NHRA MILE HIGH NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SUNDAY FINAL - SCHUMACHER GETS SIXTH WIN OF SEASON; WILKERSON, ANDERSON, SMITH ALSO PICK UP WINS AT DENVER
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith also won in their respective categories in the 13th of 24 events on the POWERade Series schedule.
This was the first NHRA event in history run at 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Schumacher drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.007-second run at 304.05 mph to defeat runner-up Antron Brown to pick up his 47th win and pull within five of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins all-time.
“It’s still a good race,” said Schumacher, referring to the change to 1,000 feet. “The key to this race was knowing it’s hot out, knowing that there’s water under the first 100 feet, and knowing that if you don’t get that car moving hard right there, you’re done, you’re not going to make it. And we knew that.”
“We had a good car all weekend and went down the track every run,” said Wilkerson. “I’m pretty proud of my guys. They’re doing a great job. It was good racing all weekend.”
Greg Anderson drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to his third straight win and fifth overall for the season, posting a time of 7.024 at 196.39, which proved strong enough to get past runner-up and defending event winner Allen Johnson. It is Anderson’s 56th career win, and second in Denver.
“This track is so different than everything we do all year long,” said Anderson. “We just ended up having a great weekend. We adapted great and
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith was able to ride his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 7.326 at 180.74 past Steve Johnson to pick up his second consecutive win at Bandimere, second of the season, and eighth of his career.
“The track is awesome,” said Smith. “This cooling system in the track was consistent all week long. We performed and we had a good bike and I’m just glad to leave here with another win.”
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Sunday's final results from the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The race is the 13th of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Competition Eliminator -- Lou Ficco Jr., Chevy Cavalier, 7.722, 173.72 def. Steve Holloway, Pontiac GTO, 7.030, 197.77.
Super Stock -- Justin Jenkins, Olds Calais, 10.515, 124.09 def. Neal Rhodes, Ford Mustang, 10.842, 123.24.
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING - McCLENATHAN TAKES TOP SPOT IN DENVER; PEDREGON, ANDERSON, KRAWIEC ALSO NO. 1 AT MILE-HIGH NATIONALS
Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Eddie Krawiec were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
McClenathan’s run of 3.929-seconds at 308.07 mph from Friday night was fast enough to keep him and his FRAM dragster in the top spot. It’s McClenathan’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 32nd of his career and third in Denver.
“It’s always the way it should be, team cars going one and two,” said McClenathan, referring to teammate Tony Schumacher taking the second spot in the field. “Now if we can just make the plan work out tomorrow and go the rounds we need to go and be able to go to the final that would be tremendous.”
Defending event winner Rod Fuller qualified 13th and two-time Bandimere Speedway winner Larry Dixon qualified third.
Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon also stayed in the No. 1 spot thanks to his Friday night run. Pedregon powered his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a 4.212 at 286.50. It’s Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 33rd of his career, and first at Bandimere Speedway.
“The conditions really stayed good today,” said Pedregon. “Overall I think the track was better than average and some of it is due to that first 150 (feet) and the track cooling system.”
Defending event winner Jack Beckman qualified 10th while Denver native Melanie Troxel will start second in the field.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson drove his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP to the top spot and new track records with a run of 7.010 at 196.10. It’s Anderson’s third No. 1 qualifier of the season, 65th of his career, and fourth at Bandimere Speedway.
“The track is just so much better than it’s ever been,” said Anderson. “It just amazes me. We come out here and have completely different (racing) conditions than we do anywhere else. Still you have four or five hundredths between the field. The competition in the field is just amazing.”
Defending event winner Allen Johnson sits third while defending POWERade world champion Jeg Coughlin sits ninth.
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Eddie Krawiec rode his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 7.328 at 181.74 to take his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier and a new track record for time.
“To come here and get No. 1, for me mentally, really helps my confidence,” said Krawiec. “Anytime you have a track record, it’s good, especially here. When you’re up here on the mountain in the thin air it’s hard to make horsepower, so it’s pretty special.”
Points leader Andrew Hines will start fourth while defending event winner Matt Smith will start third.
