Top Fuel sophomore J.R. Todd and veteran Funny Car racer Ron Capps immediately dedicated their victories at the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil to close friend Eric Medlen, who lost his life March 23 after a testing accident. The duo joined Pro Stock victor Jason Line and Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Angelle Sampey in an emotional winner's circle Sunday evening at Houston Raceway Park.

Todd held off first-time finalist Joe Hartley, 4.603 to 4.645, to take his fifth victory in 23 NHRA starts. Capps outlasted former world champion Cruz Pedregon with a 4.868 against Pedregon's labored 5.025. Line overcame a .045-second reaction time advantage gained by Allen Johnson to win the closest Professional tilt of the day, and Sampey rode away from good friend Craig Treble, who shut off his engine halfway down the track.

J.R. Todd

Todd's second Top Fuel win of the year in his Skull Shine dragster lifted him to within 16 points of the POWERade lead, still held by "Hot Rod" Fuller, who lost in round one. This was his first win with new crew chief Johnny West, who joined the team two races ago.

Racing against an opponent who had never won more than a single round in a day, Todd stayed focused on his goal and took the win with a 4.603, 313.80 over Hartley's 4.645, 307.79. Hartley's unsponsored car is now 10th in the championship rankings.

"I'm so glad March is over because it was the worst month of my life," Todd said. "I lost my crew chief and I lost one of my best friends, but at least I have this trophy to give to his family. I want to win every race I'm in, but this one more than ever. I was wondering how long it would take me to win a trophy and give it to his family. I guess Eric was watching over me today.

"You have to get in the car and put all the bad thoughts out of your head. We know the dangers out here, and Eric knew what he was doing. Still, you can never prepare yourself for anything like that. He pushed me to be a Funny Car driver, and I made a lap in [Bob] Gilbertson's once, and he was there watching me. Even so, he was thrilled when I got this driving job. We all miss him."

Todd began the day midpack in the No. 7 position and beat Clay Millican, Melanie Troxel, Larry Dixon, and Hartley. On the other side of the ladder, Hartley took out Hillary Will, top qualifier Whit Bazemore, and Dave Grubnic to reach his first final in 57 races.

Ron Capps

Winning his second straight Funny Car title, Capps powered into the points lead with tears in his eyes as his Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T carried him to his 24th victory, this one over Pedregon, who had engine trouble during his pass. Capps might have been tough to beat anyway as he posted his third 4.86 of the day (he also had a 4.87), winning with a 4.868, 307.93 to Pedregon's 5.025, 270.97.

"We're not mourning Eric's loss, we're celebrating his life today," Capps said as he choked back tears. "I miss him so badly. I didn't even want to race this weekend, but Eric wouldn't have wanted it any other way. This trophy is going straight to John Medlen, and I'm gonna have another one made for his mom. 

"Eric's spirit was with us all today, even the fans who showed up in record numbers. I know half of them are parked in the mud and they're gonna need to get towed outta here, but their love of the sport brought them here. That's exactly how Eric was. The only sad thing is I'm gonna miss that text message he always sends me after I win."

Capps beat teammates "Fast Jack" Beckman and Gary Scelzi as well as Del Worsham and Pedregon to move to 24-23 lifetime in final rounds. Pedregon drove out of the No. 1 position past Todd Simpson, Gilbertson, and Jim Head to reach his 53rd final.

Jason Line

Line's win gave the KB Racing Summit team three victories in the first four events, stamping their dominance on the Pro Stock class once again at this early juncture of the season. Line is now second to teammate Greg Anderson -- who won in Pomona and Gainesville -- by 45 points.

This one was a nail-biter as Line gave up a huge .010 to .055 lead to Johnson and chased him all the way down the track, passing him after the last timing cone to take the win by just 23 inches, or .0063-second, 6.661, 207.75 to 6.712, 206.26.

"That was close," Line said. "I saw him ahead of me at half-track, and I thought we might be able to catch him because our cars make good speed, but it was so close at the finish line I didn't know if I had run out of track or not. I admit that I was concerned because I knew he Tree'd me.

"This has been a tough week for our community. I told my wife I didn't even feel like racing, but this is what we do, and it's part of the healing process. It's tough to be too excited, but our team is really off to a great start, thanks to the guys' hard work."

Line evened his final-round record to 13-13 with this win, and Johnson fell to 4-6.

Line had a tough run to the final, getting the better of Phoenix winner Kurt Johnson, six-time world champ Warren Johnson, and two-time world champ and low qualifier Jeg Coughlin. Winless on the year, Johnson took out youngsters Erica Enders, Richie Stevens Jr., and Dave Connolly.

Angelle Sampey

Overcoming a regrettable holeshot loss after qualifying No. 1 at the season opener in Gainesville, Sampey looked like her three-time champion self Sunday, racing past Shawn Gann, Peggy Llewellyn, Tom Bradford, and Treble to win for the 41st time.

Treble gave her a scare, leaving with a .015-second reaction time to Sampey's dead-late .084, but he soon encountered engine trouble, which allowed her to zoom by for the 7.046, 188.91 victory.

"I knew my light was bad," Sampey said. "I just wanted to make sure it was green. There were what, nine red lights today, and I sure didn't want to give it up like that. I wore green underwear today, and now I guess I better wear them every race because it looks like they worked.

"We've got a brand-new Suzuki TL1000 this weekend, and it's working great. It got us another one for all the soldiers supporting this U.S. Army team, and I couldn't be happier. Now we'll have a crazy Cajun party because all my friends and family from Louisiana are here, and they're ready to cut loose."

Treble, who won the season finale in November, looked sharp in beating Matt Guidera, Steve Johnson, and Chris Rivas. He climbed from 10th to fourth in the points.

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