St. Louis

O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol

May 2-5, 2008

Sunday Eliminations

MADISON, Ill. --

Tim Wilkerson denied John Force Racing's Mike Neff his first career win on the same day Neff's boss made history at the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol.
Wilkerson earned his first win at his hometown track, his second of the season and seventh of his career when he drove his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.874-second finish at 317.27 mph to Neff's 4.886 at 321.58 in his Old Spice Ford Mustang.

Early in the day, Force cemented his position as the most prolific Funny Car driver in NHRA history when he reached 1,000 round wins, the first driver to do so, in a first-round match-up with Ron Capps.

The win marked Wilkerson's second victory over a JFR entry this year - he defeated team owner and driver John Force's daughter Ashley in Las Vegas. He enters the season's next event in Bristol leading the NHRA POWERade Series points for the first time in his 11-year career after qualifying No. 1 at the event.

"The emotions are out of control," Wilkerson said. "It was all I could do at the other end of the track just to get out of the car...It'll get the monkey off our back. We ended up qualifying No. 1 a couple of times this year and couldn't even get out of first round. We're pretty proud (this win). My guys are just doing a terrific job working on my car, and the track was good all day."

After watching new teammate and Pro Stock Motorcycle transplant Antron Brown win two of the season's first six events, 2007 title contender Rod Fuller has his own reason to celebrate. Fuller piloted his Caterpillar dragster to a 4.525 at 328.70 around Tony Schumacher's 4.583 at 325.45 in his U.S. Army-backed dragster.

"I kind of had a chip on my shoulder from what happened to me last year, leading the points all year long and losing to (Schumacher, the reigning POWERade Series world champion)," Fuller said. "It's gratifying when you beat him. What else can I say about David Powers Motorsports? Four finals in a row for us and three wins. It just tells you how strong this organization is.

"I take a lot of pride in (Brown's) success because we're really close to each other. He gives me a lot of compliments by saying how much I helped him and I have helped him a lot. It's almost like we're brothers and it's like watching my little brother Tony racing. If I can't win I want him to win. I always say drag racing is like a merry-go-round. You just have to wait for your time to get on."

Kurt Johnson earned his first win since Phoenix of last year when he drove his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt to a 6.631 at 209.30 for a win over Dave Connolly's 6.651 at 208.78 in his Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt. It is his 37th career and third at Gateway (2005, 1998).

"It was pretty tough out there," Johnson said. "There was a lot of tire shake... I think everybody just kind of underestimated the race track. It was exceptional for me. We ran a .58 this morning and it's hard to touch it after that, but we knew we had to make some changes. We changed the gears around; we changed the clutch around. The whole ACDelco crew just came together and we did what we needed to do."

Andrew Hines turned in his 16th consecutive run in the six-second range to earn his second consecutive and 15th career win on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

"The V-Rod's just going straight, making good runs," Hines said. "It's the same engine we ran in Atlanta. We tried a different engine on Friday and it just didn't seem to have as many ponies as this one. We wanted to get back the No. 1 qualifying spot and we put the engine back in yesterday and just couldn't find the set-up because it was making so much horsepower here in St. Louis.

"It was throwing us for a loop...but winning from the No. 3 spot, that still means a lot. Four races in three finals and two wins, it's just a tribute to how good my team is."

Sunday's final results from the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway. The race is the seventh of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series-

Top Fuel -- Rod Fuller, 4.525 seconds, 328.70 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 4.583 seconds, 325.45 mph.

Funny Car -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.874, 317.27 def. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.886, 321.58.

Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.631, 209.30 def. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.651, 208.78.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.882, 194.13 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 8.098, 114.02.

Competition Eliminator -- Cordis Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 8.977, 148.30 def. Michael Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 8.611, 150.51.

Super Stock -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Cobalt, 8.776, 139.30 def. Bret Voges, Chevy II, 9.675, 132.53.

Stock Eliminator -- Gary Stinnett, Chevy Camaro, 10.378, 120.71 def. Donnie Beeler, Camaro, 11.260, 116.82.

Super Gas -- Brina Splingaire, Chevy Corvette, 9.912, 156.86 def. Ryan Bolin, Ford Mustang, 9.893, 141.65.

Final qualifying

MADISON, Ill. --

It's proving to be a golden season for independent team owner Tim Wilkerson.
Wilkerson earned his fourth No. 1 qualifier in seven races at the 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol on Saturday. He'll face Tony Bartone in the first round when eliminations at Gateway International Raceway open Sunday.

It was the Springfield, Ill. native's second top qualifier award at his hometown track and his 14th career No. 1. Wilkerson drove his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.744-second pass at 326.16 mph to pace the field.

"I feel pretty fortunate that we were No. 1 qualifier at all, let alone four times," Wilkerson said. "We really seem to have the knack of hitting the run at the right time. I'm not trying to brag to you and tell you we know what we're doing. So far it's a knack. But we're very happy with that, especially with as many people as we have here today.

