Championship Drag Racing

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Brainerd, Minn.
(August 7-10)

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

Sunday Antron Brown: Brown falls early Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein clinches spot in playoffs Cory McClenathan: McClenathan is runner-up to teammate Schumacher Dave Grubnic: Grubnic upset Doug Herbert: Herbert falls to Kalitta in first round Doug Kalitta: Kalitta races to the semifinals Hillary Will: Will turned back J.R. Todd: Todd posts quarterfinals finish Morgan Lucas: Lucas 13 points away from Countdown spot Rod Fuller: Fuller drives to quarterfinals Tony Schumacher: Schumacher banks fourth straight win Saturday Antron Brown: Brown winds up in No. 7 position Cory McClenathan: McClenathan posts No. 3 qualifying effort Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies fifth J.R. Todd: Todd seeking start to Countdown rally Morgan Lucas: Lucas celebrates start of his fifth season Tony Schumacher: Schumacher holds on to top spot Friday Antron Brown: Brown finishes seventh Friday Rod Fuller: Fuller races to No. 8 spot Tony Schumacher: Schumacher jumps into No. 1 spot Pre-race Antron Brown: Brown looking forward to Brainerd return Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein looking for event hat trick Cory McClenathan: McClenathan ready to hit his stride as Countdown nears Dave Grubnic: Grubnic hopes to go three for three in celebrations in Brainerd Doug Herbert: Herbert looking forward to Brainerd Doug Kalitta: Kalitta looks to log third triumph in Brainerd Hillary Will: Will believes Brainerd will continue momentum boost J.R. Todd: Todd looking for competitive weekend Morgan Lucas: Fifth anniversary celebration for Lucas Rod Fuller: Fuller looking for momentum Tony Schumacher: Schumacher to continue pursuit of record

Sunday Ashley Force: Low qualifier out in first round Bob Tasca III: Rollercoaster weekend for Tasca, stays 11th Del Worsham: "Crushing blow" fells Worsham in round one Gary Scelzi: Scelzi ousted by J. Force in first round Jack Beckman: Beckman reaches third final round of season Jerry Toliver: Toliver bumped out in first round Melanie Troxel: Troxel advances to quarterfinals Mike Neff: Neff slips to 10th place Robert Hight: Hight loses ground in standings Ron Capps: Capps cedes to teammate beckman in quarters Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson soars to the semifinals Saturday Ashley Force: Force collects second No. 1 position Bob Tasca III: Important first-round match-up for Tasca Del Worsham: Through sunshine and smoke, Worsham stays 4th Gary Scelzi: Scelzi snags No. 15 Jack Beckman: Beckman claims No. 8 Jerry Toliver: Toliver qualifies in top half of field for third consecutive race John Force: Force eyes Showdown spot Melanie Troxel: Last run puts Troxel into No. 14 slot Mike Neff: Neff looking for emotional win Robert Hight: Confidence level high for Hight Ron Capps: Capps squeaks into field in No. 16 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson saves his best for last Tommy Johnson: Team puts event in the rear view mirror, concentrating on Reading Friday Ashley Force: Force leads Friday field Bob Tasca III: Tasca down to two runs Del Worsham: Worsham is No. 4 in his black & white world Tim Wilkerson: Trying too hard puts Wilkerson in the No. 11 spot Pre-race Ashley Force: Countdown berth close Bob Tasca III: Brainerd an important event for Tasca Del Worsham: Worsham as Yogi: "It ain't over 'til it's over" Gary Scelzi: No pressure, Scelzi says Jack Beckman: Brainerd an important stop for Beckman Jerry Toliver: Toliver goes for major push to qualify for Countdown John Force: Force tries to reverse trend Melanie Troxel: Troxel shifting focus to winning races Mike Neff: Neff focused with three races left before Countdown Robert Hight: Sonoma win has Hight riding high Ron Capps: Capps focused on points rise Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson getting into top shape Tommy Johnson: Johnson looking to go rounds

Sunday Dave Connolly: Connolly runner-up, moves to 8th in Countdown standings Jeg Coughlin: Final-four finish secures playoff berth for Coughlin Justin Humphreys: Humphreys leaves too soon Kurt Johnson: Johnson powers to an impressive win Richie Stevens: Positive outing for Stevens despite first-round loss Saturday Dave Connolly: Connolly qualifies eighth, faces Stevens in first round Greg Anderson: Anderson reaches pole milestone Jeg Coughlin: Consistent Coughlin has a car that can win Justin Humphreys: Good qualifying runs in heat send Humphreys into sixth place Kurt Johnson: Quickest run of the day catapults KJ into the second starting position Richie Stevens: Stevens qualifies ninth Rickie Jones: Jones solidly into field Warren Johnson: WJ steps up, will start third Friday Dave Connolly: Connolly holds ninth Jeg Coughlin: Defending champ Coughlin earns comfortable mid-pack slot Richie Stevens: Stevens off to good start Pre-race Allen Johnson: Johnson seeks to keep streak burning Dave Connolly: Connolly focusing on moving up in points Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin on cusp of clinching playoff spot Justin Humphreys: Humphreys faces ‘tough’ odds for making top 10 Richie Stevens: Stevens to drive new-look Nitro Fish Pontiac

Sunday Andrew Hines: Hines holds on to nhra points lead Angelle Sampey: Sampey to finals Chip Ellis: Ellis goes to semifinals for fifth time this season Chris Rivas: Weird happenings in Rivas’ first-round loss Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec out in first round Matt Smith: Smith fights kidney stones to win Saturday Chip Ellis: Ellis qualifies for his 60th consecutive national event in No. 7 Chris Rivas: Rivas will start second for second time in two races Friday Chris Rivas: Rivas jumps to top of line-up Pre-race Chip Ellis: Ellis looking to notch win, keep up positive momentum Chris Rivas: It’s all about points for Rivas Matt Guidera: Guidera hoping to clinch a Countdown spot Matt Smith: Smith to debut new bike Steve Johnson: Johnson determined to qualify for Countdown; “this weekend is critical!”

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