Friday's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals photo blog
Friday, September 14, 2012
Beautiful blue skies that are peppered with puffy-white clouds are greeting fans and racers this opening day of the 2012 O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Local forecasters are calling for great weather throughout the weekend with today's highs in the low 80s, a perfect environment for the opening race of the Countdown to the Championship. The drivers of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series won't hit the track until 3 p.m., but racing action began at 8 a.m. with the drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series make qualifying and time runs. |
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While the Lucas Oil cars stay busy on the track, the Full Throttle pits are abuzz with activity. Several drivers, including Pro Stock Motorcycle's Karen Stoffer (left), are out signing autographs, taking photos, and interacting with the fans. In addition, many of the crews have begun preparing their cars for the two qualifying sessions later today, including the team of defending Funny Car event champion Matt Hagan (below). |
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| As he himself quipped, three-time world champion Larry Dixon, who spent part of his morning mixing nitro, will have a little bit of a busier weekend than he has previously had this year because he will make his season debut behind the wheel of the Dote Racing Top Fuel dragster. Dixon takes over for Hillary Will, who parted ways with the team following last weekend's event in Indy. |
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Prior to today's qualifying, a handful of Full Throttle drivers are visiting the media center to answer questions, including father-daughter Funny Car racers John and Courtney Force. The Forces talked about a wide range of topics during their 25 minute session, including Courtney's great rookie season, John's challenges making the Countdown, and the fine line between their father-daughter and boss-driver relationships. |
| Prior to the start of the first qualifying session, the 10 riders and drivers who made the Countdown to the Championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock were introduced. In Pro Stock Motorcycle (right), the 10 riders battling for the title are, front row, from left, Hector Arana Jr., Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, and Hector Arana Sr.; back row, from left, Karen Stoffer, Scotty Pollacheck, LE Tonglet, Michael Ray, Shawn Gann, and Matt Smith. The Pro Stock title contenders (below) are, front row, from left, Greg Anderson, Allen Johnson, Jason Line, and Erica Enders; back row, from left, Vincent Nobile, Mike Edwards, Ron Krisher, V. Gaines, Larry Morgan, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. |
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Reigning Full Throttle world champ and top rider in the points standings Eddie Krawiec is also the early No. 1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying after he edged out Hector Arana Jr. in the opening session, 6.853 to 6.854. Krawiec's teammate, Andrew Hines, is ranked third after the first session. |
Jason Line jumped to the early lead in Pro Stock, wheeling his Summit Camaro to a 6.570, three-thousandths ahead of Vincent Nobile. |
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Allen Johnson (pictured) and Greg Anderson both ran 6.574 on their opening Pro Stock runs, the third-quickest time of the round. Johnson got the No. 3 spot based on speed, 211.56 to 211.36. |
| The top 10 drivers in the nitro classes were introduced between the first Pro Stock qualifying session and the initial run for Funny Cars this weekend. Top Fuel's championship runners (right) are, front row, from left, Steve Torrence, Antron Brown, Spencer Massey, and Tony Schumacher; back row, from left, Doug Kalitta, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, David Grubnic, and Bob Vandergriff Jr. The racers vying for the Funny Car world title (below) are, front row, from left, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Robert Hight, and Mike Neff; back row, from left, Johnny Gray, Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon, John Force, Jeff Arend, and Tim Wilkerson. |
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One team absent from the first Funny Car qualifying session was the Jim Dunn-owned entry driven by Todd Lesenko. The team elected to sit out both of today's sessions as they work on putting the finishing touches on their car after last week's two big boomers. Here, Randy Carmichael, left, and Jon Dunn replumb and rewire the entire car. |
After fighting hard to get into the Countdown last Sunday in Indy, Tim Wilkerson proved he's going to make the most of the opportunity and perhaps give the rest of the contenders a run for their money when he paced the early Funny Car session. Wilkerson's 4.114 was nearly two-hundredths quicker than second-best Tony Pedregon. Points leader Ron Capps ranks third after one session. |
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Indy champion Tony Schumacher (left) picked up right where he left off last weekend, showing the way in Top Fuel's first qualifying session. Schumacher posted a 3.876 to handily take the provisional No. 1 spot. David Grubnic (below) ranks second with a 3.916, followed by Steve Torrence at 3.919. |
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| The Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson team remained atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle order, but Andrew Hines moved around his teammate when he posted a 6.851. Eddie Krawiec dropped to No. 2 on the strength of his 6.853 from earlier today. |
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"The Hectors" follow the Harleys on the Pro Stock Motorcycle sheets. Hector Jr. ranks third, and Hector Sr. (pictured), who was third-quickest of Q2, is fourth after day one. |
Most of the drivers in Pro Stock improved on their second run of the weekend, most notably Vincent Nobile, who jumped to the top of the order with a 6.548. |
| The Summit Racing duo of Greg Anderson, left, and Jason Line rank 2-3 after two runs. Line improved from on his earlier run today, posting a 6.554, but still fell one spot, to No. 2, while Anderson ranks third with a 6.560. |
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After pacing the Funny Car opening session, Tim Wilkerson fired a shot on his second attempt, putting a 4.048 on the boards. Wilkerson's run is four-hundredths better than the rest of the field, and by earning the most bonus points in both sessions, Wilkerson is eating away at the leads of the drivers in front of him in the Countdown. |
"Fast Jack" Beckman ranks second in Funny Car after he posted a 4.084 on his evening run. Mike Neff and Cruz Pedregon also ran in the 4.0s with respective passes of 4.093 and 4.099. |
| Indy low qualifier Shawn Langdon is again at the front of Top Fuel. Langdon wheeled his Al-Anabi Racing entry to a 3.807 to pace an evening session that featured several strong runs. |
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Spencer Massey enters Saturday in the No. 2 spot in Top Fuel thanks to his 3.811 during the evening session. First session leader Tony Schumacher slipped to third even though he improved on his second run, to a 3.817. |
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The first day's action was capped with exhibition runs by a pair of jet cars and a fireworks show. |
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