Sunday’s eliminations begin at noon.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 13th 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. Cory McClenathan, 3.929 seconds, 308.07 mph vs. Bye; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.943, 307.16 vs. 15. Steven Chrisman, 10.103, 237.71; 3. Larry Dixon, 3.946, 299.60 vs. 14. Steve Torrence, 4.715, 287.72; 4. Antron Brown, 3.998, 287.11 vs. 13. Rod Fuller, 4.050, 292.90; 5. Hillary Will, 4.018, 302.21 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 4.048, 289.20; 6. J.R. Todd, 4.021, 304.60 vs. 11. Morgan Lucas, 4.039, 295.85; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.025, 298.60 vs. 10. Brandon Bernstein, 4.037, 299.33; 8. David Grubnic, 4.026, 294.37 vs. 9. Doug Kalitta, 4.027, 291.01.
Funny Car -- 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.212, 287.90 vs. 16. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 4.326, 282.30; 2. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.226, 297.42 vs. 15. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.298, 287.23; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.227, 296.50 vs. 14. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.287, 289.63; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.229, 290.88 vs. 13. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.282, 290.76; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.233, 294.82 vs. 12. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.275, 292.33; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.238, 292.27 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.253, 285.17; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.242, 294.95 vs. 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.252, 293.35; 8. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.243, 288.70 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.248, 288.77. Did Not Qualify: 17. Tony Bartone, 5.671, 127.34.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 7.010, 196.30 vs. 16. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 7.063, 194.07; 2. Mike Edwards, GXP, 7.021, 195.62 vs. 15. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 7.059, 194.38; 3. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 7.025, 195.99 vs. 14. Warren Johnson, GXP, 7.058, 195.79; 4. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 7.031, 195.31 vs. 13. Jason Line, GXP, 7.048, 196.04; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 7.032, 196.22 vs. 12. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 7.044, 195.00; 6. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 7.032, 195.70 vs. 11. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 7.043, 195.00; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 7.037, 194.97 vs. 10. Jim Yates, GXP, 7.043, 195.11; 8. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 7.040, 195.39 vs. 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 7.040, 194.97.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Vinnie Deceglie, 7.081, 194.66; 18. Danny Gruninger, 7.131, 191.92; 19. Ben Watson, 7.140, 192.25; 20. Max Naylor, 7.144, 192.22.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.328, 181.74 vs. 16. Ryan Schnitz, Kawasaki, 7.884, 168.64; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.328, 181.28 vs. 15. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.509, 178.42; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.331, 181.67 vs. 14. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.465, 177.42; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.332, 182.23 vs. 13. David Hope, Buell, 7.438, 179.83; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.332, 179.59 vs. 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.434, 176.49; 6. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.339, 181.30 vs. 11. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.431, 177.49; 7. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.350, 180.72 vs. 10. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.418, 180.12; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.354, 182.23 vs. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.371, 181.89.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - PEDREGON TAKES PROVISIONAL TOP SPOT IN FUNNY CAR; McCLENATHAN, JOHNSON, JOHNSON ALSO PROVISIONAL NO. 1 QUALIFIERS IN DENVER
Cory McClenathan, Allen Johnson and Steve Johnson were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
This was the first time in NHRA history that Top Fuel and Funny Car ran at the interim distance of 1,000 feet.
Pedregon drove his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a 4.212-second pass at 286.50 mph to become the provisional top qualifier. It would be Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 33rd of his career, and first in Denver.
“The track surface itself is in excellent condition and that’s some of the feedback that I got,” said Pedregon. “As well as we’ve been doing recently, we haven’t been able to qualify in the top three and that’s something that we’ve lacked. I hope that if we can hold on to the position that it will be even more encouraging.”
Funny Car points leader Tim Wilkerson sits fifth after two rounds of qualifying, while defending event winner Jack Beckman is just below him in the sixth spot.
Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan drove his FRAM dragster to the provisional No. 1 spot with a 3.929 at 308.07. It would be McClenathan’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 32nd of his career and third at Bandimere Speedway.
“This is the right thing to do right now,” said McClenathan, referring to the change of the racing surface from 1,320 feet to 1,000 feet. “This is one of those tracks that I’ve been able to see grow. (The Bandimere’s) just care about the racers and it’s great to come to a place like this.”
Defending world champion and current points leader Tony Schumacher sits in the second spot while defending event winner Rod Fuller sits 12th.
Defending event winner in Pro Stock, Allen Johnson, picked up where he left off last year in Denver when he drove his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus to the provisional top spot with a 7.037 run at 195.17. It would be his second of the season, fifth of his career, and second consecutive No. 1 qualifier at Bandimere Speedway.
“We’ve tested probably more than anyone else here over the past few years,” said Johnson. “We’ve felt momentum really coming our way the past couple races. We’re going to use this race and the Western Swing to really amplify that.”
