MOHNTON, Pa. – Tommy Johnson, Jr. raced to the Funny Car victory at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway on Sunday.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious in their respective categories at the 21st event of 24 on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. The Dodge NHRA Nationals is the third race of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Johnson, Jr. powered to a 3.895-second pass at 330.63 mph in the final round to defeat teammate and points leader Ron Capps’ 3.911 at 324.12. Johnson. Jr., who has raced to the final round in all three NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship events, claimed his 14th career victory, second of the season and first at Maple Grove Raceway. He is second in the points trailing Capps by only 24. Johnson, Jr. beat Cruz Pedregon, Mike Smith and Jack Beckman en route to his fifth final round of the season.
“You want to have a strong start in the Countdown, we knew that going into it,” said Johnson Jr., who was runner-up at this event in 2014. “We went from seventh to fourth in Charlotte – a runner-up is good – then we went to St. Louis and got a another runner-up and went to second, and I said I’d be happy with four more runner-ups, but when you look in the other lane and it’s Capps, who’s leading the points, it’s a must-win. You’ve got to gain some ground.”
Capps outlasted Alexis DeJoria, Tim Wilkerson and No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan in the earlier rounds.
Jack Beckman is third in points and is followed by Hagan in fourth, reigning world champ Del Worsham in fifth and 16-time Funny Car world champ John Force in sixth.
In Top Fuel, Brown raced to a 3.721 at 317.34 to beat Brittany Force’s 3.721 at 324.67. Brown had a better reaction time and won on a holeshot. The defending and two-time world champion tallied his 60th career win, sixth of the season and second consecutive at Maple Grove. Brown held on to his first-place standing in Top Fuel with the win. He raced past J.R. Todd, Clay Millican and Shawn Langdon in the earlier rounds.
“St. Louis didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, and there’s still plenty of time left in this championship race,” said Brown, who was knocked out in the first round last weekend. “There’s three more races left and we’re going to have to fight hard. Ain’t nobody going to give you the championship.”
Force outlasted Larry Dixon, who was making his first appearance of the season, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pritchett en route to the final round.
Kalitta, in second place, trails Brown by 77 points, while Force is in third, Langdon is in fourth and eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher is fifth.
Nobile earned his first victory of 2016 by posting a 6.575 at 209.85 to defeat seven-time 2016 event winner Greg Anderson’s 6.582 at 210.37. Nobile entered the event with two-runner up finishes on the season and ended a 56-race drought with the win. It marks the 10th victory of his career and first at Reading. Nobile, who qualified No. 1, moved to third in the Pro Stock points standings behind Jason Line and Anderson, respectively. He beat Drew Skillman, back-to-back and reigning world champion Erica Enders and Shane Gray before meeting Anderson in the final.
“It was a big day for Mountain View Racing and NAPA Auto Parts,” said Nobile. “We got the Chevrolet in the winner’s circle, and I’m semi-speechless. We turned it around right at the right time. Don’t get me wrong, at the beginning of the year we were like, ‘Give us our carburetors back.’ It certainly was a pain in the butt, not necessarily for me as a driver but for the crew chiefs and the guys working on the car.”
Anderson qualified second and knocked down five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin, John Gaydosh and teammate Line in the earlier rounds.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec rode to a 6.818 at 193.88 to outlast rookie Cory Reed’s 6.958 at 186.43 in the final round. This is Krawiec’s 35th career victory, fourth of 2016 and fourth at Maple Grove Raceway. The three-time world champion started the weekend fifth in points and moved up to second behind teammate Andrew Hines. Krawiec rode past Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer and LE Tonglet to make it to the final round.
“My main goal this weekend here was to come win,” Krawiec said. “If you win races in the Countdown, you’re going to be fighting for the championship when you get to Pomona. This was a big day for all of our team actually, Andrew and myself getting past the first round. When you draw Angelle and Chip Ellis in round one, you don’t say, ‘Well, this should be easy. This should be no problem this weekend.’ For me, I was on a mission first round because I knew if I went past first round I could keep the momentum and keep it rolling.”
Reed beat fellow rookie Melissa Surber, Hector Arana and reigning world champ Hines in the earlier rounds.
