TOP FUEL ROUND 1
Racing on crew chief Alan Johnson’s 68th birthday, world champ Doug Kalitta pounded out a 3.791, low e.t. of the spherical, to drive round Will Smith’s holeshot begin. In spherical two, he’ll tackle Billy Torrence, who received the first round-win of his comeback tour with a 3.84 after Antron Brown misplaced traction at mid-track. Air temperature is 84 levels, and the observe is at a cushty 107 levels.
Tony Stewart beat Shawn Reed in spherical one for the second straight time at this occasion, clocking a 3.82 in the R+L Carriers sizzling rod, and his spouse, Leah Pruett, adopted him into spherical two with a 3.827 in opposition to cylinder-dropping Cameron Ferre.
In the battle of rookies, Maddi Gordon, who has about two dozen runs below her security belts, defeated Jaren Mott, who has simply eight runs in Larry Dixon’s dragster, backed by native development firm Zaxis. She will cede second-round lane option to Stewart.
Gatornationals winner Josh Hart added his fifth straight spherical win, beating Justin Ashley in a race the place each drivers battled traction woes from halftrack on. Predictably, Ashley was first off the line (as he was final 12 months in 47 of 49 races) with a stout .035 response time, however Hart wasn’t far behind with a .056 gentle.
The spherical closed with a battle of Rick Ware Racing teammates, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican, tuned, respectively, by brothers Jim and Jon Oberhofer. Schuancher misplaced traction early and recovered, driving round a spinning Millican, who might have snapped the throttle cable in pedaling. Schumacher then punctuated his 4.32 with a blower backfire in the lights.
Second-round pairings (lane alternative first): Shawn Langdon vs. Tony Schumacher; Tony Stewart vs. Maddi Gordon; Leah Pruett vs. Josh Hart; Doug Kalitta vs. Billy Torrence
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FUNNY CAR ROUND 1
As observe temps proceed to climb, the consensus amongst Funny Car groups previous to the spherical was {that a} low-4.0 could be the better of the body, and whereas 4.0s had been the successful norm, and they had been in six of the eight matchups, however two groups additionally cracked into the three-second zone.
Ron Capps and tuner Dean Antonelli, who bowed out in spherical one at the season opener, made no such errors this time, beating Capps’ former world champion crew chief, Rahn Tobler, who’s tuning Jason Rupert. Capps’ NAPA Toyota roared to a 3.9 after Rupert bumped into hassle and stepped off downtrack.
Jordan Vandergriff, who needed to race John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in spherical one in Gainesville, needed to face his different new JFR teammate, Alexis DeJoria, right here, and he is now received each of them. This one was lopsided as Vandergriff’s Cornwell Quality Tools Camaro raced to a 3.98 after Alexis double-stepped and fouled.
Two-time reigning world champ Austin Prock, who in qualifying confirmed indicators of rebounding from his Gainesville DNQ, remained winless on the season after J.R. Todd’s regular DHL Toyota raced to a 4.04 in opposition to his tractionless effort. Todd, who moved into second place in factors with the win, will give up round-two lane option to low qualifier Spencer Hyde, who did not even make the subject right here final 12 months, however superior the Head Inc. Ford to spherical two with a 4.01.
Gatornationals champion Chad Green ran his unbeaten streak to 5 straight rounds with a 4.011 in opposition to native favourite Dylan Winefsky and will tackle this occasion’s defending champ, Paul Lee, who ran 4.05 to beat Dave Richards.
Daniel Wilkerson upset No. 2 qualifier and three-time Phoenix winner Jack Beckman with a 4.00, and four-time world champ Matt Hagan ran an easy 4.031 to beat Cruz Pedregon, who hasn’t received this race since 1993.
Second-round pairings (lane alternative first): Spencer Hyde vs. J.R. Todd; Jordan Vandergriff vs. Matt Hagan; Ron Capps vs. Daniel Wilkerson; Chad Green vs. Paul Lee
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PRO STOCK ROUND 1
With the air temp at 90 levels and the observe at 124, Pro Stock took the stage for its opening spherical, and what the followers noticed was not a warmth mirage.
Chris McGaha, who received only one spherical all of final 12 months and DNQ’d at seven of his 14 outings, pulled off a significant shocker by taking out the defending occasion champ, Greg Anderson, by simply .0008-second (eight ten-thousandths) with a 6.625 to defeat Anderson’s low e.t. of the spherical go of 6.577.
“It’s no secret that we don’t have a lot of smoke [power], so the only way to win is with my left foot,” McGaha admitted.
Holeshots had been a significant theme as two different rounds had been additionally received by the slower-performing automobile. Cody Coughlin, in simply his 18th occasion in the class, confirmed that he already is aware of his means round the Christmas Tree, beating Eric Latino on a 6,621 to six.611 holeshot. Latino’s son, Matt, flipped that script, successful his race in opposition to Gatornationals winner and hometown hero Matt Hartford on a 6,625 to six.612 gatejob after each performed out slightly staging battle.
