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FORD DRIVER MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO FIRST FUNNY CAR CHAMPIONSHIPBY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT
Las Vegas — Robert Top Gun Hight took another step toward completing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in professional drag racing history Sunday when he drove the Auto Club Ford Mustang to victory in the ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
After failing to qualify for the Aug. 16 Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., his second major stumble of the year, Hight was in 12th place, 507 points—26 competitive rounds—behind points leader Tony Pedregon and very much in danger of missing the Countdown for the first time in his career.
Nevertheless, when the tour moves to Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., for the season-ending Auto Club Finals, the 40-year-old former clutch specialist will need to win but a single round to close out the competition and secure his first Full Throttle Funny Car Championship; the 16th in 20 seasons for John Force Racing Inc.
“We still haven’t wrapped it up,” said car owner John Force, who won the team’s last championship in 2006, “but [Robert] has a heck of a lead. Ashley still has a shot. At the end of the day, for Auto Club, it’s great. They’ve been real loyal. They’ve stood by us even when we’ve struggled. For Ford Motor Company, in this economy, it is a great time to deliver a win.”
Hight was quickest in every round Sunday to earn his third win in five Countdown races and extend to 105 points his lead over sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood, whom he defeated in a bittersweet first round. Although six drivers will move on with a mathematical shot at the $500,000 champion’s bonus, only Hight controls his own destiny.
“That was my toughest race this year, by far,” Hight said of his duel with Force Hood. “Those guys are just too good. They have done so well all year and we owe them so much because, without their help, we wouldn’t even have made it into the Countdown.
“We have been so close so many times,” Hight said of the championship. “It’s not over yet, but it is sure looking good for us.
It was a particularly sweet victory considering Hight’s previous history in the event. In his rookie year (2005), a clutch arm broke in the first round putting his Ford into instant tire smoke in a loss to Mike Ashley. The following year, after qualifying No. 1, a pulley broke in the supercharger assembly on the first round burnout. In 2007, after again qualifying No. 1, a clutch malfunction again sent him to the sidelines in the opening stanza.
Last year, he began to turn things around by reaching the final round—although he lost to eventual series champion Cruz Pedregon.
Of his early-season problems, the 2007 Rookie-of-the-Year said “I knew we would figure this thing out and fix it. Jimmy Prock has just done such a great job since the Countdown started—three wins in five races. That’s stout [and] it has all been on performance. We haven’t gotten lucky.
“I haven’t had to pedal the race car,” Hight said, referring to the need to feather the throttle to regain lost traction. “We have just out-muscled these guys. That’s what Cruz Pedregon did last year. To have a 105-point lead going into Pomona gives you a lot of confidence.
“I think the only person that really has a chance is Ashley,” Hight said. “I still believe if she would have beat me first round, she would be standing [in the winners’ circle]. That is a great race [team]. Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas [Ashley’s crew chiefs], they fixed us. We were just lost—kind of like John’s car [is] right now.”
Force, who qualified only 11th, survived one round on his driving skills before falling to Hight in round two when his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford failed to get down the track for the fourth straight time.
“I have to tell you that race was for me,” Force said of his back-pedaling first round win over arch rival Cruz Pedregon, whom he defeated for the 54th time in 79 career meetings. “That was a great white knuckler against my buddy. I was sideways and I was like, ‘I am going to take out the whole side of this hunk.’ I love this hot rod. I love my team of Austin Coil and Bernie [Fedderly]. [My car] still ain’t good, but she’s getting better.”
“It is amazing what a win can do. You can see it in Jimmy Prock. He doesn’t go [back] to the car a hundred times and change things. He might make a little change here and there in the staging lanes [but that’s all]. [As a driver] it gives you a lot of confidence, too. You don’t have to go out there and do dumb things trying to pull wins out.
“I did that earlier in the year when we were struggling [and] I got lucky since I never red-lit, but I should have a couple of times. I was trying to do too much because I knew the car needed a little help,” Hight said. “It doesn’t work that way. You have to do what you know how to do [and that’s] all about confidence.
