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Series Charlotte II Friday qualifying report

NHRA Series press release

Hagan makes NHRA history with first three-second run; Dixon, Line, Krawiec also no. 1 in Charlotte


CONCORD, N.C. – Matt Hagan raced to the first three-second Funny Car run in NHRA history during Friday night qualifying at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

With the run Hagan joined Larry Dixon, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec as the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the first of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoffs to determine the world championships.

To be a part of history and be the first person in the three-second range, that’s something...

Larry Dixon

Hagan made NHRA history when he powered his Die Hard Dodge Charger to a 3.995-second run, the quickest in NHRA Funny Car history, at 316.23 mph Friday night to take the provisional No. 1 spot. If it stands, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and ninth of his career.

“To be a part of history and be the first person in the three-second range, that’s something that they can never take away from you,” said Hagan. “I just can’t say enough about (crew chief) Tommy DeLago. What a mad scientist that guy is to put a race car like that underneath me. My guys just do such a great job and it’s incredible. It’s just a real testimony to how good of a job they do.”

The previous quickest run in NHRA history was a 4.005-second pass set by Robert Hight in 2008 in Richmond. While Hagan made the quickest Funny Car pass in NHRA history, his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman made the fastest, posting a 318.92 mph qualifying run in his Aaron’s/Valvoline Dodge Charger. Beckman currently sits in the provisional third spot in the field.

Dixon raced his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to the top of the Top Fuel field with a run of 3.784 at 324.83. If it stands it would be his third No. 1 qualifier of the season for the defending world champion and 51st of his career.

“The first run was great,” said Dixon. “It gave us a backup for a national record and kind of put us in position to go for it tonight. We had

Nothing to lose. We were aggressive, but it just didn’t stick. This racetrack is so smooth with so much grip. The credit goes to the preparation of the racetrack, and the conditions came right to it to give us a chance to go fast today.”

Dixon’s teammate and current points leader Del Worsham sits in the provisional third spot, while Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Antron Brown hold the provisional second spot in the field.

In Pro Stock, Line powered his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to the provisional top spot in Pro Stock, followed closely by KB Racing teammate and current points leader Greg Anderson, who sits in the second provisional spot. Line took the provisional No. 1 with a run of 6.520 at 212.66. If it stands, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier in a row, fifth of the season and 22nd of his career.

“I think there was a lot left in that run and if we get any kind of weather tomorrow, it’s

Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi Racing Dragster
Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi Racing Dragster

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Not going to hold,” said Line. “We feel like we could have gone a .49 or run close to or under the record, and that’s the goal, especially in my case. Making up 20 points on Greg would be a really good thing, but his car is obviously just as capable and I think there are a couple of other cars that are capable as well. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Krawiec rode his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the top of the field in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.833, a track record, at 196.70. If it stands, it would be Krawiec’s third No. 1 qualifier of the season and ninth of his career.

“Any time you come out and make a run like that out of the box, it sets the tone for your camp,” said Krawiec. “We underestimated the track on our second run. We second-guessed ourselves and turned the rpm down, making the bike bog. We’ll bounce back tomorrow, and we need to because our time probably won’t hold up.”

Qualifying will continue tomorrow will sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at noon.

***

Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Fourth annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord, 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.784 seconds, 324.83 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.802, 324.44; 3. Del Worsham, 3.803, 322.27; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.808, 321.88; 5. Spencer Massey, 3.808, 321.42; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.840, 318.92; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 3.853, 318.32; 8. Terry McMillen, 3.856, 321.50; 9. T.J. Zizzo, 3.860, 316.23; 10. Bob Vandergriff, 3.861, 320.05; 11. Rod Fuller, 3.863, 320.43; 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.865, 317.12.

Not Qualified: 13. Clay Millican, 3.884, 313.88; 14. Bruce Litton, 3.901, 315.71; 15. Morgan Lucas, 3.903, 314.24; 16. Dom Lagana, 3.922, 313.00; 17. David Grubnic, 4.138, 203.74; 18. Ike Maier, 4.219, 284.39; 19. Chris Karamesines, 8.029, 65.50; 20. Pat Dakin, 14.660, 62.77.

Funny Car -- 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.995, 316.23; 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.038, 314.17; 3. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.044, 318.92; 4. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.048, 313.44; 5. Melanie Troxel, Solara, 4.049, 308.85; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.059, 311.41; 7. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.060, 314.90; 8. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.087, 312.78; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.108, 305.84; 10. Paul Lee, Chevy Impala SS, 4.118, 309.49; 11. Jim Head, Solara, 4.132, 301.54; 12. Tony Pedregon, Impala SS, 4.136, 300.86.

Eddie Krawiec
Eddie Krawiec

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Not Qualified: 13. John Smith, 4.208, 289.94; 14. Cruz Pedregon, 4.538, 185.92; 15. John Force, 6.718, 96.94; 16. Ron Capps, 7.057, 84.93; 17. Bob Gilbertson, broke.

Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.510, 212.66; 2. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.515, 212.69; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.529, 211.99; 4. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.534, 211.76; 5. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.540, 211.93; 6. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.546, 211.43; 7. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.548, 211.20; 8. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.551, 211.49; 9. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.561, 211.86; 10. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.571, 211.16; 11. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.571, 210.05; 12. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.572, 209.95.

Not Qualified: 13. V. Gaines, 6.579, 210.64; 14. Steve Kent, 6.581, 210.80; 15. Buddy Perkinson, 6.581, 210.21; 16. Ron Krisher, 6.589, 210.05; 17. Bob Benza, 6.652, 201.16; 18. Wally Stroupe, 6.801, 202.24; 19. Warren Johnson, 7.526, 205.85; 20. Grace Howell, 10.592, 115.75; 21. Robert Patrick, 13.898, 61.59.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.833, 196.70; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.871, 191.84; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.873, 195.59; 4. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.914, 191.51; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.920, 190.46; 6. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.921, 194.72; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 191.97; 8. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.937, 194.86; 9. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.938, 192.11; 10. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.943, 189.76; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.984, 191.02; 12. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.984, 189.68.

Not Qualified: 13. Andrew Hines, 6.986, 194.35; 14. Bailey Whitaker, 7.046, 190.70; 15. Matt Guidera, 7.047, 188.46; 16. Joe DeSantis, 8.893, 99.06; 17. Jerry Savoie, 21.635, 26.15; 18. LE Tonglet, 22.469, 25.25; 19. Justin Finley, 28.012, 78.87.

Jason Line, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP
Jason Line, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

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