NHRA POWERade Championship: Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, Oct 5-7, 2007

NHRA, VA Motorsports Park, Inet ^ | Oct 2, 2007 | FlAttorney & Co.

[flattorney]

2nd Annual NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park – Richmond, Virginia
October 5 - 7, 2007

NHRA.com's Torco Racing Fuels Nationals homepage

     The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returned to Virginia last year with a race that shattered Pro performance barriers, especially in Pro Stock with Jason Line setting the National record that helped him capture the World Championship. This is the last 2007 “Countdown to 4 Championship” race. After this Sunday’s final elimination rounds the field of eight drivers eligible for the championship in each category - Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock - is reduced to four for the final two “Countdown to 1 Championship” races of the season. Pro Stock Motorcycles do not race this weekend and their eligible drivers for the championship was reduced to 4 at the O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, Sept 23rd.
     Peggy Llewellyn was the superstar in pro stock motorcycles at Dallas winning her first NHRA national event, she became the first black woman to win a NHRA national event, and her earned points bumped her into the final 4 drivers eligible for the championship. In her first year back to NHRA, after a five year absence due to a lack of sponsorship, the San Antonio native pulled off a hole-shot win in the semi-finals to beat Chip Ellis (#3 in points) and another incredible hole-shot win in the finals to beat Andrew Hines (#1 in points). See complete NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” information below. - FlA

Complete Event Schedule
Fri, Oct 5: Pro Qualifying Sessions at 3:30 & 6 pm
Sat, Oct 6: Pro Qualifying Sessions at Noon & 2:30 pm
Sun, Oct 7: Pre-Race Ceremonies, 10 am
Sun, Oct 7: Final Eliminations begin at 11 am

MotorSport-NHRA: Pre & Post Race Driver Interviews & News
NHRA Drivers Blogs
Virginia Motorsports Park Weather Forecast
Richmond Times Dispatch - Sports
ESPN2 TV Coverage (All Times ET)
10/06: Qualifying 7:00 - 8:00 pm
10/07: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 am
10/07: Eliminations 7:00 - 10:00 pm
# 10/07: Repeat - Qualifying 1:00 - 2:00 am
# 10/12: Repeat - Eliminations 4:00 - 6:00 am

Paul “The Voice of NHRA” Page will anchor ESPN2’s coverage from Virginia, with outstanding color commentary and analysis by 22-time NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff and John Kernan will report the action from the pits. Rieff also will host Sunday’s NHRA Race Day The half-hour program will set the stage for Sunday’s eliminations with driver interviews, features and up-to-the-minute information.

ESPN NHRA homepage

[flattorney]

"Kids, don't try this at home".............

[flattorney]

WestCoastGal says >> I’m looking forward to reading the “war stories with Prudhomme” ....I used to live down the street from them as a little girl. Don and his brother Monette and I can’t remember if there was a sister or not.

[flattorney]

Thanks for posting the latest news. I don’t see Hillary Will on the list?

Hillary Will just made her first pass and laid down a 4.601 - 308.50 to place here 8th in the 16 Top Fuel qualifying field with only one session left.

[flattorney]

Some people don’t like Whit “The bad boy Tony Stewart of NHRA” Bazemore but I do and have talked with him three times over the years. He’s a good guy - just doesn’t handle his frustration very well sometimes. But neither do I, so maybe that’s why I like “Baze”, lol. Good piece he wrote here. So far Whit is doing very well in Top Fuel qualifying this weekend. In fact, both my two TF picks-pulls, Brandon Bernstein and “Baze” are doing great. Now in Funny Car if Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi could get going. Neither have made a good pass yet in now two attempts, and have failed to qualify. But most the FC field is having trouble on this track so-far. Only one more qualifying session left. - FlA

Friday, October 05, 2007

Thank God John is alright

Man, it’s been a hard week for our sport, to say the least. First, Force’s crash at Dallas, which I have to say, was very upsetting to see. Then Wally’s death, which was somewhat of a surprise.

