SPEEDZONE MAGAZINE ONLINE

Feb 22-24, 2008

CSK Nationals

Mark King and Rich Carlson photos

Saturday Gallery (Mark King)

Sunday Gallery (Mark King)

Rich Carlson gallery

Eliminations

CHANDLER, Ariz. --

Returning to the site of his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon raced to his first win of the season during Sunday's finals at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Jack Beckman and V Gaines also were winners at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the 2008 season.

Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster to a 4.532 second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave Grubnic, to pick up his first win of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of his career. The win ties him with Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time wins list and second overall in Top Fuel.

"Any time you get a win it's special," Dixon said. "Donnie Bender (crew chief) has been on our team since 1999 and he's never been on a car that's won here. When you think about that, it would be nice to get that one out of the way. I'm dedicating this win to him."

Defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher collected his first semifinal finish of the season after losing to Dixon on a holeshot, while two-time defending event winner "Hot Rod" Fuller's day was cut short after falling to Grubnic in the semifinals.

Still recovering from a bad case of the flu, Beckman drove his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.868 second run at 320.20 mph past runner-up Robert Hight, collecting his first win in Phoenix and fourth career win.

"I guess the flu this year is immune to (flu shots)," Beckman said. "You get up in the morning and you just feel bad and you look at the back of the cold medicine and it says do not operate heavy machinery and I'm not sure if that counts as a nitro Funny Car, so I didn't want to take anything, but after the second round I finally had to take some Tylenol."

It was a tough first round for many Funny Car drivers, with defending event and POWERade Series world champion Tony Pedregon, 2003 Phoenix winner Ron Capps, and 14-time world champion John Force all falling early.

V Gaines grabbed his first win in seven years, driving his Kendall Dodge Stratus to a 6.702 at 205.38 run past 2006 POWERade Series world champion Jason Line. Gaines' last win came against Tom Hammonds in Dallas in 2001.

"It's been a long dry spell," Gaines said. "They said when I beat Greg Anderson (in the semifinals) that this was the first time I'd beat him since 2001, so that's bitter sweet."

Though he lost in the second round to Gaines, three-time world champion Greg Anderson kept his point lead in Pro Stock heading into Gainesville.

Sunday's final results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.532 seconds, 327.19 mph def. David Grubnic, 5.002 seconds, 259.26 mph.

Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.868, 320.20 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 8.030, 105.28.

Pro Stock -- V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.702, 205.38 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 20.239, 39.18.

Super Stock -- Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 8.903, 145.91 def. Gary McGlasson, Chevy Camaro, 10.041, 128.82.

Stock Eliminator -- Toby Lang, Chevy Chevelle, 11.707, 111.18 def. Bobby DeArmond, Chevy Camaro, foul.

Super Comp -- Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.927, 180.24 def. Ken Mostowich, Chevy Cavalier, 8.910, 175.89.

Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Chevy Corvette, 9.933, 142.79 def. Tommy Turner, Corvette, 9.948, 153.18.

Super Street -- Ryan Smith, Ford Falcon, 10.965, 122.98 def. Leroy Duran, Chevy Camaro, 10.970, 116.79.

Final qualifying

Saturday gallery is here

CHANDLER, Ariz. --

Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson raced to his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position of the season during Saturday qualifying at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Brandon Bernstein and Allen Johnson also were the No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the 2008 season.

Wilkerson drove his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.775 second run at 327.03 mph to secure the No. 1 spot in Funny Car, after rain on Friday shortened the qualifying sessions from four to two.

"With only two runs, it was anybodies ball game there," Wilkerson said. "If we'd had more runs you'd probably see somebody else No. 1, but that's ok. We're happy and we'll take our No. 1."

Defending event and world champion Tony Pedregon qualified 10th for the event, while 14-time world champion and 8-time event winner John Force qualified third. Force's daughter and teammate, Ashley, and Funny Car rookie Melanie Troxel were among those who did not qualify for the event.

Bernstein, who earned his 12th No. 1 qualifying award of his career, moved to the top of the field on the last qualifying session. Returning to the site of his first career win in 2003, Bernstein drove his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to the top spot with a run of 4.515 at 330.31.

"You never forget your first, you just don't," Bernstein said, referring to his win in '03 over Larry Dixon. "It was a great run. Right when I pulled the shoots I knew I knew that was real good and pretty quick."

Defending world champion Tony Schumacher drove his U.S. Army dragster to the fourth spot in the field, while two-time defending event winner Rod Fuller will start from the 11th spot in the field on Sunday.

Allen Johnson drove his J&J Racing/Mopar Dodge Stratus to the No. 1 position on the last qualifying run of the day. Johnson's track record-setting run of 6.631 at 208.01 was more than just a fast number for Johnson.

