SCHUMACHER, WILKERSON, LINE AND KRAWIEC WIN TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tony Schumacher raced to his first victory of the season and in the process moved into the NHRA Full Throttle Series points lead Sunday at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Tim Wilkerson, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec also were winners in their respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.
Schumacher earned his fourth Gatornationals win and 62nd of his career by powering his U.S. Army dragster to a performance of 3.797 seconds at 322.04 mph while teammate Antron Brown’s Matco Tools dragster lost traction in the runner-up effort.
The seven-time Top Fuel world champ beat Terry McMillen, Doug Foley and rival Larry Dixon to advance to the final round.
“It was a perfect win for this team,” said Schumacher, who posted the national speed record at 324.98 mph in a thrilling side-by-side win over Dixon in the semifinals. “This is something we needed to do. Now we’re in the points lead and that’s important as we go to Charlotte for the four-wide race.”
Wilkerson scored his 14th career victory by holding off defending race winner and teammate Bob Tasca in the Funny Car final. Wilkerson’s Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang finished in 4.097 at 303.78, while Tasca’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang trailed with a 4.192 at 287.17.
Wilkerson beat Jeff Arend, top qualifier Matt Hagan and two-time world champ Tony Pedregon to advance to the final round, his first at the Gatornationals.
“When you run well and you run consistent, people will show you enough respect to try pretty hard against you,” Wilkerson said. “We did have a good day today. I’m not going to say we were world-beaters, but we made some pretty darn good runs to keep them on their toes.”
Line used a quicker reaction time to defeat Mike Edwards in the Pro Stock final. Line claimed his 21st career win, first of the season and second-straight at this event with a winning performance of 6.581 at 210.14 in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to overcome Edwards’ quicker, but losing Penhall/Interstate Batteries GXP, which posted a 6.556 at 211.16.
“It really wasn’t a good weekend, actually,” Line said. “We started out awful, and I didn’t think we were going to qualify. Going into the third session, I really felt like this was going to be the time we didn’t qualify. But we got it done somehow. We didn’t run great, that’s for sure, but I guess right now the only way to beat Mike is with your left foot because you’re not going to outrun him. Fortunately, he gave us the opening, and we managed to get it done somehow.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec claimed his sixth career victory with a 6.899 at 195.68 on his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to beat surprise finalist Shawn Gann, who posted a 6.908 at 194.21 on his RumBum Buell. It was Gann’s first final round appearance since 2004.
“Gainesville is very special to me,” said 2008 world champ Krawiec, who beat Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Craig Treble in the first three rounds. “Years ago when I first started out, I wanted to win here. To finally get a win here, I can’t be any more excited. We ended 2009 with a win in Pomona and to start 2010 with another one is awesome.”
Top qualifier Karen Stoffer earned a 20-point bonus for setting the national elapsed time record with a 6.847-second run on her GEICO Powersports Suzuki in the first-round, but was upset in the quarterfinals by Gann.
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues March 25-28 with the 4-Wide NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Antron Brown; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Cory McClenathan; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Doug Foley; 8. Brandon Bernstein; 9. Terry McMillen; 10. Pat Dakin; 11. Bobby Lagana Jr.; 12. Doug Kalitta; 13. Todd Paton; 14. David Grubnic; 15. Morgan Lucas; 16. Chris Karamesines.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang; 2. Bob Tasca III; 3. Ron Capps; 4. Tony Pedregon; 5. John Force; 6. Melanie Troxel; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. Robert Hight; 9. Del Worsham; 10. John Smith; 11. Jim Head; 12. Jeff Arend; 13. Ashley Force Hood; 14. Jack Beckman; 15. Bob Bode; 16. Cruz Pedregon.
PRO STOCK:
1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP; 2. Mike Edwards; 3. Allen Johnson; 4. Greg Anderson; 5. Ronnie Humphrey; 6. Ron Krisher; 7. V. Gaines; 8. Jeg Coughlin; 9. Bob Yonke; 10. Rickie Jones; 11. Vinnie Deceglie; 12. Johnny Gray; 13. Steve Spiess; 14. Shane Gray; 15. Rodger Brogdon; 16. Greg Stanfield.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson; 2. Shawn Gann; 3. Craig Treble; 4. Hector Arana; 5. Andrew Hines; 6. David Hope; 7. Karen Stoffer; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Jim Underdahl; 10. Michael Phillips; 11. Junior Pippin; 12. Angie Smith; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Redell Harris; 15. LE Tonglet; 16. Mike Berry.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sunday's final results from the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.797 seconds, 322.04 mph def. Antron Brown, 6.632 seconds, 101.17 mph.
Funny Car -- Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.097, 303.78 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.192, 287.17.
Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.580, 210.14 def. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.556, 211.16.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.899, 195.68 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.908, 194.21.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.362, 267.27 def. Darren Nicholson, 8.334, 114.93.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.475, 265.33 def. Mickey Ferro, Monte Carlo, 5.498, 262.44.
