Ron Capps Top Qualifier Phoenix NHRA Nationals

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

Tags: NHRA, Phoenix, Ron Capps

NHRA Hats

NHRA Drag Racing hats for sale from dealers and individuals.

Clicking on a listing below will open a detailed description of the NHRA hat in a new window on eBay.

Tags: for sale, NHRA

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, NHRA

Funny 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

Tags: countdown, NHRA, US Smokeless Showdown

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

Tags: countdown, Del Worsham, NHRA

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 Hight

Dale Creasy, Jr. on the mend

Funny Car driver Dale Creasy, Jr. has returned to his home in Illinois after spending two weeks in Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, in treatment for severe leg injuries suffered during the Rocky Mountain Nationals.   Creasy endured several surgeries to reconstruct his left leg.

The Creasy family has incurred a large debt for the medical bills and will accrue more during the lengthy rehabilitation.   To help with expenses, God Speed Ministry has created a fund to receive donations to help defray the medical expenses. God Speed Ministry will be establishing an online donation account that concerned fans can contribute to.  In the mean time, checks may be made out to:

GOD SPEED MINISTRY, INC
with DALE CREASY JR. FUND on the memo line.

Send your check to:

God Speed Ministry
141 E.A.
Bingham Rd
Kings Mountain, NC 28086

You can also make your donation at the God Speed Pit Area at the Northern Nationals in Martin, Michigan on  August 1-3.

Tags: Dale Creasy, IHRA, NHRA

Ashley 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

Tags: Ashley Force, NHRA

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