Wally, despite his legendary stature in the world of motorsports and all of his success, was one of the most down-to-earth and humble people I’ve ever met. To me, the guy walked on water. So, the fact he was friendly towards me way back when I first started working NHRA races meant everything to an easily influenced 18-year-old. While Wally loved drag racing, obviously, he also loved journalism and photography. Just this past Winternationals, we were able to talk about photography for a few minutes before the race. Wally’s mind was as sharp as ever at 94 years of age. It’s pretty obvious he lived a full and successful life. We all have a lot to thank him for.

John’s crash was devastating, but it should have been so much worse. It’s hard to imagine anyone can survive a Funny Car coming apart like that. The fact he survived with his legs intact is nothing short of a miracle. Medlen’s car broke in a bad place too. These cars breaking like this, need I say, is totally unacceptable. I wrote in a blog earlier this year, and you can scroll back to find it, there are really intelligent people in our sport, like Bill Miller, Jim Head and many others, who have questioned and spent lots of money to prove that the current chassis regulations, for lack of a better word, are simply wrong. Why these people’s opinions aren’t considered and acted upon immediately is beyond me. When things are wrong, they need to be made right. When smart people offer solutions to problems, the sport needs to listen and take notice. We almost lost our biggest star and why? (Baze is right on the money about the BS going on with the slip-tube TF-FC chassis! – FlA)

I talked to Force the other day and he’s impressive. All he can talk about is how much he wants to race again, which is great. One of the things that has impressed me about John is his incredible motivation, even after all the success he’s had and not to mention his age. There comes a time when normal people want to slow down and smell the roses, but not John. This is a tough game and it wears you out. I’m sure John will feel even more motivated when he comes back to prove that he still has it. It goes without saying I miss racing John and his team. Since I’ve been racing, they’ve been the yardstick by which you are measured. When you beat Force, you know you’ve beaten the best.

I told Force some stories of my own hospital stay of 10 years ago. We were laughing. I wish I could write those same stories, but I can’t. It’s kind of private. Force thought it was funny. When I went down to the crash site and they were extracting him from the car, I thought it was odd they would have used the Jaws of Life to cut the car in half where they did to remove him. It was only after he was in the helicopter when I realized that’s what was left of the car. It’s truly frightening.

Force is the kind of guy that will motivate himself through rehab and the painful process that awaits. Let me tell you, learning to walk again is no fun, but sometimes when you’re in that situation, taking your first steps can feel better than winning the U.S. Nationals. Michelle, Dashiell and I wish John the best during his recovery.

Right now, Ted and I are driving back to Richmond from Williamsburg, Va., where we had a Matco Tools function this afternoon. I’m talking as I drive. Ted, as usual, is typing furiously. On the home front, we just put our Eugene house on the market. I’ll have some good bus stories in my next blog. Fun things like Dashiell setting off a fire extinguisher inside. Fun stuff like that makes life exciting and busy.

Take care.

Baze

[flattorney]

Drag Racing Legend Don Garlits coming to Kansas City International Raceway
- - First appearance this weekend since 1984
The Examiner, by Jim Conaway
October 6, 2007

Posted for FlA by TAB

Don "Big Daddy" Garlits will be giving area drag-racing fans a chance to take a trip memory lane this weekend at Kansas City International Raceway. The 75-year-old Garlits will be the featured VIP guest of KCIR's Musclecar Reunion and Nostaglia Drags event Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Garlits plans to delight the gathering by revving up his famed front-engine Swamp Rat 8 dragster.

"I can't tell you how excited we are to have 'Big Daddy' make an appearance at the track," KCIR general manager Jeff Martin said. "It has kept the track phone lines busier than usual and that this is a nice problem for us to have." For Garlits, who spends most of his time these days as the owner and operator of his Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla., it will be his first appearance at KCIR since the old American Hot Rod Association Summernationals in 1984.

Garlits and his dragster was tagged with the nickname "Swamp Rat" as a result of Garlits being considered an outsider in terms of a competitor in the sport and his dragster's innovative designs. The bulk of the competitors in the early days of drag racing were racers from the western United States where post World War II provided a large number of military obsolete airfields that were converted to racing facilities and the Nevada Salt Flats provided another natural home.

