Pro Stock cars, bikes 'competition' so far predictable
by SusanWade on May 7, 2012 5:11 PM EDT
Go ahead. Close your eyes and take a break. We'll wake you up when someone besides the KB / Summit team wins in the NHRA Pro Stock class or if anybody can knock Harley-Davidson riders Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines off the Pro Stock Motorcycle puck.
So far the notion of "competition" in both classes is dubious.
The Pro Stock class at least has seen Mike Edwards (Gainesville), Allen Johnson (Las Vegas), and Vincent Nobile (Houston) earn Wally trophies.
But in the first seven races, the KB / Summit Racing Pontiac duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line accounted for four victories and three top-qualifying positions. Anderson has led the standings after each race, and he opened a 72-point margin over No. 2 Line by defeating Line in the final round Sunday at the Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway -- their sponsor's race.
Hector Arana Sr. has been the lone rider to keep the performance honors away from the Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson racers. He has led the field at two of the three bike-class appearances. But Krawiec's final-round victory Sunday over Michael Ray completed the three-race sweep for the Brownsburg, Ind.-based team.
0 commentsCapps turns own program around, turns back JFR streak
by SusanWade on May 7, 2012 10:52 AM EDT
COMMERCE, Ga. -- Don Schumacher's hunch paid off.
The multi-car team owner juggles more drag-racing personnel and resources than a circus performer, but his Ron-and-Rahn act is playing well to National Hot Rod Association fans. In the Funny Car ring at Sunday's Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, it was a huge hit for the Atlanta Dragway crowd.
With crew chief Rahn Tobler injecting hope and effective tuning calls into Ron Capps' struggling career, the two did more than bring the NAPA Dodge Charger team a victory for the first time since last Halloween weekend at Las Vegas.
In this third straight final round since they were paired in the pits, the Capps-Tobler combo became the first in the class to halt John Force Racing's string of six victories to start the season.
Torrence's Top Fuel victory boost for single teams, bust for Schumacher
by SusanWade on May 7, 2012 10:11 AM EDT
On paper it might have looked like a mismatch, this Top Fuel final round of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Schumacher, Hight have special agendas at Atlanta
by SusanWade on May 5, 2012 10:12 PM EDT
Top Fuel's Tony Schumacher can't start winning this year, and Robert Hight and the John Force Racing Funny Car steamroller can't seem to stop.
The two will lead their respective classes in Sunday eliminations of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, as will Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Sr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Persistence, teamwork not clichés with Funny Car's Hight
by SusanWade on May 5, 2012 1:29 AM EDT
Robert Hight appeared unstoppable again Friday in his Auto Club Ford Mustang, posting quickest time among NHRA Funny Car drivers during qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals. After taking the tentative No. 1 position with a 4.104-second elapsed time at 308.35 mph on the 1,000-foot Atlanta Dragway course, Hight gave credit to crew chief Jimmy Prock. And Prock deserves Hight's total faith in him. However, Prock is the leader of this group, a leader among equally quiet leaders. And that's why Hight has enjoyed a sensational start as he pursues his fourth top-qualifying position and fifth victory in seven Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events.
Outside the Lanes: Randy Cunningham’s Barcalounger-view of ESPN drag racing coverage
by SusanWade on Apr 16, 2012 10:54 AM EDT
Steamroller Hight gives 'em what-4 at Concord
by SusanWade on Apr 15, 2012 9:47 PM EDT
Four was the magic number for Funny Car victor Robert Hight Sunday at the National Hot Rod Association's Four-Wide Nationals at Concord, N.C.
Running four abreast, Hight beat Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, and John Force to win his fourth straight race and make history along with four other drag-racing legends -- two of whom were in the final round against him zMAX Raceway's 1,000-foot course.
Scoreboard fools Enders in Pro Stock final, Anderson wins
by SusanWade on Apr 15, 2012 9:03 PM EDT
The Pro Stock class saw an unfortunate finish all around Sunday at the National Hot Rod Association Four-Wide Nationals. Greg Anderson was heartened by his 72nd victory, although he never got to see a win light, and Erica Enders was heartbroken because a cruel scoreboard glitch made her think she had won her first Wally trophy.
