, 6.770, 205.29.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - BROWN LEADS TOP FUEL FIELD AFTER SECOND DAY OF QUALIFYING AT WINTERNATIONALS; KALITTA AND ANDERSON STAY ON TOP AFTER TWO SESSIONS
Scott Kalitta and Greg Anderson remained the qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the first of 24 events in the 2008 season.
Brown, who earned 16 victories in nearly a decade of racing on two wheels, powered his Matco Tools dragster to the best run of his early Top Fuel career, posting a performance of 4.495 seconds at 330.07 mph.
Defending world champion Tony Schumacher moved to second overall in his U.S. Army dragster with his run of 4.513 seconds at 331.53 mph from Thursday.
Kalitta remained the leader in Funny Car in his DHL Toyota Solara (4.818 seconds), but driver Cruz Pedregon posted the quickest run of the day and moved from 16th to second overall, driving his Advance Auto Parts Chevy Impala SS to a run of 4.818 at 322.65.
“That was a big pressure relief,” Pedregon said. “We didn’t qualify at the finals here three or four months ago so to come out to the season opener and qualify as well as we did is just really, really a relief right now.”
“We took our information from yesterday and we went in that left-hand lane,” Johnson said. “It looks like that left-hand lane is probably a couple hundredths quicker.”
Saturday's two qualifying sessions are at Noon and 3 p.m.
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 4.495 seconds, 330.07 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 4.513, 331.77; 3. Morgan Lucas, 4.522, 331.04; 4. Alan Bradshaw, 4.524, 306.40; 5. David Grubnic, 4.530, 318.62; 6. Hillary Will, 4.534, 333.58; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 4.534, 330.31; 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.536, 330.23; 9. Rod Fuller, 4.539, 327.51; 10. Larry Dixon, 4.543, 324.28; 11. Doug Herbert, 4.545, 327.98; 12. J.R. Todd, 4.570, 327.74. Not Qualified: 13. Doug Kalitta, 4.647, 315.34; 14. Bob Vandergriff, 4.678, 311.56; 15. Troy Buff, 4.708, 254.18; 16. Urs Erbacher, 4.786, 310.05; 17. Steven Chrisman, 4.977, 258.12.
Funny Car -- 1. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.818, 322.65; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.830, 321.27; 3. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.838, 322.73; 4. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.840, 321.65; 5. Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.841, 314.68; 6. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.845, 325.45; 7. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.845, 322.27; 8. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.860, 278.75; 9. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.864, 295.72; 10. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.866, 315.93; 11. Jim Head, Solara, 4.883, 325.06; 12. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Dodge RT, 4.900, 316.45. Not Qualified: 13. Del Worsham, 4.967, 317.79; 14. Mike Ashley, 4.979, 317.57; 15. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.994, 299.06; 16. Jerry Toliver, 5.163, 223.17; 17. Tim Wilkerson, 5.212, 240.12; 18. Bob Tasca III, 5.218, 309.34; 19. John Force, 6.391, 145.09; 20. James Day, 7.356, 117.99; 21. Robert Hight, 7.439, 114.07; 22.Tony Bartone, 7.478, 112.42.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.635, 208.91; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.646, 208.62; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.651, 207.98; 4. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GTO, 6.656, 209.04; 5. Jason Line, GTO, 6.656, 208.81; 6. Justin Humphreys, GTO, 6.660, 207.94; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.662, 207.85; 8. Max Naylor, Dodge Stratus, 6.671, 206.92; 9. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.674, 208.30; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.684, 206.39; 11. Matt Hartford, Dodge Status, 6.695, 206.48; 12. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.704, 206.32. Not Qualified: 13. Mike Edwards, 6.706, 205.32; 14. Ron Krisher, 6.727, 206.67; 15. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.729, 205.38; 16. Ben Watson, 6.734, 204.76; 17. Jim Yates, 6.735, 204.91; 18. Tom Hammonds, 6.742, 207.37; 19. Johnny Gray, 6.742, 205.63; 20. Bill Glidden, 6.768, 204.60; 21. Larry Morgan, 6.776, 205.13; 22. Gordie Rivera, 6.783, 204.73.
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THURSDAY QUALIFYING - SCHUMACHER, KALITTA AND ANDERSON LEAD QUALIFYING AT CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
Scott Kalitta and Greg Anderson also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the first of 24 races in the 2008 season.
