"We just threw a Hail Mary at it to be honest with you, and, by golly, she went on down the boulevard, so I guess we’ll throw more Hail Marys at her," Pippin said. "For the first pass I’ve made since Pomona [in November], we’re really happy and surprised. It felt good. I short-shifted a couple of gears, so there’s more in it. We’ll come out tomorrow and see if we can’t get faster because I’m sure the .95 won’t stand up, but it’s the best start we’ve had."It is the first time Pippin has led his category since he joined the series in late 2007."For the last two years, we’ve really worked hard on it," Pippin said. "We’ve had some little glitches here and there, but hopefully it’s all coming together now. It’s not because of lack of effort, I’ll tell you that."Results Results Friday after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, third of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.823 seconds, 318.02 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.829, 317.12; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.846, 315.49; 4. Doug Foley, 3.891, 312.35; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.893, 311.99; 6.Antron Brown, 4.208, 203.40; 7. Morgan Lucas, 4.258, 245.76; 8. Pat Dakin, 4.458, 192.60; 9. David Grubnic, 4.520, 169.23; 10. Brandon Bernstein, 7.784, 84.15; 11. Larry Dixon, 8.004, 83.38; 12. Terry McMillen, 8.085, 85.83. Not Qualified: 13. Cory McClenathan, 8.407, 78.10; 14. Bobby Lagana Jr., 8.798, 82.14.Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.060, 310.13; 2. John Force, Mustang, 4.093, 307.72; 3. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.094, 308.99; 4. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 304.12; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.110, 303.64; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.135, 306.05; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.136, 300.00; 8. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.165, 292.65; 9. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.198, 302.21; 10. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.255, 271.41; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 7.435, 83.43; 12. Jeff Diehl, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.705, 92.33. Not Qualified: 13. Del Worsham, 7.967, 82.70; 14. Jim Head, 8.114, 80.12; 15. Bob Tasca III, 8.455, 77.18; 16. Jeff Arend, 9.131, 77.45; 17. Paul Lee, 11.867, 76.33.Pro Stock — 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.610, 208.97; 2. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.619, 207.91; 3. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.629, 208.26; 4. Vinnie Deceglie, Dodge Avenger, 6.631, 207.53; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.642, 208.49; 6. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.650, 207.91; 7. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.654, 206.83; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.655, 207.69; 9. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.660, 206.42; 10. Jason Line, GXP, 6.661, 207.59; 11. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.661, 206.95; 12.Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.670, 207.62. Not Qualified: 13. Rickie Jones, 6.684, 206.26; 14. Kurt Johnson, 6.685, 207.02; 15. Justin Humphreys, 6.700, 207.11; 16. John Nobile, 6.709, 205.35; 17. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.880, 199.88; 18. Bob Benza, 8.083, 116.61; 19. Ronnie Humphrey, 8.614, 169.15; 20. Erica Enders, 11.251, 78.61; 21. V. Gaines, 12.456, 69.95; 22. Greg Anderson, 12.818, 66.89; 23. Steve Spiess, 15.402, 75.67; 24. Bob Yonke, 32.803, 401.86.Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.959, 190.14; 2. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.972, 190.70; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.986, 190.35; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.987, 191.51; 5. David Hope, Buell, 7.000, 189.66; 6. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.059, 190.40; 7. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.067, 188.20; 8. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.083, 185.38; 9. Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.086, 184.93; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.093, 189.10; 11. LE Tonglet, Buell, 7.127, 187.16; 12. Darin McCurdy, Suzuki, 7.140, 188.60. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Johnson, 7.148, 190.97; 14. Mike Berry, 7.148, 186.61; 15. Andrew Hines, 7.174, 189.55; 16. Wesley Wells, 7.266, 185.66; 17. James Surber, 7.366, 186.33; 18. Katie Sullivan, 7.459, 181.84; 19. Joe DeSantis, 7.471, 179.14; 20. Karen Stoffer, 8.496, 107.08; 21. Redell Harris, broke.
