Hight's Bid Snapped in Semis at Gatornationals
MARCH 17, 2013
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ford Racing’s Gatornationals four-year winning streak came to an abrupt and unexpected end Sunday at Auto-Plus Raceway where, just when it seemed like it had regained its swagger, Robert Hight’s Auto Club Ford Mustang succumbed to a familiar problem – loss of traction.
After qualifying No. 8 and upsetting No. 1 starter Cruz Pedregon in a bizarre second round, Hight appeared to be on the way to a final round rematch with Johnny Gray, whom he defeated to win the 2012 version of the Amalie Gatornationals.
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
In the semifinals, after grabbing a commanding, .095 of a second lead at the start, his blue-and-white Mustang stumbled, losing traction and slowing to 7.164 seconds against the Toyota of Del Worsham. Worsham then fell to Gray in the money round.
While the end result was disappointing, Hight was enthusiastic about the progress made by his team over the past three weeks.
“This race was huge,” said the 27-time tour winner. “It was night and day difference from the first two races. We definitely don’t need to be hanging our heads. We need to build from this weekend. It was a step in the right direction. The first and second round, that was a good race car (but) we’re still learning.
“There is still some little something there that tips this Auto Club Mustang over and makes it shake,” Hight said. “We don’t have a handle on that yet (but) with all of us putting our heads together and working together, we will.
“We are showing progress. We are a better team right now,” said Hight.
He raced past Tony Pedregon in 4.070 seconds in the first round and then nudged brother Cruz Pedregon at the finish line in a race in which the clocks malfunctioned. Replays clearly showed that the 43-year-old Hight got his Ford to the finish line first. How quick he ran, however, was a matter of considerable conjecture.
Cruz was credited with a time of 4.077 seconds at 308.71 mph. Hight probably was a little quicker even though it didn’t show on the boards.
“(That) was one of the most confusing runs I’ve ever had,” Hight said of his race with Cruz. “I’m down the track, racing one of the best cars out here. I’m going down the track and I’m not quite to the 1/8 mile and my win light comes on. Trust me, I am not looking at the scoreboard. I am looking down the middle of the lane. It does catch the corner of your eye, though. Your mind just goes ‘Oh crap! Did he red-light? I don’t think I heard that.’ Then you get out and no one knows who won. Thank God the camera guy wasn’t sleeping on that run.”
A decision to make a rear tire change before the semifinal round may have contributed to Hight’s problems.
“It’s kind of like a chess game,” he said. “When we changed the tires, they told us they weren’t going to spray the track and then, at the last minute, there was a change of plans and the first 150 feet was sprayed. Had we known that was going to happen, we probably would not have changed tires. I am not sure if that made a huge difference, though.”
The marquee match-up between John Force and his 24-year-old daughter Courtney turned out to be anticlimactic. Like Hight, Force’s Castrol GTX Mustang couldn’t get a grip on the left lane and limped across in 6.917 seconds at only 101.56 miles per hour while Courtney sped to victory with her best time of the weekend – 4.092 at 314.83 mph.
“Not a bad weekend for John Force Racing,” Force said. “All four cars got qualified. Courtney is right up there with the points leaders. Of course, I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not worried about that right now. I’m worrying about my other cars and, when it’s time, Mike Neff will shine.
The elder Force, who had won the Gatornationals seven times, was one of three Ford Funny Car drivers out in the initial round. He was joined on the sidelines by Bob Tasca III, whose Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang shucked a head gasket and fell to the Dodge of former series champ Matt Hagan, and Tim Wilkerson, the 2010 Gatornationals winner, who bowed out against Worsham.
“It’s always bittersweet when I have to run against my dad,” Courtney said after running her career record against her famous father to 3-1. “We always play around and have fun with it and have a good time. We knew one of us was going on to the second round, so there wasn’t much to be nervous about.
“We both had good lights and I was able to get a god run down the race track. We struggled a little bit the first day of qualifying so, to go out there first round and make a pass like a 4.09, was pretty unbelievable – especially without lane choice. I was very proud of my guys to get that win.
“The second round didn’t go in our favor,” said the 24-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton. “We slowed it down a little bit and they were able to drive around us for the win. We’ll have to get back out there and do our best in Vegas.”
Until the semifinals, the Blue Oval brigade was looking to extend a four-race winning streak at the Florida track that has hosted the Gatornationals the last 44 seasons. Tasca won in 2009, Wilkerson prevailed the following season, John Force Racing’s Mike Neff was the 2011 winner and Hight the 2012 champion.