========

From: www.musclecarreunion.com

Don Garlits will be there all weekend to meet new and old fans alike. Don will push start his Swamp Rat dragster just as they did in the 1960s and make some smoke and noise on Saturday night & Sunday afternoon. This is Don's first visit back to KCIR since the old AHRA Summernationals in 1984 if his memory serves him right.

[flattorney]

Don Garlits Part II
by TAB

- No. 1 on NHRA Top 50 Greatest List

Big Daddy" Don Garlits

Born January 14, 1932, Donald Glenn Garlits grew up in Tampa, Florida.  Just months after Don was born, his family lost their savings in a bank failure.  That same year, the orange groves that had brought earlier prosperity, were ordered by the Florida Department of Agriculture to be destroyed due to fruit fly infestation.  This economic blow sent Don and his parents from a large home on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard to a dirt floor shack on the outskirts of town.  The meager years that followed taught Don about hard work, long hours, and diligence toward a job well done.  Don and his brother Ed, who was born in 1933, did everything together, from milking the cows to maintaining the truck and farm equipment.  They learned craftsmanship building model airplanes from scratch, and mechanical skills picked up from their dad were exercised repairing bicycles.  The Saturday afternoon movies, and an occasional swim with the guys in the Hillsborough River, were their recreation.  Don might have become an accountant, but his General Metals instructor, Howard Fowler, introduced the high school senior to his first look at a new California magazine called “Hot Rod”.  Don bought his first car at age 17, a blue 1940 Ford Sedan, with his two-year savings of $345.00. By 1950 he had traded up to a beautiful ’40 Ford Convertible.  During this period, Don’s life was job to job, spending his paycheck and spare time on hot rodding.  Then, in 1952, Don met Pat Bieger, who was about to graduate from Hillsborough High School.  Pat was special, and suddenly Don had an entirely new interest.  Don and Pat married in February 1953. With both of them working, they saved a little money, bought a lot, and built their first home.  Garlits was reformed.  He sold the convertible and settled down - until a Sunday drive took them by a drag strip in Lake Wales.  Innocently, Don made a few runs in their 1950 Ford two door sedan, garnered the class win, along with a trophy, and the rest is history.  Don’s obsession to out run the fastest guy in Florida led to a series of chassis and engine changes, culminating in the world’s fastest slingshot dragster.  Racing appearances and a successful automotive shop, called “Don’s Garage,” now marked Garlits’ business future.  It was 1957, and Don’s performances around southern drag strips were drawing significant attention to his name, along with a nice backlog of work in his shop.  Americans were fascinated by the speed, sound, and acceleration in Drag Racing, prompting enthusiastic spectator response.  As Garlits dominated the Top Eliminator class, track promoters from around the country were offering Don guaranteed money for racing appearances.  Disaster struck at Chester, SC in 1959, while Pat was carrying the first of their two daughters.  Don suffered horrible burns from a high-speed engine explosion, introducing the risks of fire in fuel racing.  Near fatal burns prompted Don to sell everything when Art Malone proposed a racing partnership.  Art took over driving the dragster, while Don maintained and tuned the record holding car.  Ed worked in the shop, and Don, still healing, traveled with his new driver.  Gay Lyn was born in November, which brightened the year for the young couple.  Still reluctant to drive, Garlits tried other drivers in search for the ideal replacement, including a cocky young fellow named Connie Swingle.  Swingle assisted Don in racecar innovation, and the proven Garlits chassis attracted lots of orders.  Pure desire and tireless efforts kept “Big Daddy” in the racing headlines.  Chrysler Corp. and Wynns Oil joined the long list of speed equipment manufacturers who sponsored the “Swamp Rat”.

Donna Louise was born in January of 1961.  Don enjoyed his family, so when the girls were only a few years old they began traveling together.  Racing at tracks hundreds of miles apart, Don often drove all night to make each scheduled appearance.  Living out of suitcases, the girls slept in the station wagon, and Pat looked after the four of them.

