NHRA Friday Race Results | Pomona

Friday Results

POMONA, Calif. – John Force picked up a critical bonus point in qualifying Friday at the 46th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals to move back within two rounds of points-leader Matt Hagan in the race for the 2010 Funny Car championship.

The one bonus point he earned for the third-quickest pass during Friday’s second qualifying session drew him to within 39 points of Hagan, who was shut out of the bonus points after earning three on Thursday.

Meanwhile, three of the four categories had new provisional No. 1 qualifiers – Ashley Force Hood in Funny Car, V Gaines in Pro Stock and Eddie Krawiec in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Larry Dixon remained atop the Top Fuel order.

There will be two more qualifying sessions on Saturday – and two more chances for Hagan and Force to earn bonus points – before Sunday’s 23rd and final race in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.

"This could jump around back and forth … this is going to be a showdown and I love a showdown," the 14-time champion Force said.

Force Hood led a 1-2-3 in qualifying for the John Force Racing team with a 4.076 at 309.98 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

"Track’s good, conditions are good. I’m excited. It’s good to be back," said Force Hood, who is in position to earn her sixth No. 1 of the season and second straight. "It just all came together for us that round. In racing you can go from zero to hero so (Saturday) is a fresh start for us."

There are still a maximum of six qualifying bonus points available (per driver) in each of the final two qualifying sessions (based on the 3-2-1 system for the top three ETs of each session) in addition to the points awarded based on final qualifying position.

Dixon’s 3.813 at 318.39 in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster from Thursday held up, but second-place Schumacher earned two bonus points during the Friday session to pull to within 84 points of Dixon.

Barring a national record, Schumacher would need to cut the deficit to 80 points to have a shot at the championship on Sunday.

"I’m not worried about two points … not yet," Dixon said. "I have a lot of confidence in my team and my car. I am still depending on that, that we don’t have to be defensive. Don’t play defense, play offense, it’s more fun."
Dixon slowed to a 5.708 at 117.21 in his qualifying pass on Friday, meaning that he wasn’t in contention for any of the bonus points.

"Whether it’s a good run or a bad run, it’s good information, the clutch was slipping too fast. I’m thrilled it happened today and not Sunday," Dixon said.

In Pro Stock, V Gaines moved atop the qualifying ladder in his Kendall Dodge with a 6.561 at 210.83 mph that would be the first No. 1 career if it holds. Greg Anderson, who needs to qualify to secure his fourth championship, has his Summit Racing Pontiac safely in the field right now at No. 4.

"We’ve got two sessions to go, but that was certainly a big lift after our attempt to scrape the wall (Thursday)," Gaines said.

Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec moved into the provisional No. 1 spot with a track record 6.865 at 194.21 that would be his first this season and sixth of his career.

"Those three points are pretty valuable (for Harley-Davidson teammate Andrew Hines competing for the championship) and also for me. I’m competing with Matt Smith for (third place)," said Krawiec, who has gained four bonus points so far to pull even with Smith for the moment heading into Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions.

POMONA, Calif. — Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 46th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, final of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Larry Dixon, 3.813 seconds, 318.39 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.840, 320.58; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.840, 320.28; 4. Cory McClenathan, 3.853, 317.87; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.881, 313.80; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.892, 311.63; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 3.895, 314.83; 8. Antron Brown, 3.905, 312.28; 9. T.J. Zizzo, 3.918, 310.77; 10. Bob Vandergriff, 3.927, 308.43; 11. Dom Lagana, 3.939, 308.85; 12. Mike Strasburg, 3.943, 309.20. Not Qualified: 13. Scott Palmer, 3.947, 282.84; 14. Terry McMillen, 3.974, 302.08; 15. Chris Karamesines, 3.990, 291.89; 16. Joran Persaker, 4.113, 225.67; 17. Lex Joon, 4.120, 293.98; 18. Troy Buff, 4.250, 220.66; 19. Mark Mariani, 4.259, 214.18; 20. David Grubnic, 4.384, 181.98; 21. Ron August, 5.594, 125.10; 22. Tim Cullinan, 5.613, 117.73; 23. Stig Neergaard, 7.630, 97.18; 24. Morgan Lucas, 9.306, 90.05; 25. Steve Faria, 9.358, 69.78.

Funny Car — 1. Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang, 4.076, 309.98; 2. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.080, 312.35; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.085, 310.34; 4. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.114, 307.93; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.128, 298.67; 6. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.139, 293.86; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.144, 302.82; 8. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.153, 293.66; 9. Paul Lee, Impala SS, 4.167, 304.39; 10. Tony Pedregon, Impala SS, 4.179, 296.57; 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.190, 290.38; 12. Jim Head, Solara, 4.751, 172.01. Not Qualified: 13. Grant Downing, 5.243, 142.57; 14. Gary Densham, 5.343, 147.05; 15. Melanie Troxel, 5.585, 139.95; 16. Ron Capps, 6.438, 98.77; 17. Jeff Arend, 6.521, 96.73; 18. Terry Haddock, 8.401, 84.16; 19. Tim Wilkerson, 8.724, 82.51; 20. James Day, broke.

Pro Stock — 1. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, 6.551, 210.83; 2. Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.553, 211.39; 3. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.561, 211.16; 4. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.563, 211.20; 5. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.563, 209.88; 6. Vinnie Deceglie, Avenger, 6.564, 210.67; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.567, 210.05; 8. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.569, 210.60; 9. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.570, 211.26; 10. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.574, 210.67; 11. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.582, 209.95; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.593, 209.69. Not Qualified: 13. Dave Connolly, 6.597, 209.69; 14. Bob Yonke, 6.607, 209.75; 15. Kurt Johnson, 6.609, 209.82; 16. Johnny Gray, 6.615, 208.97; 17. Warren Johnson, 6.629, 209.65; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.634, 208.78; 19. Jerry Haas, 6.651, 207.18; 20. Erica Enders, 6.671, 206.54; 21. Gordie Rivera, 6.827, 203.34.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.865, 194.21; 2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.870, 194.35; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.874, 193.24; 4. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.896, 189.52; 5. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.938, 193.85; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.943, 189.31; 7. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.948, 193.71; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.958, 192.03; 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.966, 187.86; 10. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.968, 187.03; 11. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.984, 187.52; 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.996, 188.57. Not Qualified: 13. Matt Guidera, 7.026, 188.73; 14. David Hope, 7.085, 185.15; 15. Bailey Whitaker, 7.090, 183.84; 16. Freddie Camarena, 7.115, 188.04; 17. Redell Harris, 7.119, 188.81; 18. Joe DeSantis, 7.120, 189.52; 19. Mike Berry, 7.164, 181.01; 20. Rhett Lougheed, 7.244, 182.67; 21. Chris MacLaurin, 7.250, 180.74; 22. Katie Sullivan, 7.267, 184.45; 23. Scotty Pollacheck, 7.301, 180.52; 24. Aaron Pine, 7.922, 172.56.

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