J.R. Todd powered to the top of the Top Fuel speed charts in Friday qualifying for the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. Photo courtesy NHRA Media
CONCORD, NC – J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders-Stevens, and Hector Arana, Jr. topped the speed charts in Friday’s opening qualifying rounds for Sunday’s seven-annual PepBoys Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC in the opening race for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown for the Championship.
With the threat of bad weather looming in the evening forecast, NHRA officials moved Friday’s qualifying to a daytime session, sending teams scrambling to adjust their car to account for much warmer track conditions.
The change in schedule was readily apparent in the qualifying times, which were far below last year’s event which saw some record low ET’s.
In Top Fuel, J.R. Todd rebounded from a disastrous opening round qualifying attempt to power his way to the No. 1 spot on speed charts, turning in a low ET of 3.828 seconds at 310.34 mph.
Todd, who came into Friday’s sessions holding the tenth and final spot in the 10-driver Countdown field, collected three bonus points for his second round effort.
“I definitely expected to see some low 80s out there, but I’m happy to get three bonus points,” Todd said. “We started No. 10 in the Countdown so we need every point that we can get. There’s nowhere to go but up.”
Shawn Langdon, who raced alongside Todd in the second session, made the second-highest jump of the day, going from 14th to second with a time of 3.840 seconds at 317.05 mph. Billy Torrence, who led the opening round, didn’t improve on his time of 3.846, 319.75 mph and remained third. Tony Schumacher was fourth at 3.847, 316.30 mph followed by Spencer Massey at 3.851, 319.37 mph.
Brittany Force, who is currently ninth in the Countdown field, was one of seven drivers who have yet to earn a spot in Sunday’s field and will be looking to race their way in during Saturday’s qualifying sessions.
Matt Hagan came on top in Funny Car after the No. 1 qualifier spot changed hands four times in the final round, running a 4.114 at 304.25 mph to knock Ron Capps from atop the ladder.
Courtney Force posted the low ET of the opening round but wasn’t able to hold the spot as six drivers came up in the second round and bested her time, with Robert Hight, Ron Capps and finally Hagan all turned in quicker passes in rapid succession.
Hagan came out on a solo run as Alexis DeJoria was unable to answer the call, running 4.114 at 304.25 mph, well off the track record speed he set here in 2011, and much slower than the speeds he expects to see in Saturday’s qualifying.
“I don’t think this No. 1 qualifier will hold tomorrow,” Hagan said. “We may get some cloud cover tomorrow so everybody is going to try to step up and they all have good data to work from. We are thankful to get two great solid runs down the racetrack. Hopefully we can go some rounds on Sunday. It’s the Countdown right now and every point counts. I’ve seen championships won or lost by one or two points. So every one of them counts.”
Capps remained second with a 4.123, 297.35 mph, followed by Beckman (4.124, 305.22 mph), Del Worsham (4.126, 306.46 mph) and Hight (4.140, 305.91 mph).
Countdown contender Cruz Pedregon was among those still not qualified for the event. He’ll have two chances on Saturday to try and make the field for Sunday.
In Pro Stock, Enders-Stevens wired but sessions as the only driver in the 16-car field to run a 6.5, posting a 6.591 at 210.11 mph in the first round to claim the provisional no. 1 spot.
Ender-Stevens, currently seeded second in the Countdown, earned six bonus points for leading each of the two rounds
These self-care programs enhance the viagra order canada recovery time of your jaw. For best results, take KAMAGRA on an empty stomach or after consuming a low-fat meal Side Effects: Possible common side effects observed with the intake of the medicine can qualitatively support quick blending of the product before placing your order. pfizer viagra discount The final pathological changes of hypertensive damage to the fetus/foetus and affects nichestlouis.com sildenafil side effects the structure of the organ system. The wide discipline of Urology & Andrology can be alienated into other specialties, including: 1. cialis tadalafil uk “We just have to do our job day in and day out, and make every little point count,” Enders-Stevens said. “We had a team meeting this morning, where we discussed our goals for the Countdown… It’s the small steps on the way to the big goal. We’re just going to keep our heads down and stay focused. This is not a bad way to start though.”
