Nitro Cowboys Up in Texas
Written by Sheila Scarborough · March 28, 2008
It’s great to be back at the track here at Houston Raceway Park for the NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals. Unlike last year’s rain-a-thon Spring Nats, the weather remains dry and relatively cool, with a slight cloud cover.
I hope to bring Fast Machines some short video interviews with Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher and Funny Car’s rookie Rhode Island representative, Bob Tasca III, later this weekend.
In Top Fuel, the provisional low qualifier is Alan Bradshaw, repeating his Gainesville performance. Fittingly, he hails from this state, and gave a shout-out to his Odessa fans out in western Texas in his post-run interview. The chiropractor ran a 4.571 at 322.96 mph to grab the pole after a first round filled with traction issues; Matco Tools driver Antron Brown is on the bump spot.
“It doesn’t get any better than to be No. 1 in my home state of
“I’ve believed in Dexter, [crew chief] Tony Shortall, and this team from day one. I think we’re just getting warmed up. Qualifying is one thing, but what really matters is getting this thing down the race track repeatedly so we can have a good finish on Sunday.”
Funny Car’s Nitro Chili Cruzer, the flaming Cruz Pedregon, came in with a 4.834 at 314.97 mph, with Bob Tasca III on the bump and some big names not yet qualified, like Tony Pedregon, Gary Scelzi and Robert Hight.
“Everything is going great this season,” said Cruz. “We’re having a good time again. Everyone’s smiling and having fun.
“I have to give [crew chief] Rahn [Tobler] a lot of credit. He’s turning all the knobs and doing a great job. I think this is the 15th full run down the racetrack we’ve made in a row.”
John Force update: The irrepressible Force looks to be in good spirits, walks with only a slight limp (he is brace-free for the first time this weekend) and is still doing daily physical therapy.
There was lots of family drama in Pro Stock. Warren Johnson had a blown, smoke-filled car that went sideways and tagged the wall for only the third time in the Professor’s long career.
He was able to keep away from the guy in the other lane, though (his son, the provisional low qualifier Kurt Johnson.)
Warren Johnson is currently the number 9 qualifier, but he does not have a backup car here in Houston (this is only his second race with his new Pontiac GXP.) Without a backup, he can’t run on Sunday even if he remains qualified after tomorrow.
“I got so much smoke in the cockpit that I couldn’t see the wall or anything,” said W.J. “I was looking for curb feelers.”
“I saw Dad cross over into the right lane with the car full of smoke, so I slowed down and pulled up right next to him,” said K.J. “He created a lot of work for us. Our car made a perfect, smooth run. We threw everything at it, and it stuck.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith brought in his Buell with a 6.929 at 191.38 mph; Steve Johnson’s on the bump.
“I thought we’d run better in
“We’ll have to wait and see what the weather does to see if our time will hold up, but that 6.92 is pretty stout. I think I made most of that time over Andrew in the first 60 feet. I used most of my championship money to build a launch pad at my shop, and it shows because we’re in the top two or three to 60 feet on every run.”
Today’s fun track announcer Bob Frey quote: “If you’re not positive you’re gonna win, you might as well keep it in the crate.”
Top Fuel qualifying positions after two rounds
1. Alan Bradshaw 4.526 ET 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 qualifying positions after two rounds
1. Cruz Pedregon 4.834 (ET) 314.97 (mph)
2. Tony Bartone 4.839 305.08
3. Mike Neff 4.875 316.23
4. Del Worsham 4.881 313.66
5. Ron Capps 4.886 310.05
6. Ashley Force 4.890 319.29
7. Gary Densham 4.904 312.42
8. Jack Beckman 4.906 314.31
9. John Force 4.913 312.71
10. Tim Wilkerson 4.939 301.40
11. Jerry Toliver 5.012 305.56
12. Bob Tasca III 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 qualifying positions after two rounds
1. Kurt Johnson 6.638 (ET) 208.42 (mph)
2. Allen Johnson 6.650 207.72
3. Jason Line 6.668 207.98
4. Ron Krisher 6.668 207.59
5. Greg Anderson 6.671 207.40
6. V. Gaines 6.671 206.70
7. Jeg Coughlin 6.673 207.37
8. Mike Edwards 6.676 206.54
9. Warren Johnson 6.679 208.42
10. Rickie Jones 6.680 206.13
11. Greg Stanfield 6.681 207.18
12. Jim Yates 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 qualifying positions after two rounds
1. Matt Smith 6.929 (ET) 191.38 (mph)
2. Andrew Hines 6.972 191.13
3. Chip Ellis 6.982 190.30
4. Karen Stoffer 6.985 190.92
5. Matt Guidera 6.988 190.92
6. Eddie Krawiec 6.994 187.91
7. Hector Arana 7.003 190.06
8. Shawn Gann 7.024 191.57
9. Angelle Sampey 7.042 189.92
10. Chris Rivas 7.042 189.15
11. Craig Treble 7.081 191.08
12. Steve Johnson 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
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