"Dick Levi (of sponsor Levi, Ray and Shoup) is over there in the pit area, and just as happy as he can be. Believe me, I need that for my program. These cars, they don't run on a lot of happiness, they run on a lot of cash."

Australia native Dave Grubnic earned his first No. 1 qualifier of the year, the eighth of his career and his first in St. Louis when he turned in a 4.467 at 319.90 in his St. Louis Carpenters' Union Top Fuel dragster.

"Obviously the conditions were fantastic today," Grubnic said. "Everybody sort of stepped up. The (4.467) we ran in the early session was the quickest run of the year, which we're obviously very happy about. (Team owner and crew chief) Connie Kalitta obviously is the main person behind the whole thing. He's doing a great job tuning the car, and all my guys.

"Tomorrow's another day. We'll have to face that when we get up here. Consistency will be key. We know what we can get away with, but tomorrow we have to do it four times in a row. That's going to be our goal."

Jason Line picked up his first No. 1 qualifier of the year, the 14th of his career and his first at Gateway when he drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.571 at 209.23 around his teammate and Friday's leader Greg Anderson.

"It's very exciting to be No. 1, and even better to have my teammate (Anderson) No. 2," Line said. "Being 1-2 is the ultimate thing for us. I haven't looked at the weather but I know it's supposed to get warmer. It'll be a whole new ballgame for us.I feel very confident that our guys are as good as anybody. It was a good day for us, and it's been an exciting week for me."

Defending NHRA POWERade Series world champion Matt Smith rode his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.901 at 190.32 to unseat Friday's low qualifier, Chip Ellis. It was Smith's second No. 1 qualifier of the year, the ninth of his career and his second consecutive at Gateway.

"Chip's got a good bike too," Smith said. "He's been right there with us today both passes, and even yesterday. We'll have our work cut out for us.

"We had two good runs today. We left a little on the table on the first pass. If we had had that one there it probably would've been an .89 or maybe even an .88."

Funny Car

1 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '08 Impala 4.744 326.16 326.16
2 6 Mike Ashley, Melville NY, '08 Charger RT 4.768 327.82 327.82
3 2 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.771 317.94 317.94
4 10 Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.773 325.45 325.45
5 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.786 322.04 322.04
6 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.794 326.08 326.08
7 7701 Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.796 316.30 316.30
8 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '08 Impala 4.797 320.36 320.36
9 1777 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '08 Mustang 4.798 319.67 319.67
10 507 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, '08 Charger 4.802 327.59 327.59
11 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '08 Charger 4.803 320.36 320.36
12 3 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '08 Charger 4.804 317.94 320.13
13 1 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.806 317.64 317.64
14 729 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '08 Charger 4.818 322.11 322.11
15 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '08 Solara 4.822 324.98 324.98
16 427 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '05 Monte C 4.824 318.77 318.77

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

17 5 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '08 Charger 4.834 318.32 318.32
18 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '08 Charger 4.838 318.62 318.62
19 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '08 Impala 4.852 307.09 307.09

1 44 David Grubnic, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.467@ 319.90 326.32
2 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 4.495 326.71 327.51
3 48 Hillary Will, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.502 324.59 326.95
4 123 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 4.517 331.94& 331.94
5 22 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.524 312.42 312.42
6 91 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, McKinney-TFX 4.528 321.96 321.96
7 7 J.R. Todd, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.537 318.39 321.65
8 2 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 4.541 321.50 326.08
9 796 Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.542 329.18 329.18
10 530 Alan Bradshaw, Odessa TX, Hadman-TFX 4.550 318.24 318.24
11 5 Bob Vandergriff, Alpharetta GA, McKinney-TFX 4.564 323.04 323.04
12 6 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 4.569 322.81 322.81
13 3 Brandon Bernstein, Fairview TX, McKinney-TFX 4.575 325.77 325.77
14 497 Troy Buff, Carson City NV, Don Long-BAE 4.603 308.28 308.28
15 743 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.607 326.32 326.32
16 394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-TFX 5.772 161.25 161.25

Pro Stock

1 5 Jason Line, Troutman NC, '08 GXP 6.571@ 209.23 209.23
2 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '08 GXP 6.590 208.49 208.52
3 3 Dave Connolly, Elyria OH, '08 Cobalt 6.595 208.36 208.49
4 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '08 Cobalt 6.597 207.40 207.56
5 6 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 Cobalt 6.598 209.39& 209.39
6 4 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '06 Stratus 6.608 208.81 208.81
7 44 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '08 GXP 6.614 208.30 208.30
8 445 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '08 GXP 6.615 207.50 208.01
9 10 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '06 Stratus 6.619 207.50 207.50
10 317 Rickie Jones, Galesburg IL, '06 Stratus 6.627 208.23 208.23
11 103 Max Naylor, New Buffalo PA, '06 Stratus 6.627 206.07 206.07
12 6157 Todd Hoerner, Deer Park WA, '06 Stratus 6.634 207.75 207.75
13 14 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '08 GXP 6.634 206.13 206.23
14 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '08 Cobalt 6.639 207.75 207.75
15 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '06 Stratus 6.640 206.86 207.56
16 1525 John Nobile, Melville NY, '06 Stratus 6.641 208.39 208.39

