NHRA NEWS: FRIDAY QUALIFYING
HERBERT, CAPPS, ANDERSON LEAD QUALIFYING AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX
ENNIS, Texas - Doug Herbert rocketed to the provisional No. 1 qualifying
position in his Top Fuel dragster during the opening day of action at
the Texas Motorplex that was highlighted by record-setting times and a
spectacular crash.
Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) paced their
respective fields at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals. The $1.5 million
race is the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series.
Herbert blasted his Snap-on Tools dragster down the quarter-mile in a
track record time of 4.441 seconds at 328.06 mph.
"Wayne [Dupuy, crew chief] told me to hold on because we were going for
the (No. 1 spot)," Herbert said. "He told me, 'Don't shut off early.' I
said I'd drive it to the turn-off (end of the track) if he wanted me to.
At 400 feet (the car) lifted the front tires and started scooting around
and I knew I was on a run. I had to drive quite a bit but I wasn't gonna
lift.
"This proves a fat boy can go fast. I probably have 60 pounds on the
nearest driver but Wayne has this thing balanced just right and we were
able to run a great big number. If it's overcast and cool again tomorrow
we'll go for the record. Why not swing for the fences?"
Capps also posted a track record for time with his pass of 4.694 at
327.82 in his Brut Dodge Stratus R/T. He is currently third in the
tightest Funny Car points race in NHRA history, 45 points behind leader
and teammate Gary Scelzi.
"(John) Force is only two (points) in front of me (in the standings),"
Capps said. "We're getting down to it. There are so many little things
going on right now that you never would even have imagined with three
races left. It could be so important just to get one qualifying (point)
or an oil-down penalty. There's a lot of weekend left."
Two-time defending series champion Anderson set both ends of the track
record when he shut the clocks off in 6.654 at 207.18 in his Summit
Racing Equipment Pontiac.
"Tomorrow is probably going to be a completely different day," Anderson
said. "It's probably going to be 75 degrees and sunny, so it's going to
be completely different conditions. It'll be more real-time, it'll be
more what we're going to see on Sunday."
Two Pro Stock drivers escaped major injuries after a spectacular crash
during the second round of qualifying.
The two cars made contact, with Koretsky's car driving through the rear
end of Allen's car, resulting in a fiery explosion which sent debris
across the track.
Both drivers were conscious and alert following the accident. As a
precautionary measure, they were taken by emergency helicopter to
Parkland Medical Center in Dallas.
ENNIS, Texas -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 20th annual
O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at Texas
Motorplex, 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final
eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Herbert, 4.441 seconds, 328.06 mph; 2.
Melanie Troxel, 4.458, 330.31; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.474, 332.02; 4. Rod
Fuller, 4.493, 328.94; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.494, 328.62; 6. Morgan
Lucas, 4.509, 320.81; 7. Larry Dixon, 4.514, 329.34; 8. Doug Kalitta,
4.518, 328.94; 9. Scott Kalitta, 4.570, 321.88; 10. Cory McClenathan,
4.635, 327.74; 11. Jack Beckman, 4.636, 305.08; 12. John Smith, 4.674,
287.60; 13. Mitch King, 4.862, 292.52; 14. Scott Weis, 4.906, 234.09;
15. Bill Ancona, 5.214, 218.65; 16. Joe Hartley, 6.358, 134.39.
Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Stratus, 4.694, 327.82; 2. Eric
Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.698, 322.96; 3. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.711,
330.31; 4. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.711, 326.71; 5. Gary
Scelzi, Stratus, 4.716, 326.40; 6. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.731,
326.08; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.737, 326.40; 8. Mike Ashley, Monte
Carlo, 4.766, 327.27; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.772, 323.89;
10. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica, 4.811, 308.07; 11. Del Worsham, Monte
Carlo, 4.822, 324.51; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 4.837, 317.27;
13. Jack Wyatt, Pontiac Firebird, 4.869, 287.72; 14. Gary Densham, Monte
Carlo, 4.876, 308.00; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.893, 319.22; 16.
Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.911, 319.37.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.654, 207.18; 2.
Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.663, 207.15; 3. Jason Line, GTO, 6.673,
206.92; 4. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.679, 206.51; 5. Erica Enders, Cobalt,
6.683, 206.42; 6. Mark Pawuk, GTO, 6.699, 206.04; 7. Larry Morgan, Dodge
Stratus, 6.700, 205.79; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.700, 205.35; 9.
Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.702, 205.29; 10. Rickie Smith, Cobalt, 6.703,
205.54; 11. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.706, 205.54; 12. V. Gaines,
Stratus, 6.708, 205.38; 13. Bruce Allen, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.714,
204.76; 14. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 6.716, 204.94; 15. Jim Yates, GTO,
6.718, 205.35; 16. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.721, 205.19.
