NHRA Story » Countdown to 1 berths clinched in Brainerd

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Countdown to 1 berths clinched in Brainerd

Sunday, August 16, 2009

by Phil Burgess, National DRAGSTER Editor

Top Fuel racers Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey, and Shawn Langdon, Funny Car racer Jack Beckman, and Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Doug Horne, Craig Treble, and Hector Arana locked up their spots in NHRA's Countdown to 1 playoffs Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd.

Former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Matt Smith clinched his spot based on his qualifying efforts, and veteran NHRA Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan clinched his spot by making his opening qualifying pass in the Fram Tough Guard dragster.

Jeg Coughlin became the first to clinch his playoff berth in Norwalk, and three more drivers – Mike Edwards, Antron Brown, and Eddie Krawiec -- joined him after the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. Pro Stock racer Jason Line and Top Fuel racers Tony Schumacher and Larry Dixon clinched their berths at the NHRA Northwest Nationals.

Ron Capps became the first Funny Car driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown to 1 at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, where he was joined by fellow flopper pilots Tony Pedregon and Ashley Force Hood. Top Fuel racer Brandon Bernstein, Pro Stock's Greg Anderson and Allen Johnson, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Andrew Hines also clinched spots by qualifying at that event.

Five of the 10 positions are clinched in Pro Stock, four are locked in Funny Car, and six in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Only the top 10 points earners in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes will take part in the playoffs, which begin at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. After the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, only two races remain for drivers to make the elite 10 or to improve their positions.

Playoff spots clinched (top 10 positions open in each class):

Top Fuel
1. Antron Brown
2. Larry Dixon
3. Tony Schumacher
4. Brandon Bernstein
5. Cory McClenathan
6. Morgan Lucas
7. Spencer Massey
8. Shawn Langdon

Funny Car
1. Ron Capps
2. Ashley Force Hood
3. Tony Pedregon
4. Jack Beckman

Pro Stock
1. Jeg Coughlin
2. Mike Edwards
3. Jason Line
4. Greg Anderson
5. Allen Johnson

Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec
2. Andrew Hines
3. Matt Smith
4. Doug Horne
5. Craig Treble
6. Hector Arana

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