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Sept. 18-20, 2009
Results courtesy DRC
and NHRA.com
CONCORD, N.C. --
photos courtesy David Smith
Here is a three shot sequence of Bill Reichert's
round one wheelstand Sunday morning. Absolutely unreal. Great job
David!!!!!
Final round results with photos
Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 3.857 seconds, 312.64
mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.980 seconds, 280.49 mph.
Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.097, 307.02
def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.103, 308.07.
Pro Stock -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.618, 209.39
def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.650, 207.75.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Hector Arana, Buell, 7.004,
189.31 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, foul.
Pro Mod -- Rickie Stivers, Right lane, (0.056) 5.908
241.89 def. Melanie Troxel, (0.082) 5.946 242.36
LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RESULTS
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Bill Reichert, 5.270, 268.97
def. Ken Perry, 5.397, 260.46.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte
Carlo, 5.541, 261.22 def. Mick Snyder, Ford Mustang, 5.597, 255.29.
Competition Eliminator -- Rick Brown, Chevy S-10,
8.563, 126.28 def. Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Cavalier, foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Todd Hoven, Pontiac GTO, 11.425,
110.02 def. Jeff Strickland, Chevy Camaro, 10.947, 114.63.
Super Comp -- Joe Flynn, Dragster, 8.904, 173.16 def.
Brian Forrester, Dragster, 8.940, 159.38.
Super Gas -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.905, 157.06
def. John Stover, Chevy Corvette, 9.897, 153.44.
As you can see in these shots the third lane (second
from left) is the tricky one, as it is used by the media as the guard
rail lane for shootoing pics all weekend long. They did a bunch of
prep on that lane prior to the two runs, but is was still real loose.
The fourth lane (left in photo), was pretty good.
More photos to come Monday and Tuesday.
Sunday final eliminations
Cory McClenathan and Robert Hight won their first races of the 2009
season Sunday at the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax
Dragway to make huge moves in the Countdown to 1.
Joining McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Hight (Funny Car) in the winner's
circle at at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series were Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in
the Countdown to 1, NHRA's six-race playoff.
McClenathan, who pushed his FRAM Tough Guard dragster
to a 3.857 at 312.64 mph in his final round win over rookie Shawn
Langdon (3.980 at 280.49) and the Dixie Choppers/Lucas Oil team, entered
the playoffs in fifth place, but he took advantage of early exits
by the drivers ahead of him to move all the way into first place.
"I feel bigger than life sometimes," said McClenathan, who
last won in April 2008 at Las Vegas. "After I won, I was overcome
with a sense of 'Oh my God, it has been so long since I've won.' It
has been a year and a half, and that's too long. My teammate (Tony
Schumacher) wins so often, but I don't. These are the moments I cherish
the most."
With his 31st career win, he has pulled even with
Doug Kalitta as the second winningest driver in NHRA history to have
never won an NHRA championship (Kurt Johnson, 39).
Hight, who was the 40th and final driver to clinch
a playoff berth, vaulted from 10th place all the way up to third place
with his first win in a year. His Auto Club Ford Mustang team defeated
rookie Matt Hagan's Shelor.com Dodge Charger R/T team in the final
round, 4.097 at 307.02 mph to 4.103 at 308.07.
"It's unbelievable the timing we've got right now because the
first part of the year, we stunk this place up; it was terrible,"
Hight said. "You start to begin to wonder if you can even win."
Hight has now been to back-to-back final rounds and
his win Sunday was his first since the 2008 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
"Jimmy Prock, for whatever reason, has it right
now. Definitely, it's due to 'Guido' (Dean Antonelli) and Ron Douglas
(crew chiefs for teammate Ashley Force Hood). Right before Brainerd,
we switched everything around just like their car, and they've helped
us tremendously. Before, our engine would burn up, it would drop cylinders,
and was just totally inconsistent. Now, we have a car like Ashley's
had all year long."
Regular season champ Tony Pedregon remained in first
place and Ashley Force Hood moved up a spot to second place.
In Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, form held as
the top quailifiers - Mike Edwards in Pro Stock and Hector Arana in
Pro Stock Motorcycle - each won on Sunday.