Points leader Greg Anderson just missed the top spot of the day, coming in second.
“I’ve never been a No. 1 qualifier as a team owner,’” said Johnson. “The crew did their job, they made the right decisions. They changed that motorcycle 1,000 percent from what it has been and what did we get? Numero Uno!”
Points leader Andrew Hines sits second while defending event winner Matt Smith is sixth.
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Sunday’s eliminations begin at noon.
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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, 13th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 3.929 seconds, 308.07 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.943, 307.16; 3. Larry Dixon, 3.946, 299.33; 4. Antron Brown, 3.998, 287.11; 5. Hillary Will, 4.018, 302.21; 6. J.R. Todd, 4.021, 304.60; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.025, 298.60; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 4.037, 299.33; 9. David Grubnic, 4.037, 293.35; 10. Morgan Lucas, 4.039, 295.85; 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.048, 289.20; 12. Rod Fuller, 4.050, 292.90. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Torrence, 4.067, 287.72; 14. Doug Kalitta, 4.144, 289.57; 15. Steven Chrisman, 4.541, 237.71.
Funny Car -- 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.212, 286.50; 2. John Force,
Ford Mustang, 4.233, 294.82; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.237,
290.76; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.242, 294.95; 5. Tim
Wilkerson, Impala, 4.250, 282.13; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.260,
293.35; 7. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.275, 292.33; 8. Ron Capps, Charger,
4.285, 285.17; 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.285, 281.13; 10. Jerry
Toliver, Charger, 4.287, 288.33; 11. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.287,
284.33; 12. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.298, 287.23. Not Qualified: 13. Ashley Force, 4.320, 286.13; 14.
Melanie Troxel, 4.322, 232.91; 15. Gary Scelzi, 4.341, 250.64; 16. BobTasca III, 4.372, 283.19; 17. Tony Bartone, 6.506, 99.07.
Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 7.037, 195.17; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 7.046, 195.11; 3. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 7.051, 194.49; 4. Jason Line, GXP, 7.075, 194.72; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 7.080, 194.80; 6. Jim Yates, GXP, 7.081, 193.49; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 7.085, 194.04; 8. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 7.085, 193.88; 9. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 7.085, 193.29; 10. V. Gaines, Stratus, 7.086, 193.43; 11. Mike Edwards, GXP, 7.091, 194.27; 12. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 7.099, 193.18. Not Qualified: 13. Vinnie Deceglie, 7.102, 193.43; 14. Dave Connolly, 7.102, 193.40; 15. Jeg Coughlin, 7.107, 193.79; 16. Johnny Gray, 7.107, 193.27; 17. Warren Johnson, 7.127, 194.55; 18. Danny Gruninger, 7.161, 191.08; 19. Max Naylor, 7.168, 190.57; 20. Ben Watson, 7.235, 190.00.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.367, 178.00; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.400, 178.24; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.422, 177.70; 4. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.431, 177.98; 5. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.442, 176.49; 6. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.450, 177.23; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.476, 178.31; 8. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.485, 177.56; 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.498, 176.70; 10. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.543, 173.67; 11. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.556, 174.41; 12. David Hope, Buell, 7.564, 173.18. Not Qualified: 13. Angelle Sampey, 7.569, 175.59; 14. Junior Pippin, 7.654, 170.67; 15. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.881, 171.60; 16. Ryan Schnitz, 8.076, 163.61.
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EVENT PREVIEW - WIN EASES HERBERT’S RECOVERY AS NHRA POWERade SERIES ENTERS GRUELING WESTERN SWING
From the outside it looked like all the elements were there. Most were.
Doug Herbert and his SnaponFranchise.com Top Fuel dragster team lined up for photos, smiles wide and arms raised in a victory salute that never gets stale. That happiness wasn’t faked. Herbert had just broken a 10-month winless spell and with the win in Norwalk gave himself some breathing room with a 131-point cushion between his eighth-place current seed and Morgan Lucas, who sits in the No. 11 spot currently and is 32 points outside the cut for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Herbert’s 10-year-old daughter Jessie had never before been to the winner’s circle with her father and without a doubt, this one was cause to celebrate. This title at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, already a somber event due to the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta just one week before, was the first Herbert had won since his own sons died in an auto accident near their home in January. After their deaths, Herbert, determined to win for his sons, named his 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship title quest the “For My Boys” tour.
