Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Madison, IL
(May 4-6)

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

Sunday Brandon Bernstein: Despite consistency and strong performance, Bernstein defeated early Clay Millican: Millican moves into quarterfinals Cory McClenathan:  McClenathan pleased with runner-up finish Dave Grubnic: Grubnic goes to quarterfinals Doug Herbert: Herbert heads home after first round Hillary Will: Will turned back in opening round Melanie Troxel: Troxel scores third victory career Rod Fuller: Fuller races to semis, regains points lead Tony Schumacher: Schumacher out in first round Saturday Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac delivers on last qualifying run Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies on last attempt during abbreviated qualifying session Hillary Will: Will starts quest for title from No. 13 position Melanie Troxel: Troxel happily qualifies No. 11 Rod Fuller: Fuller earns second consecutive pole Whit Bazemore: Bazemore misses cut Pre-race Cory McClenathan: McClenathan ready to begin climb into Top Fuel top eight Dave Grubnic: Grubnic set to surge in points in St. Louis Doug Herbert: Herbert looks to make headway at GIR Doug Kalitta: Kalitta seeking return of Midwest magic in St. Louis Hillary Will: Will inches closer to elite eight J.R. Todd: Todd better known this time at Midwest Nationals Melanie Troxel: Troxel going for the win Morgan Lucas: Lucas sailing into St. Louis Tony Schumacher: Schumacher ready to defend Gateway title

Sunday Ashley Force: Clutch malfunction spoils Force’s bid to reach finals Cruz Pedregon: Cruz reaches quarterfinals in St. Louis Del Worsham: Worsham powers to final round, loses to Capps in tight finish Gary Densham: Densham challenges points leader in final eliminations Gary Scelzi: Scelzi advances to quarterfinals Jeff Arend: Immovable Arend overwhelmed by irresistible Force Jerry Toliver: Mechanical failure sends Toliver to sidelines John Force: Despite improvement, Force still looking for more Kenny Bernstein: Bernstein battles for position at O’Reilly Midwest Nationals Mike Ashley: Upward trend continues for Ashley with semifinal finish Robert Hight: Hight upset in first round Ron Capps: Capps wins st. Louis for third time Tommy Johnson: Silver lining for Johnson in second round loss to Force Tony Bartone: Unfortunate first round loss for Bartone Tony Pedregon: Despite early exit, Pedregon remains third in points chase Saturday Del Worsham: Worsham lands 13th after shortened qualifying effort Gary Scelzi: Scelzi lands No. 8 Jack Beckman: Beckman's weekend ends early with a DNQ Jeff Arend: Arend uses final lap to edge ahead of the boss, will race from the 12th spot Jerry Toliver: Toliver qualifies for field this season Mike Ashley: Record-setting performances for Ashley again Ron Capps: Capps No. 7 in rain-shortened qualifying Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson qualifies in front of hometown crowd Tony Bartone: Bartone rallys to take the No. 11 position Pre-race Ashley Force: No. 8 in points, Ashley Force making Funny Car history Cruz Pedregon: Cruz ready to win Del Worsham: Worsham shifts focus to bigger prizes, as St. Louis race approaches Gary Densham: Densham set for success Gary Scelzi: Scelzi wants to add to GIR total Jack Beckman: Gateway another new venue for Beckman Jeff Arend: No longer a 'Madman,' Arend returns to St. Louis, flying CSK blue Jerry Toliver: Toliver’s Rockstar Toyota may be a contender in Midwest Nationals John Force: Drag racing's biggest winner off to worst start of his career Kenny Bernstein: Bernstein hopes past success at GIR is sign of things to come Mike Ashley: Ashley hopes April momentum blasts him into May Robert Hight: ‘Hot Weather Hight' hones in on third straight tour win Ron Capps: Capps expects an all-new dynamic in St. Louis; Scott Kalitta: Kalitta and DHL team building momentum headed to St. Louis Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson encouraged by immense local support Tony Pedregon: Tony P. ready for winner's circle trip

Sunday Allen Johnson: Johnson advances to second round Dave Connolly: Connolly beats Coughlin in battle of Cagnazzi Pcars Greg Anderson: Anderson out in semifinal by six thousandths of a second Jason Line: Line nipped at finish line by .014-second Jeg Coughlin: Win-win for team, Coughlin scores another runner-up Jim Yates: Yates’ Pontiac makes right move at wrong time Justin Humphreys: Humphreys gets first round win; drives into semifinals Ken Koretsky: Koretsky runs well, but Connolly runs quicker Kurt Johnson: KJ’s strong run ends in quarterfinals Tom Hammonds: Hammonds ousted in first round Warren Johnson: Second-round gremlin shortens WJ’s day Saturday Allen Johnson: Johnson qualified sixth Greg Anderson: Anderson qualifies No. 1, consecutive qualifying string now at 100 Jason Line: Line second after abbreviated qualifying Jeg Coughlin: Cream still rises to the top in soggy St. Louis Jim Yates: Yates qualified eighth Ken Koretsky: Koretsky qualified 14th Kurt Johnson: With two strong runs, KJ qualifies fifth Richie Stevens: Stevens misses field Tom Hammonds: Varying weather does not stop Hammonds from making field Warren Johnson: A solid WJ starts seventh Pre-race Allen Johnson: Johnson hopes the third time is a charm Bill Windham: Windham pleased with early Pro Stock performance, ready for more Erica Enders: Enders keying on better lights for better race results Greg Anderson: Through six races everything 'awesome' for Anderson Jason Line: Line remains second in POWERade points heading to St. Louis Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin primed for race day success Justin Humphreys: Determined Humphreys working way toward round wins Ken Koretsky: Koretsky ready for sunshine, round wins at St. Louis Kurt Johnson: K.J. looks to tame the beast in St. Louis Richie Stevens: Stevens Jr. feels confident with a new car and a recent semifinals showing Rodger Brogdon: Brogdon fixing the things that have been slowing him down Tom Hammonds: Points ranking, spot in field important to Hammonds Warren Johnson: W.J. tests to improve his grade in Madison

Sunday Andrew Hines: Hines leaves with one crucial round victory Angelle Sampey: Sampey beaten in finals Antron Brown: Brown out in first round Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec suffers first-round loss Matt Smith: Smith runs the table at Gateway Saturday Steve Johnson: Johnson up for the challenge Tom Bradford: Testing pays off for Bradford Pre-race Andrew Hines: Hines look forward to tackling Gateway International Raceway Antron Brown: Brown ready to turn iaround in St. Louis Chip Ellis: Defending champ has designs on repeat win Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec has experience in winner's circle in St. Louis Karen Stoffer: Stoffer leads PSM class entering St. Louis Matt Smith: Smith looking to seal the deal at Gateway Steve Johnson: Johnson primed and ready for St. Louis

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