Championship Drag Racing

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, IN
(August 29-September 3)

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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 fourth after opening race of Countdown to Four Cory McClenathan: Quarterfinal finish for McClenathan Dave Grubnic: Grubnic ousted early Doug Foley: Foley qualifies intop half, out in round one Doug Herbert: Herbert gains ground in Countdown to Four Hillary Will: Will advances to second round Melanie Troxel: Troxel marches to semifinals Morgan Lucas: First-round loss for Lucas Rod Fuller: Fuller drives to semifinal finish T.J. Zizzo: Big weekend for Zizzo ends in first round Tony Schumacher: Schumacher rolls to sixth Indy win Sunday Dave Grubnic: Grubnic leads Team Kalitta qualifying Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies for tough field Doug Kalitta: Kalitta narrowly misses field Hillary Will: Will qualified No. 10 J.R. Todd: Todd doesn't qualify Melanie Troxel: Troxel having fun again Morgan Lucas: Lucas is thinking major win Rod Fuller: Fuller qualifies sixth Tony Schumacher: Schumacher to start from No. 1 spot Whit Bazemore: Bazemore now focused on Memphis Saturday Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac comes through, moves to ninth Doug Herbert: Herbert solidly in field Melanie Troxel: Consistency offers Troxel high performance Morgan Lucas: Strong performance offers Lucas insight Rod Fuller: Fuller remains sixth T.J. Zizzo: Zizzo runs career best for 14th provisional qualifying position Tony Schumacher: Schumacher stays number one Whit Bazemore: Bazemore improves Friday Cory McClenathan: McClenathan inadvertently shuts off engine Rod Fuller: Fuller drives to No. 6 spot T.J. Zizzo: One down and four to go for Zizzo Tony Schumacher: Schumacher jumps to the top spot Whit Bazemore: Bazemore looks to improve Pre-race Alan Bradshaw: A long time coming for Bradshaw Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein to debut Elvis paint scheme at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Cory McClenathan: McClenathan looks ahead; excited about new team’s potential Dave Grubnic: Grubnic and the Zantrex-3 team see Indy as a new beginning Doug Herbert: Herbert rides momentum into most celebrated race of the year J.R. Todd: 'A lot at stake’ for Todd going into U.S. Nationals Melanie Troxel: Troxel's Indy revelry includes winning ideas Morgan Lucas: Consistency makes Lucas a Mac Tools U.S. Nationals contender T.J. Zizzo: Zizzo ready to party at Indy Tony Schumacher: Schumacher ready for Countdown to Four

Monday Ashley Force: Force goes to second round Del Worsham: Worsham reaches second consecutive semifinal Gary Densham: Densham disappointed with first round elimination Gary Scelzi: Scelzi booted out in first round Jack Beckman: Beckman finishes u. in quarters, is fifth in Countdown Jeff Arend: Arend upset in round one Jerry Toliver: Toliver loses close one Jon Capps: Capps advances to the quarterfinals Kenny Bernstein: Bernstein moves into top 10 in NHRA point standings Mike Ashley: Ashley wins Indy Robert Hight: Hight leads way with runner-up finish Ron Capps: Capps bounced in opening round Scott Kalitta: Kalitta almost bag big first-round upset Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson didn't have enough against the quickest of the round Tony Pedregon: Pedregon moves into third in the Countdown to the Championship Sunday Cruz Pedregon: Pedregon faces tough competition at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Del Worsham: Worsham's strong finale sets the stage Gary Scelzi: Scelzi nabs No. 10 Jack Beckman: Beckman wins Showdown, qualifies No. 3 Jeff Arend: Arend stays atop the field Jerry Toliver: Ninth-place start for Toliver John Force: Force takes DNQ in stride Jon Capps: Capps qualifies for brutal field Mike Ashley: Ashley earns semifinals in Showdown and No. 6 eliminations berth Ron Capps: Capps is Showdown runner-up, qualifies No. 5 Tim Wilkerson: No. 15 qualifying position may be a lucky omen Saturday Del Worsham: Worsham goes 1 for 2, slips to 7th spot Jeff Arend: Arend stays No. 1, makes second-quickest lap on Saturday night Jerry Toliver: Toliver ninth after second day Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson is pleased with his two good runs Friday Del Worsham: Worsham roars to No. 5 spot on day one Jeff Arend: Arend sitting pretty, as No. 1 qualifier Jerry Toliver: Toliver posts sixth-quickest time Mike Ashley: Ashley provisional ninth after his busiest racing day ever Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson was looking for a better start to the weekend Pre-race Ashley Force: Ashley in 'spoiler' role as tour moves to Indy Bob Gilbertson: Gilbertson looking to make some noise at Indy Cruz Pedregon: Veteran tuner Tobler joins Pedregon racing for U.S. Nationals Del Worsham: No lack of motivation for Worsham, despite countdown miss Gary Densham: It’s the show of shows for Funny Car driver Densham Gary Scelzi: Fueled by strong tests, Scelzi stoked for U.S. Nationals Jack Beckman: Consistency earns Beckman slots in Countdown and Showdown Jeff Arend: 'The rest of the story' begins this weekend for Arend Jerry Toliver: Toliver hopes to turn test success into victory at Indy John Force: Despite qualifying struggles, Force a Countdown favorite Kenny Bernstein: Bernstein says Monster team focused and optimistic for Indy Mike Ashley: Ashley believes in 'power over force' Ron Capps: Capps aims to 'Ace' U.S. Nationals Scott Kalitta: Kalitta and the DHL team hope a win in Indy will kick start stretch run Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson looking to Indy and beyond Tommy Johnson: Johnson geared up for Skoal Showdown Tony Pedregon: Pedregon continues quest for championship as countdown to four begins

