HAGAN, ASHLEY WIN RAIN-DELAYED SUMMERNATIONALS, M. SMITH TAKES MICKEY THOMPSON PRO BIKE BATTLE, AND LANGDON, T. JOHNSON JR., ANDERSON AND POLLACHECK QUALIFY NO. 1 AT DENSO SPARK PLUGS U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS – Funny Car driver Matt Hagan gave Don Schumacher Racing its 350th career win, beating teammate Jack Beckman in the final round of the rain-delayed Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals, which was completed during final qualifying of Saturday’s DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
In other racing, rookie Justin Ashley earned his first career Top Fuel win by beating T.J. Zizzo in the final round of the previously postponed Summernationals, while Matt Smith beat Scotty Pollacheck in Saturday’s Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle all-star bonus race to earn the $25,000 prize.
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle) finished as the No. 1 qualifiers at the U.S. Nationals, the sixth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Hagan picked up his second win this season — both coming since the NHRA’s restart in July – and 35th overall, going 3.919-seconds at 328.54 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye in the final round to beat Beckman’s 3.940 at 325.53. It led to an emotional winner’s circle for Hagan, who helped DSR also claim its eighth straight Funny Car win.
“This is amazing and what a huge milestone to get for Don,” Hagan said. “I was probably as nervous as I am running for a championship because you want to get it done for Mopar. This car is running so well and (crew chief) Dickie Venables has put a great car underneath me. I’m just trying to do my job on the starting line. Don has been a big part of my career and to get a Wally on a Saturday, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
In a battle of first-time Top Fuel finalists, Ashley went 3.958 at 267.96 in his 11,000-horsepower Strutmasters.com/MANSCAPED Top Fuel dragster, knocking off Zizzo to become the NHRA’s 109th different Top Fuel winner. The matchup was also the first time since 1997 that two first-time finalists met in the championship round, and Ashley led from start to finish to secure the win.
“I’m going to have to hold back tears because this is a dream come true for me,” Ashley said. “To be here means the world to me. Truthfully, it’s not about me, but all the guys on this team and all the partners that have supported us to help get us to this point. Make no mistake, this trophy is for my dad (Mike Ashley) and we’re coming home with the win.”
Smith earned his second career victory in the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle, winning immediately on his DENSO EBR when Pollacheck went red. Smith suffered problems on the bike, going 7.244 at 175.75, but the victory was already in hand as he outlasted seven other riders during Saturday’s special all-star race. He knocked off Angelle Sampey and Jerry Savoie to reach the final round.
“This race is a big deal for us and it means a lot,” Smith said. “I’m not sure exactly what went wrong, but somehow we got the win. For all the people that help me, thank you. And thank you to Mickey Thompson for putting this on for us in the class. We appreciate it a lot.”
In Funny Car qualifying, Johnson stayed red-hot at Indy, picking up his third No. 1 qualifier in the four races since the NHRA restarted its season in July thanks to a 3.878 at 326.40 in his 11,000-horsepower Riley Kids Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It gives Johnson, who is seeking his second win of the season, his 21st career No. 1 qualifier, and he’ll race Dale Creasy Jr. to open eliminations. Ron Capps, who won the most recent event, qualified second with a 3.881 at 327.19 and Tim Wilkerson is third after a 3.906 at 326.63.
“The guys went for it,” Johnson said. “The sun started to set, it got a little darker and it was cooling down. I could feeling it cooling down and I knew we were going for it. It laid me back in the seat and I thought, ‘This thing is trucking.’ I saw the time and I knew we were going for it. We had to keep our streak going.”
Langdon’s 3.728 at 313.22 from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower DHL dragster held up, giving the former world champ his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 19th in his career. He’ll start raceday against Joey Haas, looking for his first victory of the season. Steve Torrence qualified second with a 3.731 at 325.06 and Clay Millican will start eliminations from third after running 3.733 at 327.35.
“The car is fast and the guys have just done a great job,” Langdon said. “We’ve been working hard and doing some testing, and trying to get this car turned back around. I’m just glad we got everything back in sync in time. Every race we go to, we go to win, and we feel good about what we accomplished in qualifying. It always feels good to have a competitive car.
Anderson grabbed his 105th career No. 1 qualifier and first of the year in Pro Stock thanks to his impressive run of 6.549 at 209.52 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro on Friday. Anderson will face off with Val Smeland to open eliminations as the four-time world champ will try for his seventh U.S. Nationals win and first victory of the year. Chris McGaha qualified second with a 6.553 at 208.52 and Deric Kramer took the third spot thanks to a 6.570 at 209.82.
