Doug Kalitta topped Friday’s Top Fuel qualifying sessions at the NHRA season opener at Pomona with a pass at 327.59 mph. Photo courtesy NHRA Media
Doug Kalitta raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel during Friday qualifying at the 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals.
Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders at the season-opener of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.
Kalitta posted a 3.733-second pass at 327.59 mph in his Mac Tools dragster during the final pair of the day at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In the first round of qualifying, Kalitta ran a 3.809-second run at 323.12 mph, which put him in the No. 2 spot after round one.
“We’re real happy with those two runs,” Kalitta said. “I’m not sure with the weather, I think it might be a little cooler tomorrow. There’s just a lot of good running cars that can run better than we did. So, hopefully I’m hearing again tomorrow talking to you guys. We’ll see how it goes.”
Kalitta was the No. 1 qualifier at this event last year and finished the race as runner-up. He earned six No. 1 qualifying positions in 2014 and appeared in nine final rounds en route to a fifth place points finish.
Reigning world champion Tony Schumacher qualified second in his U.S. Army dragster with a performance of 3.757 at 320.20. Spencer Massey qualified third with a 3.761 at 328.30 at the controls of his Red Fuel dragster.
In Funny Car, Johnson recorded a 4.018-second, 314.46 mph performance in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger, earning him the top qualifying position. Johnson posted a career-best third place points finish last season in his first season driving for Don Schumacher Racing.
“The team has just picked up right where we left off and gives me a lot of confidence,” Johnson said. “I know we have a very competitive team. We can roll it right off of the box at Pomona and pick up right where we left off. I think we’re on the right track to have a great season.”
Chad Head powered his Taylormade Aeroburner Toyota Camry to a second-place effort with a 4.060 at 309.63. John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, took third in his PEAK Chevy Camaro with a 4.061 at 313.66.
Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan qualified eighth on Friday with a 4.090 at 310.70 in the first round. His second-round race ended in spectacular fashion halfway down the track when the engine on his Mopar Dodge Charger caught fire. He escaped from the car without injury.
Line, a three-time winner of the Winternationals and series runner-up a year ago, took the qualifying lead in Pro Stock with a 6.523-second run at 212.76 mph in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro.
“It was a good run,” Line said. “It was a nice run. I know I usually whine and say it wasn’t perfect but it was a nice run. It’s nice to be up here and I’m pretty happy about that. It’s fun to start day one of the 2015 Mello Yello drag racing season this way.”
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Erica Enders-Stevens, reigning Pro Stock world champion, failed to make a full qualifying pass during the first two sessions as her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro lost traction on both attempts.
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 pm. Sunday’s eliminations are scheduled for 11 am.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Auto Club Raceway – Pomona, CA
NHRA WinterNationals – Feb. 6, 2015
Friday Qualifying Results
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.733 seconds, 327.59 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.757, 323.35; 3. Spencer Massey, 3.761, 328.30; 4. Richie Crampton, 3.764, 323.97; 5. Larry Dixon, 3.776, 321.35; 6. Brittany Force, 3.779, 323.97; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.788, 325.45; 8. Leah Pritchett, 3.797, 320.81; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.803, 320.36; 10. Antron Brown, 3.803, 313.73; 11. Troy Buff, 3.815, 310.77; 12. J.R. Todd, 3.914, 242.54.
Not Qualified: 13. Terry McMillen, 3.996, 285.41; 14. Steven Chrisman, 4.338, 221.20; 15. Steve Faria, 4.506, 182.55; 16. Clay Millican, 4.767, 151.97; 17. Dave Connolly, 13.570, 23.48.
Funny Car — 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.018, 314.46; 2. Chad Head, Toyota Camry, 4.060, 309.63; 3. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.061, 313.66; 4. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.066, 299.73; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.067, 300.93; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.085, 305.84; 7. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.086, 314.09; 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.090, 310.70; 9. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.097, 302.75; 10. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.102, 311.34; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.106, 309.34; 12. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.131, 274.55.
Not Qualified: 13. Gary Densham, 4.182, 306.12; 14. Jeff Arend, 4.223, 263.56; 15. Terry Haddock, 4.286, 293.03; 16. John Hale, 4.440, 224.02; 17. Jack Beckman, 4.485, 204.35; 18. Bob Bode, 12.819, 41.70.
Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.523, 212.76; 2. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.527, 212.09; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.535, 211.99; 4. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.538, 212.26; 5. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.538, 212.03; 6. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.540, 212.43; 7. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.546, 211.89; 8. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.551, 212.69; 9. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.553, 211.93; 10. Jimmy Alund, Pontiac GXP, 6.568, 211.46; 11. Deric Kramer, Dodge Avenger, 6.614, 210.37; 12. V. Gaines, Dart, 6.623, 210.57.
Not Qualified: 13. Joey Grose, 6.625, 209.20; 14. Jeff Isbell, 6.677, 207.78; 15. Matt Hartford, 6.736, 206.92; 16. Vincent Nobile, 7.907, 123.05; 17. Erica Enders-Stevens, 9.708, 113.01.
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