BRISTOL, Tenn. — Pro Stock star Warren Johnson added another No. 1 qualifying performance to his career stats, picking up his NHRA-record 138th Saturday in the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Johnson powered his Pontiac GXP to a track-record performance of 6.674 seconds at 207.43 mph for the top spot, his second of the season and third at the track. Defending event and POWERade Series champion Jeg Coughlin failed to qualify in his Chevy Cobalt, ending a 70-race qualifying streak dating to 2004.
Tony Schumacher and Mike Neff also were No. 1 qualifiers in the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
In Funny Car, Neff’s run in his Ford Mustang of 4.783 at 321.04 from Friday was enough to stay in the top spot and give the rookie his first No. 1 qualifying position of his career. Defending event winner and NHRA legend John Force qualified in the seventh spot, while points leader Tim Wilkerson sat No. 4 in the field.
Defending POWERade Series champion Schumacher piloted his dragster to a 4.502 at 327.59 and the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel. It’s Schumacher’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 49th of his career and third at Bristol Dragway. Defending event winner Brandon Bernstein qualified in the sixth spot, while second-place driver Antron Brown qualified fourth.
NHRA-Thunder Valley Nationals Pairings
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 4.502 seconds, 327.59 mph., vs. 16. Alan Bradshaw, 11.289, 85.45. 2. David Grubnic, 4.526, 311.85, vs. 15. Troy Buff, 7.602, 308.50. 3. Doug Kalitta, 4.536, 320.66, vs. 14. Todd Paton, 5.758, 157.15. 4. Antron Brown, 4.542, 330.15, vs. 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.728, 312.50. 5. Hillary Will, 4.570, 323.50, vs. 12. Cory McClenathan, 4.605, 317.72. 6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.571, 328.86, vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.598, 319.37. 7. Doug Herbert, 4.578, 316.97, vs. 10. Larry Dixon, 4.586, 321.19. 8. J.R. Todd, 4.584, 328.30, vs. 9. Rod Fuller, 4.584, 322.73.
Funny Car
1. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.783, 321.04, vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.904, 288.52. 2. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.785, 323.89, vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Dodge Charger, 4.901, 314.09. 3. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.792, 324.98, vs. 14. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.896, 313.22. 4. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.802, 318.24, vs. 13. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.880, 310.27. 5. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.803, 311.63, vs. 12. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.842, 322.65. 6. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.821, 319.67, vs. 11. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.839, 318.62. 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.821, 308.78, vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.831, 313.29. 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.823, 318.02, vs. 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.831, 317.79.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Ashley, 4.916, 313.07. 18. Jack Beckman, 4.932, 318.84. 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.936, 301.00. 20. Bob Gilbertson, 4.967, 318.77. 21. Scott Kalitta, 7.306, 308.00.
Pro Stock
1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.674, 207.43, vs. 16. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.736, 204.94. 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.685, 206.29, vs. 15. Johnny Gray, Dodge Stratus, 6.735, 204.54. 3. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.699, 205.66, vs. 14. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.734, 202.58. 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.704, 205.32, vs. 13. John Nobile, Stratus, 6.734, 205.41. 5. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.709, 204.26, vs. 12. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.731, 202.91. 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.711, 205.54, vs. 11. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.730, 203.77. 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.717, 205.22, vs. 10. Todd Hoerner, Stratus, 6.727, 204.98. 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.720, 204.51, vs. 9. Jason Line, GXP, 6.725, 205.91.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Schmidt, 6.737, 204.82. 18. Larry Morgan, 6.737, 203.86. 19. Jeg Coughlin, 6.739, 205.13. 20. Dave Northrop, 6.739, 204.08. 21. Kenny Koretsky, 6.740, 204.20. 22. Matt Hartford, 6.742, 204.48. 23. Rickie Jones, 6.751, 204.66. 24. Justin Humphreys, 6.758, 204.35. 25. Steve Spiess, 6.771, 203.86. 26. Rickie Smith, 6.795, 203.28. 27. Ben Watson, 6.795, 202.09. 28. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.815, 202.52.
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