Sunday At Firebird International Raceway Chandler,AZ

Sunday
at Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.
Final finish order
TOP FUEL

1, Antron Brown; 2, Tony Schumacher; 3, Shawn Langdon; 4, Clay Millican; 5, Steve Torrence; 6, Doug Kalitta; 7, Spencer Massey; 8, Morgan Lucas; 9, Brandon Bernstein; 10, Khalid al Balooshi; 11, Bob Vandergriff; 12, Troy Buff; 13, Cory McClenathan; 14, Terry McMillen; 15, Mike Strasburg; 16, David Grubnic.

FUNNY CAR

1, Robert Hight; 2, Mike Neff; 3, Jack Beckman; 4, Courtney Force; 5, Jeff Arend; 6, Ron Capps; 7, Todd Lesenko; 8, Johnny Gray; 9, Bob Tasca III; 10, Tony Pedregon; 11, Cruz Pedregon; 12, Matt Hagan; 13, Grant Downing; 14, Jim Head; 15, Bob Bode; 16, John Force.

PRO STOCK

1, Jason Line; 2, Greg Anderson; 3, Greg Stanfield; 4, Rodger Brogdon; 5, Erica Enders; 6, Vincent Nobile; 7, Larry Morgan; 8, Mike Edwards; 9, Ronnie Humphrey; 10, Allen Johnson; 11. Kurt Johnson; 12, Warren Johnson; 13, Shane Gray; 14, Jeg Coughlin; 15, Ron Krisher; 16, Steve Kent.

Final Results

Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.793 seconds, 319.82 mph, def. Tony Schumacher, 3.813 seconds, 318.17 mph.
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.139, 307.02, def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.168, 309.91.
Pro Stock — Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.558, 211.69, def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.570, 211.06.
Super Stock — Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 9.376, 144.04, def. Ken Etter, Plymouth Shadow, 10.166, 128.60.
Stock Eliminator — Leo Glassbrenner, Pontiac Firebird, 10.571, 116.81, def. Brad Hawk, Ford Mustang, 12.671, 103.00.
Super Comp — Greg Boutte, Dragster, 8.898, 174.71, def. Steve Whitfield, Dragster, foul.
Super Gas — Michael Miller, '27 Ford, 14.757, 84.36, def. Ed DeStaute, Chevy Corvette, broke.
Super Street — Ray Dew, Chevy Nova, 10.874, 128.63, def. Ryan Herem, Chevy Camaro, 10.867, 132.65.
Top Dragster — Tom Koenen, Dragster, 7.090, 189.39, def. JR Lobner, Dragster, 6.824, 196.99.
Top Sportsman — J Wayne Silvia, Chevy Cavalier, 11.560, 101.09, def. Ted Carli, Chevy Cobalt, broke.

Final round-by-round
TOP FUEL

ROUND ONE — Morgan Lucas, 3.832, 307.72, def. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.808, 318.17; Doug Kalitta, 3.828, 321.96, def. Bob Vandergriff, 3.874, 315.86; Antron Brown, 3.805, 321.96, def. Terry McMillen, 4.197, 219.19; Steve Torrence, 3.801, 322.04, def. Brandon Bernstein, 3.794, 319.75; Shawn Langdon, 3.770, 321.58, def. Troy Buff, 3.936, 302.82; Tony Schumacher, 3.770, 323.12, def. Mike Strasburg, 4.217, 208.91; Spencer Massey, 3.769, 325.37, def. Cory McClenathan, 3.964, 255.73; Clay Millican, 3.861, 314.31, def. David Grubnic, 4.817, 150.11.
QUARTERFINALS — Millican, 3.838, 317.87, def. Torrence, 3.796, 318.99; Langdon, 3.791, 318.39, def. Lucas, 4.508, 174.32; Schumacher, 3.819, 315.12, def. Kalitta, 3.856, 307.65; Brown, 3.888, 287.47, def. Massey, 3.987, 262.74.
SEMIFINALS — Schumacher, 3.797, 317.57, def. Millican, 8.924, 83.46; Brown, 3.832, 313.51, def. Langdon, 6.072, 106.18.
FINAL — Brown, 3.793, 319.82, def. Schumacher, 3.813, 318.17.

