POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2013) - Don Schumacher Racing advances two of its seven teams into the championship round of Sunday's NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Southern California.
Although Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army team advanced to the Top Fuel final, and Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team made it to the championship round, most talk was about a big crash in the second round by DSR's Antron Brown only a few feet past the finish line after he won to advance to the semifinals.
The crash, which resulted from an engine explosion, forced Antron's Matco Tools to withdraw because NHRA rules mandate a driver must finish elimination rounds in the car he started with.
But all that mattered was Brown was able to walk away from the highlight-reel crash without any injuries due to NHRA standards and a year-old enclosed safety canopy designed by DSR and manufactured by Aerodine Composites of Indianapolis.
"The windshield is five-eighths-of-an-inch thick. Nothing got to me," Brown said. "When I hit the sand trap (at the end of the pavement), I saw stones flying all over the place, but I didn't get dusty, nothing got into me. It really, really did its job.
"I remember turning the fresh air on because the (nitro) fumes were getting to me. Thank God that canopy is on our car because when we hit that sand trap it really kept everything away from me and the fire away from me."
When Brown had to forfeit the semifinals, he was paired with Schumacher and ended up with a bye-run to a final round match-up against Shawn Langdon of Al-Anabi Racing. Schumacher, who was the No. 1 qualifier, produced a run of 3.747 seconds at 324.12 but fell a little short to Langdon's 3.721 (322.27) that was the quickest run of the four-day event.
In Funny Car, Capps was paired against Courtney Force in the final round but Force posted the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend at 4.025 (317.22) while the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T overpowered the track and lost traction and slowed to a 6.090 (116.32).
"Any time you get to the championship round you expect to win, but Courtney just had the better car on that run," Ron said. "She is going to be tough all year, but I know I wouldn't want to have to race our NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge."
The best Funny Car on Sunday until the semifinals was Johnny Gray's DSR Pitch Energy Dodge that was quickest car in the first and second rounds with runs of 4.056 (314.31) and 4.038 (307.72), respectively. He faced Capps in the semis and ran a stout 4.056 (301.07) but Capps was a little quicker at 4.036 (316.23)
DSR teams, include Brown's Matco unit, will compete next weekend in the NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix.
The following are DSR results from the Winternationals:
TOP FUEL
Event winner: Shawn Langdon (Al-Anabi Racing) No. 1 qualifier: Tony Schumacher (DSR), 3.753 seconds, 328.14 mph (Saturday)
Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster
Qualified: No. 1
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: SCHUMACHER (3.756 sec., 326.40 mph) def. Sidnei Frigo (3.849, 317.57) 2nd round: SCHUMACHER (6.465, 96.17) def. Steve Torrence (3.782, 324.28)
Semifinals: SCHUMACHER (6.465, 96.17) def. Anton Brown, forfeit after car destroyed in previous round.
Final: Shawn Langdon (3.721, 322.27) def. SCHUMACHER (3.747, 324.12)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 3.777 sec., 326.08 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.758, 328.14
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 6.240, 101.50
Session 4: 3.753, 324.05
Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster
Qualified: No. 4
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: BROWN (3.855 sec., 293.60) def. Larry Dixon (3.881, 310.34) 2nd round: BROWN (3.848, 308.64) def. David Grubnic (4.976, 139.07)
Semifinals: BROWN forfeited to Tony Schumacher after Brown's car destroyed in second-round crash
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 3.834 sec., 322.19 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.768, 328.14
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 6.451, 98.56
Session 4: 3.841, 319.98
Spencer Massey, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: Steve Torrence (3.787 sec., 322.81 mph) def. MASSEY (3.763, 326.63)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 6.160 sec., 103.54 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.827, 318.17
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 3.793, 323.97
Session 4: 3.806, 308.28
FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Courtney Force (John Force Racing No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (JFR), 4.036, 318.24 (Saturday)
Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: CAPPS (4.108 sec., 313.58 mph) def. John Force (4.119, 313.07) 2nd round: CAPPS (4.251, 241.84) def. Gary Densham (5.808, 105.41)
Semifinals: CAPPS (4.036, 316.23) def. Johnny Gray (4.056, 301.07)
Final: Courtney Force (4.025, 317.72) def. CAPPS (6.090, 116.32)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 5.115 sec, 146.91 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.102, 314.53
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.073, 311.92
Session 4: 4.433, 204.70
Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 7
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: GRAY (4.056 sec., 314.31) def. Alexis DeJoria (6.255, 107.43) 2nd round: GRAY (4.038, 307.72) def. Todd Lesenko (4.202, 307.30)
Semifinals: Ron Capps (4.036, 316.23) def. GRAY (4.056, 301.07
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.081 sec., 308.78 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.085, 308.28
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.440, 201.88
Session 4: 4.092, 309.77
Matt Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: HAGAN (4.346 sec., 227.84 mph) def. Tim Wilkerson, redlight 2nd round: Courtney Force (4.070, 312.64) def. HAGAN (5.668, 140.31)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.097 sec., 304.46 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 8.309, 78.22
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.121, 308.07
Session 4: 4.141, 309.20
Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 2
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: Todd Lesenko (5.013 sec., 176.33) def. BECKMAN (5.457, 149.45)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.148 sec., 309.13 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.045, 316.17
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 5.374, 135.17
Session 4: 4.048, 317.05
From: Jeff Wolf
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Although Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army team advanced to the Top Fuel final, and Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team made it to the championship round, most talk was about a big crash in the second round by DSR's Antron Brown only a few feet past the finish line after he won to advance to the semifinals.
