Johnson Jr., Millican, Anderson And Savoie race to qualifying leads at Carolina Nationals
Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Eighth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Clay Millican
Michael C. Johnson
Charlote, N.C. – Tommy Johnson Jr., who has quietly had one of the most consistent Funny Cars of the season, raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders at the opening round of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs.
Johnson Jr., who enters the playoffs as the third seed, had a great regular season largely in the shadow of teammate Jack Beckman’s stellar performances. However, he made a statement on the first day of the playoffs by claiming the qualifying lead with a track record time of 3.971 seconds at 312.42 mph in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T.
“There’s not a lot of humidity in the air and the (new) track (surface) is getting better and better,” Johnson Jr. said. “The car’s been running better lately. I wasn’t sure it was going to stay No. 1 with the way Jack has been running lately and you know that Ron was No. 1 after the first session and they have stepped their performance up after the last few races. It was a nice surprise.”
Friday's results
Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Clay Millican, 3.758 seconds, 318.77 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.774, 319.75; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.786, 320.36; 4. Leah Pritchett, 3.803, 319.45; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.868, 315.86; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.870, 316.30; 7. Pat Dakin, 3.931, 277.26; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.954, 303.37; 9. Richie Crampton, 4.021, 278.92; 10. J.R. Todd, 4.098, 230.92; 11. Antron Brown, 4.207, 201.28; 12. Brittany Force, 4.918, 159.29. Not Qualified: 13. Dave Connolly, 6.053, 109.32; 14. Terry McMillen, 6.588, 103.47.
Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.971, 312.42; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.993, 318.32; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.994, 317.34; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.003, 318.32; 5. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.004, 313.95; 6. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.004, 313.80; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.015, 314.02; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.022, 307.86; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.079, 301.33; 10. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.080, 303.30; 11. John Hale, Charger, 4.198, 272.94; 12. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.243, 280.72. Not Qualified: 13. Dave Richards, 4.257, 293.15; 14. Alexis DeJoria, 4.714, 86.37; 15. Chad Head, 10.440, 69.10.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.524, 212.26; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.533, 211.66; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.536, 211.83; 4. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.545, 211.83; 5. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.548, 211.76; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.556, 211.56; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 210.60; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.559, 211.26; 9. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.564, 210.73; 10. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.567, 211.26; 11. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.604, 209.82; 12. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.619, 210.18. Not Qualified: 13. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.647, 207.94; 14. V. Gaines, 6.670, 208.49; 15. Wally Stroupe, 6.895, 199.70; 16. Kenny Delco, 18.098, 26.97.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.862, 195.59; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.876, 194.10; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.886, 195.00; 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.63; 5. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.912, 193.57; 6. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.924, 193.96; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.927, 192.82; 8. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 193.82; 9. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.941, 191.67; 10. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.943, 193.02; 11. Redell Harris, Buell, 6.959, 191.65; 12. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.963, 191.08. Not Qualified: 13. Scotty Pollacheck, 6.974, 190.92; 14. LE Tonglet, 6.987, 193.24; 15. Matt Smith, 7.001, 190.97; 16. Angie Smith, 7.002, 187.36; 17. Shawn Gann, 7.048, 189.52; 18. Mike Berry, 7.198, 186.15; 19. Lance Bonham, 7.369, 183.92; 20. Andrew Patterson, 9.618, 90.70.
NHRA
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