Five things we learned at testing
Silly Season Scorecard
A look at the Funny Car performance surge
Does Winternationals success equal season success?
Intriguing storylines to kick off the 2017 season
2016 Champions By the Numbers
2016 Pro Stock Qualifying by the Numbers
2016 Nitro Qualifying By the Numbers
Saving the best for last
It all comes down to Pomona
One down, three to go
Rookie report card
Thinning the herd
Survival of the fastest
A St. Louis Shake-up
Welcome to the Countdown
Land of 10,000 horsepower
Upset winners
Emerald City makeover
Heard it through the grapevine
Prime-time players
Sweeping the Western Swing
Chi-Town Turnaround
Funny Car milestones
'Eastern Swing' MVP
A storm is a-brewin'
Super Summernationals
An epic Epping
Holding the Line
Record weekend
Prime-time players
Four former NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champions shined bright under the spotlight of live FOX national network coverage at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver. John Force and Tony Schumacher, the winningest drivers in NHRA and Top Fuel history, respectively, came up large by breaking winless streaks of more than one calendar year.
The bigger stage brought up by the live, network television coverage on the Western Swing raised the stakes, and perhaps that was sufficient motivation for two of the most accomplished racers in the sport’s history to be at their very best. For Force, he came out swinging on Friday. Schumacher didn’t have a strong qualifying performance, but the U.S. Army driver showed up to race and defeated a Murderers' Row of opponents on Sunday.
Though his Realtree/Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro sported camouflage colors, Force couldn’t have been visible on “the Mountain.” Force thrilled the crowd by recording Bandimere Speedway’s first three-second Funny Car run with a 3.95 during the first qualifying run on Friday. The significance of that run is that every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour can now boast three-second Funny Cars, and it puts a bow on the yearlong Funny Car performance barrage that began with Jack Beckman at the Sonoma event in 2015.
Courtney Force’s new-look Traxxas Chevy Camaro stepped to the forefront from there and earned the No. 1 qualifying position. They met from opposite sides of the ladder to race each other in the final for the first time in almost two years (2014 NHRA Sonoma Nationals) and stage the first all-John Force Racing final since John Force’s most recent win at the spring Las Vegas event. Force ended his winless skid at 32 events with a holeshot. He stuck the nose of his Camaro deep into the beams, and Force relied on young crew chief Jon Schaffer’s horsepower from there to win a 3.965 to 3.963 battle.
“I didn’t have a monkey on my back; I had a gorilla,” said Force. “I’m not dead yet. And when I’m gone, Courtney, Brittany, and Robert Hight will take it over.”
The bigger stage brought up by the live, network television coverage on the Western Swing raised the stakes, and perhaps that was sufficient motivation for two of the most accomplished racers in the sport’s history to be at their very best. For Force, he came out swinging on Friday. Schumacher didn’t have a strong qualifying performance, but the U.S. Army driver showed up to race and defeated a Murderers' Row of opponents on Sunday.
Though his Realtree/Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro sported camouflage colors, Force couldn’t have been visible on “the Mountain.” Force thrilled the crowd by recording Bandimere Speedway’s first three-second Funny Car run with a 3.95 during the first qualifying run on Friday. The significance of that run is that every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour can now boast three-second Funny Cars, and it puts a bow on the yearlong Funny Car performance barrage that began with Jack Beckman at the Sonoma event in 2015.
Courtney Force’s new-look Traxxas Chevy Camaro stepped to the forefront from there and earned the No. 1 qualifying position. They met from opposite sides of the ladder to race each other in the final for the first time in almost two years (2014 NHRA Sonoma Nationals) and stage the first all-John Force Racing final since John Force’s most recent win at the spring Las Vegas event. Force ended his winless skid at 32 events with a holeshot. He stuck the nose of his Camaro deep into the beams, and Force relied on young crew chief Jon Schaffer’s horsepower from there to win a 3.965 to 3.963 battle.
“I didn’t have a monkey on my back; I had a gorilla,” said Force. “I’m not dead yet. And when I’m gone, Courtney, Brittany, and Robert Hight will take it over.”
Schumacher faced pressure as the last driver of the eight-car Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel and Funny Car juggernaut without a win in 2016. U.S. Army crew chiefs Mike Green and Neal Strausbaugh showed great conviction in sticking to the changes they made to the combination in the offseason in order to accomplish their long-term goals as they learned the ins and outs of a different power curve early in the year.
