February 7, 2009

Courtesy Dean Murdoch

Not the way the NHRA and the Full Throttle series was supposed to kick off, as weather played havoc in the first three days of qualifying. The Pro only made one lap, and a couple huge names were left to watch from the sidelines at the end of the day. Alan Johnson's Al-Anabi Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon was left to ponder..........."Why didn't we make a soft pass........... as they went up in smoke. Tim Wilkerson in Nitro Funny Car wound up in the same vote with the Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang.

Along with the disappointments for those couple teams, a few other teams did not get out for what ended up to be the lone qualifer. Those outside must have thought they would get in one more session.

Also of note, a few of the numbers put up by a couple Top Fuel and Funny Car teams do seem suspect though, as the 3.70 by Antron Brown and the 3.74 by Joe Hartley did not mesh with the first half numbers they ran. In fact Cory Mac was basically the same et and mph to half track right beside Brown, and ran he 313 mph but Brown ran .15 quicker in et (the mph clocks in the left lane did not work on many of the Pro runs). Robert Hight, Ashley Force and Del Worsham all have very quick ets with no speed in the left lane. No comments have been made by NHRA officials regarding the times so as of right now, they all stand. Many internet boards have been lit up by readers stating the ets were not kosher. Maybe Jeff Foster (electonics guru for Compulink) will make a comment on the subject.

 

Courtesy NHRA and DRC

POMONA, Calif. -- Antron Brown in Top Fuel, Robert Hight in Funny Car and Greg Anderson in Pro Stock qualified number one at the 49th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals. Due rain throughout the week qualifying was shorten to the one shot. Eliminations will start at 11 am Sunday at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Brown in his Matco Tools dragster for the second year in a row qualified number one in Top Fuel at the season opener. His career best pass of 3.708 seconds is also the quickest pass in the 1000-foot era. This is Brown's fourth number one qualifying position in 25 races in Top Fuel. This is the first race for Brown with team owner Mike Ashley and crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald. Joe Hartley with a career best pass of 3.748 seconds qualified number two for the first time in his career. Cory McClenathan, Brandon Bernstein and Tony Schuamacher round out the top five positions in qualifying. Larry Dixon making his debut in the Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel failed to make the show for the first time since Dallas of 2006, a total of 51 races.

Robert Hight in his Auto Club Ford Mustang qualified number one for 29th time in career and the first time at the Winternationals. Hight's pass of 4.037 seconds was the third quickest pass in the history of the 1000-foot era. Del Worsham making his debut in the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car ran a career best pass of 4.038 seconds to qualify second, this was the fourth quickest pass of the 1000-foot era. Ashley Force Hood, John Force and Bob Tasca III round out the top five in qualifying. Tim Wilkerson coming off his career best finish in the points did not qualify for the first time since the second Las Vegas race of 2007, a total of 25 races.

Greg Anderson in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP qualified number one for the fourth consecutive year at the Winternationals. His pass of 6.588 seconds at 209.59 mph set both ends of the track record. Anderson's teammate Jason Line qualified second with a 6.616 second pass at 209.43 mph. His pass was the track mph record for two pairs of cars. Allen Johnson, Mike Edwards and Warren Johnson round out the top five.

Shawn Cowie qualified number one Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.356 seconds at 268.65 mph, and Frank Manzo qualified number one in Top Alcohol Funny Car with a 5.585 seconds at 259.56 mph.

 

Top Fuel final qualifying (One round due to weather)

1 5 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, Hadman-TFX 3.708 0.00 0.00
2 524 Joe Hartley, Portland OR, McKinney-BAE 3.748 0.00 0.00
3 3 Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 3.851 313.66 313.66
4 7 Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest CA, Hadman-TFX 3.866 317.42 317.42
5 1 Tony Schumacher, Long Grove IL, Hadman-TFX 3.897 311.99 311.99
6 111 Urs Erbacher, Arlesheim CH, Harman-BAE 3.915 305.63 305.63
7 13 David Baca, Brentwood CA, McKinney-BAE 3.920 0.00 0.00
8 421 Spencer Massey, Vista CA, McKinney-TFX 3.968 0.00 0.00
9 72 Mike Strasburg, Lindon UT, Hadman-TFX 3.980 305.01 305.01
10 700 Steven Chrisman, Anaheim CA, McKinney-TFX 4.000 0.00 0.00
11 9 Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, Attac-TFX 4.016 0.00 0.00
12 744 Del Cox Jr, Downey CA, McKinney-BAE 4.020 0.00 0.00
13 261 Andy Carter, London UK, Hadman-TFX 4.020 0.00 0.00
14 33 Shawn Langdon, Brownberg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.091 307.79 307.79
15 34 Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-TFX 4.548 270.81 270.81
16 735 Steve Farria, Tulare CA, Uyehara-TFX 4.854 252.61 252.61

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

17 255 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, Hadman-BAE 5.142 144.84 144.84
18 2 Larry Dixon, Indianapolis IN, Hadman-TFX 6.326 102.68 102.68

Pro Stock (One round due to weather)