“Raceday success is huge for me and I need to make some serious hay tomorrow at Indy,” Anderson said. “I’ve dug myself a bit of a hole. I’ve said it before, I love coming to Indy and racing the U.S. Nationals. Everybody brings their best and it brings out the best in everyone. I’ve had a lot of success here and had a lot of great memories. My car was great in qualifying and I’m hoping for a big, big day tomorrow.”
Pollacheck suffered the red light in the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle, but he did take the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle with his run of 6.789 at 200.29, breaking the track speed record on his Strutmasters.com EBR. It gives Pollacheck his second career No. 1 qualifier and he will face Michael Phillips to open raceday. Eddie Krawiec qualified second with a 6.790 at 199.76 and Smith took the third spot with a 6.792 at 199.76.
“It’s been an awesome day, going 200 mph, getting the No. 1 spot and getting to race in the final round of the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle,” said Pollacheck, who also earned the fourth and final spot in the DENSO 200 mph club. “It’s already been an awesome weekend and this has been a really good day for us.”
Eliminations for the DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday. Live television coverage of eliminations begins at 11 a.m. on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) before moving to the FOX national broadcast network at 1 p.m.
***
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, the sixth of 11 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.728 seconds, 313.22 mph vs. 16. Joey Haas, 3.995, 296.63; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.731, 325.06 vs. 15. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.889, 312.78; 3. Clay Millican, 3.733, 327.35 vs. 14. Tony Schumacher, 3.863, 311.63; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.733, 326.00 vs. 13. Justin Ashley, 3.805, 318.09; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.734, 328.06 vs. 12. Pat Dakin, 3.788, 319.52; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.742, 326.24 vs. 11. Terry McMillen, 3.773, 317.87; 7. Antron Brown, 3.747, 327.19 vs. 10. T.J. Zizzo, 3.769, 327.43; 8. Doug Foley, 3.756, 326.95 vs. 9. Cory McClenathan, 3.762, 304.74.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Cameron Ferre, 4.015, 301.67; 18. Luigi Novelli, 4.089, 276.52; 19. Lex Joon, 4.534, 193.40.
Funny Car — 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.878, 326.40 vs. 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.211, 296.70; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.881, 327.19 vs. 15. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.184, 283.19; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.906, 326.63 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.134, 293.54; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.910, 327.11 vs. 13. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.118, 303.84; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.919, 328.54 vs. 12. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.080, 276.07; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.932, 326.48 vs. 11. Bob Bode, Mustang, 4.049, 313.07; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.940, 325.53 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.048, 299.00; 8. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.976, 323.27 vs. 9. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.983, 320.51.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Schriefer, 9.912, 74.52.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.549, 209.52 vs. 16. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.630, 208.36; 2. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.553, 208.52 vs. 15. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.622, 206.89; 3. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.570, 209.82 vs. 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.619, 208.46; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.572, 208.88 vs. 13. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.613, 208.55; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.576, 210.05 vs. 12. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.606, 208.55; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.578, 209.72 vs. 11. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.597, 209.46; 7. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.580, 209.92 vs. 10. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.589, 208.49; 8. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.580, 209.07 vs.
9. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.582, 209.17.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Benza, 6.641, 208.71; 18. Troy Coughlin Jr., 6.643, 208.04; 19. Richie Stevens, 6.667, 208.07; 20. Steve Graham, 6.715, 206.01; 21. Cristian Cuadra, 6.844, 203.22; 22. Robert River, 18.042, 42.38.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.789, 200.29 vs. 16. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.021, 194.44; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.790, 199.76 vs. 15. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.976, 193.21; 3. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.792, 199.76 vs. 14. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.955, 194.74; 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.799, 195.36 vs. 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.942, 196.07; 5. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.807, 197.31 vs. 12. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.913, 190.48; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.831, 197.57 vs. 11. John Hall, Suzuki, 6.909, 193.90; 7. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.833, 197.88
vs. 10. Cory Reed, EBR, 6.881, 195.51; 8. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.843, 197.05 vs. 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.868, 198.35.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Kelly Clontz, 7.045, 192.55; 18. David Barron, 7.054, 187.05; 19. Ron Tornow, 7.284, 184.30.
