Tony Schumacher raced to his 80th-career national event win and into the points lead with a victory in Sunday’s final round of the 18th annual Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
Tommy Johnson Jr., joined his Don Schumacher Racing teammate in the Winner’s Circle with a victory in the Funny Car final giving DSR their fifth Top Fuel-Funny Car sweep this season. Allen Johnson won out in the Pro Stock division while Hector Arana, Jr. was the winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Schumacher, an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, picked up his third Wally of the season with a win over longtime rival Larry Dixon in their 20th-career final-round face off, running 3.844 at 320.20 mph to beat out Dixon who went up in flames before making it to the finish.
Schumacher had entered the day as the second qualifying behind teammate Antron Brown after just missing the pole on Saturday, and picked up elimination wins over T.J. Zizzo, J.R. Todd and Dave Connolly to reach fifth final round of the season and his second this year against Dixon, who lost out at Epping, NH last month.
Sunday’s win pushed Schumacher past Brown in the points standings, giving him a 20-point advantage.
“That was a fun race,” said Schumacher. “Our crews are so good and win so many races. There are no easy races. Just proud to be in the position we’re in. When we’ve had to win and it positively had to be done, we’ve been great at that. You have to be great every day and you have to be better than that some days.”
Tommy Johnson, Jr. scored his first Funny Car win in over a year with a final-round takedown of teammate and series points leader Matt Hagan.
Johnson made it just his second final round of the year with wins over Brian Stewart, Jack Beckman and top qualifier Cruz Pedregon to face Hagan in the finals at Chicago for the second year in a row.
Hagan, the winner of the last two races here, was 4-0 coming into Sunday’s final, but saw his winning streak broken right at the start as his tires went up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle, giving Johnson a clear run for his 11th career victory.
“The days you win, you get up and you feel it,” said Johnson, Jr. “I woke up this morning feeling like we were the car to beat. We’ve had a really good car, a really good performance but we couldn’t get it to go our way and we kind of beat ourselves a couple of times with mistakes. I’ve got to hand it to our guys. They kept working. The last two races in qualifying the car has been flawless.”
The victory moved Johnson, Jr. up to sixth in the standings, while Hagan extended his points lead to 178 over teammate Ron Capps.
Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson beat out Larry Morgan in the final round to score his first win of the season and the 25th of his career, breaking a nearly year-long winless drought.
Johnson defeated Bo Butner, Chris McGaha and Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson to advance to his third final round in the last five races – losing his previous two at the hands of Anderson.
Facing each other in the finals for the first time, Johnson was first out of the gate and ran wire to wire for the victory as Morgan started to break loose toward the end, turning in a time of 6.624 seconds at 209.88 over Morgan’s 6.667, 210.18.
“The team has really been digging these last three or four races and we pretty much got a handle on all the issues that have plagued us the first half of the year,” said Johnson. “I think we had a better car the last couple of races but just showed bad luck. Today we were able to make consistent runs and even when the heat came out there in the final and was able to pull of the win.”
Johnson moved up two spots to fifth in the points standings while Anderson’s semi-final loss allowed him to open up a little bit bigger margin on Erica Enders-Stevens, who now trails by 66 points.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana, Jr. beat out Matt Smith with a come-from-behind victory in the final to pick up his first win of the season and his second in a row at Chicago.
Having not made it past the semi-finals in any of the five previous races this season, Arana, Jr. had luck on his side in Sunday’s eliminations, setting low ET of the opening round with a win over LE Tonglet, then picking up a holeshot win over Jerry Savoie and a red-light victory over Chaz Kennedy to finally reach the final.
Taking on Smith in the finals for the third time, Arana, Jr. fell behind at the start but tracked down Smith at the 1000-foot mark to get the win light, running 6.918 seconds at 194.66 mph over Smith’s 6.957, 190.24.
Arana, Jr.’s tenth-career victory moves him up to second in the points standings, 16 points behind Eddie Krawiec.
“This is one of my favorite tracks,” said Arana, Jr. “We had the bike and I knew we had the bike all weekend but we couldn’t get it to leave the line well and we finally figured it out for the last session. We made a change and we felt good about it so we didn’t change anything for the first round and from then on out we didn’t touch it. We just went consistently down the track.”