“Another thing that gives me great confidence is my sponsors. Tom McKernan [Auto Club CEO] told me if we didn’t win this race, it would not be a big deal. He told me we have done great this year. They do not put any pressure on you.
“He gives me pep talks about his dad. He talked about his dad not following his dreams. He wanted to play basketball, but he went into construction [instead]. My dad was the same way. He didn’t want me to do this. He told me how stupid I was. Now he’s glad I did what I loved.
“I never thought I would get to this point. I never thought I would get to drive a race car. I was happy and content to be driving down the road in one of John Force’s trucks and working on his race car. I just owe it all to him for giving me this opportunity.
“When you are on a team like this, you are expected to win,” said the 14-time tour winner. “That puts a little added pressure on you. You also know you have good equipment and a good car. That makes it easier to learn and, trust me, I’m still learning.”
After turning back Force Hood in the opening round and Force in round two, Hight beat Tim Wilkerson in the semifinals and Fast Jack Beckman in a final round decided by an oh-too-close .002 of a second. As a result, he will be leaving Las Vegas as the points leader for the first time in his career.
The last four years, he has moved on to the Auto Club Finals still in contention for the championship but he never before has ended the Las Vegas Nationals higher than third in the standings.
Force Hood’s Castrol GTX Ford, which carried the 26-year-old phenom to victory in the 2009 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Clermont, Ind., picked a lousy time to lose its high level of consistency.
After just barely getting into the show in the No. 14 position, the national record-holding Ford was no match for Hight’s Auto Club entry, losing 4.338 to 4.114 although Force Hood did get out to a narrow lead at the start.
“I’m going to take a break from racing and for the next week-and-a-half, I’m not even going to talk racing,” said Force Hood. “This is one of the weirdest moments of my life. It is like crushingly sad [for my team], but so exciting for Robert.
“I am really proud of Robert’s team,” Force Hood said. “They took a way longer journey than the rest of us to get to this spot. They went from the very back of the pack to the front. That is what we need to be proud of.
“It is a weird moment for us. I have never been in this situation [before]. I am rooting for them, but our team is going to go to Pomona and try to kick their butts. We want to finish off strong. We want to go to the banquet feeling proud of our season and how we finished.”
Even though their race wasn’t that close, Hight had nothing but praise for his sister-in-law.
“You know that team over there with Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas plus Ashley as the driver, they’re all great. They have been so good for so long, over a year and half. They will turn this thing [back] around.
Hight also gave a shout out to close friend and rival Del Worsham, whose second round victory ahead of Tony Pedregon mollified the impact of Force Hood’s early exit.
“Good job to Del Worsham,” Hight said. “He’s my buddy. He’s who I started with [as driver of the Roger Primm dragster on which Hight was a crewman]. That is big, beating Tony Pedregon. You don’t beat him very often on a hole shot [4.232 to a quicker, but losing, 4.176].”
As for the fourth of the JFR Mustangs, the Ford Drive One hybrid tuned and driven by Mike Neff, it exited in the first round when it slowed to 4.691 against Beckman’s 4.430.
“It was a disappointing weekend for us,” Neff said of his first outing in a chassis developed in-house at JFR’s Brownsburg, Ind., race plant. “It’s kind of the new car blues.
“The new chassis we built is great and it will be better than what we have. The problem that we discovered is the parts we put on it that control all the electronics changed everything. We couldn’t get a handle on it. It kind of threw us a curve ball [but] we are going to fix all that and go to Pomona.
“The biggest thing here for Team Force is we are thrilled to see Robert win,” said the 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year. “That’s what it is all about and that is what our goal is. That makes me feel good even after our disappointment. It turned out to be a good weekend.”
Maybe a great one.
FINAL WORD
Final round results from Sunday’s ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
FUNNY CAR – Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.125, 304.46 mph, def. Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., MTS Dodge Charger, 4.154, 303.16 mph.
TOP FUEL – Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Tex., U.S. Smokeless dragster, 3.827, 314.53 mph, def. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Al-Anabi dragster, 5.503, 174.87 mph.
