DIXON, HIGHT, EDWARDS AND HINES LEAD MEMPHIS QUALIFYING
Larry
Courtesy: NHRA Media Relations
Larry Dixon, Mike Edwards and Andrew Hines also led their categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Hight,
who barely made it into the NHRA Full Throttle Series Countdown to 1,
has again made the most of his opportunity and followed up his back to
back wins in Dallas and Charlotte, N.C. by leading qualifying at the
Memphis Motorsports Park at the third event in the six-race
championship playoffs. Hight powered his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a No. 1 effort of 4.074
seconds at 310.70 mph. If the performance holds through Saturday’s two
qualifying sessions (11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) it will be his fourth
No.1 position of the season. Hight earned three bonus points in
qualifying under NHRA's new qualifying bonus system, which awards the
top three qualifiers in each pro category 3, 2 and 1 points per session. “This
Ford Mustang is so fun to drive right now. I love being in the position
of being chased. It wasn't very long ago when I would get up in the
morning thinking, 'Can we get into the top 10?’ It's definitely a
different mindset." Jack
Beckman, was second in his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge
Charger, Hight’s teammate Ashley Force Hood was third overall in her
Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. In Top Fuel, “We
decided to change out of scuffed tires during the last oil down, so we
went back to the pit and put on stickier tires,” said Dixon, who
ran the third-fastest speed of the 1,000-foot era. “We got pretty
rushed, and I even got to help change tires. I was suiting up as soon
as we got back to the staging lanes. I don’t know if the tires made the
difference, but it was a great run!" Antron Brown was second in his Edwards
again continued his impressive playoff performance and raced to the
lead in Pro Stock with a 6.552 at 210.18 in his A.R.T.-Young Life “We
always try to make the best run we can make, and those bonus points are
valuable," said Edwards. “They can add up to a whole round of racing if
you score all 12 bonus points and get the No. 1 qualifier points.” Hines
was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle, with a performance of 6.899 at
195.85 mph on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. He
also earned a total of four bonus points for being third quickest in
the first session and the quickest in the second session. “I’ve struggled on the starting line lately, but I think it helps to have confidence from being in the No. 1 spot, said Hines.”