Clay Millican led Friday’s qualifying for the Top Fuel division at zMax Dragway. Photo courtesy NHRA Media
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson, Jr. (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) topped Friday’s qualifying sessions for Sunday’s fifth annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway.
Sunday’s race marks the opening race in the six-race, 10-driver Countdown to the Championship that will decide the 2014 champion in each of the top four divisions in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Having failed to make the Countdown field, Clay Millican stole some of the thunder from the Championship contenders but taking the provisional pole in the nighttime Top Fuel qualifying session.
Millican was one of several drivers who took advantage of the cooler nighttime track conditions to move up the ladder, jumping from fourth in the opening session to knock Tony Schumacher from the top spot.
Besides missing the Countdown, Millican hasn’t qualified better than sixth all season and posted a DNQ in last weekend’s US Nationals in Indianapolis. If his time holds up through Saturday’s sessions, it would be his first No. 1 qualifier since 2013.
“From my perspective it was a really bad driving job,” Millican said. “It looked like a Slinky going down through there. That run might’ve been a .74. Either way, I am extremely happy to be No. 1 and sitting here talking with you guys. I really thought a couple of those guys or Leah would go by us. Grubby (crew chief Dave Grubnic) had it set up to go a .77, so he gave us a little extra. That’s some of that pow-pow action kicking in right there.”
Schumacher, the top seeded Top Fuel driver in the Countdown, held the second qualifying spot with a time of 3.774 seconds at 319.75 mph. Steve Torrence (3.786, 320.36), Leah Pritchett (3.803, 319.45) and Shawn Langdon (3.868, 315.86) rounded out the top five.
With only 15 entries in Top Fuel, “The Greek” Chris Karamesines elected not to make a qualifying pass on Friday, as he is guaranteed to make the field.
Tommy Johnson, Jr. powered to the top of the charts with a record-breaking run in Funny Car, clocking in at 3.971 at 312.42 mph to top the previous track record of 3.980 set by Cruz Pedregon at this race back in 2013.
Friday’s second round of qualifying was a game of King of the Hill as each driver who reached the top of the ladder found themselves knocked off the top spot as the next pair went down the track.
John Force set the pace after running a 4.004, 313.80 only to be knocked out by Tim Wilkerson in the next pair. Del Worsham then came down the track and bested Wilkerson before Johnson came out in the final pair and put himself on the pole.
Worsham hung on for second with a 3.993, 318.32, followed Capps (3.994, 317.4), Wilkerson (4.003, 318.32) and Robert Hight (4.004, 313.95).
“There’s not a lot of humidity in the air and the (new) track (surface) is getting better and better,” Johnson, Jr. said. “The car’s been running better lately. I wasn’t sure it was going to stay No. 1 with the way Jack has been running lately and you know that Ron was No. 1 after the first session and they have stepped their performance up after the last few races. It was a nice surprise.”
Hometown favorite Greg Anderson landed at the No. 1 spot in Pro Stock with a low ET of 6.524 seconds at 212.26 mph after taking to the track as part of the last pair in Friday’s evening session and knocking Bo Butner from the provisional pole.
Anderson, who hadn’t had a pole in over five years, will be looking for his second top qualifier of the, will enter the final round of qualifying with a chance to score his second top qualifier of the season.
“I thought I have always been fast at this racetrack but apparently not quite fast enough, at least not in qualifying,” Anderson said after his final pass. “I’ve had great times at this place, a lot of great race days. It’s setting up to be another one. It’s quite a dog fight out there. Obviously, the Elite team with Erica Enders and Drew Skillman are very fast. We have four Camaros under our umbrella that are very fast. Chris McGaha he can go No. 1 anytime. It all comes down to making that perfect run. That was very close to a perfect run. It was a very good run, and I’m very happy with the two runs today. We will go to bed tonight happy.
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Butner’s time of 6.533 seconds, 211.66 mph held up for the second spot. Third went to Erica Enders (6.536, 211.83), followed by Shane Gray (6.545, 211.83) and Larry Morgan (6.548, 211.76).
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Jerry Savoie raced to the top of the ladder with a pass of 6.862 at 195.59 mph, moving up from his third-place qualifying effort in the opening round.
Coming off his win in last weekend’s US Nationals in Indianapolis, Savoie will be looking to notch his first No. 1 qualifier since last July at Sonoma when qualifying resumes on Saturday.
Andrew Hines (6.876, 194.10), Karen Stoffer (6.886, 194.83), Steve Johnson (6.902, 193.63) and Chip Ellis (6.912, 192.36) made up the rest of the top five qualifiers
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
zMax Dragway – Concord, NC
NHRA Carolina Nationals – Sept. 18, 2015
Friday’s Qualifying Results
Top Fuel — 1. Clay Millican, 3.758 seconds, 318.77 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.774, 319.75; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.786, 320.36; 4. Leah Pritchett, 3.803, 319.45; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.868, 315.86; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.870, 316.30; 7. Pat Dakin, 3.931, 277.26; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.954, 303.37; 9. Richie Crampton, 4.021, 278.92; 10. J.R. Todd, 4.098, 230.92; 11. Antron Brown, 4.207, 201.28; 12. Brittany Force, 4.918, 159.29.
Not Qualified: 13. Dave Connolly, 6.053, 109.32; 14. Terry McMillen, 6.588, 103.47.
Funny Car — 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.971, 312.42; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.993, 318.32; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.994, 317.34; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.003, 318.32; 5. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.004, 313.95; 6. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.004, 313.80; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.015, 314.02; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.022, 307.86; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.079, 301.33; 10. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.080, 303.30; 11. John Hale, Charger, 4.198, 272.94; 12. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.243, 280.72.
Not Qualified: 13. Dave Richards, 4.257, 293.15; 14. Alexis DeJoria, 4.714, 86.37; 15. Chad Head, 10.440, 69.10.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.524, 212.26; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.533, 211.66; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.536, 211.83; 4. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.545, 211.83; 5. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.548, 211.76; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.556, 211.56; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 210.60; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.559, 211.26; 9. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.564, 210.73; 10. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.567, 211.26; 11. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.604, 209.82; 12. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.619, 210.18.
Not Qualified: 13. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.647, 207.94; 14. V. Gaines, 6.670, 208.49; 15. Wally Stroupe, 6.895, 199.70; 16. Kenny Delco, 18.098, 26.97.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.862, 195.59; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.876, 194.10; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.886, 195.00; 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.63; 5. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.912, 193.57; 6. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.924, 193.96; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.927, 192.82; 8. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 193.82; 9. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.941, 191.67; 10. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.943, 193.02; 11. Redell Harris, Buell, 6.959, 191.65; 12. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.963, 191.08.
Not Qualified: 13. Scotty Pollacheck, 6.974, 190.92; 14. LE Tonglet, 6.987, 193.24; 15. Matt Smith, 7.001, 190.97; 16. Angie Smith, 7.002, 187.36; 17. Shawn Gann, 7.048, 189.52; 18. Mike Berry, 7.198, 186.15; 19. Lance Bonham, 7.369, 183.92; 20. Andrew Patterson, 9.618, 90.70.
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