Richie Crampton led Saturday’s Top Fuel qualifying for the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park. Photo: NHRA Media
Richie Crampton powered to the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel Saturday at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park just outside of St. Louis.
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Shane Gray (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 20th event of 24 on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals is the second race of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Crampton used his Friday night performance of 3.733-seconds at 323.50 mph to earn his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and fifth of his career. Crampton, from Adelaide, South Australia, posted a runner-up finish earlier this year in Sonoma, California, but has not yet won an event in 2016. He will look to improve on his 10th place points standing as he opens eliminations against Kebin Kinsley Sunday morning.
“We were trying to get down the racetrack today and it just didn’t work out, but to get a good run on the board Friday night is really important,” said Crampton, a seven-time event winner. “It was a good run yesterday and I’m sure we left a little bit on the table today. We were just a little underpowered today in both sessions and maybe just treaded a little bit too lightly.”
Tony Schumacher, an eight-time Top Fuel world champion, qualified second with a 3.740 at 325.30. Sonoma winner J.R. Todd sits in the No. 3 spot with a 3.750 at 321.58 while three-time St. Louis winner and three-time 2016 event winner Doug Kalitta is fourth. Shawn Langdon is fifth and will battle reigning champion and current Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown Sunday morning.
In Funny Car, Hight also used his Friday night performance to head into Sunday’s eliminations as the category’s No. 1 qualifier. Hight’s 3.893 at 328.38 during Friday’s second session was enough to earn him his first top qualifier of the season and 48th of his career. The Gainesville, Florida, event winner will go up against John Hale to open eliminations.
“Saturday is more condusive to what you’re going to race in on Sunday,” said Hight. “Basically, three of the four runs we were low-E.T. and that gives you a lot of confidence. That third run, we were still pushing hard. Sometimes it’s nice to know your limit so you don’t find that limit on Sunday. It’s been a great weekend and I’m excited about tomorrow. I’m more excited about tomorrow’s race-day than I have been in a long time.”
Jack Beckman qualified second with a 3.907 at 325.22. Points leader Ron Capps is third with a 3.910 at 322.81. Tim Wilkerson is fourth and will meet Brian Stewart while Matt Hagan is fifth and paired with Cruz Pedregon.
Shane Gray earned his second No. 1 qualifier of the season in Pro Stock with a 6.604 at 209.42. Gray, who raced to the top spot in Chicago, has seven No. 1 qualifiers in his career and is seventh in points. He will race David River in the opening round of Sunday’s eliminations.
“I’m real confident with the car for tomorrow,” said Gray, who has never won at St. Louis. “The way I see it now is the only person that can screw this up is me. We’ve got a good car and it’s making good runs. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Bo Butner is second with a 6.605 at 209.17 while Greg Anderson qualified third with a 6.605 at 209.07. Vincent Nobile, looking for his first win of the season, is fourth followed by Alex Laughlin in fifth.
Pro Stock points leader Jason Line is qualified sixth and will go heads-up with back-to-back and reigning world champion Erica Enders.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec rode to a 6.819 at 197.02 to earn his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 33rd of his career. The two-time St. Louis winner and three-time world champion is currently fourth in points after a first round loss last weekend in Charlotte. He will open eliminations against Joe DeSantis.
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“We didn’t think we were going to run that number but we were picking away at it a little bit at a time,” said Krawiec, who has two career top qualifiers at Gateway Motorsports Park. “This last session, it was drying out a little more. That definitely helped aspirate the motorcycle. We didn’t think it was going to run that fast, but all the stars aligned. We know we have a great motorcycle, it’s just up to us to tune it right and it’s easier said than done.”
Angelle Sampey qualified second with a 6.831 at 197.02. Charlotte winner Chip Ellis is slotted third with a 6.850 at 196.53, followed by Jerry Savoie in fourth and Matt Smith fifth.
Eliminations for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park are set to being at 11 am on Sunday.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Gateway Motorsports Park – Madison, IL
NHRA Midwest Nationals – Sept. 24, 2016
Sunday’s First Round Pairings
Top Fuel — 1. Richie Crampton, 3.733 seconds, 323.50 mph vs. 16. Kebin Kinsley, 4.000, 307.16; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.740, 325.30 vs. 15. Chris Karamesines, 3.979, 301.00; 3. J.R. Todd, 3.750, 322.04 vs. 14. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.896, 315.19; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.752, 325.92 vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.895, 310.41; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.766, 325.61 vs. 12. Antron Brown, 3.808, 316.97; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.768, 323.19 vs. 11. Pat Dakin, 3.805, 309.06; 7. Leah Pritchett, 3.770, 325.92 vs. 10. Wayne Newby, 3.801, 318.69; 8. Brittany Force, 3.778, 323.35 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.798, 323.35.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Luigi Novelli, 4.168, 263.92; 18. Scott Palmer, 5.305, 198.67; 19. Troy Buff, 6.737, 95.96.
Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.893, 328.38 vs. 16. John Hale, Dodge Charger, 4.156, 279.56; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.907, 325.22 vs. 15. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.118, 294.56; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.910, 322.81 vs. 14. John Bojec, Toyota Solara, 4.037, 293.22; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.912, 325.61 vs. 13. Brian Stewart, Mustang, 4.009, 295.79; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.914, 327.51 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.009, 314.68; 6. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.918, 324.36 vs. 11. Chad Head, Camry, 3.994, 321.42; 7. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.929, 324.75 vs. 10. John Force, Camaro, 3.958, 323.19; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.944, 324.12 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.945, 323.27.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jack Wyatt, 4.274, 283.91; 18. Brandon Welch, 4.289, 290.07.
Pro Stock — 1. Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.604, 209.65 vs. 16. Dave River, Chevy Cobalt, 6.904, 198.93; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.605, 209.36 vs. 15. Mark Hogan, Pontiac GXP, 6.797, 203.09; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.605, 209.92 vs. 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.750, 205.26; 4. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.606, 209.43 vs. 13. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.679, 206.57; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.610, 209.14 vs. 12. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.674, 207.15; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.611, 209.43 vs. 11. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.663, 207.21; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.621, 209.07 vs. 10. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.648, 207.46; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.625, 209.04 vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.625, 208.46.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.819, 197.02 vs. 16. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.271, 188.49; 2. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.831, 197.02 vs. 15. Angie Smith, Victory, 6.968, 191.35; 3. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.850, 196.53 vs. 14. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.955, 195.73; 4. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.852, 196.27 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.929, 193.57; 5. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.860, 195.36 vs. 12. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.914, 193.74; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.867, 194.58 vs. 11. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.910, 195.68; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.880, 195.53 vs. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.904, 195.14; 8. Cory Reed, Buell, 6.884, 194.13 vs. 9. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.899, 195.22.
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