NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Top Fuel round one

The first pair of Top Fuel dragsters show us that it's going to be a quick and fast day. Tripp Tatum and his John Stewart-tuned dragster leave first with a .052 and 3.751 to secure a holeshot win over T.J. Zizzo's 3.725 in the Rust-Oleum machine.

"It was close," said Tatum. "Driver finally did his job for the first time in a long time – but we'll have to go tune this thing up because I'm sure next round is going to be even tougher."

***

Clay Millican wins the Marquee Matchup in his Summit Racing/Parts Plus dragster. Shawn Langdon and the Kalitta Air Careers Toyota leave first but he has a cylinder out downtrack. Millican skirts to a winning 3.742. 

"What a way to start a beautiful day," "Old Shawn, he was kickin' my booty out there, but we drove around. That's that Jim O and Nicky getting' her done. Man, I love my job – there's nothing easy about any of these drag races, and that's what makes it so good."

***

Dan Mercier had a heckuva car in early qualifying, but here it's Antron Brown in the Matco Tools Toyota with a big move on the starting line to get the win, 3.739 to 3.816.

***

Points leader and No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta does his job on the starting line in the Applied Innovations dragster and averts an early exit. His .053 reaction time gets him out ahead of Kyle Wurtzel's tardy .170, and the jump start allows him to advance on a holeshot, 3.804 to 3.787.   

***

It's his first win light since Chicago for Scag Power Equipment racer Justin Ashley. He's first to launch and first to the finish for a win over eight-time champion Tony Schumacher. 

***

The last three pair of Top Fuel dragster's Another holeshot win as Capco Contractor's pilot Steve Torrence wins by .002 over Shawn Reed, and Jasmine Salinas takes her Scrappers Racing entry to a .005-second win over Tony Stewart. Billy Torrence and Doug Foley close out the session, with Billy-Billy getting the win by just .008.

 For Salinas, she's been working up to a round win since her last win light in the first round of the Charlotte four-wide event.

"That was a really good one," said Salinas. "We've been fighting for a first-round win for a while. We've been doing pretty decent in qualifying, we just haven't been able to turn it around on raceday – so this was a good one for us. We'll just keep doing it and see if we can go rounds today."

*** 

Top Fuel pairings, round two (lane choice first): Billy Torrence vs. Doug Kalitta; Steve Torrence vs. Jasmine Salinas; Tripp Tatum vs. Justin Ashley; Antron Brown vs. Clay Millican

Funny Car round one

While the Top Fuel crew chiefs were left wanting, the Funny Car tuners may be hitting the sweet spot. 

No. 3 qualifier Bob Tasca III takes the Dark Horse Mustang to a killer 3.857 at a track record-setting 336.82 mph pass to defeat Dave Richards and his Versatran entry’s 4.067. 

“The track is amazing,” said co-crew chief Aaron Brooks.“We were kind of fumbling our way through qualifying, but hopefully we got it straightened out.”

***

Buddy Hull makes his best pass of the weekend, but this belongs to defending event champion Blake Alexander and his Schaeffler-branded Ford, 3.950 to 4.075.

***

No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock has a cylinder out on his AAA Chevrolet; he’s slowing downtrack, but Joe Morrison had already fouled out by -.120. 

“That was a very odd run for sure, but we got a freebie, a lucky round, and you always need one of those on Sunday,” said Prock. 

***

J.R. Todd and his DHL Toyota defeat Chris King, McLeod campaigner Paul Lee gets past a tire smoking Bobby Bode, and then Cruz Pedregon moves swiftly off the starting line in his Snap-On Tools entry (.042) next to a reasonably launching Matt Hagan (.071). At the top end, it’s Hagan with the win light, and his Dodge Direct Connection car will move ahead. 

***

With a sigh of relief from his hard-working team, Ron Capps takes the NAPA Toyota to its best run of the weekend, a 3.897, 331.53, and that’s all she wrote for Daniel Wilkerson, who goes 3.941 before heading home. 

“I feel so bad for Guido [crew chief Dean Antonelli], he’s trying really hard,” said three-time champion Capps, who has yet to make his way to the final this year . “It’s coming. I wouldn’t want to race our Napa car no. matter where we qualify.” 

