Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Qualifying report

Top Fuel champion Langdon leads NHRA qualifying

Worsham, Enders-Stevens and Krawiec also on top

Shawn Langdon

Shawn Langdon

NHRA

Reigning Top Fuel world champion driver Shawn Langdon (in photo) raced to a track record performance Saturday to claim his third No. 1 qualifier of the season, and will try for his second victory of the season on Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Del Worsham (Funny Car), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also will lead their categories as the No. 1 qualifiers at the 13th of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events in 2014. Sunday’s eliminations start at 11 a.m.

Langdon flexed his muscle with his quick pass of 3.745 seconds at 325.22 mph on Saturday in his 10,000-horsepower Al-Anabi Racing dragster, resetting his own previous track record for elapsed time. He will face Terry McMillen in Sunday’s opening round.

The California native, who earned the 16th No. 1 of his career, is seeking his first win at Norwalk. Langdon will meet Terry McMillen in the first round of eliminations.

“Tonight, we felt like we could lay down and try to make the best run possible,” Langdon said. “I have a lot of confidence. The last couple races we’ve struggled in qualifying. We feel like we have that little bit of a handle back on the race car again.”

Points leader Doug Kalitta moved to second with his pass of 3.746 at 327.82 in his Mac Tools dragster. He will face rookie Richie Crampton in the opening round. Antron Brown held on to the third spot in the class, powering his Matco Tools dragster with a performance of 3.763 at 323.04 and will race Clay Millican in the opening round.

In Funny Car, Worsham claimed the No. 1 spot with his Friday track record time of 4.000 at 321.88 in his DHL Toyota Camry. This is his first No. 1 qualifying position at Norwalk and 16th of his career. He will face fellow Californian Jeff Diehl in the first round of eliminations.

“The DHL Toyota Camry made a beautiful run down the track,” Worsham said. “When you can outrun guys like John Force and Tommy Johnson, that says something.”

16-time world champion Force and his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, which posted a 4.016 pass at 322.04 on Friday, qualified second. Sitting in the third slot is Tommy Johnson Jr., who powered his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger to a 4.030 at 319.67.

“You can’t take anyone lightly,” Worsham said. “I think if I take a first round win tomorrow that’ll be great. ”

In Pro Stock, nobody could match Enders-Stevens’ track record performance of 6.523 at 212.63 from Friday, giving the current points leader her second No. 1 qualifying spot in the season and eighth of her career. The driver of the Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro has yet to win at Norwalk.

“We’ve got a really consistent hot rod right now,” Enders-Stevens said. “We went up there and tried some things that we hope will work tomorrow. Consistency is what’s going to get it done.”

She will face No. 16 qualifier Travis Mazza in the opening round of eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be where I’m at,” Enders-Stevens, the first female in the category to lead in the points standings, said. “I have a new outlook and enjoy where I’m at. I feel good and confident this weekend.”

Shane Gray’s performance of 6.527 at 211.69 gave him the second spot in his Gray Manufacturing Chevy Camaro. Allen Johnson qualified third in his Mopar/Magneti Marelli Dodge Dart with his run of 6.532 at 211.89. Ohio favorite Jeg Coughlin, who qualified No. 6, will take on Rodger Brogdon in the first round.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec held on to the No. 1 qualifying spot from Friday, going 195.05 with a qualifying best of 6.844 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Krawiec, who won at Norwalk in 2011, earned his fifth consecutive No. 1 qualifier in 2014 and will meet rookie Elvira Karlsson of Sweden in the opener.

“We’ll do our best tomorrow,” Krawiec said. “I’ve got a great motorcycle. You got stay consistent. I believe I have a motorcycle that can get the job done as long as I’m doing my job.”

Hector Arana Jr. took the second spot on his Lucas Oil Buell, running a 6.859 at 195.05 in the final qualifying session. He will face Jim Underahl in the opening round. Jerry Savoie’s 6.865 at 195.48 on his Savoie’s Alligator Farm Buell sits in third, while defending event winner Matt Smith is in the eighth spot and will meet Adam Arana in an opening-round matchup.

RESULTS

NORWALK, Ohio -- Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the Eighth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel -- 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.745 seconds, 325.22 mph vs. 16. Terry McMillen, 3.906, 324.36; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.746, 327.82 vs. 15. Richie Crampton, 3.905, 302.21; 3. Antron Brown, 3.763, 323.04 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 3.880, 315.42; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 3.777, 322.73 vs. 13. Pat Dakin, 3.875, 313.66; 5. J.R. Todd, 3.783, 319.52 vs. 12. Troy Buff, 3.853, 311.49; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.792, 324.67 vs. 11. Larry Dixon, 3.839, 322.65; 7. Tony Schumacher, 3.794, 324.12 vs. 10. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.832, 316.97; 8. Spencer Massey, 3.800, 324.12 vs. 9. Brittany Force, 3.814, 324.98. Did Not Qualify: 17. Cory McClenathan, 3.921, 298.87; 18. Leah Pritchett, 3.996, 309.42; 19. Luigi Novelli, 4.006, 286.92; 20. Chris Karamesines, 4.134, 265.12.

Funny Car -- 1. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.000, 321.88 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.343, 289.20; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.016, 322.04 vs. 15. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.180, 307.65; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.030, 319.67 vs. 14. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.170, 303.57; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.044, 318.69 vs. 13. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.158, 299.93; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.048, 316.15 vs. 12. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.106, 321.42; 6. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.050, 310.91 vs. 11. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.077, 308.21; 7. Chad Head, Camry, 4.052, 318.02 vs. 10. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.076, 311.49; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.064, 317.94 vs. 9. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.065, 315.12. Did Not Qualify: 17. Terry Haddock, 6.994, 275.51.

Pro Stock -- 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Camaro, 6.523, 212.63 vs. 16. Travis Mazza, Ford Mustang, 7.365, 200.86; 2. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.527, 211.69 vs. 15. Mark Hogan, Pontiac GXP, 6.738, 206.23; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.532, 211.89 vs. 14. Larry Morgan, Mustang, 6.698, 210.77; 4. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.546, 211.53 vs. 13. John Gaydosh Jr, GXP, 6.677, 208.26; 5. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.551, 211.69 vs. 12. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.603, 211.56; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.554, 212.03 vs. 11. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.574, 211.23; 7. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.557, 211.00 vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.566, 211.39; 8. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.564, 211.20 vs. 9. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.566, 211.69. Did Not Qualify: 17. V. Gaines, 7.639, 190.40.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.844, 195.05 vs. 16. Elvira Karlsson, Suzuki, 6.984, 188.81; 2. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.859, 196.33 vs. 15. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.981, 193.24; 3. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.865, 195.48 vs. 14. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.952, 193.05; 4. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.867, 194.27 vs. 13. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.943, 192.03; 5. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.871, 196.93 vs. 12. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.933, 192.60; 6. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.873, 195.03 vs. 11. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.928, 193.79; 7. John Hall, Buell, 6.882, 194.63 vs. 10. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.913, 193.16; 8. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.909, 193.88 vs. 9. Adam Arana, Buell, 6.912, 196.07. Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Finley, 6.994, 192.14; 18. Joe DeSantis, 7.002, 191.76; 19. Wendell Daniels, broke.

NHRA

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Kalitta, Worsham, Enders-Stevens and Krawiec lead Friday’s qualifying at Ohio
Next article John Force muscles his way to 140th NHRA career win

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA