Tony Schumacher powered to the top of Saturday’s Top Fuel speed charts in Phoenix. Photo courtesy NHRA Media
Reigning NHRA world champ Tony Schumacher raced to a Top Fuel record 77th No. 1 qualifying position Saturday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix, AZ.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also will lead their classes into Sunday’s 11 am eliminations as the No. 1 qualifiers at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
Schumacher powered his U.S. Army dragster to a career-best performance of 3.722 seconds at 325.61 mph during Friday’s second session. In addition to the track record on Friday, the four-time Phoenix winner also had one of the quickest dragsters during Saturday’s two sessions, posting a pair of low 3.7-second runs.
“It is great that we went down the track on all four runs and got every point except one,” Schumacher said. “It is more impressive that the run was my career-best. The car is making good, quality runs down the track and it is being consistent. If we can continue to do that we’ve got a good chance of going out and winning some races.”
The eight-time champ will face Jenna Haddock in the first round of eliminations as he looks to get his season on track after a disappointing first round loss at the season-opener two weeks ago in Pomona. The round is a rematch from last year’s Denver race when Haddock defeated Schumacher in her first career start.
“We’ll go out there and do our job, not try to smoke the tires in the first round like we did in Denver,” Schumacher said. “That was an exciting win when she beat me in Denver – I just don’t want her to get used to it.”
Doug Kalitta qualified second and will race Clay Millican, while last year’s top rookie, Richie Crampton, posted the quickest run in the final session Saturday to move to third overall. Winternationals winner and current series points leader Shawn Langdon qualified sixth and will face Leah Pritchett in the first round.
Reining Funny Car world champ Hagan powered his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T to a track record time of 3.978 at 320.28 mph as he is seeking his second victory of the season.
“It speaks volumes of why we are a championship team,” said Hagan, who will meet Jeff Diehl in the opener. “I have a great crew and race car and I am blessed to be able to drive the wheels off it. That thing was just really digging and posted some great numbers. This team continues to grow and we are really coming together and have great chemistry. I am very excited what this year has to hold for us and I think we are going to win a lot of races this season.”
Friday leader Courtney Force will start from the second spot in her Traxxas Chevy Camaro SS and face rookie Shane Westerfield, while third qualifier Del Worsham will race rookie John Hale in the opening round. Eight-time Phoenix winner John Force qualified seventh in his Peak Camaro and will meet teammate Robert Hight in the opening round. Last year’s winner here, Alexis DeJoria, qualified fourth in her Patron Cafe XO Incendio Toyota Camry and will pair up with Tony Pedregon in the first round.
In Pro Stock, Enders-Stevens earned her 14th career No. 1 and second of the season with her Friday best of 6.545 at 211.20 in her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro. She will open against Joey Grose.
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Rodger Brogdon qualified second and will race Deric Kramer, while rookie sensation Drew Skillman, who finished runner-up in his pro debut at Pomona two weeks ago, qualified third and will face Phoenix resident Matt Hartford.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park – Chandler, AZ
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals – Feb. 21, 2014
Sunday’s First-Round Pairings
Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.722 seconds, 325.69 mph vs. 16. Jenna Haddock, 4.015, 295.59; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.733, 329.02 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 3.924, 311.34; 3. Richie Crampton, 3.739, 324.51 vs. 14. Troy Buff, 3.905, 306.81; 4. J.R. Todd, 3.753, 323.97 vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.844, 310.27; 5. Antron Brown, 3.753, 318.69 vs. 12. Dave Connolly, 3.804, 321.58; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.755, 319.37 vs. 11. Leah Pritchett, 3.794, 317.72; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.760, 325.85 vs. 10. Brittany Force, 3.792, 323.81; 8. Larry Dixon, 3.778, 324.05 vs. 9. Spencer Massey, 3.791, 321.81.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steven Chrisman, 4.410, 218.90.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.978, 320.28 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.866, 264.96; 2. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.996, 321.58 vs. 15. Shane Westerfield, Charger, 4.558, 273.22; 3. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.997, 319.98 vs. 14. John Hale, Charger, 4.194, 307.23; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.000, 313.58 vs. 13. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.060, 310.13; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.003, 315.27 vs. 12. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.047, 309.63; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.020, 316.30 vs. 11. Chad Head, Camry, 4.043, 309.13; 7. John Force, Camaro, 4.025, 315.05 vs. 10. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.038, 318.47; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.032, 306.60 vs. 9. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.034, 314.39.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Terry Haddock, 5.082, 181.84.
Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Camaro, 6.545, 211.26 vs. 16. Joey Grose, Camaro, 6.689, 207.05; 2. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.545, 211.63 vs. 15. Deric Kramer, Dodge Avenger, 6.643, 208.91; 3. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.548, 211.20 vs. 14. Matt Hartford, Pontiac GXP, 6.632, 209.14; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.551, 211.36 vs. 13. Jimmy Alund, GXP, 6.626, 209.69; 5. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.559, 210.54 vs. 12. V. Gaines, Dart, 6.620, 209.95; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.562, 211.59 vs. 11. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.586, 210.87; 7. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.565, 211.46 vs. 10. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.578, 210.34; 8. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.569, 211.89 vs. 9. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.578, 210.67.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jeff Isbell, 6.718, 205.98.
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