PRO STOCK – Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Lucas Oil Dodge Stratus, 6.720, 205.69 mph, def. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Elite Motorsports Dodge Stratus, 6.794, 203.16 mph.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 6.998, 190.70 mph, def. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell, foul.
PRO MODIFIED – Jay Payne, Ontario, Calif., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.984, 240.24 mph, def. Brad Personett, Elkhart, Ind., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, foul.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Shawn Cowie, Delta, British Columbia, Canada, Top Alcohol dragster, 5.353, 267.69 mph, def. Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., A/Fuel dragster, 5.455, 252.24 mph.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.658, 254.09 mph, def. Alexis De Joria, Bronson, Fla., 2009 Ford Mustang, 5.641, 255.63 mph.
COMPETITION – Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, def. Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.
SUPER STOCK – David Bogner, Kearney, Nev., 1992 Dodge Daytona, def. Chuck Stubeck, Chatsworth, Calif., 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner.
STOCK – Jody Lang, Puyallup, Wash., 1981 Chevrolet Malibu wagon, def. Toby Lang, Auburn, Wash., 1969 Chevy Chevelle.
SUPER COMP – Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, dragster, def. Anthony Castillo, Grandview, Wash., dragster.
SUPER GAS – Max Tafoya, Albuquerque, N.M., 2003 Chevrolet S-10 truck, def. Val Torres, Valinda, Calif., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.
TO THE POINTS
Unofficial professional points following Sunday’s ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fifth of six races in the Countdown to One playoffs:
FUNNY CAR – 1. Robert Hight, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, 2485; 2. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 2380; 3. Tony Pedregon, Q Racing Chevrolet, 2372; 4. Jack Beckman, Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger, 2371; 5. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 2358; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 2353; 7. Del Worsham, Al-Anabi Toyota Solara, 2299; 8. Bob Tasca III, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 2294; 9. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 2268; 10. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Ford Mustang, 2235.
TOP FUEL – 1. Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster, 2485; 2. Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi dragster, 2484; 3. Cory McClenathan, Fram dragster, 2437; 4. Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster, 2405; 5. Brandon Bernstein, Budweiser dragster, 2383; 6. Spencer Massey, US Smokeless Tobacco dragster, 2337; 7. Morgan Lucas, GEICO Insurance dragster, 2300; 8. Shawn Langdon, Lucas Oil dragster, 2289; 9. Doug Kalitta, Kalitta Racing dragster, 2270; 10. Clay Millican, Nitrofish dragster, 2093.
PRO STOCK – 1. Mike Edwards, Young Life/Penhall Pontiac, 2594; 2. Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, 2455; 3. Jason Line, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, 2406; 4. Greg Stanfield, Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP, 2348; 5. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jeg’s Chevrolet Cobalt, 2344; 6. Ron Krisher, Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt, 2303; 7. Allen Johnson, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus, 2278; 8. Johnny Gray, Johnny Gray Racing Dodge Stratus, 2267; 9. Kurt Johnson, ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt, 2215; 10. Rickie Jones, Quarter-Max/RJ Race Cars Dodge Stratus, 2211.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – 1. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Buell, 2525; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Englishtown, N.J., Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 2471; 3. Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 2372; 4. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Suzuki, 2334; 5. Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge, La., Suzuki, 2288; 6. Douglas Horne, Aberdeen, Md., Buell, 2262; 7. Karen Stoffer, Smith, Nev., Suzuki, 2213; 8. Shawn Gann, Stoneville, N.C., Buell, 2209; 9. Craig Treble, Harvey, La., Suzuki, 2168; 10. Matt Guidera, Loomis, Calif., Buell, 2020.