Edwards (6.618 at 209.39) and the A.R.T./Young Life Pontiac team defeated
Greg Stanfield (6.650 at 207.75) and his Attitude Apparel Pontiac
team to move into first place for the first time all season.
"My car was flawless. It went up and down track
every time. It was a great weekend and a great start for this Countdown,"
Edwards said. "You'll never know how hard I've worked and how
much I've wanted this. I know it's a long way from being over, but
it means a lot now."
Arana ran a 7.004 at 189.31 on his Lucas Oil Buell,
but it was a moot point because Karen Stoffer red-lighted aboard her
GEICO Powersports Suzuki in the final. It was the second straight
win for Arana, who moved into first place for the first time since
his season-opening win.
"I'm still going to keep working hard," said Arana. "I'd
like to make three in a row now. I need to stay focused so I can have
a shot at the title. I think have the motorcycle to win this championship."
The Countdown to 1 continues next weekend in Dallas
with the second race in the six-race playoff, the O'Reilly SuperStart
Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals, Sept, 24-27 at the Texas Motorplex.
Sunday's final results from the Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals
at zMax Dragway @ Concord. The race is the 19th of 24 in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series-
Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 3.857 seconds, 312.64 mph def. Shawn
Langdon, 3.980 seconds, 280.49 mph.
Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.097, 307.02 def. Matt
Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.103, 308.07.
Pro Stock -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.618, 209.39 def. Greg Stanfield,
GXP, 6.650, 207.75.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Hector Arana, Buell, 7.004, 189.31 def. Karen
Stoffer, Suzuki, foul.
LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RESULTS
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Bill Reichert, 5.270, 268.97 def. Ken Perry,
5.397, 260.46.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.541, 261.22
def. Mick Snyder, Ford Mustang, 5.597, 255.29.
Competition Eliminator -- Rick Brown, Chevy S-10, 8.563, 126.28 def.
Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Cavalier, foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Todd Hoven, Pontiac GTO, 11.425, 110.02 def.
Jeff Strickland, Chevy Camaro, 10.947, 114.63.
Super Comp -- Joe Flynn, Dragster, 8.904, 173.16 def. Brian Forrester,
Dragster, 8.940, 159.38.
Super Gas -- Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.905, 157.06 def. John Stover,
Chevy Corvette, 9.897, 153.44.
Final qualifiying
CONCORD, N.C. --
Two-time champion Larry Dixon blew away the Top Fuel field Saturday
to earn the No. 1 quaifying position for Sunday's NHRA Carolinas Nationals,
the first race in NHRA's six-race playoff, the Countdown to 1.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 19th of 24 races in
the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Cruz Pedregon (Funny
Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in NHRA's six-race
playoff and it is the first of a four-races-in-four-weeks blitz that
includes stops in Dallas, Memphis and Richmond to begin the Countdown
to 1.
And the playoff opener will feature some intriguing first-round matchups,
including most notably this trio of Funny Car faceoffs featuring Countdown
to 1 drivers: Second-place Ron Capps vs. fourth-place Bob Tasca, third-place
Ashley Force Hood vs. ninth-place Mike Neff and fifth-place Jack Beckman
vs. eighth-place Del Worsham.
Dixon, a two-time world champ (2001-02) who finished the regular
season in second place, earned the No. 1 with a 3.844-second pass
at 313.66 mph in Saturday's first session at zMax Dragway.
"Every session you just try to run the best that the conditions
will allow," said Dixon, who piloted the Al-Anabi dragster to
his fifth No. 1 of 2008 and the 36th of his career. "Yesterday
we ended up fourth quick (first session, fifth in the second) and
then Alan (Johnson, team owner) and Jason (McCulloch, crew chief)
have been working on different set-ups with the car just to make the
engine run a little bit better. It ran better this morning; it was
real good. We ended up on the pole by three-thou. That was on the
right side of things for sure."
In each of the three other categories, beginning with Cruz Pedregon
in Funny Car, the No. 1 qualifiers from Friday held up on Saturday.
Pedregon, who missed the playoffs by just five points, earned his
second No. 1 of 2009 and the 38th of his career with the 4.087 at
303.91 he delivered in Friday night qualifying.
