NHRA: O'Reilly Auto Parts Super Start Batteries Nationals.*RESULTS*

[a152004]

Results from qualifying.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec           6.970 - 191.92mph
2. Andrew Hines           6.985  -191.27 mph
3. Chris Rivas              6.990  -190.67 mph
4. Matt Smith              7.001 -190.75 mph
5. Chip Ellis                 7.004 -190.40 mph
6. Hector Arana          7.008  -190.16 mph
7. Angelle Sampey       7.017 -187.42 mph
8. Karen Stoffer          7.032 -190.86 mph
9. Steve Johnson       7.044  -189.79 mph
10. Craig Treble         7.055  -189.50 mph
11. Matt Guidera        7.059 -188.60 mph
12. Joe DeSantis        7.067  -189.87 mph
13. Peggy Llewellyn    7.103  -186.10 mph
14. Junior Pippin        7.106  -186.54mph
15. Angie McBride      7.109  -186.82 mph
16. Mike Berry           7.111  -185.46 mph

Pro Stock Car
1. Jeg Coughlin          6.631    207.56mph
2. Jason Line             6.632    207.91 mph
3. Greg Anderson       6.638    208.07 mph
4. Allen Johnson        6.638    207.11 mph
5. Dave Connolly       6.640    207.78 mph
6. Rickie Jones          6.642    207.30 mph
7. Kurt Johnson         6.646    207.72 mph
8. Mike Edwards        6.646    206.95 mph
9. Warren Johnson     6.648    208.26 mph
10. V. Gaines            6.653    206.42 mph
11. Johnny Gray        6.658    206.26 mph
12. Larry Morgan       6.661    206.61 mph
13. Justin Humphreys 6.670    206.64 mph
14. Jim Yates            6.677   206.57 mph
15. Greg Stanfield      6.689   206.13 mph
16. Ron Krisher          6.697  206.57 mph


Funny Car
1. Robert Hight              4.063   301.81mph
2. Ashley Force             4.092   304.46 mph
3. Del Worsham             4.092   303.03 mph
4. Melanie Troxel           4.096   304.67 mph
5. Jack Beckman           4.099    300.00 mph
6. Tim Wilkerson           4.099    299.66 mph
7. John Force              4.109    301.33 mph
8. Tony Pedregon         4.110    300.20 mph
9. Jeff Arend               4.113    303.71 mph
10. Cruz Pedregon        4.120    299.00 mph
11. Ron Capps             4.123    299.73mph
12. Jerry Toliver          4.126    300.13 mph
13. Gary Densham       4.175    292.14 mph
14. Bob Tasca III        4.186    292.84 mph
15. Gary Scelzi           4.195    293.60 mph
16. Jim Head              4.198    290.13 mph

Top Fuel Dragster
1. Larry Dixon                3.820    310.70mph
2. Brandon Bernstein       3.842   315.19 mph
3. Hillary Will                  3.849   314.97 mph
4. Bob Vandergriff           3.861   312.64 mph
5. Cory McClenathan       3.866   313.00 mph
6. J.R. Todd                   3.874   307.72 mph
7. Steve Torrence          3.874    306.26 mph
8. Tony Schumacher       3.880    310.98 mph
9. Rod Fuller                  3.896   308.50 mph
10. Antron Brown            3.897   309.06 mph
11. Spencer Massey        3.902   307.23 mph
12. Joe Hartley              3.903    299.93 mph
13. Clay Millican             3.923    304.80mph
14. Doug Kalitta             3.946    309.06 mph
15. Doug Herbert          3.946      300.86 mph
16. Morgan Lucas         3.967      301.20 mph

David Grubnic did not make the cut despite running a time of 3.946 @306.95mph


In Top Alcohol Dragster Kate Harker qualified second
She won her first round match up

(W) Kate Harker (TORCO Skull Shine A/FD)        0.087      5.612 @ 256.45mph
(L) Michael Manners (TA/D)                           0.203      5.499 @ 260.71mph

Harker with a huge starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. She dropped cylinders on the right side all the way down the 1320. Kate Harker's MOV: 0.0033 seconds (approximately 15 inches).

Steve Harker qualified in the number 1 spot for Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Like his daughter he also won his first round

(W) Steve Harker (OMS Graphics Monte Carlo)     0.151      5.568 @ 257.92mph
(L) John Foster (Foster Racing Monte Carlo)       0.073      5.730  @ 252.00mph

Harker has been in eight final rounds on the national and divisional level this year and is second in the points chase behind Manzo.
Foster is coming off a career best in qualifying.

Harker is late off the line but makes the quickest pass of the weekend to take the win.