Erica Enders, who owns a slim 31-30 lifetime benefit over fellow six-time world champ Greg Anderson, notched her first win in opposition to Anderson’s son, Cody, who red-lighted for the second straight raceday. Enders, who can also be competing in Pro Mod this weekend, ran a pleasant 6.59.
Chris Vang, who impressed everybody with a robust qualifying effort, was shut off on the beginning line with a fluid leak, giving Aaron Stanfield a free go to spherical two. Stanfield will tackle his father, Greg, in the subsequent spherical after Dad took a 6.585 to six.595 win over Troy Coughlin Jr., who was again at the observe after lacking Saturday’s qualifying to attend his sister Paige’s wedding ceremony.
World champ Dallas Glenn raced to a 6.58 to take a straightforward win in opposition to Stephen Bell.
Second-round pairings (lane alternative first): Cody Coughlin; Erica Enders vs. Jeg Coughlin Jr.; Aaron Stanfield; Dallas Glenn vs. Matt Latino
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TOP FUEL ROUND 2
With the air temp at 90 levels and observe temp at a troublesome 130 levels (but cloud cowl has it 10 levels decrease than yesterday), the tuners will make their cash this spherical.
Rookie Maddi Gordon raced her means into her second straight semifinal to kick off her profession, outrunning Tony Stewart with a 3.85 that was low e.t. of the spherical and will earn her lane alternative over two-time defending occasion champ Shawn Langdon, who powered to a 3.85 to take out Tony Schumacher, who backfired the blower for the second straight spherical in defeat.
World champ Doug Kalitta raced to a 3.87 to trailer Billy Torrence and take the factors lead and will choose his lane in the semifinals in opposition to Leah Pruett, who ended incoming factors chief Josh Hart’s five-round win streak with a 3.887, which means she nonetheless has a shot at a 3rd Arizona Nationals title.
Semifinal pairings (lane alternative first): Maddi Gordon vs. Shawn Langdon; Doug Kalitta vs. Leah Pruett
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FUNNY CAR ROUND 2
Ron Capps turned on the win gentle forward of Daniel Wilkerson, 4.14 to 4.15, however paid dearly for it with an enormous blower explosion and fireplace. While not as unhealthy as final 12 months’s boomer that despatched him plunging into the left guardwall, Capps solely reasonably nerfed the proper wall this time with the headers so the chassis might be OK, however the Toyota physique is clearly deeply cracked throughout the midpoint of the hood. Capps can have semifinal lane alternative in opposition to Paul Lee.
“It’s a tough track. Everybody’s spinning down there. You don’t have time to say, ‘Oh, should I lift?’ ” he stated. “It’s Sunday, when a round win is pretty important, but I don’t think it’s worth a round win, unless we go on to win the race, then we’re gonna look back at this and know it did. I didn’t see Daniel next to me. There’s a lot of things that go through your brain. I’ve been doing this a long time. I couldn’t see out the front windshield, so I was looking out the [side window] porthole and watching Daniel, and was just kind of judging off of him.”
Defending occasion champ Lee shall be in the semi’s as a result of he received his sixth straight spherical at Firebird, ending the day of incoming factors chief and Gatornationals champ Chad Green, who misplaced traction early. Fortunately for Green, second-place Alexis DeJoria exited in spherical one, and J.R. Todd was knocked off on this body in a decent loss toSpencer Hyde, 4.14 to 4.16.
Matt Hagan superior to the closing 4 after each he and Jordan Vandergriff misplaced traction at midtrack, and each stepped off the throttle, figuring they’d be beat, solely to have a coasting match to the stripe, which Hagan received on a 4.62 to 4.65 depend.
Green will depart right here with the factors lead until Hagan or Hyde wins the race; as a result of these two will race in the semi’s, one in every of them shall be in the closing with an opportunity to take the factors lead.
Semifinal pairings (lane alternative first): Spencer Hyde vs. Matt Hagan; Ron Capps vs. Paul Lee
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PRO STOCK ROUND 2
Both Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Erica Enders shook onerous, and each swerved towards the centerline. Coughlin was in a position to pull his yellow and black Camaro again and eased by for the win whereas Enders, who was off the line first, .017 to .055, correctly clicked it off.
“When, obviously, we were just too aggressive for the track condition,” stated Coughlin. “From my vantage point, I let the clutch out when the Tree fired, and it just immediately started shaking. I got into second gear as quickly as I could. It was still shaking really bad through second [gear], so I pedaled, and once I got it into fourth gear, I just kind of nursed it down through there. I think we were close to one another a time or two there, but as W.J. [Warren Johnson] would say, ‘That’s why they have a steering wheel.’ “
Coughlin will face his nephew, Cody Coughlin, in the semifinals after a bizarre race with Chris McGaha. McGaha, who received spherical one on a holeshot in opposition to Greg Anderson, did the reverse in opposition to Coughlin, leaving late with a .233 gentle, permitting Coughlin a straightforward win.
