NHRA NEWS: FRIDAY RESULTS FROM INDIANAPOLIS

SCHUMACHER RACES TO QUICKEST AND FASTEST RUN 

IN MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS HISTORY 

 

   CLERMONT, Ind. – Tony Schumacher raced to the quickest and fastest performance in the 51 year history of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Friday, highlighting a record-setting day of qualifying at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

   Robert Hight, Greg Anderson and Andrew Hines also were qualifying leaders at the the world’s most prestigious drag race, the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

   Schumacher, winner of the last three U.S. Nationals Top Fuel titles and four overall, powered his U.S. Army dragster to a track record run of 4.459 seconds at 329.18 mph to claim the provisional No. 1 position in his category.

   “That was a great run and no matter what it puts us solidly in the top half of the field,�?? Schumacher said. “Now we have some room to get ready for the race on Monday. Alan (Johnson, crew chief) is amazing and he just continues to show that he really knows how to read a race track. Before the run he said we were going to run a mid-4.40 and we did. We tested here last week and ran really good. The track was much better tonight than it was in testing and it showed with our quicker number.�??

   Series points leader Doug Kalitta was second in his Mac Tools dragster, posting a 4.517 at 327.59, while Memphis winner "Hot" Rod Fuller was third in his David Powers Homes/Valvoline dragster, with a 4.520 at 325.61.

   Rookie driver Hight posted a track record time of 4.747 at 321.65 in his Auto Club Ford Mustang to lead Funny Car.

   "To be honest I'm just really glad we're qualified,�?? said Hight, the current series points leader in the 7,000 horsepower category.  “I didn't think I'd get caught up in the Indy hoopla but once you get here and the race starts it's impossible not to. Every fan you talk to asks about the points lead or being Rookie of the Year, or winning the race this weekend. You can't avoid how big this event is to everyone.�??

   Tommy Johnson Jr. was second in the Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo with a 4.748 at 325.77 and Hight team owner John Force was third in his Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang with a 4.767 at 313.22.

   Two-time defending world champion Anderson clocked a track record time of 6.714 at 205.13 in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO to lead Pro Stock.

   "It's magic coming here," said Anderson, a three-time U.S. Nationals winner. "It's so good to be No. 1 right out of the box, but we can't be over-confident. There's a lot of work left to be done. We missed the tune-up a little and definitely left something on the track so to still have the (No. 1 position) after a run like that is a good thing. We have room to improve.�??

   Kurt Johnson was second in his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt with a 6.728 at 205.35, while V. Gaines claimed the third spot with a 6.737 at 203.92 in his Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T.

   Hines was the provisional qualifying leader in Pro Stock Motorcycle, covering the quarter-mile distance in a track record time of 7.085 at 189.04 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

   "I think everyone pretty much knew what we were capable of running because we tested here last week," Hines said. "We ran a 7.10 and a 7.12 then so all we did was work on the 60-foot time and use basically that same tune-up. I like the number we ran tonight. This is usually the best session of qualifying so it could hold. I really like the right lane and I think that's where I'd like to stay tomorrow during the Pro Bike Battle. If we can be consistent and I do my job, we should turn on some win lights."

   Matt Smith took the No. 2 position on a Suzuki with a 7.154 at 181.89 and Antron Brown was third on his U.S. Army Suzuki with a 7.177 at 185.72. Two-time U.S. Nationals winner Angelle Sampey was second overall before her run was disqualified by NHRA Tech for failing a post-run fuel inspection.

   Qualifying continues Saturday and Sunday for Monday’s 11 a.m. eliminations. The Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle will be contested Saturday for the eight quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors and the eight quickest Funny Car drivers will race for the $100,000 winner’s share in the Skoal Showdown on Sunday.

 

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at
Indianapolis Raceway Park, 18th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Qualifying continues Saturday for Monday's final eliminations.

        Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.459 seconds, 329.18 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 4.517, 327.59;
3. Rod Fuller, 4.520, 325.61; 4. Scott Kalitta, 4.531, 328.78; 5. Morgan Lucas, 4.534, 325.30; 6.
Cory McClenathan, 4.550, 316.82; 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.565, 326.48; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 4.570,
326.32; 9. Larry Dixon, 4.615, 291.51; 10. T.J. Zizzo, 4.618, 313.58; 11. Jack Beckman, 4.701,
270.64; 12. Bruce Litton, 4.706, 315.27; 13. Joe Hartley, 4.771, 316.01; 14. Bobby Lagana Jr.,
4.838, 281.30; 15. Doug Herbert, 4.868, 228.15; 16. Mitch King, 4.875, 268.38.

        Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.747, 321.65; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy
Monte Carlo, 4.748, 325.77; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.767, 313.22; 4. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.775,
322.73; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.779, 322.65; 6. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.795,
324.12; 7. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.798, 328.14; 8. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.811, 319.75; 9.
Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.811, 310.84; 10. Frank Pedregon, Stratus, 4.818, 312.21; 11. Jim Head,
Stratus, 4.833, 320.51; 12. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.837, 321.88; 13. Gary Scelzi, Stratus,
4.842, 322.58; 14. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica, 4.852, 317.79; 15. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo,
4.896, 309.63; 16. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 4.979, 239.74.

        Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.714, 205.13; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt,
6.728, 205.35; 3. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.737, 203.92; 4. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.739, 204.54;
5. Jason Line, GTO, 6.743, 204.26; 6. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.743, 204.11; 7. Dave Howard, Cobalt,
6.751, 203.86; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.752, 203.71; 9. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.754, 203.95;
10. Mark Pawuk, GTO, 6.755, 203.98; 11. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Cavalier, 6.756, 203.98; 12. Warren
Johnson, GTO, 6.759, 205.04; 13. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.760, 203.68; 14. Bruce Allen, Grand
Am, 6.767, 203.19; 15. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 6.778, 202.94; 16. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.778,
202.82.

        Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.085, 189.04; 2. Matt Smith,
Buell, 7.154, 181.89; 3. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.177, 185.72; 4. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.184,
180.89; 5. Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.199, 182.18; 6. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.201, 178.33; 7. Chip Ellis,
Buell, 7.203, 183.52; 8. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.218, 177.21; 9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.243,
181.74; 10. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.248, 179.97; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.256, 176.88;
12. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.266, 183.77; 13. Connie Cohen, Suzuki, 7.289, 177.81; 14. Karen Stoffer,
Suzuki, 7.295, 180.07; 15. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.304, 184.12; 16. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.312,
177.84.