Info from
http://www.nhra.com/

[a152004]

Scelzi to step away at end of 2008 NHRA season

Four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi announced today that he will step down from NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series competition at the end of the 2008 season.

Scelzi, a one-third partner with his brothers Jim and Mike in Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body manufacturing company based in his hometown of Fresno, Calif., said he will concentrate on maintaining and growing the family business during these tough economic times.

The California native joined Don Schumacher Racing in the Funny Car class in 2003 after capturing three Top Fuel championships (1997, 1998, 2000). In 2005, driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge for DSR, he also claimed his first Funny Car crown.

"After the season finale in Pomona, Calif., I'll be leaving Don Schumacher Racing to go back to work at Scelzi Enterprises," said Scelzi. "With the economy in the state that it is, business being off in these tough economic times, and with all the travel that competing on the pro NHRA circuit entails, I feel it is in my best interest to leave Don Schumacher Racing a year before the contract is up and go back to work at Scelzi Enterprises and get myself more involved with what's going on there.

"When (crew chief) Alan Johnson called me back in 1996 to replace Blaine Johnson in the Top Fuel dragster, I really didn't do it to make a living," Scelzi added. "It turned into a very good living. I did it to race the absolute best of the best, to see how I would stack up. And obviously I did pretty well. I've had some great people as my crew chiefs: Alan Johnson, Mike Neff, Todd Okuhara.

"I've only had a few crew chiefs up until lately, but that's beyond our control," Scelzi added, referring to the team's struggles this year, and bringing in other tuners to help during Okuhara's recuperation from an inner-ear infection.

"I never really thought this was all I wanted to do, to feed my family. I never thought it was stable, I never felt comfortable doing it in the event I got hurt or lost a sponsor, or any of these things. There were too many variables in this business for me to be doing it for a living

"That being said, the real living I need to make is at Scelzi Enterprises and that's where I need to stake my claim.

"I can't put the effort that I need into the company and the business while running 24 races. It's impossible. Even with the little bit of help that (NHRA team owner) Ken Black has given me this year by flying me back and forth to a number of races - which I deeply appreciate - it's just too difficult. And in order for me to do what I feel is right for myself and my family, I'm going to step away and go back to work.

"This doesn't mean I quit. If and when a deal arises and it's the right deal, great. If I decide this isn't the life and find another sponsor down the road in a year or two, maybe I'll come back to Don Schumacher and say, Hey, Don, let's rekindle an old flame and see if we can't do this again.

"I'm definitely leaving the door open. I never had any intention in my mind of actually quitting. That's why I don't want to say I am retiring. I'll make that decision myself, as it is my decision to make. If it does end up being the end of it, then I've had a great career and I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Scelzi has also spent a great deal of time this year supporting his sons Dominic (11) and Giovanni (6) in their Restricted Mini Sprint and Junior Sprint racing and would like to regularly attend their events. His boys also enjoy coming to the NHRA events.

"One thing I think will help ease the pain and help in my missing the sport is that I'll definitely come to the races in California and see my friends and go to Indy, and probably Concord, N.C. I don't think that's one I'm ever going to want to miss. But racing every weekend from March to November with my kids is going to be pretty gratifying, and going to the baseball games that I've been watching on tape is going to be gratifying.

"It's going to be a whole different deal, because (wife) Julie has taken care of the leaky roof, the gardeners, all those things without me. She's a very independent woman. So I'm probably going to mess things up getting back in there. It's something that we'll have to work on."

Scelzi's family also owns a Scelzi Equipment, which manufactures heavy truck bodies, in Azusa, Calif.

"Gary Scelzi has done an awesome job in his NHRA professional career, and in particular with Don Schumacher Racing. We have been extremely proud of his accomplishments," said Don Schumacher. "But I am a business owner and a family man who also used to race, so I understand his concern in these difficult times. I wish him all the best in the future. If he decides to return to the sport in which he's accomplished so much, I know he'll call me."

While earning his four championships competing in 255 races, Scelzi has won 37 national events in 58 final rounds, has qualified No. 1 44 times and has a career round-win record of 375-207 entering this weekend's event in Ennis, Texas

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/32734.htm


Worsham tapped to drive Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Funny Car

Del Worsham has been named the driver of the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car effective at the conclusion of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season.  In addition, Aaron Brooks has been named the team's crew chief, it was announced today.
After five years with Don Schumacher Racing, legendary NHRA crew chief Alan Johnson will return to team ownership when Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing debuts in 2009 as a two-car NHRA team with one entry in both Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. The driver and crew chief for the Top Fuel car have not yet been finalized. The location of the team's shop is also yet to be determined. 