A rematch of final 12 months’s father-son Sonoma closing went to Dad once more as Greg Stanfield eked previous Aaron by simply .004-second with a 6.63. Stanfield will tackle world champ Dallas Glenn, who ended Matt Latino’s weekend with a 6.61. Glenn can take the factors lead from Matt Hartford if he reaches the closing spherical.
Semifinal pairings (lane alternative first): Cody Coughlin vs. Jeg Coughlin Jr.; Dallas Glenn vs. Aaron Stanfield
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TOP FUEL SEMIFINALS
In their first rematch of the closing spherical of the 2023 NHRA Finals that determined the world championship, Leah Pruett received revenge on Doug Kalitta and superior to the closing spherical with a 3.88 to three.92 victory. Pruett, who has a part-time Arizona residence in Lake Havasu City, received her first Top Fuel title ever at this occasion in 2016. She will now have lane alternative and the probability to attain the two hundredth win by a feminine racer in NHRA competitors. The one centesimal was by Courtney Force in Topeka in 2014.
“That win light coming on against Doug, that’s why I got back in this car,” she stated. “That’s the feeling that we have right now. We want it so bad. My guys, they said, ‘Yeah, I think we got this right up here.’ So we’ve got the right people, we’ve got the right partners, we’ve got the right attitude, we’ve got the right horsepower, and we’ve got the right driver.”
Pruett may take the factors lead with a final-round win, which might put her one level forward of Kalitta.
The different semifinal pitted rookie phenom Maddi Gordon in opposition to one in every of her Top Fuel mentors, Shawn Langdon, and Langdon received simply with a 3.93 when her Carlyle Tools dragster misplaced traction midway down. Langdon goes for a 3rd straight Arizona Nationals crown.
FUNNY CAR SEMIFINALS
Low qualifier Spencer Hyde will get the probability to win his first Funny Car crown after defeating four-time world champ Matt Hagan, 4.18 to 4.21. Last 12 months Paul Lee scored his first profession win at this occasion … will historical past repeat itself?
If it does, he will need to do it in opposition to the comeback child, Ron Capps’ crew was late arriving to the beginning line after this large pit thrash. With Lee patiently ready in a transfer of nice sportsmanship, Capps crew, with Capps already strapped in the automobile, hightailed it via the pits and maneuvered their means via each shortcut to make it to the water field.
The race was not shut as Capps blasted to a 4.12 to finish Lee’s probability for a repeat and additionally earned lane alternative in the closing, which shall be the one hundred and sixty fifth of Capps’ profession.
“I’m speechless,” stated Capps, who climbed out of the automobile at the high finish and instantly thanked Lee for ready. “These are these moments that you just consider rising up as a child. I’ve had them all through my profession with our crew individuals and our household. It would not even begin the pit space, so we weren’t even positive, and they modified one in every of the packing containers in the ignition, and then it fired up for the burnout. I used to be shocked.
“Listen, I do know everyone is saying this place hates me after what occurred final 12 months, however oh my god, I really like this place. It’s been nice. I’ve received quite a lot of wins right here, quite a lot of success. It’s all the time a household journey. We love coming right here. But these, these are the moments proper now. Maddi in the semifinals, once more, we’re each in the [Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Pomona], and it is similar to it is gotten higher and higher.”
Like Pruett in Top Fuel, Hyde can take the factors lead with a final-round win, which might put him two factors forward of Chad Green.
PRO STOCK SEMIFINALS
With the thermometer edging in the direction of 100 levels and the observe at a scorching 147 levels, it was two KB Titan vs. Elite Motorsports matches, and the KB crew received each.
Cody Coughlin defeated his uncle, Jeg, in an all-family battle, 6.69 to six.72, to achieve his second profession closing. He’ll face the man who beat him in that first closing, world champ Dallas Glenn, final fall in Reading, after Glenn raced previous Greg Stanfield on a 6.64 to six.68 depend. Glenn shall be trying to avenge final 12 months’s bizarre final-round loss right here to Greg Anderson.
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LEGACY NITRO FUNNY CAR SERIES
Nathan Sitko claimed the victory on a final-round bye after defending event champ Ray Horan’s team was unable to get their car started. Sitkpo powered the Bubble Up Firebird to a 4.79 winning lap.
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LUCAS OIL SERIES FINAL-ROUND RESULTS
Super Stock
Tim Seymour def. Evan Kowalski
Stock
Justin Lamb def. Leo Glasbrenner
Super Comp
Doug Johnson def. Tanner Theobald
Super Gas
Val Torres Jr. def. Chris Gabbard
Top Dragster
Cooper Chun def. Dylan Hough
Top Sportsman
Rob Mendenhall