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Route 66 Raceway – Joliet, IL
Lucsa Oil Route 66 Nationals – July 12, 2015
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL
1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Dave Connolly; 4. Antron Brown; 5. Steve Torrence; 6. Pat Dakin; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8. J.R. Todd; 9. Richie Crampton; 10. Spencer Massey; 11. Shawn Langdon; 12. Terry McMillen; 13. Brittany Force; 14. Leah Pritchett; 15. T.J. Zizzo; 16. Luigi Novelli.
FUNNY CAR
1. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. Tim Wilkerson; 4. Cruz Pedregon; 5. Jack Beckman; 6. John Force; 7. Tony Pedregon; 8. Del Worsham; 9. Robert Hight; 10. Alexis DeJoria; 11. Ron Capps; 12. John Hale; 13. Courtney Force; 14. Bob Bode; 15. Chad Head; 16. Brian Stewart.
PRO STOCK
1. Allen Johnson; 2. Larry Morgan; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Chris McGaha; 6. Vincent Nobile; 7. Rodger Brogdon; 8. Drew Skillman; 9. Shane Gray; 10. Jason Line; 11. Jonathan Gray; 12. Bo Butner; 13. Dave River; 14. Kevin Lawrence; 15. Mark Hogan; 16. V. Gaines.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Hector Arana Jr; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Chaz Kennedy; 4. Chip Ellis; 5. Jerry Savoie; 6. Angelle Sampey; 7. Eddie Krawiec; 8. Andrew Hines; 9. Hector Arana; 10. LE Tonglet; 11. Karen Stoffer; 12. Jim Underdahl; 13. Shawn Gann; 14. Steve Johnson; 15. Eddie Reed; 16. Angie Smith.
Sunday’s Final Results
Top Fuel — Tony Schumacher, 3.844 seconds, 320.20 mph def. Larry Dixon, 3.932 seconds, 298.93 mph.
Funny Car — Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.259, 245.27 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 12.646, 73.08.
Pro Stock — Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.624, 209.88 def. Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.667, 210.18.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.918, 194.66 def. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.957, 190.24.
Final Round-By-Round Results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, 3.738, 326.71 def. Leah Pritchett, broke; Doug Kalitta, 3.784, 316.23 def.Spencer Massey, 3.866, 260.66; Pat Dakin, 10.243, 64.69 def. Brittany Force, foul; Tony Schumacher, 3.787, 324.36 def. T.J. Zizzo, broke; Antron Brown, 3.788, 319.98 def. Luigi Novelli, broke; Steve Torrence, 3.844, 321.42 def. Terry McMillen, 4.377, 196.02; Larry Dixon, 3.810, 325.53 def. Shawn Langdon, 4.192, 303.37; Dave Connolly, 3.810, 322.81 def. Richie Crampton, 3.835, 320.58;
QUARTERFINALS — Connolly, 3.843, 323.74 def. Dakin, 3.995, 295.66; Dixon, 3.894, 320.43 def. Torrence, 3.902, 278.92; Schumacher, 5.375, 271.08 def. Todd, 9.982, 76.79; Brown, 3.817, 319.29 def. Kalitta, 4.000, 297.09; SEMIFINALS — Schumacher, 3.846, 320.89 def. Connolly, 3.831, 323.12; Dixon, 3.880, 322.34 def.Brown, 4.121, 226.43;
FINAL — Schumacher, 3.844, 320.20 def. Dixon, 3.932, 298.93.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.421, 241.71 def. Bob Bode, Toyota Camry, 9.222, 53.15; Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.173, 271.52 def. Chad Head, Camry, 11.352, 63.19; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.102, 308.21 def. Brian Stewart, Mustang, DQ; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.090, 303.03 def.John Hale, Charger, 5.451, 133.29; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.056, 302.82 def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 5.716, 127.88; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.044, 314.17 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.941, 164.17; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.091, 311.99 def. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.070, 316.45; John Force, Camaro, 4.107, 316.08 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.087, 312.06;
QUARTERFINALS — Wilkerson, 4.032, 315.34 def. Worsham, 5.912, 163.43; C. Pedregon, 4.077, 316.30 def. J. Force, 4.142, 310.98; Johnson Jr., 4.068, 305.22 def. Beckman, 4.108, 308.99; Hagan, 4.104,311.27 def. T. Pedregon, 4.774, 159.70;
