Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
Houston, TX
(March 31-April 2)

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Team Reports News and notes from NHRA's Pro teams at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals. These reports will be updated and new ones added as they become available. About these reports

Sunday Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff advances to Houston quarterfinals Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein celebrates ninth career victory in home state Clay Millican: Millican reaches semifinals Cory McClenathan: McClenathan goes to semifinals, moves into Top 10 Dave Grubnic: Grubnic out in first round Doug Herbert: Tire shake claims Herbert in the first round Doug Kalitta: Kalitta falls in opening frame Hillary Will: Will out in round two, focus shifts to Las Vegas Larry Dixon: Dixon races to quarterfinal finish, second in standings Melanie Troxel: Troxel reaches fifth consecutive final round Morgan Lucas: Lucas maintains fifth position in standings Rod Fuller: Fuller crosses centerline in first round Scott Weis: Weis rides the ins and outs Tony Schumacher: Schumacher out in first round Saturday Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff begins eliminations from No. 15 Clay Millican: Final run puts Millican into line-up Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac takes top qualifying spot Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies in the top half Doug Kalitta: Kalitta qualifies No. 2 Hillary Will: Will qualified No. 14, faces Herbert in eliminations Melanie Troxel: For second straight race, Troxel gets into the show on final qualifying run Morgan Lucas: Lucas has last laugh on April Fools Day Rod Fuller: 'Hot Rod's' wild weekend turns to eliminations Tony Schumacher: Schumacher qualifies fourth Friday Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac sixth following opening runs Larry Dixon: Dixon finishes eighth Friday Tony Schumacher: Schumacher qualified third Pre-race Alan Bradshaw: Bradshaw getting comfortable in Top Fuel Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff ready to rock Houston Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein looking for good showing in home state Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac ready to challenge for Houston race win Dave Grubnic: Primate-free, Grubnic heads to Houston for more wins Doug Herbert: 'Dougzilla' heads to Texas hungry for a victory Doug Kalitta: Kalitta anxious for more final rounds and wins Hillary Will: Will looks for 'Girl Power' to continue in Houston Larry Dixon: Dixon hopes to master the field at Houston Melanie Troxel: Points leader Troxel realistic about her hot streak Morgan Lucas: Lucas intends to be second-to-none in Texas Rod Fuller: Fuller looks for second win of season at team owner's home track Scott Weis: Weis looks to enjoy springtime in Houston Tony Schumacher: Schumacher hopes Houston Raceway Park magic continues

Sunday Bob Gilbertson: Gilbertson runner-up, jumps to eighth in points Cruz Pedregon: Fuel leak sidelines Pedregon Del Worsham: Worsham records fourth straight second-round finish Eric Medlen: Medlen upset by Gilbertson John Force: Force forced out by Capps Mike Ashley: Near-perfect reaction time for Ashley Phil Burkart: Ultra-consistent weekend ends with round-two surprise Ron Capps: Capps continues to roll, wins his second straight Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. races to first-round effort Tony Pedregon: Pedregon reaches quarterfinals in Houston Whit Bazemore: Bazemore out early Saturday Bob Gilbertson: Last-ditch effort nets spot in field Del Worsham: Worsham lands 5th, will face Ashley in round one Gary Scelzi: In a strange twist, Scelzi fails to qualify Mike Ashley: Ashley speeds into Sunday Paul Lee: Lee pleased despite DNQ Phil Burkart: Burkart continues consistency, will race out of 7th spot on Sunday Ron Capps: Points leader Capps lands No. 4 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson misses again Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. races to No. 6 qualifying position Whit Bazemore: Bazemore collects No. 9 Friday Del Worsham: Worsham's jackpot features three 7s, landing him 4th Mike Ashley: Ashley earns provisional No. 10 Paul Lee: Lee makes most of first appearance Phil Burkart: Burkart feels his way to No. 6 spot with a strong 4.797 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson is on the outside looking in Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. drives to No. 5 spot Pre-race Bob Gilbertson: Gilbertson upbeat heading to Houston Cruz Pedregon: Cruz ready to cruise in Houston Del Worsham: Worsham eyes Houston, where his 'modern era' began Eric Medlen: Medlen hoping to move up in points race Gary Scelzi: Scelzi buoyed by testing en route to Houston John Force: Cameras again focus on Force in latest bid for championship Mike Ashley: Ashley pleased with performance heading into Houston Paul Lee: Lee ready for Houston nitro debut Phil Burkart: Consistent Burkart ready to bust loose in Baytown Robert Hight: Hight defends Funny Car title at O'Reilly Spring Nationals Ron Capps: Capps wants to stay under radar in Houston Scott Kalitta: Kalitta remembers his first NHRA win in Houston with a smile and a grimace Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson looks to rebound in the Lone Star State Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. eyes rebound performance at Houston Tony Pedregon: Pedregon looking for fifth Houston title Whit Bazemore: Bazemore back in fast lane for Houston

