McMillen scores first NHRA Top Fuel victory in Las Vegas

TOP FUEL

McMillen’s pass of 3.870-seconds at 253.99 in his AMALIE Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR dragster was enough to triumph after Brittany Force red-lit in her Monster Energy dragster. He becomes the 104th different Top Fuel winner after 195 career starts.

“This is the stuff you dream of as a small kid,” McMillen stated. “To have that opportunity to go out there and get that win is truly an amazing feeling.

“Hats off to my crew. This is the first time in a long time where the turnarounds were really quick, and they turned around that car flawlessly. The car was really quick on the starting line, lights were good and it all just fell into place.”

On his way to victory, McMillen defeated Richie Crampton, Clay Millican and Shawn Langdon. Force remains second in points overall heading into the final event of the season, trailing leader Steve Torrence by 20 markers.

FUNNY CAR

Matt Hagan powered his Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T to his first Las Vegas victory after a run of 3.942sec at 329.42mph defeating Courtney Force’s 4.020 at 320.05 in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro. This is Hagan’s fourth victory of the season and 26th of his career.

“There’s no replacement for the feeling of winning,” Hagan said. “That’s a fix you can’t get nowhere else. My guys busted tail all day. We had a car that went down the track every run we’ve been here. I was just trying not to mess it up.”

His route to victory included win lights against Gary Densham, Del Worsham and teammate Jack Beckman. Force faced Jeff Arend, Alexis DeJoria and category points leader and teammate Robert Hight before entering her third final round in the Countdown.

PRO STOCK

No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson raced his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro to victory for the fourth time this season with a pass of 6.698 at 204.70mph defeating KB Racing teammate Bo Butner. Anderson secured his fifth career victory at this event and 90th of his career.

Category points leader Anderson sits 40 points ahead of teammate and defending world champion Jason Line. Butner rounds out the top three.

“The ultimate scenario for us at KB Racing was to eliminate the Gray team over there,” Anderson said. “Didn’t think it would happen because they are great racecar drivers, but somehow we found a way and we outlasted them today. They’re now not a part of the equation when we go to Pomona. Now we’re just going to have to go out there and settle it among ourselves.”

Anderson raced Alan Prusiensky, Chris McGaha and Line on the way to his 11th final around appearance this season. Butner bested Shane Tucker, Alan Johnson and Drew Skillman before losing to Anderson.  

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, category points leader Krawiec rode his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.924 at 193.16 defeating Hector Arana Jr. This is his third career victory at this event, seventh of the season and 43rd of his career.

 “My motorcycle has been a pleasure to ride,” Krawiec stated. “I’ve got a great group of guys behind me who make tune-up calls and make the bike as good as it is. By no means is it just one person. It’s really about the whole crew; those guys give me the opportunity to have a bike that can win a race.”

Krawiec’s road to victory was lined with wins over John Hall, Angelle Sampey and Scotty Pollacheck. The win puts him 150 points ahead of LE Tonglet who remains second. Arana Jr. rode past Katie Sullivan, Mike Berry and Tonglet.

Final finish order at 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

TOP FUEL: 1. Terry McMillen; 2. Brittany Force; 3. Leah Pritchett; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Clay Millican; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Antron Brown; 10. T.J. Zizzo; 11. Scott Palmer; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Shawn Reed; 14. Richie Crampton; 15. Mike Salinas; 16. Troy Buff.
Final: Terry McMillen, 3.870 seconds, 253.99 mph def. Brittany Force, Foul - Red Light.

FUNNY CAR: 1. Matt Hagan; 2. Courtney Force; 3. Jack Beckman; 4. Robert Hight; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. John Force; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Tim Wilkerson; 10. Jonnie Lindberg; 11. J.R. Todd; 12. Ron Capps; 13. Cruz Pedregon; 14. Gary Densham; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Jeff Arend.
Final: Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.942, 329.42 def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.020, 320.05.

PRO STOCK: 1. Greg Anderson; 2. Bo Butner; 3. Jason Line; 4. Drew Skillman; 5. Tanner Gray; 6. Chris McGaha; 7. Jeg Coughlin; 8. Allen Johnson; 9. Matt Hartford; 10. Alex Laughlin; 11. Brian Self; 12. Larry Morgan; 13. Alan Prusiensky; 14. Shane Tucker; 15. Deric Kramer; 16. Erica Enders.
Final: Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.698, 204.70 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 15.506, 36.72.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Hector Arana Jr; 3. Scotty Pollacheck; 4. LE Tonglet; 5. Andrew Hines; 6. Angelle Sampey; 7. Mike Berry; 8. Karen Stoffer; 9. Matt Smith; 10. Joey Gladstone; 11. Angie Smith; 12. John Hall; 13. Melissa Surber; 14. Jerry Savoie; 15. Hector Arana; 16. Katie Sullivan.
Final: Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.924, 193.16 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.949, 192.91.

Point standings after 23 of 24 events in 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

(Round 5 of 6 in the Countdown)

TOP FUEL: 1. Steve Torrence, 2,527; 2. Brittany Force, 2,507; 3. Doug Kalitta, 2,443; 4. Antron Brown, 2,392; 5. Leah Pritchett, 2,361; 6. Tony Schumacher, 2,340; 7. Clay Millican, 2,326; 8. Shawn Langdon, 2,267; 9. Terry McMillen, 2,261; 10. Scott Palmer, 2,169.

FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight, 2,548; 2. Ron Capps, 2,533; 3. Courtney Force, 2,423; 4. Jack Beckman, 2,396; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,387; 6. John Force, 2,306; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,276; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,237; 9. J.R. Todd, 2,233; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,163.

PRO STOCK: 1. Greg Anderson, 2,597; 2. Bo Butner, 2,557; 3. Jason Line, 2,521; 4. Tanner Gray, 2,413; 5. Drew Skillman, 2,384; 6. Erica Enders, 2,286; 7. Allen Johnson, 2,235; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 2,234; 9. Chris McGaha, 2,207; 10. Vincent Nobile, 2,052.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,628; 2. LE Tonglet, 2,478; 3. Andrew Hines, 2,427; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,406; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 2,400; 6. Jerry Savoie, 2,393; 7. Matt Smith, 2,345; 8. Karen Stoffer, 2,252; 9. Angie Smith, 2,209; 10. Joey Gladstone, 2,200.