NHRA NEWS: POWERADE SERIES RESULTS MONDAY FROM
MEMPHIS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications, (626) 914-4761
FORCE, KALITTA, JOHNSON AND HINES WIN RAIN-DELAYED O'REILLY NHRA
MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Thirteen-time Funny Car champion John Force raced to
the lead in the POWERade Series points standings by winning the
rain-delayed $1.6 million O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals Monday afternoon
at Memphis Motorsports Park. Force, who has been in second place for
most of the season, defeated former teammate Tony Pedregon in the final
round to move in front of Ron Capps in the series standings by 17
points.
Sharing the winner's circle with Force at the NHRA POWERade Series event
was Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta; Kurt Johnson in Pro Stock; and
back-to-back reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Andrew Hines, who moved
back on top in his category by three points.
Until Monday, it seemed every time Force had a chance to make up some
ground on Capps in the points race, he'd let the opportunity slip away.
Not so in Memphis as he recorded his 121st victory in his 194th career
final after Capps was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Pedregon.
After leaving dead-even with Pedregon, Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.786 seconds at 318.24 mph -- the
quickest and fastest pass of the weekend -- to easily better Pedregon's
tire-smoking 5.048 in his Q Racing Chevy Monte Carlo.
"I ain't trying to play it cool here but let's not get too excited about
being in the lead by a few points," said Force of his second win of the
season. "The heat's still killing us. It just wasn't too bad today. I
guess I ran a track record there in the final so that proves it. Today
was good, I didn't see Elvis at 1,000 feet and we got the win. They
still feel just as good as the first one did."
Kalitta's victory over first-time finalist and teammate Hillary Will was
efficient, but by far his biggest win of the race was his second-round
defeat of Tony Schumacher, who had been closing in fast in his U.S. Army
dragster on Kalitta with five final-round showings in a row.
The Kalitta vs. Schumacher showdown could end up being a pivotal moment
in the 2006 Top Fuel title chase as the two drivers have gone
head-to-head for the fourth time in the last five races. This time
Kalitta got the win to end Schumacher's incredible streak. Kalitta was
able to pump his lead back up to 136 points over the three-time world
champ.
"I've struggled here over the years to finally get a win here," said
Kalitta, who posted a 4.604 at 313.95 in his Mac Tools dragster in the
final round to defeat Will, who clocked a 4.644 at 312 in her KB Racing
dragster in her first career final. "It was huge. It was a real close
race with Tony. To have to run those guys and get by makes it more
special to get that first win here at Memphis.
"We're coming out of here with a few more points than we came in with.
It's really what we've needed to do, because we've been fading a little
the last few races."
Line continues to have the best car in Pro Stock as his Summit Racing
Pontiac GTO once again ran the quickest pass in the Pro Stock final.
However, just as it was in Brainerd, Minn., one week ago, a better light
by his opponent gave the trophy away.
Johnson had the quicker reaction time and powered his ACDelco Chevy
Cobalt to a 6.718 at 204.42 to hold off the charging Line, who posted a
quicker, but losing 6.703 at 205.38.
"I've never been able to win here on Sunday," said Johnson, a two-time
runner-up at this event. "Maybe we should always race on Mondays
instead. We're still figuring out a new car. We ran it at Brainerd and
here, so it's only got a few passes on it, but it seems to be happy at
the moment. It reacts well, goes fast, and runs quick.
"I want to win the next six races, but there are so many good drivers
and crews out here. We're all human. We want to hit home runs every time
up, but it usually doesn't work that way. You have to do the best you
can and see what happens."
With the POWERade Series lead on the line, Pro Stock Motorcycle
contenders Hines and Brown didn't get to race because Brown fouled at
the start on his U.S. Army Suzuki by .006 seconds, his sixth red-light
start of the year and third with the trophy on the line. It was Hines'
second victory of the year and seventh of his career on his Screamin'
Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
"I saw Antron's red-light come on and everything just went blank," Hines
said. "To come in here and get the win and get the POWERade points lead
back is such an awesome feeling. I hope it's hot the rest of the year
because we've done really well at the two hottest places we raced this
year, here and Denver."
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 52nd annual Mac
Tools U.S. Nationals, Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at O'Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis.
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional
categories at the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by
Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park. The $1.6 million race is the 17th
of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Hillary Will; 3. Brandon Bernstein; 4. Morgan Lucas;
5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Larry Dixon; 7. Bob Vandergriff; 8. Scott
Palmer; 9. Cory McClenathan; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Doug Herbert; 12.
