Weather postpones NHRA finals to Monday
Eliminations for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will continue Monday, Oct. 3, beginning with Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle round two at 10 a.m. ET followed by semifinal action of all four Pro categories.
Rain had threatened the event all weekend but managed to stay away until the middle of the second round of eliminations on Sunday. Top Fuel and Funny Car both completed two rounds of racing, and Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle were only able to complete round one.
In Top Fuel action, Del Worsham took advantage of the cool weather when he made the second-quickest run in NHRA history during the opening round of eliminations. Worsham’s Al-Anabi Racing dragster ran a 3.760-second pass at 322.96 mph and then followed that by running the third-quickest pass with a 3.764 at 322.65 in the second round. If no one betters the run Monday, he will leave Maple Grove Raceway with the national e.t. record and a 20-point bonus.
Worsham will face off against Dave Grubnic and his Kalitta Air dragster in the semifinal round matchup. Teammate Larry Dixon will face points leader Spencer Massey and his FRAM machine.
Qualifying leader, Johnny Gray, seems to be enjoying his new role as spoiler in Funny Car. Even though Gray is not in the Countdown to the Championship, he is racing like he’s gunning for the title. During eliminations Sunday, Gray took out incoming points leader Mike Neff in the quarterfinals, which was especially important because Neff’s loss allowed Gray’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan, who took over the championship points lead in qualifying, to maintain the top spot. Hagan also lost in the quarterfinals but will leave the event as the points leader.
Gray will face Ford Racing’s Bob Tasca III in the semifinals Monday. Countdown drivers Jeff Arend and Robert Hight will also match up against one another Monday.
In Pro Stock action, Summit Racing’s Jason Line set a national record in his opening-round win over Bob Benza with his 6.483 at 212.23, which is the quickest run ever in the factory hot rod class. Line will face off against fellow Countdown contender Erica Enders and her ZaZa Energy Chevy Cobalt in round two action Monday.
Line’s Summit Racing teammate, Greg Anderson, won his first round of competition in the Countdown Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway and will face Greg Stanfield in the quarterfinals. Countdown drivers Mike Edwards and Roger Brogdon will match up in the quarterfinals, as well as Ronnie Humphrey and Larry Morgan.
In the two-wheel class, points leader Eddie Krawiec will face Jerry Savoie in round two. Krawiec’s Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson teammate Andrew Hines will take on Michael Phillips, rookie Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Jr. w