"We've just got to go out there and race (Sunday). Qualifying's
over, and it's great to be No. 1, it's an honor. But now it's time
to go out there and go some rounds (Sunday). We want to win a race
to salvage our year, so whoever's in the other lane is going to have
to beat us. We need the win, and we have a car capable of doing it.
We just need to do it."
Edwards secured his NHRA-best 11th No. 1 qualifier with the 6.614
at 208.36 mph that he posted in his A.R.T. Pontiac in Friday night
qualifying. He also earned 10 of a maximum 12 bonus points.
"Anytime you can pick up 18 points going into first round, that's
big. It's almost a full round. I think it's going to be exciting for
all the Pro classes. It's going to tighten things up, that's for sure,"
Edwards said.
The headline matchup in the first-round of Pro Stock will be top-seeded
Jeg Coughlin lining up against second-seeded Jason Line, who will
actually begin the day Sunday in third place after Edwards racked
up enough points in qualifying to move into second place.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, third-place Arana's run from Friday night
(6.965 at 189.98) aboard his Lucas Oil Buell held up Saturday as well.
"This Lucas Oil Bike is an awesome bike; it's running like it
should. At first, I was skeptical about the new points system, but
at this first event it has worked in my favor. I just gained nine
points on Eddie [Krawiec], so I'm loving it. It is hard to make a
decision about tuning because there are some things I want to try,
but overall it is good for me."
Final qualifying order
TF
1 2 Larry Dixon, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.844 313.66 314.09
2 5 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 3.847 317.87 317.87
3 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 3.848 316.75 316.75
4 7 Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest CA, McKinney-TFX 3.852 315.86 315.86
5 8 Doug Herbert, Lincolnton NC, McKinney-BAE 3.852 312.06 312.06
6 421 Spencer Massey, Vista CA, McKinney-TFX 3.860 310.63 310.63
7 333 Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.863 312.57 312.57
8 34 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.866 311.85 313.22
9 3 Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.877 310.84 310.84
10 50 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 3.900 312.93 312.93
11 6 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman-TFX 3.900 312.13 312.13
12 303 Pat Dakin, Dayton OH, McKinney-TFX 3.901 311.41 311.41
13 1301 Doug Foley, Sewell NJ, McKinney-TFX 3.910 312.64 312.64
14 255 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE 3.912 308.21 308.21
15 3516 Terry McMillen, Elkhart IN, Attac-TFX 3.934 305.22 308.28
16 121 Terry Haddock, Temple WA, Hadman-BAE 3.934 304.32 304.32
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 142 Dom Lagana, Scarsdale NY, Hadman-BAE 3.953 291.26 298.87
18 497 Troy Buff, Spring TX, Don Long-BAE 3.983 276.97 295.46
FC
1 1 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '09 Solara 4.087 303.91 303.91
2 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.095 305.36 306.33
3 4 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.096 307.09 307.09
4 5 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '09 Impala 4.099 304.19 304.94
5 2 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '09 Mustang 4.100 306.95 306.95
6 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '09 Charger 4.105 307.79 307.79
7 6 Ashley Force Hood, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.109 308.50 308.50
8 3 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '09 Charger 4.117 305.70 305.70
9 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '09 Solara 4.119 303.84 303.84
10 9 Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '08 Mustang 4.122 304.46 304.46
11 1777 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '09 Mustang 4.128 302.41 302.41