“Garlits Automotive” replaced the name of “Don’s Garage,” and on track success generated demand for the shop’s high performance expertise.  “Don Garlits, Inc.,” was opened in Detroit with a focus on Chrysler R & R work, and the commercial dragster chassis business.  Don was racing the Wynns Charger every weekend, and with the larger business operation came more employees.  Gay Lyn started school in the fall, requiring Pat to stay home with the girls. With the increased demand on his time, and the tough cold winters, Garlits decided to move his operation back to Florida.  Don and Pat built a beautiful ranch style home in Seffner, FL., with the shop attached.  In 1969, “Don Garlits High Performance World” opened in Tampa, and a new building was added later to house the racecar operation.  Garlits was comfortable driving slingshots again when a nasty transmission explosion cut the dragster in half.  The incident severed his right foot at the arch, and broke his left leg.  Hospitalized in Southern California, Don began designing a car that would reduce the danger and fatalities in the slingshot dragsters by moving the driver location in front of the engine.  The new rear engine car was sorted out over the winter of 1970 and debuted in 1971, handily winning the NHRA Winternationals and the 1971 March Meet in Bakersfield CA.  Garlits had brought in a whole new era for Top Fuel Racing, and his overwhelming success established him as an American Sports Legend.  “Big Daddy” entered his third decade as a champion drag racer, full of enthusiasm, with his fears literally behind him.  The satisfaction of being on top always managed to overcome the idea of retiring.  Don is a living testament of persistence, and his record proves that life rewards those who back their desires with determination!  Retired now, Don and Pat live on the location that is now “Garlits Museums,” and they have five grandchildren.  “Big Daddy” still maintains a full schedule around the shop, enjoys television commentating, and continues to accept endorsements and public appearances.

[WestCoastGal]

LOL Thanks very much, it’s nice to be appreciated. I’m told on the Nascar threads I post too much and it’s all about Jr. Others tell me I am never there on Sunday, but they forget I HAVE to work. So I’m taking a long break. :D

I can’t believe the ol Big Daddy is going to make an appearance. Wow, would I love to see that! Of course I would really love to go to Daytona in February to see “you know who” in his new car!!!! But that won’t happen.

The Snake still can be seen on Wind Tunnel on Speed quite often as he’s friends with Despain I guess.

You’re doing a great job on this thread, it’s been a grand trip down memory lane.

All the usual go home cars qualified up front for tomorrow’s Cup race, that’s because this is an impound race and they were the only ones in qualifying trim. IMO this is a very dangerous method. By putting the slower unstable cars up front and the more experienced fast guys behind is only asking for trouble. They need to dump the impound for all tracks.

[SouthTexas]

In the first John Force interview (from his hospital bed) I saw, he was talking about getting back on the track AND working on the frames in the car. He was out of the car, but not off the job!

Found several of those interviews online, but never that exact one.

[tubebender]

Tribute to Wally Parks on ESPN

[SouthTexas]

Missed it, qualifying up now.

[tubebender]

I guess it was a short clip that I waltzed into...

[SouthTexas]

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!

Not saying that you don't have good timing now.... :)

[tubebender]

Did you check out the NASCARP qualifying?

[tubebender]

NASCARP = NASCRAP

[SouthTexas]

Naw, ended up having to go to work today, grown men wanted to act like children.

Did catch the tail end of the truck race. :) JB almost pulled it off!

[MarMema]

Thanks and please add me to the NHRA ping list if you have one.

