BROWN, PEDREGON, EDWARDS AND HORNE LEAD QUALIFYING AT UNITED ASSOCIATION ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
![(The Spokesman-Review)](https://thumb.spokesman.com/EtUf3zLYGFRAY-Tj4XiUKL_vdCA=/810x0/media.spokesman.com/photos/2009/06/06/NHRACDR.jpg)
Antron Brown posted a performance of 3.826 seconds at 317.94 mph in his Matco Tools/DirecTV dragster to take the top spot at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, while local favorite Tony Schumacher, winner of three of the last five events, was second in his U.S. Army dragster with a 3.848 at 311.34.
Courtesy: NHRA Media Relations
JOLIET, Ill. – Antron Brown raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel Friday at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
Tony
Pedregon, Mike Edwards and Doug Horne also were qualifying leaders in
their respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series event.
Brown
posted a performance of 3.826 seconds at 317.94 mph in his Matco
Tools/DirecTV dragster to take the top spot at Route 66 Raceway near
Chicago, while local favorite Tony Schumacher, winner of three of the
last five events, was second in his U.S. Army dragster with a 3.848 at
311.34.
"That
was an incredible run," Brown said. "I let go of the brake and both
bulbs came on. Luckily, I staged shallow. We kept our cool and it was a
real smooth, consistent run. We continue to run those big speeds.
There's a slice in the groove in the right lane and I saw a few Funny
Cars steer around it and I followed their lead. (Crew chiefs) Brian
(Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) got what they wanted and the run looked
great on the computer. The team is stoked. There were some good cars
behind us like Tony (Schumacher) and Larry (Dixon) and we knew they're
capable of running some stout numbers. We weren't sure if it would
hold. This is awesome though. It should be cloudy tomorrow, so we may
be able to go even quicker, but we should stay in the top three and
that's always our goal."
Last
week’s winner, Dixon, was third overall in his Al-Anabi Racing
dragster, while Rod Fuller and J.R. Todd, both making their season
debuts, qualified seventh and 11th respectively.
Pedregon led qualifying in Funny Car, posting a 4.089 at 304.39 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala.
“These
were very good conditions,” said Pedregon, who also was the No. 1
qualifier at Las Vegas in April. “I’m actually surprised more cars
didn’t adapt to them. I’ve had a couple of butt kicking’s the last
couple of races, and it has reminded me that we can’t be too
conservative. Last year, we’d already won a couple of races by this
point and we maybe got a little spoiled.
“I
really like this track. In the heat, it does not deteriorate, which is
one of the reasons why I’m really excited about coming back here. As
for the No. 1, I’m just going to enjoy it for now and if it holds,
great. If it doesn’t, I still made a pretty good run.”
The Ford Mustangs of Mike Neff, John Force, Bob Tasca and Ashley Force Hood held down positions two through five in the lineup.
Edwards
topped the qualifying order in Pro Stock with a track record
performance of 6.587 at 209.88 in his ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP.
“I
was shocked it ran that fast, I really was,” said Edwards, who has been
the No. 1 qualifier at five of the nine races so far this season. “I
knew it was good, but I didn’t know it was that good. Tomorrow is
another day and conditions are going to change all around. That .58, no
telling, that might be eighth or ninth in the pack. I’m going to come
out here tomorrow, and I’m going to race the track and see what we can
do and where we wind up.”
Greg
Anderson was second in his Summit Racing GXP, while series points
leader Jeg Coughlin was third in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt and Topeka
winner Allen Johnson was fourth in his J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge
Stratus.
Pro
Stock Motorcycle rookie Horne, a two-time runner-up this season, was
quickest in the two-wheel category, powering his Horne Racing Buell to
a leading time of 6.936 at 191.84.
“It
was good to come right off the trailer and put that kind of lap on the
board,” said Horne, one of the top contenders for the 2009 Auto Club
Road to the Future Award. “We’ve done some testing in the four weeks
we’ve been off with (crew chief) Rick Maney and Junior Pippin, working
on the fuel maps and did something different with the clutch, and it
seems to have really paid off. It gives us all the confidence in the
world. The
weather should be cooler tomorrow, and so I think everyone will run
better tomorrow. I wish could put some bigger numbers on the board for
Junior Pippin and DragStar and go some rounds Sunday.”