12 170 Jeff Arend, San Dimas CA, '08 Solara 4.140 303.23 303.23
13 2814 Matt Hagan, Brownsburg IN, '09 Charger 4.145 292.14 300.33
14 767 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '07 Monte Carlo 4.148 301.74 301.74
15 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '09 Solara 4.214 300.53 300.53
16 206 Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia NC, '06 Monte Carlo 4.223 293.54 293.54
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 280 Andy Kelley, Piedmont SC, '06 Stratus 4.313 277.94 282.54
18 3007 Justin Schriefer, Grant Park IL, '04 Camaro 7.036 93.86 93.86
PS
1 4 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '09 GXP 6.614@ 208.36& 208.97
2 2062 Ronnie Humphrey, Jacksonville NC, '09 GXP 6.650 208.10 208.10
3 3 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '09 Cobalt 6.651 208.04 208.04
4 7 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '06 Stratus 6.657 207.59 207.59
5 5 Jason Line, Troutman NC, '09 GXP 6.659 207.94 207.94
6 8 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '09 GXP 6.660 207.34 207.34
7 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '07 Stratus 6.661 207.27 207.27
8 20 Tom Hammonds, Crestview FL, '09 Cobalt 6.662 206.80 207.62
9 41 Rodger Brogdon, Tomball TX, '08 GXP 6.663 206.48 207.21
10 7406 Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga CA, '06 Stra 6.664 206.76
207.37
11 2 Greg Anderson, Concord NC, '09 GXP 6.665 207.88 207.88
12 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '09 Cobalt 6.667 207.75 207.75
13 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '07 Stratus 6.670 207.40 207.40
14 199 Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale MA, '09 GXP 6.674 206.45 206.45
15 326 Steve Spiess, Manhattan IL, '09 Cobalt 6.677 206.64 206.64
16 208 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '09 GXP 6.686 207.75 207.75
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 9 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '06 Stratus 6.693 206.70 206.70
18 118 Dave Northrop, Perkasie PA, '07 Stratus 6.695 206.10 206.10
19 317 Rickie Jones, Galesburg IL, '07 Stratus 6.713 206.10 206.20
20 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, '09 GXP 6.759 203.71 203.71
21 1525 John Nobile, Dix Hills NY, '07 Stratus 6.763 205.72 206.54
22 10 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '09 Cobalt 6.783 206.64 206.64
23 128 John Gaydosh Jr, Baltimore MD, '06 GTO 6.984 196.04 200.20
PSM
1 235 Hector Arana, Milltown IN, Buell XB9R 6.965 189.98 189.98
2 4 Andrew Hines, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 6.980 186.74 190.08
3 205 Shawn Gann, Stoneville NC, Buell XB9R 7.009 188.96 189.84
4 77 Angie McBride, King NC, Buell XB9R 7.023 183.92 183.92
5 1 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 7.024 186.28 186.28
6 412 Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.028 187.18 187.21
7 9 Karen Stoffer, Smith NV, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.050 182.72 187.73
8 3 Matt Smith, King NC, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.058 182.18 186.48
9 7 Steve Johnson, Birmingham AL, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.096 185.64 185.64
10 8 Craig Treble, Harvey LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.112 185.13 185.13
11 473 LE Tonglet, Metairie LA, Buell XB9R 7.113 183.49 185.54
12 533 Jim Underdahl, North Branch MN, Suzuki TL1000R 7.125 186.85
186.85
13 36 Douglas Horne, Aberdeen MD, Buell XB9R 7.160 182.82 182.82
14 69 Bailey Whitaker, Miami FL, Buell XB9R 7.167 184.37 184.37
15 202 Junior Pippin, Conyers GA, Buell GSRX 7.194 184.88 184.88
16 310 Joe DeSantis, Rootstown OH, Suzuki GSXR 7.268 185.66 185.66
TAD
1 488 A/FD Todd Odom, Dallas TX, Monden-BAE 5.240 269.89 269.89
2 1 A/FD Bill Reichert, Owosso MI, Bowen-Reich 5.323 254.81 254.81
3 4843 A/FD Monroe Guest, Mannford OK, McKinney-TFX 5.398 261.42 261.42