Worsham has won 22 races in 35 Funny Car final rounds over the course of his 17-year professional career and is currently 11th in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. The Chino Hills, Calif., resident made his professional debut at the final race of the 1990 season and was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1991 after winning two races and finishing 6th in points.

Worsham won five races and finished second in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car point standings in 2004, the best season of his career. Worsham spent the last 12 years sponsored by CSK Auto, Inc., but the company's recent acquisition by O'Reilly Auto Parts left him without sponsorship after this season.

"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," Worsham said. "Throughout my career, I've always said that life is about timing. We lost our sponsorship this year, and I was really worried about that; knowing I'd come to a crossroads in my life. Then, Alan announced his new team at Indy, and while sitting in the stands at the U.S. Nationals, I decided I needed to talk to Alan to see if there was an opportunity. I really was just hoping to get an interview to know what my options were, and it kind of took off from there and I got the chance to drive this car.  I'm really honored to be selected.

"I've been running our family team for so many years, and have been a big part of team operations in addition to driving the car. I am definitely looking forward to letting Alan handle running the team so I can just be the driver and hopefully have some great success focusing on that one aspect. I'm looking forward to it."

Brooks has been the crew chief for Roger Burgess' R2B2 Racing Funny Car driven by Frank Hawley; he will leave the team at the end of this month. Brooks and Hawley teamed for just six races this year, but Hawley was the No. 1 qualifier at last weekend's inaugural NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C., and Brooks is considered a rising star in Funny Car tuning.

"It's an honor to be selected for this job," Brooks said.  "I'm privileged; not many people get the chance to work with Alan Johnson. Roger Burgess has a great operation, and it was unfortunate that we didn't get to race full time. The hardest part was telling Roger that I was leaving, but it's just an opportunity I couldn't turn down. 

"I'm fired up; I'm already thinking about the Phoenix test to see what we can do.  The bottom line is this is the most excited I've been to go racing in a long time.  It's gonna be fun."

Johnson is widely considered one of the most innovative and successful crew chiefs in NHRA Top Fuel racing.  He has led Schumacher Racing to four consecutive Top Fuel titles and is once again atop the point standings with five races remaining in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship.  This season, Johnson and Tony Schumacher's Top Fuel dragster has set records for consecutive wins (7), wins in a season (12), and consecutive round wins (28).  In addition, Johnson won NHRA Top Fuel championships with driver Gary Scelzi in 1997, '98 and 2000. 

"Starting a team from scratch is never easy, but it's nice that the Funny Car side of the team has come together," Johnson said. "We are extremely fortunate to have an accomplished, well-respected and well-liked driver like Del; I am confident he and Aaron will build some great chemistry.  Aaron has tremendous potential as a crew chief, and I can't wait to see him put that team together."

Johnson's 2006 championship will be forever remembered for "The Run," a national record-setting run on the final pass at the last race of the season that gave Johnson's team the title. The memorable 4.428-second pass is regarded by many drag racing historians as the greatest single run in NHRA history .

After the Schumacher-driven U.S. Army dragster struggled in the first nine events of the 2003 season, Don Schumacher hired Johnson as the team's crew chief. The hire immediately paid off as Johnson guided the Army dragster to a win in his first event. Schumacher earned the Top Fuel trophy four times in 2003 en route to a third-place finish in points. Johnson and Schumacher earned NHRA Top Fuel titles in each of the next four seasons.

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team will be a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition.  At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani's goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is a seven-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief.   

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/32692.htm


Edited to resize text.

[a152004]

Results

In Top Alcohol Funny Car Steve Harker made it into the third round but was defeated.

(W) Von Smith    (Centre Point Collision Mustang)  0.045      5.623 @ 255.10mph
(L) Steve Harker (OMS Graphics Monte Carlo)       0.094      5.594 @ 256.70mph

Harker has been running better than everyone else all weekend but is 0-4 facing Smith. Smith gets the hole-shot, Harker starts to reel him in, but the advantage off the line was too much to overcome.
Smith will have lane choice over Payne in the final round.

In Top Alcohol Dragster Kate Harker made it into the final round but was beaten.

(W) Jim Whiteley  (Y-Not Racing B/AD)            0.036      5.333 @ 268.12mph
(L) Kate Harker    (TORCO Skull Shine A/FD)     0.085      5.423 @ 265.33mph

Harker is driving this car for the first time since Pomona. Whiteley with the starting line advantage and another good looking pass for the win. Harker with her quickest pass of eliminations in a losing effort. This is Whiteley's fourth National event win and his second this year.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
(W) Chris Rivas   (Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell)   0.091      7.024 @ 183.97mph
(L) Matt Smith    (NitroFish/Torco Buell)               0.064      7.098 @ 187.00mph

Smith is 7 - 0 against Rivas in prior events and this is the first time they have faced each other in a final round.

