Ron Capps Top Qualifier Phoenix NHRA Nationals
February 22, 2009 by Robert
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Ron Capps and his NAPA Auto Parts Charger took the top qualifier spot during Friday’s qualifying session for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, AZ. The weather for this weekend’s event has been great, unlike the season opener at Pomona. The high temperature for Sunday’s race is forecast to be 78 degrees and overcast, with high barometric pressure. A cool track with the forecasted weather should lead to some extremely fast runs.
The only car that didn’t make the field was Bob Bode’s Alard Machine Products Impala.
Racing Broadcast Schedule
02/22/2009 Repeat Qualifying 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET - ESPN2
02/22/2009 Eliminations 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET - ESPN2
02/25/2009 Repeat Eliminations 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM ET - ESPN2
Qualifying Results and First Round Eliminations Pairings
Driver Team E.T. / MPH
1. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.023 305.63
16. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.196 301.74
2. Mike Neff JFR/Ford Mustang 4.050 309.06
15. Gary Densham Asombroso Tequila Impala 4.165 296.50
3. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.069 306.53
14. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.148 297.09
4. Del Worsham Al-Anabi Racing Solara 4.072 305.22
13. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.135 296.05
5. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.077 303.71
12. Ashley Force Hood Castrol GTX Mustang 4.129 301.40
6. Tony Pedregon Quaker State Impala 4.104 295.72
11. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.125 301.40
7. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.106 301.94
10. Jerry Toliver Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.122 302.08
8. Matt Hagan Brakesafe Charger 4.106 300.20
9. Jim Head Team Strange Apparel Solara 4.116 299.06
Cruz Pedregon Grabs Top Qualifying Spot at Virginia NHRA Nationals
Cruz Pedregon qualified first in the NHRA Fuel Funny Car class for this weekend’s Third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals POWERade Drag Racing in Petersburg (Richmond), VA. Pedregon’s 4.041 second E.T. at 306.88 MPH put his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara out in front during the third round of Qualifying on Saturday. Cruz is currently sixth in the Countdown to the Championship. He is 115 points behind points leader Tim Wilkerson and is only 43 points behind second place Jack Beckman. With a good performance this weekend, Cruz can dramatically improve his POWERade Championship Point Standing.
Tony Pedregon ran his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala to a second place qualifying position. Tony’s quickest run happened in the last round of qualifying on Saturday with a 4.041 E.T. at 305.22 MPH. The third place qualifier, and third driver to hit a 4.041 E.T. was Mike Neff in his Old Spice Ford Mustang. Melanie Troxel qualified fourth with a 4.047 E.T. at 309.98 MPH, the fastest speed so far this weekend. Troxel's performance was consistently fast in each round of qualifying and could have a a very good weekend if she maintains consistency. Ashley Force took the fifth qualifying spot with a 4.048 E.T. at 304.46 MPH. The top five qualifiers have an elapsed time spread of just 0.007, which will make for some close racing this weekend.
ESPN2 will air the Virginia NHRA Nationals Eliminations from 7:30 PM to 10:30 ET on Sunday October 12th, and will replay Eliminations on Friday October 24th from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM ET.
First round pairings and qualifying results:
Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.041 306.88
Tony Bartone Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.157 292.71
Tony Pedregon Q Horsepower Impala 4.041 305.22
Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 4.125 299.00
Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.041 304.80
Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.088 295.98
Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Charger 4.047 309.98
Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 4.081 301.00
Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.048 304.46
Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala 4.079 302.48
Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.056 304.32
John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.078 298.21
Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.059 301.54
Del Worsham CSK Impala 4.078 296.70
Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 4.070 303.64
Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.078 302.55
Beckman gets 2nd Funny Car win of the season
MOHNTON, Pa. – In a final round that matched teacher against student, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman raced to his second win of the season on Sunday at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.
[snip]
Beckman drove his Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.183-second run at 291.57 mph past Frank Hawley for his first win at Maple Grove. Hawley, who owns a drag racing school, employs Beckman as a drag racing instructor...
Read the full article and race recap in the Everett Herald
The win also keeps Beckman securely in the top ten in points and a position in the Countdown to One championship.