***

Alexis DeJoria has the lead early but then goes up in smoke; Chad Green surges ahead in the Bond-Coat Ford for a 3.930, 330.23 mph win. 

***

Funny Car pairings for round two (lane choice first): Chad Green vs. Bob Tasca III; Ron Capps vs. J.R. Todd; Matt Hagan vs. Blake Alexander

Pro Stock round one

The weather-swing is wreaking havoc on the Pro Stockers already as Mason McGaha and Jerry Tucker both rattle the heck out of the tires. McGaha gets the win and is humble at the top end. 

“I drove it too far,” he said. “It was dancing around, even when I had it under control it was still dancing around. But our team needs a round-win bad, and I’m happy to get one for us. The crew worked real hard to give me a good car all year, and I feel like I gave one back to them.” 

***

Eric Latino goes red and starts shaking the tires, Troy Coughlin Jr. goes low e.t. of the event, 6.587, to move ahead. 

***

Low e.t. is reset again as Aaron Stanfield and his JHG Chevrolet clock great numbers early and even better numbers at the top end. The 6.561 easily defeats Chris McGaha’s 7.161. 

***

Dallas Glenn’s .010 reaction time nicely complements a 6.569 in his RAD Torque Chevy, and Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s 6.624 is ousted. 

“It helps when conditions are this good, but I’m still working on it, it’s a little tricky,” said Glenn, who brought out the new car last week in Richmond and wheeled it to the final round. “Every car is a little different - you can’t just put the set-up in from the previous car and make it work. But I’m picking away at it.” 

***

Corral Boots-backed Fernando Cuadra Jr. is a mean, mean man. He tosses out a .004 while Matt Hartford’s weekend of recovery comes to an abrupt end with a .066 reaction time painfully paired with low e.t. of the event, 6.556. 

***

A stunner! No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson shakes the tires hard at the hit, and Larry Morgan and the Beaver Motorsports team drive right on by for the win. Morgan’s 6.637 is good for lane choice in the next round.

“I didn’t expect that, but it’s part of racing,” said Morgan. “It took a mistake for him to get beat, and I hate it for him, but I’m happy for us.”

***

Get BioFuel driver Deric Kramer leaves wheels up and makes his best run of the weekend, a 6.571, and he sends David Cuadra away empty handed on a 6.586. 

***

Another stunner as Cristian Cuadra and his Corral Boots entry leave first and keep ahead, .033 to .063, to send defending class champion Erica Enders home on a holeshot, 6.564 to 6.559. 

“Cristian and these guys have been at it for a really long time, and they definitely deserve this opportunity,” said Enders, whose losing 209.56 mph run was top speed of the meet. 

***

Pro Stock pairings for round two (lane choice first): Larry Morgan vs. Mason McGaha; Fernando Cuadra Jr. vs. Dallas Glenn; Cristian Cuadra vs. Troy Coughlin Jr.; Deric Kramer vs. Aaron Stanfield

Pro Stock Motorcycle round one

Hector Arana Jr. had a .011 reaction time, but his GETTRX Buell is a bucking bronco out there and he has to let off. John Hall gets the nod on a 6.829 and is taking the Denso/B.R.A.K.E.S. Buell to the second round. She goes 6.786

***

Eiji Kawakami mirror’s Arana Jr.’s .011 reaction time, but he’s pulling close to the wall and Angie Smith miraculously recovers from a .318 reaction time. She wins on an improved 6.786 aboard her Denso V-Twin.

***

Chase Van Sant advances on Marc Ingwersen and Jianna Evaristo gets a crisp 6.754 on the board to halt Chris Bostick. Steve Johnson is out of it early and Mission #2Fast2Tasty winner Richard Gadson is likely going to need an engine before the next round. He wins on a slowing, slightly smoking 7.029. 

***

This is nuts. Ron Tornow goes red and then Gaige Herrera blisters as only Gaige Herrera can, and his 6.698, 200.95 aboard the RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It’s a new Summit Motorsports Park track record for e.t.

***

No. 1 qualifier Matt Smith has a delayed reaction at the starting line, but his 6.779 gets it done over Wesley Wells and a 7.435.