Pro Modified — 1. Jason Scruggs, Chevy Camaro, 5.717, 253.04 vs. 16. Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.899, 224.96; 2. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.722, 252.43 vs. 15. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.879, 247.93; 3. Brandon Snider, Chevy Corvette, 5.746, 249.03 vs. 14. Tommy D’aprile, Camaro, 5.850, 227.96; 4. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.758, 250.46 vs. 13. Eric Dillard, Camaro, 5.828, 245.63; 5. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.759, 251.30 vs. 12. Chad Green, Corvette, 5.823, 250.09; 6. Rickie Smith,
Camaro, 5.760, 250.09 vs. 11. Jim Whiteley, Corvette, 5.802, 246.75; 7. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.764, 248.93 vs. 10. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 5.785, 245.05; 8. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.774, 250.97 vs. 9. Steve Matusek, Ford Mustang, 5.777, 257.83.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jeffery Barker, 6.041, 244.69; 18. Rick Hord, 6.095, 233.60; 19. Jeff Jones, 7.287, 118.28; 20. Brandon Pesz, 21.632, 78.44; 21. Justin Jones, broke.
MICKEY THOMPSON PRO BIKE BATTLE:
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Final round-by-round results from the seventh annual Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
ROUND ONE — Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.790, 199.76 def. Hector Arana Jr, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, 6.850, 195.48 def. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.843, 197.05; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.916, 193.10 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, Foul – Red Light; Scotty Pollacheck, 6.789, 200.29 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.821, 195.39;
SEMIFINALS — Smith, 6.792, 199.76 def. Savoie, 6.918, 192.52; Pollacheck, 6.820, 198.03 def. Krawiec, 6.868, 198.52;
FINAL — Smith, 7.244, 175.75 def. Pollacheck, Foul – Red Light.
SHAWN LANGDON
TOP FUEL NO. 1 QUALIFIER
DHL TOYOTA DRAGSTER
3.728 SEC., 313.22 MPH
NOTE: Shawn Langdon picked up the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier spot in Indianapolis at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.
FUNNY CAR NO. 1 QUALIFIER
RILEY KIDS DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT FUNNY CAR
3.878 SEC., 326.40 MPH
NOTE: Tommy Johnson picked up his third Funny Car No. 1 qualifier of the session at Lucas Oil Raceway to close out qualifying at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
GREG ANDERSON
PRO STOCK NO. 1 QUALIFIER
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO
6.549 SEC., 209.52 MPH
NOTE: Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson secured his 105th career No. 1 qualifier during the final qualifying session at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
SCOTTY POLLACHECK
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE NO. 1 QUALIFIER
STRUTMASTERS.COM EBR
6.789 SEC., 200.29 MPH
NOTE: Scotty Pollacheck drove his Pro Stock Motorcycle to his second career No. 1 qualifier on Saturday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
JUSTIN ASHLEY
LUCAS OIL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS TOP FUEL WINNER
STRUTMASTERS.COM POWERED BY MANSCAPED DRAGSTER
3.958, SEC., 267.96 MPH
NOTE: Top Fuel rookie Justin Ashley picked up his first career win at the concluded Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis.
MATT HAGAN
LUCAS OIL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS FUNNY CAR WINNER
MOPAR DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT REDEYE FUNNY CAR
3.919 SEC., 328.54 MPH
NOTE: Matt Hagan wrapped up the delayed Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals with a win over his teammate Jack Beckman.
Results from the rain delayed Inaugural Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Final finish order (1-16) at the Inaugural Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The race is the fourth of 11 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Justin Ashley; 2. T.J. Zizzo; 3. Terry McMillen; 4. Leah Pruett; 5. Billy Torrence; 6.
Doug Kalitta; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Todd Paton; 9. Steve Torrence; 10. Pat Dakin; 11. Shawn Langdon; 12. Terry Totten; 13. Doug Foley; 14. Lex Joon; 15. Clay Millican; 16. Tony Schumacher.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Matt Hagan; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Bob Tasca III; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 5. Tim Wilkerson; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Paul Lee; 8. Cruz Pedregon; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Chad Green; 12. Alexis DeJoria; 13. Dale Creasy Jr.; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Alex Miladinovich; 16. Bob Bode.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Chad Green; 2. Jason Scruggs; 3. Kris Thorne; 4. Clint Satterfield; 5. Brandon Snider; 6. Mike Castellana; 7. Jeff Jones; 8. Justin Jones; 9. Steve Jackson; 10. Khalid alBalooshi; 11. Jonathan Gray; 12. Bo Butner; 13. Todd Tutterow; 14. Steve Matusek; 15. Jeffery Barker; 16. Mike Janis.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Saturday’s final results from the Inaugural Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The race is the fourth of 11 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Justin Ashley, 3.958 seconds, 267.96 mph def. T.J. Zizzo, 4.056 seconds, 276.75 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.919, 328.54 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.940, 325.53.
