Jack Beckman set both ends of the track record for the Funny Car class during the final qualifying session to secure the No. 1 position at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also clenched No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fifth of six events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
Beckman's pass of 3.854 seconds at 335.57 mph in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T clenched his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 22nd of his career. He is seeking his third season victory and 27th of his career on Sunday.
"I think we've got a great hot rod right now," Beckman said. "It's always nice before eliminations to eat a little bit at the lead of the car ahead of you and to put a little bit of distance to the ones behind you. I told my team to go 3.85 would be fun, and they were right."
Beckman will race Jim Campbell to open eliminations on Sunday. Following in the No. 2 spot is Courtney Force in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro with a pass of 3.878 at 331.77. She will race Jeff Arend.
Category points leader Robert Hight qualified third and will face Tim Wilkerson in the opening round.
The winningest Top Fuel driver, Tony Schumacher, locked-in the No. 1 spot after piloting his U.S. Army dragster to a set the track elapsed-time record of 3.673 at 332.67 during Friday's qualifying session to earn him his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 84th of his career.
"We've got the points, we made a good run and that really gives me the confidence," Schumacher said. "The crew chiefs are making calls, and the car is reacting. That is more important than the numbers and where you qualify.
"We need to go out there and win that trophy."
Schumacher will face off against Troy Buff in round one. Points leader Steve Torrence qualified in the No. 2 spot with a run of 3.694 at 330.15 in his Capco Contractors dragster and will meet Terry Haddock at the line.
Pro Stock points leader, Anderson raced a 6.663 at 205.35 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro during Friday evening's qualifying session to secure his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 92nd of his career.
"It's fun to be here in Vegas when you look and both sides of the grandstands are full," Anderson said. "We're having fun and having a good time. Las Vegas is my team owner's home track, and it just means a whole lot more to me. I've had a lot of special weekends here and look forward to making another one."
Anderson will line up against Alan Prusiensky to begin eliminations. Drew Skillman qualified in the No. 2 spot with a 6.664 at 205.32 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro and will take on Deric Kramer.
Krawiec, the Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader, secured his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 38th of his career with his 6.936 at 191.76 from the second round of qualifying on Friday on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
"I'm happy with how the bike is performing," Krawiec said. "I just need to go out there and stay focused and race. We need to turn on those win lights since that's what gets you points. That is all I'm concerned about right now at this point."
Krawiec will face John Hall in the first round. Hector Arana Jr. is in the second spot with a 6.940 at 191.87 on his Lucas Oil Buell and will line up against Katie Sullivan. L.E. Tonglet is third on his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki.
Eliminations at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals begins Sunday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
NHRA Toyota Nationals
Saturday results, Sunday pairings
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 3.673 seconds, 332.67 mph vs. 16. Troy Buff, 3.978, 260.01; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.694, 330.15 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, 3.953, 286.25; 3. Clay Millican, 3.707, 311.99 vs. 14. Mike Salinas, 3.890, 315.86; 4. Brittany Force, 3.722, 327.51 vs. 13. Shawn Reed, 3.854, 315.64; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.735, 324.83 vs. 12. Scott Palmer, 3.812, 318.92; 6. Terry McMillen, 3.736, 326.40 vs. 11. Richie Crampton, 3.779, 301.60; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.742, 319.98 vs. 10. Antron Brown, 3.760, 325.61; 8. Leah Pritchett, 3.742, 324.20 vs. 9. T.J. Zizzo, 3.758, 327.35.
