Nhra 2008

slugbelch · January 12, 2008

Aaahh, that new car smell...

Whats new for 2008:

TOP FUEL CHAMPION:

TOP FUEL:

Brandon Bernstein:

Doug Herbert:

Rod Fuller:

Antron Brown (formerly Whit Bazemores ride):

Bob Vandergriff:

FUNNY CAR:

Tony Bartone:

Just over three months after suffering severe injuries to his feet, hands, and legs in a 300-mph crash, John Force climbed into and out of the cockpit of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car last week in a special rehabilitation session at the John Force Racing complex supervised by physical therapy director Robert Ortmayer.

"It wasn't easy," Force said, "but I could do it. I said I'd be ready (for the NHRA's 2008 season) and I will.

In fact, just 100 days after being airlifted out of the Texas Motorplex, the 58-year-old drag racing icon has shed the casts on his feet and hands and is maneuvering without either a walker or cane.

PRO STOCK:

Allen Johnson:

Rickie Jones:

Schmids5.3l · January 18, 2008

Greg Anderson IS Pro-stock. I think he cheats he's too good.

* NHRA record 16 number one Pro Stock qualifying positions - 2004.

* NHRA record 15 NHRA POWERADE Pro Stock event wins - 2004.

* NHRA record 72 round wins in a single racing season - 2004.

* NHRA record most points accumulated in a Pro category, 2,402 points - 2004.

* NHRA record largest points margin of victory in a Pro category, 742 points - 2004.

* Holder of Twenty Four (24) track records.

* Qualified for all Twenty-One (21) NHRA POWERADE Pro Stock events in 2002.

* Six (6) Time 2002 NHRA POWERADE Pro Stock National Event Finalist.

* Two (2) NHRA National Event Wins (US Nationals and Pontiac Excitement Nationals) 2002.

* Four (4) Time NHRA POWERADE Pro Stock National Event Runner-Up 2002.

* Current NHRA Pro Stock National Record Holder for E.T. - 6.536 seconds (Gainesville March 2007).

yada yada yada

slugbelch · February 8, 2008

Greg Anderson IS Pro-stock. I think he cheats he's too good.

Well, now that the NHRA season just began yesterday, looks like he still is:

Thursday Schumacher, Kalitta, and Anderson on top after opening day of 2008 season

TOP FUEL:

Reigning NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher kicked off the 2008 season Thursday afternoon with a class-leading 4.51 at 331 mph, the best of 11 cars that dipped into the 4.5-second range in their first attempts to qualify for the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.

Schumacher's pass was impressive for a couple of reasons. For one, it was his first of the season. It was also the first competitive pass under the new 90-percent nitro rule in a chassis that has been beefed up to meet new safety standards. Now he'll see if he can improve before Sundays eliminations.

"That was a decent run on a great track," Schumacher said. "The computer shows that there's a whole lot left in the tune-up. We have an outstanding race car, and we're hoping to get off to a stronger start this season. Alan [Johnson, crew chief] seemed happy, so that's a good thing. I think the change we all wanted with the chassis that they've implemented is huge."

FUNNY CAR:

Kalitta had a rough day in Funny Car but still ended up No. 1 with a 4.818 at 322.65 mph in his DHL Toyota Solara. The two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion blew up an engine during warm-ups and ended up in the top-end sand trap after his pass, but he still seemed pleased with his team's effort.

"After all the changes everyone's gone through this off-season, it was refreshing to see our car respond to what we were asking it to do for once," Kalitta said. "I doubt very seriously that will stay No. 1, but it was good just to have it run like that, especially with the thrash we had in the pits before the round. We had to change motors, and we barely got up there in time to run. There were only two pairs left.

"I only got one parachute out and ended up on the beach. We switched bodies, and when they lowered it down, I could see the levers were [in a different position]. I swiped at them and missed. Then I swiped again and caught them, but we were way down there by then and the brakes were going away. No biggie."

PRO STOCK:

One of just three Pro Stock racers fielding a new Pontiac GXP, Anderson showed the potential of the new design by taking first-day honors with a 6.635 at 208.91 mph.

"This track has always been good to us," said Anderson, a six-time winner in Pomona. "I think we're just scratching the surface of the potential of these GXPs, and you're always a bit hesitant at the start of the season, but I think we just showed that at the very least we'll have a car that can contend for the pole here. Then we'll give it a shot on race day."

ESPN2 Schedule:

Saturday (Feb. 9) 8-10pm Qualifying

Sunday (Feb. 10) 7:30pm -11pm ELIMINATIONS

(All times Eastern)

Zembonez · February 8, 2008

yada yada yada

I liked this part the best.

