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June 25-28, 2009

Summit Nationals
NORWALK,Ohio --

Eliminations

NORWALK,Ohio --

Weekend gallery is posted

Jack Beckman received a birthday gift as he raced to his second Funny Car victory of the season Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals a first for him at this track.
Larry Dixon, Jason Line and Andrew Hines also were winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Beckman drove his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Charger to his second win of the season and moved to fourth in the Full Throttle Series points standings, by his nearly perfect .001 reaction time off the line against Bob Tasca. Beckman earned his eighth career victory with a performance of 4.315 at 277.54, while Tasca trailed in his Motorcraft Quicklane Ford Shelby Mustang with a 6.470 at 149.93.

"I think it's only on your birthday that you get away with what I got away with," said Beckman, who battled a head cold all weekend. "I made a mistake, pure and simple. We had a good car, but we were vulnerable. As I stepped on the throttle, I was looking down at the green light as I went by and it went green and I went, 'Wow, we're still very much in this thing.'

"We've been sliding down in points the last couple of weeks, so it was good to go from sixth to fourth. Our goal is to be a top-five car by Indy, and, more importantly, our goal is to be consistently quick come Indy. Once the points are reset anyone in the top five has a chance [to win the championships], and if you can hit your stride now, like we did last year heading into Denver, we're going to be in good shape for the summer months."

Dixon drove his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his fifth win of the season and first at this track with a performance of 3.981 at 294.54, while Bernstein smoked the tires in his Budweiser/ Lucas Oil dragster with a 7.257 at 94.06.

"Four win lights at the end of the day, that's what counts," said Dixon. "There were certain rounds that were not pretty, but at the same time, we were the quickest car every pair. I'm just real thankful to be able to get this win."

"The biggest thing is that [this is] a good team and they're working on trying to find the personality of all the brand new parts they have, and for me, it's trying to find my comfort zone within the team. Being underneath one camp for a long period of time and then you switch, it's different. It's taken me a little while to adapt and try to fit in and hold up my end of the bargain."

Line earned his fourth win of the season and 18th of his career in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP at his sponsors home track, taking his place as 10th on the Pro Stock all-time list. This was the first race using teammate Greg Anderson's 2008 car after Lines' team had performance issues with his car.

"This was absolutely the biggest win for me, and it was a great time to do it," said Line. "We're tired of watching that yellow car win races, and we needed to get out there too. We just haven't done a good job lately. But we're starting to right the ship, and by Indy time, we're going to be strong. It's hopefully a sign of things to come for us, and it was a great day."

"My truck driver, Sonny McCurdy, he told me a couple weeks ago, 'Keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting.' So we said, 'We've gotta change something up here because we've just been terrible, and we're a better team than that.' It was Rob's [Downing, crew chief] decision [to use Anderson's old car], and it was time. There was really nothing wrong with the other car, we just couldn't see the forest for the trees. So we made some changes, and obviously it's paid off for us. And it's going to get better."

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hines won his first race of the season, 16th of his career with a performance of 7.024 at 189.98 on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, to hold off teammate Eddie Krawiec, who finished in 7.032 at 190.78.

"It's been 19 or 20 races [since last win], and it feels good to do it with my teammate in the other lane; it made it that much better," said Hines, who also won here in 2007. "Eddie's been kicking my butt lately, so I hit the Tree hard in the semifinals when I had a bye, and in the final, I figured I had nothing to lose I hadn't been there in a while; if I go red, I go red. I threw everything I had at it because I knew I needed something against Eddie. It's good to finally be back on my game on the starting line.

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues with the 30th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July 10-12, at scenic Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

Sunday's final results from the Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the 12th of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 3.981 seconds, 294.05 mph def. Brandon Bernstein, 7.257 seconds, 94.06 mph.

Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.315, 277.54 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 6.470, 149.93.

Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.665, 207.30 def. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.747, 203.71.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.024, 189.98 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.032, 190.78.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Bill Reichert, 5.315, 268.54 def. Michael Manners, 9.976, 126.42.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.618, 256.70 def. Chris Foster, Monte Carlo, 5.654, 253.28.

Super Stock -- Joe Covert, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.872, 153.18 def. Jeff Dona, Chevy Camaro, 10.009, 126.51.

Stock Eliminator -- Rick Baehr, Ford Mustang, 12.512, 103.34 def. Randy Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 11.329, 112.63.

Super Comp -- Samantha Kenny, Page, 8.933, 184.04 def. Jason Folk, Dragster, 12.405, 112.20.

Super Gas -- Craig Anderson, Chevy Corvette, 9.910, 148.22 def. Iggie Boicesco, Corvette, 9.895, 163.28.

