SPEEDZONE MAGAZINE ONLINE

SpeedZone's coverage this weekend of the Mac Tools US Nationals is presented by the Eagle Motorplex

The BIG GO...........INDY

August 29 - Sept. 3, 2007

Coverage presented by....

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for info on the "Big" Fall TCS Jacket race at the Plex.

Sept. 6, 2007

A Top Alcohol gallery is here.

A final round page with photos is posted.

Gallery # 2 is posted

The first of three gallerys is posted. This one includes a shot of every Pro driver and rider on the fabled Indy grounds.

Hemi shootout results are posted. Ringers Glove Shootout results are posted. (Scroll down)

Monday Eliminations

CLERMONT, Ind. --

Reigning POWERade Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher surged into the NHRA playoff points lead Monday with his sixth Mac Tools U.S. Nationals victory in the last eight years.

Schumacher drove away from runner-up Larry Dixon to take the stripe with a 4.575 at 331.94 mph to earn a spot in the winner's circle with emotional Funny Car victor Mike Ashley, new Pro Stock points leader Dave Connolly, and stunned Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Craig Treble.

The three-time defending world champion is atop the points for the first time all season and with a 31-point lead over second-place Dixon and a 102-point cushion over fifth-place Bob Vandergriff -- the top four drivers after the four-race playoff will advance to the championship round -- he is in excellent position to move on to the two-race championship round at Las Vegas and Pomona.

"I guess we're a really good pressure team," Schumacher said. "The guys know they can rely on each other and it all comes together so well. Alan [Johnson, crew chief of the U.S. Army dragster] is fantastic. We ran 4.50s all day except for when it was just too hot there in the semis and we had to do what we needed to do to get down the track.

The win was Schumacher's 40th, tying him with Dixon for 10th place on the all-time NHRA POWERade Series wins list and second on the all-time Top Fuel wins list (Joe Amato, 52).

Running a special tribute body in memory of good friends Donnie and Holly Faulkner's baby son Eric Blake Faulkner, who was still-born, Ashley was the emotional favorite in the Funny Car final.

Fortunately for his supporters, which included the Faulkner family on the starting line, they didn't have to wait long to see who would win as Hight's Ford Mustang encountered trouble early in its run. Ashley might have been tough to beat anyway as he posted a 4.894 at 323.74 mph in his Torco Dodge Charger to Hight's coasting 8.072 at 104.08 mph.

"It was very, very emotional and I knew when I decided to do this tribute car that it would add a bunch of pressure to the day," Ashley said. "I just wouldn't allow myself to think about what it all meant too much. I just did the best I could all weekend for Donnie and Holly.

"This is the Super Bowl of drag racing. To win Indy is unreal but then you add to it the recognition we can bring to the Eric Blake Faulkner Foundation and it makes it stratospheric. This is a day I'll always remember and appreciate. I'm so proud of my team and the generosity of Evan Knoll and Jim Jannard and all our other sponsors to step aside for a race and let us banner this car. What a group I have behind me."

Hight did escape the day as the Countdown to Four points leader in Funny Car. He's now 21 markers ahead of Ashley, who jumped up to second place -- after starting the day in sixth place -- with his third career win.

The Pro Stock final was the closest of the day as Connolly overcame a slight .023- to .034-second starting line advantage by Anderson to take the biggest win of his career by .0088 seconds. Connolly had caught Anderson by the 60-foot timer and went on to post a 6.710 at 206.32 mph in his Torco Chevy Cobalt to Anderson's 6.729 at 205.79 mph in his Summit Racing Pontiac.

"I can never remember having a car that has the field covered by four hundredths of a second," Connolly said. "It's a real tribute to [team owner] Victor Cagnazzi and the organization he's put together. To win back-to-back races for the first time it seems like we're peaking at the perfect place in the schedule, especially with the Countdown starting. It's just an awesome feeling right now.

"I knew Greg had won 19 rounds in a row at this race going into the final but I still felt pretty confident. That team has been the class of Pro Stock for four years so it's remarkable to get in front of them for once. It really hasn't sunk in yet."

Anderson and Connolly entered the race first and second in the points with Anderson enjoying a slight 10-point edge. With his win and superior qualifying effort here, Connolly moved ahead of Anderson by 14 points.

He doesn't have a sponsor, but Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Treble does have his first U.S. Nationals trophy to go with a No. 2 ranking in the POWERade points. Treble survived final-round opponent Matt Smith's stout 6.977 at 189.63 mph in the final when Smith fouled out by -.003 seconds on his Buell V-Twin. Treble posted a game 7.037 at 190.83 mph to take the win.

"I'll take a win here however I can get it," Treble said. "I was lucky three outta four rounds today but all I know is that 20 years from now someone will look in the record books and say, 'Hey, Craig Treble won in 2007.' It's there forever now."

Smith can take some solace in the fact he pumped his lead in the Countdown to Four up to 51 points. Treble went from the bottom of the eight-car championship group to the No. 2 position with his win.

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Monday's final results from the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The race is the 18th of 23 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.575 seconds, 331.94 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.748 seconds, 268.44 mph.

Funny Car -- Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger, 4.894, 323.74 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 8.072, 104.08.

Pro Stock -- Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.710, 206.32 def. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.729, 205.79.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.037, 190.83 def. Matt Smith, Buell, foul.

Pro FWD -- Gary Gardella, Chevrolet Cobalt, 7.335, 197.59 def. Jason Hunt, Cobalt, 7.412, 200.02.

Pro RWD -- Boris Rojas, Mazda, 7.802, 163.04 def. Manny Cruz, Mercury Cougar, 10.755, 90.49.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Marty Thacker, 5.390, 264.91 def. Dave Hirata, 5.442, 260.81.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.562, 263.15 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 5.779, 248.43.

Competition Eliminator -- Jason Coan, Ford Bantam, 8.357, 153.47 def. Scott Richardson, Chevy Roadster, 7.932, 162.59.

Super Stock -- Brandon Wilkinson, Chevy Corvette, 9.114, 131.11 def. Michael Mans, Pontiac Formula, 10.912, 118.77.

Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 10.688, 114.72 def. Matt Welker, Camaro, 11.022, 109.76.

Super Comp -- Pat Fitzpatrick, Dragster, 8.901, 153.47 def. Ron Erks, Dragster, 8.892, 177.74.