Pro Modified — Chad Green, Chevy Corvette, 5.823, 250.09 def. Jason Scruggs, Chevy Camaro, 5.904,
204.42.
Top Fuel Harley — Randal Andras, Harley, 6.388, 195.00 def. Jay Turner, Harley, 6.921, 210.05.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, the fourth of 11 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — T.J. Zizzo, 3.840, 323.19 def. Terry Totten, 3.949, 299.46; Terry McMillen, 3.765, 320.66 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.447, 195.25; Todd Paton, 4.011, 285.65 def. Clay Millican, 4.139, 251.72; Leah Pruett, 3.820, 316.97 def. Lex Joon, 4.104, 242.71; Antron Brown, 3.851, 310.05 def. Pat Dakin, 3.880, 317.05; Doug Kalitta, 3.808, 319.45 def. Doug Foley, 3.968, 298.80; Billy Torrence, 3.789, 321.96 def. Steve Torrence, 3.768, 327.03; Justin Ashley, 3.829, 321.27 def. Shawn Langdon, 3.891, 305.91;
QUARTERFINALS — McMillen, 3.796, 321.96 def. Brown, 3.927, 308.35; Zizzo, 3.821, 321.04 def. Paton, 12.632, 68.06; Ashley, 3.811, 314.02 def. Kalitta, 3.830, 314.46; Pruett, 3.818, 314.46 def. B. Torrence, 3.793, 320.36;
SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 4.049, 237.09 def. Pruett, 4.530, 171.62; Zizzo, 3.837, 319.67 def. McMillen, 3.891, 310.13;
FINAL — Ashley, 3.958, 267.96 def. Zizzo, 4.056, 276.75.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.946, 320.28 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.708, 177.04; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.931, 321.58 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.967, 324.59; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.019, 317.27 def. Alex Miladinovich, Toyota Camry, 6.286, 110.10; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.123, 278.06 def. Bob Bode, Mustang, Foul – Outer Boundary; J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.030,
314.68 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 5.325, 142.82; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.032, 310.77 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.323, 293.86; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.072, 299.46 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.189, 301.54; Paul Lee, Charger, 3.997, 322.58 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.381, 210.08;
QUARTERFINALS — Beckman, 3.991, 317.72 def. Wilkerson, 4.009, 316.82; Johnson Jr., 3.979, 317.57 def. Pedregon, 5.902, 118.04; Hagan, 3.949, 323.81 def. Todd, 4.028, 317.19; Tasca III, 4.037, 316.08 def. Lee, 4.038, 320.97;
SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.946, 324.36 def. Tasca III, 4.010, 320.13; Beckman, 3.969, 321.65 def. Johnson Jr., 4.027, 309.56;
FINAL — Hagan, 3.919, 328.54 def. Beckman, 3.940, 325.53.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Brandon Snider, Chevy Corvette, 5.850, 243.06 def. Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.852, 245.67; Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 5.854, 243.90 def. Steve Matusek, Ford Mustang, 6.094, 193.40; Justin Jones, Corvette, 5.923, 244.78 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.855, 247.70; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.889, 242.63 def. Jeffery Barker, Camaro, 7.142, 142.63; Chad Green, Corvette, 5.823, 249.76 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.957, 240.51; Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.835, 246.80 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 5.903, 246.84; Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.837, 255.15 def. Jonathan Gray, Camaro,
5.865, 248.75; Jeff Jones, Corvette, 5.864, 245.40 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 10.609, 84.22;
QUARTERFINALS — Satterfield, 5.838, 239.53 def. Je. Jones, 8.206, 124.02; Thorne, 5.859, 244.16 def. Ju. Jones, Broke; Green, 5.833, 249.35 def. Snider, 5.853, 242.02; Scruggs, 5.836, 246.66 def. Castellana, 5.870, 243.19;
SEMIFINALS — Scruggs, 5.829, 246.48 def. Satterfield, Broke – No Show; Green, 5.807, 250.13 def. Thorne, 5.913, 251.95;
FINAL — Green, 5.823, 250.09 def. Scruggs, 5.904, 204.42.
