Sunday

Mid-way through this morning’s opening round of Super Stock, rain showers and thunderstorms moved into the area, bringing racing to a halt for nearly six hours. As of 3 p.m. local time, we are underway with
Funny Car qualifying.

Pro Modified Changes ‘A Coming In 2020

The Real Pro Mod Association (RPM), the third-party organization that oversees and produces the popular Pro Modified division, and the NHRA conducted meetings this weekend in Indianapolis to address the future of the program. Recognizing the value of the category, the NHRA will in 2020 assume management of the series for the first time in its 18-year history. While the 12-race schedule is expected to remain in place (with specific events to be determined), the participant quota will be opened up to a larger volume of competitors and is expected to include both the ProCharger-boosted combinations, as well as the 959 cubic-inch nitrous oxide engines with a proposed weight addition to maintain parity. Those additions are yet unconfirmed.

With a significant number of race teams throughout the country and various organizations expressing interested in participating in the series — including eight teams identified at present under the existing rules structure — the change of direction should prove a major boon to the world’s quickest doorslammer category.

“We’re still conceptualizing our Pro Mod program for 2020 and beyond, but are committed to ensuring a bright future for these racers and teams,” said NHRA president Glen Cromwell. “We appreciate all that the Real Pro Mod group has done to grow this brand of drag racing, and we’re excited to build on the foundation that has been laid over the last several years.”

The Marathon Man

Alex Laughlin may be the busiest individual in all of drag racing. In addition to challenging for the Pro Stock championship, he’s also competing in Pro Modified with Elite Motorsports and campaigns a pair of family-owned cars in Radial versus The World and, soon, in the fledgling no-prep scene. Laughlin, who won Donald Long’s Lights Out 10 race in South Georgia back in February in his Frankir Taylor-tuned, screw-blower C5 Corvette, will return for the No Mercy 10 race in October, pulling double-duty in both Valdosta, Georgia and at the NHRA FallNationals in his home state of Texas. Laughlin will fly back and forth between venues to get himself qualified at both and, time permitting, will compete on Sunday at both.

Laughlin garnered considerable attention a month ago when his fresh new no-prep Camaro, completed just in time for the Outlaw Armageddon no-prep event in Oklahoma, was denied entry based on the outward appearance of the car. But he and father Kenny, are not backing down from a challenge — he will race that car in some upcoming no-prep events while a brand new late-model Dodge Challenger that is a near copy of the one he famously competed with on Street Outlaws in partnership with Gas Monkey Garage’s Richard Rawlings is completed. If that wasn’t enough, if time allows at No Mercy, he will shake down the recently completed ProCharger-boosted no-prep Camaro on 315 drag radials for a planned debut at Lights Out next fall.

An Early and Unfortunate End

Pro Modified competitor Chad Green, in the first pair of cars out in the final session of qualifying, was involved in a harrowing crash that brought racing to an end for the evening. Green’s nitrous oxide-assisted Camaro got loose and turned sideways near the 1/8-mile, nosing into the wall. At that point, air got underneath the car and launched it skyward, eventually slamming back to earth on all four wheels. Green was conscious and alert and speaking to members of the Safety Safari. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of what sources say is a potential back injury.

Record-Breaking Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod Fields Highlight U.S. Nationals Qualifying

Angelle Sampey earned her first No. 1 qualifier since 2016 and the 50th in her career, as she raced to the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle on Sunday at the 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Brittany Force (Top Fuel) Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) also earned No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the final regular-season race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. It is the 18th of 24 events in 2019.

Sampey, a three-time world champion, used her 6.816-second run at 195.53 mph on her Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson FXDR from Saturday to gain the top qualifying position. A two-time Indy winner, Sampey will face off with Joey Gladstone in the first round of eliminations. Defending world champ Matt Smith will start from second after going 6.820 at 197.25, while points leader Andrew Hines finished third in qualifying with a 6.823 at 195.87.

“I just never imagined that I would get a No. 1 qualifier at this race, this year,” said Sampey, whose two Indy wins came from the No. 1 spot. “It’s been a rough year, and I came here just thinking I was going to do whatever I can. Getting a No. 1 qualifier and getting a confidence boost like this is what I really, really needed right now. I’m feeling much more comfortable going into tomorrow than I did coming into qualifying, and I’m just going to try to keep that momentum going.”

Force became the first female to qualify No. 1 in Top Fuel history at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals thanks to her track-record time of 3.645 at 332.26 from Saturday in her Advance Auto Parts dragster, also accomplishing it in the quickest qualifying field in NHRA history. It is her sixth top qualifier of 2019 and 16th in her career, and Force, trying for her first win at the Big Go, will face T.J. Zizzo in the opening round of eliminations.

“That’s pretty awesome to be able to accomplish that with the Advance Auto Parts team,” Force said. “That’s a big accomplishment, but we want to do more. We want to win tomorrow. To win Indy, it’s joining a list of legends. My dad is on there, and so are so many drivers that I’ve looked up to. Everyone wants to win Indy and our team wants to as well.”

Billy Torrence, who entered the weekend 12th in points, qualified second with his run of 3.655 at a track-record speed of 333.33 as he tries to make a run into the top 10 and secure his first birth in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Defending world champ and points leader Steve Torrence took the third spot with a 3.656 at 331.12.

Funny Car’s Beckman earned his first No. 1 qualifier of 2019, as his 3.861 at 330.07 in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat from Saturday held up. It is Beckman’s 25th career No. 1 qualifier in what is the quickest qualifying field in Funny Car history. He will face Justin Schriefer in the first round, as Beckman seeks his first win of 2019 and second at Indy.