Larry Dixon raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the 3rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Mike Neff, Allen Johnson and Matt Guidera also took the provisional top spots in their respective categories at the 12th of 24 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Dixon, drove his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a 3.882-second pass at 301.74 mph to become the provisional top qualifier in Top Fuel. If it stands it would be Dixon's third No. 1 qualifier of the season, 34th of his career and a first at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

"The first run we went down the track and ran decent," said Dixon. "You're just trying to gauge it off of the track temperature; that's the biggest thing everybody looks at. They were going to try to run a high 3.90 and it did, and for the second session, it was just a matter of how much the track temp would come around."

Current points leader Antron Brown sits fifth after the first day of qualifying. In Funny Car, Neff drove his Ford Drive One Mustang to a 4.190 at 297.73 to take the provisional No. 1 spot. If it stands, it would be Neff's first No. 1 qualifier of the season and third of his career.

"The track was tricky today, especially in the first session," said Neff, who is looking for his first No. 1 spot of the year. "The improvement that we had in the afternoon came from a combination of more rubber on the surface and cooler track temperatures."

Current points leader Tony Pedregon is sitting in the 3rd spot as defending event winner.

Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson took the provisional top spot in his category. Johnson drove his Mopar Dodge Stratus to a 6.649 at 206.99 and looks to collect his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and seventh of his career.

"The [newly-paved] track felt very good, and it will get better as the fuel cars make more runs and lay more rubber on the track." Current points leader Jeg Coughlin is sitting in the sixth spot after the first day of qualifying."

Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Matt Guidera took the provisional top spot in his category. Guidera rode his Mohegan Sun Rocklin Motorsports Buell to a 7.001 at 187.11 and looks to collect his second No. 1 qualifier of his career.

"That was an awesome run for the team," said Guidera. "We worked on the setup a little bit and were able to get a little bit better hold of the starting line, and that just put me through the first eighth-mile a little quicker."

Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at Noon and 2 p.m. Sunday's eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

Top Fuel

1 2 Larry Dixon, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.882 301.74 301.74
2 421 Spencer Massey, Vista CA, McKinney-TFX 3.908 301.00 301.00
3 333 Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.927 299.80 299.80
4 6 Rod Fuller, Las Vegas NV, Hadman 3.929 302.62 302.62
5 5 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 3.933 305.01 305.01
6 7 Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest CA, Hadman-TFX 3.939 300.06 300.06
7 34 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.939 299.80 299.80
8 50 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 3.954 296.11 296.11
9 255 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE 3.957 302.69 302.69
10 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 3.979 289.63 289.63
11 300 Tim Cullinan, Des Plains IL, Baumgartne-TFX 3.989 295.14 295.14
12 524 Joe Hartley, Portland OR, McKinney-BAE 4.037 291.38 296.05

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

13 497 Troy Buff, Spring TX, Don Long-BAE 4.064 283.73 283.73
14 3 Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.066 275.45 275.45
15 5050 Scott Palmer, Marionville MO, McKinney-BAE 4.107 289.88 289.88
16 303 Pat Dakin, Dayton OH, McKinney-TFX 4.126 242.36 242.36
17 394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-TFX 6.472 100.84 100.84
18 700 Steven Chrisman, Anaheim CA, McKinney-TFX 9.460 98.15 98.15

Funny Car

1 9 Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.190 279.73 279.73
2 4 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.214 286.07 286.07
3 5 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '09 Impala 4.217 278.52 278.52
4 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '09 Charger 4.236 278.35 278.35
5 6 Ashley Force Hood, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.241 256.21 256.21
6 3 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '09 Charger 4.242 280.66 280.66
7 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '09 Mustang 4.252 276.24 276.24
8 1777 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '09 Mustang 4.263 272.89 272.89
9 2814 Matt Hagan, Christianburg VA, '09 Charger 4.266 275.28 275.28
10 767 Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '06 Monte Carlo 4.279 280.72 280.72
11 340 Bob Bode, Barrington IL, '09 Impala SS 4.310 270.81 270.81
12 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '09 Solara 4.314 275.96 275.96

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

13 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '09 Solara 4.317 255.92 255.92
14 1 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '09 Solara 4.339 271.41 271.41
15 170 Jeff Arend, San Dimas CA, '09 Solara 4.357 238.72 238.72
16 3007 Justin Schriefer, Grant Park IL, '04 Camaro 4.634 258.81 258.81
17 2 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '09 Mustang 4.661 209.04 209.04