Points

1. Tony Schumacher 2,178
2. Larry Dixon 2,147
3. Rod Fuller 2,144
4. Brandon Bernstein 2,092
5. Bob Vandergriff 2,076
6. J.R. Todd 2,040
7. Doug Herbert 2,032
8. Whit Bazemore 2,020
9. Melanie Troxel 841
10. David Grubnic 823
11. Cory McClenathan 788
12. Hillary Will 755
13. Doug Kalitta 717
14. Clay Millican 652
15. Morgan Lucas 549

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight 2,155
2. Mike Ashley 2,134
3. Tony Pedregon 2,113
4. Ron Capps 2,104
5. Jack Beckman 2,086
6. John Force 2,060
7. Gary Scelzi 2,042
8. Jim Head 2,031
9. Del Worsham 838
10. Kenny Bernstein 739
11. Tommy Johnson Jr. 731
12. Jeff Arend 724
13. Ashley Force 704
14. Cruz Pedregon 669
15. Tim Wilkerson 660

Pro Stock

1. Dave Connolly 2,176
2. Greg Anderson 2,162
3. Allen Johnson 2,095
4. Kurt Johnson 2,094
5. Jeg Coughlin 2,083
6. Jason Line 2,061
7. Larry Morgan 2,033
8. Warren Johnson 2,020
9. V. Gaines 765
10. Richie Stevens 762
11. Jim Yates 717
12. Greg Stanfield 627
13. Kenny Koretsky 609
14. Max Naylor 582
15. Mike Edwards 503

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Matt Smith 2,165
2. Craig Treble 2,114
3. Chip Ellis 2,108
4. Andrew Hines 2,106
5. Angelle Sampey 2,092
6. Karen Stoffer 2,072
7. Eddie Krawiec 2,051
8. Peggy Llewellyn 2,043
9. Chris Rivas 591
10. Steve Johnson 561
11. Antron Brown 538
12. Matt Guidera 478
13. Hector Arana 420
14. Geno Scali 398
15. Michael Phillips 315

Final qualifiying

CLERMONT, Ind. --

Two first-timers outshined two of the biggest names in the sport as qualifying for the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals concluded Sunday evening in shocking style.
While Funny Car's Jeff Arend and Pro Stock's Max Naylor secured the first career low qualifying awards of their careers, the two winningest drivers in NHRA POWERade Series history, John Force (125 career wins) and Warren Johnson (96 wins), failed to qualify for this all-important event.

It's a tough way to start the six-race POWERade Series playoff for Force and Johnson, as well as Top Fuel contenders Whit Bazemore and J.R. Todd, who also failed to make the cut here. It was the first time since 1984 that Force has failed to start at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and for Warren Johnson it's the first time in 32 career trips to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals that he has failed to qualify.

After securing his first career low qualifier award, Pro Stock racer Naylor made sure he enjoyed the moment, walking back from the top end of the racetrack so he could shake hands with the fans packed along the fence line. As it turned out, Naylor's first-round pass of 6.655 at 206.39 mph in his Jagermeister Dodge Stratus R/T was his best of the weekend. He failed to get down the track in Sunday's two attempts.

"I'm really enjoying this moment and I wanted to share it with the fans," Naylor said. "I was just telling them thanks for coming out and supporting us and the companies that support what we do, like Jagermeister, because that's what it's all about. We're all here for the same reason -- because we love drag racing, and to be here as the No. 1 qualifier with a track record is something very few people can say they've done."

Some real drama unfolded as the final elimination ladder took shape when it became apparent that half of the eight racers in the Countdown to Four will square off in Round 1. Victor Cagnazzi teammates Dave Connolly and Jeg Coughlin will face main rivals Jason Line and Greg Anderson from Ken Black Racing in what might become the most pivotal first-round of the season. Connolly has lane choice over Line, qualifying third with a 6.659 to Line's 14th-bst 6.694, while Coughlin holds a slim edge over Anderson, qualifying eighth with a 6.675 to Anderson's ninth-best 6.677.

Other Countdown to Four contenders were Allen Johnson in fourth place with a 6.661, Kurt Johnson in fifth with a 6.662, and Larry Morgan in seventh with a 6.669.

Warren Johnson failed to qualify his GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO and the six-time world champion, who entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, will go to Memphis no better than eighth place.

Jeff Arend
It took Checker Schuck's Kragen racer Arend 79 tries to earn his first Funny Car low qualifier but considering he got it done at Indy with a 4.754 at 327.51 mph it was probably worth the wait. He'll now try to earn his second NHRA trophy from the top spot, something only two other racers have managed to do this year in the class.

"To get the first one at Indy is special," Arend said. "Posting that number in Round 1 and having to sweat it out literally was tough but once we got to today and I saw the conditions I figured it would hold.

"It's still kind of unbelievable. I mean, I know I have a great team but when you think about the fact you've just qualified No. 1 at Indy it blows you away."

Ashley Force equaled her best qualifying effort by taking the No. 2 slot with a 4.754 at 309.70 mph in the Castrol Mustang.

Among the Countdown to Four participants, Robert Hight, Mike Ashley, Tony Pedregon, Gary Scelzi, and Jim Head also earned spots in the field. Hight was fourth with a 4.764, Ashley sixth with a 4.779, Pedregon eighth with a 4.786, Scelzi 10th with a 4.799, and Head 13th with a 4.804.

John Force has overcome a lot this year, coming from 20th to the No. 3 spot in the Countdown field. Now he faces the challenge of overcoming a DNQ at the first Countdown to Four event. He ended up 17th with a 4.856, just his third DNQ at the U.S. Nationals.

Meanwhile, in the Skoal Showdown, the $100,000 race-within-a-race bonus for Funny Car drivers, "Fast Jack" Beckman defeated Ron Capps in an all-Don Schumacher Racing final and the win-light went to Beckman by one-hundredth of a second, 4.950 to 4.976. Both Capps and Beckman, seeded first and fifth entering the playoffs, qualified safely into the field. Capps will open with Kenny Bernstein and Beckman opens against Scott Kalitta.

After what will long be remembered as one of the most eventful qualifying rounds in Mac Tools U.S. Nationals history, attention will now shift to the drivers who survived Indy's five rounds of qualifying, including Top Fuel leader Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock Motorcycle top qualifier Chip Ellis, who both have designs on the 2007 POWERade titles. The 16 drivers in each of the four POWERade Series classes who survived the turbulent three days of qualifying will race for the 2007 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals trophies beginning at 11 a.m. Monday at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

With five wins at this race in the last seven years, Schumacher and his U.S. Army team led by tuner Alan Johnson were probably the favorite to win Top Fuel before qualifying began and the tandem added to his U.S. Nationals mystique with his eighth low qualifying effort of the season, which came off a 4.477 at 333.66 mph.

"It's gonna be hot out there tomorrow but I really feel great about our chances," Schumacher said. "You know, everything happens for a reason. We lost in the first round at Reading and were able to load up and come over here to test for three straight days on this track, and it was really hot then also. Then they re-do the points and I gain 200 back on [Rod] Fuller. Talk about falling in a pile of manure and coming out smelling like a rose!"

The rest of the ladder stayed pretty much intact from Saturday. Countdown to Four participants Larry Dixon and Bob Vandergriff Jr. did the best job of staying close to Schumacher. Dixon was second in the SkyTel rail with a 4.481, while Vandergriff was third with a 4.513.

Points leader "Hot Rod" Fuller qualified his Caterpillar dragster sixth with a 4.524, which sets up a first-round date with final Countdown qualifier Doug Herbert, who qualified 11th with a 4.561. Herbert is coming off a win at the last event in Reading, Pa., in his Snap-on Tools dragster.

Back from a one-race hiatus brought on by kidney stones, Brandon Bernstein qualified 12th with a 4.568 in the Budweiser dragster.

Ellis had to fight to keep the top spot after surging veteran Hector Arana shocked the field with a 6.954 at 190.83 mph on his Lucas Motorcycle Oil S&S Buell V-Twin to take control of the No. 1 position after Sunday's first session. But Ellis responded beautifully in the hotter final session by lowering the ORP record once again, this time to a stunning 6.948 at 192.00 mph on the Drag Specialties Buell. Arana ended up second.

