Championship Drag Racing

NHRA Carolinas Nationals
Charlotte, N.C.
(September 11-14)

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

Sunday Antron Brown: Brown cards runner-up finish Brandon Bernstein: Bernsteins connect with NASCAR friends Clay Millican: Millican leaves first but McClenathan catches up Cory McClenathan: McClenathan reaches second straight semis of season Doug Herbert: Weekend at home track a success for Herbert despite loss Hillary Will: Will ascends to the No. 5 spot in points with semifinal finish J.R. Todd: Todd races to quarterfinals finish Morgan Lucas: Lucas knocked out early Rod Fuller: Fuller races to quarterfinals Tony Schumacher: Schumacher sets Top Fuel win record Saturday Antron Brown: Brown races to No. 3 spot Clay Millican: Millican qualifies 15th Cory McClenathan: McClenathan qualifies No. 2 Doug Herbert: Herbert qualifies fifth J.R. Todd: Todd to race one of his best buds, Brandon Bernstein Morgan Lucas: Lucas faces Herbert in first round Rod Fuller: Fuller qualifies 11th Tony Schumacher: Schumacher to start ninth Friday Antron Brown: Brown races to No. 3 spot Clay Millican: Millican nabs 12th spot Rod Fuller: Fuller races to No. 10 spot Tony Schumacher: Schumacher not qualified Pre-race Antron Brown: Brown ready for Countdown launch Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein counts championship veterans as assets Clay Millican: Millican hopes good outings continue Cory McClenathan: McClenathan primed to begin championship charge Dave Grubnic: Grubnic motivated for Countdown Doug Kalitta: Kalitta ready to start “new” season J.R. Todd: History-making moment awaits Todd Morgan Lucas: Lucas has chance to add his name to record books Rod Fuller: Fulle ready for 'most important' race Tony Schumacher: Schumacher prepared for second season

Sunday Ashley Force: Force beat points leader Bob Tasca III: Frustrating day for Tasca Cruz Pedregon: Runner-up finish places Pedregon in first place Del Worsham: Worsham's 2nd-round finish is good, but not the goal Frank Hawley: Hawley out in opening round Gary Scelzi: A happy Scelzi makes early exit Jack Beckman: Beckman wins Melanie Troxel: Troxel falls in round one Mike Neff: Lane choice costs Neff Robert Hight: Hight races into semis Ron Capps: Capps tied in No. 7 in points after quarterfinal finish Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson doesn’t have the power to hold on to the lead Saturday Ashley Force: Big first-round match looms Bob Tasca III: Tasca grabs No. 12 spot Del Worsham: Worsham's No. 3 holds in the heat Frank Hawley: Hawley earns first No. 1 in 25 years Gary Scelzi: Scelzi zips into No. 14 Jack Beckman: Beckman quickest in final round of qualifying , earns No. 11 Jerry Toliver: Toliver misses the field John Force: Force misses field Melanie Troxel: Troxel ready for eliminations Mike Neff: Neff looks to move up Robert Hight: Hight keeps chipping away Ron Capps: Capps collects No. 10 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson qualifies lucky 13 Friday Ashley Force: Force steps up in second session Bob Tasca III: Tasca 13th quickest after first day Del Worsham: Worsham lands an inside straight to earn third Frank Hawley: Hawley surprising No. 1 Melanie Troxel: Troxel sits seventh Mike Neff: Neff moves into top half of field Robert Hight: Hight just misses top spot Ron Capps: Capps is No. 10 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson qualified No. 11 after first day Pre-race Ashley Force: More history in offing for champ's daughter Bob Gilbertson: A rejuvenated Gilbertson returning to competition Del Worsham: Worsham aims to spin a web in Charlotte Gary Scelzi: Scelzi hopes new chassis will turn season around Jack Beckman: Beckman on fast track at start of Countdown Jerry Toliver: Toliver looks to rock the new house John Force: NHRA playoffs give Force hope for title Melanie Troxel: Troxel eyeing one more win (at least) for 2008 Mike Neff: Neff wants second Charlotte “win” Robert Hight: Hight wants to build championship momentum Ron Capps: New dragway, playoffs a welcome challenge for Capps Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson looks for his momentum to keep him ahead of the pack Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. excited for in inaugural event Tony Pedregon: Pedregon enters the Countdown looking to defend title

Sunday Dave Connolly: Connolly loses close race in Countdown to 1 opener Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin finishes third in first playoff race Justin Humphreys: Humphreys is surprise winner Kurt Johnson: Despite unusual ending, runner-up finish propels K.J. to points lead Richie Stevens: Stevens has no luck Saturday Dave Connolly: Connolly vs. Greg Anderson in crucial Sunday opening round Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin qualifies second Johnny Gray: Gray ready to “wind her up and try her again next week” Justin Humphreys: Resilient Humphreys qualifies 11th Kurt Johnson: Starting No. 1, KJ looks for Sunday success Richie Stevens: Stevens surprising No. 4 starter Tom Hammonds: Hammonds disappointed about not qualifying Warren Johnson: A steadily improving WJ will start third Friday Dave Connolly: Connolly fifth on opening day Jeg Coughlin: Coughlin charges to frontrunner status Justin Humphreys: Humphreys qualified 7th in debut with WJ horsepower Kurt Johnson: KJ powers to the No. 1 spot Warren Johnson: WJ opens qualifying in third Pre-race Allen Johnson: Countdown begins for Johnson Dave Connolly: Connolly’s title run officially begins Friday Jeg Coughlin: Reigning champ is ready and previews inaugural Charlotte race Johnny Gray: Gray makes changes to help him with Charlotte challenge Kurt Johnson: KJ is ready to have fun Mike Edwards: Edwards to fly Joe Gibbs Driven colors in Charlotte Richie Stevens: Koretsky looks forward to seeing zMax Dragway, his team at Concord Rickie Jones: "Rookie" Jones ready for inauguration Tom Hammonds: Hammonds eyes improvement Warren Johnson: Returning to Charlotte reminds WJ of his work in NASCAR

Sunday Chip Ellis: Ellis falls on red-light Chris Rivas: Ignition trouble takes Rivas out in first round Craig Treble: Treble loses on holeshot Eddie Krawiec: Krawiec races to final round Steve Johnson: Johnson wins back-to-back races! Saturday Chip Ellis: Ellis qualified sixth Chris Rivas: Rivas qualifies second, opens title chase vs. DeSantis Craig Treble: Treble ranked ninth Friday Chris Rivas: Rivas second after opening day Pre-race Angie Smith: The Need for Speed, Carolina-style Chip Ellis: Ellis begins quest for first championship Chris Rivas: Rivas inspired, confident approaching start of Countdown Craig Treble: Treble geared up for Countdown Karen Stoffer: Stoffer begins championship quest Matt Guidera: Guidera looking for some Countdown wins Matt Smith: Smith ready for first hometown race Peggy Llewellyn: Llewellyn, R2B2 Motors together for three more races Steve Johnson: The Countdown begins, and Johnson’s ready

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