Smith joins Evaristo and Herrera as the three drivers to crack 200 mph in round one. 

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings for round two (lane choice first): Matt Smith vs. bye; Jianna Evaristo vs. Richard Godson; Angie Smith vs. John Hall; Gaige Herrera vs. Chase Van Sant

Top Fuel round two

There’s full sun on the racetrack for this first pair out in the second session. Justin Ashley and his Scag Power Equipment Toyota get the win over Tripp Tatum in a big ol’ smoky pedalfest. 

“To this second, I have no idea what happened in the other lane,” said Ashley. “This is the part of racing that’s fun — at the very least, we put on a show for the fans.” 

***

Jasmine Salinas and Capco Contractor’s driver Steve Torrence are both in trouble — Salinas at the hit as she blows the tires off and sparks fly. Torrence wins pedaling on a 4.822. 

***

Antron Brown and his Matco Tools dragster, alongside Clay Millican and his Summit Racing-branded Parts Plus car, go side-by-side cleanly down the track. Brown advances to a second consecutive semifinal round with a 3.757 to 3.814.

“That’s just credit to my team,” said Brown, acknowledging that Summit Motorsports Park is home for Ohio based crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald. “We have so many family and friends here, so it’s great to be able to do what we do. When you get out there in dry conditions like we just had, the cars have much more power. It’s a little tricky, but we love this track.” 

***

The points leader is moving on in his Applied Innovation Toyota. He goes a low of the round 3.740 to top Billy Torrence’s 3.774.

***

Top fuel pairings for round three (lane choice first): Doug Kalitta vs. Steve Torrence; Antron Brown vs. Justin Ashley

Funny Car round two

Bob Tasca III continues to roll in the Dark Horse Mustang. His 3.922 with a pleasing 332.92 mph speed tops Paul Lee’s 4.024.

***

J.R. Todd is leading early but his DHL Toyota starts spinning the tires down near the 330-foot marker. That sends three-time champion Ron Capps and the NAPA Toyota ahead to the semifinals for the first time since the Winternationals in Pomona. Capps clocks a 3.94. 

***

Four-time and reigning world champion Matt Hagan goes low e.t. of the round in his Dodge Direct Connection SRT, and his 3.900 gets the job over Blake Alexander’s 3.951.

“It’s gonna be tough, and if nothing else, we’re going to put on a good show for the fans out here,” said Hagan. “These cars are a handful out there.” 

***

The AAA Chevy is agreeable today, despite the shift in the weather. Chad Green is up in smoke and Austin Prock clocks a winning 3.922 at 330.39 mph. 

***

Funny Car pairings round three (lane choice first): Bob Tasca III vs. Austin Prock; Matt Hagan vs. Ron Capps

Pro Stock round two

Young Mason McGaha’s day gets even better as he powers his Harlow Sammons Racing Chevrolet to a 6.635 to beat Larry Morgan’s 6.637. He’ll advance to the semifinals for the first time since the Winternationals. 

***

Dallas Glenn and his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet make a solid 6.582 pass ahead of a troubled Fernando Cuadra Jr. Points leader Glenn has reached the semifinals, final round, or won the race in all but three previous events this year. 

***

Gainesville runner-up Cristian Cuadra leaves first in his Corral Boots Chevy and keeps ahead to put Elite Motorsports teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. on the trailer, 6.585 to 6.608. Cuadra advances to the semifinals for the first time since the four-wide event in Charlotte. With the win, he’ll have to race another teammate — Aaron Stanfield. 

“I don’t like running my teammates,” said Cuadra. “I love them. But it’s the way it is, and I’m just trying to do my best, focus on the next one, and try to get the Wally.” 

***

On the other side of the ladder, Richmond winner Aaron Stanfield and his JHG/Melling Performance Camaro go low-of-the-round 6.563, 207.94 to shut down Deric Kramer’s 6.582, 208.33. 

***

Pro Stock pairings, round three (lane choice first): Dallas Glenn vs. Mason McGaha; Aaron Stanfield vs. Cristian Cuadra

Pro Stock Motorcycle round two

John Hall’s 6.798 beats a 6.87, but Angie Smith’s trouble really began at the 60-foot timer. Hall will advance and represent Denso on his side of the ladder in the semis. 