"We said coming back here that this would be a celebration that he's still here with us," Johnson said, referring to the heart attack father and crew chief Roy Johnson had just one year ago at this event. "So this is just a celebration that he's still here with us."

Final eliminations for the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

1 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '08 Impala 4.775 327.03 327.03
2 7701 Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.798 296.63 322.73
3 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.808 325.06 325.06
4 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '08 Charger 4.815 318.99 318.99
5 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.829 320.05 320.05
6 427 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '05 Monte C 4.829 315.71 315.71
7 3 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '08 Charger 4.840 320.89 320.89
8 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '08 Impala 4.844 319.07 319.07
9 2 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.844 304.74 304.74
10 1 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.849 309.84 318.47
11 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '07 Solara 4.852 320.58 323.89
12 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '08 Charger 4.853 314.83 314.83
13 729 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '08 Charger 4.865 286.07 286.07
14 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '08 Solara 4.874 321.50 321.50
15 5 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '08 Charger 5.031 314.61 314.61
16 340 Bob Bode, Barrington IL, '05 Monte Carlo 5.106 246.21 246.21

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

17 1777 Bob Tasca III, Hope RI, '08 Mustang 5.165 308.85 308.85
18 507 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, '08 Dodge RT 5.731 259.11 259.11
19 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '08 Impala 5.867 205.72 240.25
20 10 Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 6.070 306.40 306.40
21 121 Terry Haddock, Lynnwood WA, '06 Monte Carlo 8.750 102.10 105.07

1 3 Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest CA, McKinney-TFX 4.515 330.31 330.31
2 44 David Grubnic, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.524 327.66 327.66
3 48 Hillary Will, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.532 334.32& 334.32
4 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 4.536 329.34 329.34
5 123 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 4.538 320.28 324.90
6 7 J.R. Todd, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-AJPE 4.543 329.99 329.99
7 5 Bob Vandergriff, Alpharetta GA, McKinney-TFX 4.546 329.50 329.50
8 91 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, McKinney-TFX 4.549 319.29 319.29
9 743 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.566 326.00 326.00
10 796 Cory McClenathan, Brownsberg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.586 318.24 318.24
11 2 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 4.601 319.07 319.07
12 6 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 4.665 312.06 312.06
13 22 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.713 298.47 298.47
14 72 Mike Strasburg, Lehi UT, Hadman-TFX 4.784 282.19 282.19
15 497 Troy Buff, Carson City NV, Don Long-BAE 4.796 238.93 241.24
16 700 Steven Chrisman, Anaheim CA, Hadman-TFX 4.873 300.86 300.86

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

17 530 Alan Bradshaw, Odessa TX, Hadman-TFX 6.175 297.81 297.81

1 4 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '08 Stratus 6.631 208.01 208.01
2 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '08 GXP 6.635 208.55 208.55
3 8 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '06 GTO 6.638 208.42 208.42
4 6 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 Cobalt 6.641 207.40 208.14
5 5 Jason Line, Troutman NC, '06 GTO 6.642 207.37 207.53
6 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '08 Cobalt 6.650 207.18 207.72
7 445 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '08 GXP 6.664 207.08 207.37
8 44 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '06 GTO 6.665 208.14 208.14
9 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '08 Cobalt 6.669 206.42 206.42
10 10 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '08 Stratus 6.673 205.91 206.42
11 1568 Justin Humphreys, Monrovia MD, '06 GTO 6.674 207.50 207.50
12 103 Max Naylor, New Buffalo PA, '07 Stratus 6.677 204.70 205.85
13 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '05 Stratus 6.679 205.98 205.98
14 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '08 Cobalt 6.687 205.47 206.23
15 107 Kenny Koretsky, Richboro PA, '08 Cobalt 6.697 205.88 206.35
16 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '07 Stratus 6.701 205.60 205.60

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

17 14 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '08 GXP 6.713 204.79 204.79
18 324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '06 GTO 6.736 205.79 205.79
19 7 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '08 Stratus 6.741 204.57 204.57
20 7406 Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga CA, '08 Stra 6.745 204.57 204.57
21 752 Gordie Rivera, Yuma AZ, '06 GTO 6.752 204.57 204.57
22 701 Ben Watson, Concord CA, '06 GTO 6.763 203.40 203.40

Friday qualifying

....Did not happen for the pros as a unexpected rain storm reigned on Charlie Allen's parade Friday. Weather looks much more promising for the rest of the weekend. The sportsman classes did get timne trials and some qualfiying in.

A few photos from Friday Courtesy Mark King