Sunday's Motorplex Memories
Sunday, September 25, 2011
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(Left) Overnight, the starting line area of Texas Motorplex was repainted pink to promote breast cancer awareness. (Above) The day kicked off with a Track Walk With A Legend program that included track owner and former Funny Car racer Billy Meyer and past world champs Kenny Bernstein and Raymond Beadle. (Below) Bernstein got the honor of giving the start-up command to the first pair of Top Fuelers. |
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[11:25 a.m.] Spencer Massey reset low e.t. of the meet with a 3.835 in the FRAM dragster by defeating Shawn Langdon in round one of Top Fuel. Massey will have lane choice in round two against Del Worsham.
Other second-round pairings (lane choice first): Tony Schumacher vs. Bob Vandergriff Jr., Larry Dixon vs. Brandon Bernstein, and Rod Fuller vs. Antron Brown. |
[11:45 a.m.] Matt Hagan (above), second in the Full Throttle points, won the first round's monster match-up in Funny Car, beating points leader Mike Neff on a holeshot, 4.172 to 4.151 to pull to within four points of Neff. Hagan will have lane choice in round two against Melanie Troxel. Jon Capps (below) continued his dream weekend by defeating Jeff Arend. He'll relinquish lane choice to Jack Beckman in round two. Other second-round match-ups (lane choice first): Cruz Pedregon vs. Bob Tasca III and Johnny Gray vs. Ron Capps. |
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Prior to the first round, Grant Lynch, left, Executive Director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, congratulated its two newest members, John Force, center, and Kenny Bernstein, who will be officially inducted in May 2012. |
Last night, more than $75,000 was raised at the annual Drag Racing Association of Women's auction. (Below) The high-ticket item ended up being a helmet donated by Terry McMillen, center, which had been autographed during the past several events by drivers and legends alike. It was bought and donated back to the auction three times and raised more than $30,000 alone for the benevolent group that provides aid to injured drivers. |
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[12:15 p.m.] In one of the most upset-filled first rounds of Pro Stock in recent memory, three of the top four points earners went onto the trailer. Chris McGaha (above) beat second-place Greg Anderson on a 6.65 to 6.61 holeshot, and Steve Kent (right) beat third-place Vincent Nobile. In all, seven of the top 10 failed to reach round two.
Round two pairings (lane choice first): Jason Line vs. Greg Stanfield, Kent vs. Ronnie Humphrey, Erica Enders vs. McGaha, and Kurt Johnson vs. Larry Morgan. |
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[12:20 p.m.] Unlike their four-wheeled brothers, eight of the top 10 points earners advanced to the quarterfinals in Pro Stock Motorcycle, led by Karen Stoffer's GEICO Suzuki, which was low for the round with a 6.880. She'll have lane choice against Matt Smith. Other second-round pairings (lane choice first): Hector Arana Jr. vs. LE Tonglet, Andrew Hines vs. Jerry Savoie, and Eddie Krawiec vs. Michael Phillips. |
[1 p.m.] Antron Brown (above) extended his round-win streak to 14 straight after winning the three previous events and the first two rounds here. The points leader will take on second-place Spencer Massey in round two, but Massey will have lane choice after a faster speed on their identical 3.884 passes. (Below) Bob Vandergriff Jr. reached the semi's after upsetting low qualifier Tony Schumacher but lost lane choice to Brandon Bernstein. |
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[1:25 p.m.] Brothers Jon, left, and Ron Capps will square off in the Funny Car semifinals after respective second-round wins over Jack Beckman and Johnny Gray; Ron will have lane choice. The other semifinal will pit Melanie Troxel (below) against low qualifier Cruz Pedregon. Pedregon will have lane choice. |
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[1:40 p.m.] Charlotte Pro Stock winner Kurt Johnson (above) won his sixth straight round when he beat Larry Morgan to reach the semifinals, where he'll take on Erica Enders (right); Enders, whose victory boosted her to third in points, will have lane choice.
The other semifinal pairing will pit points leader Jason Line, who is taking prime advantage of the first-round massacre of top-ranked drivers and will pick his lane against Steve Kent, who has reached the semifinals for the second straight event, both times from the No. 13 qualifying spot. |
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[1:45 p.m.] The second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle featured more upsets and wackiness. (Above) Matt Smith had problems starting his bike and getting it back to idle, but still beat Karen Stoffer, who was late off the line. He'll have semifinal lane choice against Hector Arana Jr. Michael Phillips (below) beat points leader Eddie Krawiec on a 7.01 to 6.98 holeshot and will face Jerry Savoie, who beat Harley rider Andrew Hines; Savoie has lane choice. |
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| [2:55 p.m.] The Top Fuel final will pit home-state hero Spencer Massey (above left) against Bob Vandergriff Jr. It will be the sixth final this year for Massey and the 11th of his career, and Vandergriff will be appearing in his 14th final round still looking for his first win. Vandergriff was runner-up earlier this year in Topeka to Massey. Massey assumed the points lead after winning a titanic semifinal battle with then-points-leader Antron Brown. |
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[3 p.m.] Ron Capps (above) made it to his fourth Funny Car final round of the season and his third in the last sixth events after beating younger brother Jon in a wild and smoky semifinal battle.
Capps will cede lane choice to Cruz Pedregon (right), who will make his third final-round appearance of the year, still looking for his first win, after beating Melanie Troxel in their half of the semifinals. |
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[3:10 p.m.] After not winning a Pro Stock race for more than three years, Kurt Johnson (above) finds himself on the cusp of winning his second straight when last weekend's Charlotte winner took the Total Seal Pontiac past Erica Enders with a 6.658 that will earn him final-round lane choice against runaway points leader Jason Line (left), who beat Steve Kent with a 6.666. |
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[3:15 p.m.] Hector Arana Jr. (above) has made the rookie battle an interesting one with this his third Pro Stock Motorcycle final-round appearance of the season. The second-generation rider took a solo into the final round aboard his Lucas Oil Buell after Matt Smith experienced problems with his bike for the second straight round.
Waiting for Arana in the final, and holding lane choice, is top speed setter (197.22 mph) Michael Phillips, who has been shut out in three previous final rounds this season with his The Edge Suzuki. |
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Michael Phillips, neat lane, defeated Hector Arana Jr. to win Pro Stock Motorcycle. |
Jason Line increased his incoming Pro Stock points lead from 31 to 112 with a final-round defeat of Kurt Johnson. |
Cruz Pedregon took Funny Car honors with his Snap-on Toyota over Ron Capps. |
Appearing in his 14th career final, Bob Vandergriff Jr., near lane, finally got his first career win, defeating Spencer Massey in the final round, which led to a raucous midtrack celebration between him, his crew, and fans. |
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The 2011 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Full Throttle winners. |