KENT, Wash. – Tommy Johnson Jr. picked up the win in Funny Car Sunday at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, denying teammate Jack Beckman’s bid to sweep the NHRA Western Swing.
J.R. Todd (Top Fuel) and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) also took home victories in their respective categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Seattle, the final of three events in the NHRA Western Swing.
Johnson Jr. took out the 2012 world champ in the semifinals after red-hot Beckman’s record-setting machine, which was riding a two-race winning streak, dropped a cylinder at the hit of the throttle. Johnson Jr. moved on to the final where he recorded a performance of 4.073 seconds at 308.00 mph and used a holeshot victory to defeat Del Worsham. The win was Johnson Jr.’s second of the season and 12th of his career (10th in Funny Car). With the result, Johnson Jr. becomes the third driver to win an event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car at Pacific Raceways.
“We’ve got the most consistent car,” said Johnson Jr, driver of the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T, who raced past Paul Lee, Chad Head and Beckman in the first three rounds. “The last seven races including this one, we have been to four finals. We’ve got a really good car and team. We struggled early in the season with stupid stuff that bit us. Everybody has stepped up to the plate lately and it is showing.”
Worsham, one of the three drivers to have a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at Seattle, was appearing in his third final of the season in the DHL Toyota Camry. He defeated John Hale, Tim Wilkerson and John Force en route to the final. Worsham is fifth in points.
Beckman’s semifinal appearance cut series leader Matt Hagan’s advantage to only five points. Johnson Jr. moved to third, 114 behind the defending world champ.
In Top Fuel, Todd piloted his Red Line Oil dragster to a 3.820 at 322.04, defeating Shawn Langdon in the final. The win was Todd’s first of the season, first at Seattle and eighth of his career. He moves to sixth in points with two races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“It’s still so surreal that I’m driving for Connie Kalitta,” said Todd, who is in his second season with Kalitta Motorsports. “He’s done so much for the sport as a driver, owner and crew chief. I’m the luckiest guy out here. This is Connie’s personal toy and he takes a lot of pride in this car. I just love to be able to bring him trophies.”
Langdon advanced to his second final of the season after winning the season-opener at Pomona, Calif. The 2013 world champ was steady on Sunday, beating Antron Brown, Richie Crampton and Larry Dixon to advance to the final in his Knuckle Sandwich/Toyota dragster. Langdon moves to seventh in points.
Tony Schumacher remained in the series lead in Top Fuel, and holds an 87-point lead over Brown. Schumacher lost in the second round to Steve Torrence.
McGaha earned the victory in Pro Stock from the No. 1 qualifying position, defeating Jeg Coughlin in the final with a 6.507 at 212.59 in a battle between Chevy Camaros. McGaha picked up his first career win just last weekend at Sonoma, Calif., and ends the Western Swing with two wins in the three races.
“The fact that we’ve gotten on a roll here, it does give us a legitimate chance at the championship,” said McGaha. “I’ve seen guys in the past maybe peak too early. I don’t know if we’ve peaked too early or not. I don’t really care at this point either... I have 100 percent confidence in my crew chief [Brian “Lump” Self] and I always have.”
Coughlin was appearing in his first final of the season. The five-time world champ is running a limited schedule for Elite Motorsports this season. As the No. 2 qualifier, Coughlin eliminated Aaron Strong, Erica Enders and Allen Johnson to reach the final.
With the victory, McGaha moves to third in points and also secured a berth in the Countdown to the Championship. Greg Anderson, who lost in the second round to Shane Gray, continues to lead the points, and holds a 51-point lead over defending world champ Enders.
In addition to McGaha, Funny Car’s Beckman was the only other driver this weekend who earned a spot in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs that begins Sept. 18-20 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues Aug. 20-23 with the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Pacific Raceways – Kent, Wash.
NHRA Northwest Nationals - Aug. 9, 2015
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL
1. J.R. Todd; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Tony Schumacher; 5. Steve Torrence; 6. Terry McMillen; 7. Brittany Force; 8. Richie Crampton; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Troy Buff; 11. Spencer Massey; 12. Jenna Haddock; 13. Doug Kalitta; 14. Antron Brown; 15. Ron Smith; 16. Dave Connolly.
FUNNY CAR
1. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 2. Del Worsham; 3. John Force; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Ron Capps; 6. Tim Wilkerson; 7. Chad Head; 8. Alexis DeJoria; 9. Robert Hight; 10. Matt Hagan; 11. Courtney Force; 12. Cruz Pedregon; 13. Paul Lee; 14. John Hale; 15. Jeff Diehl; 16. Terry Haddock.
PRO STOCK
1. Chris McGaha; 2. Jeg Coughlin; 3. Allen Johnson; 4. Shane Gray; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Vincent Nobile; 7. Greg Anderson; 8. Jonathan Gray; 9. Jason Line; 10. Bo Butner; 11. Larry Morgan; 12. Matt Hartford; 13. Aaron Strong; 14. Joey Grose; 15. Deric Kramer; 16. V. Gaines.
