Racing with the Bayou Blues
Written by Sheila Scarborough · March 30, 2007
Whit Bazemore, Cruz Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Smith are provisional low qualifiers at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
A subdued community raced on the Texas bayous, with heavy hearts and without the John Force Racing Team.
NHRA.com Friday recap.
The unexpected death last week of Funny Car driver Eric Medlen cast a sad pall across a cloudy, cool day at the Houston Raceway Park. The entire John Force Racing Team sat this one out in memory of their teammate, and there were not a few tears and choked up fans, drivers and team members after a short music/photo tribute to Eric played on the large track Motel 6 video screen.
In Top Fuel, the team of Houston, Texas-based homebuilder David Powers, owner of David Powers Motorsports, watched their Matco Tools dragster driven by Whit Bazemore take the top qualifying spot with a 4.514 at 326.87 mph.
Bazemore went “from outhouse to penthouse” (in the imaginative lingo of one NHRA commentator) when he pulled his performance up from not-qualified after Round One to the #1 qualifier after Round Two.
“I’m surprised to be No. 1 to be honest,” Bazemore said, “especially after struggling in Round 1 and being the first pair out. After we put that up there I was sure someone would step it up, especially my teammate Rod Fuller since they knew our tune-up, but it didn’t happen. For that to hold through tomorrow we might need that rain everyone is talking about.
“We all came in here with so many emotions after what happened with Eric [Medlen]. We just have to own them and find a way past that and we do that in our racecars.”
In Funny Car, the brothers Pedregon hold the top two spots, with Cruz currently the #1 qualifier with a 4.796 at 300.20 mph (he also went from not qualified to number one qualifier between Rounds One and Two.)
“Being No. 1 is great and it would be good to keep it through tomorrow but I’d trade it right now for some consistency,” Pedregon said. “If we can run another 4.79 in the morning and then step it up and go a little quicker after that I’d be happy, no matter where we end up on the ladder. I just want to get down the track and pull the ‘chutes a few times.
“We were nervous about the rain [forecasted for tomorrow] but it really didn’t change what we did there. That was a safe run. Tony [Pedregon, brother] would have taken the No. 1 if he hadn’t lost the belt but as it stands we’re No. 1 and 2 with the only two cars in the 4.70s so that’s pretty cool.”
Jeg Coughlin continues his recent strong performance in Pro Stock, taking the Friday pole with a track ET record run of 6.649 at 208.17 mph. Greg Anderson, at the #2 spot, set a track speed record of 6.665 at 208.59 mph.
“This team never rests,” said Coughlin, who was quickest in both rounds on Friday. “Our team owner Victor Cagnazzi has instilled a work ethic in this group of guys that’s second to none. They want to be world champions and it shows in everything they do. After Gainesville, we could have rested on our laurels, but instead they were back out testing both team cars to find that extra edge that got us back on top here.
“To have the quickest car of both sessions is pretty darn impressive. As a driver, it gives you a lot of confidence knowing that your crew has such a great handle on the car and the track that you can be quick no matter what lane you’re in. That’s pretty powerful knowledge to have heading into race day. It gives you confidence.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith set a track record ET on his Buell with a 6.968 at 191.76 mph.
“We hurt one of our motors so we’re down to just one,” said Smith, who recorded a runner-up finish in Gainesville, Fla. “It would be alright with me if it just rained all day long tomorrow and they set the field. If not, we’ll just fine-tune off that run and just be careful with this motor. We want to make sure we’re ready for Sunday. I’d be great to get back to the finals and win it this time.”
The rain forecasts look pretty ugly for tomorrow (Saturday 31 March) so the field may already be set for Sunday. Only time will tell.