* * * *
Final round results from Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway, third race in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR – Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.053, 315.49 mph, def. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.100, 303.50 mph.
TOP FUEL – Antron Brown, Brownsburg, Ind., Matco Tools dragster, 3.761, 318.77 mph, def. Clay Millican Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster, 3.813, 319.67 mph.
PRO STOCK – Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Dodge Avenger, 6.535, 212.59 mph, def. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.26 mph.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Hector Arana Jr., Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell, 6.888, 195.65 mph, def. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki, 6.909, 193.99 mph.
PRO MODIFIED – Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, supercharged, 5.931, 244.60 mph, def. Chip King, Roxboro, N.C., 1969 Dodge Daytona, turbocharged, foul.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Rich McPhillips, Valley Forge, Pa., TAD, 5.331, 266.90 mph, def. Ken Perry, Markham, Ontario, Canada, TAD, 5.420, 262.79 mph.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.609, 259.61 mph, def. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., 2006 Chevrolet Impala, 6.988, 140.11 mph.
COMPETITION – Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., dragster, def. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., 1923 Ford T-roadster.
SUPER STOCK – Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., 1998 Pontiac Grand Am, def. Herbie Null, Greencastle, Pa., 1987 Chevrolet Camaro.
STOCK – Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., 2013 Ford Mustang, def. Charley Downing, Britton, Mich., 2010 Ford Mustang.
SUPER COMP – Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., dragster, def. Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa., dragster.
SUPER GAS – Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, def. Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa., 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier.
* * * *
Unofficial points following Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway:
FUNNY CAR – 1. Tie, Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge, and Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge, 244 each; 3.Courtney Force, Traxxas Ford Mustang, 216; 4. Matt Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge, 209; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota, 181; 6. Del Worsham, DHL Toyota, 168; 7. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 156; 8. Bob Tasca III, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 155; 9. John Force, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 144; 10. Jack Beckman, Valvoline Dodge, 148.
PRO STOCK – 1. Jeg Coughlin Jr., JEGS.com Dodge, 247; 2. Mike Edwards, Penhall/K&N Chevrolet, 243; 3. Allen Johnson, Mopar Dodge, 231; 4. Vincent Nobile, Mountain View Tire Dodge, 224; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens, GK Motorsports Chevrolet, 208; 6. Vieri Gaines, Kendall Oil Dodge, 198; 7. Jason Line, Summit Racng Chevrolet, 197; 8. Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Chevrolet, 163; 9. Greg Stanfield, MAV TV Chevrolet, 135; 10. Tie, Shane Gray, Gray Motorsports Chevrolet, and Chris McGaha, Harlow Sammons Dodge, 115 each.
* * * *
Round-by-round results from Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway, third race in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR
Round 1 – 1. Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, 4.041, 311.99 mph, def. 16. Paul Lee, Anaheim, Calif., McLeod Clutches Dodge Charger, 4.338, 260.41 mph; 2. Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.038, 311.56 mph, def. 15. Jeff Arend, LaVerne, Calif., Grime Boss Chevrolet Impala, 4.484, 210.67 mph; 3. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., Magneti Marelli Dodge Charger, 4.091, 308.00 mph, def. 14. Bob Tasca III, Cranston, R.I., Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 4.259, 269.51 mph; 13. Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Traxxas Ford Mustang, 4.092, 314.83 mph, def. 4. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 6.911, 101.56 mph; 5. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.689, 253.04 mph, def. 12. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., LRS/Diversified Yacht Services Ford Mustang, 6.307, 108.95 mph; 11. Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif., Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger, 4.121, 301.13 mph, def. 6. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Parts Dodge Charger, 4.276, 307.09 mph; 10. Alexis DeJoria, Venice, Calif., Tequila Patron Toyota Camry, 4.085, 308.14 mph, def. 7. Blake Alexander, Wirtz, Va., Auto-Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 6.255, 108.18 mph; 8. Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.070, 313.29 mph, def. 9. Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., American Racing Toyota Camry, 4.788, 177.18 mph.
Round 2 – Gray, 4.080, 312.28 mph, def. DeJoria, 4.127, 307.16 mph; Hight, no valid time, no valid speed, def. C. Pedregon, 4.077, 308.71 mph; Beckman, 4.094, 309.91 mph, def. Hagan, 4.130, 306.87 mph; Worsham, 4.122, 306.53 mph, def. C. Force, 4.135, 310.63 mph.