The crash, which resulted from an engine explosion, forced Antron's Matco Tools to withdraw because NHRA rules mandate a driver must finish elimination rounds in the car he started with.
But all that mattered was Brown was able to walk away from the highlight-reel crash without any injuries due to NHRA standards and a year-old enclosed safety canopy designed by DSR and manufactured by Aerodine Composites of Indianapolis.
"The windshield is five-eighths-of-an-inch thick. Nothing got to me," Brown said. "When I hit the sand trap (at the end of the pavement), I saw stones flying all over the place, but I didn't get dusty, nothing got into me. It really, really did its job.
"I remember turning the fresh air on because the (nitro) fumes were getting to me. Thank God that canopy is on our car because when we hit that sand trap it really kept everything away from me and the fire away from me."
When Brown had to forfeit the semifinals, he was paired with Schumacher and ended up with a bye-run to a final round match-up against Shawn Langdon of Al-Anabi Racing. Schumacher, who was the No. 1 qualifier, produced a run of 3.747 seconds at 324.12 but fell a little short to Langdon's 3.721 (322.27) that was the quickest run of the four-day event.
In Funny Car, Capps was paired against Courtney Force in the final round but Force posted the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend at 4.025 (317.22) while the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T overpowered the track and lost traction and slowed to a 6.090 (116.32).
"Any time you get to the championship round you expect to win, but Courtney just had the better car on that run," Ron said. "She is going to be tough all year, but I know I wouldn't want to have to race our NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge."
The best Funny Car on Sunday until the semifinals was Johnny Gray's DSR Pitch Energy Dodge that was quickest car in the first and second rounds with runs of 4.056 (314.31) and 4.038 (307.72), respectively. He faced Capps in the semis and ran a stout 4.056 (301.07) but Capps was a little quicker at 4.036 (316.23)
DSR teams, include Brown's Matco unit, will compete next weekend in the NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix.
The following are DSR results from the Winternationals:
TOP FUEL
Event winner: Shawn Langdon (Al-Anabi Racing) No. 1 qualifier: Tony Schumacher (DSR), 3.753 seconds, 328.14 mph (Saturday)
Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster
Qualified: No. 1
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: SCHUMACHER (3.756 sec., 326.40 mph) def. Sidnei Frigo (3.849, 317.57) 2nd round: SCHUMACHER (6.465, 96.17) def. Steve Torrence (3.782, 324.28)
Semifinals: SCHUMACHER (6.465, 96.17) def. Anton Brown, forfeit after car destroyed in previous round.
Final: Shawn Langdon (3.721, 322.27) def. SCHUMACHER (3.747, 324.12)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 3.777 sec., 326.08 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.758, 328.14
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 6.240, 101.50
Session 4: 3.753, 324.05
Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster
Qualified: No. 4
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: BROWN (3.855 sec., 293.60) def. Larry Dixon (3.881, 310.34) 2nd round: BROWN (3.848, 308.64) def. David Grubnic (4.976, 139.07)
Semifinals: BROWN forfeited to Tony Schumacher after Brown's car destroyed in second-round crash
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 3.834 sec., 322.19 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.768, 328.14
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 6.451, 98.56
Session 4: 3.841, 319.98
Spencer Massey, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: Steve Torrence (3.787 sec., 322.81 mph) def. MASSEY (3.763, 326.63)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 6.160 sec., 103.54 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 3.827, 318.17
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 3.793, 323.97
Session 4: 3.806, 308.28
FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Courtney Force (John Force Racing No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (JFR), 4.036, 318.24 (Saturday)
Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: CAPPS (4.108 sec., 313.58 mph) def. John Force (4.119, 313.07) 2nd round: CAPPS (4.251, 241.84) def. Gary Densham (5.808, 105.41)
Semifinals: CAPPS (4.036, 316.23) def. Johnny Gray (4.056, 301.07)
Final: Courtney Force (4.025, 317.72) def. CAPPS (6.090, 116.32)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 5.115 sec, 146.91 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.102, 314.53
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.073, 311.92
Session 4: 4.433, 204.70
Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 7
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: GRAY (4.056 sec., 314.31) def. Alexis DeJoria (6.255, 107.43) 2nd round: GRAY (4.038, 307.72) def. Todd Lesenko (4.202, 307.30)
Semifinals: Ron Capps (4.036, 316.23) def. GRAY (4.056, 301.07
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.081 sec., 308.78 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.085, 308.28
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.440, 201.88
Session 4: 4.092, 309.77
Matt Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: HAGAN (4.346 sec., 227.84 mph) def. Tim Wilkerson, redlight 2nd round: Courtney Force (4.070, 312.64) def. HAGAN (5.668, 140.31)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.097 sec., 304.46 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 8.309, 78.22
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.121, 308.07
Session 4: 4.141, 309.20
Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 2
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
1st round: Todd Lesenko (5.013 sec., 176.33) def. BECKMAN (5.457, 149.45)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.148 sec., 309.13 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.045, 316.17
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 5.374, 135.17
Session 4: 4.048, 317.05
From: Jeff Wolf
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