Smith gets a big advantage off the line but Rivas drives around him quickly and pulls away for the win.

Chris Rivas' incremental margins: 60ft(0.027), 330 ft(0.050), 660ft(0.059), 1,000ft(0.061). MOV: 0.0475 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

Pro Stock Car
(W) Greg Stanfield   (Attitude Apparel GXP)       0.015      6.678 @ 206.35mph
(L) Jeg Coughlin      (Jegs.com Cobalt)             0.015      6.686 @ 205.51mph

Coughlin is 11 - 0 against Stanfield in prior events and this is the first time they have faced each other in a final round. This was a great drag race as they left the starting line together and then it was Coughlin with the lead until around 800 feet. That was when Stanfield was able to drive back around Coughlin for his first Pro Stock win . Greg Stanfield's MOV: 0.0081 seconds (approximately 2 feet). Greg Stanfield's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.013), 330 ft(-0.014), 660ft(-0.003), 1,000ft(0.005).

He is now the fourth guy to have won National events in five categories joining Jeg Coughlin, David Rampy and Scotty Richardson.

Funny Car

 (W) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala)    0.086      4.172 297.55
 (L) Tony Pedregon (Q Horsepower Impala)         0.085      4.206 295.98

Pedregon is 19 - 8 against Wilkerson in prior events and Pedregon is 1 - 0 against Wilkerson in prior final rounds.
Pedregon has a nine point lead over Wilkerson in the countdown. Whoever wins this round will leave here with the points lead.

they were dead even out of the gate, then Pedregon starts to pull away. Wilkerson starts to reel him in, driving around him at the 330 foot mark and pulling away for the win. Word from the top end, Wilkerson oiled the track but he has a freebie so it will not cost him any points.

Tim Wilkerson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.013), 330 ft(0.003), 660ft(0.028). MOV: 0.0333 seconds (approximately 14 feet).

Wilkerson will regain the points lead by eleven over Pedregon.

Top Fuel Dragster

(W) J.R. Todd (Lucas Oil Dragster)                    0.068      3.912 @ 309.84mph
(L) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster)        0.084      3.910 @ 310.63mph

Schumacher is 9 - 4 against Todd in prior events and Todd is 2 - 1 against Schumacher in prior final rounds. Todd with the starting line advantage, and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. J.R. Todd's MOV: 0.0149 seconds (approximately 7 feet). Todd ends Schumacher round win streak at 31. This is only Schumacher's 12th hole shot loss in his career and the second one to Todd. Todd with his first National event win since joining Morgan Lucas Racing.

*All Times and info from*

http://www.nhra.com/

[a152004]

Points after the second race of the "playoffs"

Top Fuel Dragster
1 Tony Schumacher          2295 -
2 Antron Brown                2198 -
3 Cory McClenathan          2191 -
4 Larry Dixon                   2166 -
5 Hillary Will                     2141 - 
6 Brandon Bernstein          2130 +2 
7 Rod Fuller                     2114 -1 
8 Doug Herbert                2075 -1 
9 Doug Kalitta                 2055 - 
10 Dave Grubnic              2023 -

Funny Car
 Tim Wilkerson       2235 +4 
2 Tony Pedregon    2224 +1 
3 Jack Beckman     2206 -1 
4 Robert Hight       2185 - 
5 Cruz Pedregon    2166 -4   
6 Ashley Force      2142 - 
7 Gary Densham    2093 - 
8 John Force        2083 +2 
9 Ron Capps        2074 -2 
10 Mike Neff        2043 -1

Pro Stock Car
1 Jeg Coughlin      2225 +2   
2 Kurt Johnson     2211 -1   
3 Greg Anderson   2179 -1   
4 Jason Line        2130 -   
5 Dave Connolly   2126 +2   
6 Greg Stanfield   2122 +3   
7 V. Gaines         2103 -2 
8 Allen Johnson   2099 -2 
9 Mike Edwards   2095 -1   
10 Ron Krisher    2031 -   

Pro Stock  Motorcycle
1 Matt Smith         2243 -   
2 Ed Krawiec         2184 +2   
3 Chris Rivas         2183 +5   
4 Steve Johnson    2166 -2 
5 Angelle Sampey   2165 -2   
6 Chip Ellis             2138 - 
7 Andrew Hines      2132 -2   
8 Matt Guidera       2104 -1   
9 Craig Treble        2054 - 
10 Karen Stoffer    2046 -

Info From

http://nhra.com/