MOHNTON, Pa. – Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top spot from teammate Jason Line as qualifying came to an end at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals on Saturday.
Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, and Matt Smith remained No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
After watching his teammate take the No. 1 spot during Friday night qualifying, Anderson drove his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP to an impressive 6.611-second run at 208.84 mph in the heat of the day. It’s Anderson’s fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 67th of his career and fourth in Reading.
“The competition level in this Pro Stock class is absolutely the best it’s ever been,” said Anderson. “If you can be number one and three like (Jason and I) are, then you’ve really had a good run in qualifying and that really gets the whole team pumped up.”
Schumacher stayed in the top spot in Top Fuel after he drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.816-second pass at 316.67 mph to take the top spot in the category. It’s Schumacher’s sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 53rd of his career and sixth at Maple Grove.
“I feel great,” said Schumacher. “This track has always been one of those tracks where you can set low E.T. when it’s cloudy and cool, then its very difficult to get down the track when it’s hot out and we just did that twice.”
In Funny Car, Pedregon drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to a 4.109-second pass at 299 mph to take the top spot. It’s Pedregon’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 35th of his career and second at Maple Grove Raceway.
“My main focus was to try to make another respectable run,” said Pedregon. “I think that run was good. We can’t be too complacent or over-confident. We know that every round we race tomorrow we’re going to be digging in.”
Smith kept the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.909 at 192.38. It’s Smith’s third of the season, 10th of his career and second consecutive No. 1 qualifier.
“I’m not worried about myself, I’m just worried if it’s going to shift or not,” said Smith, who struggled to get down the track during Saturday qualifying. “We have to just go back and tear the whole bike apart and find out what’s going on.”
After Saturday’s qualifying. eliminations Sunday At Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 3.816 seconds, 316.67 mph vs. Bye. 2. Rod Fuller, 3.861, 310.77 vs. 15. Doug Kalitta, 4.088, 309.77. 3. Doug Herbert, 3.884, 309.13 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.006, 289.76. 4. J.R. Todd, 3.888, 310.55 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.966, 297.81. 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.889, 307.16 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.931, 301.60. 6. Larry Dixon, 3.889, 307.72 vs. 11. Doug Foley, 3.931, 305.49. 7. Antron Brown, 3.892, 308.28 vs. 10. Cory McClenathan, 3.920, 306.53. 8. Hillary Will, 3.894, 311.49 vs. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 3.899, 310.63.
Funny Car
1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.109, 299.00 vs. 16. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.229, 287.41. 2. Frank Hawley, Dodge Charger, 4.128, 302.41 vs. 15. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.225, 290.94. 3. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.134, 298.40 vs. 14. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.204, 290.32. 4. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.137, 300.53 vs. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.189, 297.29. 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.139, 300.73 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.169, 295.14. 6. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.143, 299.13 vs. 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.166, 296.76. 7. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.144, 298.60 vs. 10. Jim Head, Solara, 4.157, 285.71. 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.144, 295.72 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.157, 294.82.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Gary Scelzi, 4.240, 296.89. 18. Matt Hagan, 4.262, 284.45. 19. Tony Bartone, 4.831, 288.21. 20. Jerry Toliver, 5.651, 285.17.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.611, 208.84 vs. 16. Rickie Jones, Dodge Stratus, 6.679, 206.29. 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.614, 208.91 vs. 15. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.679, 207.02. 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 208.91 vs. 14. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.670, 206.73. 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.621, 207.88 vs. 13. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.654, 207.66. 5. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.639, 208.07 vs. 12. Richie Stevens, GXP, 6.653, 206.61. 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.642, 207.78 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.652, 207.72. 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.646, 207.50 vs. 10. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.651, 207.50. 8. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.650, 207.88 vs. 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.651, 208.75.
Did Not Qualify: 17. John Nobile, 6.686, 207.40. 18. Dave Northrop, 6.686, 206.67. 19. Johnny Gray, 6.696, 206.54. 20. Gene Wilson, 6.706, 206.29. 21. Jim Cunningham, 6.792, 202.06. 22. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.873, 200.14. 23. Max Naylor, 14.177, 202.85.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.909, 192.38 vs. 16. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.066, 187.08. 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.916, 193.88 vs. 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.065, 191.89. 3. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.941, 191.59 vs. 14. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.062, 185.08. 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.943, 192.63 vs. 13. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.052, 188.04. 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.955, 193.88 vs. 12. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.044, 189.98. 6. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.964, 190.65 vs. 11. Wes Wells, Suzuki, 7.033, 190.67. 7. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.972, 192.77 vs. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.996, 191.54. 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.980, 191.46 vs. 9. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.991, 192.85.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Berry, broke.
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