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CHANDLER, Ariz. – Returning to the site of his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon raced to his first win of the season during Sunday’s finals at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Jack Beckman and V Gaines also were winners at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the 2008 season.
Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster to a 4.532 second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave Grubnic, to pick up his first win of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of his career. The win ties him with Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time wins list and second overall in Top Fuel.
“Any time you get a win it’s special,” Dixon said. “Donnie Bender (crew chief) has been on our team since 1999 and he’s never been on a car that’s won here. When you think about that, it would be nice to get that one out of the way. I’m dedicating this win to him.”
Defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher collected his first semifinal finish of the season after losing to Dixon on a holeshot, while two-time defending event winner “Hot Rod” Fuller’s day was cut short after falling to Grubnic in the semifinals.
Still recovering from a bad case of the flu, Beckman drove his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.868 second run at 320.20 mph past runner-up Robert Hight, collecting his first win in Phoenix and fourth career win.
“I guess the flu this year is immune to (flu shots),” Beckman said. “You get up in the morning and you just feel bad and you look at the back of the cold medicine and it says do not operate heavy machinery and I’m not sure if that counts as a nitro Funny Car, so I didn’t want to take anything, but after the second round I finally had to take some Tylenol.”
It was a tough first round for many Funny Car drivers, with defending event and POWERade Series world champion Tony Pedregon, 2003 Phoenix winner Ron Capps, and 14-time world champion John Force all falling early.
V Gaines grabbed his first win in seven years, driving his Kendall Dodge Stratus to a 6.702 at 205.38 run past 2006 POWERade Series world champion Jason Line. Gaines’ last win came against Tom Hammonds in Dallas in 2001.
“It’s been a long dry spell,” Gaines said. “They said when I beat Greg Anderson (in the semifinals) that this was the first time I’d beat him since 2001, so that’s bitter sweet.”
Though he lost in the second round to Gaines, three-time world champion Greg Anderson kept his point lead in Pro Stock heading into Gainesville.
* * *
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Larry Dixon; 2. David Grubnic; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Rod Fuller; 5. Bob Vandergriff; 6. Mike Strasburg; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Brandon Bernstein; 9. Doug Herbert; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Troy Buff; 12. Doug Kalitta; 13. Morgan Lucas; 14. Hillary Will; 15. Cory McClenathan; 16. Steven Chrisman.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger; 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger; 4. Jim Head, Toyota Solara; 5. Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo; 6. Gary Scelzi, Charger; 7. Scott Kalitta, Solara; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala; 9. John Force, Mustang; 10. Ron Capps, Charger; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Impala; 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 13. Tony Pedregon, Impala; 14. Jerry Toliver, Charger; 15. Gary Densham, Impala; 16. Mike Neff, Mustang.
PRO STOCK:
1. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt; 4. Mike Edwards, GTO; 5. Warren Johnson, GTO; 6. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP; 7. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 9. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 10. Matt Hartford, Stratus; 11. Max Naylor, Stratus; 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus; 13. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt; 14. Greg Stanfield, GXP; 15. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt; 16. Justin Humphreys, GTO.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Sunday's final results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.532 seconds, 327.19 mph def. David Grubnic, 5.002 seconds, 259.26 mph.
Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.868, 320.20 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 8.030, 105.28.
Pro Stock -- V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.702, 205.38 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 20.239, 39.18.
Super Stock -- Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 8.903, 145.91 def. Gary McGlasson, Chevy Camaro, 10.041, 128.82.
Stock Eliminator -- Toby Lang, Chevy Chevelle, 11.707, 111.18 def. Bobby DeArmond, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.927, 180.24 def. Ken Mostowich, Chevy Cavalier, 8.910, 175.89.
Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Chevy Corvette, 9.933, 142.79 def. Tommy Turner, Corvette, 9.948, 153.18.
