Championship Drag Racing

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Clermont, IN
(August 30-September 4)

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Team Reports News and notes from NHRA's Pro teams at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. These reports will be updated and new ones added as they become available. About these reports

Monday Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein finishes runner-up at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Cory McClenathan: Consistent, competitive times Help McClenathan reach semis David Baca: David slays Goliath; Baca takes out points leader Doug Herbert: Herbert disappointed Hillary Will: Tire smoke ends eliminations for Will J.R. Todd: Todd loses to Schumacher in first round Larry Dixon: Dixon races to quarterfinal finish Melanie Troxel: Troxel races to quarterfinals Morgan Lucas: Lucas experiences early exit Rod Fuller: Fuller wows Indy crowd with semifinal appearance Tony Schumacher: Schumacher captures fifth U.S. Nationals title Sunday Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff just misses quickest Top Fuel field at Indy Clay Millican: Gremlins plague Millian team Cory McClenathan: Consistent Cory Mac qualifies sixth David Baca: Last-minute heroics place Baca in quickest field ever Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies for quickest Top Fuel field Hillary Will: Will heads to eliminations in No. 7 spot J.R. Todd: Todd qualifies on last run Larry Dixon: Dixon qualifies second Melanie Troxel: Troxel well-prepared for eliminations Scott Weis: The "Big Go" becomes the "Big Bang" for Weis Tony Schumacher: Schumacher retains No. 1 spot Saturday Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac's consistent runs continue J.R. Todd: Todd sits in 16th spot Larry Dixon: Dixon blasts to quickest pass of season, sits No. 2 Morgan Lucas: Lucas is consistent Tony Schumacher: Schumacher on top of charts Friday Cory McClenathan: Solid effort pleases team Larry Dixon: Dixon kicks off qualifying with sixth quickest pass of the day Tony Schumacher: Schumacher sits 11th Pre-race Alan Bradshaw: Building a 7,000-horsepower Swiss watch Andrew Cowin: Indianapolis Raceway Park holds special memories for Cowin Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff looking for first NHRA Top Fuel win Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein looking to go gain ground in championship chase Clay Millican: Millican ready for run at first NHRA Top Fuel win Dave Grubnic: Grubnic heads to Indianapolis with confidence and aspiration David Baca: Baca to salute the American worker in Indy Doug Herbert: Herbert looking to make an impact at U.S. Nationals Doug Kalitta: Kalitta to run special paint in Indianapolis Hillary Will: Will hopes momentum from Memphis carries to Indy J.R. Todd: Todd ready to win Top Fuel Title Monday. Larry Dixon: Dixon looking to defend U.S. Nationals title at home track Melanie Troxel: Troxel eyes strong results at U.S. Nationals Rod Fuller: Valvoline Racing Top Fuel team has winning on its mind Scott Weis: Weis looking for luck to change at U.S. Nationals Tony Schumacher: Schumacher has eyes on Kalitta

Monday Cruz Pedregon: Pedregon races to quarterfinals Gary Scelzi: Scelzi run strong in first round, loses to Burkart Mike Ashley: Ashley celebrates anniversary with impressive Indy outing Phil Burkart: Round one holeshot win sends Burkart to quarterfinal finish Robert Hight: Hight dominates in victory Ron Capps: Capps takes back point lead Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson's chances ended before the hit Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. drives to first-round finish Tony Pedregon: Pedregon has productive weekend in Indy Whit Bazemore: Bazemore takes shot at third U.S. Nationals win, gets runner-up Sunday Del Worsham: Worsham comes up five-thousandths short Gary Scelzi: Scelzi breaks track record, qualifies No. 7 Mike Ashley: Ashley rides momentum of consistency into eliminations Paul Lee: Lee bit by gremlins Phil Burkart: Burkart finishes strong, will start from the 10th spot Ron Capps: Capps grabs No. 6 Ron Capps: Capps starts 6th Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson stays in the No. 13 slot Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. finishes qualifying in No. 3 position Whit Bazemore: Two-time Indy winner Bazemore claims No. 4 in qualifying Saturday Del Worsham: 0-for-2 ratchets Worsham's stress level to historic levels Mike Ashley: Ashley reaches deep and pulls out a career-best effort Phil Burkart: Solid runs give Burkart a mental boost Ron Capps: Capps posts quickest daytime Funny Car run at 4.77 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson improves in the second day of qualifying Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. powers to third quickest run of career, Friday Del Worsham: Worsham stays frustrated, with broken parts causing aborted run Phil Burkart: Burkart streaks to 4.788, good enough for 9th after one day Ron Capps: Capps debuts new car, qualifies fourth Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson slips and slides down the quarter-mile Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. opens qualifying in No. 5 position Pre-race Bob Gilbertson: Gilbertson ready for 52nd NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Cruz Pedregon: Cruz historically does well in Indy Del Worsham: Defending champ Worsham could use another Indy boost Eric Medlen: Medlen upbeat in preparation for Indy Gary Scelzi: Scelzi seeks first U.S. Nationals win in Funny Car John Force: Force focused on title chase Mike Ashley: Ashley marks his first full year in Funny Car Phil Burkart: It's the Madman's last dance, at 'the Big Go' Robert Hight: Hight's 'speed horse' an enigma Ron Capps: Capps, McCulloch bring 'Revolution' history to Indy Ron Capps: Capps looks to follow in 'Ace's' footsteps at U.S. Nationals Scott Kalitta: Kalitta teaming with Chip Foose in Indianapolis Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson looks for some family fun at the U.S. Nationals Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. anxious to gain elusive U.S. Nationals victory Tony Pedregon: Pedregon to unveil new paint in Indy Whit Bazemore: It's a special race, says two-time U.S. Nationals champ Bazemore