NHRA Friday Qualifying | Gainesville
"We just threw a Hail Mary at it to be honest with you, and, by golly, she went on down the boulevard, so I guess we’ll throw more Hail Marys at her," Pippin said. "For the first pass I’ve made since Pomona [in November], we’re really happy and surprised. It felt good. I short-shifted a couple of gears, so there’s more in it. We’ll come out tomorrow and see if we can’t get faster because I’m sure the .95 won’t stand up, but it’s the best start we’ve had."It is the first time Pippin has led his category since he joined the series in late 2007."For the last two years, we’ve really worked hard on it," Pippin said. "We’ve had some little glitches here and there, but hopefully it’s all coming together now. It’s not because of lack of effort, I’ll tell you that."Results Results Friday after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, third of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.823 seconds, 318.02 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.829, 317.12; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.846, 315.49; 4. Doug Foley, 3.891, 312.35; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.893, 311.99; 6.Antron Brown, 4.208, 203.40; 7. Morgan Lucas, 4.258, 245.76; 8. Pat Dakin, 4.458, 192.60; 9. David Grubnic, 4.520, 169.23; 10. Brandon Bernstein, 7.784, 84.15; 11. Larry Dixon, 8.004, 83.38; 12. Terry McMillen, 8.085, 85.83. Not Qualified: 13. Cory McClenathan, 8.407, 78.10; 14. Bobby Lagana Jr., 8.798, 82.14.Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.060, 310.13; 2. John Force, Mustang, 4.093, 307.72; 3. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.094, 308.99; 4. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 304.12; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.110, 303.64; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.135, 306.05; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.136, 300.00; 8. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.165, 292.65; 9. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.198, 302.21; 10. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.255, 271.41; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 7.435, 83.43; 12. Jeff Diehl, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.705, 92.33. Not Qualified: 13. Del Worsham, 7.967, 82.70; 14. Jim Head, 8.114, 80.12; 15. Bob Tasca III, 8.455, 77.18; 16. Jeff Arend, 9.131, 77.45; 17. Paul Lee, 11.867, 76.33.Pro Stock — 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.610, 208.97; 2. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cobalt, 6.619, 207.91; 3. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.629, 208.26; 4. Vinnie Deceglie, Dodge Avenger, 6.631, 207.53; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.642, 208.49; 6. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.650, 207.91; 7. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.654, 206.83; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.655, 207.69; 9. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.660, 206.42; 10. Jason Line, GXP, 6.661, 207.59; 11. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.661, 206.95; 12.Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.670, 207.62. Not Qualified: 13. Rickie Jones, 6.684, 206.26; 14. Kurt Johnson, 6.685, 207.02; 15. Justin Humphreys, 6.700, 207.11; 16. John Nobile, 6.709, 205.35; 17. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.880, 199.88; 18. Bob Benza, 8.083, 116.61; 19. Ronnie Humphrey, 8.614, 169.15; 20. Erica Enders, 11.251, 78.61; 21. V. Gaines, 12.456, 69.95; 22. Greg Anderson, 12.818, 66.89; 23. Steve Spiess, 15.402, 75.67; 24. Bob Yonke, 32.803, 401.86.Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.959, 190.14; 2. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.972, 190.70; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.986, 190.35; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.987, 191.51; 5. David Hope, Buell, 7.000, 189.66; 6. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.059, 190.40; 7. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.067, 188.20; 8. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.083, 185.38; 9. Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.086, 184.93; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.093, 189.10; 11. LE Tonglet, Buell, 7.127, 187.16; 12. Darin McCurdy, Suzuki, 7.140, 188.60. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Johnson, 7.148, 190.97; 14. Mike Berry, 7.148, 186.61; 15. Andrew Hines, 7.174, 189.55; 16. Wesley Wells, 7.266, 185.66; 17. James Surber, 7.366, 186.33; 18. Katie Sullivan, 7.459, 181.84; 19. Joe DeSantis, 7.471, 179.14; 20. Karen Stoffer, 8.496, 107.08; 21. Redell Harris, broke.