Johnson Bags NHRA Mile-High Nationals Pro Stock Victory

Defending NHRA Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson continued his incredible run at Bandimere Speedway and raced to his fourth win of the 2013 season Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) and Shawn Gann (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, the 14th of 24 in the 2013 season.

In a thrilling final round, both Johnson and Gaines powered their Mopar Dodge Avengers in a repeat of last year’s final in Denver. Johnson’s performance of 6.989 seconds at 196.87 mph took down the Colorado native’s 7.015 at 196.67 in the final round. It marked the second straight Pro Stock victory for Johnson in Denver, fourth in five years and fifth overall for the Greeneville, Tenn. native who also made his seventh straight final round appearance on Thunder Mountain.

“Winning this weekend was very important to me because it was the 25th anniversary of Mopar’s sponsorship of this race,” said Johnson, who was also the No. 1 qualifier. “It’s been a great marriage between Mopar and the Bandimere family, and I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge and honor that relationship than with a win.”

Johnson outran points leader Mike Edwards in the second round and then Rickie Jones in the semifinals to reach the final round against fellow Dodge Avenger campaigner. Johnson and Jeg Coughlin also clinched spots in the Countdown to the Championship, joining Edwards in the class.

“My crew is the reason that we’ve had all of this success for the last seven races here,” said Johnson. “They are just so determined to win it every year. I have to thank them and the man upstairs.”

In Top Fuel, Massey claimed his third victory of the season and 13th of his career, defeating Houston winner Bob Vandergriff in the final round in his 8,000-horsepower Battery Extender/Schumacher Electric dragster. Massey covered the distance in 3.974 at 309.27 to knock off Vandergriff’s C&J Energy Services dragster, which went 4.029 at 304.67.

Massey, who won for the second time in Denver, remains third in the Mello Yello Top Fuel points standings. Massey outran Clay Millican, Mike Strasburg and points leader Shawn Langdon to advance to the final round. Langdon and Tony Schumacher also became the first two racers in the class to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship.

“I was very surprised to see my DSR teammates Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown not running up to their full potential this weekend,” Massey said. “But again, that just shows you just how tough racing on the mountain is, and I’m sure that both teams will be very tough once we return to sea level at Sonoma. The key to winning here today was to tune smart and drive smart, and that’s exactly what we were able to do.

“We didn’t have the power that we wanted during qualifying, but this isn’t a horsepower race. I was surprised that there wasn’t as much tire smoking in eliminations as was expected. The key to winning here today was to tune smart and drive smart, and that’s exactly what we were able to do.”

Pedregon claimed his third victory in 2013 and 33rd for his career by knocking off Tasca in the final round. Pedregon’s 8,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry posted a 4.233 at 295.46 while Tasca slowed to a 4.408 at 257.04 in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang.

This is the third win of the season for Pedregon in four final round appearances. Pedregon, who was also the No. 1 qualifier and set the track E.T. record (4.073), picked up his 33rd career win. It is also his second win at Denver, winning 20 years after his first victory at Bandimere Speedway (1993). He moves to second in the points standings.

“I got asked what the most gratifying part of the weekend was and I’d have to say that it was breaking our own track record and having low E.T. in three of the four rounds,” Pedregon said. “In the first round we ran a 4.17 but we weren’t trying to. I didn’t care if it ran a 4.30; as long as we did not smoke the tires. We were on a three-race first round slide so this couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Pedregon, who re-set his own track speed record at Bandimere in qualifying, beat Todd Simpson, 2009 Denver winner Ron Capps and 2002 Denver champ Del Worsham to advance to the final round. Pedregon, a two-time world champion, moves to second in points with his second win at Denver, winning 20 years after his first victory at Bandimere Speedway (1993).

“This was a good race to come back and run well, and it takes a little pressure off in Sonoma and Seattle,” Pedregon said.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gann’s ended a nine-year winless drought with his first final-round appearance since 2010, earning his fifth career victory. Gann went 7.351 at 181.08 on his Pirana Z Racing Buell to knock off points leader Hector Arana Jr. and his final round time of 7.376 at 182.11 on his Lucas Oil Buell. Gann’s last win also came in Denver in 2004.

“It was a long drought, but if you give up the fight you’re never gonna get out of that drought,” Gann said. “This is a big win. My bike has always been fast but I’ve had problems that have plagued me. I’m the heaviest rider out here and I make my own clutches so I have that to deal with. Being up here on the mountain, with fat people like me, you can only move so much mass so hard but we found a way.”