FUNNY CAR

ROUND ONE — Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.117, 308.64, def. Jim Head, Solara, 5.417, 139.86; Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.072, 309.13, def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala, 5.960, 143.75; Johnny Gray, Dodge Charger, 4.084, 310.34, def. Grant Downing, Charger, 4.422, 217.28; Todd Lesenko, Impala, 4.264, 266.79, def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.325, 293.92; Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.146, 307.30, def. John Force, Mustang, 7.364, 91.30; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.090, 308.57, def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.179, 304.53; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.162, 301.13, def. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.210, 274.33; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.095, 308.85, def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.157, 302.28.
QUARTERFINALS — Hight, 4.613, 241.97, def. Gray, DQ; Beckman, 4.172, 282.24, def. Arend, 4.322, 294.43; Neff, 4.264, 246.75, def. Capps, 7.000, 90.68; C. Force, 4.099, 306.95, def. Lesenko, 7.073, 93.02.
SEMIFINALS — Neff, 4.099, 306.74, def. Beckman, 4.129, 301.60; Hight, 4.158, 304.32, def. C. Force, 4.199, 299.93.
FINAL — Hight, 4.139, 307.02, def. Neff, 4.168, 309.91.

PRO STOCK

ROUND ONE — Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 6.617, 209.98, def. Ron Krisher, GXP, 7.125, 140.23; Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.581, 210.54, def. Steve Kent, GXP, 8.753, 108.86; Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.581, 209.72, def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.598, 210.97; Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.571, 211.26, def. Shane Gray, GXP, 7.003, 158.82; Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.623, 209.20, def. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.592, 210.93; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.567, 210.73, def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.634, 208.39; Jason Line, GXP, 6.549, 211.56, def. Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 7.078, 156.92; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.555, 210.83, def. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.618, 209.52.
QUARTERFINALS — Stanfield, 6.636, 207.85, def. Morgan, 11.083, 77.23; Brogdon, 6.640, 208.68, def. Edwards, 14.908, 53.63; Anderson, 6.569, 211.39, def. Nobile, foul; Line, 6.561, 211.36, def. Enders, 6.610, 209.10.
SEMIFINALS — Anderson, 6.590, 210.21, def. Brogdon, 6.632, 208.36; Line, 6.556, 211.23, def. Stanfield, 6.618, 208.68.
FINAL — Line, 6.558, 211.69, def. Anderson, 6.570, 211.06.

Winternationals 2012

It took 5 days to complete, but the Winternationals at

the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona finally was completed 

a day late. Of course, the Pros finished the finals on Sunday, 

 for ESPN2, but Sportsman Finals were put off until the

following day. 

Fortunately for me and co-writer, Diana Luna, we were

able to have sit-down conversations with Antron Brown

and Matt Hagen the previous day.

That learned in the sit-down conversation was a bit more

about Matt Hagen, the # 12 qualifier and DSR driver of the 

Aaron/Mopar, and of course it carried the # 1 into the 

field this weekend. Being from Christansburg, VA, just having 

this informal conversation was a good learning process. 

The fact that he had a number of experiences in the roundy 

round circuit, he chose to dedicate his abilities in the field 

of driving a funny car for DSR. 

I gained a new respect for that which Matt brings to the sport, 

as well as he as an individual.  Of course, that respect did

not help much on the track in that the winner, John Force, 

was one who has been there so many times. I’ve had many

conversations with Force, in that my involvement began in the

sport began when he started using that phrase, “I’m just a truck driver”

has given many opportunities to sit with him. So much so, 

I was not surprised to see the John Force Grandstands 

in place.   

Antron Brown is a piece of work; excellent conversationalist, 

well read and a great communicator. When he qualified in 

the #2 spot, it was felt he could get around the field and back 

to the winners circle, but as Antron said, these races are won 

by a hundredth of a second, and so it was in nearly every round. 

When experiencing Top Fuel, it’s like a volcanic eruption. 

He did make it to the finals;

 Rnd 1

W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools/Aaron's Dragster)   

                               0.054  3.801et  325.92 mph

(L) Cory McClenathan (Rapisarda Racing Dragster)

                             0.086  5.902 et  108.47 mph  

 Rnd 2

W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools/Aaron's Dragster)   

                          0.037   3.771et  323.35 mph

(L) Brandon Bernstein (MAV TV/Lucas Oil Dragster)

                      0.061   10.000 et  75.56 mph

 Rnd 3

(W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools/Aaron's Dragster)  

                     0.058-  3.819 et  320.28 mph

(L) Morgan Lucas (GEICO/Lucas Oil Dragster)  

                   0.037 -  4.430 et  178.57 mph

 Rnd 4

(W) Spencer Massey (FRAM/Prestone Dragster) 

                   0.049  3.750 et  325.77 mph

(L) Antron Brown (Matco Tools/Aaron's Dragster) 

                 0.036  3.794 et  320.43 mph  

  Fuel Funny Car

Of course, these cars are so unpredictable;

the dominating car last year of Matt’s went 

out in first round of eliminations, losing to Ron Capps.

