Matco's Brown bumped from No. 1 again in Top Fuel;
Gray, Hagan Nos. 2-3 in Funny Car for DSR at Gatornationals
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2013) - Antron Brown in Top Fuel and Johnny Gray in Funny Car lead Don Schumacher Racing into Sunday's championship eliminations in the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.
Brown saved his best run for his last of four qualifying sessions and briefly held the No. 1 qualifying position until Doug Kalitta bumped him to No. 2 for the second consecutive event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Brown's 3.787-second run at 324.20 mph in the last session moved him to No.1, but he was bumped to No. 2 when Kalitta followed with an elapsed time of 3.779 (326.32) on a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures in the high 70s and more of the same is expected for eliminations that begin at 11 a.m.
Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher of the U.S. Army qualified No. 5 and Spencer Massey in the Battery Extender powered by Schumacher dragster will start No. 6 for DSR.
In Funny Car, Johnny Gray and the Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T led the four DSR teams by qualifying No. 2 with a best run for 4.071 (313.22). Hagan's Magneti Marelli Dodge is seeded third with a best run of 4.084 (308.99).
DSR teammates Ron Capps in the NAPA Filters Dodge qualified sixth and reigning world champion Jack Beckman, who qualified 11th in the Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge, will meet in the opening round.
The following are qualifying results from Friday and Saturday heading to Sunday's championship eliminations other notes:
TOP FUEL
No. 1 qualifier: Doug Kalitta (Kalitta Motorsports) 3.779, 326.32 mph
Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster
Qualifying position: No. 2
First-round opponent: Larry Dixon
FRIDAY
Session 1: 5.533 sec., 121.72 mph
Session 2: 3.812, 321.88
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.847, 315.34
Session 4: 3.787, 324.20
Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster
Qualifying position: No. 5
First-round opponent: Khalid alBalooshi
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.314 sec., 186.56 mph
Session 2: 3.849, 321.65
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.819, 323.89
Session 4: 3.836, 318.69
Spencer Massey, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher
Qualifying position: No. 6
First-round opponent: David Grubnic
FRIDAY
Session 1: 3.821 sec., 322.65 mph
Session 2: 3.834, 322.73
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.847, 315.45
Session 4: 3.844, 321.35
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing) 4.047 sec., 296.05 mph
Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 2
First-round opponent: Jeff Arend
FRIDAY
Session 1: 7.761 sec., 7.06 mph
Session 2: 4.071, 313.22
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.079, 308.07
Session 4: 7.786, 76.08
Matt Hagan, Magneti Marelli by Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 3
First-round opponent: Bob Tasca III
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.140 sec., 296.24 mph
Session 2: 4.114, 302.89
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.084, 308.99
Session 4: 6.457, 99.44
Ron Capps, NAPA Filters Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 6
First-round opponent: Jack Beckman
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.589 sec., 176.01 mph
Session 2: 4.115, 304.94
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.901, 159.95
Session 4: 5.295, 138.53
Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge
Qualifying position: No. 11
First-round opponent: Ron Capps
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.122 sec., 302.55 mph
Session 2: 4.144, 286.62
SATURDAY
Session 3: 5.943, 113.35
Session 4: 5.277, 138.40
GOING FOR 200
Sunday at the Gatornationals, Don Schumacher Racing can reach the milestone of getting its 200th NHRA national event title.
DSR drivers Ron Capps and Tony Schumacher won respective Top Fuel and Funny Car titles at the last race near Phoenix to push the total to 198.
Two of the seven DSR teams in the Gatornationals would need to repeat the double-up to reach 200. That isn't farfetched considering DSR has won at least two titles at the same event 35 times since the organization based near Indianapolis began fielding more than one team in 2001.
DSR also is the only organization in NHRA history to have won event titles in each of the series' four pro categories.
BUBBA burger® JOINS DSR
BUBBA burger® joins Don Schumacher Racing as a marketing partner this weekend at the Gatornationals.
Based in Jacksonville, Fla., the popular burger company is more than burgers. During the Gatornationals, DSR hospitality guests were treated to BUBBA's Choice Beef Sirloin filets wrapped with Applewood bacon, Center Cut Pork Loin Chops wrapped with Applewood bacon and its newest product, BUBBA's BBQ.
All are being exquisitely prepared by DSR chef Malcolm Clark.
BUBBA burger® has grown throughout the Southeast in both retail and foodservice channels since it the company and products were developed by Walter "Bubba" Eaves. Eaves Foods Inc. started by marketing its burger line in the early 1990s.
Bubba invented a unique production process that allows the BUBBA burger® to be cooked from a frozen state and still remain juicy and flavorful
BUBBA burger® products are sold nationwide as well as worldwide through the U.S. Military Commissary system, and this month will enter Canadian markets.
The BUBBA burger® is the No. 1 Branded Frozen burger in the United States.
GATORNATIONALS NITRO SCHEDULE (All times EDT)
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations
NHRA ON ESPN2 (All times EDT)
Sunday: 1:30 a.m., 8 a.m. (re-air) qualifying; 7 p.m. eliminations
WEATHER.COM FOR GAINESVILLE
Sunday: High 80; 0 percent chance of rain
More...