"I was happy for Hector because he's a customer of S&S Cycles and I built his bike myself," Ellis said. "I was the first one to ever test it and it went 7.01 the first time ever down the track so I know it's a great bike. But we looked at the data from our first run today and saw that the bike had shut off twice for a total of three-tenths of a second so we would have run a 6.91 or a 6.92 that round. We knew we had a chance to get the pole back."

Andrew Hines, who won the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Saturday, will try to "double-up" from the No. 3 slot after a best of 6.968 at 191.40 mph on his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod. POWERade points leader Matt Smith is right behind on his Torco Buell, running a best of 6.977.

Other Countdown to Four racers include Craig Treble (sixth, 6.978), Peggy Llewellyn (eighth, 7.011), Karen Stoffer (10th, 7.018), Angelle Sampey (12th, 7.048), and Eddie Krawiec (14th, 7.069).

1 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 4.477 333.66 333.66
2 91 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, McKinney-TFX 4.481 327.74 327.74
3 12 Bob Vandergriff, Alpharetta GA, McKinney-BAE 4.513 329.91 329.91
4 4 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, Hadman-TFX 4.520 329.18 329.50
5 6 David Grubnic, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.523 329.91 329.91
6 5 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 4.524 325.85 325.85
7 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, Attac-TFX 4.527 324.20 324.20
8 743 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.537 325.45 327.74
9 9 Cory McClenathan, Lake Havasu City AZ, Hadman- 4.544 281.54 281.54
10 10 Hillary Will, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.553 329.83 329.83
11 11 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 4.561 308.92 317.94
12 3 Brandon Bernstein, Fairview TX, McKinney-TFX 4.568 324.36 324.36
13 345 Bruce Litton, Indianapolis IN, Hadman-TFX 4.575 324.12 325.61
14 317 T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake IL, McKinney-TFX 4.578 322.11 322.11
15 530 Alan Bradshaw, Odessa TX, Don Long-BAE 4.594 314.61 314.61
16 255 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE 4.595 326.95 327.74

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 2 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.597 307.02 312.93
18 73 Whit Bazemore, Eugene OR, Hadman-TFX 4.601 330.23 330.23
19 8 J.R. Todd, Avon IN, Hadman-TFX 4.601 319.67 319.67
20 2813 Scotty Cannon, Lyman SC, Hadman-BAE 4.657 318.09 318.09
21 394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-TFX 4.706 295.46 295.46
22 524 Joe Hartley, Portland OR, McKinney-BAE 4.809 272.01 272.01
23 141 Bobby Lagana Jr., Scarsdale NY, McKinney-BAE 5.046 217.11 217.11

1 170 Jeff Arend, San Dimas CA, '07 Impala 4.754 327.51 327.51
2 7321 Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, '06 Mustang 4.754 309.70 309.70
3 711 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '07 Charger 4.759 325.85 325.85
4 2 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '06 Mustang 4.764 323.89 323.89
5 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '07 Charger 4.773 324.98 324.98
6 180 Mike Ashley, Melville NY, '07 Charger 4.779 327.35 327.35
7 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '07 Impala 4.785 323.66 323.66
8 5 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '07 Impala 4.786 321.04 321.04
9 729 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '07 Solara 4.797 320.81 320.81
10 7 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '07 Charger 4.799 322.50 322.50
11 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '05 MonteCarlo 4.800 320.28 320.28
12 404 Kenny Bernstein, Fairview TX, '07 Charger 4.803 320.28 320.28
13 388 Jim Head, Galena OH, '06 Stratus 4.804 324.12 324.12
14 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '07 Solara 4.805 319.75 319.75
15 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '07 Impala 4.825 313.95 319.52
16 702 Jon Capps, Las Vegas NV, '05 Monte Carlo 4.826 311.49 318.47

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 1 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '05 Mustang 4.856 318.99 318.99
18 206 Bob Gilbertson, Charolette NC, '06 Stratus 4.863 312.86 312.86
19 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '07 Impala 4.888 284.93 284.93
20 427 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '05 Monte C 4.932 302.41 302.41
21 10 Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo CA, '07 Impala 4.960 300.33 300.33
22 340 Bob Bode, Barrington IL, '05 Monte Carlo 5.032 280.95 280.95

1 103 Max Naylor, New Buffalo PA, '07 Stratus 6.655 206.39 206.39
2 7 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '06 GTO 6.658 206.29 206.42
3 3 Dave Connolly, Elyria OH, '07 Cobalt 6.659 206.32 206.32
4 6 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '07 Stratus 6.661 206.57 206.86
5 5 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '07 Cobalt 6.662 207.30 207.30
6 1568 Justin Humphreys, Monrovia MD, '06 GTO 6.669 206.67 206.67
7 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '07 Stratus 6.669 206.35 206.57
8 25 Jeg Coughlin, Mooresville NC, '07 Cobalt 6.675 206.01 206.51
9 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '06 GTO 6.677 206.67 207.24
10 107 Kenny Koretsky, Richboro PA, '07 Cobalt 6.678 206.29 206.29
11 9 Richie Stevens, New Orleans LA, '07 Stratus 6.680 205.79 205.91
12 8 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '06 GTO 6.684 206.04 206.39
13 334 Craig Hankinson, Newark OH, '06 GTO 6.688 206.07 206.07
14 1 Jason Line, Mooresville NC, '06 GTO 6.694 205.82 206.76
15 4 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '06 GTO 6.699 205.19 205.54
16 30 Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis IN, '07 Cobalt 6.705 205.19 205.47

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 208 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '06 GTO 6.706 205.98 206.45
18 10 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '07 Stratus 6.707 205.63 205.91
19 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, '07 Cobalt 6.707 205.32 205.51
20 2006 Matt Scranton, Land O Lakes FL, '06 GTO 6.709 205.63 205.63
21 7111 Bill Windham, Eldorado Hills CA, '07 Cobalt 6.709 205.44 205.66
22 1186 Dave Northrop, Perkasie PA, '06 GTO 6.715 205.57 205.57
23 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '07 Cobalt 6.718 205.88 205.88
24 43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '05 Cobalt 6.722 204.91 204.94
25 376 Kevin Lawrence, Palos Hills IL, '07 Cobalt 6.728 204.14 204.14
26 712 Bob Panella, Stockton CA, '07 Stratus 6.734 205.51 205.66
27 701 Ben Watson, Concord CA, '06 GTO 6.741 203.92 204.08
28 324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '06 GTO 6.756 204.39 204.39
29 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '06 Cobalt 6.764 204.14 204.14
30 5681 Pat Herold, Maplewood MN, '04 Cavalier 6.779 202.97 203.89
31 772 Tony Rizzo, Tucson AZ, '07 Cobalt 6.798 202.39 202.79
32 109 Jim Cunningham, Crownsville MD, '07 Mustang 6.828 200.44 200.44
33 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '07 Cobalt 13.702 58.01 71.83

