March 10-13, 2008

The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Summit Racing Nationals

Photos courtesy Rich Carlson

 

Sunday gallery is up

Thursday Sportsman gallery

Friday gallery

Sunday eliminations

LAS VEGAS --

Cory McClenathan, Tim Wilkerson, and Jason Line won the ninth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Tim Wilkerson broke a three and ? year winless streak and denied Ashley Force her first career Funny Car win.

Wilkerson, a Springfield-Ill.-based auto service shop owner, drove his Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.962 at 292.58 to a win over Force, who turned in a 4.993 at 313.95 in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

Despite the loss, Force leaves the event as the first woman in NHRA history to top the Funny Car point standings as the tour moves to Atlanta.

"We've had a good car all year, with some mechanical failures," Wilkerson said after his first win of the year, sixth of his career and first in Las Vegas. "It's kind of cool for the single car teams, for Tony Pedregon, me and Del Worsham (to win so far this year). I think that's really cool. NHRA has done a really good job equalizing the field out there. We have to be safe, have to have our cars together at end of the run, and this weight we're putting on, we need that.

"It's just been a hard weekend here. The track's just a little treacherous from time to time. NHRA did a good job with this place. Our Goodyear's worked good today and the track prep was good today."

Wilkerson won last in 2004, when he beat Ashley's father John Force in Sonoma.

Ashley Force, who grew up at racetracks and considers Wilkerson a family friend, said losing to him was perhaps a little easier to handle than seeing other drivers in the winner's circle.

"A lot of the fans came up and they were just sure (I would win)," said Ashley Force, who is also the only female to reach a final round in the category. "They were making bets on me and telling me how much money they had on me because I had that left lane, but it wasn't so obvious to me. We kept picking the left lane. I really was thinking either we'd both get down the track or we'd both go up in smoke together."

In Top Fuel, newly christened Don Schumacher Racing driver Cory McClenathan had a winless streak of his own to break, earning his first trip to the winner's circle since Richmond in 2006. McClenathan drove his FRAM dragster to a 4.654 at 315.86 around Antron Brown's 4.703 at 315.93 in his Matco Tools dragster.

It had been 30 races since his last win - and this one was his 30th career victory.

"To say the least, it's about time," McClenathan said. "That's all I can say. It's been a couple of years since we even had a competitive car...to come here exactly 30 races later and earn my 30th, it's incredible. I'm hoping to spend the rest of my days and retire there at DSR."

Jason Line earned his first win of the year in his third final round appearance when he drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.782 at 203.83 to Greg Stanfield's 6.816 at 203.16 in his Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP. It was Line's 14th career win and his first in Las Vegas.

"It's been so long since we had won a race, you start to lose confidence," Line said. "To finally win a race, it's redeeming. To win the Summit race is a huge deal for us.

"The truth is, I haven't done a good job (driving). The stars may lie but the numbers don't. This is the best car I've had in 1 ? years. I think the lack of confidence is definitely a bad thing for sure. I finally got some back and it feels really good."

Sunday's final results from the Ninth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race is the fifth of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series--

Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 4.654 seconds, 315.86 mph def. Antron Brown, 4.703 seconds, 315.93 mph.

Funny Car -- Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.962, 292.58 def. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.993, 313.95.

Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.782, 203.83 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.816, 203.16.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Jeff Isbell, 5.540, 255.53 def. Jim Whiteley, 6.048, 259.66.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Jay Payne, Ford Mustang, 5.744, 253.61 def. Von Smith, Mustang, 13.219, 76.08.

Competition Eliminator -- Lou Ficco Jr., Chevy Cavalier, 7.519, 180.38 def. Alan Freese, Pontiac Firebird, 7.606, 178.24.

Super Stock -- Greg Luneack, Chevy Nova Wagon, 11.211, 116.49 def. Tony Mandella, Chevy Camaro, 9.972, 133.00.

Stock Eliminator -- John Shaul, Plymouth Fury, 10.217, 128.60 def. Clark Holroyd, Chevy Nova, 10.388, 125.83.

Super Gas -- Randy Balough, Chevy Corvette, 10.063, 158.24 def. Thomas Bayer, Corvette, 10.036, 146.38.