Semifinals – Worsham, 4.070, 309.49 mph, def. Hight, 7.164, 93.97 mph; Gray, 4.140, 302.89 mph, def. Beckman, 4.390 290.32 mph.
FINAL – Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.053, 315.49 mph, def. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.100, 303.50 mph.
PRO STOCK
Round 1 – 1. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Penhall/K&N Filters Chevrolet Camaro, 6.473, 213.57 mph, def. 16. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., WJR Pontiac GXP, 14.395, 63.47 mph; 2. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Parts Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.49 mph, def. 15. Matt Hartford, Phoenix, Ariz., Total Seal Dodge Avenger, 6.593, 210.70 mph, def. 3. Jason Line, Troutman, N.C., Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, 6.492, 212.59 mph, def. 14. Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, Save the Harvest Chevrolet Camaro, 6.549, 211.10 mph; 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.510, 212.83 mph, def. 13. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., MAV TV Chevrolet Camaro, 13.912, 60.90 mph; 5. Greg Anderson, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, 6.504, 212.16 mph, def. 12. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Mark Christopher Pontiac GXP, 6.757, 209.59 mph; 6. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Oil Dodge Avenger, 6.505, 212.63 mph, def. 11. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Elite Motorsports Pontiac GXP, 6.526, 212.09 mph; 7. Erica Enders-Stevens, New Orleans, La., GK Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 6.505, 212.96 mph, def. 10. Shane Gray, Denver, N.C., Gray Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 15.139, 54.57 mph; 8. Vincent Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger, 6.545, 211.79 mph, def. 9. Chris McGaha, Odessa, Texas, Harlow Sammons Dodge Avenger, 6.548, 211.63 mph.
Round 2 – A. Johnson, 7.201, 151.44 mph, def. Enders-Stevens, 13.412, 63.39 mph; Coughlin, 6.526, 212.29 mph, def. Anderson, 6.540, 211.56 mph; Line, 6.517, 211.98 mph, def. Gaines, 6.507, 212.33 mph; Edwards, 6.488, 213.67 mph, def. Nobile, 6.516, 212.26 mph.
Semifinals – A. Johnson, 6.532, 213.86 mph, def. Line, 6.501, 212.36 mph; Coughlin, 6.525, 211.30 mph, def. Edwards, 14.536, 46.54 mph.
FINAL – Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Dodge Avenger, 6.535, 212.59 mph, def. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.26 mph.
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After qualifying No. 8 and upsetting No. 1 starter Cruz Pedregon in a bizarre second round, Hight appeared to be on the way to a final round rematch with Johnny Gray, whom he defeated to win the 2012 version of the Amalie Gatornationals.
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
In the semifinals, after grabbing a commanding, .095 of a second lead at the start, his blue-and-white Mustang stumbled, losing traction and slowing to 7.164 seconds against the Toyota of Del Worsham. Worsham then fell to Gray in the money round.
While the end result was disappointing, Hight was enthusiastic about the progress made by his team over the past three weeks.
“This race was huge,” said the 27-time tour winner. “It was night and day difference from the first two races. We definitely don’t need to be hanging our heads. We need to build from this weekend. It was a step in the right direction. The first and second round, that was a good race car (but) we’re still learning.
“There is still some little something there that tips this Auto Club Mustang over and makes it shake,” Hight said. “We don’t have a handle on that yet (but) with all of us putting our heads together and working together, we will.
“We are showing progress. We are a better team right now,” said Hight.
He raced past Tony Pedregon in 4.070 seconds in the first round and then nudged brother Cruz Pedregon at the finish line in a race in which the clocks malfunctioned. Replays clearly showed that the 43-year-old Hight got his Ford to the finish line first. How quick he ran, however, was a matter of considerable conjecture.
Cruz was credited with a time of 4.077 seconds at 308.71 mph. Hight probably was a little quicker even though it didn’t show on the boards.
“(That) was one of the most confusing runs I’ve ever had,” Hight said of his race with Cruz. “I’m down the track, racing one of the best cars out here. I’m going down the track and I’m not quite to the 1/8 mile and my win light comes on. Trust me, I am not looking at the scoreboard. I am looking down the middle of the lane. It does catch the corner of your eye, though. Your mind just goes ‘Oh crap! Did he red-light? I don’t think I heard that.’ Then you get out and no one knows who won. Thank God the camera guy wasn’t sleeping on that run.”
A decision to make a rear tire change before the semifinal round may have contributed to Hight’s problems.