Schmids5.3l · February 8, 2008

yada yada yada

yada yada yada

slugbelch · February 9, 2008

Friday Top Fuel rookie Brown races to top spot. Kalitta, Aderson maintain no. 1's.

TOP FUEL:

In just his second competitive pass in a Top Fuel dragster, former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle star Antron Brown is on top of the drag racing world at the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals. Brown sped down Auto Club Raceway at at Pomona Friday afternoon with a 4.495 at 330.07 mph in the Matco Tools dragster to surprise his peers and start a mini celebration in the David Powers Motorsports camp.

1. Antron Brown -- Matco Dragster -- 4.495 @ 330.07

2. Tony Schumacher -- U.S. Army Dragster -- 4.513 331.77

3. Morgan Lucas -- Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D -- 4.522 @ 331.04

4. Alan Bradshaw -- Vis Viva Living Force Dragster -- 4.524 @ 306.40

5. David Grubnic -- Kalitta Motorsports Dragster -- 4.530 @ 318.62

Scott Kalitta and Greg Anderson remained in control of Funny Car and Pro Stock, respectively, with neither driver managing to improve on their opening day passes.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Scott Kalitta -- DHL Solara -- 4.818 @ 322.65

2. Cruz Pedregon -- Advance Auto Parts Impala -- 4.830 @ 321.27

3. Ron Capps -- NAPA Auto Parts Charger -- 4.838 @ 322.73

4. Mike Neff -- Old Spice Mustang -- 4.840 @ 321.65

5. Bob Bode -- Alard Machine Products Monte C -- 4.841 @ 314.68

PRO STOCK:

1. Greg Anderson -- Summit Racing Equipment GXP -- 6.635 @ 208.91

2. Kurt Johnson -- AC Delco Cobalt -- 6.646 @ 208.62

3. Jeg Coughlin -- Jegs.com Cobalt -- 6.651 @ 207.98

4. Warren Johnson -- GM Performance Parts GTO -- 6.656 @ 209.04

5. Jason Line -- Summit Racing Equipment GTO -- 6.656 @ 208.81

ESPN2 Schedule:

Saturday (Feb. 9) 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Qualifying

Sunday (Feb. 10) 7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ELIMINATIONS

(All times Eastern)

General Lee 01 · February 9, 2008

Hey belch, any news on John Force? Did he make his return to the track today?

slugbelch · February 9, 2008

Hey belch, any news on John Force? Did he make his return to the track today?

Yep, he's back, but not qualified yet. He's currently 19th, so he needs to step it up with only 2 more shots in the hot sun Sat.

Steveman · February 9, 2008

I was at the race when John Force crashed, man that was crazy! I had gone with one of my friends, and his dad is one of the doctors on the medical team, and he was also the one who gave the official assessment on John Forces condition. It was pretty cool being the first people to know his actual condition. I hope he starts racing again.

doverarjim · February 9, 2008

It's funny when someone wins alot they are always cheating. I can remember when WJ first started making a name for his self everybody he beat said he was cheating, said he had NOS system in the fire bottle and other types of things. When Glidden was winning with Fords and changed to Mopar and kept winning he was cheating, now if you ask me there was that wreck at Atlanta where he was hurt but not bad enough that he put his fire suit jacket over the intake before he went to the hospital. (something strange there) I even heard at one time the Grump cheated!! In pro stock you need the trick of the week.

slugbelch · February 10, 2008

Saturday Wilkerson leaps to #1 in Funny Car. Brown, Aderson maintain no. 1's.

FUNNY CAR:

Standalone Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson surprised all the big-buck mega-teams by using the final qualifying session to post his 4.79 at 325 mph. He's one of the last independent racers in the Funny Car class, but years of experience tuning his own hot rods and a new alliance with Don "The Snake" Prudhomme paid off for Wilkerson.

The largest applause of the day was reserved for returning 14-time champion John Force of nearby Yorba Linda. The sport's most prolific drag racer was outside the field entering Round 4 but managed to post a 4.823 at 321.58 mph in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, which eventually placed him fifth overall. His daughter Ashley was next with a 4.828.

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

17. Jim Head -- Head Racing Solara -- 4.875 @ 325.06

18. Mike Ashley -- ProCare RX Charger RT -- 4.899 @ 323.66

19. Tommy Johnson Jr. -- Monster Energy Drink Charger -- 4.917 @ 313.51

20. Terry Haddock -- Race Girl Monte Carlo -- 5.267 @ 206.04

21. James Day -- Top Fuel Records Stratus -- 5.447 @ 218.55

22. Tony Bartone -- Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo -- 5.679 @ 174.10

23. Del Worsham -- Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala -- 7.733 @ 317.79

TOP FUEL:

It only took four competitive passes in a Top Fuel car for Antron Brown to reach the head of the class as the rookie dragster driver earned low qualifier honors. Brown, a 10-year veteran in Pro Stock Motorcycle, has adapted well after his rare move from two wheels to the fastest accelerating machine known to man, as evidenced by his 4.49-second quarter-mile clocking at 330 mph.