HERE WE GO ROUND-BY-ROUND
Round-by-round results from Sunday’s ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
FUNNY CAR
First round – 1. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., Valvoline Dodge Charger, 4.131, 303.50 mph, def. 6. Grant Downing, Fullerton, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 4.244, 284.21 mph; 2. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Dodge Charger, 4.130, 305.08 mph, def. 15. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Chevrolet Impala, 4.208, 292.52 mph; 3. Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, 4.114, 309.06 mph, def. 14. Ashley Force Hood, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 4.338, 283.37 mph; 4. Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Quaker State Chevrolet Impala, 4.271, 283.85 mph, def. 13. Jeff Arend, San Dimas, Calif., DHL Toyota Solara, 4.331, 280.89 mph; 12. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Al-Anabi Toyota Solara, 4.163, 304.19 mph, def. 5. Bob Tasca III, Cranston, R.I., Quick Lane Ford Mustang GT, 5.057, 162.63 mph; 11. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 4.662, 220.80 mph, def. 6. Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara, 4.855, 230.57 mph; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 4.159, 299.00 mph, def. 10. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, Head Racing Toyota Solara, 4.146, 307.44 mph; 8. Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., MTS Dodge Charger, 4.430, 261.12 mph, def. 9. Mike Neff, Fishers, Ind., Ford Drive One Ford Mustang, 4.669, 200.44 mph.
Second round – Beckman, 4.210, 285.41 mph, def. Hagan, 4.242, 287.35 mph; Wilkerson, 4.163, 301.40 mph, def. Capps, 4.157, 303.78 mph; Hight, 4.125, 309.42 mph, def. Force, 5.723, 142.19 mph; Worsham, 4.232, 269.67 mph, def. T. Pedregon, 4.176, 303.64 mph.
Semifinals – Beckman, 4.359, 262.90 mph, def. Worsham, 8.613, 77.85 mph; Hight, 4.080, 312.57 mph, def. Wilkerson, 4.233, 285.41 mph.
FINAL – Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.125, 304.46 mph, def. Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., MTS Dodge Charger, 4.154, 303.16 mph.
TOP FUEL
First round – 1. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Al Anabi dragster, 3.834, 318.24 mph, def. 16. Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., Geico Insurance dragster, 5.188, 134.63 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Dexter Tuttle Motorsports dragster, 3.900, 305.36 mph, def. 15. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., 5.977, 105.80 mph; 3. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster, 4.012, 247.66 mph, def. 14. Stig Neegaard, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6.954, 86.18 mph; 4. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster, 4.028, 319.07 mph, def. 13. Urs Erbacher, Arlescheim, Switzerland, 4.028, 289.45 mph; 5. Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg, Ind., FRAM dragster, 3.865, 316.75 mph, def. 12. David Grubnic, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.855, 186.02 mph; 6. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., Budweiser dragster, 3.890, 310.98 mph, def. 11. Bob Vandergriff Jr., Alpharetta, Ga., 6.710, 102.81 mph; 10. Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Smokeless dragster, 3.836, 316.38 mph, def. 7. Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg, Ind., Lucas Oil dragster, 3.932, 298.73 mph; 9. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Technicoat dragster, 3.889, 309.56 mph, def. 8. Thomas Nataas, Dryoyak, Norway, broke.
Second round – Bernstein, 3.882, 311.85 mph, def. Brown, 3.894, 311.34 mph; McClenathan, 3.860, 316.67 mph, def. Schumacher, 3.868, 318.84 mph; Massey, 3.878, 314.02 mph, def. Torrence, 7.880, 105.36 mph; Dixon, 3.849, 315.54 mph, def. Kalitta, 3.909, 313.22 mph.
Semifinals – Massey, 3.849, 315.34 mph, def. Bernstein, 3.898, 311.41 mph; Dixon, 3.845, 314.61 mph, def. McClenathan, 3.844, 316.38 mph.
FINAL – Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Tex., U.S. Smokeless dragster, 3.827, 314.53 mph, def. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Al-Anabi dragster, 5.503, 174.87 mph.