Sampey is third in points and followed by Chip Ellis and Jerry Savoie in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Champion continues Oct. 13-16 with the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Maple Grove Raceway – Mohnton, PA
Dodge NHRA Nationals – Oct. 2, 2016
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL
1. Antron Brown; 2. Brittany Force; 3. Leah Pritchett; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Clay Millican; 6.Dom Lagana; 7. Steve Torrence; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Larry Dixon; 12. Richie Crampton; 13. Smax Smith; 14. Ike Maier; 15. Shawn Reed; 16. Scott Palmer.
FUNNY CAR
1. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Del Worsham; 6. John Bojec; 7. Mike Smith; 8. Tim Wilkerson; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Chad Head; 11. Alexis DeJoria; 12. Courtney Force; 13. John Force; 14. Robert Hight; 15. John Hale; 16. Jim Campbell.
PRO STOCK
1. Vincent Nobile; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Jason Line; 4. Shane Gray; 5. Erica Enders; 6. John Gaydosh Jr; 7. Alan Prusiensky; 8. Chris McGaha; 9. Alex Laughlin; 10. Jeg Coughlin; 11. Bo Butner; 12. Kenny Delco; 13. Matt Hartford; 14. Drew Skillman; 15. Allen Johnson; 16. Val Smeland.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Cory Reed; 3. LE Tonglet; 4. Andrew Hines; 5. Hector Arana; 6. Jerry Savoie; 7. Karen Stoffer; 8. Matt Smith; 9. Hector Arana Jr; 10. Angelle Sampey; 11. Angie Smith; 12. Melissa Surber; 13. John Hall; 14. Joey Gladstone; 15. Scotty Pollacheck; 16. Chip Ellis.
Sunday’s Final Results
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.721 seconds, 317.34 mph def. Brittany Force, 3.721 seconds, 324.67 mph.
Funny Car — Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.895, 330.63 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.911, 324.12.
Pro Stock — Vincent Nobile, Chevy Camaro, 6.575, 209.85 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.582, 210.37.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.818, 193.88 def. Cory Reed, Buell, 6.958, 186.43.
Final Round-By-Round Results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 3.749, 319.07 def. Scott Palmer, 9.739, 84.33; Steve Torrence, 3.691, 326.08 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.700, 325.85; Brittany Force, 3.728, 324.20 def. Larry Dixon, 3.760, 326.71; Dom Lagana, 3.774, 323.97 def. Richie Crampton, 3.778, 319.98; Leah Pritchett, 3.721, 329.42 def. Shawn Reed, 4.624, 209.07; Antron Brown, 3.715, 327.98 def. J.R. Todd, 3.748, 329.26; Shawn Langdon, 3.715, 328.46 def. Smax Smith, Foul – Red Light; Doug Kalitta, 3.728, 328.78 def. Ike Maier, 4.159, 288.39; QUARTERFINALS — Force, 17.366, 81.36 def. Kalitta, Foul – Red Light; Brown, 3.688, 328.62 def. Millican, 3.704, 325.30; Langdon, 3.735, 330.31 def. Lagana, 3.798, 290.76; Pritchett, 3.701, 325.45 def. Torrence, 3.848, 324.75; SEMIFINALS — Force, 3.731, 325.06 def. Pritchett, 10.304, 80.50; Brown, 6.022, 255.68 def. Langdon, Broke; FINAL — Brown, 3.721, 317.34 def. Force, 3.721, 324.67.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.872, 330.80 def. Chad Head, Toyota Camry, 5.819, 134.48; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.144, 309.84 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 7.408, 82.72; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.909, 327.27 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.159, 257.58; Del Worsham, Camry, 5.020, 194.24 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 7.836, 86.56; Mike Smith, Dodge Stratus, 4.692, 221.49 def. John Hale, Charger, 8.538, 74.48; John Bojec, Toyota Solara, 4.091, 312.71 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 7.585, 87.91; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 5.367, 280.25 def. Robert Hight, Camaro, 8.245, 92.84; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.112, 325.22 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 16.036, 28.69; QUARTERFINALS — Capps, 3.898, 325.61 def. Wilkerson, 5.865, 122.12; Beckman, 3.850, 332.26 def. Worsham, 3.907, 329.83; Johnson Jr., 4.025, 325.37 def. Smith, 5.608, 129.58; Hagan, 3.869, 332.75 def. Bojec, 4.174, 289.51; SEMIFINALS — Capps, 3.893, 327.66 def. Hagan, 3.893, 333.58; Johnson Jr., 3.892, 328.94 def. Beckman, 3.899, 327.51; FINAL — Johnson Jr., 3.895, 330.63 def. Capps, 3.911, 324.12.