Schumacher picked up where he left off last season by clocking the quickest run of the day in his class -- a 4.513 second effort at 331.53 mph in his U.S. Army dragster.
“That was a pretty decent run on a great track,” Schumacher said. “The computer showed that there's a lot left in (the tune-up). We have an outstanding race car and we're hoping to get off to a better start this season. Alan (Johnson, crew chief) seemed happy with the run, so that’s good.”
Former Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Antron Brown made his Top Fuel debut and posted a 10th place effort. He covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.560 seconds at 326.16 mph in his Matco Tools dragster.
Kalitta was quickest in Funny Car, posting a 4.818 at 322.65 in his DHL Toyota Solara. However, Kalitta didn’t get to savor his category-leading performance for long because one of the two parachutes that help slow the car following a run failed to open after he crossed the finish line. Unable to stop, his car went out of control and plowed into the safety sand traps at the top end of the track. Kalitta was not injured, but the Solara body on his car will need extensive repairs before Friday’s 2 p.m. qualifying session.
“We’re happy with the run but there’s still three more rounds of qualifying left, so that run probably won’t stay number one,” Kalitta continued. “I am just happy that it went down the track.”
Defending Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon is third with a 4.845 at 325.45 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala, while 14-time champ John Force was 14th in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang after making a comeback from a serious crash last season at Dallas that sidelined him with multiple injuries.
Former Top Fuel racer Melanie Troxel will try to become the 14th competitor in NHRA history to win in both nitro categories. She opened her Funny Car career with a 4.900 second run at 316.45 mph in her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger, good enough for eighth overall.
“This is a magic place for me,” Anderson said. “I love coming here. I love the facility and the race track and the people around here. I’ve got a lot of special memories here.”
Defending champ Jeg Coughlin was third with a 6.651 at 207.98 in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt.
Results Thursday after the first of four rounds of qualifying for the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Friday and Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.513 seconds, 331.53 mph; 2. Alan Bradshaw, 4.524, 306.40; 3. David Grubnic, 4.530, 318.62; 4. Hillary Will, 4.534, 333.58; 5. Cory McClenathan, 4.539, 321.81; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.543, 324.28; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.545, 327.98; 8. Morgan Lucas, 4.557, 322.42; 9. Rod Fuller, 4.558, 325.30; 10. Antron Brown, 4.560, 326.16; 11. J.R. Todd, 4.575, 294.18; 12. Doug Kalitta, 4.647, 315.34. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Vandergriff, 4.678, 311.56; 14.
Urs Erbacher, 5.952, 160.40; 15. Troy Buff, 6.115, 135.67; 16. Brandon Bernstein, 9.831, 78.90; 17. Steven Chrisman, 13.679, 75.15.
Funny Car -- 1. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.818, 322.65; 2. Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.841, 314.68; 3. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.845, 325.45; 4. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.850, 321.65; 5. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.860, 278.75; 6. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.864, 295.72; 7. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.876, 320.51; 8. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Dodge RT, 4.900, 316.45; 9.Del Worsham, Impala, 4.967, 317.79; 10. Jim Head, Solara, 5.133, 221.85; 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 5.151, 227.69; 12. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 5.212, 240.12. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Tasca III, 5.277, 309.34; 14. John Force, 6.726, 134.23; 15. Jerry Toliver, 7.048, 109.09; 16. Cruz Pedregon, 7.209, 97.46; 17. Gary Scelzi, 7.422, 120.23; 18. Gary Densham, 8.828, 108.93; 19. Robert Hight, 9.526, 84.80; 20. Tony Bartone, 11.060, 70.62; 21. James Day, 17.101, 69.68.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.635, 208.91; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.649, 208.62; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.651, 207.98; 4. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GTO, 6.656, 209.04; 5. Jason Line, GTO, 6.656, 208.81; 6. Justin Humphreys, GTO, 6.660, 207.94; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.662, 207.85; 8. Max Naylor, Dodge Stratus, 6.671, 206.92; 9. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.674, 208.30; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.685, 206.35; 11. Matt Hartford, Dodge Status, 6.695, 206.48; 12. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.704, 206.32. Not Qualified: 13. Mike Edwards, 6.706, 205.32; 14. Ron Krisher, 6.727, 206.39; 15. Johnny Gray, 6.742, 205.63; 16. Tom Hammonds, 6.750, 206.70; 17. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.753, 204.85; 18. Jim Yates, 6.754, 204.91; 19. Larry Morgan, 6.776, 205.13; 20. Gordie Rivera, 6.832, 203.58; 21. Bill Glidden, 12.641, 86.23; 22. Ben Watson, 18.766, 45.04.