PSM

1 4 Chip Ellis, Plains GA, Buell 6.948 192.00 192.00
2 235 Hector Arana, Milltown IN, Buell 6.954 190.83 190.83
3 1 Andrew Hines, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 6.968 191.40 192.58
4 5 Matt Smith, King NC, Buell 6.977 189.58 189.58
5 748 Chris Rivas, Fresno CA, Buell 6.977 189.47 189.47
6 10 Craig Treble, Hensley AR, Suzuki GSXR 6.978 192.11 192.11
7 751 Steve Johnson, Irondale AL, Suzuki 6.986 190.83 191.08
8 499 Peggy Llewellyn, San Antonio TX, Buell 7.011 190.19 190.19
9 2 Antron Brown, Brownsburg IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.012 188.31 190.19
10 6 Karen Stoffer, Smith NV, Suzuki 7.018 188.31 189.36
11 25 Matt Guidera, Rocklin CA, Buell 7.020 188.23 188.23
12 3 Angelle Sampey, Broundburg IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.048 184.17 190.16
13 302 Barry Henson, Nicholasville KY, Suzuki 7.067 186.87 189.07
14 88 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 7.069 187.70 187.70
15 573 Mike Berry, Littleton CO, Suzuki 7.080 186.67 186.82
16 412 Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.082 188.81 188.81

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 9 Geno Scali, Lake in the Hills IL, Suzuki 7.101 189.92 189.92
18 8 Tom Bradford, Eagle WI, Buell 7.119 184.75 186.69
19 205 Shawn Gann, Stoneville NC, Suzuki 7.147 186.10 186.48
20 371 Wes Wells, Greenwood IN, Suzuki 7.151 186.23 186.23
21 310 Joe DeSantis, Rootstown OH, Suzuki 7.180 187.13 187.63
22 581 David Hope, Nevada MO, Buell 7.265 180.28 180.28
23 533 Jim Underdahl, North Branch MN, Suzuki 7.269 185.36 185.36
24 413 Michael Ray, New Braunfels TX, Buell 7.289 182.35 182.35
25 311 Dean Frantz, Medina OH, Suzuki 7.313 180.52 180.52
26 257 Darin McCurdy, Port Charlotte FL, Suzuki 7.313 179.61 180.91
27 500 Buddy Robinson, Princeton MN, Suzuki 7.344 180.45 180.45
28 322 Brian DeLong, Circleville OH, Suzuki 7.403 172.81 172.81
29 7 Ryan Schnitz, Decatur IN, Kawasaki 7.492 175.48 175.48

TAD

1. Spencer Massey Snowman Racing A/FD 5.233 272.94
2. Aaron Olivarez Tuff Shine/Lucas Oil A/FD 5.257 273.39
3. Bill Reichert Rislone A/FD 5.273 277.54
4. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil Special A/FD 5.278 268.49
5. Dave Hirata Torco A/FD 5.301 261.37
6. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.310 270.05
7. Marty Thacker Torco Race Fuels B/AD 5.337 267.32
8. Noah Condo B/AD 5.351 265.43
9. Randy Eakins UDC Corp A/FD 5.353 255.00
10. Kate Harker TORCO Skull Shine A/FD 5.361 267.75
11. Jeff Bohr Bar's Leaks 5.371 267.48
12. Tim Bowgren Bowgren & Cunningham A/FD 5.379 265.74
13. Todd Datweiler T&E Enterprises A/FD 5.420 267.16
14. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.421 260.86
15. Robin Samsel 5.456 257.73
16. Shawn Umphries Darryl Hitchman 5.461 253.28
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 5.496 267.48
18. Dave Hedges Jr. Knoll Gas Torco Fuels B/AD 5.508 258.71
19. Randy Meyer Meyer Racing A/FD 5.520 257.28
20. Dave Heitzman Torco Race Fuels A/FD 5.603 259.61
21. Ray Hack Accelerated M'Sports A/FD 5.610 256.02
22. Jared Dreher VP Racing Fuels B/AD 6.335 160.63
23. Brandon Lewis A-1 Auto Body A/FD 12.144 90.00

TAFC

1. Frank Manzo Lucas Oil Monte Carlo 5.498 264.34
2. Bob Tasca III Quick Lane Mustang 5.547 261.47
3. Von Smith Centre Point Collision Camaro 5.556 259.26
4. Steve Harker QTK/Thermo-King Monte Carlo 5.579 259.46
5. Jay Payne Valvoline Mustang 5.595 259.96
6. Fred Hagen Dark Horse Mustang 5.608 259.01
7. Ken Kraus SynOil Camaro 5.609 252.61
8. Daniel Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. Monte 5.614 256.99
9. Marty Nothstein Texas Roadhouse Charger 5.614 257.28
10. Bob Newberry Valvoline/Childs&Albert Monte 5.631 256.84
11. Paul Gill Moduline-Modular Alum. Avenger 5.641 254.57
12. Mickey Ferro Ryco Hydraulics Camaro 5.642 256.36
13. Chuck Cheeseman Cheeseman Bros. Firebird 5.644 255.34
14. Andy Bohl Bohl Automotive Firebird 5.667 252.33
15. Mick Snyder Torco Race Fuels Firebird 5.674 251.67
16. Vern Moats Kendall/Dee Zee Camaro 5.675 255.34
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. David Ray Permatex Follow A Dream Avenge 5.681 255.05
18. Todd Veney Monte Carlo 5.689 253.14
19. John Bojec Blue Ox M'Sports Avenger 5.722 251.39
20. Nancy Matter TheMusic.com/The Who 2007 Cama 5.795 250.32
21. Wayne Butler Butler & Roark Firebird 5.853 244.21
22. Keeter Ray Frank Hawley DR School Mustang 5.868 249.49
23. Chris Foster Foster Racing Monte Carlo 5.886 247.79
24. Jeff Burnett Mustang 5.976 239.53
25. Steve Burck ARC Specialties Camaro 6.035 235.56
26. Steve Franke Lumina 6.282 234.21
27. Bobby Martin CAP Charger Charger 6.439 144.88

Drag racing instructor-turned-Funny Car shoe "Fast Jack" Beckman won the biggest contest of his brief driving career Sunday evening at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, beating teammate Ron Capps by one-hundredth of a second for the title of the $100,000 Skoal Showdown. A three-time national event winner, Beckman has competed in just 35 NHRA events.

A three-time Skoal Showdown champion, Capps left the line first with a .093 to .104 reaction-time advantage, but Beckman's Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T had caught him by the 60-foot timer and led the rest of the way down the quarter-mile. The final numbers had Beckman crossing in 4.950 at 313.80 mph to Capps' 4.976 at 315.64 mph in his Brut Revolution Dodge Charger.

"It was close," Beckman said, "especially from 800 feet on. I could hear him out there and I was just staring at that win light going, 'Come on, come on, come on.' Even at 325 mph it takes a long time to get there.

"I saw the light come on and I was so excited but my guys didn't come on the radio like they normally do. So then I start second guessing if I saw the light and I was on the radio going, 'Did we win?' They wouldn't answer. Finally, I make the turn and the guys down there gave me the thumbs up. What a feeling."

This was Beckman's first Skoal Showdown after joining the Schumacher team after this race last year, and the first Skoal Showdown win for Don Schumacher Racing. Beckman started the day at the bottom of the ladder in the No. 8 spot, but he methodically eliminated top qualifier Robert Hight, local hero Tommy Johnson Jr., and Capps for the biggest single payday in drag racing.