Monday Dave Connolly: Connolly leaves with runner-up Dave Northrop: Northrop loses to Anderson Greg Anderson: Anderson wins fourth consecutive Nationals title Jason Line: Line turned back in second round Tommy Lee: Exciting weekend the team Sunday Dave Connolly: Connolly will start 11th Dave Northrop: Northrop qualifies, Koretsky doesn't Greg Anderson: Anderson’s No. 1 is 50th of career, 10th of year Jason Line: Line qualified No. 3 Jim Yates: Yates misses field Kurt Johnson: KJ steps up to start second Mark Pawuk: A thousandth of a second throws the Cowboy Warren Johnson: WJ overcomes new car blues, will roll off 14th Saturday Dave Connolly: Friday's 6.705-second effort still best for Connolly Greg Anderson: Anderson jumps to No. 1 after second day of qualifying Kurt Johnson: With two attempts remaining, KJ sits seventh Friday Dave Connolly: Connolly seventh after opening U.S. Nationals run Jason Line: After 1 of 5 qualifying sessions, Line No. 1 Pre-race Dave Connolly: Connolly ready for Indy Dave Northrop: Northrop hopes for Indy success Greg Anderson: Indy special to Anderson Jason Line: Line after win at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Jim Yates: Yates working hard to get first U.S. Nationals win Ken Koretsky: Koretsky ready to cruise in Indy Kurt Johnson: KJ is ready to brighten someone’s day, then shine at ORP Warren Johnson:  WJ hopes new car, old track add up to win

Monday Andrew Hines: Hines earns second career bonus event win Angelle Sampey: Sampey loses in finals Antron Brown: Brown loses in semifinals Karen Stoffer: Stoffer qualifies No. 3, wins opening round in Indy Steve Johnson: Tough weekend for defending champ Sunday Angelle Sampey: Sampey qualifies sixth Antron Brown: Brown qualifies 12th Matt Smith: Smith on pole, Ellis confident Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz 5th and ready Tom Bradford: Bradford has it together for raceday Saturday Andrew Hines: Hines grabs Pro Bike Battle bonus race victory Antron Brown: Brown 10th, loses in semis of special race Matt Smith: Smith joins M/T Six-Second Club at Indy Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz jumps to 5th Tom Bradford: Bradford unhappy with consistency Friday Angelle Sampey: Sampey slides up to sixth spot Antron Brown: Brown sits in eighth Chip Ellis: G2 looks to own Pro Bike Battle final Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz pondering Saturday strategy Tom Bradford: Bradford prepped for Battle Pre-race Andrew Hines: Hines aims to keep emotions in check at Indy Angelle Sampey: Angelle hoping to end mini-slump Antron Brown: Brown wants the lead back Chip Ellis: G2 retools for Indy GT Tonglet: Tonglet racing for first U.S. Nationals victory Karen Stoffer: Stoffer aiming to realize Indy dream Matt Smith: Smith prepped for Indy run Ryan Schnitz: Hoosier Schnitz looks for home win Tom Bradford: Bradford looks to be the Ringer in this Battle

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