Super Street -- Ryan Smith, Ford Falcon, 10.965, 122.98 def. Leroy Duran, Chevy Camaro, 10.970, 116.79.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final round-by-round results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Larry Dixon, 4.610, 277.43 def. Morgan Lucas, 8.324, 87.45; Bob Vandergriff, 4.593, 328.30 def. Cory McClenathan, 11.011, 79.39; Antron Brown, 4.536, 329.18 def. Doug Herbert, 4.598, 323.27; Tony Schumacher, 4.541, 329.83 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.817, 308.43; Brandon Bernstein, 4.623, 323.50 def. Steven Chrisman, 11.340, 109.44; Mike Strasburg, 5.568, 174.59 def. Hillary Will, 10.431, 76.27; David Grubnic, 4.500, 330.96 def. Troy Buff, 4.644, 304.53; Rod Fuller, 4.562, 319.67 def. J.R. Todd, 4.642, 294.82;
QUARTERFINALS -- Dixon, 4.609, 319.82 def. Bernstein, 12.113, 78.51; Schumacher, 5.257, 181.40 def. Brown, 5.916, 203.98; Fuller, 4.491, 328.22 def. Strasburg, 4.982, 217.98; Grubnic, 4.491, 323.66 def. Vandergriff, 4.621, 324.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 4.534, 326.87 def. Schumacher, 4.529, 325.22; Grubnic, 4.519, 332.26 def. Fuller, 9.259, 87.37;
FINAL -- Dixon, 4.532, 327.19 def. Grubnic, 5.002, 259.26.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.859, 319.67 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.867, 317.57; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.834, 310.63 def. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 5.067, 280.14; Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.892, 296.05 def. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.940, 283.61; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.874, 318.02 def. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 13.142, 75.44; Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.782, 325.06 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.860, 305.29; Jim Head, Solara, 4.887, 319.45 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.012, 241.84; Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.874, 317.72 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 5.052, 260.11; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.766, 321.35 def. Gary Densham, Impala, 6.152, 160.25;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 4.908, 311.41 def. C. Pedregon, 11.429, 82.17; Head, 7.245, 243.63 def. Kalitta, 10.929, 84.53; Hight, 4.870, 269.94 def. Bode, 5.609, 187.81; Beckman, 4.884, 320.20 def. Scelzi, 7.021, 124.24;
SEMIFINALS -- Beckman, 5.612, 191.35 def. Head, 13.480, 74.68; Hight, 4.803, 318.92 def. Johnson Jr., 4.837, 323.50;
FINAL -- Beckman, 4.868, 320.20 def. Hight, 8.030, 105.28.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GTO, 6.660, 205.88 def. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, foul; V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.663, 204.85 def. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.757, 184.42; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.637, 207.69 def. Justin Humphreys, GTO, foul; Jason Line, GTO, 6.654, 208.49 def. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.690, 205.29; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.646, 206.51 def. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.723, 204.26; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.704, 208.36 def. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.790, 204.73; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.629, 208.04 def. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.709, 204.91; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.640, 208.17 def. Matt Hartford, Stratus, 6.686, 204.88; QUARTERFINALS -- Gaines, 6.683, 205.57 def. Anderson, 6.703, 207.40; Line, 6.662, 207.66 def. K. Johnson, 14.763, 56.90; Coughlin, 6.653, 207.40 def. W. Johnson, 6.660, 206.99; Edwards, 6.671,205.41 def. A. Johnson, 20.094, 39.92;
SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.657, 208.30 def. Edwards, 6.678, 206.07; Gaines, 6.676, 205.66 def. Coughlin, 6.654, 207.59;
FINAL -- Gaines, 6.702, 205.38 def. Line, 20.239, 39.18.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 191; 2. Larry Dixon, 190; 3. David Grubnic, 130; 4. Cory McClenathan, 125; 5. Rod Fuller, 124; 6. Antron Brown, 112; 7. Morgan Lucas, 107; 8. (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 90; Hillary Will, 90; 10. (tie) Doug Herbert, 84. Bob Vandergriff, 84.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 189; 2. Jack Beckman, 162; 3. Cruz Pedregon, 147; 4. John Force, 110; 5. Gary Scelzi, 104; 6. Scott Kalitta, 86; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 85; 8. (tie) Gary Densham, 84; Ashley Force, 84; 10. Bob Bode, 83.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 175; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 171; 3. Jason Line, 148; 4. V. Gaines, 144; 5. Allen Johnson, 132; 6. Kurt Johnson, 131; 7. Warren Johnson, 111; 8. Mike Edwards, 104; 9. Greg Stanfield, 86; 10. Justin Humphreys, 85.