[flattorney]

Welcome! and added you to the NHRA ping list. - TAB

[flattorney]

October 6, 2007 Final Qualifying Results

Commentary by JJ – Track, NHRA - - JJ – The 3rd and final round of qualifying this afternoon was unbelievable. If it’s like this tomorrow, under even better weather condition, this will be the best and most exciting race of the season. In Top Fuel qualifying Tony Schumacher made a monster pass to take the top spot. Huge pass also for Larry Dixon to move up big and great passes again by B. Bernstein and Whit Bazemore. I’m surprised the number of Top Fuel cars in the 4.50’s. Didn’t think that would be possible for the conditions. Funny Car qualifying started with Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi paired, who neither had been able to qualify for the event after 2 Rounds. In Ron’s 2nd qualifying pass today he popped the blower which resulted in a contained car fire. However, in the 3rd Round both Ron and Gary (best) made nice passes to make the Final Eliminations field for tomorrow. NHRA - Unlike Top Fuel and Pro Stock, the Funny Car Countdown picture is very cloudy, with six drivers in position to fill the four spots and all four positions still in play. The biggest first-round matchup features Capps versus Hight, but Capps, Scelzi and Ashley are all in must-win situations in the early rounds tomorrow. JJ - In Pro Stock Jeg Coughlin once again beats Dave Connolly and the two go No. 1 & No. 2 into the Finals. ## END

Pro Ladders for Tomorrow’s Final Eliminations
Top Fuel |Funny Car | Pro Stock

TOP FUEL

 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Tony Schumacher      U.S. Army Dragster              4.524  321.27 
   2. Brandon Bernstein    Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster    4.549  323.50 
   3. Larry Dixon          Sky Tel Dragster                4.570  317.42 
   4. Whit Bazemore        Matco Tools Dragster            4.574  321.42 
   5. J.R. Todd            Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels D  4.577  317.64 
   6. David Grubnic        Zantrex-3 Dragster              4.587  317.64 
   7. Rod Fuller           CAT Dealers Dragster            4.591  321.50 
   8. Doug Herbert         Snap-On Tools Dragster          4.591  316.01 
   9. Hillary Will         KB Racing Dragster              4.601  308.50 
  10. Doug Foley           Torco Racing Fuels Dragster     4.605  316.30 
  11. Doug Kalitta         MAC Tools Dragster              4.619  318.24 
  12. Cory McClenathan     Fram Dragster                   4.629  321.96 
  13. Melanie Troxel       Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA Drags  4.633  323.58 
  14. Clay Millican        Knoll Gas/RATT Dragster         4.634  314.83 
  15. Bob Vandergriff      UPS Dragster                    4.645  316.08 
  16. Morgan Lucas         Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D  4.646  307.51 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Terry Mcmillen       Dragster                        4.732  259.36 
  18. Bobby Lagana Jr.     Lagana & Lewis Dragster         4.853  289.26 

FUNNY CAR

 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Tommy Johnson Jr.    Skoal Racing Impala             4.790  312.06 
   2. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.790  307.58 
   3. Mike Ashley          Torco Race Fuels Charger        4.797  315.19 
   4. Kenny Bernstein      Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Charg  4.818  316.23 
   5. Jack Beckman         MTS Charger                     4.835  309.98 
   6. Tony Pedregon        Q Power Impala                  4.837  312.86 
   7. Gary Densham         Torco/Racebricks Impala         4.838  309.13 
   8. Gary Scelzi          Hemi Oakley Charger             4.849  319.22 
   9. Del Worsham          Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala  4.858  311.41 
  10. Jerry Toliver        Rockstar Energy Drinks Solara   4.859  305.70 
  11. Scott Kalitta        DHL Solara                      4.862  315.93 
  12. Jeff Arend           Checker Schucks Kragen Impala   4.862  316.08 
  13. Tony Bartone         Jim Dunn Racing/Lucas Oil Mont  4.865  315.71 
  14. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala        4.890  302.08 
  15. Ron Capps            Brut Charger                    4.901  314.61 
  16. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Impala       4.902  296.96 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Jim Head             Head Racing Solara              4.929  307.86 
  18. Bob Gilbertson       Autolite XP Spark Plugs Stratu  4.980  298.27 