Pro Modified -- Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 5.908, 243.68 def. Michael Gullqvist, Chevy Camaro, foul.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Torrence, 3.879, 311.05 def. Morgan Lucas, 7.782, 91.43; Doug Foley, 3.959, 254.47 def. Doug Kalitta, 6.519, 113.58; Shawn Langdon, 3.919, 299.06 def. Chris Karamesines, 9.076, 56.08; Brandon Bernstein, 3.891, 313.22 def. David Grubnic, 7.263, 87.20; Antron Brown, 3.973, 229.90 def. Todd Paton, 7.079, 94.98; Tony Schumacher, 3.818, 320.81 def. Terry McMillen, 3.865, 304.94; Larry Dixon, 3.824, 319.37 def. Pat Dakin, 3.952, 275.45; Cory McClenathan, 3.816, 322.50 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 3.955, 305.91;
QUARTERFINALS -- Brown, 3.812, 318.92 def. Torrence, 3.862, 314.61; Dixon, 3.831, 317.87 def. Bernstein, 8.355, 82.55; Schumacher, 3.839, 319.45 def. Foley, 4.332, 179.42; Langdon, 3.852, 317.57 def. McClenathan, 3.840, 315.42;
SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.822, 324.98 def. Dixon, 3.825, 319.75; Brown, 3.801, 318.24 def. Langdon, 3.909, 304.74;
FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.797, 322.04 def. Brown, 6.632, 101.17.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.087, 310.13 def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 8.061, 98.35; Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.128, 310.13 def. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 8.771, 90.18; Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.072, 310.63 def. Del Worsham, Solara, 4.157, 306.88; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.061, 316.15 def. John Smith, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.223, 268.38; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.122, 305.84 def. Jim Head, Solara, 4.223, 301.94; Melanie Troxel, Charger, 5.324, 158.61 def. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 5.980, 134.85; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.139, 308.57 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 6.672, 94.77; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.188, 283.37 def. Jeff Arend, Solara, 5.520, 190.19;
QUARTERFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.113, 310.27 def. Troxel, 4.164, 307.30; Capps, 4.066, 312.35 def. Force, 4.135, 310.05; Wilkerson, 4.094, 307.86 def. Hagan, 4.465, 284.62; Tasca III, 4.131, 309.70 def. Hight, 4.804, 178.97;
SEMIFINALS -- Wilkerson, 4.149, 298.67 def. T. Pedregon, 8.493, 85.67; Tasca III, 4.125, 308.85 def. Capps, 4.562, 216.76;
FINAL -- Wilkerson, 4.097, 303.78 def. Tasca III, 4.192, 287.17.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Ronnie Humphrey, Pontiac GXP, 6.553, 211.66 def. Vinnie Deceglie, Dodge Avenger, 6.574, 209.82; Jason Line, GXP, 6.556, 211.76 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, foul; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.603, 210.70 def. Steve Spiess, Chevy Cobalt, 6.595, 210.05; V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.556, 210.73 def. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.732, 201.55; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.587, 210.64 def. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.616, 209.69; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.520, 212.23 def. Rickie Jones, GXP, 6.571, 210.05; Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.542, 210.67 def. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.574, 210.18; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.559, 211.73 def. Bob Yonke, GXP, 6.563, 210.34;
QUARTERFINALS -- Anderson, 6.587, 210.60 def. Coughlin, 9.637, 93.10; A. Johnson, 6.600, 210.05 def. Gaines, 6.616, 209.49; Line, 6.582, 210.83 def. Krisher, 6.592, 210.14; Edwards, 6.549, 210.83 def. Humphrey, 6.577, 210.97; Anderson, 6.587, 210.60 def. Coughlin, 9.637, 93.10; A. Johnson, 6.600, 210.05 def. Gaines, 6.616, 209.49; Line, 6.582, 210.83 def. Krisher, 6.592, 210.14; Edwards, 6.549, 210.83 def. Humphrey, 6.577, 210.97;
SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.606, 210.24 def. Anderson, 17.349, 43.53; Edwards, 6.564, 211.23 def. A. Johnson, 6.596, 210.54;
FINAL -- Line, 6.580, 210.14 def. Edwards, 6.556, 211.16.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.893, 193.85 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.941, 191.59; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.978, 193.18 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.982, 191.13; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.901, 193.49 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, foul; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.868, 194.41 def. LE Tonglet, Buell, 7.055, 192.08; David Hope, Buell, 6.939, 189.76 def. Mike Berry, Buell, DQ; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.864, 195.11 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.976, 187.47; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.847, 193.46 def. Redell Harris, Buell, 6.999, 187.08; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.875, 195.51 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Treble, 7.038, 186.07 def. Hope, foul; Arana, 6.916, 191.70 def. Hines, foul; Krawiec, 6.856, 194.63 def. Johnson, foul; Gann, 6.945, 192.06 def. Stoffer, 6.979, 187.52;
SEMIFINALS -- Gann, 6.907, 193.18 def. Arana, foul; Krawiec, 6.903, 194.63 def. Treble, 6.971, 189.52;
FINAL -- Krawiec, 6.899, 195.68 def. Gann, 6.908, 194.21.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 266; 2. Cory McClenathan, 255; 3. Larry Dixon, 239; 4. Doug Kalitta, 230; 5. Antron Brown, 194; 6. Shawn Langdon, 169; 7. Steve Torrence, 160; 8. Morgan Lucas, 140; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 137; 10. David Grubnic, 120.
Funny Car
1. John Force, 280; 2. Ron Capps, 226; 3. Jack Beckman, 219; 4. Bob Tasca III, 205; 5. (tie) Matt Hagan, 181; Robert Hight, 181; 7. Tony Pedregon, 180; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 177; 9. Ashley Force Hood, 149; 10. Del Worsham, 128.
Pro Stock
1. Mike Edwards, 363; 2. Allen Johnson, 231; 3. Greg Anderson, 221; 4. Jason Line, 200; 5. Ron Krisher, 162; 6. Greg Stanfield, 157; 7. Rodger Brogdon, 147; 8. Ronnie Humphrey, 137; 9. Bob Yonke, 135; 10. Jeg Coughlin, 134.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 119; 2. Shawn Gann, 94; 3. Karen Stoffer, 84; 4. Hector Arana, 76; 5. Craig Treble, 75; 6. David Hope, 58; 7. Andrew Hines, 54; 8. Steve Johnson, 53; 9. Junior Pippin, 36; 10. Matt Smith, 33.
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