Antron Brown goes into Monday’s US Nationals final eliminations as the fastest qualifier in Top Fuel. Photo by Rhonda McCole
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed the no. 1 qualifier position in their respective classes in Sunday final round of qualifying for Monday’s 59th annual U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series enters its final weekend before the Countdown to the Championship.
Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon and defending Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman raced to victory in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout to collect the $100,000 top prize in the non-points “race within a race” that pits the first seven winners from this season’s NHRA events, along with a driver voted in by the fans to complete the eight-car field in each division.
Langdon knocked teammate Antron Brown to reach the championship round, topping Steve Torrence in the final round, running a 3.821 at 320.05 mph over Torrence’s time of 3.828 seconds at 323.04 mph.
“This was eight of the best cars battling it out for $100,000 and to win it here at Indy, it’s just a great feeling,” Langdon said. “The only way you could top this is to win (Monday) and then win a world championship. The team is working hard, having a good team and the car is running excellent, so it’s all good vibes right now.”
Beckman earned every penny of his $100,000 prize, winning the final round in spectacular fashion after his engine let go at the finish line, blowing the body off his Dodge Charger as he defeated Cruz Pedregon in a holeshot victory, going 4.086 at 310.77 mph over Pedregon’s quicker run of 4.066, 308.35.
“We’re the only car with the chance of doubling up at Indy and you have to like that,” said Beckman, who was uninjured in the incident. “It’s a fairly surreal experience and the fact that we haven’t won anything this year makes it that much bigger. This just feels fantastic and truly is amazing. It’s one of those events that years from now you will always remember.”
In Sunday’s qualifying, Brown went from last to first – climbing from 16th to first in the final round – running a 3.811 at 320.58 mph to post his 34th-career top qualifier and second of the season for the 2011 Top Fuel winner of this event.
“It was a struggle for everybody on our team and we really had nothing to lose going into that run,” said Brown, who will face Morgan Lucas in the opening round on Monday. “We weren’t scared, we got after it and we stepped up to the plate. This class has some big-name players and you can’t be afraid to go after things. We had been tip-toeing it and you can’t do that. Racing Morgan in the first round is like a final round matchup and we have to be ready and prepared to get the job done.”
Not to be outdone by his teammate, Tony Schumacher made the biggest jump of the weekend, going from not making the field all the way up to top qualifier after running a 3.814 at 319.82 mph in the final round before Brown knocked him down to second place. Steve Torrence, who held the no. 1 spot after running 3.815, 325.61 in Sunday’s opening round, was unable to improve his time in the final session and will start third.
Brittany Force, who led the first two rounds of qualifying, held onto fourth with a 3.820, 313.44. Langdon rounded out the top five, standing on his time of 3.821, 322.34.
Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan held onto his top qualifier spot from Saturday as no one was better his record-breaking run of 4.007 seconds at 319.22 mph, earning him his fourth no. 1 qualifier of the season and 14th of his career and locking him in to the top seed in the Countdown to the Championship.
The top five remained unchanged with Johnny Gray (4.012, 312.13) holding second, followed by Del Worsham(4.045, 313.15), Bob Tasca III (4.046, 313.88), Ron Capps (4.049, 315.27).
Jeff Arend, still nursing a foot injury suffered two weeks ago, took the bump spot to face Hagan in the opening round.
In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards took the track as the last qualifier in Sunday’s opening round and blasted to the head of the field with a run of 6.621 seconds at 208.20 mph to reach the no. 1 qualifier position for the 13th time this season and 54th of his career. He will face Chris McGaha in the opening round on Monday.
V. Gaines (6.637, 208.59), Jeg Coughlin (6.637, 206.99), Greg Anderson (6.640, 208.10) and Rickie Jones (6.644, 207.85) rounded out the top five.
After being bumped out of the top spot in the Pro Stock Motorcycle ladder in Sunday’s opening round, Hector Arana roared back and re-claimed the pole with a quick pass of 6.938 second at 193.88 mph, knocking Eddie Krawiec to second place.
