BROWNSBURG, INDIANA – There’s one more day to go to determine who will get to dance in Monday’s final eliminations of the “Big Go.”
The “Big Go” is the nickname for the biggest race of the NHRA season, the 62nd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.
After the first three qualifying rounds (one on Friday, two on Saturday), here’s how each class stacks up heading into Sunday’s final two rounds of qualifying:
TOP FUEL: Clay Millican (with a track record 3.692 elapsed time), Steve Torrence, Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Morgan Lucas, J.R. Todd, Leah Pritchett, Richie Crampton and TJ Zizzo.
FUNNY CAR: Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman (with a track speed record of 333.08 mph), Ron Capps, Courtney Force, Tommy Johnson Jr., John Force, Del Worsham, Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria, John Hale and Jim Campbell.
Of note: two-time champion Cruz Pedregon has struggled during qualifying and sits 18th on the grid after Saturday.
PRO STOCK: Vincent Nobile, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Bo Butner, Alex Laughlin, Jason Line, Allen Johnson, Aaron Strong, Matt Hartford, Chris McGaha, Deric Kramer and Erica Enders.
Sitting below the qualifying cutoff line includes Jeg Coughlin and Drew Skillman.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Jerry Savoie, Angelle Sampey, Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, Cory Reed, LE Tonglet, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis, Matt Smith, Jim Underdahl, Hector Arana and Michael Ray.
Below the qualifying cutoff line include Steve Johnson, Karen Stoffer, Scotty Pollacheck and Angie Smith.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS AFTER THE FIRST THREE OF FIVE ROUNDS OF QUALIFYING:
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 3.692 seconds, 318.77 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.702, 328.54; 3. Brittany Force, 3.706, 326.00; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.717, 330.31; 5. Antron Brown, 3.725, 326.00; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.726, 324.67; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.731, 327.11; 8. Morgan Lucas, 3.732, 326.63; 9. J.R. Todd, 3.734, 319.37; 10. Leah Pritchett, 3.738, 329.75; 11. Richie Crampton, 3.772, 319.52; 12. T.J. Zizzo, 3.772, 319.82. Not Qualified: 13. Tripp Tatum, 3.785, 326.00; 14. Terry McMillen, 3.796, 316.45; 15. Wayne Newby, 3.819, 300.00; 16. Bruce Litton, 3.824, 319.14; 17. Luigi Novelli, 3.898, 305.29; 18. Pat Dakin, 4.091, 218.30; 19. Terry Haddock, 4.587, 171.40; 20. Chris Karamesines, 13.701, 56.24.
Funny Car -- 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.858, 330.80; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.859, 333.08; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.861, 325.30; 4. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.867, 327.11; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.868, 329.99; 6. John Force, Camaro, 3.872, 329.58; 7. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.874, 328.86; 8. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.881, 330.31; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.934, 328.46; 10. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.951, 323.89; 11. John Hale, Charger, 3.969, 318.24; 12. Jim Campbell, Charger, 3.977, 315.56. Not Qualified: 13. John Bojec, 4.007, 299.86; 14. Bob Bode, 4.143, 271.57; 15. Dave Richards, 4.242, 237.67; 16. Justin Schriefer, 4.381, 276.58; 17. Chad Head, 4.449, 194.02; 18. Cruz Pedregon, 7.720, 84.09; 19. Tim Gibbons, 8.594, 84.94.
Pro Stock -- 1. Vincent Nobile, Chevy Camaro, 6.582, 210.05; 2. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.589, 209.52; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.593, 209.72; 4. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.596, 209.69; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.606, 209.20; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.611, 209.52; 7. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.611, 208.71; 8. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.634, 208.01; 9. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.636, 208.14; 10. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.637, 208.59; 11. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.640, 207.56; 12. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.648, 208.14. Not Qualified: 13. Jeg Coughlin, 6.666, 207.05; 14. Drew Skillman, 6.667, 207.94; 15. Kenny Delco, 6.670, 207.34; 16. Shane Tucker, 6.701, 206.80; 17. Curt Steinbach, 6.711, 204.94; 18. Alan Prusiensky, 6.713, 205.94; 19. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.731, 205.07.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.841, 195.28; 2. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.851, 194.52; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.852, 194.77; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.867, 193.85; 5. Cory Reed, Buell, 6.870, 193.63; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.873, 194.52; 7. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.874, 194.10; 8. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.876, 194.46; 9. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.876, 193.52; 10. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.912, 194.16; 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.918, 194.04; 12. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.929, 193.99. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Johnson, 6.929, 193.40; 14. Karen Stoffer, 6.942, 193.52; 15. Joey Gladstone, 6.950, 191.73; 16. Mark Paquette, 6.959, 192.38; 17. Scotty Pollacheck, 6.969, 192.30; 18. Joe DeSantis, 6.987, 190.40; 19. Melissa Surber, 6.997, 191.92; 20. Angie Smith, 7.050, 188.57; 21. Lance Bonham, 7.279, 180.40; 22. Kristen Ashby, 7.338, 181.11; 23. Anthony Vanetti, 7.653, 186.33.
BIG UPSET IN RESCHEDULED SEATTLE PRO STOCK FINAL
In the conclusion of the Pro Stock final round from the weather-postponed race at Seattle a month ago, Aaron Strong pulled one of the biggest upsets in the class in a long time, defeating heavily favored Vincent Nobile.
Nobile fouled at the starting line, giving Strong an unfettered route to victory.
Appearing in only his ninth career Pro Stock race and his first final in the class, Strong became the 62nd different winner in the history of the class.
“I can’t even believe it,” Strong told NHRA.com. “Pro Stock has been around for 40-plus years and to be one of the very few like that, it’s unbelievable.
“With all my years of bracket racing, I did look at the scoreboard– even though I shouldn’t in a Pro Stock car -- and saw my win light on. I was like, ‘Is my win light on or is that just the sun on it?’ but it was lit up.”
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