Pro points

Top Fuel

1. Tony Schumacher 415
2. Larry Dixon 380
3. Antron Brown 373
4. Cory McClenathan 328
5. Brandon Bernstein 288
6. Hillary Will 251
7. Rod Fuller 244
8. David Grubnic 232
9. Doug Herbert 226
10. Doug Kalitta 221
11. Morgan Lucas 203
12. Bob Vandergriff 147
13. J.R. Todd 140
14. Alan Bradshaw 130
15. Troy Buff 124

Funny Car

1. Ashley Force 326
2. Tim Wilkerson 321
3. Cruz Pedregon 294
4. Robert Hight 290
5. Tony Pedregon 285
6. Jack Beckman 280
7. Gary Densham 260
8. John Force 229
9. Del Worsham 219
10. Ron Capps 204
11. Jim Head 187
12. Bob Tasca III 180
13. Gary Scelzi 178
14. Mike Neff 169
15. Tommy Johnson Jr. 168

Pro Stock

1. Jeg Coughlin 392
Jason Line 392
3. Greg Anderson 375
4. Kurt Johnson 342
5. Allen Johnson 317
6. V. Gaines 282
7. Warren Johnson 275
8. Mike Edwards 245
9. Greg Stanfield 244
10. Justin Humphreys 200
11. Matt Hartford 176
12. Jim Yates 175
13. Johnny Gray 174
14. Ron Krisher 165
15. Kenny Koretsky 161

Saturday Pro Wrap up

LAS VEGAS --

Kenny Koretsky
Tony Schumacher, Robert Hight, and Kenny Koretsky are top qualifiers at the Ninth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Pro Stock's Kenny Koretsky goes into race day at the top of the field today for the first time in 18 years of racing after earning his first career No. 1 qualifier at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

John Force, in the hunt for the 1,000th round win that will place him in the highest level of the history books, failed to qualify for the Funny Car starting line-up with his second consecutive DNQ at this event. It's the first time in his prolific career that Force has failed to qualify at the same event two years in a row. Instead it was his teammate Robert Hight who had the luck, earning his 24th career No. 1 qualifier and the first of the season with a 4.849 at 321.27 in his last attempt in his Auto Club Ford Mustang.

Koretsky drove his Nitro Fish/Indicom Electric Chevy Cobalt to a 6.724-second pass at 204.05 mph at the ninth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, the fifth of 24 events in the Series.

Tony Schumacher
"It's unbelievable," Koretsky said. "On the radio the guys were saying all kinds of stuff trying to keep me from getting too excited, but when you see Kurt Johnson next to you and Greg Anderson and Jason Line in front of you.It was all about timing this weekend. We made the right runs at the right times."

Tony Schumacher earned his first No. 1 qualifier of the year, topping the Top Fuel field for the fifth time in a row in Las Vegas (spring and fall events). He drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.510 at 328.38.

"It's good teamwork, hard work, effort and energy," said Schumacher of his 48th career No. 1. "You just hope by the end of the year there's still a little bit of luck left in the luck bank."

Robert Hight
Force's 5.020 at 277.72 wasn't enough to put his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang in the show. He'll continue his march at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, April 24-27 while Hight and teammates Ashley Force and Mike Neff fly the team banner Sunday.

"It's been feast or famine for us all year," said Hight, who earned his fourth career No. 1 qualifier in Las Vegas after an uncharacteristic DNQ in Houston two weeks ago. "We haven't made many runs this year and we took one big giant step backwards in Houston. We redid the whole clutch (after that). To go down the track all four runs here is unbelievable. (The last run) was probably the best run we've made all year. The motor seemed happy all the way down and I knew it."

Saturday final qualifying

FC

1 2 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.849 321.27 321.27
2 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '08 Impala 4.850 318.24 318.24
3 1777 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '08 Mustang 4.864 316.82 316.82
4 10 Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.867 320.97 320.97
5 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.873 309.56 309.56
6 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '08 Charger 4.887 319.14 319.14
7 3 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '08 Charger 4.887 314.39 314.39
8 7701 Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.894 320.51 320.51
9 340 Bob Bode, Barrington IL, '05 Monte Carlo 4.912 316.82 316.82
10 1 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '08 Impala 4.914 317.49 317.49
11 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '08 Impala 4.916 316.90 316.90
12 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '08 Impala 4.924 310.91 310.91
13 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '08 Charger 4.924 309.49 313.29
14 507 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, '08 Charger 4.936 319.90 319.90
15 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '07 Solara 4.955 298.87 300.73
16 5 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '08 Charger 4.997 313.44 313.44

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

17 729 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '08 Charger 4.998 302.89 302.89
18 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 5.020 277.72 306.05
19 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '08 Solara 5.049 307.02 307.02
20 427 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '05 Monte C 5.079 241.67 241.67
21 121 Terry Haddock, Snohomish WA, '06 Stratus 5.093 307.30 307.30