Sunday's Final Results
Top Fuel -- J.R. Todd, 3.824 seconds, 323.04 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.902 seconds, 307.51 mph.
Funny Car -- Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.073, 308.00 def. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.042, 307.51.
Pro Stock -- Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.507, 212.59 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.532, 212.63.
Final Round-By-Round Results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE -- Richie Crampton, 3.740, 322.96 def. Ron Smith, broke; Brittany Force, 3.774, 324.51 def. Troy Buff, 3.846, 315.34; Terry McMillen, 4.530, 272.56 def. Dave Connolly, broke; Tony Schumacher, 3.773, 323.66 def. Jenna Haddock, 4.123, 241.07; Larry Dixon, 3.753, 325.85 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.552, 172.04; J.R. Todd, 3.763, 327.35 def. Clay Millican, 3.783, 320.89; Steve Torrence, 3.795, 322.19 def. Spencer Massey, 4.105, 232.03; Shawn Langdon, 4.419, 199.64 def. Antron Brown, 4.714, 225.11;
QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.846, 299.06 def. Torrence, 3.832, 310.63; Todd, 3.830, 308.78 def. McMillen, 3.899, 309.84; Dixon, 3.791, 303.16 def. Force, 3.899, 315.71; Langdon, 3.810, 301.07 def. Crampton, 9.909, 82.35;
SEMIFINALS -- Todd, 3.844, 319.29 def. Schumacher, 7.997, 83.19; Langdon, 3.816, 319.90 def. Dixon, 3.952, 240.85;
FINAL -- Todd, 3.824, 323.04 def. Langdon, 3.902, 307.51.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE -- John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.065, 306.60 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 9.951, 90.05; Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.978, 316.60 def. Terry Haddock, Solara, 11.560, 86.32; Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.018, 314.17 def. John Hale, Charger, 6.796, 72.58; Chad Head, Camry, 4.017, 310.34 def. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.137, 252.00; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.075, 307.02 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 5.044, 150.77; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.373, 259.51 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.461, 226.66; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.010, 312.50 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 5.038, 152.49; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.091, 303.78 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.356, 225.79;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 4.057, 308.07 def. Head, 6.481, 143.02; Beckman, 4.024, 312.50 def. Capps, 4.108, 302.28; Worsham, 4.041, 310.41 def. Wilkerson, 4.171, 291.82; J. Force, 4.152, 300.13 def. DeJoria, 10.552, 82.15;
SEMIFINALS -- Worsham, 4.039, 310.27 def. J. Force, 4.094, 308.00; Johnson Jr., 4.070, 310.41 def. Beckman, 4.166, 301.47;
FINAL -- Johnson Jr., 4.073, 308.00 def. Worsham, 4.042, 307.51.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE -- Vincent Nobile, Chevy Camaro, 6.516, 212.59 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.514, 212.13; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.518, 212.13 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.524, 212.39; Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.544, 211.83 def. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.547, 212.09; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.523, 212.83 def. Matt Hartford, Pontiac GXP, 6.570, 211.49; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.502, 212.29 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 18.453, 44.01; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.521, 212.03 def. Deric Kramer, Dart, foul; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.488, 213.40 def. Joey Grose, Camaro, foul; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.500, 212.56 def. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.589, 209.01;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson, 6.570, 212.03 def. J. Gray, 15.593, 52.60; S. Gray, 6.739, 210.93 def. Anderson, 14.840, 56.87; Coughlin, 6.532, 211.96 def. Enders, 6.530, 211.89; McGaha, 6.524, 212.76 def. Nobile, 6.538, 212.43;
SEMIFINALS -- Coughlin, 6.521, 212.33 def. Johnson, 6.572, 211.26; McGaha, 6.533, 212.23 def. S. Gray, 15.389, 67.19;
FINAL -- McGaha, 6.507, 212.59 def. Coughlin, 6.532, 212.63.
Point Standings (Top 10)
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 1,289*; 2. Antron Brown, 1,202*; 3. Larry Dixon, 1,034; 4. Richie Crampton, 969; 5. Doug Kalitta, 944; 6. J.R. Todd, 896; 7. Shawn Langdon, 872; 8. Spencer Massey, 855; 9. Brittany Force, 851; 10. Steve Torrence, 835.
Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 1,177*; 2. Jack Beckman, 1,172*; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 1,063; 4. John Force, 1,025; 5. Del Worsham, 1,004; 6. Ron Capps, 988; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 872; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 870; 9. (tie) Alexis DeJoria, 819; Robert Hight, 819.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,322*; 2. Erica Enders, 1,271*; 3. Chris McGaha, 1,175*; 4. Jason Line, 1,102*; 5. Allen Johnson, 951; 6. Larry Morgan, 906; 7. Shane Gray, 834; 8. Jonathan Gray, 823; 9. Vincent Nobile, 787; 10. Drew Skillman, 779.
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