4 7 TA/D John Finke, Selkirk NY, McKinney-Chrysler 5.432 255.53 255.53
5 5 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, Hadman-B 5.441 249.30 249.30
6 110 A/FD Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville PA, Hadman 5.481 241.93 241.93
7 23 TA/D Bill Evans, Miramar FL, Spitzer-BAE 5.486 253.90 253.90
8 33 B/AD Ken Perry, Richmond Hill ON, Hadman-MBR 5.507 254.57 254.57
9 24 A/FD Robin Samsel, Marion IN, Canode-BAE 5.550 249.53 249.53
10 45 B/AD Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson TX, ProSt 5.574 250.78 250.78
11 4 TA/D Arthur Gallant, Boxboro MA, Dan Page-BAE 5.587 250.51 250.51
12 55 A/FD Jared Dreher, Clinton IN, McKinney-BAE 5.692 248.89 248.89
13 358 B/AD Dave Weber, N. Ridgeville OH, Canode-AJ 5.714 221.56 221.56
14 7051 TA/D Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo CA, Yanc 5.915 179.09
179.09
15 227 TA/D Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay FL, Innovative-Ol 5.941 228.34
228.34
16 267 B/AD Dan Lucas, Cumming GA, Canode-BAE 6.367 179.59 179.59
TAFC
1 308 Marc White, Glendale Hts. IL, '08 Mustang 5.572 256.94 256.94
2 1 Frank Manzo, Morganville NJ, '06 Monte Carlo 5.579 256.89 259.46
3 9 Mickey Ferro, Stamford CT, '06 Monte Carlo 5.626 254.62 255.39
4 6 Mick Snyder, Demotte IN, '08 Mustang 5.649 253.47 253.71
5 8 Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls PA, '08 Charger 5.668 247.34 254.66
6 13 Marty Nothstein, Orefield PA, '09 Impala 5.674 252.24 252.99
7 147 Fred Tigges, Holbrook MA, '01 Avenger 5.676 251.77 251.77
8 35 John Bojec, Chardon OH, '09 Monte Carlo 5.686 252.95 252.95
9 1617 Lou Sgro, Slatington PA, '06 Monte Carlo 5.689 254.04 254.04
10 1117 John Anderika, Pittson PA, '02 Camaro 5.701 247.57 248.39
11 153 Jason McKnight, Barrie ON, '08 Impala 5.703 253.52 253.52
12 1900 Terry Munroe, Beaver PA, '06 Monte Carlo 5.710 251.20 253.52
13 326 Brian Harvanek, Cheswick PA, '02 Camaro 5.777 246.98 246.98
14 1320 Wayne Morris, Lincoln Univ PA, '10 Mustang 5.779 246.66 246.66
15 25 Mark Billington, Norcross GA, '01 Avenger 5.786 247.43 247.43
16 1509 Dan Pomponio, Berlin NJ, '08 Monte Carlo 5.790 250.64 250.64
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 2063 Mark Rogers, Highlands NC, '02 Firebird 5.825 239.95 239.95
18 193 Larry Dobbs, Welland ON, '01 Corvette 5.844 241.84 241.84
19 189 John Headley, Newportville PA, '00 Mustang 6.167 203.86 203.86
20 196 Bill Naves, Salisbury NC, '01 Firebird 6.360 219.61 219.61
PM
1 348 Brad Personett, Elkhart IN, *'68 Camaro 5.872 246.89 246.89
2 501 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, *'63 Corvette 5.938 240.81
241.93
3 314 Rick Stivers, Lexington KY, *'06 Stratus 5.940 240.85 240.85
4 38 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, *'67 Camaro 5.941 241.15 243.90
5 43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '68 Camaro 5.958 239.36 239.36
6 272 Roger Burgess, Duluth GA, *'67 Camaro 5.959 241.89 241.89
7 3 Jay Payne, Ontario CA, *'68 Camaro 5.964 233.88 240.25
8 507 Melanie Troxel, Avon IN, *'63 Corvette 6.004 238.98 239.19
9 44 Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '70 Camaro 6.008 234.41 234.41
10 1237 Burton Auxier, Dixie WV, '68 Firebird 6.012 234.04 234.04
11 1090 Raymond Commisso, Toronto ON, *'68 Firebird 6.018 238.72 238.72
12 7 Joe Baker, Milton FL, *'68 Camaro 6.058 238.17 238.17
13 1962 Tommy D'aprile, Port Charlotte FL, *'62 Bel Air 6.062 231.24
231.24
14 1970 Dennis Radford, Baker City OR, '70 Duster 6.071 231.04 231.04
15 9 Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa Beach FL, *'67 Mustang 6.105 232.75 232.75
16 4356 Kirk Wilmes, Altus OK, *'68 Firebird 6.170 230.21 230.21
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 6695 Rick Distefano, Calgary AB, *'53 Corvette 6.173 229.04 229.04
18 6 Scott Ray, Greenville OH, *'53 Corvette 6.233 221.60 221.60
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