"This was my first experience in the Professional ranks running a race-within-a-race but we used to do it all the time in the Sportsman classes," Beckman said. "I like it personally because you really get in the rhythm of driving and competing. It keeps you focused.

"This win really vindicates what Don Schumacher did last year. He switched drivers after this race and took a lot of heat for it but he knew we needed those races to earn points for this deal. His decision looks pretty smart right about now."

Aside from Beckman's $100,000 first prize, Capps collected $15,000 for his efforts. Semifinalists Johnson and Mike Ashley were awarded $6,000 apiece, and first-round qualifiers Hight, John Force, Gary Scelzi, and Tony Pedregon scored $5,000 each. Beckman can earn another $50,000 from NHRA should he double up and win Monday's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Overall, U.S. Tobacco posts $239,000 for the Skoal Showdown, which invites the top eight qualifiers from the last 12 months to battle for big cash prizes. In addition to the $147,000 that was awarded Sunday, each event's low qualifier from the last year pocketed $4,000.

This was the first Skoal Showdown win for Don Schumacher Racing. Beckman joined the team after this event last year.

Round four of five qualifiers

1 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 4.477 333.66 333.66
2 91 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, McKinney-TFX 4.481 327.74 327.74
3 12 Bob Vandergriff, Alpharetta GA, McKinney-BAE 4.513 329.91 329.91
4 4 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, Hadman-TFX 4.520 329.18 329.50
5 6 David Grubnic, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.523 329.91 329.91
6 5 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 4.524 325.85 325.85
7 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, Attac-TFX 4.527 324.20 324.20
8 743 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.537 325.45 327.74
9 9 Cory McClenathan, Lake Havasu City AZ, Hadman- 4.544 281.54 281.54
10 10 Hillary Will, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.553 329.83 329.83
11 11 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 4.561 308.92 315.19
12 3 Brandon Bernstein, Fairview TX, McKinney-TFX 4.568 324.36 324.36
13 345 Bruce Litton, Indianapolis IN, Hadman-TFX 4.575 324.12 325.61
14 317 T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake IL, McKinney-TFX 4.578 322.11 322.11
15 530 Alan Bradshaw, Odessa TX, Don Long-BAE 4.594 314.61 314.61
16 255 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE 4.595 326.95 327.74

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 2 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.597 307.02 307.02
18 73 Whit Bazemore, Eugene OR, Hadman-TFX 4.601 330.23 330.23
19 8 J.R. Todd, Avon IN, Hadman-TFX 4.601 319.67 319.67
20 2813 Scotty Cannon, Lyman SC, Hadman-BAE 4.657 318.09 318.09
21 394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-TFX 4.706 295.46 295.46
22 141 Bobby Lagana Jr., Scarsdale NY, McKinney-BAE 5.046 217.11 217.11
23 524 Joe Hartley, Portland OR, McKinney-BAE 6.501 130.18 130.18

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 206 Bob Gilbertson, Charolette NC, '06 Stratus 4.863 312.86 312.86
18 1 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '05 Mustang 4.882 264.23 303.84
19 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '07 Impala 4.888 284.93 284.93
20 427 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '05 Monte C 4.932 302.41 302.41
21 10 Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo CA, '07 Impala 6.181 151.17 151.17
22 340 Bob Bode, Barrington IL, '05 Monte Carlo 10.223 73.04 76.97

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 208 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '06 GTO 6.706 205.98 206.45
18 10 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '07 Stratus 6.707 205.63 205.91
19 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, '07 Cobalt 6.707 205.32 205.51
20 2006 Matt Scranton, Land O Lakes FL, '06 GTO 6.709 205.63 205.63
21 7111 Bill Windham, Eldorado Hills CA, '07 Cobalt 6.709 205.44 205.66
22 1186 Dave Northrop, Perkasie PA, '06 GTO 6.715 205.57 205.57
23 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '07 Cobalt 6.718 205.88 205.88
24 43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '05 Cobalt 6.722 204.91 204.91
25 376 Kevin Lawrence, Palos Hills IL, '07 Cobalt 6.728 204.14 204.14
26 712 Bob Panella, Stockton CA, '07 Stratus 6.734 205.51 205.66
27 701 Ben Watson, Concord CA, '06 GTO 6.741 203.92 203.92
28 324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '06 GTO 6.756 204.39 204.39
29 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '06 Cobalt 6.764 204.14 204.14
30 5681 Pat Herold, Maplewood MN, '04 Cavalier 6.779 202.97 203.89
31 772 Tony Rizzo, Tucson AZ, '07 Cobalt 6.798 202.39 202.79
32 109 Jim Cunningham, Crownsville MD, '07 Mustang 6.828 200.44 200.44
33 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '07 Cobalt 13.702 58.01 71.48

PSM

1 235 Hector Arana, Milltown IN, Buell 6.954 190.83 190.83
2 1 Andrew Hines, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 6.968 191.40 191.40
3 4 Chip Ellis, Plains GA, Buell 6.970 188.78 188.78
4 5 Matt Smith, King NC, Buell 6.977 189.58 189.58
5 748 Chris Rivas, Fresno CA, Buell 6.977 189.47 189.47
6 10 Craig Treble, Hensley AR, Suzuki GSXR 6.978 192.11 192.11
7 751 Steve Johnson, Irondale AL, Suzuki 6.986 190.83 190.83
8 499 Peggy Llewellyn, San Antonio TX, Buell 7.011 190.19 190.19
9 2 Antron Brown, Brownsburg IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.012 188.31 188.31
10 6 Karen Stoffer, Smith NV, Suzuki 7.018 188.31 188.31
11 25 Matt Guidera, Rocklin CA, Buell 7.020 188.23 188.23
12 3 Angelle Sampey, Broundburg IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.048 184.17 190.16
13 302 Barry Henson, Nicholasville KY, Suzuki 7.067 186.87 186.87
14 88 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 7.078 183.84 186.10
15 573 Mike Berry, Littleton CO, Suzuki 7.080 186.67 186.67
16 412 Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.082 188.81 188.81

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 8 Tom Bradford, Eagle WI, Buell 7.119 184.75 184.75
18 205 Shawn Gann, Stoneville NC, Suzuki 7.147 186.10 186.48
19 9 Geno Scali, Lake in the Hills IL, Suzuki 7.151 186.59 189.04
20 371 Wes Wells, Greenwood IN, Suzuki 7.151 186.23 186.23
21 310 Joe DeSantis, Rootstown OH, Suzuki 7.180 187.13 187.63
22 533 Jim Underdahl, North Branch MN, Suzuki 7.289 181.52 182.95
23 413 Michael Ray, New Braunfels TX, Buell 7.296 177.23 180.00
24 257 Darin McCurdy, Port Charlotte FL, Suzuki 7.313 179.61 180.91
25 500 Buddy Robinson, Princeton MN, Suzuki 7.344 180.45 180.45
26 581 David Hope, Nevada MO, Buell 7.355 175.07 177.18
27 311 Dean Frantz, Medina OH, Suzuki 7.359 175.80 180.21
28 322 Brian DeLong, Circleville OH, Suzuki 7.403 172.81 172.81
29 7 Ryan Schnitz, Decatur IN, Kawasaki 7.492 175.48 175.48

TAD

TAFC

Wednesday August 29, 2007

Hemi Shootout goes to a 'West Coast team"

Twenty-three years after his last class win at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Rick Houser struck again, driving Jim DeFrank's California Car Covers '68 Barracuda to a thrilling 8.65 to 8.70 win over Jim Pancake in the final of the NHRA Mopar Hemi Challenge. When Houser won his last Indy title in 1984, there was little fanfare, but this time, he received a hero's welcome as he drove back up the O'Reilly Raceway Park return road and accepted a $10,000 check from Mopar Performance.