PRO STOCK

 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Jeg Coughlin         Jegs.com Cobalt                 6.645  207.27 
   2. Dave Connolly        Torco Cobalt                    6.645  207.24 
   3. Richie Stevens       Mopar/Valspar Stratus           6.646  207.15 
   4. Greg Anderson        Summit Racing Equipment GTO     6.652  207.11 
   5. Justin Humphreys     RaceRedi Motorsports GTO        6.656  206.89 
   6. Allen Johnson        J & J Racing Stratus            6.659  206.73 
   7. Max Naylor           Jagermeister Stratus            6.660  205.60 
   8. Larry Morgan         Lucas Oil Stratus               6.663  206.57 
   9. V. Gaines            Kendall Oil Stratus             6.668  206.20 
  10. Jason Line           Summit Racing Equipment GTO     6.671  207.15 
  11. Kurt Johnson         AC Delco Cobalt                 6.681  206.61 
  12. Mike Edwards         Young Life/A.R.T. GTO           6.681  205.82 
  13. Greg Stanfield       Piranaz Racing GTO              6.692  205.91 
  14. Kenny Koretsky       Indicom Cobalt                  6.692  205.69 
  15. Ron Krisher          Valvoline Cobalt                6.697  206.07 
  16. Tommy Brown          Cobalt                          6.699  205.16 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Tom Hammonds         Cobalt                          6.700  205.51 
  18. Jim Yates            Wiley X Eye Wear GTO            6.707  204.94 
  19. Warren Johnson       GM Performance Parts GTO        6.708  206.39 
  20. Craig Hankinson      Boscoe HVAC GTO                 6.713  204.66 
  21. Dave Northrop        GTO                             6.713  203.61 
  22. Bob Benza            BNB Racing Cobalt               6.748  204.70 
  23. Adam Flamholc        Glueharbor / Amalie GTO         6.771  203.86 
  24. Jim Cunningham       Cunningham Motorsports Mustang  6.843  200.41 

Posted for FlA by TAB with review by JJ

[flattorney]

Final Countdown battles shape up as fields are set for Virginia showdown

by Rob Geiger, NHRA.com

NHRA, SAT, Oct 6, 2007 - - Fighting for his playoff life, two-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin collected his fourth low qualifier award of the season Saturday at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park to make a pivotal move in the Countdown to 1 field. By joining Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher and Funny Car veteran Tommy Johnson Jr. on the No. 1 qualifier's podium, Coughlin effectively put another round between himself and his nearest pursuer in the fight to make the final playoff roster.
 
Only four racers in each professional category will be eligible for the '07 titles. Coughlin and Allen Johnson are in at the moment but must hold off three other racers Sunday. Schumacher, points leader Larry Dixon, and "Hot Rod" Fuller all clinched spots in Top Fuel just by qualifying here, leaving five racers fighting for one final spot. In Funny Car, points leader Tony Pedregon secured his spot in the Countdown to 1, leaving five drivers fighting for three spots. Tommy Johnson isn't involved in the Countdown chase.

 
Tony Schumacher

Schumacher's 4.524 at 321.27 mph in the final session spoiled Bernstein's low qualifying bid but didn't affect the points race at all as Bernstein still needs the same thing to happen for him to make the Countdown to 1. If Bernstein beats first-round opponent and chief points rival Bob Vandergriff in the first round, he's made the cut. If Vandergriff beats Bernstein, he'll still need to win the next round to earn the final transfer spot.

"It's pretty exciting for our team," said Vandergriff, who qualified 15th with a 4.645 to Bernstein's 4.549. "I wish we could have qualified better but we're here and our destiny is in our hands now. You couldn't ask for more." Bernstein is 6-0 lifetime versus Vandergriff.

This was Schumacher's 10th low qualifying effort of the year and the 45th of his career.

"Last year I kept saying that we weren't gonna win a championship by qualifying No. 1 if we turned around and lost in the first round," Schumacher said, "but then we did it because if you add up the points that was the difference. Yes we set a record and made this miracle run in the final at Pomona, but without the points for the low qualifiers we had, that wouldn't have meant anything.

"If you could write the script, you would put Vandergriff and Bernstein together in Round 1. That's going to be huge. Those two guys need to go to bed early and do their push-ups because this is a round that could define their careers. Me? I'm gonna go smoke a cigar."