***

Another 200 mph pass for Jianna Evaristo aboard her Denso/Scrappers Racing machine, but last week’s finalist Richard Gadson moves ahead to the semifinals for the third consecutive event. He clocks a 6.862 to Evaristo’s 6.871. 

***

Matt Smith rides his Denso bike to a 6.817 on the bye run to secure lane choice over Gadson in the semifinals. 

***

Chase Van Sant kept him honest, but at the 330-foot timer, Gaige Herrera gets around him and puts up a 6.750, 199.64 on his RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera has not lost a round of racing since the quarterfinals in Reading last year. 

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings, round three (lane choice first): Matt Smith vs. Richard Gadson; Gaige Herrera vs. John Hall

Top Fuel semifinals

Justin Ashley shakes the tires and a 3.780 sends Matco Tools Toyota pilot Antron Brown to the final round for the 137th time. He won this race in 2014. 

Brown, who entered the event No. 5 in the standings, has one win on his scorecard so far this season; he beat Shawn Langdon in Chicago.

***

Points leader Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence leave the the starting line together, but at the final timer it’s Kalitta advancing with a 3.771 that will give him lane choice over Brown. Kalitta won this race in 2015, and he is headed to the 117th final round of his career.

Top Fuel final round (lane choice first): Doug Kalitta vs. Antron Brown

Funny Car semifinals

Matt Hagan strikes the tires fiercely, and it’s Ron Capps heading to the final round for the first time this season and first time since St. Louis last year. Capps won this race in 2016, and sitting No. 7 in the standings, the three-time champion would very much like to get a bump with the points.

It’s a work in progress, and they’ve got a pretty refined program over there. We’re the underdog for sure, but we’ll do our best and see if we bring NAPA to the winner’s circle. 

***

In a rematch of the Richmond final round, Bob Tasca III and Austin Prock square off. This time, it’s Tasca with the win — Prock is out in front at the 1/8th mile marker, but Tasca’s Dark Horse Mustang swoops around to win it by .001-second. 

“This young gun has me on the top of my game, I tell ya,” said Tasca. “It’s great to see what him and his father and brother are doing out here; that’s what it’s all about, family. Ford vs. Chevy, Prock vs. Tasca, that’s a big matchup and a big win for our team. Going into the final round, we’ve got no slouch over there with Capps. It’s going to be exciting.” 

Funny Car final round (lane choice first): Ron Capps vs. Bob Tasca III

Pro Stock semifinals

Points leader Dallas Glenn adds more points to the pile with a semifinals victory over Mason McGaha, 6.610 to 6.624. Glenn and his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro are heading to the final round for the fifth time this season and hunting for a third win on the year. 

***

With a .036 light and a 6.563, 209.10, Aaron Stanfield and his JHG/Melling Performance Chevrolet send Elite Motorsports teammate Cristian Cuadra packing. Cuadra was 6.584, 208.49. It’s the fourth Pro Stock final of the year for Stanfield, who has nine Pro Stock wins on his scorecard.

For the third time this season, the Pro Stock final round will feature Glenn and Stanfield. Last weekend in Richmond, Stanfield got the win, and in Chicago, it was Glenn coming out victorious. 

Pro Stock final round (lane choice first): Aaron Stanfield vs. Dallas Glenn

Pro Stock Motorcycle semifinals

Three times this year, Matt Smith has been the No. 1 qualifier — but he’s still chasing victory. He and his Denso/Outlaw Beer V-Twin will have another opportunity here as he leaves the starting line first, .016 to .045, and sets the win light flashing with a 6.798, 198.82 to Richard Gadson’s 7.608 that comes after his motorcycle scooches awfully close to the wall. 

***

Gaige Herrera, who races to a 6.720, 200.80, will have the chance to extend his win streak to 11 straight wins as John Hall is -.008 red. The rider of the RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki is a perfect five wins in five final rounds in the first five races, and he’s so far got 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle trophies, all earned over the course of this year and last. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle final (lane choice first): Gaige Herrera vs. Matt Smith