“This is awesome,” said Houser, who left first in the final with a great .015 reaction time. “This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of good people, including [car owner] Jim DeFrank and our engine builder, Joe Allread. We've been working on this Hemi program for a few years, and we've made a lot of slow steady progress. I've won national events and I've won divisional championships, so I've learned how to win. In the final, I knew I had to be on time because Jim is deadly on the Tree. ”

After running a best of 8.88 during qualifying, Houser's California-based team got to work and found the right combination for yesterday's eliminations. In his first four wins over Bob Wolkwitz, John Rains, Larry Woo, and Joe Teuton, Houser was consistently fast with three 8.68s and an 8.70.

“The car ran about what we expected it to, but it was wheelstanding a bit more than we wanted it to,” said Houser. “When it does that, it probably costs us about three- or four-hundredths. Still, I felt like we had a competitive car, so we didn't make any radical changes.”

Pancake, who won the Hemi Challenge at last year's NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, got a free pass in the quarterfinals when Fred Henson fouled, then benefited from a semifinal bye run. Pancake knew he was the underdog against Houser, but he made a game effort with an 8.70, his best run of the event.

“Honestly, I didn't think it had an 8.70 in it,” he said. “Nobody likes to get beat, but at least I went down swinging. I haven't raced a lot this year, so I've lost my edge a bit when it comes to our tune-up. This isn't the best place to come test, but we managed to do okay for ourselves.”

Pre-race favorites Bucky Hess and Charlie Westcott lost in the quarterfinal round. Hess slowed against Joe Teuton after encountering an electrical problem, and Westcott, the No 1 qualifier, was unable to answer the call when he dropped a valve in his War Fish Barracuda.

Hemi shootout final qualifying

1 3651 SS/AH Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma MI, '68 Barrac 8.753 9.80 -1.047
2 1798 SS/AH Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill WV, '68 Barracuda 8.788 9.80 -1.012
3 4222 SS/AH Fred Henson, Madisonville TX, '68 Dart 8.790 9.80 -1.010
4 721 SS/AH Rick Houser, Pasadena CA, '68 Barracuda 8.800 9.80 -1.000
5 3122 SS/AH Joey Wilkes, Zanesville OH, '68 Barracuda 8.850 9.80 -0.950
6 44 SS/AH Joe Teuton, Houma LA, '68 Barracuda 8.866 9.80 -0.934
7 1517 SS/AH Jim Daniels, Yadley PA, '68 Dart 8.868 9.80 -0.932
8 3500 SS/AH Larry Woo, Birmingham MI, '68 Barracuda 8.892 9.80 -0.908
9 3410 SS/AH Randy Warford, Nashville TN, '68 Barracuda 8.899 9.80 -0.901
10 2904 SS/AH Matt Hensley, Knoxville TN, '68 Barracuda 8.900 9.80 -0.900
11 799J SS/AH John Rains, Santa Paula CA, '68 Dart 8.909 9.80 -0.891
12 3036 SS/AH Charlie Westcott, Parma MI, '68 Barracuda 8.919 9.80 -0.881
13 4446 SS/AH J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville LA, '68 B 8.922 9.80 -0.878
14 350 SS/AH Jim Pancake, Delaware OH, '68 Dart 8.933 9.80 -0.867
15 19 SS/AH David Barton, Robesonia PA, '68 Barracuda 8.945 9.80 -0.855
16 1945 SS/AH Gary Wolkwitz, Ananndale NJ, '68 Dart 8.973 9.80 -0.827
17 5333 SS/AH Randy Hopkins, Cable WI, '68 Barracuda 8.978 9.80 -0.822
18 3426 SS/AH Darrell Marvel, Big Rapids MI, '68 Barracu 9.018 9.80 -0.782
19 1954 SS/AH Bob Wolkwitz, Darien CT, '68 Barracuda 9.046 9.80 -0.754
20 138 SS/AH Wendell Howes, Rathesay NB, '68 Barracuda 9.074 9.80 -0.726
21 1381 SS/AH Mark Howes, Rothesay NB, '68 Dart 9.078 9.80 -0.722
22 364 SS/AH Tony DePillo, Dayton OH, '68 Barracuda 9.090 9.80 -0.710
23 303 SS/AH Gary Jacob, Shelby Township MI, '68 Dart 9.132 9.80 -0.668
24 360 SS/AH Geoff Turk, Washington IL, '68 Barracuda 9.135 9.80 -0.665
25 7629 SS/AH Joe Faherty, Apple Valley CA, '68 Dart 9.231 9.80 -0.569
26 304 SS/AH Jim Keyes, Durand MI, '68 Barracuda 9.243 9.80 -0.557
27 1960 SS/AH Al Smyth, Uxbridge MA, '68 Barracuda 9.295 9.80 -0.505
28 2354 SS/AH William Brooks, Kissimmee FL, '68 Barracuda 9.357 9.80 -0.443
29 1968 SS/AH Chuck Comella, Lyons NY, '68 Dart 9.737 9.80 -0.063
30 205 SS/AH John Gifford, Naples FL, '68 Barracuda 28.000 9.80 18.200

Ringers Glove shootout results.

Andrew Hines claimed the $25,000 top prize of the 17th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Saturday evening by beating Chip Ellis under the lights of O'Reilly Raceway Park. Hines powered to a 7.005 at 189.31 mph on his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod to nip Ellis' 7.069 at 186.64 mph on his Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin.

This was Hines' third win in the last four years at the lucrative special event that invites the top eight qualifiers from the last 12 months to race for big cash prizes. This year's final was a repeat of last year's tilt, which also went to Hines. Ellis has reached the final three times in a row but has yet to win the race. His other loss came at the hands of former Harley rider GT Tonglet in 2005.

"This is four years in a row for a V-rod to win this race, and it doesn't get any better than this," Hines said. "Matt [Hines, crew chief and brother] and the rest of the crew did an awesome job giving me a bike that could get it done today.

"We struggled a bit earlier, but I still thought we had a chance, especially after we ran that 7.00 this morning. I caught Chip at the top of 1st gear, and I was just praying that he didn't come back around me."

Hines' $25,000 payday gives him the lion's share of the $61,000 race-day purse; Ellis received $10,000 for his runner-up. Should Hines win the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Monday, he'll receive a $10,000 double-up bonus from NHRA for sweeping both of this weekend's races.

Semifinalists Angelle Sampey and Matt Smith each earned $6,000 for their efforts, and Steve Johnson, Craig Treble, Antron Brown, and Karen Stoffer received $3,500 each for making the field.

Overall, Ringers Gloves, the official glove of NHRA, puts up $76,000 in prize money each year for the Pro Bike Battle. The low qualifier at each national event is awarded $1,000.