1 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '09 GXP 6.588# 209.59% 209.59
2 5 Jason Line, Mooresville NC, '08 GXP 6.616 209.43 209.43
3 7 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '08 Stratus 6.625 207.82 207.82
4 4 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '08 GXP 6.628 208.59 208.59
5 208 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 GXP 6.629 208.62 208.62
6 1 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '09 Cobalt 6.629 208.23 208.23
7 3 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '08 Cobalt 6.642 207.91 207.91
8 700 David Beckley, Wildomar CA, '06 Stratus 6.650 206.61 206.61
9 9 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '08 Stratus 6.654 206.32 206.32
10 31 Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '07 Stratus 6.661 208.33 208.33
11 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '07 Stratus 6.662 207.69 207.69
12 14 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '08 GXP 6.665 206.64 206.64
13 8 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '08 GXP 6.677 207.08 207.08
14 20 Tom Hammonds, Holt FL, '09 Cobalt 6.682 206.20 206.20
15 317 Rickie Jones, Galesburg IL, '07 Stratus 6.691 206.26 206.26
16 10 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '09 Cobalt 6.832 172.17 172.17

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

17 381 Jerry Haas, Fenton MO, '07 GTO 6.854 202.55 202.55
18 61 Bob Panella, Stockton CA, '08 Stratus 7.202 149.25 149.25
19 326 Steve Spiess, Manhattan IL, '08 Cobalt 7.221 148.79 148.79
20 430 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '09 Mustang 11.959 73.12 73.12
21 102 Frank Gugliotta, Mount Airey MD, '09 GXP 23.129 53.91 53.91
22 752 Gordie Rivera, Yuma AZ, '07 GTO 25.448 31.85 31.85

TAFC (One round due to weather)

1 1 Frank Manzo, Morganville NJ, '06 Monte Carlo 5.585 259.56 259.56
2 63 Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls OR, '06 Monte Ca 5.633 253.61 253.61
3 10 Sean O'Bannon, Ontario CA, '06 Monte Carlo 5.649 257.73 257.73
4 6843 Ken Webster, Red Deer AB, '08 Monte Carlo 5.719 254.90 254.90
5 727 Ron August Jr, Pleasanton CA, '08 Mustang 5.774 254.14 254.14
6 7238 Bret Williamson, Campbell CA, '01 Corvette 5.792 245.72 245.72
7 72 Doug Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '07 Monte Carlo 5.802 255.29 255.29
8 799 Sean Bellemeur, Tustin CA, '05 Firebird 5.818 248.84 248.84
9 457 Tony Bartone, Long Island City NY, '09 Mustang 5.837 244.78 244.78
10 3 Jay Payne, Claremont CA, '07 Mustang 5.850 210.37 210.37
11 7338 Brian Smith, Fullerton CA, '07 Camaro 5.873 248.25 248.25
12 717 Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove CA, '02 Camaro 6.088 241.97 241.97
13 758 Rian Konno, Rosemead CA, '02 Trans Am 6.308 194.77 194.77
14 714 Dennis Taylor, Anaheim Hills CA, '05 Camaro 6.700 147.62 147.62
15 779 Daniel Oliver, Whittier CA, '07 Monte Carlo 6.807 165.78 165.78
16 77 Mark Woznichak, Riverside CA, '03 Camaro 7.001 153.56 153.56

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

17 765 Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley CA, '02 Firebi 7.955 80.80 80.80
18 7 Brian Hough, Junction City OR, '06 Monte Carlo 8.081 114.66 114.66
19 7735 Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina CA, '08 Mustang 9.104 152.68 152.68
20 7976 Keeter Ray, Newport Beach CA, '08 Mustang 10.214 82.83 82.83
21 828 Leif Andreasson, Solna SW, '06 Stratus RT DQ

TAD (One round due to weather)

1 8 TA/D Shawn Cowie, Delta BC, Santos-BAE 5.356 268.65 268.65
2 2 B/AD Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, CNE-BAE 5.374 266.64 266.64
3 5 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, Hadman-B 5.396 264.55 264.55
4 72 B/AD Chris Demke, Sunland CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.408 263.62 263.62
5 74 A/FD Randy Eakins, Carson City NV, CNE-TFX 5.421 261.88 261.88
6 734 A/FD Johnny Ahten, Saugus CA, Uyehara-TFX 5.427 256.26 256.26
7 65 B/AD Justin Davis, Murrieta CA, CNE-BAE 5.467 250.41 250.41
8 6610 A/FD Brandon Johnson, Shelton WA, Hadman-BAE 5.512 258.67 258.67
9 51 B/AD Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg NE, Uyehara 5.537 243.37 243.37
10 745 A/FD Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney 5.547 246.89 246.89
11 6715 A/FD Doug Hegge, Vancouver WA, Sarmento-Reic 5.579 263.92 263.92
12 7405 TA/D Kevin Wayman, South Jordan UT, Hadman-BAE 5.586 243.19 243.19
13 6121 B/AD Ashley Bart, High River AB, Hadman-BAE 5.607 217.21 242.93
14 7222 TA/D Dennis Swearingen, Rolling Hills Estates 5.629 252.57 252.57
15 744 A/FD Courtney Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney 5.687 251.58 251.58
16 712 A/FD Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach CA, Spit 5.784 247.70 247.70

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

17 613 B/AD Joey Severance, Spanaway WA, Hadman-MBR 6.148 165.54 165.54
18 716 TA/D Bill Dunlap, Capitola CA, Sterling-TFX 7.329 159.19 159.19
19 75 A/FD Del Cox Jr., Downey CA, Hadman-BAE 7.840 137.40 137.40