Gray, Hagan Nos. 2-3 in Funny Car for DSR at Gatornationals
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2013) - Antron Brown in Top Fuel and Johnny Gray in Funny Car lead Don Schumacher Racing into Sunday's championship eliminations in the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.
Brown saved his best run for his last of four qualifying sessions and briefly held the No. 1 qualifying position until Doug Kalitta bumped him to No. 2 for the second consecutive event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Brown's 3.787-second run at 324.20 mph in the last session moved him to No.1, but he was bumped to No. 2 when Kalitta followed with an elapsed time of 3.779 (326.32) on a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures in the high 70s and more of the same is expected for eliminations that begin at 11 a.m.
Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher of the U.S. Army qualified No. 5 and Spencer Massey in the Battery Extender powered by Schumacher dragster will start No. 6 for DSR.
In Funny Car, Johnny Gray and the Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T led the four DSR teams by qualifying No. 2 with a best run for 4.071 (313.22). Hagan's Magneti Marelli Dodge is seeded third with a best run of 4.084 (308.99).
DSR teammates Ron Capps in the NAPA Filters Dodge qualified sixth and reigning world champion Jack Beckman, who qualified 11th in the Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge, will meet in the opening round.
The following are qualifying results from Friday and Saturday heading to Sunday's championship eliminations other notes:
TOP FUEL
No. 1 qualifier: Doug Kalitta (Kalitta Motorsports) 3.779, 326.32 mph
Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster
Qualifying position: No. 2
First-round opponent: Larry Dixon
FRIDAY
Session 1: 5.533 sec., 121.72 mph
Session 2: 3.812, 321.88
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.847, 315.34
Session 4: 3.787, 324.20
Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster
Qualifying position: No. 5
First-round opponent: Khalid alBalooshi
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.314 sec., 186.56 mph
Session 2: 3.849, 321.65
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.819, 323.89
Session 4: 3.836, 318.69
Spencer Massey, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher
Qualifying position: No. 6
First-round opponent: David Grubnic
FRIDAY
Session 1: 3.821 sec., 322.65 mph
Session 2: 3.834, 322.73
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.847, 315.45
Session 4: 3.844, 321.35
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing) 4.047 sec., 296.05 mph
Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 2
First-round opponent: Jeff Arend
FRIDAY
Session 1: 7.761 sec., 7.06 mph
Session 2: 4.071, 313.22
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.079, 308.07
Session 4: 7.786, 76.08
Matt Hagan, Magneti Marelli by Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 3
First-round opponent: Bob Tasca III
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.140 sec., 296.24 mph
Session 2: 4.114, 302.89
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.084, 308.99
Session 4: 6.457, 99.44
Ron Capps, NAPA Filters Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 6
First-round opponent: Jack Beckman
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.589 sec., 176.01 mph
Session 2: 4.115, 304.94
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.901, 159.95
Session 4: 5.295, 138.53
Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge
Qualifying position: No. 11
First-round opponent: Ron Capps
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.122 sec., 302.55 mph
Session 2: 4.144, 286.62
SATURDAY
Session 3: 5.943, 113.35
Session 4: 5.277, 138.40
GOING FOR 200
Sunday at the Gatornationals, Don Schumacher Racing can reach the milestone of getting its 200th NHRA national event title.
DSR drivers Ron Capps and Tony Schumacher won respective Top Fuel and Funny Car titles at the last race near Phoenix to push the total to 198.
Two of the seven DSR teams in the Gatornationals would need to repeat the double-up to reach 200. That isn't farfetched considering DSR has won at least two titles at the same event 35 times since the organization based near Indianapolis began fielding more than one team in 2001.
DSR also is the only organization in NHRA history to have won event titles in each of the series' four pro categories.
BUBBA burger® JOINS DSR
BUBBA burger® joins Don Schumacher Racing as a marketing partner this weekend at the Gatornationals.
Based in Jacksonville, Fla., the popular burger company is more than burgers. During the Gatornationals, DSR hospitality guests were treated to BUBBA's Choice Beef Sirloin filets wrapped with Applewood bacon, Center Cut Pork Loin Chops wrapped with Applewood bacon and its newest product, BUBBA's BBQ.
All are being exquisitely prepared by DSR chef Malcolm Clark.
BUBBA burger® has grown throughout the Southeast in both retail and foodservice channels since it the company and products were developed by Walter "Bubba" Eaves. Eaves Foods Inc. started by marketing its burger line in the early 1990s.
Bubba invented a unique production process that allows the BUBBA burger® to be cooked from a frozen state and still remain juicy and flavorful
BUBBA burger® products are sold nationwide as well as worldwide through the U.S. Military Commissary system, and this month will enter Canadian markets.
The BUBBA burger® is the No. 1 Branded Frozen burger in the United States.
GATORNATIONALS NITRO SCHEDULE (All times EDT)
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations
NHRA ON ESPN2 (All times EDT)
Sunday: 1:30 a.m., 8 a.m. (re-air) qualifying; 7 p.m. eliminations
WEATHER.COM FOR GAINESVILLE
Sunday: High 80; 0 percent chance of rain
More...