Current points leader Larry Dixon follows Schumacher and Bernstein on the ladder in third place with a 4.570 at 317.42 mph in his SkyTel rail. Whit Bazemore, who trails Bernstein by 76 points, is fourth here with a 4.577 in the Matco Tools dragster. He's followed by J.R. Todd (fifth with a 4.577) and Doug Hebert (eighth, 4.591), who remain mathematically alive.

 
Tommy Johnson Jr.

Johnson seems to be enjoying his role as spoiler to the teams sweating out the Funny Car points. Since he missed the Countdown to 4 cutoff, he and his Skoal race team have been able to relax and race without any pressure. He said his top-qualifying effort of 4.790 at 312.06 mph is a direct result of that carefree attitude.

"It's kind of fun to be relaxed and watch how tense all those guys are," Johnson said. "They're going through all these emotions and dealing with the pressure and you're kind of like, 'whatever.' That part of it's pretty good. I'm enjoying watching the shootout. It adds a lot of drama. 

"All the guys that aren't in the shootout have that extra something to prove."

With John Force sidelined as he continues to recover from injuries sustained at the last event in Dallas, Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi have moved into a tie for the fourth and final Countdown spot. As the 15th qualifier with a 4.901, Capps has the toughest first-round draw as he'll face No. 2 qualifier Robert Hight (4.790) in the opening round. Scelzi qualified eighth with a 4.849 and will race non-Countdown racer Del Worsham in Round 1.

Seven points out of fourth place, Mike Ashley qualified third with a 4.797. Currently third in the points, "Fast Jack" Beckman is fifth here with a 4.835.

 

 
Jeg Coughlin

Intent on holding onto his top-four ranking so he can advance to the final stage of the Countdown to the Championship, Coughlin did all he could do in qualifying, earning his fourth low qualifier award of the year and the 12th of his career. His Round 2 blast of 6.645 at 207.27 mph Saturday morning in his Jegs.com Chevrolet Cobalt was both the quickest and fastest run of the weekend in the class.

"We'll take every point we can get at this point," Coughlin said. "It's time to slit their throats and lock up one of these spots. We have to go rounds because any of the guys behind us could cause trouble if we don't take care of business. We need to come in here tomorrow and race smart, race aggressive, and turn on some win lights.

"Putting it on the pole was definitely a goal and to get our fourth of the year sets a career-high for me. We've been struggling a bit over the last several weeks but with this Countdown it's never too late to turn it around. We've had three phenomenal runs here. We were second last night and quickest in both of today's rounds. That's real exciting and should secure the Full Throttle award for the Team Jegs crew.

"I can't tell you [the points chase] is not on my mind but typically once we get to race day it cools off for me. It's tough just getting one of those quick 16 spots so qualifying for a race is probably more trying for me. Tomorrow I just want to have a good clear mind and focus on hitting the Tree and making great runs."

Coughlin supplanted teammate Dave Connolly from the top spot based on speed alone. Connolly ran a 6.645 of his own Saturday morning but topped out at 206.67 mph in his Torco/Seelye Wright Chevrolet Cobalt.

The monster match-up of Sunday's opening round will feature No. 3 points earner Allen Johnson against sixth-place Kurt Johnson. A.J. qualified sixth with a 6.659 in his Mopar Dodge Stratus while K.J. earned the 11th spot on the grid with a 6.681 in his ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt. 

Other Countdown to 1 hopefuls include Larry Morgan (eighth with a 6.663) and Jason Line (10th with a 6.671). 

By failing to qualify for this event, Warren Johnson is officially eliminated from the Countdown to 1.

Posted for FlA by TAB

[flattorney]

* * * DVR Alert * * *

ESPN2 TV Coverage (All Times ET)
10/07: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 am
10/07: Eliminations 7:00 - 10:00 pm

At an unannounced time during ESPN's broadcasts tomorrow, Sunday Oct 7, of the NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, either the pre-race coverage or Final Eliminations, there will be a live interview with 14 time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Tomorrow the biggest winning driver in NHRA's 5 decade history will have been hospitalized two weeks at Baylor from John's serious injuries sustained, Sept 23, at the NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals. - TAB

Posted for FlA by TAB