“I think we’ve been as close to perfect as a Funny Car has been lately,” Beckman said. “Everyone on our team is revved up and I think it’s so important to set the tone that you know you can be the best. I feel like I’m doing the best I can, and tomorrow is raceday and you’ve got to be flawless. Tomorrow is not about E.T. slips, it’s about win lights. You don’t even have to be good, you just have to be better than the car in the other lane.”

Beckman’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan qualified second thanks to his run of 3.874 at 327.66 from Saturday, while John Force is a spot behind with a 3.876 at 332.67. Back-to-back Indy winner J.R. Todd starts from the fifth position, while points leader Robert Hight qualified sixth. In all, 15 of the 16 qualified cars made 3-second runs.

In Pro Stock, points leader Butner picked up his third No. 1 qualifier this year and 11th in his career after his run of 6.559 at 210.28 in his Jim Butner Auto Group Camaro held up. Butner will aim to be the sixth straight first-time Pro Stock winner at Indy and will face Kenny Delco in the opening round of eliminations. His KB Racing teammate, Jason Line, will start from second with his 6.561 at 210.64 and will also try to win at Indy for the first time. Erica Enders begins raceday from the third position after going 6.575 at 208.94.

“We have a very good car that can turn win lights on, and we’re happy with that,” Butner said. “We tried a lot of stuff throughout the year, but now it’s serious time. I really want to win Indy to top off my career and that’s my goal. It’s our home track and it’s still the biggest race ever.”

In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, three-time world champ Rickie Smith qualified No. 1 with a run of 5.717 at 251.34 in his nitrous-powered Camaro. He’ll face off with Eric Latino in the first round of eliminations.

Top Fuel

1. Brittany Force, 3.645 seconds, 332.26 mph  vs. 16. T.J. Zizzo, 3.775, 324.67; 2. Billy Torrence, 3.655, 333.33  vs. 15. Wayne Newby, 3.771, 323.19; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.656, 331.12 vs. 14. Terry McMillen, 3.764, 325.14; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.681, 331.20  vs. 13. Scott Palmer, 3.740, 321.27; 5. Richie Crampton, 3.696, 326.32  vs. 12. Austin Prock, 3.726, 326.71; 6. Antron Brown, 3.698, 329.02  vs. 11. Jordan Vandergriff, 3.717, 324.36; 7. Leah Pritchett, 3.701, 322.42  vs. 10. Shawn Reed, 3.714, 326.00; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.706, 332.75  vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.706, 324.36.  Did Not Qualify: 17. Pat Dakin, 3.813, 308.00; 18. Luigi Novelli, 3.986, 295.92; 19. Cameron Ferre, 3.987, 297.29; 20. Chris Karamesines, 4.076, 253.56; 21. Lex Joon, 5.032, 143.25.

Funny Car

1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.861, 330.07  vs. 16. Justin Schriefer, Charger, 4.005, 317.94; 2. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.874, 327.66  vs. 15. Bob Bode, Ford Mustang, 3.982, 320.20; 3. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.876, 332.67  vs. 14. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 3.968, 321.81; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.882, 327.66  vs. 13. Ray Martin, Toyota Camry, 3.962, 325.22; 5. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.883, 331.20  vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.949, 291.13; 6. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.884, 330.07  vs. 11. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.923, 326.08; 7. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 3.887, 330.63  vs. 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.909, 319.82; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.894, 325.85  vs. 9. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.900, 325.30.  Did Not Qualify: 17. Jim Campbell, 4.018, 317.05; 18. Phil Burkart, 4.047, 305.08; 19. Terry Haddock, 4.086, 292.08.

Pro Stock

1. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.559, 210.28  vs. 16. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.640, 206.83; 2. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.561, 210.64  vs. 15. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.635, 208.07; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.575, 208.94  vs. 14. Richard Freeman, Ford Mustang, 6.631, 207.50; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.575, 207.78  vs. 13. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.627, 208.26; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.576, 207.94  vs. 12. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.624, 207.30; 6. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.580, 209.01  vs. 11. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.605, 208.20; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.586, 207.59  vs. 10.
Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.596, 208.52; 8. Fernando Cuadra, Camaro, 6.587, 209.20  vs. 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.592, 208.68.  Did Not Qualify: 17. Alan Prusiensky, 6.656, 207.56; 18. Cristian Cuadra, 6.693, 205.72; 19. Wally Stroupe, 6.694, 206.13; 20. Robert River, 6.803, 202.42; 21. Jeremy Martorella, 6.848, 202.45.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.816, 195.53  vs. 16. Joey Gladstone, EBR, 7.032, 189.34; 2. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.820, 197.25  vs. 15. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.017, 187.31; 3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.823, 195.87  vs. 14. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.974, 191.40; 4. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.846, 195.70  vs. 13. Cory Reed, EBR, 6.970, 191.29; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.878, 194.72  vs. 12. Hector Arana, EBR, 6.926, 194.97; 6. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.879, 196.50  vs. 11. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.924, 193.96; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.880, 195.11  vs. 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.914, 192.22; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.885, 193.63  vs. 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.891, 195.73.  Did Not Qualify: 17. Jianna Salinas, 7.134, 189.55; 18. Michael Ray, 7.164, 185.26; 19. Andie Rawlings, 7.497, 173.90.