After qualifying No. 9, the cards seemed stacked against Schumacher. His first-round opponent was Doug Kalitta, who led the Mello Yello points standings coming out of qualifying. In a great race that set the tone for eliminations, Kalitta made the fourth-quickest run of the round (3.832) and paired it with a small holeshot, but Schumacher stepped up to the plate with an awesome 3.788. That was the only 3.7-second run made at the event outside of No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence, who swept all of the qualifying bonus points and raced Schumacher in the next round. Schumacher put a cylinder out, but Torrence also dropped a hole and had his engine expire early.
Schumacher faced an emotional favorite in the rejuvenated Clay Millican in the second round. Schumacher’s 3.839 to 3.841 elapsed time advantage was part of a thrilling .009-second margin at the finish line. Schumacher surrendered lane choice for the third time in four eliminations rounds to teammate and points leader Antron Brown.
Schumacher ran 3.802 on a warm track in midafternoon, a run that Green noted was more impressive than their 3.788 in the first round. The race was a runaway with Brown pulling the tires loose early in the run. Schumacher’s win gives him entry into the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout special event.
“I’m not going to lie; I was starting to worry,” said Schumacher with a laugh. “Sometimes, to win a championship, you have to take a step back and make some big changes. When you have to race someone like Kalitta in the first round, it makes the driver and the crew chiefs get up and attack at the very start of the day.”
After qualifying No. 9, the cards seemed stacked against Schumacher. His first-round opponent was Doug Kalitta, who led the Mello Yello points standings coming out of qualifying. In a great race that set the tone for eliminations, Kalitta made the fourth-quickest run of the round (3.832) and paired it with a small holeshot, but Schumacher stepped up to the plate with an awesome 3.788. That was the only 3.7-second run made at the event outside of No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence, who swept all of the qualifying bonus points and raced Schumacher in the next round. Schumacher put a cylinder out, but Torrence also dropped a hole and had his engine expire early.
Schumacher faced an emotional favorite in the rejuvenated Clay Millican in the second round. Schumacher’s 3.839 to 3.841 elapsed time advantage was part of a thrilling .009-second margin at the finish line. Schumacher surrendered lane choice for the third time in four eliminations rounds to teammate and points leader Antron Brown.
Schumacher ran 3.802 on a warm track in midafternoon, a run that Green noted was more impressive than their 3.788 in the first round. The race was a runaway with Brown pulling the tires loose early in the run. Schumacher’s win gives him entry into the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout special event.
“I’m not going to lie; I was starting to worry,” said Schumacher with a laugh. “Sometimes, to win a championship, you have to take a step back and make some big changes. When you have to race someone like Kalitta in the first round, it makes the driver and the crew chiefs get up and attack at the very start of the day.”
King of the mountain: Allen Johnson has put incredible emphasis on this particular event over the years with the desire to win for longtime backer Mopar. Though Mopar is no longer his primary sponsor, Johnson was still plenty motivated to put his Marathon Petroleum Dodge Dart in the winner’s circle and break up the KB Racing monopoly.
Johnson didn’t give himself great odds after a No. 10 qualifying performance and losing engines in the process. However, he drove great and had a fast, consistent race car on crew chief Adam Hornberger’s birthday. The big moment was the semifinals when he took out Greg Anderson on a holeshot to advance to his 10th consecutive final in Denver, and Jason Line red-lighted in the next pair against Vincent Nobile to end KB Racing’s winning streak at 13 events.
Johnson, who won the final event of the carbureted era, bookended the KB Racing streak with wins of his own by overcoming Nobile’s .008 light in a 6.982 to 7.037 victory. Tears streamed down Johnson’s face at the top end while parents Roy and Revonda embraced on the starting line.
“We hadn’t had a bit of good luck in qualifying, but this Marathon Petroleum team kept fighting back,” said Johnson. “I think it’s just desire. Our whole team has desire. We’re still partners with Mopar, and we want to win the race for them.”
Johnson didn’t give himself great odds after a No. 10 qualifying performance and losing engines in the process. However, he drove great and had a fast, consistent race car on crew chief Adam Hornberger’s birthday. The big moment was the semifinals when he took out Greg Anderson on a holeshot to advance to his 10th consecutive final in Denver, and Jason Line red-lighted in the next pair against Vincent Nobile to end KB Racing’s winning streak at 13 events.
Johnson, who won the final event of the carbureted era, bookended the KB Racing streak with wins of his own by overcoming Nobile’s .008 light in a 6.982 to 7.037 victory. Tears streamed down Johnson’s face at the top end while parents Roy and Revonda embraced on the starting line.