Event Preview

CLERMONT, Ind. --

The 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the 18th of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.Professional competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2007 POWERade Series world championships. Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2007 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships. Sport Compact competitors in two championship classes will earn points leading to its 2007 NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series world championship.
WHERE: O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Clermont, Ind. From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for approximately four miles through the town of Clermont. The main entrance to the facility is on the left-hand side, one-half mile past Raceway Road.

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sept. 3.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $2.6 million.

Track Elevation: 700 feet

SCHEDULE:
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29 -- Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, Aug. 30 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, Aug. 31 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 6:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 1 - Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE at 2:15 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.
SPORT COMPACT (PRO RWD & PRO FWD) QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 2 -- Sportsman eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SKOAL SHOWDOWN ELIMINATIONS at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5 p.m.
SPORT COMPACT (PRO RWD & PRO FWD) QUALIFYING SESSION at 9 a.m.
SPORT COMPACT (PRO RWD & PRO FWD) FIRST ROUND ELIMINATIONS at 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY, Sept. 3 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 12:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours and 30 minutes of qualifying coverage at 2 p.m. (ET).
Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at midnight (ET).
Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of early eliminations coverage at noon (ET).
Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).

2006 WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle; John Force, Skoal Showdown; Andrew Hines, Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle; and Brad Personett, Pro RWD.

MOST VICTORIES: Bob Glidden, Pro Stock, 9; Don Garlits, Top Fuel, 8; Don Prudhomme, Top Fuel and Funny Car, 7; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock, 6; Dave Schultz, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 6; Ed McCulloch, Funny Car and Top Fuel, 6; Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel, 5; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock, 5; John Force, Funny Car, 4.

EVENT HISTORY:
The most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as "The Nationals" and first held at an abandoned airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in 1961. Past winners include "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, an eight-time winner in Top Fuel; Shirley Muldowney, 1982 Top Fuel winner; Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, a seven-time winner and one of a handful of drivers to win the event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; and Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver who dominated the race by advancing to the final round in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-'89. The Indiana native won the event a record nine times. It is the only major motorsports event to be contested on Labor Day. In 2004 the event celebrated its 50th anniversary in memorable fashion with spectacular racing witnessed by one of the biggest crowds in NHRA history. This year the inaugural POWERade Countdown to the Championship, NHRA's first-ever playoff series to determine champions in each pro category, kicks off at the U.S. Nationals.

FAST FACTS:
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is the first-round of the Countdown to Four, the playoff segment of NHRA's inaugural POWERade Countdown to the Championship. The top eight teams in each pro category, who earned a spot during the 17-race regular season and are officially in championship contention, enter this event with their point totals reset from 2070 for first place to 2000 for eighth. Tony Schumacher has advanced to the last five Top Fuel final rounds at the event and is a seven-time U.S. Nationals finalist. Schumacher's first career start came at the U.S. Nationals in 1996 and the then rookie posted a runner-up finish to Cory McClenathan. Pro Stock phenom Greg Anderson has won the race five times in the past six years. Eight female drivers representing all four professional categories will compete at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Angelle Sampey, a two time winner, and Shirley Muldowney, who won the race in 1982 in Top Fuel, are the only women to win the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. It is the first time in U.S. Nationals history where all four pro categories will feature at least one female competitor . Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Melanie Troxel (Top Fuel) could become the first married couple to share winner's circle at a POWERade Series event in NHRA history. The two drivers live in nearby Avon, Ind. .John Force, 14-time NHRA POWERade world champion and winner of a record 124 events, has won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals four times, his last coming in 2002. Force has won the Skoal Showdown a record six times, including last season. It will be Force's 24th start in the Skoal Showdown, also a record. "The Professor" Warren Johnson has six Pro Stock victories at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but none this decade. His last victory there came in 1999 when he defeated his former crew chief Greg Anderson in the final round. For the third consecutive season the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series will be represented at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, with competition in two categories featured: Pro FWD and Pro RWD.

WHAT TO WATCH:
The top eight teams in each pro category will be battling for championship glory in this first round of the Countdown to Four, the opening playoff round of NHRA's inaugural POWERade Countdown to the Championship. The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is one of four races - along with stops at Memphis, Dallas and Richmond, Va. - which comprise the Countdown to Four. The top four poinots earners in each pro category following those four races will advance to the Countdown to One, NHRA's championship round of the POWERade Countdown to the Championship, the season's final two races in Las Vegas and Pomona, Calif. . Tony Schumacher is seeking his sixth Top Fuel victory at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Only four drivers in NHRA history have won the U.S. Nationals in both nitro categories (Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Jim Head and Ed McCulloch). Two drivers have an opportunity to join that group this weekend: Whit Bazemore in Top Fuel and Gary Scelzi in Funny Car. Bazemore is a two-time Funny Car winner at Indy ('01 & '97), while Scelzi won Indy in Top Fuel in 1998. Three-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson is seeking his fifth straight and sixth overall Mac Tools U.S. Nationals victory. Only two other Pro Stock drivers, Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden, have won the U.S. Nationals in four or more consecutive starts. Top seed Robert Hight will lead the eight best Funny Car drivers in pursuit of the $100,000 Skoal Showdown victory. A purse of $25,000 will be on the line to the winner of the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, a special event for the eight best Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.

Points standings heading into the US Nationals

1. Rod Fuller 2,070
2. Tony Schumacher 2,060
3. Larry Dixon 2,050
4. Brandon Bernstein 2,040
5. J.R. Todd 2,030
6. Bob Vandergriff 2,020
7. Whit Bazemore 2,010
8. Doug Herbert 2,000

Funny Car

1. Ron Capps 2,070
2. Robert Hight 2,060
3. John Force 2,050
4. Tony Pedregon 2,040
5. Jack Beckman 2,030
6. Mike Ashley 2,020
7. Gary Scelzi 2,010
8. Jim Head 2,000

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson 2,070
2. Dave Connolly 2,060
3. Jeg Coughlin 2,050
4. Allen Johnson 2,040
5. Jason Line 2,030
6. Kurt Johnson 2,020
7. Warren Johnson 2,010
8. Larry Morgan 2,000

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Matt Smith 2,070
2. Angelle Sampey 2,060
3. Andrew Hines 2,050
4. Karen Stoffer 2,040
5. Chip Ellis 2,030
6. Eddie Krawiec 2,020
7. Peggy Llewellyn 2,010
8. Craig Treble 2,000

BONUS RACES: Two lucrative bonus races will be showcased during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

SKOAL SHOWDOWN - a special bonus race offering $100,000 to winner, with rounds Sunday at 12:30, 3:30 and 5 p.m. The race features the eight quickest Funny Car drivers from the last 23 races.

Defending winner: John Force

Most victories: John Force, 6; Al Hofmann, 3; Ron Capps, 3; Kenny Bernstein, 2; Mark Oswald, 2.

RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE - a special bonus race offering $25,000 to winner, with rounds Saturday at 2:15, 6 and 8:10 p.m. The race features the eight quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle riders from the last 23 races.

Defending winner: Andrew Hines

Most victories: Matt Hines, 4; John Myers, 4, Andrew Hines, 2.

NHRA offers a Double-Up Bonus for any driver/rider who can win his or her respective bonus race and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The NHRA Double-Up Bonus for competitors in the Skoal Showdown is $50,000. The NHRA Double-Up Bonus for competitors in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle is $10,000.