Gann beat Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and three-time world champion Andrew Hines to reach the final round. He moves to the No. 10 spot in the point standings. Arana Jr. became the first rider in the class to clinch a spot in the Countdown for the Championship.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues July 26-28 with the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Bandimere Speedway – Morrison, CO
Mopar Mile-High Nationals – July 20, 2013

Final Finish Order

TOP FUEL
1. Spencer Massey; 2. Bob Vandergriff; 3. Shawn Langdon; 4. Tony Schumacher; 5. Brittany Force; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Brandon Bernstein; 8. Mike Strasburg; 9. Khalid alBalooshi; 10. Antron Brown; 11. David Grubnic; 12. Morgan Lucas; 13. Clay Millican; 14. Terry McMillen; 15. Steve Torrence; 16. Scott Palmer.

FUNNY CAR
1. Cruz Pedregon; 2. Bob Tasca III; 3. Robert Hight; 4. Del Worsham; 5. Jack Beckman; 6. Ron Capps; 7. Tim Wilkerson; 8. Courtney Force; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Johnny Gray; 11. John Force; 12. Alexis DeJoria; 13. Terry Haddock; 14. Tony Pedregon; 15. Todd Simpson; 16. Jeff Arend.

PRO STOCK
1. Allen Johnson; 2. V. Gaines; 3. Shane Gray; 4. Rickie Jones; 5. Mike Edwards; 6. Jason Line; 7. Vincent Nobile; 8. Steve Kent; 9. Jeg Coughlin; 10. Rodger Brogdon; 11. Greg Anderson; 12. Deric Kramer; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. Steve Kalkowski; 15. Matt Hartford.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Shawn Gann; 2. Hector Arana Jr; 3. Andrew Hines; 4. Mike Berry; 5. Adam Arana; 6. Steve Johnson; 7. Eddie Krawiec; 8. Matt Smith; 9. Scotty Pollacheck; 10. Hector Arana; 11. John Hall; 12. Angie Smith; 13. LE Tonglet; 14. Jim Underdahl; 15. Michael Ray; 16. Katie Sullivan.

Final Results

Top Fuel — Spencer Massey, 3.974 seconds, 309.27 mph def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.029 seconds, 304.67 mph.

Funny Car — Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.233, 295.46 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.408, 257.04.
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Pro Stock — Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.989, 196.87 def. V. Gaines, Avenger, 7.015, 196.67.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.351, 181.08 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.376, 182.11.

Round-By-Round

TOP FUEL

ROUND ONE — Spencer Massey, 3.970, 311.99 def. Clay Millican, 4.011, 304.74; Brandon Bernstein, 3.949, 307.16 def. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.967, 309.49; Brittany Force, 3.947, 310.13 def. Scott Palmer, 4.186, 292.01; Shawn Langdon, 3.921, 310.34 def. Antron Brown, 3.974, 310.34; Mike Strasburg, 4.062, 281.13 def. Steve Torrence, 4.114, 268.81; Doug Kalitta, 3.974, 305.42 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.004, 296.89; Bob Vandergriff, 4.032, 292.52 def. Terry McMillen, 4.061, 297.61; Tony Schumacher, 3.953, 314.39 def. David Grubnic, 3.984, 301.40;

QUARTERFINALS — Massey, 3.996, 305.91 def. Strasburg, 5.213, 138.77; Schumacher, 4.159, 289.63 def. Kalitta, 4.270, 252.99; Vandergriff, 4.014, 304.19 def. Force, 4.043, 297.88; Langdon, 4.090, 270.81 def. Bernstein, 4.895, 157.78;

SEMIFINALS — Vandergriff, 4.057, 294.82 def. Schumacher, 4.091, 299.33; Massey, 3.966, 309.98 def. Langdon, 3.975, 309.20;

FINAL — Massey, 3.974, 309.27 def. Vandergriff, 4.029, 304.67.