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

17 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '08 Cobalt 6.641 206.10 206.95
18 30 Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis IN, '07 Cobalt 6.646 207.69 207.69
19 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '06 Stratus 6.648 207.21 207.21
20 7 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '06 Stratus 6.656 207.18 207.18
21 8 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 GXP 6.661 208.62 208.62
22 107 Kenny Koretsky, Richboro PA, '08 GXP 6.662 206.23 206.23
23 4904 Lamar Swindoll Jr, Baytown TX, '06 GTO 6.665 205.72 205.72
24 1568 Justin Humphreys, Monrovia MD, '08 GXP 6.668 207.24 207.24
25 326 Steve Spiess, Manhattan IL, '08 Cobalt 6.673 205.88 206.20
26 109 Jim Cunningham, Crownsville MD, '07 Mustang 6.790 202.18 202.18

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1 1 Matt Smith, King NC, Buell 6.901 190.32 191.32
2 3 Chip Ellis, Brownsburg IN, Suzuki TL 1000 6.907 191.62 191.62
3 2 Andrew Hines, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 6.943 189.36 191.84
4 7 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 6.945 188.99 191.10
5 5 Angelle Sampey, Decatir TX, Buell 6.961 187.73 187.86
6 8 Karen Stoffer, Smith NV, Suzuki TL 1000 6.964 191.62 191.62
7 9 Steve Johnson, Irondale AL, Suzuki TL 1000 6.966 189.50 189.50
8 6 Craig Treble, Houston TX, Suzuki TL 1000 6.989 192.38 192.38
9 44 Chris Rivas, Fresno CA, Buell 6.993 188.86 188.86
10 25 Matt Guidera, Loomis CA, Buell 6.994 187.70 188.38
11 205 Shawn Gann, Stoneville NC, Suzuki TL 1000 6.995 191.02 191.02
12 235 Hector Arana, Milltown IN, Buell 7.007 188.65 188.65
13 573 Mike Berry, Littleton CO, Suzuki TL 1000 7.007 188.54 188.54
14 310 Joe DeSantis, Rootstown OH, Suzuki GSXR 7.029 187.60 189.63
15 202 Junior Pippin, Conyers GA, Buell 7.081 183.89 185.46
16 581 David Hope, Nevada MO, Buell 7.138 183.00 184.14

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

17 371 Wes Wells, Greenwood IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.174 184.62 184.62
18 457 Redell Harris, Prairieville LA, Buell 7.268 183.67 183.67
19 77 Angie McBride, King NC, Buell 11.799 66.74 66.74

Pro Mod

1 1 Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, *'68 Camaro 5.955 241.89 241.89
2 7 Harold Laird, Baton Rouge LA, *'63 Corvette 5.958 238.30 238.30
3 1152 Tony Pontieri, Bolton ON, *'57 Bel Air 5.969 239.53 239.53
4 38 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, *'68 Camaro 5.987 241.02 241.02
5 763 Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda CA, *'41 Willys 6.050 234.78 234.78
6 402 Taylor Lastor, Knoxville NC, '67 Camaro 6.064 227.54 227.54
7 1941 Eddie Ware, Marietta GA, *'67 Firebird 6.097 236.30 236.30
8 272 Roger Burgess, Duluth GA, *'63 Corvette 6.101 236.92 236.92
9 3 Jay Payne, Ontario CA, *'68 Camaro 6.107 236.80 236.80
10 1211 Mike Ashley, Melville NY, *'68 Camaro 6.146 235.10 235.10
11 2103 Joe Baker, Milton FL, *'41 Willys 6.204 229.55 229.55
12 6 Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa FL, *'67 Shelby GT 6.211 229.27 229.27
13 501 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, *'68 Camaro 6.345 222.29 222.29
14 49 Dan Saitz, Fenton MO, '07 Mustang 6.364 224.21 224.21
15 1212 Scott Ray, Greenville OH, *'53 Corvette 6.384 180.02 180.02
16 348 Brad Personett, Elkhart IN, '53 Corvette 6.437 219.94 219.94

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

17 51 Tommy Gray, Baltimore MD, *'06 GTO 6.571 220.12 220.12
18 9 Rick Stivers, Lexington KY, *'67 Shelby GT 6.578 226.13 226.13
19 5835 Raymond Vettel, Phillips NE, *'70 Barracuda 6.677 213.77 213.77
20 1986 John Russo, Middleton MA, *'86 Firebird 6.802 153.39 153.39
21 8 Shelly Payne, Ontario CA, *'05 Stratus 8.411 154.51 154.51
22 320 Steve Engel, Shandon OH, *'63 Corvette 9.440 103.63 103.63
23 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, *'68 Firebird 9.658 94.15 94.15
24 151 Alex Hossler, Canton IL, *'06 Corvette 24.593 27.08 27.08