Funny Car
1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.854, 335.57 vs. 16. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.089, 313.00; 2. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.878, 331.77 vs. 15. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.075, 303.71; 3. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.880, 329.99 vs. 14. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.029, 315.34; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.882, 330.88 vs. 13. Gary Densham, Mustang, 3.999, 317.87; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.884, 330.23 vs. 12. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.953, 287.60; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.896, 326.56 vs. 11. John Force, Camaro, 3.928, 328.14; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.897, 329.67 vs. 10. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.926, 326.71; 8. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.916, 322.50 vs. 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.922, 325.77.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Bode, 4.257, 294.37; 18. Jeff Diehl, 4.641, 189.98; 19. Tim Gibbons, 5.448, 137.96.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.663, 205.35 vs. 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.744, 204.14; 2. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.664, 206.16 vs. 15. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.743, 204.20; 3. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.672, 205.57 vs. 14. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.741, 204.98; 4. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.679, 205.82 vs. 13. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.740, 204.82; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.686, 205.98 vs. 12. Brian Self, Camaro, 6.728, 205.29; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.687, 206.42 vs. 11. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.717, 204.42; 7. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.694, 204.45 vs. 10. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.701, 205.13; 8. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.695, 206.32 vs. 9. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.696, 205.98.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.769, 204.11; 18. Steve Graham, 6.771, 203.40; 19. Val Smeland, 6.842, 200.44; 20. Joey Grose, 6.911, 199.05.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.936, 191.76 vs. 16. John Hall, Buell, 7.039, 187.91; 2. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.940, 192.55 vs. 15. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 7.038, 189.76; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.953, 192.36 vs. 14. Melissa Surber, Buell, 7.026, 188.67; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.955, 193.82 vs. 13. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 7.017, 189.12; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.958, 191.00 vs. 12. Matt Smith, Victory, 7.013, 189.66; 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.970, 190.92 vs. 11. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.002, 189.73; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.973, 193.40 vs. 10. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.998, 189.39; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.977, 191.73 vs. 9. Angelle Sampey, Victory, 6.977, 189.66.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Johnson, 7.055, 188.60; 18. Freddie Camarena, 7.067, 190.67; 19. Charles Sullivan, 7.090, 186.92; 20. Ron Tornow, 7.111, 187.68; 21. Cory Reed, 7.130, 184.80; 22. David Hope, 7.149, 182.08; 23. Mark Paquette, 7.175, 182.77; 24. Scott Bottorff, 7.183, 184.77; 25. Lance Bonham, 7.190, 185.69; 26. Andie Rawlings, 7.899, 166.97.
PRO MODIFIED
ROUND ONE: Harry Hruska, Chevy Camaro, 5.864, 250.64 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.888, 237.46; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.864, 244.96 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.940, 243.06; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.857, 248.48 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, Broke; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.882, 252.47 def. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 5.933, 243.63; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.808, 255.58 def. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.868, 252.47; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.863, 248.39 def. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 6.193, 205.57; Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 6.894, 175.43 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 9.689, 96.51; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.851, 245.36 def. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 11.551, 111.65.
LAS VEGAS - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, '68 Firebird 5.801 255.10 255.10
2 303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, '16 Camaro 5.804 252.66 255.19
3 280 Steve Jackson, Evans GA, '17 Camaro 5.823 245.99 245.99
4 44 Mike Castellana, Oyster Bay NY, '17 Camaro 5.839 247.88 248.61
5 2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '15 Corvette 5.848 253.80 254.47
6 13 Jonathan Gray, Artesia NM, '17 Camaro 5.869 245.40 245.72
7 1 Rickie Smith, King NC, '17 Camaro 5.876 247.38 247.38
8 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS-V 5.879 245.49 245.49
9 325 Harry Hruska, Hebron IN, '14 Camaro 5.884 248.75 249.58
10 4 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang 5.896 251.95 251.95
11 7 Khalid alBalooshi, Dubai UA, '17 Camaro 5.896 245.23 245.23
12 288 Sidnei Frigo, Sao Paulo BZ, '16 Corvette 5.899 250.69 250.69
13 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '16 Camaro 5.908 242.32 242.32
14 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Camaro 5.914 245.90 245.90
15 3 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '14 Camaro 5.915 243.63 243.63
16 8 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '16 Corvette 5.918 244.52 244.52
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 213 Chip King, Roxboro NC, '69 Charger 5.942 243.06 243.06
18 5 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro 5.969 243.90 243.90
19 7094 Michael Bowman, Oak Hills CA, '69 Chevelle 5.980 252.66^ 259.91
20 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '67 Mustang 6.002 234.17 234.17
21 2000 Billy Harper, Paducah KY, '00 Viper 6.024 236.84 236.84
22 6695 Rick Distefano, Calgary AB, '70 Camaro 6.143 232.47 232.47
23 6317 Derek Menholt, Billings MT, '68 Camaro 6.180 232.87 235.89
24 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi 6.235 240.17 240.17
25 1283 Carl Stevens, N. Haledon NJ, '69 Camaro 6.277 244.12 244.12
26 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, '69 Camaro DQ
