Championship Drag Racing


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

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Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

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.

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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


About these reports