Sunday's Phoenix Photos
Sunday, February 19, 2012
For the third straight day, beautiful blue skies were over Firebird Int’l Raceway, creating the perfect conditions for racing, and the Arizona drag racing fans came out in force, filling the pits and grandstands. They were given exciting action as the fields were whittled down until just one racer was left standing in each class. |
A large crowd of fans joined Funny Car pilot Jack Beckman and his son, Jason, for a morning track walk that kicked off the day’s activities. |
A mini concert by local singer Jonathan Harris began the pre-race ceremony. Harris later returned to sing the national anthem. |
Morgan Lucas was the model of consistency with three consecutive times of 3.81 during Top Fuel qualifying, but a broken lifter that caused a dropped cylinder triggered this huge fireball that cost him his second-round race against Shawn Langdon. |
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The most buzzed-about match of eliminations was the first-round Funny Car bout between the Forces, John and daughter Courtney. Courtney won the race easily after her dad smoked the tires. She then beat Todd Lesenko in the next round before losing to teammate Robert Hight in the semi’s. |
Jim Dunn and new driver Todd Lesenko played giant killer for a second straight week, following up their first-round defeat of Robert Hight in Pomona with a victory over reigning Funny Car world champ Matt Hagan in this week’s initial round. |
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After qualifying 15th with a 6.624, O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries runner-up Jeg Coughlin Jr. pulled a .005 to .078 holeshot on No. 2 qualifier Jason Line in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations but had to shut off in high gear after his car got out of shape. Line took the victory with a 6.549, low e.t. of eliminations. |
Following a tough showing at the Winternationals, in which she struggled to get down the track, Erica Enders, pictured with boyfriend Richie Stevens Jr., qualified seventh with a 6.567 and went two rounds in Pro Stock. Enders defeated Steve Kent in round one with a 6.58 before losing to Jason Line in the second round, 6.56 to 6.61. |
Clay Millican posted a semifinal Top Fuel finish that included wins over David Grubnic and Steve Torrence after he qualified 11th at 3.846. Millican’s day ended when his car smoked the tires against Tony Schumacher. |
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Shawn Langdon had the most awesome car in Top Fuel as he led qualifying with a new track record of 3.754 and sizzled during the first two rounds with times of 3.770 and 3.791, but his Al-Anabi Racing entry encountered loss of traction for the first time during the weekend in the semi’s, and he fell to Antron Brown. |
Jack Beckman, a winner at this event three of the past four years, was unable to continue his Phoenix success. Though he made another strong showing, Beckman was stymied in the Funny Car semifinals, losing to Mike Neff in a 4.09 to 4.12 match.
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After qualifying in the lower half of the Pro Stock field with a 6.593, Rodger Brogdon scored wins over Ron Krisher and No. 1 qualifier Mike Edwards before losing in the semi’s to Greg Anderson, 6.59 to 6.63. |
Jason Line, near lane, ended his Phoenix drought with his first Pro Stock victory at the Phoenix national event, scoring a 6.557 to 6.570 victory over Winternationals winner and KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson. |
For the second straight weekend, the John Force Racing team was guaranteed a Funny Car Wally when it placed two drivers — this time Robert Hight, far lane, and Mike Neff — in the title round. Hight came out on top, 4.13 to 4.16, to earn his 24th trophy. |
Antron Brown, far lane, improved on his Winternationals runner-up finish with a 3.793 to 3.813 victory over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. The win was Brown’s 16th in Top Fuel, the same number of event wins he has in Pro Stock Motorcycle. |
From left, Jason Line, Antron Brown, and Robert Hight celebrated their victories at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Brown’s win was his second at the event, and Hight and Line both earned their first Phoenix trophy. |