Past NHRA Double-Up Bonus winners: Skoal Showdown - Del Worsham, 2005; Gary Densham, 2004; John Force, 1996 and 1993; Jim White, 1991; Don Prudhomme, 1989; and Kenny Bernstein, 1983; Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle - Reggie Showers, 2003; Antron Brown, 2000; Matt Hines, 1998; and Jim Bernard, 1991.

QUICK QUOTES:
Tony Schumacher, Chicago, U.S. Army dragster, five-time U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner: "Needless to say, O'Reilly Raceway Park will always be special to me. I really can't explain why we do so well there, but I'm certainly not going to complain either. To have won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals five times just blows my mind. Who knows, perhaps, we can win another four to break Don Garlits' record (eight wins). If there's a team that can accomplish a goal like that, it would clearly be my U.S. Army team. They're the best around."

Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Charger, three-time Skoal Showdown winner: "Obviously, being involved with the Skoal Showdown is something every team strives for. Your qualifying points all through the year are what get you in the Showdown, so on top of every other goal a team has, being in the Skoal Showdown is huge. I was lucky enough to win it three times. For over nine years I was sponsored by U.S. Tobacco and so when they took over the sponsorship of that race it just went up to another level. It's only the top eight guys and you start looking down the list every year of eight guys you think should be in the Skoal Showdown and you're leaving out another eight guys who probably should be in it. It's a very hard thing to keep those points up to get into the Showdown. I've never won the U.S. Nationals. Gary Scelzi and I were talking the other day and we were talking to some other drivers about places they've never won, and it's pretty cool when you just kind of go down the list. I've been lucky enough to be able win at a lot of the tracks on our circuit. The same with Scelzi. He only has a handful of races he's never won at, which is amazing. And for me it's the biggest one we have and it's the U.S. Nationals. I won the Skoal Showdown there three times, I've been close to winning the race, but my crew chief has won it so many times. I'm surrounded by people who I work with, whether it's my owner or my crew chief, who have all been there. My teammates. Look at those guys who have won Indy. It's one of those very empty spaces on the mantle in a whole group of trophies. I just wouldn't be complete if I never get to win Indy. And right now, this year especially, with Indy being the first race of the Countdown, it brings a whole bunch more importance to the race, besides the fact it's the U.S. Nationals. I'm so happy for the race itself because it should stand out more than any other race on the schedule. It's our biggest race and it should stand out. And I think the past several years it's kind of fallen into the cracks with some other races. I'm glad to see that Indy is back to being our biggest race of the year."

Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO, five-time U.S. Nationals Pro Stock winner: "Obviously, winning four in a row at Indy has been pretty cool for me. I think there is only two other Pro Stock guys that have done that -- Bob Glidden and WJ (Warren Johnson). I don't believe that anyone has ever won five, so if I could do it that would put me alone in the record book. That would be a heck of a feather in our cap, winning five. Indy is a special place every time you go there. It's our Super Bowl. It means so much and maybe even more this year with the start of the final two segments of the Countdown to the Championship. I can't imagine the feeling when you roll in there this year knowing not only that it's the biggest race of the year, and the one that means the most to us, but it's the first race of the all-important Countdown. So the stress level is going to be ultra high. Obviously, I've never been through what we are going to experience Indy weekend as far as stress and worrying about what's going to happen. To perform under pressure that weekend is going to be the most pressure any of us probably has ever had. It's going to be a very, very interesting weekend."

Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, defending Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle winner: "Last year I red-lighted in the seminfinals and I threw the race away. I really felt like I had a bike capable of winning the race and I just blew it. So I want to make up for that this year and put winning the biggest race of the season on my resume. It's not going to be easy with the new points format. We don't know what everyone has in the bank right now and I know every team is going to bring out their best stuff at the U.S. Nationals to win that race and help move them into the top four of the point standings."

TRACK HISTORY:
In 1958, led by Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward and Howard Fieber, 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention in creating O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility's first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in 1961. The historic three-year pact was signed and sealed under a tree in Detroit Dragway's pits, and O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis eventually became the home of NHRA's biggest annual event. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979. The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and ORP constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. Prior to the 2003 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, eight new luxury suites were added along the top of the west-side grandstands of the drag strip, giving fans a unique perspective of the action on the famed quarter-mile track. Last year, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. Earlier this year the track announced its first track entitlement with O'Reilly Auto Parts. The track - formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park - is now known as O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 4.428 sec. Nov. '06, Pomona, Calif. and 336.15 mph May '05, Columbus, Ohio by Tony Schumacher
Funny Car - 4.659 sec. Feb. '07, Chandler, Ariz. by Tony Pedregon; 333.66 mph Nov. 2006, Pomona, Calif. by Jack Beckman
Pro Stock - 6.536 sec. March '07, Gainesville, Fla. by Greg Anderson; 211.69 mph March '07, Gainesville, Fla. by Jason Line
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.871 sec. June '07, Englishtown, N.J. by Angelle Sampey; 197.45 mph, March '05, Gainesville, Fla. by Andrew Hines

TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 4.459 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Sept. 2005; 332.67 mph by Brandon Bernstein, Sept. 2006
Funny Car -- 4.691 sec. by John Force, Sept. 2006; 331.04 mph by Robert Hight, Sept. 2006
Pro Stock - 6.662 sec. and 206.95 mph by Greg Anderson, Sept. 2006
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.994 sec. by Matt Smith, Sept. 2006; 193.85 mph by Andrew Hines, Sept. 2005

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available at http://www.ticketmaster.com, http://www.nhra.com, and http://oreillyracewaypark.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Wednesday: Adult, $8, Junior (6-12 years), free; Thursday: Adult, $12, Junior (6-12 years), free; Friday: Adult, $34; Junior (6-12 years), $10; Saturday: Adult, $42; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Sunday: Adult, $48; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Monday: Adult, $48; Junior (6-12 years), $10; Child (5 years and under), free in general admission and pit areas each day.

RESERVED (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $44; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and under), $10. Saturday: Adult, $50-$54; Junior (6-12 years), $18-$22; Child (5 years and under), $8-$12. Sunday: Adult, $56-$60; Junior (6-12 years), $20-$24; Child (5 years and under), $10-$14. Monday: Adult, $56-$60; Junior (6-12 years), $20-$24; Child (5 years and under), $10-$14.

The 'Plex is having a huge race Sept.22-23, the final race before the banquet weekend event.

It's the Fall Jacket "Halloween Bash".

Along with the very cool jackets for the winners of the race the 'Plex is putting up $1000 to the winners of Super Pro, Pro and Sportsman and they are doubling the winners purses in Sports Compact and Bike/Sled. Add in the King of the track 'Wally' race and the partying to the Halloween theme and this is going to be one of the biggest events of the year. It is the tracks way of saying thank you to all the racers for their awesome support in 2007. The car counts exceeded expectations and the mamgement is returning their gratitude. On top of the usual double header, they are also running the rain out date from August 19th on Saturday evening after race #1 is over. And of course Saturday night street legal is on as well.

BE THERE!!

eaglemotorplex@shaw.ca

Tower Phone: 250-453-9131

Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex
PO Box 440 Ashcroft, British Columbia V0K 1A0

11Km. South of Cache Creek on Trans Canada Hwy. No.1

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