Melanie Troxel; 13. David Grubnic; 14. Clay Millican; 15. Troy Buff; 16.
Rod Fuller.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo;
3.Robert Hight, Mustang; 4. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 5. Mike Ashley, Dodge
Stratus; 6. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger; 7. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo; 8.
Whit Bazemore, Charger; 9. Gary Scelzi, Charger; 10. Bob Gilbertson,
Stratus; 11. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo;
13. Jim Head, Stratus; 14. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo; 15. Tommy Johnson
Jr., Monte Carlo; 16. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO; 3. Mike
Edwards, GTO; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 5. Warren Johnson, GTO;
6. Larry Morgan, Stratus; 7. V. Gaines, Stratus; 8. Greg Anderson,
GTO; 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 10. Greg Stanfield, GTO; 11. Tom
Martino, GTO;
12. Richie Stevens, Stratus; 13. Tom Lee, Cobalt; 14. Jim Yates, GTO;
15. Dave Northrop, Stratus; 16. Dave Howard, Cobalt.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 3. Michael
Phillips, Suzuki; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 5. Matt Smith; 6. Shawn
Gann, Suzuki; 7. Chip Ellis; 8. Ryan Schnitz; 9. Mike Berry, Suzuki;
10. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki; 11. Tom Bradford; 12. Steve Johnson,
Suzuki; 13.
GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 14. Chris Rivas; 15. Geno Scali, Suzuki;
16. Craig Treble, Suzuki.
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Monday's final results from the 19th annual
O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis
Motorsports Park. The $1.6 million race is the 17th of 23 in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.604 seconds, 313.95 mph def. Hillary Will,
4.644 seconds, 312.13 mph.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.786, 318.24 def. Tony
Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.048,
238.72.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 9.085, 96.61
def. Antron Brown, Suzuki,
foul.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.718, 204.42 def. Jason Line,
Pontiac GTO, 6.703,
205.38.
Competition Eliminator -- Lee Zane, Bantam Roadster, 9.325, 117.44 def.
Al Ackerman, Dragster,
foul.
Stock Eliminator -- Jimmy Hidalgo, Chevy Camaro, 13.239, 69.13 def.
Edmond Richardson, Camaro,
11.476, 92.37.
Super Comp -- J. Lee Didier, Dragster, 8.883, 176.33 def. Phillip
Chester, Dragster, 8.872,
160.81.
Super Gas -- David Tatum III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.941, 161.65 def. Ryan
Bolin, Ford Mustang, 9.894,
141.64.
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Final round-by-round results from the 19th annual
O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis
Motorsports Park, the 17th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Morgan Lucas, 5.180, 240.77 def. J.R. Todd, 5.225, 261.12;
Doug Kalitta, 4.860, 283.73 def. Cory McClenathan, 5.149, 271.62; Larry
Dixon, 4.880, 288.77 def. Troy Buff, 9.318, 85.42; Brandon Bernstein,
5.325, 221.02 def. Doug Herbert, 5.531, 257.63; Bob Vandergriff, 5.390,
199.82 def. Rod Fuller, broke; Tony Schumacher, 4.757, 296.70 def. Clay
Millican, 5.751, 160.02; Hillary Will, 4.823, 295.72 def. Melanie
Troxel, 5.543, 180.57; Scott Palmer, 5.044, 251.25 def. David Grubnic,
5.658, 250.23;
QUARTERFINALS -- Lucas, 4.637, 294.95 def. Vandergriff, 4.720, 312.35;
Bernstein, 4.553, 327.59 def. Dixon, 4.614, 320.05; Will, 4.675, 313.58
def. Palmer, 5.761, 167.47; Kalitta, 4.599, 312.86 def. Schumacher,
4.592, 323.58;
SEMIFINALS -- Will, 4.657, 313.29 def. Lucas, 6.493, 129.94; Kalitta,
4.631, 315.93 def. Bernstein, 4.874, 310.05;
FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.604, 313.95 def. Will, 4.644, 312.13.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.426, 276.01 def. Jim
Head, Dodge Stratus, 5.821, 215.96; Whit Bazemore, Dodge Charger,
11.545, 68.78 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, foul; Tony Pedregon,
Monte Carlo, 5.247, 270.16 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.361,
226.20; Eric Medlen,
Ford Mustang, 6.100, 212.29 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 6.812,
158.41; Ron Capps, Charger, 5.058, 292.08 def. Cruz Pedregon, Monte
Carlo, 5.384, 249.07; John Force, Mustang, 5.356, 255.68 def. Tim
Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 12.108, 78.38; Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.097,
283.13 def. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.332, 275.00; Mike Ashley,
Stratus, 5.147, 274.66 def. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 5.226, 276.18;
