Quarterfinal Performances For TSR Nitro Teams At NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals!
Hagan Still Leads The Points Going Into Norwalk Race...
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing series made its ninth stop of the 22-event season at the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway where all three Dodge//SRT supported entries recorded quarterfinal performances.
Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) driver Matt Hagan qualified his TruHarvest Farms Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat No. 4 on the eliminations ladder with a best lap of 4.014 seconds @ 318.09 mph and also earned two bonus points for setting the third quickest time in both the first and third session.
The three-time world champion staged his 11,000 horsepower Dodge//SRT Funny car next to No. 13 seed Phil Burkhart for the opening round, launched first, and began to pull away while his opponent lost traction early in his run. As the TSR machine approached the finish, it too began to lose traction forcing Hagan to ease off the throttle before earning his category-leading 24th round win of the season.
In his quarterfinal matchup against No. 12 qualifier Alexis DeJoria, Hagan was once again quicker on the draw and in the lead when he lost traction and tried to pedal it a few times to try to stay in front. However, DeJoria was able to take advantage of Hagan’s issues to make the pass and turn on the win lights to end his day earlier than usual.
Hagan’s quarterfinal exit came on the heels of his win at the New England Nationals, the team’s third victory of the season, and six final elimination appearances. The result was enough to keep the Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car atop the category’s standings and ahead of his closest challenger, Robert Hight, by 42 points after nine national events.
Sitting fifth in the category standings, Cruz Pedregon qualified his Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in the sixth place position on the eliminations ladder at Bristol Dragway with a 4.068 seconds @ 312.71 mph run and earned a bonus point for running third quickest in the second session.
In the opening round of eliminations, Pedregon had a quicker start and won a good side-by-side battle with No. 11 seed J.R. Todd to advance to the quarterfinals where he would face No. 3 qualifier, John Force. Pedregon saw Force get off the line first but was gaining ground on his opponent when he lost a cylinder and fell back, marking the team’s sixth quarterfinal result this year.
TSR driver Leah Pruett put her Mobile 1 Dodge//SRT dragster in the tenth spot on the eliminations ladder for her 180th career Top Fuel start with a best lap of 3.867 seconds @ 318.32 mph in the third qualifying session.
The nine-time event winner faced off against No. 7 seed Austin Prock in the first round and took her HEMI®-powered machine straight down the lane with her quickest run of the weekend at 3.835 seconds @ 324.36 mph to advance to the quarterfinals where she would be paired with No. 2 qualifier Steve Torrence.
Pruett beat Torrence on the tree but soon saw him make the pass as her ride began to lose cylinders and end her day
The NHRA is back in action next weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 23rd to the 26th, at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park near Norwalk, Ohio.
NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS:
Following the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway
FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)
1. Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 854 (3)
2. Robert Hight: 812 (3)
3. Ron Capps: 748 (2)
4. John Force: 588
5. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 507
6. J.R. Todd: 435
7. Alexis DeJoria: 434
8. Bob Tasca III: 420
9. Tim Wilkerson: 411
10. Chad Green: 373
TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)
1. Brittany Force: 724 (3)
2. Mike Salinas: 699 (2)
3. Justin Ashley: 672 (2)
4. Steve Torrence: 653
5. Austin Prock: 459
6. Shawn Langdon: 435
7. Clay Millican: 430
8. Josh Hart: 414
9. Doug Kalitta: 405
10. Antron Brown: 370
12. Leah Pruett (Dodge Power Brokers): 346