Gatornationals
winner Hector Arana was second on his Lucas Oil Buell and Karen Stoffer
was third on her GEICO Powersports Suzuki.
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at noon and 3 p.m.
Top
Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.826 seconds, 317.94 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher,
3.848, 311.34; 3. Larry Dixon, 3.857, 307.65; 4. Morgan Lucas, 3.875,
305.56; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.881, 311.27; 6. Spencer Massey, 3.888,
310.41; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.889, 312.78; 8. Clay Millican, 3.901, 310.20;
9. Doug Kalitta, 3.925, 306.33; 10. Troy Buff, 3.976, 292.84; 11. J.R.
Todd, 4.006, 293.73; 12. Terry Haddock, 4.023, 291.57. Not
Qualified: 13. Joe Hartley, 4.065, 276.69; 14. Luigi Novelli, 4.314,
289.01; 15. Tim Cullinan, 4.330, 301.13; 16. Chris Karamesines, 4.401,
224.10; 17. Cory McClenathan, 4.574, 222.62; 18. Brandon Bernstein,
4.717, 155.92.
Funny
Car -- 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.089, 304.39; 2. Mike Neff,
Ford Mustang, 4.110, 305.08; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.124, 303.37; 4.
Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.125, 300.86; 5. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang,
4.125, 292.46; 6. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.160, 298.60; 7. Tim
Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.171, 288.70; 8. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.175,
291.70; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.200, 280.78; 10. Robert
Hight, Mustang, 4.202, 270.92; 11. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.205, 295.53;
12. Jim Head, Solara, 4.271, 255.48. Not
Qualified: 13. John Lawson, 4.315, 281.30; 14. Ron Capps, 4.321,
227.65; 15. Jack Beckman, 4.323, 266.48; 16. Del Worsham, 4.669,
253.47; 17. Justin Schriefer, 4.669, 210.31; 18. Jerry Toliver, 4.996,
217.84.
Pro
Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.587, 210.08; 2. Greg Anderson,
GXP, 6.613, 209.04; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.616, 208.94; 4.
Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.622, 208.59; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt,
6.625, 208.62; 6. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.629, 208.04; 7. Johnny Gray,
Stratus, 6.631, 208.30; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.639, 208.78; 9. Jason
Line, GXP, 6.656, 208.04; 10. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.657, 207.72; 11.
Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.662, 207.02; 12. Ronnie Humphrey, Stratus,
6.671, 207.05. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Spiess,
6.673, 206.80; 14. V. Gaines, 6.678, 206.04; 15. David Beckley, 6.680,
207.78; 16. Larry Morgan, 6.682, 206.57; 17. Dave Northrop, 6.688,
205.88; 18. Steve Schmidt, 6.696, 205.88; 19. Ryan Ondrejko, 6.708,
205.72; 20. Ron Krisher, 6.709, 208.10; 21. Warren Johnson, 6.713,
208.23; 22. Kevin Lawrence, 6.775, 204.29; 23. Bob Benza, 6.791,
203.77; 24. Dave River, 7.019, 197.39; 25. Mark Hogan, 7.023, 190.94.
Pro
Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Douglas Horne, Buell, 6.936, 191.84; 2. Hector
Arana, Buell, 6.954, 191.89; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.971, 192.33;
4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.978, 190.62; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson,
6.989, 191.00; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.001, 194.07; 7. Craig
Treble, Suzuki, 7.001, 192.80; 8. David Hope, Buell, 7.005, 188.99; 9.
Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.028, 185.82; 10. Shawn Gann, Buell,
7.045, 186.77; 11. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.054, 183.07; 12. Mike Berry,
Buell, 7.067, 188.33. Not Qualified: 13. Michael
Phillips, 7.071, 193.93; 14. Matt Guidera, 7.073, 183.05; 15. Junior
Pippin, 7.077, 189.66; 16. Wesley Wells, 7.093, 188.54; 17. Katie
Sullivan, 7.109, 187.23; 18. Bailey Whitaker, 7.124, 185.59; 19. Ryan
Schnitz, 7.201, 183.22; 20. Redell Harris, 7.201, 182.35; 21. Jim
Underdahl, 7.226, 190.75.