QUARTERFINALS -- Medlen, 4.924, 300.00 def. Burkart, 5.025, 310.34;
Force, 4.824, 316.23 def. Bazemore, 5.107, 238.98; Hight, 4.835, 309.20
def. Ashley, 4.833, 314.97; T. Pedregon, 4.892, 313.44 def. Capps,
4.941, 302.89;
SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.895, 312.71 def. Hight, 4.958, 297.88;
Force, 5.017, 304.94 def. Medlen, 11.791, 63.13;
FINAL -- Force, 4.786, 318.24 def. T. Pedregon, 5.048, 238.72.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.810, 202.97 def. Jim Yates,
Pontiac GTO, 6.864, 203.06; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.814, 203.06 def. Dave
Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.788, 203.12; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.793, 203.80
def. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 17.145, 40.58; Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.798,
203.31 def. Tom Martino, GTO, foul; Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.790, 204.11
def. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.884, 202.36; Jason Line, GTO, 6.763,
203.68 def. Tom Lee, Cobalt, 6.835, 203.65; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.782,
203.25 def. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.797, 203.06; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt,
6.781, 203.06 def. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.812, 202.91;
QUARTERFINALS -- Edwards, 6.718, 204.54 def. W. Johnson, 6.731, 204.05;
A. Johnson, 6.729, 203.71 def. Anderson, 9.844, 92.22; K. Johnson,
6.718, 204.26 def. Morgan, 6.742, 204.39; Line, 6.694, 205.10 def.
Gaines, 6.759, 204.01;
SEMIFINALS -- K. Johnson, 6.708, 204.45 def. A. Johnson, 8.402, 113.84;
Line, 6.726, 205.01 def. Edwards, 6.742, 204.94;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.718, 204.42 def. Line, 6.703, 205.38.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.273, 184.77 def. Craig Treble,
Suzuki, foul; Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.237, 182.45 def. GT Tonglet,
Harley-Davidson, 7.241, 183.89; Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.227, 182.60 def.
Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.238, 184.55; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.211, 184.98
def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.192, 182.01; Andrew Hines,
Harley-Davidson, 7.196, 185.10 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.262, 183.54;
Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.268, 182.77 def. Tom Bradford, Buell, foul;
Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.164, 184.77 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.251,
181.37; Mike Berry, Suzuki, broke def. Matt Smith, Buell, broke; Matt
Smith, Buell, 7.131, 182.11 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.149, 185.72;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.146, 184.60 def. Gann, 7.164, 185.92; Hines,
7.081, 186.95 def. Ellis, 7.172, 183.02; Brown, 7.095, 185.03 def.
Schnitz, 7.177, 183.94; Phillips, 7.164, 188.36 def. Smith, 7.101,
184.42;
SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 7.048, 186.77 def. Stoffer, 7.625, 132.76; Hines,
7.085, 187.29 def. Phillips, foul;
FINAL -- Hines, 9.085, 96.61 def. Brown, foul.
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional
categories following the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals
presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, the 17th of 23 events
in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 1,270; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1,134; 3. Brandon
Bernstein, 1,118; 4. Melanie Troxel, 1,112; 5. David Grubnic, 966; 6.
Rod Fuller, 937; 7. Larry Dixon, 911; 8. Morgan Lucas, 830; 9.
Hillary Will, 801; 10. Cory McClenathan, 741.
Funny Car
1. John Force, 1,243; 2. Ron Capps, 1,226; 3. Tony Pedregon, 1,079;
4. Eric Medlen, 1,050; 5. Robert Hight, 1,024; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr.,
972; 7. Gary Scelzi, 968; 8. Whit Bazemore, 861; 9. Del Worsham, 717;
10. Cruz Pedregon, 707.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 1,245; 2. Greg Anderson, 1,124; 3. Dave Connolly,
1,074; 4. Kurt Johnson, 968; 5. Jim Yates, 928; 6. Mike Edwards, 926;
7. Allen Johnson, 914; 8. Larry Morgan, 814; 9. V. Gaines, 800; 10.
Greg Stanfield, 745.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Andrew Hines, 830; 2. Antron Brown, 827; 3. Chip Ellis, 739; 4.
Angelle Sampey, 715; 5. Ryan Schnitz, 600; 6. Karen Stoffer, 581; 7.
Matt Smith, 579; 8. Tom Bradford, 537; 9. Matt Guidera, 492; 10.
Craig Treble, 461.
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