A record setting run locked Cruz Pedregon into the top spot in Funny Car qualifying Sunday for Monday’s U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis. Photo by Rhonda McCole
Cruz Pedregon roared back to the top of the Funny Car qualifiers with a record-breaking run in Sunday’s final qualifying session to earn his 43rd-career NHRA Full Throttle Drag Series No. 1 qualifier spot as qualifying wrapped up for Monday’s 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis, Ind.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also secured the no. 1 qualifier spots.
Overcast skies and an occasional sprinkle of rain led to much cooler track conditions and much higher speeds, as crew chiefs scrambled to take advantage of the conditions and gain valuable bonus points in the final event before the Countdown to the Championship begins.
Pedregon rallied in the final round to re-claim the top spot from Melanie Troxel with a jaw-dropping 4.026 at 314.24, breaking the track record set last year by Matt Hagan and tying the tenth-quickest pass in Funny Car history, a record he himself set at Richmond in 2008.
Pedregon had held the no. 1 spot through Saturday sessions before Troxel knocked him from the pole with a 4.068, 313.73 in Sunday’s opening round.
Troxel, who already claimed the top qualifying spot in Pro Mod, faced off against Pedregon as the final pair in Sunday’s second session with Troxel going up in smoke right off the line as Pedregon streaked by on a record-setting pass.
Troxel will fall back on her time from Sunday’s first run to hold the second position, followed by Ron Capps, who broke the track speed record with a 4.069 at 314.31 mph. Matt Hagen was fourth with a 4.071, 309.13 followed by Jack Beckman with a 4.082, 312.93. Jeff Arend took the bump spot and will face Pedregon in the opening round on Monday.
“We got it all on that one,” said Pedregon. “The car ran our career best speed at halftrack. I’ve got to always credit the track because you can’t do that when the track isn’t there, but the track and weather were there for this run.”
The news was not as good for Cruz’ brother Tony who was trying to race his way into the Countdown field, but failed to qualify for the event.
Antron Brown held on to score the no. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel as no one was able to best his final run from Saturday of 3.818 at 322.96 mph.
Del Worsham gave Brown reason to sweat as the Top Fuel points leader slid into the second position with a run of 3.836 at 322.12 mph. Brandon Bernstein (3.846, 318.99), Spencer Massey (3.848, 321.19) and Larry Dixon (3.850, 319.60) all improved on their times from Saturday, knocking Tony Schumacher out of the top five.
“I think we’re ready for tomorrow for sure,” said Brown. “Tomorrow is going to be just like this but the conditions will be even better. So we have to go back and go to work because tomorrow is going to be a whole new day. And it’s race day; it’s work day.”
Countdown contender Shawn Langdon bumped his way into the field and will face Brown to start eliminations. Clay Millican, Cory McClenathan and Pat Dakin were among those who missed the show.
Jason Line locked up his second straight pole with his best run of the weekend in the final run of qualifying in the Pro Stock class, putting up a 6.603 at 209.01 mph to beat out Greg Anderson for his 21st-career top qualifier spot.
Line had trailed Anderson all weekend until the two squared off as the last pair in Sunday’s final session.
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“To be honest, I have not done a very good job driving all weekend,” said Line. “I’ve struggled here in the past and I’d really like to get it out of my head, straighten it out and actually do a good job here. I have a good car so if we don’t tomorrow then it’s all on me. That being said, we’ve got a great hot rod and we just have to go up there and get it done.”
Edwards remains third, followed by Allen Johnson (6.623, 208.33) and Ronnie Humphrey (6.630, 207.88).
Countdown hopefuls Larry Morgan and Warren Johnson were among those who did not qualify.
Andrew Hines was flawless through both of Sunday’s sessions to win his first no. 1 qualifier of the season and 29th of his career.
After holding the provisional pole from Saturday’s sessions, Matt Smith traded the top back and forth through Sunday’s rounds, with Hines finally putting Smith away in the final run of the season 6.909 at 193.90 mph over Smith’s 6.936, 190.86.
Smith will race from the second position on Monday, followed by Karen Stoffer (6.940, 192.11), LE Tonglet (6.947, 190.38) and Hector Arana III (6.950, 192.22).
Final eliminations begin today at noon eastern time.