Pro Stock

1 7 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '06 Stratus 6.649 206.99 206.99
2 4 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '09 GXP 6.655 207.24 207.24
3 2 Greg Anderson, Concord NC, '09 GXP 6.666 207.02 207.02
4 5 Jason Line, Troutman NC, '09 GXP 6.667 206.73 206.73
5 208 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '09 GXP 6.689 206.89 206.89
6 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '09 Cobalt 6.700 206.42 206.42
7 8 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '09 GXP 6.700 205.72 205.72
8 41 Rodger Brogdon, Tomball TX, '09 GXP 6.704 205.41 205.41
9 32 Justin Humphreys, Monrovia MD, '09 GXP 6.708 205.07 205.07
10 3 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '09 Cobalt 6.710 206.23 206.23
11 10 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '09 Cobalt 6.714 206.42 206.42
12 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '06 Stratus 6.718 201.19 203.43

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

13 317 Rickie Jones, Galesburg IL, '06 Stratus 6.731 204.45 204.45
14 118 Dave Northrop, Perkasie PA, '09 GXP 6.734 205.04 205.04
15 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '06 Stratus 6.736 204.91 204.91
16 700 David Beckley, Wildomar CA, '06 Stratus 6.740 205.38 205.38
17 199 Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale MA, '08 GXP 6.749 204.20 204.20
18 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, '09 GXP 6.771 203.43 203.43
19 9 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '06 Stratus 6.851 201.97 201.97
20 430 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '09 Mustang 6.870 199.70 199.70
21 150 Kenny Delco, Setauket NY, '09 Cobalt 6.887 200.74 200.74
22 547 Mark Hogan, Dubuque IA, '07 GTO 16.458 44.04 44.04

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1 25 Matt Guidera, Loomis CA, Buell XB9R 7.001 187.11 187.11
2 1 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 7.013 190.35 190.35
3 4 Andrew Hines, Brownsburg IN, Harley V-Rod 7.015 191.51 191.51
4 7 Steve Johnson, Birmingham AL, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.070 186.69 186.69
5 36 Douglas Horne, Aberdeen MD, Buell XB9R 7.076 185.97 185.97
6 235 Hector Arana, Milltown IN, Buell XB9R 7.078 189.23 189.23
7 3 Matt Smith, King NC, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.097 186.92 186.92
8 9 Karen Stoffer, Smith NV, Suzuki TL 1000R 7.100 187.91 187.91
9 205 Shawn Gann, Stoneville NC, Buell XB9R 7.113 187.13 187.13
10 412 Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.114 190.32 190.32
11 202 Junior Pippin, Conyers GA, Buell XB9R 7.134 185.43 185.43
12 581 David Hope, Nevada MO, Buell XB9R 7.137 186.41 186.41

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

13 573 Mike Berry, Littleton CO, Buell XB9R 7.145 185.92 185.92
14 533 Jim Underdahl, North Branch MN, Suzuki TL1000 7.197 184.45 184.45
15 8 Craig Treble, Harvey LA, Suzuki GSXR 7.216 183.89 183.89
16 371 Wesley Wells, Greenwood IN, Suzuki GSXR 7.221 185.54 185.54
17 310 Joe DeSantis, Rootstown OH, Suzuki GSXR 7.225 186.72 186.72
18 77 Angie McBride, King NC, Buell XB9R 7.240 182.90 182.90
19 209 Geoff Godfrey, Rootstown OH, Suzuki GSXR 7.481 177.95 177.95
20 69 Bailey Whitaker, Miami FL, Buell XB9R 10.690 77.58 77.58

Top Alcohol Dragster

1 465 A/FD Michael Manners, Willis TX, Spitzer-CRE 5.343 264.49 264.49
2 1 A/FD Bill Reichert, Owosso MI, Bowen-Reich 5.366 266.37 266.37
3 110 A/FD Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville PA, Hadman 5.368 262.95 262.95
4 24 A/FD Robin Samsel, Marion IN, Canode-BAE 5.403 260.71 260.71
5 745 A/FD Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney 5.415 264.13 264.13
6 33 B/AD Ken Perry, Richmond Hill ON, Hadman-Font 5.417 260.01 260.01
7 185 B/AD Mike Kosky, Cuddy PA, Kosky-BAE 5.430 261.07 261.07
8 488 TA/D Todd Odom, Dallas TX, Monden-BAE 5.449 251.30 251.30
9 5 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, Hadman-B 5.491 264.08 264.08
10 390 B/AD Paul Fishburn, Rensselaer IN, Haase-TFX 5.492 253.18 255.97
11 744 A/FD Courtney Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney 5.503 256.60 257.43
12 23 TA/D Bill Evans, Miramar FL, Spitzer-BAE 5.517 259.61 259.76
13 7051 B/AD Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo CA, Yanc 5.518 256.60 256.60
14 35 B/AD Jeff Bohr, Plymouth MI, Spitzer-JBR 5.519 261.88 261.88
15 358 B/AD Dave Weber, N. Ridgeville OH, Canode-AJ 5.561 235.93 235.93
16 37 A/FD Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso IN, Hadman-TFX 5.566 250.23 250.23