“It’s kind of like a chess game,” he said. “When we changed the tires, they told us they weren’t going to spray the track and then, at the last minute, there was a change of plans and the first 150 feet was sprayed. Had we known that was going to happen, we probably would not have changed tires. I am not sure if that made a huge difference, though.”
The marquee match-up between John Force and his 24-year-old daughter Courtney turned out to be anticlimactic. Like Hight, Force’s Castrol GTX Mustang couldn’t get a grip on the left lane and limped across in 6.917 seconds at only 101.56 miles per hour while Courtney sped to victory with her best time of the weekend – 4.092 at 314.83 mph.
“Not a bad weekend for John Force Racing,” Force said. “All four cars got qualified. Courtney is right up there with the points leaders. Of course, I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not worried about that right now. I’m worrying about my other cars and, when it’s time, Mike Neff will shine.
The elder Force, who had won the Gatornationals seven times, was one of three Ford Funny Car drivers out in the initial round. He was joined on the sidelines by Bob Tasca III, whose Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang shucked a head gasket and fell to the Dodge of former series champ Matt Hagan, and Tim Wilkerson, the 2010 Gatornationals winner, who bowed out against Worsham.
“It’s always bittersweet when I have to run against my dad,” Courtney said after running her career record against her famous father to 3-1. “We always play around and have fun with it and have a good time. We knew one of us was going on to the second round, so there wasn’t much to be nervous about.
“We both had good lights and I was able to get a god run down the race track. We struggled a little bit the first day of qualifying so, to go out there first round and make a pass like a 4.09, was pretty unbelievable – especially without lane choice. I was very proud of my guys to get that win.
“The second round didn’t go in our favor,” said the 24-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton. “We slowed it down a little bit and they were able to drive around us for the win. We’ll have to get back out there and do our best in Vegas.”
Until the semifinals, the Blue Oval brigade was looking to extend a four-race winning streak at the Florida track that has hosted the Gatornationals the last 44 seasons. Tasca won in 2009, Wilkerson prevailed the following season, John Force Racing’s Mike Neff was the 2011 winner and Hight the 2012 champion.
* * * *
Final round results from Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway, third race in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR – Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.053, 315.49 mph, def. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.100, 303.50 mph.
TOP FUEL – Antron Brown, Brownsburg, Ind., Matco Tools dragster, 3.761, 318.77 mph, def. Clay Millican Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster, 3.813, 319.67 mph.
PRO STOCK – Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Dodge Avenger, 6.535, 212.59 mph, def. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.26 mph.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Hector Arana Jr., Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell, 6.888, 195.65 mph, def. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki, 6.909, 193.99 mph.
PRO MODIFIED – Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, supercharged, 5.931, 244.60 mph, def. Chip King, Roxboro, N.C., 1969 Dodge Daytona, turbocharged, foul.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Rich McPhillips, Valley Forge, Pa., TAD, 5.331, 266.90 mph, def. Ken Perry, Markham, Ontario, Canada, TAD, 5.420, 262.79 mph.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.609, 259.61 mph, def. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., 2006 Chevrolet Impala, 6.988, 140.11 mph.
COMPETITION – Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., dragster, def. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., 1923 Ford T-roadster.
SUPER STOCK – Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., 1998 Pontiac Grand Am, def. Herbie Null, Greencastle, Pa., 1987 Chevrolet Camaro.
STOCK – Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., 2013 Ford Mustang, def. Charley Downing, Britton, Mich., 2010 Ford Mustang.
SUPER COMP – Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., dragster, def. Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa., dragster.
SUPER GAS – Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, def. Mia Tedesco, Murrysville, Pa., 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier.
* * * *
Unofficial points following Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway:
FUNNY CAR – 1. Tie, Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge, and Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge, 244 each; 3.Courtney Force, Traxxas Ford Mustang, 216; 4. Matt Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge, 209; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota, 181; 6. Del Worsham, DHL Toyota, 168; 7. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 156; 8. Bob Tasca III, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 155; 9. John Force, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 144; 10. Jack Beckman, Valvoline Dodge, 148.
PRO STOCK – 1. Jeg Coughlin Jr., JEGS.com Dodge, 247; 2. Mike Edwards, Penhall/K&N Chevrolet, 243; 3. Allen Johnson, Mopar Dodge, 231; 4. Vincent Nobile, Mountain View Tire Dodge, 224; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens, GK Motorsports Chevrolet, 208; 6. Vieri Gaines, Kendall Oil Dodge, 198; 7. Jason Line, Summit Racng Chevrolet, 197; 8. Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Chevrolet, 163; 9. Greg Stanfield, MAV TV Chevrolet, 135; 10. Tie, Shane Gray, Gray Motorsports Chevrolet, and Chris McGaha, Harlow Sammons Dodge, 115 each.
