Sunday's Gator Gallery
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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Race-day Sunday kicked off with a Track Walk For Those Who Can't, benefiting the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which helps the disabled in many ways, including acquisition of wheelchairs.
(Left) The former three-time Gatornationals champ led the way and was interviewed by NHRA's Alan Reinhart about his many other trips down the Gainesville dragstrip.
In addition to a strong turnout by fans, all of whom contributed $20 to the foundation, a number of Full Throttle drivers, including John Force, Antron Brown, Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta, Khalid alBalooshi, Shawn Langdon, Jeff Arend, Terry McMillen, and Tim Wilkerson, took part in the Track Walk.
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Fans also have packed the pit area at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, which features a new pit configuration this year with all of the Full Throttle rigs in one long lane as opposed to the multiple short lanes of the past.
(Right) Racers like Jason Line, the defending national and event champ in Pro Stock, took advantage of the quiet before the storm to make last-minute checks.
Temperatures in the low 70s under partly cloudy skies are forecast for the day, making more record runs a distinct possibility as we work through the day to crown the event's champions. |
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Last year's champions were saluted as part of the pre-race ceremony at the 2012 debut for the Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes.
(Above) Khalid alBalooshi, who this year is competing in Top Fuel, received congratulations and his Pro Mod champion's ring and jacket from NHRA's Graham Light and series sponsor Roger Burgess.
(Left) Eddie Krawiec received his champion's hardware after winning his second Pro Stock Motorcycle title last year. |
[11:25 a.m.] Top Fuel's Clay Millican defeated Khalid alBalooshi on a holeshot in round one, 3.875 to 3.831. Millican also defeated alBalooshi in round one at the season opener in Pomona. Other round-one highlights: Low qualifier Morgan Lucas' parachute deployed right as he left the starting line, but he towed it through to a 4.69 win when opponent Brady Kalivoda struck the tires at the green. Low e.t. of the round went to Spencer Massey at 3.805. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Millican vs. Doug Kalitta, Massey vs. Morgan Lucas, Tony Schumacher vs. Antron Brown, and Shawn Langdon vs. Bob Vandergriff Jr. |
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| [11:30 a.m.] Light sprinkles brought action to a 25-minute halt as Ron Capps and Courtney Force were preparing for the first match of the first round of Funny Car. Once the car covers were put away, Capps took the win. |
[12:20 p.m.] Alexis DeJoria scored her first nitro Funny Car round win, defeating John Force in a rematch of their first-round clash in Pomona. Other round-one highlights: Jim Head jumped up from a 4.15 qualifying best to a surprising 4.083 to upset better-qualified Bob Tasca III. Six of the eight first-round winners ran in the 4.0s, led by Robert Hight at 4.051. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Cruz Pedregon vs. Johnny Gray, Mike Neff vs. Head, Jack Beckman vs. DeJoria, and Hight vs. Ron Capps. |
[12:45 p.m.] Upsets were the order of the day in the first round of Pro Stock. Larry Morgan (above) defeated low qualifier Allen Johnson on a holeshot, 6.57 to 6.56; Mark Martino beat defending event champ Jason Line, 6.58 to 6.60, for his first round-win; Erica Enders red-lighted by .003-second against Chris McGaha to also hand him his first round-win; and Rickie Jones (below), making his return to Pro Stock at this event after sitting out 2011, upset No. 6 qualifier Vince Nobile by .007-second on a holeshot, 6.552 to 6.551. Greg Anderson had low e.t. of the round with a 6.520. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Morgan vs. Ronnie Humphrey, Mike Edwards vs. Ron Krisher, Martino vs. McGaha, and Anderson vs. Jones. |
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[12:55 p.m.] With Willie G. Davidson in attendance, Andrew Hines took the spotlight from Harley-Davidson teammate Eddie Krawiec with low e.t. of round one, a 6.808 to beat John Hall. Krawiec, still hoping to run the first 200-mph pass in class history, shook the rear tire on the launch but still beat Ulf Ogge with a 6.831 at 196 mph.
Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Krawiec vs. Scotty Pollacheck, Hector Arana vs. Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr. vs. Karen Stoffer, and Hines vs. LE Tonglet. |
[2 p.m.] Morgan Lucas made the third-quickest pass in Top Fuel history, 3.747, to beat Spencer Massey and advance to the semi's. Del Worsham's 3.735 from Reading last year and Massey's 3.745 in Pomona this year are quicker. Semifinals pairings (lane choice first): Lucas vs. Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon vs. Tony Schumacher. |
[2:15 p.m.] Five of the eight Funny Car racers in round two ran in the 4.0s, including two of the losers. Robert Hight (above) had the quickest time slip of the run, 4.039 in beating Ron Capps' 4.059. Semifinals pairings (lane choice first): Mike Neff vs. Johnny Gray and Hight vs. Jack Beckman. |
Despite cool and overcast conditions, Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville is jammed with race fans. |
[2:30 p.m.] Mike Edwards had the best run of the second round of Pro Stock with a 6.528 against Ron Krisher. Semifinal pairings (lane choice first): Edwards vs. Ronnie Humphrey and Greg Anderson vs. Chris McGaha. |
[2:40 p.m.] After being shut off by starter Mark Lyle after both he and Hector Arana Sr. refused for more than a minute to light the final stage bulb, Matt Smith raced to victory to reach the semifinals. The other highlight of the second round was Eddie Krawiec blasting to a speed of 199.14 mph, the second fastest speed in class history. Pro Stock Motorcycle semifinals pairings: Krawiec vs. Smith and Andrew Hines vs. Hector Arana Jr. |
[2:50 p.m.] We're in another mini weather delay for some light sprinkles in the middle of Comp round 3. (Update 4:10 p.m.): After more than an hour of downtime, we're racing again! (Update: 4:20 p.m.) And just like that, we're down again for more light rain. Got through Comp and Stock, but now waiting again. |
[4:20 p.m.] The Top Fuel semifinals were in the staging lanes when the wet stuff began to fall. (Update, 5:40 p.m.: Track drying has begun) |