BAYTOWN, Texas — Odessa native Alan Bradshaw raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel during the first day of qualifying Friday for the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) rounded out the provisional No. 1 qualifiers through the first two of four rounds of qualifying.
In the nitro classes, Bradshaw powered his dragster to a 4.526-second pass at 323.50 mph to position himself for a second straight No. 1 qualifier, and Pedregon delivered a 4.834 at 314.97 to put himself in position to claim his second straight No. 1 qualifier at the event race.
Kurt Johnson capped a wild Pro Stock round with a category-topping 6.638-second pass at 208.42 mph that came on the same qualifying pass that saw his father, Pro Stock star Warren Johnson, tag the wall for only the third time in his 37-year career.
The senior Johnson, a 96-time winner, left a trail of smoke as he crossed the finish line and soon thereafter his car veered right and as he regained control his Pontiac GXP nicked the wall before coming to rest. Johnson emerged unhurt.
Earlier in Pro Stock qualifying, Baytown’s Vernon Swindoll, making his first career POWERade Series pass and in front of his hometown fans, couldn’t bring his car safely to a stop and it careened into the sand pit and was finally brought to a stop by the protective net. He was unhurt.
Smith led the two-wheelers with a 6.929-second pass at 191.38 mph.
NHRA-O’Reilly Spring Nationals Qualifying
After Friday qualifying; eliminations Sunday
At Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
Top Fuel
1. Alan Bradshaw, 4.526 seconds, 323.50 mph. 2. Doug Herbert, 4.547, 318.02. 3. Larry Dixon, 4.549, 314.46. 4. Cory McClenathan, 4.568, 326.79. 5. Doug Foley, 4.582, 303.09. 6. David Grubnic, 4.587, 322.42. 7. Brandon Bernstein, 4.596, 325.77. 8. Hillary Will, 4.599, 316.45. 9. Doug Kalitta, 4.606, 317.87. 10. Tony Schumacher, 4.619, 313.22. 11. Bruce Litton, 4.620, 324.28. 12. Antron Brown, 4.644, 322.42.
Not Qualified: 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.679, 320.51. 14. Urs Erbacher, 4.730, 291.26. 15. Mitch King, 4.798, 304.60. 16. Troy Buff, 4.833, 277.72. 17. Rod Fuller, 4.861, 319.98. 18. J.R. Todd, 5.986, 263.56. 19. Bob Vandergriff, 7.254, 105.93.<
Funny Car
1. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.834, 314.97. 2. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.839, 305.08. 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.875, 316.23. 4. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.881, 313.66. 5. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.886, 310.05. 6. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.890, 319.29. 7. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.904, 312.42. 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.906, 314.31. 9. John Force, Mustang, 4.913, 312.71. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.939, 301.40. 11. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 5.012, 305.56. 12. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.052, 264.49.
Not Qualified: 13. Bob Gilbertson, 5.323, 209.01. 14. Scott Kalitta, 5.368, 211.03. 15. Terry Haddock, 5.580, 245.05. 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., 5.851, 179.83. 17. Robert Hight, 6.186, 200.44. 18. Tony Pedregon, 6.202, 164.13. 19. Melanie Troxel, 6.706, 190.97. 20. Bob Bode, 7.603, 111.25. 21. Gary Scelzi, 8.430, 92.38.<
Pro Stock
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.638, 208.42. 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.650, 207.72. 3. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.668, 207.98. 4. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.668, 207.59. 5. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.671, 207.40. 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.671, 206.70. 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.673, 207.37. 8. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GTO, 6.676, 206.54. 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.679, 208.42. 10. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.680, 206.13. 11. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.681, 207.18. 12. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.692, 206.32.
Not Qualified: 13. Matt Hartford, 6.695, 206.57. 14. Justin Humphreys, 6.697, 207.08. 15. Tom Hammonds, 6.698, 206.51. 16. Larry Morgan, 6.713, 206.04. 17. Johnny Gray, 6.730, 205.69. 18. Max Naylor, 6.731, 203.40. 19. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.762, 204.39. 20. John Nobile, 6.777, 204.94. 21. Bill Glidden, 6.801, 204.91. 22. Shane Heckel, 6.850, 202.42. 23. Vernon Swindoll, 6.975, 201.40. 24. Kenny Koretsky, 14.084, 59.22.<
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.929, 191.38. 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.972, 191.13. 3. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.982, 190.30. 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.985, 190.92. 5. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.988, 190.92. 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.994, 187.91. 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.003, 190.06. 8. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.024, 191.57. 9. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.042, 189.92. 10. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.042, 189.15. 11. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.081, 191.08. 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.124, 188.75.
Not Qualified: 13. Angie McBride, 7.126, 185.08. 14. Michael Ray, 7.155, 184.42. 15. Edward Murphy, 7.158, 185.21. 16. Redell Harris, 7.362, 180.04. 17. Ryan Schnitz, 7.363, 178.05. 18. Jim Randolph, 7.446, 179.61. 19. Junior Pippin, 14.404, 52.61.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