DIXON PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF 2008 AT SITE OF FIRST CAREER WIN;
BECKMAN, GAINES ALSO WINNERS AT CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Returning to the site of his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon raced to his first win of the season during Sunday’s finals at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Jack Beckman and V Gaines also were winners at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the 2008 season.
Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster to a 4.532 second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave Grubnic, to pick up his first win of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of his career. The win ties him with Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time wins list and second overall in Top Fuel.
“Any time you get a win it’s special,” Dixon said. “Donnie Bender (crew chief) has been on our team since 1999 and he’s never been on a car that’s won here. When you think about that, it would be nice to get that one out of the way. I’m dedicating this win to him.”
Defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher collected his first semifinal finish of the season after losing to Dixon on a holeshot, while two-time defending event winner “Hot Rod” Fuller’s day was cut short after falling to Grubnic in the semifinals.
Still recovering from a bad case of the flu, Beckman drove his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.868 second run at 320.20 mph past runner-up Robert Hight, collecting his first win in Phoenix and fourth career win.
“I guess the flu this year is immune to (flu shots),” Beckman said. “You get up in the morning and you just feel bad and you look at the back of the cold medicine and it says do not operate heavy machinery and I’m not sure if that counts as a nitro Funny Car, so I didn’t want to take anything, but after the second round I finally had to take some Tylenol.”
It was a tough first round for many Funny Car drivers, with defending event and POWERade Series world champion Tony Pedregon, 2003 Phoenix winner Ron Capps, and 14-time world champion John Force all falling early.
V Gaines grabbed his first win in seven years, driving his Kendall Dodge Stratus to a 6.702 at 205.38 run past 2006 POWERade Series world champion Jason Line. Gaines’ last win came against Tom Hammonds in Dallas in 2001.
“It’s been a long dry spell,” Gaines said. “They said when I beat Greg Anderson (in the semifinals) that this was the first time I’d beat him since 2001, so that’s bitter sweet.”
Though he lost in the second round to Gaines, three-time world champion Greg Anderson kept his point lead in Pro Stock heading into Gainesville.
* * *
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Larry Dixon; 2. David Grubnic; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Rod Fuller; 5. Bob Vandergriff; 6. Mike Strasburg; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Brandon Bernstein; 9. Doug Herbert; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Troy Buff; 12. Doug Kalitta; 13. Morgan Lucas; 14. Hillary Will; 15. Cory McClenathan; 16. Steven Chrisman.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger; 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger; 4. Jim Head, Toyota Solara; 5. Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo; 6. Gary Scelzi, Charger; 7. Scott Kalitta, Solara; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala; 9. John Force, Mustang; 10. Ron Capps, Charger; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Impala; 12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 13. Tony Pedregon, Impala; 14. Jerry Toliver, Charger; 15. Gary Densham, Impala; 16. Mike Neff, Mustang.
PRO STOCK:
1. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt; 4. Mike Edwards, GTO; 5. Warren Johnson, GTO; 6. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP; 7. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 8. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 9. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 10. Matt Hartford, Stratus; 11. Max Naylor, Stratus; 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus; 13. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt; 14. Greg Stanfield, GXP; 15. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt; 16. Justin Humphreys, GTO.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Sunday's final results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.532 seconds, 327.19 mph def. David Grubnic, 5.002 seconds, 259.26 mph.
Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.868, 320.20 def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 8.030, 105.28.
Pro Stock -- V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.702, 205.38 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 20.239, 39.18.
Super Stock -- Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 8.903, 145.91 def. Gary McGlasson, Chevy Camaro, 10.041, 128.82.
Stock Eliminator -- Toby Lang, Chevy Chevelle, 11.707, 111.18 def. Bobby DeArmond, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.927, 180.24 def. Ken Mostowich, Chevy Cavalier, 8.910, 175.89.
Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Chevy Corvette, 9.933, 142.79 def. Tommy Turner, Corvette, 9.948, 153.18.