Tags: Frank Hawley, Funny Car, Jack Beckman, NHRAFunny Car spots set for Countdown and U.S. Smokeless Showdown
Several slots in the Countdown to the Championship were clinched Sunday during elimination rounds for the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
With one more race to go before the field for the six-race Countdown is set, all 10 Funny Car slots are set.
John Force and Gary Densham punched...
Read Evan Jones full article in the Reading Eagle
The Funny Car drivers also locked in their positions for the NHRA U.S. Smokeless Showdown bonus race that will take place August 30th during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, IN. The drivers competing in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown are:
Ashley Force
Robert Hight
Tony Pedregon
Tim Wilkerson
Ron Capps
Cruz Pedregon
Del Worsham
John Force
Del Worsham tries to get ahead of cut
There's a good article in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin about Del Worsham trying to get into the countdown, if you overlook that the reporter called him Bill.
A year ago, in the inaugural NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Chino Hills Funny Car driver Del Worsham missed the cut by 38 points when he lost in the semifinals in Reading, Pa., to eventual winner Tony Pedregon.
Pedregon went on to win the series championship.
As the Powerade Drag Racing Series returns to Reading this weekend, Worsham is once again on the brink of ...
Read the full article in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Morgan Lucas / U.S. Nationals Package for Big Brothers Big Sisters
NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Driver Morgan Lucas is offering to lucky NHRA fans with a once in a lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals event in Indianapolis, Indiana. Morgan Lucas is auctioning an amazing qualifying package to a lucky winner, with all of the proceeds benefiting the Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
This package includes:
- Entry for two for the Saturday qualifying, and the $100,000 Showdown for Funny Cars.
- 2 passes to the Lucas Oil hospitality tent (free food and beverages plus a behind-the-scenes look at the Morgan Lucas car and pit area).
- Stand at the starting line during Morgan Lucas’ qualifying runs.
- Lucas Oil / Morgan Lucas Racing goody bags (t-shirts, hats, swag, etc.)
- Meet and greet and photos Morgan Lucas at the track.
This is a great way to get a behind the scenes experience with a Top Fuel team at the biggest race of the year. You'll get VIP treatment while supporting a great charity, the Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
Place a bid today on this once in a lifetime opportunity.
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Ashley Force fastest qualifier at Brainerd
Ashley Force topped the qualifying field at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota. Ashley Force ran her Castrol GTX Mustang 4.110 seconds E.T. at 299.40 MPH to secure the position on Friday. Qualifying ended with four John Force racing cars in the top five positions. John Force qualified second with a 4.112 second E.T. at 301.27 MPH run, that was 0.002 behind his daughter Ashley. Robert Hight ran a 4.119 second E.T. at 300.26 MPH for the third spot and Mike Neff took the fifth spot with a 4.176 second E.T. at 298.80 MPH.
Del Worsham and his Checker Schuck’s Kragen Impala managed to be the only competitor to break through John Force Racing's domination of qualifying, by running a 4.152 second E.T. at 291.01 MPH for the forth qualifying slot. Worsham is currently 12th in points and is hoping to break into the top ten this weekend to make it into the Countdown to One. He'll have to earn two more points than Bob Tasca III and 42 points more than Jack Beckman to make the countdown.
Tags: Ashley Force, Del Worsham, John Force, Mike Neff, NHRA, Robert HightAshley Force qualifies 1st at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
Ashley Force was the fastest qualifier for the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals at Sonoma, California this weekend. Running the shortened race distance of 1,000 feet, Force ran a 4.096 second E.T. at 301.60 MPH, giving her the first top qualifier in her career. Force is currently tied for fourth with Cruz Pedregon in the Championship points.
Qualifying times and first round pairings for Sunday’s eliminations:
Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.096 301.60
Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 4.327 286.38
Tony Pedregon Prestone Impala 4.101 299.80
Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.276 282.72
Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.110 300.53
Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.238 290.51
John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.119 298.80
Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.220 292.52
Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.121 292.77
Gary Densham RaceBricks Impala 4.205 287.41
Del Worsham Techron Impala 4.132 295.98
Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.194 289.57
Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Charger 4.156 297.29
Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 4.136 298.34
Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala 4.146 295.40
Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 4.152 297.42