TF

1 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 4.510 328.38 328.38
2 22 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.541 324.98 324.98
3 48 Hillary Will, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.562 331.85 331.85
4 743 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.579 325.22 325.22
5 796 Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.597 323.97 325.30
6 123 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 4.600 324.75 324.75
7 2 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 4.608 323.50 323.50
8 6 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 4.617 315.05 315.05
9 3 Brandon Bernstein, Fairview TX, McKinney-TFX 4.621 325.77 325.77
10 497 Troy Buff, Carson City NV, Don Long-BAE 4.744 265.74 265.74
11 5 Bob Vandergriff, Alpharetta GA, McKinney-TFX 4.749 324.12 324.12
12 7 J.R. Todd, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-AJPE 4.775 286.01 286.01
13 111 Urs Erbacher, Arlesheim CH, McKinney-BAE 4.826 303.43 303.43
14 44 David Grubnic, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.871 305.98 305.98
15 91 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, McKinney-TFX 5.017 284.99 284.99
16 700 Steven Chrisman, Anaheim CA, Hadman-TFX 5.107 290.94 295.98

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

17 530 Alan Bradshaw, Odessa TX, Hadman-TFX 6.379 235.19 235.19
18 723 Rob Passey, Salt Lake City UT, McKinney-TFX 12.574 68.25 68.25

PS

1 107 Kenny Koretsky, Richboro PA, '08 GXP 6.724 204.05 204.05
2 5 Jason Line, Troutman NC, '08 GXP 6.725 204.73 204.73
3 6 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 Cobalt 6.726 205.26 205.26
4 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '08 Cobalt 6.726 205.13 205.13
5 4 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '06 Stratus 6.727 204.45 204.45
6 8 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 GXP 6.728 206.07& 206.07
7 44 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '06 GTO 6.737 204.08 204.08
8 445 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '08 GXP 6.738 204.14 204.14
9 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '08 GXP 6.739 204.73 204.73
10 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '08 Cobalt 6.743 203.98 204.42
11 1568 Justin Humphreys, Monrovia MD, '08 GXP 6.746 204.14 204.14
12 10 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '06 Stratus 6.752 203.19 203.19
13 14 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '08 GXP 6.762 202.76 202.76
14 103 Max Naylor, New Buffalo PA, '06 Stratus 6.764 203.43 203.43
15 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '06 Stratus 6.772 202.30 202.30
16 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '06 Stratus 6.775 203.52 203.52

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

17 324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '06 GTO 6.776 203.22 203.22
18 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '08 Cobalt 6.778 203.19 203.19
19 7 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '06 Stratus 6.790 202.85 202.85
20 701 Ben Watson, Concord CA, '06 GTO 6.815 200.83 201.13
21 7406 Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga CA, '06 Stra 6.816 200.89 201.07
22 6157 Todd Hoerner, Deer Park WA, '06 Stratus 6.858 202.24 202.58
23 752 Gordie Rivera, Yuma AZ, '06 GTO 18.045 29.91 199.79

TAD

Div 6 racers and regular div 6 competiors in bold

1 7334 A/FD Shawn Langdon, Mira Loma CA, Hadman-BAE 5.289 264.60 264.60
2 4 TA/D Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, CNE-BAE 5.336 268.44 268.44
3 681 B/AD Shawn Cowie, Richmond BC, Santos-BAE 5.371 268.97 268.97
4 5 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, Hadman-B 5.381 268.06 268.06
5 74 B/AD Chris Demke, Sunland CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.394 262.90 262.90
6 73 B/AD Cody Perkins, Bluffdale UT, Hadman-BAE 5.408 263.15 263.15
7 2 B/AD Thomas Bayer, Fontana CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.429 261.47 261.47
8 75 A/FD Randy Eakins, Carson City NV, CNE-TFX 5.457 258.91 258.91
9 734 A/FD Johnny Ahten, Saugus CA, Uyehara-KB 5.457 243.90 243.90
10 712 A/FD Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach CA, Spit 5.475 261.27 261.27
11 613 B/AD Joey Severance, Spanaway WA, Hadman-MBR 5.477 259.01 259.01
12 7107 A/FD Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City UT, Hadman-B 5.512 247.11 247.11
13 66 B/AD Greg Tacke, Great Falls MT, Hadman-Fonta 5.518 257.38 257.38
14 6610 A/FD Brandon Johnson, Shelton WA, Hadman-BAE 5.524 255.34 255.34
15 745 TA/D Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney 5.597 237.21 237.21
16 775 A/FD Gary Ormsby Jr, Granite Bay CA, Hadman-B 5.648 254.62 254.62