EVENT PREVIEW - CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS OPENS SEASON OF CHANGES
Plenty of changes will greet fans, teams and drivers when the NHRA POWERade Series opens its second Countdown to the Championship at the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 7-10.
The event, which will be telecast on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, is the first in an 18-race regular season, and that’s the first change.
In 2007, drivers negotiated a three-tier season that culminated in a two-race run for the title (Las Vegas 2, Pomona 2). Now only one cut separates the championship-contenders from the spoilers, in what proves to be an eat-or-be-eaten Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend. Points will be re-set, but the drivers leading in four categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) will be given a 20-point (or one-round) bonus for their efforts in the regular season. Ten drivers in each category will make the cut, up from eight last year.
And that brings us to the drivers.
Almost every major POWERade Series team brings something new to the table in 2008.
Consider Don Schumacher Racing, for one. Jerry Toliver, Cory McClenathan and Chip Ellis will compete under the DSR umbrella this season, in Funny Car, Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.
As for the former U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle duo of Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey? Brown, a newly-minted Top Fuel pilot, will drive the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster for David Powers Motorsports. Sampey makes her Buell debut with Klement Motorsports when Pro Stock Motorcycle opens its season in Gainesville in March. Veteran DSR Funny Car driver Ron Capps returns with the team but will sport new NAPA Auto Parts colors on his Dodge Charger.
“Last year, with all the announcements from NHRA, including the Countdown to the Championship, it was such a breath of fresh air,” Capps said. “And we feel it again this year with the new Countdown format…It’s going to be an exciting year. More than anything, for us, with our new sponsor and all that NAPA Auto Parts is going to do for the sport of drag racing, I can’t wait for the season to start. And I can’t wait for the fans to see all the NAPA commercials coming up here in February and March.”
Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will run on 90-percent nitro fuel, up from 85 percent. Across the pits, John Force Racing has undergone some changes of its own and the team is about to see the results of its efforts. After enduring months of vigorous physical therapy, team owner/driver John Force is back, ready to go following successful testing in his new Castrol GTX Ford Mustang equipped with the latest safety gear.
Former crew chief wunderkind Mike Neff will see what he can do behind the wheel for JFR, while Ashley Force makes her first championship charge without the ‘rookie’ moniker. Neff unseated his now-owner John Force when he tuned Don Schumacher’s Gary Scelzi to the POWERade world championship title in 2005.
Pro Stock has seen its own share of changes. In 2006, it looked like nothing could break the hold Summit Racing Equipment teammates Greg Anderson and Jason Line had on the championship. Between the two, they’d had the crown for four years – and in 2007, seven of the 17 races in the regular season were won by either Anderson (who won six) or Line (who won one) but another team trumped their efforts. Seven regular-season wins were earned by the Cagnazzi Racing combo of Jeg Coughlin and Dave Connolly. Coughlin posted a 10-5 round record in the playoffs, the best of any Pro Stock driver, to win his third career POWERade Series world championship title.
“We are excited to defend our NHRA POWERade Pro Stock championship from last year,” Coughlin said. “Carrying the No. 1 on the side of your car always adds a little extra pressure, but it also gives the team a little extra energy to dig deeper and work harder to keep the No. 1 on your car. There are going to be a lot of significant things that happen in 2008 that we mold and shape the future direction of the NHRA and that in itself is exciting.”
The qualifying procedure for POWERade Series events has also been altered. Only the top 12 times will be officially recorded after the first day of qualifying. That leaves four spots unclaimed. The top 12 times will not be locked in, however, and drivers in that top tier can still be bumped or moved in the order during the final two qualifying sessions, where the final four spots will be earned for a full 16-car field.
It should be quite a year.
SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7-8. Qualifying continues at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals. Call Auto Club Raceway at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or check online at ticketmaster.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 9. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Raceday, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 10. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise the race beginning at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 10.
