HIGHT TAKES PROVISIONAL TOP SPOT IN FUNNY CAR; BERNSTEIN, LINE, ARANA ALSO NO. 1 IN LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS – Robert Hight raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car Friday at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Brandon Bernstein, Jason Line and Hector Arana were also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the penultimate race of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.
Hight, who entered the event fifth in the point standings, took the provisional top spot on the first pass of the second session of qualifying Friday when he powered his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.085-second pass at 311.27 mph. If it stands it would be his second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 40th of his career and sixth in Las Vegas.
“That’s one reason why I don’t gamble in Vegas because I would’ve bet anyone that this time wouldn’t have stuck,” said Hight. “There were a lot of good cars behind me. It stuck, but tomorrow the conditions will be just as good, and we run pretty early before the track heats up. That 4.08 is probably not safe, but I’ll sleep a lot better tonight knowing that we’re No. 1. We haven’t had a lot of these this year.”
While Hight holds the provisional top spot in the field, Don Schumacher Racing drivers Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan are currently tied for the points lead in the category after Hagan picked up five bonus points during the first two rounds of qualifying. Hagan and Beckman currently sit in the provisional second and 10th spot in the field, respectively.
Bernstein raced to the provisional No. 1 spot in a very competitive Top Fuel class after he powered his Copart dragster to a 3.833 at 321.27. If it stands, it would be Bernstein’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 15th of his career.
“The car seemed like it didn’t even move because it was such a straight run,” said Bernstein. “The finish line comes so much quicker when you’re going 321 mph. The Copart team did a great job. We’ve been focusing on making four great qualifying runs and going rounds on Sunday. We’re a car that can run with all the guys who are in championship contention. This team needs a win, and that’s what we’re out here trying to do.”
Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown raced his Matco Tools dragster to the provisional fifth spot in the field, while second and fourth place drivers in the point standings Larry Dixon and Del Worsham sit in the provisional seventh and ninth spots after two rounds of qualifying. Third place driver in the standings Spencer Massey is in the provisional second spot.
In Pro Stock, points leader Line drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to the provisional top spot with a run of 6.624 at 208.07. If it stands, it would be his eighth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 25th of his career and third at this event.
“It’s a great way to start,” said Line. “The goal is to make a big rebound from Phoenix. We kind of stunk up the joint there, and we’re not going to do that two weeks in a row. We feel pretty good about things. We went to the finals (last year), but we were terrible here in the spring race, and I tend to remember the bad races. But we have had good races here, and hopefully, this will be one of those.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle Arana powered his Lucas Oil Buell to a 6.924 at 190.86 and the provisional top spot in the category. If it stands it would be his second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 17th of his career and third consecutive at the event.
“It feels good (to qualify No. 1),” said Arana. “We’ve been working hard, and now it seems like things are finally lining up and going my way. Hector Jr. is struggling a little right now getting off the starting line. I told him, ‘I’m going to be right behind you. Either you take first or I’m going to take it from you.’ I know he wants it. And if he concentrates for tomorrow, he should have the No. 1.”
Qualifying for the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals will continue tomorrow with sessions at 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
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LAS VEGAS -- Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 11th annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 21st of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brandon Bernstein, 3.833 seconds, 321.27 mph; 2. Spencer Massey, 3.856, 319.67; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.856, 317.49; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 3.858, 321.88; 5. Antron Brown, 3.863, 318.54; 6. David Grubnic, 3.864, 311.41; 7. Larry Dixon, 3.866, 321.42; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.872, 313.29; 9. Del Worsham, 3.879, 316.97; 10. Rod Fuller, 3.884, 317.79; 11. Dom Lagana, 3.885, 314.46; 12. Clay Millican, 3.890, 316.97. Not Qualified: 13. Ron August, 3.899, 316.90; 14. T.J. Zizzo, 3.899, 310.13; 15. Tony Schumacher, 3.902, 318.24; 16. Shawn Langdon, 3.903, 316.15; 17. Morgan Lucas, 3.937, 314.68; 18. Thomas Nataas, 3.939, 308.14; 19. Terry McMillen, 3.944, 312.64; 20. Troy Buff, 3.961, 304.05; 21. Cory McClenathan, 3.964, 307.79; 22. Ike Maier, 3.965, 305.36; 23. Pat Dakin, 3.967, 298.14; 24. Keith Murt, 4.006, 296.18; 25. Chris Karamesines, 4.032, 286.56; 26. Steven Chrisman, 4.195, 237.50; 27. Mike Salinas, 5.459, 138.34.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.085, 311.27; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.093, 310.05; 3. Melanie Troxel, Toyota Solara, 4.103, 310.20; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Solara, 4.121, 305.15; 5. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.126, 311.99; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.126, 308.00; 7. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.141, 308.78; 8. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.145, 309.98; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.148, 299.46; 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.149, 303.64; 11. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.162, 305.29; 12. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala SS, 4.166, 297.48. Not Qualified: 13. John Force, 4.180, 305.70; 14. Bob Tasca III, 4.187, 300.53; 15. Bob Bode, 4.193, 302.01; 16. Todd Lesenko, 4.198, 296.89; 17. Gary Densham, 4.234, 296.11; 18. Paul Lee, 4.269, 303.16; 19. Jeff Diehl, 4.337, 249.35; 20. Terry Haddock, 5.415, 136.47; 21. Jim Head, 6.723, 97.24.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.624, 208.07; 2. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.627, 208.33; 3. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.633, 208.14; 4. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.638, 208.33; 5. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.650, 206.76; 6. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.652, 207.56; 7. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.654, 208.07; 8. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.655, 207.50; 9. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.669, 206.95; 10. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.677, 206.86; 11. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.683, 207.18; 12. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.683, 206.61. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Kent, 6.687, 206.07; 14. Shane Gray, 6.688, 206.35; 15. Warren Johnson, 6.693, 206.76; 16. V. Gaines, 6.701, 206.51; 17. Mark Wolfe, 6.708, 206.35; 18. Buddy Perkinson, 6.736, 204.63; 19. Grace Howell, 6.754, 204.82; 20. Gordie Rivera, 6.823, 202.09.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.924, 190.86; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.940, 191.84; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.948, 193.93; 4. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.963, 191.62; 5. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.970, 191.24; 6. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.014, 188.41; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.018, 191.38; 8. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.019, 188.28; 9. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.030, 189.39; 10. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.031, 187.50; 11. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.065, 189.79; 12. Michael Ray, Buell, 7.075, 188.15. Not Qualified: 13. Bailey Whitaker, 7.076, 188.78; 14. David Hope, 7.077, 188.62; 15. Michael Phillips, 7.079, 190.43; 16. Shawn Gann, 7.085, 188.99; 17. Matt Guidera, 7.104, 187.99; 18. Justin Finley, 7.105, 186.69; 19. Karen Stoffer, 7.121, 180.16; 20. Joe DeSantis, 7.130, 184.62; 21. James Surber, 7.191, 184.22; 22. Wesley Wells, 7.244, 177.44; 23. Redell Harris, 7.262, 185.10; 24. Scotty Pollacheck, 7.265, 180.84; 25. Katie Sullivan, 7.281, 39.68; 26. Freddie Camarena, 7.307, 183.22; 27. Dawn Minturn, 7.363, 161.88.