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

17 777 TA/D Mark Niver, Phoenix AZ, Frameworks-BAE 5.678 249.49 249.49
18 6715 A/FD Doug Hegge, Vancouver WA, Sarmento-TFX 5.899 254.33 254.33
19 7405 TA/D Kevin Wayman, South Jordan UT, Hadman 5.959 187.36 187.36
20 7444 B/AD Del Cox Jr., Downey CA, Dragster 10.243 114.36 114.36

TAFC

1 2 Jay Payne, Claremont CA, '07 Mustang 5.597 256.60 257.33
2 7384 Sean O'Bannon, Ontario CA, '07 Charger 5.640 257.38 257.38
3 75 Doug Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '06 Monte Carlo 5.646 254.76 254.76
4 5757 Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction CO, '01 Firebird 5.668 251.91 251.91
5 727 Ron August Jr, Pleasanton CA, '08 Mustang 5.684 253.52 253.52
6 8 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '08 Mustang 5.685 253.52 254.09
7 7735 Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina CA, '07 Mustang 5.714 254.28 254.28
8 63 Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls OR, '06 Monte Ca 5.732 251.49 251.49
9 756 Don Hudson, Stockton CA, '02 Camaro 5.741 250.74 250.74
10 777 John Patton, Peoria AZ, '02 Trans Am 5.743 248.25 248.25
11 766 Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda CA, '02 Camaro 5.762 251.34 251.34
12 62 Hank Coolidge, Sunbrst MT, '02 Firebird 5.765 247.52 247.57
13 77 Ken Kraus, Great Falls MT, '06 Monte Carlo 5.787 250.74 250.74
14 6464 Russ Parker, Salem OR, '06 Monte Carlo 5.794 249.67 250.27
15 710D Alexis De Joria, Venice CA, '08 Charger 5.799 251.49 251.49
16 7 Brian Hough, Junction City OR, '06 Monte Carlo 5.800 251.53 251.53

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

17 74 Dennis Taylor, Anaheim CA, '05 Camaro 5.803 251.53 251.53
18 3 Sean Bellemeur, Tustin CA, '02 Camaro 5.805 248.29 248.29
19 765 Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley CA, '02 Firebi 5.876 243.72 243.72
20 7507 Paul Crifasi, Henderson NV, '02 Firebird 5.887 246.26 246.26
21 828 Leif Andreasson, Solna SW, '06 Stratus 5.906 245.54 245.54
22 758 Rian Konno, Rosemead CA, '02 Trans Am 5.908 243.15 243.15
23 703 Mark Woznichak, Ontario CA, '02 Camaro 5.914 242.67 242.67
24 51 Paul Anderson, Erie CO, '07 Charger 5.949 247.70 247.70
25 7238 Bret Williamson, Campbell CA, '01 Corvette 6.167 180.48 180.48

 

 

Friday Wrap up

LAS VEGAS --

Tim Wilkerson
Tony Schumacher, Tim Wilkerson, and Kenny Koretsky lead qualifying after day one at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series.
Tim Wilkerson looked primed to earn his third No. 1 qualifier of the season during the opening day of qualifying at the ninth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

Wilkerson piloted his Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS to a 4.850-second pass at 318.24 mph to become the provisional top qualifier. It will be his 13th career No. 1 and his first in Las Vegas if the run remains the best after two qualifying sessions on Saturday.

"I think it's got a little more in it," Wilkerson said. "I didn't think the 4.850 would stay low. The track is just a little tricky."

Tony Schumacher
Tony Schumacher drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.510 at 328.38 provisional low qualifying effort for what may be his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 48th of his career.

"Alan Johnson is a true master," said Schumacher of his crew chief. "A No.1 qualifying spot? That car doesn't care.but it gives us a few points and we're just trying to stay ahead. Right now I've got guys bunched up behind me (in the points)...Alan has a purpose for every run. We know exactly what the car will do from the data. He's a true genius."

Kenny Koretsky
Kenny Koretsky drove his Nitro Fish/Indicom Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.724 at 204.05 for the provisional top spot in Pro Stock. It will be his first career No. 1 qualifier.

"Well, that's what happens when you have a good motor," Koretsky said. "I think tomorrow it's going to get a little hotter outside. I have to give a lot of credit to my crew chief (Eddie Guarnaccia). We're working on a new motor combination. We've been working on it all year and we finally have it figured out."