FRIDAY:
CAPPS, LANGDON, ANDERSON, A. SMITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1 QUALIFIERS AFTER FIRST NIGHT OF DENSO SPARK PLUGS NHRA U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, veteran Funny Car standout Ron Capps stayed hot, racing to the No. 1 spot during Friday’s opening qualifying session of the prestigious 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals.
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the sixth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. It also marks the fourth straight race at Indy since the NHRA season restarted in July.
Capps went 3.895-seconds at 330.63 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat under the lights on drag racing’s grandest stage, putting him in position to pick up his 25th career No. 1 qualifier and first of the year. He was also the only driver to reach the 3.80s on Friday, giving the 65-time event winner plenty of momentum as he looks to pick up his first career U.S. Nationals victory.
“The guys went out there to run a certain number, and the weather changes, and that’s what makes (crew chief) Rahn Tobler so great to have on the NAPA team,” Capps said. “He can make changes on the fly like that. It was a handful and it was moving around, but great job by the NAPA guys.”
Bob Tasca went 3.910 at 327.11 and is qualified second, while veteran Tim Wilkerson’s 3.918 at 322.11 was good enough for third after the first qualifying session.
Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon made his best run since the NHRA returned, powering to the top spot with a run of 3.728 at 313.22 in his 11,000-horsepower DHL dragster on Friday. If it holds up, it would give the former world champ his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 19th in his career. Langdon is also after his first win of the season and second at the U.S. Nationals. Steve Torrence, the defending and back-to-back world champ who also won the most recent race, ran a 3.731 at 325.06 to put him a spot behind and Clay Millican is currently third thanks to his pass of 3.733 at 327.35. Points leader and defending event champ Doug Kalitta is fourth with a run of 3.736 at 325.45.
With an incredible track record at the Big Go, veteran Greg Anderson was impressive to open Pro Stock qualifying, jumping to the No. 1 position with a run of 6.549 at 209.52 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. It puts Anderson, a four-time world champion, in line for his first No. 1 qualifier of 2020 and 105th in his illustrious career. He is also after his seventh U.S. Nationals victory, which would put him second behind only Bob Glidden. Chris McGaha is a spot behind after the first session with a run of 6.553 at 208.52, and Matt Hartford sits third following his pass of 6.572 at 208.88.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith rode to the top spot with a run of 6.807 at 197.31 on her DENSO Racing EBR. If it holds, Smith, who has one career win, would qualify in the No. 1 position for the first time in her Pro Stock Motorcycle career. Eddie Krawiec, a multi-time world champ and two-time U.S. Nationals winner, is currently in second after his pass of 6.834 at 198.12 and Scotty Pollacheck rounds out the top three after going 6.864 at 197.28. In addition to final qualifying in the class on Saturday, the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle will also take place, as eight Pro Stock Motorcycle standouts will compete for the $25,000 prize.
In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is presented by ATI ProCharger this weekend, Jason Scruggs drove the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 5.717 at 253.04 in his blown Scruggs Farm Camaro. Scruggs will also meet Chad Green in the final round of the Lucas Oil Summernationals, which will be completed during Saturday’s final qualifying session. Mike Janis is currently qualified second with a 5.758 at 250.46 and Jonathan Gray, who won the most recent race, is in the third spot after going 5.759 at 251.30.
Qualifying at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals continues at 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. Television coverage includes action on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
SHAWN LANGDON
TOP FUEL NO. 1 QUALIFIER
DHL TOYOTA DRAGSTER
3.728 SEC., 313.22 MPH
NOTE: Top Fuel pilot Shawn Langdon took his dragster to the top of the category on Friday at the prestigious U.S. Nationals.
RON CAPPS
FUNNY CAR NO. 1 QUALIFIER
NAPA AUTO PARTS FUNNY CAR
3.895 SEC., 330.63 MPH
NOTE: Ron Capps wheeled his Funny Car to a provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
GREG ANDERSON
PRO STOCK NO. 1 QUALIFIER
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO
6.549 SEC., 209.52 MPH
NOTE: Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson drove to the provisional No. 1 qualifier position on Friday night at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
ANGIE SMITH
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE NO. 1 QUALIFIER
DENSO AUTO PARTS/STOCKSETH EBR
6.807 SEC., 197.31 MPH
NOTE: Angie Smith powered to the provisional No. 1 spot on her Pro Stock Motorcycle to kick off the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals
Watched it until Capps lost(Again!!!!). Didn’t care who won what after that. Just turned it off.
Would’ve been nice to see the entire Hemi Shootout but oh well. Maybe a sportsman show will have it later. Brian you have pull there now. See if you can make that happen.