Krawiec (6.948, 190.89) held onto second, followed by LE Tonglet (6.966, 191.38), Scotty Pollacheck (6.970, 191.43) and Jerry Savoie (6.980, 191.70)
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Adam Arana took the bump spot and will face his father Hector in the first round on eliminations on Monday.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Lucas Oil Raceway Park – Brownsburg, IN
US Nationals – Sept. 1, 2013
Monday’s First Round Pairings
Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.811 seconds, 320.58 mph vs. 16. Morgan Lucas, 3.878, 313.80; 2.Tony Schumacher, 3.814, 319.82 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 3.852, 319.07; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.815, 325.61 vs. 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., 3.845, 319.22; 4. Brittany Force, 3.820, 313.44 vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.843, 320.28; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.821, 322.34 vs. 12. Pat Dakin, 3.842, 313.37; 6. Billy Torrence, 3.823, 324.36 vs. 11. Spencer Massey, 3.837, 316.38; 7. David Grubnic, 3.824,321.04 vs. 10. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.832, 319.60; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.829, 324.28 vs. 9. Bob Vandergriff, 3.831, 320.74.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Sidnei Frigo, 3.897, 307.51; 18. T.J. Zizzo, 3.908, 306.33; 19. Brandon Bernstein, 3.909, 315.27; 20. J.R. Todd, 3.922, 308.57; 21. Chris Karamesines, 3.976, 305.91; 22. Cory McClenathan, 4.027, 288.83; 23. Leah Pruett, 4.042, 303.64; 24. Damien Harris, 4.043, 292.08; 25. Bruce Litton, 4.165, 239.53.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.007, 319.22 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.138, 306.12; 2. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.012, 312.13 vs. 15. Tony Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.091, 306.26; 3. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.045, 313.15 vs. 14. Courtney Force, Ford Mustang, 4.088, 316.30; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.046, 313.88 vs. 13. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.086, 312.50; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.049, 315.27 vs. 12. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.081, 309.77; 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.052, 313.58 vs. 11. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.072, 297.61; 7. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.056, 313.29 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.068, 309.06; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.062, 310.55 vs. 9. Chad Head, Camry, 4.064, 308.35.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Blake Alexander, 4.191, 296.50; 18. Bob Bode, 4.357, 282.24.
Pro Stock — 1. Mike Edwards, Chevy Camaro, 6.621, 208.20 vs. 16. Chris McGaha, Dodge Avenger, 6.706, 206.45; 2. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.637, 208.59 vs. 15. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.696, 206.70; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.637, 206.99 vs. 14. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.689, 206.61; 4. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.640, 208.10 vs. 13. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.689, 206.39; 5. Rickie Jones, Camaro, 6.644, 207.85 vs. 12. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.676, 206.76; 6. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.644, 207.85 vs. 11. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.674, 206.95; 7. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.645, 208.33 vs. 10. Curt Steinbach, Camaro, 6.661, 206.07; 8. Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.646, 207.88 vs. 9. Mark Martino, GXP, 6.661, 207.72.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Kent, 6.710, 206.35; 18. Kurt Johnson, 6.716, 207.24; 19. Matt Hartford, 6.721, 205.91; 20. Lewis Worden, 6.724, 205.26; 21. Paul Pittman, 6.781, 203.92; 22. Dave River, 6.881, 201.43; 23. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.895, 199.58.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.938, 193.88 vs. 16. Adam Arana, Buell, 7.025, 191.40; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.948, 190.89 vs. 15. John Hall, Buell, 7.022, 189.84; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.966, 191.38 vs. 14. Dawn Minturn, Buell, 7.012, 190.08; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.970, 191.43 vs. 13. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.008, 190.78; 5. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.980, 191.70 vs. 12. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.007, 190.51; 6. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.981, 192.69 vs. 11. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.999, 191.76; 7. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.983, 192.36 vs. 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.991, 192.06; 8. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.984, 190.62 vs. 9. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.989, 193.49.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Angie Smith, 7.033, 191.16; 18. Karen Stoffer, 7.042, 190.27; 19. Jim Underdahl, 7.055, 190.59; 20. Freddie Camarena, 7.145, 187.05; 21. Joe DeSantis, 7.216, 184.83; 22. Wesley Wells, 7.224, 185.87; 23. Redell Harris, 7.292, 183.44.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Lucas Oil Raceway Park – Brownsburg, IN
NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout – Sept. 1, 2013
Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.821 seconds, 320.05 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.828 seconds, 323.04 mph.
Funny Car — Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.086, 310.77 def. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.066, 308.35.
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