Jeg Coughlin (6.602, 209.33 mph), Dave Connolly (6.603, 209.23 mph), points leader Jason Line (6.607, 209.59 mph) and Allen Johnson (6.609, 208.81 mph) made up the rest of the top five.
Hector Arana, Jr. moved up a spot to take over the No. 1 qualifying spot in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class
Arana, Jr. made a pass as part of the final pair in the second session and turned in a low ET of 6.876 at 195.48 mph to jump from second to first and knock Steve Johnson off the pole.
Johnson held onto the second spot with a 6.893, 193.77 mph, while Eddie Krawiec, who led the opening round of qualifying, posted a quicker second round time of 6.901, 191.67 mph but wound up in the third spot. Matt Smith was fourth a 6.925, 192.08 mph followed by John Hall at 6.940, 192.44 mph.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
zMax Dragway – Concord, NC
NHRA Carolina Nationals – Sept. 12, 2014
Friday’s Qualifying Results
Top Fuel — 1. J.R. Todd, 3.828 seconds, 310.34 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.840, 317.05; 3. Billy Torrence, 3.846, 319.75; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.847, 316.30; 5. Spencer Massey, 3.851, 319.37; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.852, 320.58; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.867, 315.27; 8. Antron Brown, 3.869, 311.27; 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.872, 317.94; 10. Morgan Lucas, 3.887, 278.46; 11. Leah Pritchett, 3.889, 305.91; 12. Richie Crampton, 3.891, 311.05.
Not Qualified: 13. Bob Vandergriff, 3.895, 314.09; 14. Terry McMillen, 3.904, 314.53; 15. Brittany Force, 3.908, 306.67; 16. Pat Dakin, 3.912, 302.14; 17. Ike Maier, 5.596, 189.66; 18. Chris Karamesines, 5.890, 107.63; 19. Clay Millican, 6.479, 85.83.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.114, 304.25; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.123, 297.35; 3. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.124, 305.22; 4. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.126, 306.46; 5. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.140, 305.91; 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.141, 287.66; 7. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.155, 288.21; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.162, 305.84; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.185, 292.77; 10. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.194, 276.24; 11. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.208, 303.03; 12. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.363, 231.75.
Not Qualified: 13. Bob Tasca III, 4.820, 169.68; 14. Chad Head, 4.868, 166.01; 15. Cruz Pedregon, 6.267, 107.25; 16. Dave Richards, 10.478, 79.08; 17. Bob Gilbertson, broke.
Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Camaro, 6.591, 210.11; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.602, 209.33; 3. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.603, 209.23; 4. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.607, 209.59; 5. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.609, 208.94; 6. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.609, 208.49; 7. Richie Stevens, Camaro, 6.610, 209.23; 8. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.615, 209.52; 9. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.618, 209.85; 10. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.637, 207.66; 11. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.641, 209.20; 12. V. Gaines, Dart, 6.649, 209.20.
Not Qualified: 13. Rodger Brogdon, 6.664, 207.78; 14. Larry Morgan, 6.701, 206.67; 15. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.703, 207.24; 16. Shane Tucker, 7.038, 159.25.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.876, 195.48; 2. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.893, 193.77; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.901, 191.70; 4. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.925, 192.17; 5. John Hall, Buell, 6.940, 192.44; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.951, 191.38; 7. Adam Arana, Buell, 6.957, 192.44; 8. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.968, 191.08; 9. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.977, 192.69; 10. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.983, 192.36; 11. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.987, 189.23; 12. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.991, 188.86.
Not Qualified: 13. Shawn Gann, 7.038, 190.11; 14. Brian Pretzel, 7.276, 183.15; 15. Michael Ray, 7.785, 124.72; 16. Hector Arana, 13.327, 58.94.
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