PRO STOCK
First round – 1. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life/ART Pontiac GXP, 6.655, 207.21 mph, def. 16. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt, 6.728, 204.85 mph; 15. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Elite Motorsports Dodge Stratus, 6.724, 205.91 mph, def. 2. Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Mountain View Tire Dodge Stratus, 6.698, 205.60 mph; 3. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt, 6.674, 206.42 mph, def. 14. Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale, Mass., Wiley X Eyewear Pontiac GXP, 6.770, 203.71 mph; 4. Greg Anderson, Concord, N.C., Summit Pontiac GXP, 6.679, 206.86 mph, def. 13. Ronnie Humphrey, Jacksonville, N.C., Pontiac GXP, foul; 12. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., Endicom Electric Pontiac GXP, 6.709, 205.76 mph, def. 5. Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Mopar Dodge Stratus, 6.722, 205.60 mph; 11. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, Jeg’s Chevrolet Cobalt, 6.715, 205.54 mph, def. 6. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Dodge Stratus, 6.706, 205.76 mph; 7. Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, Charter Communications Pontiac GXP, 6.780, 204.39 mph, def. 10. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., K&N Filters Pontiac GXP, 6.804, 204.29 mph; 8. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Lucas Oil Dodge Stratus, 6.698, 206.01 mph, def. 9. Jason Line, Troutman, N.C., Summit Pontiac GXP, 6.726, 206.16 mph.
Second round – Jones, 6.718, 205.57 mph, def. Brogdon, 6.724, 205.76 mph; Stanfield, 6.712, 205.63 mph, def. Anderson, 6.705, 206.48 mph; Krisher, 6.685, 206.33 mph, def. Coughlin, 6.730, 204.91 mph; Morgan, 6.720, 205.69 mph, def. Edwards, 6.677, 207.59 mph.
Semifinals – Morgan, 6.729, 205.19 mph, def. Stanfield, 6.801, 195.42 mph; Jones, 6.716, 205.82 mph, def. Krisher, foul.
FINAL – Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Lucas Oil Dodge Stratus, 6.720, 205.69 mph, def. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Elite Motorsports Dodge Stratus, 6.794, 203.16 mph.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
First round – 1. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell, 7.058, 190.81 mph, def. 16. Mike Berry, Lakewood, Colo., Suzuki, 7.183, 184.35 mph; 2. Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 7.081, 192.11 mph, def. 15. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.198, 188.86 mph; 3. Matt Smith, King, N.C., NitroFish Suzuki, 7.073, 289.04 mph, def. 14. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Buell, foul; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Englishtown, N.J., Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 7.025, 191.19 mph, def. 13. Jim Underdahl, North Branch, Minn., Suzuki, foul; 5. Karen Stoffer, Smith, Nev., GEICO Suzuki, 7.103, 189.66 mph, def. 12. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Wyotech Suzuki, 7.127, 188.46 mph; 11. Shawn Gann, Stoneville, N.C., Master Cam Buell, 7.116, 187.23 mph, def. 6. Junior Pippin, Conyers, Ga., PiranaZ Buell, 7.251, 184.62 mph; 10. Douglas Horne, Aberdeen, Md., Horne Racing Buell, 7.094, 189.26 mph, def. 7. Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge, La., Suzuki, foul; 8. David Hope, Nevada, Mo., Vroom Racing Buell, 7.081, 185.18 mph, def. 9. Craig Treble, Harvey, La., Suzuki, 7.141, 188.57 mph.
Second round – Arana, 7.021, 190.75 mph, def. Hope, 7.113, 186.18 mph; Hines, 7.001, 191.76 mph, def. Horne, 7.122, 187.94 mph; Krawiec, 7.046, 190.70 mph, def. Stoffer, 7.090, 190.16 mph; Smith, 7.037, 189.44 mph, def. Gann, 7.110, 186.87 mph.
Semifinals – Arana, 7.039, 190.89 mph, def. Krawiec, 7.028, 190.86 mph; Hines, 6.992, 191.62 mph, def. Smith, 7.044, 189.90 mph.
FINAL – Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 6.998, 190.70 mph, def. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell, foul.
