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Qualifying report

Hagan earns No. 1 spot with world record performance at Brainerd

Brown, Nobile and Sampey also top qualifiers at Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

Matt Hagan

Matt Hagan

NHRA

Antron Brown
Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon
Del Worsham
Chris Karamesines
Jason Line
Andrew Hines
Matt Hagan
Angelle Sampey
Angie Smith
Angie Smith
Vincent Nobile
Del Worsham, Tim Wilkerson
Del Worsham
Jason Line
Matt Hagan, Ron Capps
Antron Brown
Jason Line
Andrew Hines
Matt Hagan

Brainerd, Minn. – Two-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan rocketed to the No. 1 qualifier Saturday with a world record performance at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th event of 24 on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. This is the penultimate event of the regular season.

Funny Car

Hagan blistered the track in his Mopar Express Lane / Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T with a 3.822-second pass at 333.82 mph to set the elapsed time world record and claim his third No. 1 spot of the season and 24th of his career. Hagan won back-to-back events earlier this year in Atlanta and Topeka, Kan., and has already clinched his spot in the Countdown to the Championship. He has never won at Brainerd but will put forth his best effort as he opens Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations against John Bojec.

“I have (crew chief) Dickie Venables in my corner and that guy is so bright and so brilliant,” said Hagan, who qualified No. 1 at Brainerd once before in 2011. “He said, ‘Hey kid, it’s going to go really fast or nowhere at all.’ It’s cool to know that you can hang on to a racecar that does that and has the capability to do that. Dickie is smart enough to make it all work. It really comes down to my guys, so when I get to crawl into a racecar, it’s a blessing. We have potential to be out here in a championship hunt again this year. One step at a time.”

Reigning Funny Car world champion Del Worsham qualified second with a 3.856 at 326.71 in his DHL Toyota Camry. Worsham, who lost to the Ron Capps in the postponed Seattle Funny Car final round that took place during the third qualifying session earlier in the day. Capps recorded the 50th win of his career when he defeated Worsham with a pass of 4.014 at 322.42.

Tommy Johnson Jr. is in third with a 3.859 at 327.98 in his Make-A-Wish Foundation Dodge Charger R/T. He will go up against Dale Creasy Jr. Sunday morning. Jack Beckman is fourth and will race Cruz Pedregon while Capps is fifth and will battle John Hale.

Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.822, 333.82 vs. 16. John Bojec, Toyota Solara, 4.735, 167.18; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.856, 329.34 vs. 15. Bob Bode, Solara, 4.283, 232.13; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.859, 327.98 vs. 14. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.160, 278.06; 4. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.859, 326.24 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.110, 248.48; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.866, 327.27 vs. 12. John Hale, Charger, 4.000, 319.75; 6. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.892, 317.34 vs. 11. Brian Stewart, Ford Mustang, 3.962, 309.56; 7. John Force, Camaro, 3.915, 328.06 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.935, 323.50; 8. Chad Head, Camry, 3.921, 326.79 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.933, 318.99.

Top Fuel

Brown notched a 3.679 at 328.30 in his Matco Tools dragster to take the Top Fuel lead in the fourth and final qualifying session. He tallied his 46th career No. 1 qualifier and second of his season. This is his second Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier at Brainerd International Raceway. Brown has sprinted to four victories so far this season and won this event in 2011. He will go up against the ageless Chris Karamesines in the first round.

Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.679 seconds, 328.30 mph vs. 16. Chris Karamesines, 6.373, 226.32; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.690, 330.15 vs. 15. Luigi Novelli, 4.347, 211.73; 3. Brittany Force, 3.693, 323.97 vs. 14. Terry Haddock, 3.906, 306.26; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.694, 332.51 vs. 13. Scott Palmer, 3.855, 320.89; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.699, 329.83 vs. 12. Terry McMillen, 3.800, 302.01; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.704, 331.20 vs. 11. Morgan Lucas, 3.739, 325.77; 7. Richie Crampton, 3.717, 319.14 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, 3.734, 326.24; 8. Leah Pritchett, 3.727, 320.28 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.730, 323.12. Did Not Qualify: 17. Rob Passey, broke.

Pro Stock

In Pro Stock, Vincent Nobile powered his Mountain View Tire Chevy Camaro to his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier with a 6.597 at 209.17. This is the first time in his career he has gone No. 1 at back-to-back events. Nobile earned his sixth No. 1 of his career, second of the season and second at Brainerd.

Pro Stock — 1. Vincent Nobile, Chevy Camaro, 6.597, 209.17 vs. Bye; 2. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.606, 208.75 vs. 15. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.804, 203.55; 3. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.613, 208.59 vs. 14. Mark Hogan, Pontiac GXP, 6.796, 202.27; 4. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.615, 208.68 vs. 13. Dave River, Chevy Cobalt, 6.763, 203.74; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.620, 207.88 vs. 12. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.661, 206.83; 6. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.622, 208.49 vs. 11. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.660, 207.08; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.636, 208.71 vs. 10. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.654, 207.46; 8. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.636, 207.66 vs. 9. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.652, 208.49.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Angelle Sampey rode her Star Racing / Precision Service Equipment Buell to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.830 at 196.64 to claim the 47th No. 1 qualifier in her career, second No. 1 of the season and her second at Brainerd International Raceway. Sampey, the winningest female driver in NHRA history with 42, won earlier this season in Englishtown, N.J., to claim her first win since 2007. She will hope to ride to her first victory at Brainerd tomorrow as she opens eliminations against Angie Smith.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.830, 196.64 vs. 16. Angie Smith, Victory, 7.007, 191.02; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.852, 194.24 vs. 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.998, 191.08; 3. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.855, 193.82 vs. 14. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.964, 193.43; 4. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.865, 195.08 vs. 13. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.950, 192.11; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.874, 195.19 vs. 12. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.943, 193.52; 6. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.879, 194.66 vs. 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.917, 194.94; 7. Cory Reed, Buell, 6.884, 192.22 vs. 10. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.915, 194.46; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.895, 195.31 vs. 9. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.896, 194.02. Did Not Qualify: 17. Joe DeSantis, 7.033, 189.82; 18. Kristen Ashby, 7.236, 183.67; 19. Melissa Surber, 7.277, 190.59.

NHRA


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Edition

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