Mike Edwards
|
Reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champ Mike Edwards made it two for two on the season after defeating Bob Yonke in the final round of the resumption of eliminations from the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which were contested during qualifying at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.
Edwards, who also won the season opener in Pomona, made it eight straight round-wins to begin his season when he bested first-time finalist Yonke, 6.55, 211.16 to 6.60, 209.36. The win is the 22nd of Edwards’ Pro Stock career.
Racing was postponed in Arizona three weeks ago after the Pro Stock racers experienced handling problems in qualifying and eliminations. Although Top Fuel and Funny Car were completed Monday at the rain-battered event, the decision was made to contest the remainder of Pro Stock eliminations in Gainesville.
Initial plans were to run the second round during Friday’s second qualifying session of the Gatornationals, but rain Friday limited the teams to just one session, so plans were changed to run all three rounds Sunday. The second round was run concurrently with the day’s first qualifying session and the semifinals during the second. The final round was contested after the remainder of Pro qualifying was completed.
"I didn’t like waiting three weeks, but a win is a win," said Edwards. "I’m just really thankful to do it. We ran well. There were some changes in the rules, but we adapted to those, and it seems like we’ve managed to keep up. We have a new weight limit on the rear tires [1,090-pound minimum] and some changes to the front spoiler and wickerbill. Those three may not sound like a lot, but they really do affect these cars. We tested in South Florida. When we got there, we were in the grave at first, but we had a pulse when we left. We don’t make a lot of changes, but that was a big one."
It was no surprise to see Edwards advance to yet another final round. He was the low qualifier in Phoenix and had the quickest time in Friday’s qualifying resumption in Gainesville. On Saturday, Edwards, who had defeated Warren Johnson in round one in Phoenix, opened round two with low e.t of the meet, a 6.537, to fend off Greg Anderson’s 6.56, then defeated Allen Johnson’s Dodge in the semifinals with a 6.54.
Yonke reached his first final round in his third start in this class. After failing to qualify at two events in 2008, the former Pro Stock Truck racer sat out the 2009 season but has begun 2010 with a strong start. After missing the field at the season opener, he qualified No. 6 in Phoenix and defeated Rickie Jones in round one. When action resumed in Gainesville, Yonke upset Rodger Brogdon in round two on a giant holeshot, 6.62 to 6.56, after gaining a .006 to .076 starting-line edge and winning a round in which both drivers reset their career-best elapsed times. Yonke reached the final on yet another holeshot, beating his engine builder, Greg Stanfield, in the semifinals, 6.590 to 6.573, after a .027 to .044 gatejob.
Results for Round One
Phoenix - Summit FastNews - Results of round-one eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment GXP) 0.021 6.646 207.66
(L) Ronnie Humphrey (Pro Stock Grills/THM GXP) 0.075 12.898 67.04
Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 28.68 inches, adjusted altitude 2,531 feet, track temperature 88 degrees.
Anderson is 3-0 against Humphrey in prior events. Anderson with a great light and was straight down the groove for the win. Humphrey with a lot of tire spin right off the starting line and pushed in the clutch.
(W) Greg Stanfield (Nitro Fish GXP) 0.021 6.656 206.29
(L) Jeg Coughlin Jr. (JEGS.com Cobalt) 0.037 6.649 201.31
Coughlin is 16-2 against Stanfield in prior events. Stanfield is out of the gate first and had the power to hold on for the holeshot win. Greg Stanfield's MOV: 0.0095-second (approximately 3 feet). Stanfield with his quickest pass of the weekend.
(W) Bob Yonke (Adrenaline Motorsports GXP) 0.024 6.675 205.16
(L) Rickie Jones (Elite GXP) 0.052 14.598 58.41
Yonke making his first NHRA start, and he wins his first round of competition. Jones with a lot of tire shake right off the starting line.
(W) Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment GXP) 0.034 6.777 207.34
(L) Kurt Johnson (Mark Christopher Cobalt) 0.052 6.909 183.92
Line is 16-12 against Johnson in prior events. Line is out of the gate first and never trailed to take the win. Johnson had the chutes out early.
(W) Allen Johnson (Mopar/J & J Racing Avenger) 0.121 14.342 58.30
(L) Larry Morgan (Lucas Oil/Summit Mustang) -9.999(R) NT-Broke Before Staging
Morgan did a long burnout but then lost fire as he was moving in to stage. Johnson with violent tire shake as soon as he let the clutch out and clicks it off. Johnson will give up lane choice to Line in round two.
(W) Rodger Brogdon (Kent Services & Trucking GXP) 0.059 6.652 208.59
(L) Vinnie Deceglie (Mountain View Tire Avenger -9.999(R) NT-No Show
Deceglie not able to make the call after that horrible crash yesterday. Brogdon with a real nice pass and will have lane choice over Yonke in round two. Rodger Brogdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.997 sec., 330ft-2.792, 660ft-4.284/165.09 mph, 1,000ft-5.567.