SEMIFINALS — Johnson Jr., 4.101, 305.08 def. C. Pedregon, 4.116, 299.53; Hagan, 4.127, 281.13 def.Wilkerson, 4.098, 312.57;
FINAL — Johnson Jr., 4.259, 245.27 def. Hagan, 12.646, 73.08.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.599, 210.28 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.610, 210.41; Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.602, 209.82 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.634, 209.56; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.607, 209.04 def. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.624, 209.07; Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.608,209.65 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.612, 209.17; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.593, 210.01 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 18.683, 40.35; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.575, 210.34 def. Dave River, Chevy Cobalt, 6.707, 205.76; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.626, 209.14 def. Mark Hogan, Pontiac GXP, 6.813, 203.25; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.589, 210.31 def. Kevin Lawrence, Cobalt, 6.712, 205.88;
QUARTERFINALS — Morgan, 6.608, 209.75 def. Skillman, 6.701, 208.39; Enders, 6.608, 209.82 def. Brogdon, 6.624, 209.52; Johnson, 6.606, 209.62 def. McGaha, 6.596, 210.28; Anderson, 6.604, 209.98 def. Nobile, 6.621, 209.46; SEMIFINALS — Morgan, 6.630, 209.88 def. Enders, 6.625, 209.36; Johnson, 6.605, 209.88 def. Anderson, 6.588, 210.08;
FINAL — Johnson, 6.624, 209.88 def. Morgan, 6.667, 210.18.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.921, 194.07 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.095, 189.66; Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.984, 192.71 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.990, 188.33; Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 7.016,189.50 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.973, 191.73; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.895, 195.82 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.984, 191.02; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.925, 190.97 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.040, 190.73; Matt Smith, 7.008, 187.94 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.985, 191.16; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.961, 190.16 def. Eddie Reed, Suzuki, 7.096, 185.36; Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.909, 193.65 def. Angie Smith, 7.165, 186.82;
QUARTERFINALS — Kennedy, 6.996, 190.62 def. Hines, 7.052, 190.16; M. Smith, 6.989, 189.36 def. Krawiec, 7.016, 192.14; Ellis, 6.917, 190.57 def. Sampey, 6.966, 191.81; Arana Jr, 6.910, 195.62 def. Savoie, 6.896, 194.46; SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.977, 188.28 def. Ellis, broke; Arana Jr, 6.932, 195.39 def. Kennedy, foul;
FINAL — Arana Jr, 6.918, 194.66 def. M. Smith, 6.957, 190.24.
Point Standings (Top 10)
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 1,028; 2. Antron Brown, 1,008; 3. Larry Dixon, 848; 4. Doug Kalitta, 844; 5. Richie Crampton, 796; 6. Spencer Massey, 752; 7. Shawn Langdon, 696; 8. Brittany Force, 681; 9. J.R. Todd, 651; 10. Steve Torrence, 609.
Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 1,024; 2. Ron Capps, 846; 3. (tie) Jack Beckman, 835; Del Worsham, 835; 5. John Force, 801; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 798; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 728; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 722; 9. Robert Hight, 667; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 658.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,148; 2. Erica Enders, 1,082; 3. Jason Line, 934; 4. Chris McGaha, 891; 5. Allen Johnson, 736; 6. Drew Skillman, 727; 7. Larry Morgan, 723; 8. Vincent Nobile, 649; 9. Shane Gray, 648; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 632.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 452; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 436; 3. Andrew Hines, 404; 4. Karen Stoffer, 382; 5. Angelle Sampey, 336; 6. Hector Arana, 324; 7. Jim Underdahl, 311; 8. Matt Smith, 305; 9. LE Tonglet, 302; 10. Jerry Savoie, 295.