Top Fuel standings after 2 qualifying rounds
1. Whit Bazemore 4.514 (ET) 326.87 (mph)
2. Melanie Troxel 4.530 323.89
3. Rod Fuller 4.533 326.56
4. Morgan Lucas 4.538 317.27
5. Tony Schumacher 4.558 312.50
6. Larry Dixon 4.597 313.44
7. J.R. Todd 4.618 313.37
8. Hillary Will 4.630 310.41
9. Joe Hartley 4.631 312.42
10. Clay Millican 4.632 314.61
11. Doug Kalitta 4.633 315.27
12. Brandon Bernstein 4.649 310.34
13. David Grubnic 4.650 309.91
14. Bruce Litton 4.658 312.78
15. Alan Bradshaw 4.670 313.58
16. Cory McClenathan 4.689 276.86
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Bob Vandergriff 4.714 295.66
18. Doug Herbert 4.722 275.96
Funny Car standings after 2 qualifying rounds
1. Cruz Pedregon 4.796 (ET) 300.20 (mph)
2. Tony Pedregon 4.798 304.25
3. Ron Capps 4.806 315.34
4. Mike Ashley 4.814 309.63
5. Jim Head 4.823 282.72
6. Gary Scelzi 4.827 311.85
7. Del Worsham 4.830 318.24
8. Jeff Arend 4.836 308.50
9. Bob Gilbertson 4.854 302.82
10. Gary Densham 4.861 310.34
11. Kenny Bernstein 4.864 291.45
12. Tim Wilkerson 4.885 313.00
13. Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.902 312.13
14. Jack Beckman 4.995 259.41
15. Tony Bartone 5.141 224.47
16. Todd Simpson 5.222 293.28
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Terry Haddock 5.713 174.89
18. Scott Kalitta 9.905 90.85
Pro Stock standings after 2 qualifying rounds
1. Jeg Coughlin 6.649@ (ET) 208.17 (mph)
2. Greg Anderson 6.665 208.59&
3. Allen Johnson 6.675 206.89
4. Jason Line 6.676 208.42
5. Warren Johnson 6.680 207.94
6. Richie Stevens 6.688 206.35
7. V. Gaines 6.696 207.15
8. Greg Stanfield 6.696 206.35
9. Mike Edwards 6.698 206.61
10. Dave Connolly 6.699 207.43
11. Jim Yates 6.701 207.11
12. Tom Hammonds 6.703 206.16
13. Kurt Johnson 6.709 207.34
14. Erica Enders 6.713 205.69
15. Larry Morgan 6.720 206.51
16. Kenny Koretsky 6.728 206.57
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Ron Krisher 6.728 204.94
18. Justin Humphreys 6.731 206.23
19. Tom Martino 6.733 207.18
20. Max Naylor 6.738 206.23
21. Dwayne Rice 6.742 206.10
22. Tony Rizzo 6.743 205.54
23. Matt Scranton 6.745 205.54
24. Roger Brogdon 6.751 205.13
25. Bill Windham 6.850 199.91
@ = Track ET Record
& = Track Speed Record
Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after 2 qualifying rounds
1. Matt Smith 6.968@ (ET) 191.76(mph)
2. Angelle Sampey 6.973 192.22
3. Andrew Hines 6.995 192.41
4. Karen Stoffer 7.025 192.60
5. Chip Ellis 7.029 190.70
6. Antron Brown 7.043 190.67
7. Peggy Llewellyn 7.045 189.18
8. Craig Treble 7.050 191.10
9. Matt Guidera 7.069 187.65
10. Eddie Krawiec 7.071 189.92
11. Scott Lewis 7.071 187.52
12. Chris Rivas 7.076 188.62
13. Joe DeSantis 7.083 191.48
14. Tom Bradford 7.084 188.75
15. Shawn Gann 7.091 187.89
16. Steve Johnson 7.092 189.82
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Hector Arana 7.096 188.70
18. Geno Scali 7.102 190.11
19. Marco Andreano 7.147 187.60
20. Michael Phillips 7.162 191.70
21. Mike Berry 7.170 187.44
22. Barry Henson 7.204 187.03
23. James Randolph 7.219 185.31
24. Redell Harris 7.562 177.30
@ = Track ET Record
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