Championship Drag Racing


Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Chicago, Ill.
(June 5-8)

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Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Team Reports
News and notes from NHRA's Pro teams at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals. These reports will be updated and new ones added as they become available.

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Sunday
Antron Brown: Brown suffers rare early defeat
Brandon Bernstein: Traction trouble hurts Bernstein
Cory McClenathan: McClenathan ousted in close first-round race
Doug Herbert: Herbert sails past 500th NHRA elimination round, reaches final four
Doug Kalitta: Kalitta upset in close race
Hillary Will: Will races to quarterfinals
J.R. Todd: First-round loss for Todd
Morgan Lucas: Double-driving Lucas races to semifinals
Rod Fuller: Fuller races to runner-up finish
Tony Schumacher: Schumacher rolls to fourth victory of the season

Saturday
Antron Brown: Brown drives to No. 2 position
Cory McClenathan: McClenathan qualifies No. 9 on last try
Doug Herbert: Herbert set for 500th NHRA elimination round
J.R. Todd: Todd qualifies No. 4 – best of 2008
Morgan Lucas: Lucas model of consistency in qualifying
Rod Fuller: Fuller improves to No. 10 spot
Tony Schumacher: Schumacher keeps No. 1 spot

Friday
Antron Brown: Brown blasts to No. 2 spot
J.R. Todd: Eventful day for Todd
Rod Fuller: Fuller looks to improve
Tony Schumacher: Schumacher takes provisional pole

Pre-race
Alan Bradshaw: Bradshaw ready to impress in key market for sponsor
Antron Brown: Brown looks to keep momentum rolling
Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein looking to follow father’s path to victory circle
Cory McClenathan: McClenathan seeks first victory at Route 66
Dave Grubnic: Track record holder looking to get up to speed
Doug Herbert: Herbert ready to win in front of Snap-on home team
Doug Kalitta: Kalitta team takes quickest Top Fueler in history back to Joliet
Hillary Will: Will looking for back-to-back wins
J.R. Todd: Todd still in contention for championship
Morgan Lucas: Lucas 30 points from Countdown berth
Rod Fuller: Fuller looking for more Chicago success
T.J. Zizzo: Zizzo ready to get his kicks on Route 66
Tony Schumacher: Schumacher to celebrate Army’s birthday at home track

Sunday
Ashley Force: Force reaches semis; closes in on first place again
Bob Tasca III: Tasca out in first round, will stay 10th in points
Cruz Pedregon: Pedregon powers to third in points
Gary Scelzi: Scelzi continues climb up the points ladder with quarterfinals run
Jack Beckman: Beckman eliminated in opening round
Jerry Toliver: Toliver goes out early
John Force: Force loses close race
Mike Neff: Neff loses to former driver
Robert Hight: Hight falls to teammate
Ron Capps: Capps bows out in first round
Scott Kalitta: Kalitta has breakout weekend
Tim Wilkerson: A good weekend keeps Wilkerson in the lead

Saturday
Ashley Force: No. 1 spots slips away from Force
Bob Tasca III: Tasca to face Cruz Pedregon in first round
Del Worsham: Last-lap best not enough for Worsham
Gary Scelzi: Scelzi seizes sixth spot
Jack Beckman: Beckman drives to No. 15
Jerry Toliver: Toliver qualifies in top half of field for second consecutive race
Mike Neff: Neff races into field
Robert Hight: Hight survives fire, will face teammate in round one
Ron Capps: After long rain delay, Capps nails down No. 4
Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson No. 9 qualifier

Friday
Ashley Force: Force wows crowd with provisional pole performance
Bob Tasca III: Tasca grabs No. 8 spot
Cruz Pedregon: Sore but happy, Pedregon catapults to No. 2 slot
Del Worsham: Worsham gets there, but not quickly enough
John Force: Force in fifth spot
Melanie Troxel: Troxel grabs 14th
Mike Neff: Neff will need to improve to make field
Robert Hight: From No. 1 to No. 11, Hight seeks better spot
Ron Capps: Capps earns No. 10
Tim Wilkerson: Blown fuel line nets Wilkerson only one good qualifying pass

Pre-race
Bob Tasca III: Tasca’s confidence continues to build
Cruz Pedregon: Advice from Force may help Pedregon conquer Chicago
Del Worsham: Worsham's mood intense as Chicago approaches
Gary Scelzi: Defending event champ Scelzi likes his chances
Jack Beckman: Beckman looking for a win in his 50th pro appearance
Jerry Toliver: Toliver wants to make racing fun again
John Force: Resurgent force rides momentum into Joliet
Melanie Troxel: Troxel wants 'one more round' in Chicago
Mike Neff: Neff hoping to defeat heat
Robert Hight: Entering Chicago, Hight puts optimism to test
Ron Capps: Runner-up in 2007, Capps aims to step up this weekend
Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson hopes his “close to home” luck continues
Tommy Johnson: Johnson ready for “quickest and fastest” stop on the circuit

Sunday
Allen Johnson: Johnson tagged with tough holeshot loss in first round
Dave Connolly: Car trouble sends Connolly out early
Jeg Coughlin: Third final of the year pushes Coughlin ever higher in points
Justin Humphreys: Humphreys out on red-light
Kurt Johnson:  Johnson solidifies points lead with win
Warren Johnson: WJ surges to the semifinals

Saturday
Allen Johnson: Johnson takes No. 14 qualifying spot
Dave Connolly: Connolly to start 8th
Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin concludes best qualifying effort of the year in No. 1 spot
Justin Humphreys: Humphreys qualifies 12th, meets Line Sunday
Kurt Johnson: KJ secures sixth starting spot
Tom Hammonds: Hammonds misses at his magic track
Warren Johnson: WJ will start second

Friday
Allen Johnson: Johnson is No. 14
Dave Connolly: Connolly 12th at windy, muggy Route 66
Jeg Coughlin: Strong opening-day run for defending race champ Coughlin
Justin Humphreys: Humphreys stays consisent; 10th Friday
Kurt Johnson: Sitting eighth, KJ looks to step up
Tom Hammonds: Hammonds still in the fight to qualify
Warren Johnson: WJ shoots to the No. 1 position

Pre-race
Allen Johnson: Johnson aims for a successful trip
Dave Connolly: Connolly goes testing to fix problems
Jeg Coughlin: Chicago a sweet (second) home for defending champ Coughlin
Justin Humphreys: Humphreys back in Dodge; looks for improved performance
Kurt Johnson: KJ hunting wins, not points
Tom Hammonds: Hammonds seeks track magic
Warren Johnson: WJ is resolute in returning to winning form


About these reports