Super Street -- Ryan Smith, Ford Falcon, 10.965, 122.98 def. Leroy Duran, Chevy Camaro, 10.970, 116.79.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final round-by-round results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Larry Dixon, 4.610, 277.43 def. Morgan Lucas, 8.324, 87.45; Bob Vandergriff, 4.593, 328.30 def. Cory McClenathan, 11.011, 79.39; Antron Brown, 4.536, 329.18 def. Doug Herbert, 4.598, 323.27; Tony Schumacher, 4.541, 329.83 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.817, 308.43; Brandon Bernstein, 4.623, 323.50 def. Steven Chrisman, 11.340, 109.44; Mike Strasburg, 5.568, 174.59 def. Hillary Will, 10.431, 76.27; David Grubnic, 4.500, 330.96 def. Troy Buff, 4.644, 304.53; Rod Fuller, 4.562, 319.67 def. J.R. Todd, 4.642, 294.82;
QUARTERFINALS -- Dixon, 4.609, 319.82 def. Bernstein, 12.113, 78.51; Schumacher, 5.257, 181.40 def. Brown, 5.916, 203.98; Fuller, 4.491, 328.22 def. Strasburg, 4.982, 217.98; Grubnic, 4.491, 323.66 def. Vandergriff, 4.621, 324.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 4.534, 326.87 def. Schumacher, 4.529, 325.22; Grubnic, 4.519, 332.26 def. Fuller, 9.259, 87.37;
FINAL -- Dixon, 4.532, 327.19 def. Grubnic, 5.002, 259.26.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.859, 319.67 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.867, 317.57; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.834, 310.63 def. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 5.067, 280.14; Bob Bode, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.892, 296.05 def. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.940, 283.61; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.874, 318.02 def. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 13.142, 75.44; Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara, 4.782, 325.06 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.860, 305.29; Jim Head, Solara, 4.887, 319.45 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.012, 241.84; Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.874, 317.72 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 5.052, 260.11; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.766, 321.35 def. Gary Densham, Impala, 6.152, 160.25;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 4.908, 311.41 def. C. Pedregon, 11.429, 82.17; Head, 7.245, 243.63 def. Kalitta, 10.929, 84.53; Hight, 4.870, 269.94 def. Bode, 5.609, 187.81; Beckman, 4.884, 320.20 def. Scelzi, 7.021, 124.24;
SEMIFINALS -- Beckman, 5.612, 191.35 def. Head, 13.480, 74.68; Hight, 4.803, 318.92 def. Johnson Jr., 4.837, 323.50;
FINAL -- Beckman, 4.868, 320.20 def. Hight, 8.030, 105.28.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GTO, 6.660, 205.88 def. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, foul; V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.663, 204.85 def. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.757, 184.42; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.637, 207.69 def. Justin Humphreys, GTO, foul; Jason Line, GTO, 6.654, 208.49 def. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.690, 205.29; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.646, 206.51 def. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.723, 204.26; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.704, 208.36 def. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.790, 204.73; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.629, 208.04 def. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.709, 204.91; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.640, 208.17 def. Matt Hartford, Stratus, 6.686, 204.88; QUARTERFINALS -- Gaines, 6.683, 205.57 def. Anderson, 6.703, 207.40; Line, 6.662, 207.66 def. K. Johnson, 14.763, 56.90; Coughlin, 6.653, 207.40 def. W. Johnson, 6.660, 206.99; Edwards, 6.671,205.41 def. A. Johnson, 20.094, 39.92;
SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.657, 208.30 def. Edwards, 6.678, 206.07; Gaines, 6.676, 205.66 def. Coughlin, 6.654, 207.59;
FINAL -- Gaines, 6.702, 205.38 def. Line, 20.239, 39.18.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 191; 2. Larry Dixon, 190; 3. David Grubnic, 130; 4. Cory McClenathan, 125; 5. Rod Fuller, 124; 6. Antron Brown, 112; 7. Morgan Lucas, 107; 8. (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 90; Hillary Will, 90; 10. (tie) Doug Herbert, 84. Bob Vandergriff, 84.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 189; 2. Jack Beckman, 162; 3. Cruz Pedregon, 147; 4. John Force, 110; 5. Gary Scelzi, 104; 6. Scott Kalitta, 86; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 85; 8. (tie) Gary Densham, 84; Ashley Force, 84; 10. Bob Bode, 83.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 175; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 171; 3. Jason Line, 148; 4. V. Gaines, 144; 5. Allen Johnson, 132; 6. Kurt Johnson, 131; 7. Warren Johnson, 111; 8. Mike Edwards, 104; 9. Greg Stanfield, 86; 10. Justin Humphreys, 85.