FUNNY CAR

ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.214, 305.15 def. Jeff Arend, Dodge Charger, 7.724, 67.90; Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.245, 296.18 def. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.641, 192.93; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.245, 295.46 def. Terry Haddock, Dodge Stratus, 4.376, 277.60; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.188, 295.46 def. Todd Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 4.879, 206.70; Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.195, 302.28 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.328, 287.78; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.268, 296.76 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.313, 288.33; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.213, 299.00 def. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.263, 282.36; Ron Capps, Charger, no time def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.258, 296.31;

QUARTERFINALS — Hight, 4.205, 299.06 def. Beckman, 4.276, 295.40; C. Pedregon, 4.178, 297.35 def. Capps, 4.282, 296.18; Worsham, 4.336, 292.14 def. C. Force, 4.371, 286.98; Tasca III, 4.237, 303.03 def. Wilkerson, 4.307, 274.22;

SEMIFINALS — Tasca III, 4.221, 302.89 def. Hight, 4.434, 230.13; C. Pedregon, 4.232, 292.84 def. Worsham, 5.261, 155.90;

FINAL — C. Pedregon, 4.233, 295.46 def. Tasca III, 4.408, 257.04.

PRO STOCK

ROUND ONE — Mike Edwards, Chevy Camaro, 6.977, 196.96 def. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Avenger, 7.012, 196.47; Jason Line, Camaro, 7.022, 195.76 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 7.016, 196.02; Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 7.022, 196.07 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 7.031, 194.91; Steve Kent, Camaro, 7.036, 194.72 def. Deric Kramer, Avenger, 7.047, 194.41; V. Gaines, Avenger, 7.009, 196.33 def. Steve Kalkowski, Pontiac GXP, broke; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.981, 197.10 was unopposed; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.990, 196.79 def. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, foul; Rickie Jones, Camaro, 7.020, 196.22 def. Matt Hartford, Avenger, DQ;

QUARTERFINALS — Jones, 7.013, 196.39 def. Kent, 7.109, 192.03; Gaines, 7.001, 196.62 def. Line, 7.019, 196.56; Gray, 6.981, 196.96 def. Nobile, 7.020, 196.44; Johnson, 6.982, 196.90 def. Edwards, 6.989, 196.67;

SEMIFINALS — Gaines, 7.011, 196.53 def. Gray, 7.000, 196.79; Johnson, 6.993, 196.96 def. Jones, 7.034, 195.96;

FINAL — Johnson, 6.989, 196.87 def. Gaines, 7.015, 196.67.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

ROUND ONE — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.329, 180.89 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.304, 182.82; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.332, 179.97 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 7.301, 180.36; Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.289, 182.55 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.341, 180.02; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.309, 181.72 def. Michael Ray, Buell, 7.597, 173.61; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.265, 183.72 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, foul; Adam Arana, Buell, 7.281, 182.33 def. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 7.833, 138.71; Mike Berry, Buell, 7.320, 180.69 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.362, 181.47; Matt Smith, Buell, 7.307, 182.11 def. John Hall, Buell, 7.316, 179.59;

QUARTERFINALS — Berry, 7.383, 178.59 def. M. Smith, 7.354, 181.08; Gann, 7.315, 181.94 def. Johnson, 7.312, 181.37; Hines, 7.347, 180.62 def. A. Arana, foul; Arana Jr, 7.276, 183.29 def. Krawiec, 7.338, 181.20;

SEMIFINALS — Gann, 7.312, 181.98 def. Hines, 7.374, 169.25; Arana Jr, 7.287, 183.24 def. Berry, 17.838, 42.59;

FINAL — Gann, 7.351, 181.08 def. Arana Jr, 7.376, 182.11.

Point Standings

Top Fuel
1. Shawn Langdon, 1,093; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1,074; 3. Spencer Massey, 1,034; 4. Doug Kalitta, 867; 5. Antron Brown, 831; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 809; 7. Clay Millican, 735; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 692; 9. Morgan Lucas, 670; 10. Steve Torrence, 647.

Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 991; 2. Cruz Pedregon, 951; 3. Johnny Gray, 893; 4. Ron Capps, 887; 5. John Force, 860; 6. Jack Beckman, 851; 7. Courtney Force, 837; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 770; 9. Del Worsham, 768; 10. Bob Tasca III, 743.

Pro Stock
1. Mike Edwards, 1,271; 2. Allen Johnson, 1,192; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 1,054; 4. Shane Gray, 883; 5.Jason Line, 870; 6. Vincent Nobile, 804; 7. Greg Anderson, 746; 8. Erica Enders-Stevens, 743; 9. V. Gaines, 688; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 628.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
1.Hector Arana Jr, 671; 2. Michael Ray, 559; 3. Matt Smith, 543; 4. John Hall, 503; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, 492; 6. Hector Arana, 473; 7. Adam Arana, 427; 8. Eddie Krawiec, 412; 9. Shawn Gann, 397; 10. Steve Johnson, 392.