Unfortunately, ambition and intention alone don’t win races. Until Norwalk, Herbert had yet to reach a final round this season. Then the spell broke with a holeshot. Herbert comes to Denver for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals July 11-13 at Bandimere Speedway with a budding momentum that’s crucial for success in the famed Western Swing, the grueling three-races-in-three-weeks trek from Denver to Seattle to Sonoma, Calif. He defeated a win-hungry Brandon Bernstein and a faster Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster with a quicker reaction time in Ohio.
Herbert wouldn’t have wanted to escape from the significance of that winner’s circle in Norwalk, as difficult as the transition from grief to the future can be. It’s that story, one of grief and recovery that follows Herbert this year.
“It was an emotional day,” Herbert said. “Last year James came to the race with me, and as fun and satisfying as (the win) was, it was kind of sad too…I guess what I try and do is try to concentrate on the fun times I’ve had with my boys and Scott Kalitta. When you think about that, that really seems to be the best thing to help get me through. I’m not particularly a super-religious person necessarily, but I think going through what I’ve been through, it’s giving me some faith in God. I think you really just have to believe, especially at a time like this.”
Recovery has come in the form of a packed NHRA POWERade Series schedule, time with family, his daughter and his sons’ friends, and several new projects, including the foundation he started in his sons’ honor (BRAKES – Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe).
He’s also decided that 330.63 mph (the career best he set in Phoenix three years ago) isn’t fast enough.
Herbert, his father Chet, a drag racing legend and one of the original drivers in Southern California, and assorted friends intend to attack the world land speed record at Bonneville Speed Week in 2009 at the Salt Flats in Bonneville, Utah. They’re building a car at Herbert’s North Carolina shop, with his father contributing key engineering work.
“My dad has built a bunch of cars to go to Bonneville since the early 1950s,” Herbert said. “I just decided I wanted to do something that was different, that a lot of other people aren’t doing…Going to Bonneville is kind of an out-of-the-box kind of thing. We’re building the car from scratch, the engines we’re building, the wheels; it’s an original hot-rodding thing.”
Meanwhile he appreciates the hectic schedule of the NHRA POWERade Series and the Western Swing.
“It’s going to be a good three weeks,” Herbert said. “We’ll just continue to work on the momentum. I kind of like back-to-back races. We can focus on the race and don’t have time to really worry about a bunch of other stuff. We’re too busy being at the race; working on the (race cars).”
As are the rest of the drivers of the NHRA POWERade Series. Although Herbert was an emotional favorite to win in Norwalk, every team – except that of U.S. Army Top Fuel dynamo Tony Schumacher, who became the first driver to secure his spot in the playoffs – needs a win. Near the top are category rookie Antron Brown and his teammate Rod Fuller, who pose a serious threat to “the Sarge,” as does two-time champion Larry Dixon. Hillary Will, one of the most popular drivers in the Series, had just won her first Top Fuel event before the death of Kalitta, her teammate, and looks for a quick rebound in his honor with her Kalitta Racing Top Fuel teammates Doug Kalitta and Dave Grubnic.
In Funny Car, independent team owner/driver Tim Wilkerson, with an assist from Don Prudhomme Racing, continues his dream season as a surprise points leader, with the Pedregon brothers, Tony and Cruz, and the John Force Racing powerhouse of John and Ashley Force, Robert Hight and Mike Neff close behind.
Pro Stock has seen a return to grace for Greg Anderson, the three-time NHRA POWERade Series world champion who wants to regain his throne after two years of finishing second. His teammate Jason Line is in the hunt, and the young Dave Connolly is scratching his way back into contention after missing the first five races of the season due to sponsorship woes. He’s only 54 points out of the Top 10 spots that will battle for the championship title. Kurt Johnson can’t be ruled out – he’s in second place with two wins on the season entering Denver.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Andrew Hines leads with two wins so far in 2008 but there’s no discarding new Don Schumacher Racing rider Chip Ellis or defending NHRA POWERade Series world champion Matt Smith, currently in second and third place, respectively.
Expect a special spotlight on defending event winners Fuller, Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Allen Johnson, who won this race for his title sponsor last year, and Smith.
The 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals near Denver is the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, televised on ESPN2 HD. In the interest of safety, for the first time in NHRA history competition in Top Fuel and Funny Car will be contested at a distance of 1,000 feet, instead of the traditional 1,320 feet. Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle and all Lucas Oil Series sportsman categories will continue to compete in the full quarter-mile. National record performances in Top Fuel and Funny Car will not be officially recorded, and bonus points for setting national elapsed time records in the two nitro categories will not be available.
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