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

17. Steven Chrisman -- Chrisman Driveline Dragster -- 4.932 @ 291.51

PRO STOCK:

Greg Anderson maintained control of Pro Stock but he had to reset both ends of the track record to do so, running a 6.62 at 209mph to earn favored status heading into race day.

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

17. Tom Hammonds -- Cobalt -- 6.721 @ 207.37

18. Larry Morgan -- Lucas Oil Stratus -- 6.725 @ 205.63

19. Vinnie Deceglie -- Mountain View Tire Status -- 6.737 @ 205.38

20. Ben Watson -- Pirhana Z GTO -- 6.737 @ 204.76

21. Jim Yates -- Wiley X Eye Wear GXP -- 6.745 @ 204.91

22. Gordie Rivera -- Gordies Speed Center GTO -- 6.770 @ 205.29

ESPN2 Schedule:

Sunday (Feb. 10) 7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ELIMINATIONS

(All times Eastern)

slugbelch · February 11, 2008

Sunday: Schumacher, Hight, Anderson grab first 2008 POWERade glory in Pomona

TOP FUEL:

Five-time NHRA POWERade champion Tony Schumacher moved into second-place on the all-time NHRA Top Fuel wins list Sunday with a big victory at the season-opening 48th annual NHRA Winternationals. Still bubbling with excitement from his title-clinching run here in November, Schumacher simply picked up where he left off in his U.S. Army dragster, posting the quickest elapsed time of every session, including a 4.499 at 331.28 mph against teammate Cory McClenathan's 4.536 at 329.26 mph in the final, while still on 85% nitro.

If consistency wins championships then Schumacher is off to a tremendous start. In eight runs down the quarter-mile at this event his range of elapsed times went from 4.499 to 4.533 seconds, a remarkable feat by any standard.

PRO STOCK:

It was a classic battle of three-time NHRA champions in the Pro Stock final with Anderson edging Coughlin by .02-second. Anderson's Summit Racing Pontiac GXP was the quickest of every round and he saved the best pass for the final where his 6.616 at 209.23 mph eliminated Coughlin's 6.638 at 208.42 mph in his Jegs.com Cobalt.

"We're going to try to win every single race this year. We got off of that last year and I paid dearly for it in the end. We thought we could pull back and test some things after we built up such a big lead but we found out you can't just turn it on and off like that. It was a lesson learned, for sure, and I won't make that mistake again. This will be the toughest year every in this class and we won't give an inch if we can help it."

FUNNY CAR:

Like Schumacher, Hight continued his love affair with Pomona's pavement, winning his second straight race and third overall at his hometown facility. This time it was Pedregon on the losing end in the final as Hight's 4.861 at a blower-belt-tossing 284.39 mph in the Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang defeated Pedregon's 4.879 at 322.50 mph in his Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala SS.

"I can see so well in this car. I had to pedal in the first two rounds and I was able to see where I was and when I could get back on it so much quicker. I'm giving this trophy to Niranjan Singh, the Ford engineer who worked night and day to build this new car. He came over from Formula 1 and he's been relentless working on this thing to get it ready in time."

Three of the four Team Force Mustangs made it to the semifinals with Pedregon the lone interloper. On one side of the ladder Hight beat John Force with a 4.842 when Force went up in smoke, while Pedregon and Ashley Force raced hard to the 1,000-foot marker before her engine went silent. This was Pedregon's 56th career final. He has 23 victories.

ESPN2 Schedule:

Feb. 13: 3:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m. Repeat Eliminations

(Eastern) / credit: NHRA, Auto Imagery

slugbelch · February 11, 2008

Defending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champ Tony Pedregon suffered an engine explosion in the first round. Pedregon returned to the track to cheer on his brother Cruz Pedregon in the final.

The carbon fiber body on Pedregon's car was blown off the chassis by the force of the explosion, but Pedregon crossed the finish line at 4.983 @ 267.80mph. and then managed to bring his car to a stop in the opposite lane near the end of the shutdown.

"There was no warning," said Pedregon, who was sporting a bandage on the fingers of his right hand. "A lot of times when something happens to your car, like when you drop a cylinder, you feel it, and I would have reacted. But it blew up, and I had instant flames, and the scary part was I didn't know where I was. I hit the wall very hard and I feel very lucky.

"I think at this point, the backing and the partnership we've formed with GM is going to help because we have bodies on the way. This is a little bit of a glitch for us, but this is why we have depth," he added.