Monday Allen Johnson: A.J. exits in second round Dave Connolly: Connolly dominates, wins second in row Greg Anderson: Anderson denied historic fifth consecutive Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win Jason Line: Line out in opening round Justin Humphreys: Newcomer reaches quarterfinals Ken Koretsky: Koretsky drives into semifinals Kurt Johnson: KJ charges to semifinals, climbs to fourth in standings Richie Stevens: Stevens has rough day Sunday Allen Johnson: A.J. collects No. 4 Bill Windham: Windham’s best outing falls short Dave Connolly: Connolly third in lineup Greg Anderson: Anderson qualifies No. 9, goes after historic 5th consecutive Indy win Jason Line: Line starts from the No. 14 spot Jeg Coughlin: Championship implications already at a fever pitch for Coughlin Justin Humphreys: Humphreys qualifies sixth in first Indy Ken Koretsky: Koretsky earns No. 10 starting slot Kurt Johnson: KJ qualifies fifth Richie Stevens: Stevens earns No. 11 Rickie Smith: Smith needed just a little more horsepower Saturday Dave Connolly: Connolly fourth after second day Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin remains a top-half player despite heat Kurt Johnson: KJ stays fast, sitting fifth Friday Dave Connolly: Connolly ninth after first session Jeg Coughlin: Day 1 field slots Coughlin fifth overall Kurt Johnson: KJ speeds to third Pre-race Allen Johnson: Johnson's title hopes still alive as Countdown to Four begins Bill Windham: Windham likes chances of qualifying for U.S. Nationals Greg Anderson: Anderson goes after historic fifth consecutive U.S. Nationals win Jason Line: Like most Line wants to win Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Jeg Coughlin: Enviable Indy streak has Coughlin's interest piqued Justin Humphreys: Humphreys wants to go straight into the Pro Stock lineup Ken Koretsky: Koretsky seeking return to Mac Tools U.S. Nationals title round Kurt Johnson: A proven closer, K.J. is ready to start stage two in Indy Richie Stevens: Stevens ready to assume spoiler role at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Rickie Smith: Smith looks to mix it up at Indy Warren Johnson: 'The Professor' looks to achieve a perfect balance in Indy

Monday Angelle Sampey: Sampey out in first round Antron Brown: Brown loses in quarterfinals Chris Rivas: High gear costs Rivas win at Indy Matt Smith: Smith keeps momentum as points leader Sunday Angelle Sampey:  Sampey sits 12th Antron Brown: Brown qualifies ninth Saturday Angelle Sampey: Sampey qualified eighth Antron Brown: Brown sits ninth Friday Angelle Sampey: Sampey disappointed with 11th Antron Brown: Brown sits seventh Pre-race Andrew Hines: Hines set for second segment of Countdown to the Championship Angelle Sampey: Sampey excited about Countdown to Four Antron Brown: Brown looking to play spoiler role Chris Rivas: Rivas looks to be a spoiler in Indy Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec enjoying his role in POWERade playoffs Karen Stoffer: Stoffer reaching for biggest win of her career Matt Smith: Smith heads to Indy as defending champ Steve Johnson: Johnson ready for history to repeat itself

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