(W) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger)  

                    0.059      4.093 et  312.06 mph

(L) Matt Hagan (Aaron's/Mopar Charger)  

                0.062    4.298 et   269.73 mph

 There was a lot of action between first round and finals. 

However, between the rain and cold, we were only able 

to see/experience a small portion of eliminations. 

 This is final round results.

(W) John Force (Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang 

                      0.067      4.080 et 315.64 mph

(L) Mike Neff (Castrol GTX Mustang) 

                    0.175      4.036 et 316.82 mph

 As you can see, the Force won this at the tree!

Wonder how that happened over his teammate?
 The weather was so cold, the air temp 63 degrees and

the track temp 69 degrees. My body temp seemed to be

at 20 and my mind told me to go inside the motor home

for a while. 

 Pro Stock

At the start of this process of eliminations, one wonders 

when the Pontiac emblem will finally be retired.  The 

only real way to tell the difference between the teams was 

the paint or in today’s world, wraps on the cars.  Engines 

are the same and except for a few red-lights, the win margins

were + or - .05 seconds at 210 mph or there about. 

Then came the final round  which Greg Anderson worked 

his way through the field for the  win over Jeg Coughlin; 

6.549 @ 210.87 to Jeg’s 6.586 @ 209.62. Very small margin 

for the win, but then that’s normal in this very competitive field.  

Maybe next year the variety will be better. 

 Most enjoyment was in the far off pit area for the 

Sportsman competitors which eliminations carried 

over until Monday, another cold day.

We will venture into the Sportsman Field and

Final results in the next post. 

Conventional Loans May Have all Dried up, but..

Money is still available; privatemoneyexchange.com/esmith

Finally, a Ride for JR Todd & Larry Dixon

 Bob Vandergriff, Jr. has done anything but stand still this off season.

Vandergriff, who won his first career NHRA Top Fuel national event last season, has been feverishly working to expand his Top Fuel team to a three-car operation with J.R. Todd and Larry Dixon as his other drivers.

"J.R. is a very good friend of mine and Larry Dixon and I have been very good friends, we kind of started our careers about the same time and we have known each other for a long time," Vandergriff said. "What we want to do is build a team that is capable of competing with the DSRs (Don Schumacher Racing) and the Alan Johnsons (Al-Anabi Racing) and to do that you have to have the right people in place as well as the funding."

Vandergriff felt especially fortunate that Todd and Dixon were looking for rides.

"For me, I think it is a blessing to have those two guys (Todd, Dixon) available out there to help market and to go to sponsors with," Vandergriff said. "With Larry Dixon, you have a three-time world champion and a guy who has won 60-something national events. That is a pretty impressive resume to present to potential companies that might want to get involved. For us, it just gives credibility to our program to have somebody like that involved with it. As far as J.R. Todd, he gives us another marketing angle. He gives us a younger demographic and he gives us a diversity angle that we can push to potential companies to get them involved in our sport. Best of all between those two guys, they are just both really good people. I think you have to have that to make it all work."

According to Vandergriff, Todd is for sure going to race at Houston (April 27-29), Atlanta (May 4-6) and Topeka, Kan. (May 18-20) for Vandergriff Motorsports. The NHRA season begins Thursday through Sunday at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. "We are working on expanding that into the 10 or 12 race scenario," Vandergriff said. 

"We have talked to a lot of companies and we are still knocking on doors. We are just waiting on some of these people to make commitments on behalf of that to make that happen. Things kind of got started late with Larry and that is the downside of where we are at right now because our season is getting ready to start and putting together something for 2012 is a longshot, but you never know. There may be something we can get started for some races, partial schedules, something to build towards may be getting somebody involved full time in 2013, and that is what we are using the season for, for him."

In Vandergriff's ideal world, he, Todd and Dixon would form a team at Vandergriff Motorsports and all three drivers would be competing in full seasons in 2013.

"That's obviously the goal, that is what we are trying to build towards," Vandergriff said. 

"That gives us the resources and the information and the people to compete against those other super teams. We saw the advantage last year of having a second car from an information standpoint. The amount of runs you get to make down a race track doubles, which is always nice, and it is just a huge help as far as learning and advancing your program."