Championship Drag Racing

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

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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. About these reports

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

Sunday Andrew Hines: Hines pads nhra points lead with semifinal run Angelle Sampey: Sampey advances to semis Chip Ellis: Ellis exits in opening round for first time this season Chris Rivas: Rivas records first career victory Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec falls to teammate Matt Smith: Bike fails Smith Steve Johnson: Johnson, trying “way too hard,” red-lights in first round Saturday Chip Ellis: Ellis uses consistency to qualify No. 3 Chris Rivas: Rivas takes first career pole Junior Pippin: Electronic gremlins end Pippin's qualifying streak Friday Chris Rivas: Rivas on provisional pole after first day Pre-race Angie Smith: McBride wants to get back on track Chip Ellis: Ellis eager to get back to competition after month-long layoff Chris Rivas: Rivas will continue challenging the leaders Junior Pippin: Pippin looks to extend qualifying streak Matt Guidera: Guidera has new outlook Matt Smith: Smith looking for a win Steve Johnson: Johnson eager to get back on the track

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