* * * *
Round-by-round results from Sunday’s 44th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway, third race in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR
Round 1 – 1. Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, 4.041, 311.99 mph, def. 16. Paul Lee, Anaheim, Calif., McLeod Clutches Dodge Charger, 4.338, 260.41 mph; 2. Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.038, 311.56 mph, def. 15. Jeff Arend, LaVerne, Calif., Grime Boss Chevrolet Impala, 4.484, 210.67 mph; 3. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., Magneti Marelli Dodge Charger, 4.091, 308.00 mph, def. 14. Bob Tasca III, Cranston, R.I., Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 4.259, 269.51 mph; 13. Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Traxxas Ford Mustang, 4.092, 314.83 mph, def. 4. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 6.911, 101.56 mph; 5. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.689, 253.04 mph, def. 12. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., LRS/Diversified Yacht Services Ford Mustang, 6.307, 108.95 mph; 11. Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif., Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger, 4.121, 301.13 mph, def. 6. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Parts Dodge Charger, 4.276, 307.09 mph; 10. Alexis DeJoria, Venice, Calif., Tequila Patron Toyota Camry, 4.085, 308.14 mph, def. 7. Blake Alexander, Wirtz, Va., Auto-Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 6.255, 108.18 mph; 8. Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.070, 313.29 mph, def. 9. Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., American Racing Toyota Camry, 4.788, 177.18 mph.
Round 2 – Gray, 4.080, 312.28 mph, def. DeJoria, 4.127, 307.16 mph; Hight, no valid time, no valid speed, def. C. Pedregon, 4.077, 308.71 mph; Beckman, 4.094, 309.91 mph, def. Hagan, 4.130, 306.87 mph; Worsham, 4.122, 306.53 mph, def. C. Force, 4.135, 310.63 mph.
Semifinals – Worsham, 4.070, 309.49 mph, def. Hight, 7.164, 93.97 mph; Gray, 4.140, 302.89 mph, def. Beckman, 4.390 290.32 mph.
FINAL – Johnny Gray, Artesia, N.M., Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, 4.053, 315.49 mph, def. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 4.100, 303.50 mph.
PRO STOCK
Round 1 – 1. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Penhall/K&N Filters Chevrolet Camaro, 6.473, 213.57 mph, def. 16. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., WJR Pontiac GXP, 14.395, 63.47 mph; 2. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Parts Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.49 mph, def. 15. Matt Hartford, Phoenix, Ariz., Total Seal Dodge Avenger, 6.593, 210.70 mph, def. 3. Jason Line, Troutman, N.C., Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, 6.492, 212.59 mph, def. 14. Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, Save the Harvest Chevrolet Camaro, 6.549, 211.10 mph; 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.510, 212.83 mph, def. 13. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., MAV TV Chevrolet Camaro, 13.912, 60.90 mph; 5. Greg Anderson, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, 6.504, 212.16 mph, def. 12. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Mark Christopher Pontiac GXP, 6.757, 209.59 mph; 6. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Oil Dodge Avenger, 6.505, 212.63 mph, def. 11. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Elite Motorsports Pontiac GXP, 6.526, 212.09 mph; 7. Erica Enders-Stevens, New Orleans, La., GK Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 6.505, 212.96 mph, def. 10. Shane Gray, Denver, N.C., Gray Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 15.139, 54.57 mph; 8. Vincent Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger, 6.545, 211.79 mph, def. 9. Chris McGaha, Odessa, Texas, Harlow Sammons Dodge Avenger, 6.548, 211.63 mph.
Round 2 – A. Johnson, 7.201, 151.44 mph, def. Enders-Stevens, 13.412, 63.39 mph; Coughlin, 6.526, 212.29 mph, def. Anderson, 6.540, 211.56 mph; Line, 6.517, 211.98 mph, def. Gaines, 6.507, 212.33 mph; Edwards, 6.488, 213.67 mph, def. Nobile, 6.516, 212.26 mph.
Semifinals – A. Johnson, 6.532, 213.86 mph, def. Line, 6.501, 212.36 mph; Coughlin, 6.525, 211.30 mph, def. Edwards, 14.536, 46.54 mph.
FINAL – Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Dodge Avenger, 6.535, 212.59 mph, def. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS Mail Order Dodge Avenger, 6.514, 212.26 mph.
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