Capps, Kalitta and Butner top qualifying at Phoenix

Funny Car

Three-time Phoenix winner Capps set a Funny Car track record at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with a 3.925 second run at 320.50mph in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger, just 0.005 of a second better than Courtney Force’s record run on Friday. It is the 18th No. 1 of his career and third at this event.

“I feel like I’m more enthused about showing up to the race track everyday than I think I ever have been,” smiled Capps afterward. “This is a lot of fun right now.

“We’re not so naïve to think we can keep this up,” said Capps, who will race Jeff Diehl in Round 1 tomorrow. “There’s too good competition out here. We’ll just take it, we’ll take the wins and this is a great No. 1 qualifier and this sets us up great for Sunday.”

Defending world champ Del Worsham qualified fifth and will meet Jim Campbell in the opener, while No. 2 qualifier Courtney Force will race Terry Haddock. Two other intriguing first round pairings feature past world champions Robert Hight and Cruz Pedregon meeting in a heated duel while Don Schumacher Racing teammates Tommy Johnson Jr. and Matt Hagan will face off in their quick Dodge Chargers.

Top Fuel

Kalitta powered his Mac Tools dragster to a 3.741 at 320.74 in the final round of qualifying to earn his 44th No. 1 and his fourth at the Phoenix track. He held off rival Antron Brown, despite Brown improving on his Friday time of 3.760 at 322.65 in his Matco Tools dragster.

“We’re pretty excited to be here,” Kalitta said, “It’s always great running out in the desert and it seems to take to [crew chief] Jim [Oberhofer]’s tune up here. He’s doing a heck of a job, he and Troy [Fasching, assistant crew chief] and all the guys on the Mac Tools Redline Toyota car. So far so good.”

Pomona winner Brown will thus open eliminations against Steve Chrisman, while Brown’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate and five-time Phoenix winner Tony Schumacher qualified third and will face Scott Palmer in Round 1.

Pro Stock

Butner claimed his first career No. 1 qualifying position in Pro Stock with his pass of 6.618 at 208.88 in his Jim Butner Auto Sales Chevy Camaro from Friday. Butner’s teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson qualified second and third in their Summit Racing Camaros with a 6.622 at 208.17 and a 6.623 at 207.40, respectively.

“To be honest I’m kind of surprised I’m sitting in this seat because our boss Greg [Anderson] really threw it at us and made a good run,” Butner said. “It’s an honor and it’s cool; it’s cool to have a green hat [for qualifying No. 1].”

In the 14-car ladder, Butner will face V. Gaines, who qualified 14th with a 6.778 at 207.27 in his Kendall Oil Dodge Dart.

Points leader Anderson’s 6.623-second effort in the heat of the day means he will meet Vincent Nobile in the first round. Meanwhile, Line will race Phoenix-based driver Matt Hartford in the opener. 

Qualifying results and match-ups for Sunday’s elimination first rounds

Top Fuel – 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.741 seconds, 326.00 mph  vs. Bye; 2. Antron Brown, 3.760, 322.65 vs. 15. Steven Chrisman, 5.156, 144.35; 3. Tony Schumacher, 3.764, 322.19  vs. 14. Scott Palmer, 3.990, 276.07; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.766, 322.96  vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.935, 286.07; 5. Brittany Force, 3.769, 321.04  vs. 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.922, 317.12; 6. Clay Millican, 3.773, 322.96  vs. 11. Troy Buff, 3.869, 306.19; 7. J.R. Todd, 3.787, 323.12  vs. 10. Leah Pritchett, 3.859, 314.31; 8. Dave Connolly, 3.794, 317.64  vs. 9. Richie Crampton, 3.812, 309.98.

Funny Car – 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.925, 320.89  vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 9.905, 41.37; 2. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.930, 323.97  vs. 15. Terry Haddock, Solara, 4.191, 297.42; 3. John Force, Camaro, 3.938, 323.81  vs. 14. John Hale, Charger, 4.105, 313.22; 4. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.945, 319.14  vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.086, 302.08; 5. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.959, 319.60  vs. 12. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.067, 305.56; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.959, 319.22  vs. 11. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.026, 310.27; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.965, 318.77  vs. 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.990, 321.58; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.966, 317.19 vs. 9. Chad Head, Camry, 3.976, 317.64.

Pro Stock – 1. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.618, 208.88  vs. 14. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.778, 207.27; 2. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.622, 208.17  vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.732, 206.48; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.623, 207.72  vs. 12. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.715, 207.59; 4. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.649, 207.11  vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.713, 206.95; 5. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.650, 208.62  vs. 10. Joey Grose, Camaro, 6.699, 207.02; 6. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.650, 207.94  vs. 9. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.689, 208.26; 7. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.656, 208.46  vs. 8. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.664, 207.53.