PRO MODIFIED
First round – 1. Brad Personett, Elkhart, Ind., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.990, 205.92 mph, def. 16. Kirk Wilmes, Altus, Okla., 1968 Pontiac Firebird, 6.184, 229.94 mph; 2. Jay Payne, Ontario, Calif., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 12.019, 78.32 mph, def. 15. Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., 1967 Ford Mustang, foul; 14. Dennis Radford, Baker City, Ore., 1970 Plymouth Duster, 6.040, 233.76 mph, def. 3. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.033, 240.25 mph; 13. Raymond Commisso, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.019, 239.57 mph, def. 4. Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills, Calif., 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.030, 242.10 mph; 5. Joe Baker, Milton, Fla., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.046, 238.60 mph, def. 12. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.073, 229.66 mph; 11. Burton Auxier, Dixie, West Va., 1968 Pontiac Firebird, 6.111, 232.87 mph, def. 6. Mike Castellana, Westbury, N.J., 1970 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.299, 174.82 mph; 7. Chip King, Roxboro, N.C., 1969 Dodge Daytona, 7.266, 165.60 mph, def. 10. Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda, Calif., 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, 27.487, no speed; 8. Roger Burgess, Duluth, Ga., 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.045, 240.21 mph, def. 9. Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe, Manitoba, Canada, 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, 5.992, 241.11 mph.
Second round – Baker, 6.038, 238.89 mph, def. Commisso, 10.230, 120.74 mph; Radford, 16.807, 65.88 mph, def. Auxier, no time; Personett, 5.922, 250.78 mph, def. Burgess, foul; Payne, 6.081, 238.55 mph, def. King, 6.049, 236.88 mph.
Semifinals – Payne, 6.045, 238.98 mph, def. Radford, 6.142, 205.10 mph; Personett, 5.927, 250.64 mph, def. Baker, 6.022, 239.65 mph.
FINAL – Jay Payne, Ontario, Calif., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.984, 240.24 mph, def. Brad Personett, Elkhart, Ind., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, foul.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
First round – 1. Monroe Guest, Mannford, Okla., A/Fuel dragster, 5.164, 281.77 mph, def. 16. Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, A/Fuel dragster, 11.590, 76.91 mph; 2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., BrandSource A/Fuel dragster, 5.301, 269.83 mph, def. 15. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., Top Alcohol dragster, 5.428, 256.36 mph; 14. Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., A/Fuel dragster, 5.327, 268.12 mph, 3. Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., A/Fuel dragster, 5.327, 269.29 mph; 4. Mark Niver, Phoenix, A/Fuel dragster, 5.338, 260.81 mph, def. 13. Don St. Arnaud, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, A/Fuel dragster, 5.405, 256.75 mph; 5. Shawn Cowie, Delta, British Columbia, Canada, Top Alcohol dragster, 5.538, 257.87 mph, def. 12. Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, Top Alcohol dragster, foul; 6. Jim Whiteley Grand Junction, Colo., Top Alcohol dragster, 5.379, 266.37 mph, def. 11. Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., Top Alcohol dragster, 5.431, 262.52 mph; 10. Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Sanyo Supercharged HD A/Fuel dragster, 7.605, 240.00 mph, def. 7. Ashley Bart, High River, Alberta, Canada, Top Alcohol dragster, foul; 8. Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., A/Fuel dragster,5.305, 260.97 mph, def. 9. Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., Top Alcohol dragster, 5.357, 261.78 mph.
Second round – Johnson, 5.302, 266.58 mph, def. Whiteley, 5.357, 265.59 mph; Guest, 5.244, 280.08 mph, def. Ahten, 5.403, 259.61 mph; C. Force, 5.364, 261.27 mph, def. B. Force, 5.478, 251.91 mph; Cowie, 5.353, 269.19 mph, def. Niver, foul.
Semifinals – Johnson, 5.554, 237.84 mph, def. C. Force, 5.570, 263.41 mph; Cowie, 5.391, 267.53 mph, def. Guest, 5.423, 278.63 mph.
FINAL – Shawn Cowie, Delta, British Columbia, Canada, Top Alcohol dragster, 5.353, 267.69 mph, def. Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., A/Fuel dragster, 5.455, 252.24 mph.
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