“We hadn’t had a bit of good luck in qualifying, but this Marathon Petroleum team kept fighting back,” said Johnson. “I think it’s just desire. Our whole team has desire. We’re still partners with Mopar, and we want to win the race for them.”
Mile-high hog heaven: When Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec are on a level playing field, they are difficult to beat because of their racing acumen and their riding ability. That was on display during Krawiec’s Norwalk win and Hines’ Chicago victory. When they stumble onto any kind of advantage, they are downright unbeatable.
The team that used to be based out of Colorado game-planned their attack for this event months ago, and the preparation was evident in the execution. The two riders dominated during qualifying, and they were able to carry that performance into race day. Krawiec had his best light of the day opposite the rider he needed it against the most, semifinal opponent Jerry Savoie, to set up an all-Harley final.
What the final may have lacked in drama in anticipation, with the Wally guaranteed to go to the same camp, it made up for in execution. Both Hines and Krawiec ran quicker than the track e.t. record, and Hines won the battle with a 7.134 to Krawiec’s 7.148.
“It doesn’t get much better,” said Hines. “It’s hard to race up here on ‘the Mountain,’ but we did something with the engines that we’ve never done.
Special Awards
Driver of the race: John Force
Staging tactics aside, the 16-time Funny Car champion left the starting line first in every elimination round and manhandled his Realtree/Peak Antifreeze Chevy Camaro in wins over game efforts by Matt Hagan, Del Worsham, and daughter Courtney.
Crew chief of the race: Matt Hines
He made flawless clutch calls on both V-Rods while brother Andrew and Eddie Krawiec attacked the fuel systems of the bikes that both ran under the previous track e.t. record in the final round.
The team that used to be based out of Colorado game-planned their attack for this event months ago, and the preparation was evident in the execution. The two riders dominated during qualifying, and they were able to carry that performance into race day. Krawiec had his best light of the day opposite the rider he needed it against the most, semifinal opponent Jerry Savoie, to set up an all-Harley final.
What the final may have lacked in drama in anticipation, with the Wally guaranteed to go to the same camp, it made up for in execution. Both Hines and Krawiec ran quicker than the track e.t. record, and Hines won the battle with a 7.134 to Krawiec’s 7.148.
“It doesn’t get much better,” said Hines. “It’s hard to race up here on ‘the Mountain,’ but we did something with the engines that we’ve never done.
Special Awards
Driver of the race: John Force
Staging tactics aside, the 16-time Funny Car champion left the starting line first in every elimination round and manhandled his Realtree/Peak Antifreeze Chevy Camaro in wins over game efforts by Matt Hagan, Del Worsham, and daughter Courtney.
Crew chief of the race: Matt Hines
He made flawless clutch calls on both V-Rods while brother Andrew and Eddie Krawiec attacked the fuel systems of the bikes that both ran under the previous track e.t. record in the final round.
Best run: Courtney Force’s 3.917, Friday qualifying
Even some of the more aggressive tuners in the category did not predict a run quicker than 3.94 or 3.95 before qualifying took place. The three John Force Racing entries found a breath of fresh air in the mile-high altitude, and the Traxxas team had the best of the three Camaros throughout much of the race.
Best race: Antron Brown vs. Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel round 2
Top Fuel racing decided by a margin of .007-second is always exciting. Add to it that it is between two of the best leavers in the category, and Brown earned the decision on a holeshot.
Stats of the race: Alex Laughlin, who made his Pro Stock debut in Sonoma last season, became only the 62nd No. 1 qualifier in the history of the Pro Stock class. … Two bottom-half qualifiers reached the final round in Pro Stock for the first time since the 2008 U.S. Nationals when Dave Connolly defeated Larry Morgan in the final.
Even some of the more aggressive tuners in the category did not predict a run quicker than 3.94 or 3.95 before qualifying took place. The three John Force Racing entries found a breath of fresh air in the mile-high altitude, and the Traxxas team had the best of the three Camaros throughout much of the race.
Best race: Antron Brown vs. Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel round 2
Top Fuel racing decided by a margin of .007-second is always exciting. Add to it that it is between two of the best leavers in the category, and Brown earned the decision on a holeshot.
Stats of the race: Alex Laughlin, who made his Pro Stock debut in Sonoma last season, became only the 62nd No. 1 qualifier in the history of the Pro Stock class. … Two bottom-half qualifiers reached the final round in Pro Stock for the first time since the 2008 U.S. Nationals when Dave Connolly defeated Larry Morgan in the final.