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Erica Enders, Dodge Dart, 6.644, 207.34 def. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.647, 209.43; Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.689, 206.16 def. Allen Johnson, Dart, 11.170, 61.04; John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.697, 206.67 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.816, 195.93; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.600, 209.95 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.595, 210.21 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.600, 209.72; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.579, 210.54 def. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.629, 208.17; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.559, 210.87 def. Val Smeland, Chevy Cobalt, Broke; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.569, 211.00 def. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 11.025, 78.25; QUARTERFINALS — Gray, 6.590, 208.75 def. McGaha, 6.727, 180.55; Anderson, 6.578, 209.62 def. Gaydosh Jr, Foul – Red Light; Nobile, 6.600, 209.88 def. Enders, Foul – Red Light; Line, 6.578, 210.31 def. Prusiensky, 6.685, 206.26; SEMIFINALS — Nobile, 6.581, 210.37 def. Gray, 6.649, 209.36; Anderson, 6.576, 210.54 def. Line, Foul – Red Light; FINAL — Nobile, 6.575, 209.85 def. Anderson, 6.582, 210.37.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE — Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.953, 192.71 def. John Hall, Buell, 6.989, 189.87; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.928, 194.86 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.913, 195.79 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 10.617, 76.45; Cory Reed, Buell, 6.866, 192.60 def. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.950, 189.66; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.760, 196.19 def. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.863, 193.18; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.846, 195.93 def. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 7.069, 192.03; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.772, 196.87 def. Chip Ellis, Buell, Broke; Matt Smith, 6.876, 193.88 def. Angie Smith, 6.944, 189.71; QUARTERFINALS — Reed, 6.913, 188.73 def. Arana, 6.899, 195.25; Tonglet, 6.838, 195.48 def. M. Smith, 10.345, 80.13; Hines, 6.794, 196.36 def. Savoie, 6.908, 194.60; Krawiec, 6.774, 194.16 def. Stoffer, 8.653, 100.66; SEMIFINALS — Reed, 6.909, 187.96 def. Hines, 6.856, 194.24; Krawiec, 6.783, 195.11 def. Tonglet, 6.835, 195.99; FINAL — Krawiec, 6.818, 193.88 def. Reed, 6.958, 186.43.
Point Standings (Top 10)
Top Fuel
1. Antron Brown, 2,377; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,300; 3. Brittany Force, 2,259; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,258; 5. Tony Schumacher, 2,236; 6. Steve Torrence, 2,214; 7. Leah Pritchett, 2,188; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,183; 9. Richie Crampton, 2,159; 10. Clay Millican, 2,136.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 2,368; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,344; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,275; 4. Matt Hagan, 2,258; 5. Del Worsham, 2,246; 6. John Force, 2,230; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 2,196; 8. Robert Hight, 2,193; 9. Courtney Force, 2,182; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 2,099.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 2,389; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,344; 3. Vincent Nobile, 2,306; 4. Bo Butner, 2,256; 5. Shane Gray, 2,242; 6. Chris McGaha, 2,189; 7. Allen Johnson, 2,160; 8. Drew Skillman, 2,157; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 2,115; 10. Erica Enders, 2,104.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Andrew Hines, 2,341; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,303; 3. Angelle Sampey, 2,289; 4. Chip Ellis, 2,274; 5. Jerry Savoie, 2,271; 6. LE Tonglet, 2,215; 7. Cory Reed, 2,196; 8. Hector Arana, 2,159; 9. Matt Smith, 2,150; 10. Hector Arana Jr, 2,149.