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
O’Relly Raceway Park – Clermont, IN
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday Qualifying – Sept. 4, 2011
Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.818 seconds, 322.96 mph vs. 16. Shawn Langdon, 3.936, 311.63; 2. Del Worsham, 3.836, 321.12 vs. 15. Troy Buff, 3.930, 305.77; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 3.846, 318.99 vs. 14. T.J. Zizzo, 3.919, 301.27; 4. Spencer Massey, 3.848, 321.19 vs. 13. Brady Kalivoda, 3.919, 308.64; 5. Larry Dixon, 3.850, 319.60 vs. 12. David Grubnic, 3.913, 310.91; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.856, 320.36 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.905, 316.01; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.885, 319.37 vs. 10. Terry McMillen, 3.893, 317.64; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.888, 318.54 vs. 9. Morgan Lucas, 3.891, 313.80.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Keith Murt, 3.949, 305.91; 18. Bruce Litton, 3.971, 311.70; 19. Clay Millican, 3.974, 301.27; 20. Pat Dakin, 4.012, 305.42; 21. Cory McClenathan, 4.057, 308.35; 22. Fred Farndon, 4.070, 286.38; 23. Chris Karamesines, 4.085, 279.61; 24. Luigi Novelli, 5.565, 279.09; 25. Scott Palmer, 9.332, 162.94.
Funny Car — 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.026, 314.24 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.195, 299.60; 2. Melanie Troxel, Solara, 4.068, 313.73 vs. 15. Bob Bode, Solara, 4.185, 295.79; 3. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.069, 314.31 vs. 14. Jim Head, Solara, 4.147, 305.63; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.071, 309.13 vs. 13. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.138, 302.96; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.082, 312.93 vs. 12. Paul Lee, Chevy Impala SS, 4.136, 307.86; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.090, 307.37 vs. 11. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.124, 308.85; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.097, 313.15 vs. 10. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.120, 309.06; 8. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.098, 312.06 vs. 9. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.118, 309.63.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Tony Pedregon, 4.208, 299.26; 18. Jon Capps, 4.230, 287.53; 19. Terry Haddock, 4.276, 296.24; 20. Justin Schriefer, 4.415, 279.79.
Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.603, 209.01 vs. 16. Buddy Perkinson, Ford Mustang, 6.674, 206.70; 2. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.610, 208.55 vs. 15. Mark Martino, GXP, 6.671, 206.54; 3. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.613, 208.59 vs. 14. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.665, 206.51; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.623, 208.33 vs. 13. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.663, 206.61; 5. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.630, 207.88 vs. 12. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.662, 207.72; 6. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.633, 208.42 vs. 11. Chris McGaha, GXP, 6.656, 206.95; 7. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.637, 207.15 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.648, 207.53; 8. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.645, 207.43 vs. 9. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.646, 207.62.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Kent, 6.683, 206.70; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.688, 206.48; 19. Warren Johnson, 6.689, 207.02; 20. Steve Spiess, 6.702, 204.20; 21. Grace Howell, 6.715, 204.60; 22. Bob Benza, 6.726, 205.04; 23. Steve Schmidt, 6.748, 204.11; 24. Mark Hogan, 6.777, 204.76; 25. Paul Pittman, 6.788, 203.34; 26. Kevin Lawrence, 6.817, 201.46; 27. Frank Gugliotta, broke; 28. Dave River, broke.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.909, 193.90 vs. 16. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.047, 188.31; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.936, 190.97 vs. 15. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.041, 190.35; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.940, 192.11 vs. 14. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.024, 190.75; 4. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.947, 190.38 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.022, 190.14; 5. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.950, 193.65 vs. 12. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.012, 190.73; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.953, 192.28 vs. 11. David Hope, Buell, 6.987, 190.30; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.961, 192.55 vs. 10. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.985, 188.44; 8. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.962, 190.92 vs. 9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.985, 193.29.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Michael Ray, 7.066, 186.74; 18. Matt Guidera, 7.066, 187.05; 19. Bailey Whitaker, 7.099, 188.10; 20. Justin Finley, 7.133, 187.44; 21. James Surber, 7.185, 185.38; 22. Dawn Minturn, 7.216, 183.29; 23. Redell Harris, 7.320, 185.33; 24. Wesley Wells, 7.354, 182.70; 25. Odolph Daniels, 7.936, 176.01; 26. Joe DeSantis, 12.146, 185.23; 27. GT Tonglet, broke.