Sunday Dave Connolly: Connolly advances to quarterfinals Erica Enders: Enders gains ground on Anderson Greg Anderson: Anderson out in two, plans to test for Las Vegas Jason Line: Line advances to semifinals Jim Yates: Yates runner-ups; jumps to eighth in points Kurt Johnson: Freak failure cuts KJ’s day short Mark Pawuk: Another two thousandths disappointment for 'The Cowboy' Richie Stevens: Hard-luck loss, Stevens Jr. loses on a holeshot Warren Johnson: WJ’s hopes of a repeat are shattered early i Saturday Dave Connolly: Connolly qualifies 12th Greg Anderson: Anderson No. 2 Jim Yates: Yates' best of 6.720 comes on final run Kurt Johnson: KJ will start fifth Mike Thomas: Mechanical woes keep Thomas on sidelines Richie Stevens: Stevens takes 'anything can happen on Sunday' attitude into eliminations Shaun Carlson: Rookie Carlson still adapting and learning Warren Johnson: WJ qualifies 11th Friday Dave Connolly: Connolly seventh after Friday runs Kurt Johnson: Consistent KJ holds the third spot halfway through qualifying Warren Johnson: WJ opens qualifying in sixth Pre-race Dave Connolly: Connolly, Adams work hard to end team's slow start Erica Enders: Enders ready to make history with a hometown win Greg Anderson: Back to business as usual for Anderson Jason Line: ‘Focus’ operative word for Line at Houston Jim Yates: Yates encouraged by performance improvements in Pro Stock GTO Kurt Johnson: KJ determined to start his excavation project in Houston Mike Thomas: Thomas, Guarnaccia look for better performance at Spring Nationals Richie Stevens: Stevens puts focus on racing, despite hurricane distractions Rickie Smith: Skull Gear team launches stealth attack on championship Shaun Carlson: Rookie Carlson aims to continue his progress in Houston Warren Johnson: 'The Professor' works to have 'all systems go' in Houston

Sunday Angelle Sampey: Sampey wins second straight race Antron Brown: Brown exits in second round Karen Stoffer: Stoffer retains top-10 standing Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz breaks in Round 2 Steve Johnson: Out of the groove, Johnson’s day ends early in Texas Tom Bradford: Bradford goes -.003 red Saturday Angelle Sampey: Sampey takes over top spot Antron Brown: Brown falls into second spot Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz leaps to 6th Tom Bradford: A "Strategy Day" for Bradford Friday Angelle Sampey: Sampey qualified 15th Antron Brown: Brown leads Pro Stock Motorcycles Ryan Schnitz: Ninth not good enough for Schnitz Tom Bradford: Bradford beats the humidity Pre-race Angelle Sampey: Sampey hoping to extend early lead Antron Brown: Brown ready to run Chip Ellis: Ellis looking to build on solid start Connie Cohen: Cohen gets a second chance Karen Stoffer: Stoffer aiming for Houston three-peat Matt Smith: Smith eyes Houston race

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