(W) Ron Krisher (Valvoline Cobalt) 0.059 6.619 208.84
(L) Shane Gray (Gray Motorsports GXP) 0.069 6.697 205.69
Gray is 1-0 against Krisher in prior events. Krisher is out of the gate first and then runs the quickest e.t. of the round and his quickest pass of the weekend. He will have lane choice over Stanfield in round two.
(W) Mike Edwards (Penhall/K&N/Interstate GXP) 0.071 6.617 209.82
(L) Warren Johnson (K&N Filters GXP) 0.036 6.706 206.83
Edwards is 22-15 against Johnson in prior events. Johnson with the starting-line advantage, but Edwards has the difference made up by 200 feet. Edwards runs the quickest pass of the round and fastest pass of the weekend. Edwards' incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.772, 660ft-4.258/165.94 mph, 1,000ft-5.536. Edwards will have lane choice over Anderson in round two.
Results for Round Two
GAINESVILLE - Sumit FastNews - Results of round-two eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Allen Johnson (Mopar/J&J Racing Avenger) 0.036 6.559 211.16
(L) Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment GXP) 0.035 9.900 92.48
Weather conditions: air temperature 56 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 29.82 inches.
We are finally finishing up the NHRA Arizona Nationals. They leave together, but then Line has a big wiggle and pushes in the clutch. Johnson with a great pass here for the win, and this is a career-fastest pass to move into the semifinal.
(W) Bob Yonke (Adrenaline Motorsports GXP) 0.006 6.623 209.79
(L) Rodger Brogdon (Kent Services & Trucking GXP) 0.076 6.561 210.77
Yonke with a great light and the power to hold on for the holeshot win. Yonke's MOV: 0.0082-second (approximately 3 feet). Yonke with a career-best pass for the win. Brogdon runs his career-quickest and ties his career-fastest pass in a losing effort. Yonke's incremental times: 60ft-1.015 sec., 330ft-2.793, 660ft-4.276/166.52 mph, 1,000ft-5.550. Rodger Brogdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.992 sec., 330ft-2.754, 660ft-4.225/167.47 mph, 1,000ft-5.493.
(W) Greg Stanfield (Nitro Fish GXP) 0.016 6.590 209.75
(L) Ron Krisher (Valvoline Cobalt) 0.150 6.555 210.44
Stanfield with a big starting-line advantage and the power to hold on for the holeshot win. Stanfield's MOV: 0.0991-second (approximately 31 feet). Krisher with his career quickest pass in a losing effort. Stanfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.993 sec., 330ft-2.766, 660ft-4.244/167.09 mph, 1,000ft-5.517. Ron Krisher's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.757, 660ft-4.220/167.51 mph, 1,000ft-5.487. Stanfield will have lane choice over Yonke in the semifinal.
(W) Mike Edwards (Penhall/K&N/Interstate GXP) 0.040 6.537 211.53
(L) Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment GXP) 0.029 6.569 211.86
Anderson with the starting-line advantage, but Edwards has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas Tree and runs low e.t. for the win. Edwards' MOV: 0.0213-second (approximately 7 feet). Edwards will have lane choice over A. Johnson in the semifinal.
Results for Round Three
GAINESVILLE - Summit FastNews - Results of round-three eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Bob Yonke (Adrenaline Motorsports GXP) 0.027 6.590 209.98
(L) Greg Stanfield (Nitro Fish GXP) 0.044 6.573 210.50
Both of these two won on holeshots in the previous round. Yonke is out of the gate first and has the power to hold on for the holeshot win. Yonke's MOV: 0.0007-second (approximately 3 inches). Yonke's incremental times: 60ft-1.001 sec., 330ft-2.764, 660ft-4.242/166.89 mph, 1,000ft-5.516. Stanfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.991 sec., 330ft-2.761, 660ft-4.234/167.36 mph, 1,000ft-5.504.
(W) Mike Edwards (Penhall/K&N/Interstate GXP) 0.028 6.544 211.56
(L) Allen Johnson (Mopar/J&J Racing Avenger) 0.050 17.110 47.69
Edwards is out of the gate first and never trailed as Johnson has problems right off the starting line and pushes in the clutch. Edwards will have lane choice in the final. Edwards' incremental times: 60ft-0.982 sec., 330ft-2.746, 660ft-4.215/167.88 mph, 1,000ft-5.479.
Results for Final Round
GAINESVILLE - Summit FastNews - Results of final, round-four eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Mike Edwards (Penhall/K&N/Interstate GXP) 0.045 6.552 211.16
(L) Bob Yonke (Adrenaline Motorsports GXP) 0.021 6.604 209.36
Yonke is out of the gate first, but Edwards is able to chase him down by 500 feet and just drives away for the win. Edwards' MOV: 0.0289-second (approximately 9 feet). Edwards just continues to dominate the Pro Stock category.
Related stories:
McClenathan, Beckman take delayed Arizona Nationals wins