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

17 104 A/FD Gene Arrigoni, Yorktown Hts NY, Heads up 5.579 244.16 246.75
18 36 A/FD Dave Hirata, Lowell IN, McKinney-TFX 5.590 256.84 256.84
19 7 TA/D John Finke, Selkirk NY, McKinney-Chrysler 5.590 254.81 254.81
20 55 A/FD Jared Dreher, Clinton IN, McKinney-BAE 5.769 226.05 226.89
21 176 A/FD Jeff Veale, Hamilton ON, McKinney-BAE 5.832 254.33 254.33
22 301 A/FD Dave Hill, Valparaiso IN, Ameling-BAE 6.071 249.86 249.86
23 3 B/AD Marty Thacker, Robinson IL, Spitzer-TFX 9.013 85.35 88.22

Top Alcohol Funny Car

1 1 Frank Manzo, Morganville NJ, '06 Monte Carlo 5.632 257.38 257.38
2 457 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '09 Mustang 5.668 252.52 252.52
3 502 Chris Foster, Davenport IA, '06 Monte Carlo 5.741 243.46 243.46
4 153 Jason McKnight, Barrie ON, '08 Impala 5.762 230.13 230.13
5 326 Brian Harvanek, Cheswick PA, '02 Camaro 5.768 247.52 247.52
6 33 Andy Bohl, Racine WI, '08 Mustang 5.776 249.26 249.26
7 1900 Terry Munroe, Beaver PA, '05 Monte Carlo 5.786 250.51 250.51
8 8 Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls PA, '09 Charger 5.797 251.63 251.63
9 301 Fred Hagen Jr., Des Plaines IL, '09 Mustang 5.799 234.49 245.81
10 1117 John Anderika, Pittson PA, '02 Camaro 5.823 243.72 243.72
11 305 Jeff Burnett, Brownsburg IN, '09 Mustang 5.830 244.69 244.69
12 147 Fred Tigges, Holbrook MA, '01 Avenger 5.848 251.67 251.67
13 556 Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck IA, '05 Firebird 5.852 243.33 243.33
14 484 Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale TX, '02 Camaro 5.855 246.57 246.57
15 35 John Bojec, Chardon OH, '09 Monte Carlo 5.880 231.32 231.32
16 193 Larry Dobbs, Welland ON, '01 Corvette 5.916 242.76 242.76

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

17 4657 Thomas Carter, Cuero TX, '09 Monte Carlo 6.121 231.28 231.28

Event preview and info:

NORWALK,Ohio --

The Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, the 12th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories -- Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles -- earn points leading to 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio. The track is located at 1300 State Route 18, half way between Cleveland and Toledo; just an hour and a half north of Columbus. The Ohio Turnpike is less than 10 minutes away.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, June 25-28

SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, June 25 - Sportsman qualifying begins at 9 a.m.

FRIDAY, June 26 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 27 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 12:10 p.m. and 2:05 p.m.
K&N PRO STOCK HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE at noon, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 28 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).

Sunday June 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at noon. (ET).

Sunday, June 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

2008 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Herbert, Top Fuel; Tony Pedregon, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Hector Arana, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TRACK RECORDS:
Pro Stock - 6.628 seconds, by Dave Connolly, June '07; 207.94 mph by Jason Line, June '07

PS Motorcycle - 6.965 seconds by Matt Smith, June '07; 192.60 mph by Craig Treble, June '07

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Pro Stock - 6.528 sec. by Greg Anderson, Feb. '09, Pomona, Calif.; 212.03 mph by Mike Edwards, March '09, Baytown, Texas

PS Motorcycle - 6.860 sec. by Andrew Hines, May '09, Madison, Ill.; 197.45 mph by A. Hines, March '05, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: For tickets, call (419) 668-5555 or purchase online at www.tix.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Thursday: Adult, $12; Junior (6-12 years), free. Friday: Adult, $32; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Saturday: Adult, $45; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Children five years and under admitted free to general admission and pit areas each day.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $42; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years & under), $10. Saturday: Adult, $55; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years & under), $10. Sunday: Adult, $55; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years & under), $10.