Brainerd: Goodyear Racing event summary

BODE GETS FIRST FUNNY CAR WIN AS NHRA SEASON REACHES COUNTDOWN TO ONE

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2010) -- Bob Bode earned his first NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car victory during a tense racing weekend at the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Bode was one of four drivers to race to a win on Goodyear tires at Brainerd. The others were Larry Dixon (in Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Al Ackerman (Competition Eliminator).

The race was the final event in the NHRA's regular season, the Countdown to 10. Now the Countdown to One starts, drag racing's playoff system.

Bode beat Tim Wilkerson in the final round and Tony Pedregon claimed the final Funny Car berth in the Countdown to One. John Force held on to his top seed position for the post season.

Dixon defeated Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final. Dixon remains the points leader heading into the championship countdown. David Grubnic earned the final Top Fuel berth in the final countdown.

Coughlin beat Shane Gray in Pro Stock, the third straight final round appearance for Coughlin and his second win in that time. Coughlin's win was the 52nd of his career, moving him into a tie with Joe Amato on the all-time Full Throttle win list. Roger Brogdon grabbed the final Pro Stock berth in the Countdown to One.

Ackerman's win in Competition Eliminator was his third in NHRA national event competition. His margin of victory was a scant .0697 of a second.

-source: goodyear