Backstretch Motorsports

BRISTOL, Tenn. – NHRA Pro Stock legend Warren ‘The Professor’ Johnson (left) added another No. 1 qualifying performance to his career stats, picking up his NHRA-record 138th Saturday at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Tony Schumacher and Mike Neff also were No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Johnson powered his GM Performance Parts Pontiac GXP to a track record performance of 6.674 at 207.43 for the top spot; his second of the season and third at this track.

“Both Kurt (Johnson) and myself have spent some time working on these cars and the crews have been spending just as much if not more,” said Johnson. “It’s come together pretty nicely. We’ve got a few areas we need to work on yet but hopefully we can shorten those things up in the next race or two and be competitive the rest of the season.”

Defending event and POWERade Series world champion Jeg Coughlin did not qualify in his Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt, ending a 70-race qualifying streak dating back to 2004.

In Funny Car, Neff’s run in his Old Spice Ford Mustang of 4.783 at 321.04 from Friday was enough to stay in the top spot and give the rookie his first No. 1 qualifying position of his career.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Neff. “You know I owe John Medlen (crew chief). He’s the one that makes the calls and makes that thing perform the way it does and he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Defending event winner and NHRA legend John Force qualified in seventh spot, while current points leader Tim Wilkerson sat No. 4 in the field.

Defending POWERade Series world champion Schumacher piloted his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.502 at 327.59 and the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel. It’s Schumacher’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 49th of his career and third at Bristol Dragway.

“I do not enjoy getting up and racing on Sunday when we have not found it yet,” said Schumacher. “There’s no good place except qualifying to find that limit. If you use up two of those mulligans on qualifying, then you’re going to have a good car on Sunday.”

Defending event winner Brandon Bernstein currently sits in the sixth spot, while second-place driver in the point standings, Antron Brown qualified fourth.

Sunday’s eliminations begin at noon and will be televised on ESPN2 HD.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Eighth annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q at Bristol Dragway, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.502 seconds, 327.59 mph vs. 16. Alan Bradshaw, 11.289, 85.45; 2. David Grubnic, 4.526, 311.85 vs. 15. Troy Buff, 7.602, 308.50; 3. Doug Kalitta, 4.536, 320.66 vs. 14. Todd Paton, 5.758, 157.15; 4. Antron Brown, 4.542, 330.15 vs. 13. Morgan Lucas, 4.728, 312.50; 5. Hillary Will, 4.570, 323.50 vs. 12. Cory McClenathan, 4.605, 317.72; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.571, 328.86 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.598, 319.37; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.578, 316.97 vs. 10. Larry Dixon, 4.586, 321.19; 8. J.R. Todd, 4.584, 328.30 vs. 9. Rod Fuller, 4.584, 322.73.

Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.783, 321.04 vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.904, 288.52; 2. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.785, 323.89 vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Dodge Charger, 4.901, 314.09; 3. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.792, 324.98 vs. 14. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.896, 313.22; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.802, 318.24 vs. 13. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.880, 310.27; 5. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.803, 311.63 vs. 12. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.842, 322.65; 6. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.821, 319.67 vs. 11. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.839, 318.62; 7. John Force, Mustang, 4.821, 308.78 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Impala, 4.831, 313.29; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.823, 318.02 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.831, 317.79.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Ashley, 4.916, 313.07; 18. Jack Beckman, 4.932, 318.84; 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.936, 301.00; 20. Bob Gilbertson, 4.967, 318.77; 21. Scott Kalitta, 7.306, 308.00.

Pro Stock — 1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.674, 207.43 vs. 16. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.736, 204.94; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.685, 206.29 vs. 15. Johnny Gray, Dodge Stratus, 6.735, 204.54; 3. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.699, 205.66 vs. 14. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.734, 202.58; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.704, 205.32 vs. 13. John Nobile, Stratus, 6.734, 205.41; 5. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.709, 204.26 vs. 12. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.731, 202.91; 6. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.711, 205.54 vs. 11. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.730, 203.77; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.717, 205.22 vs. 10. Todd Hoerner, Stratus, 6.727, 204.98; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.720, 204.51 vs. 9. Jason Line, GXP, 6.725, 205.91.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Schmidt, 6.737, 204.82; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.737, 203.86; 19. Jeg Coughlin, 6.739, 205.13; 20. Dave Northrop, 6.739, 204.08; 21. Kenny Koretsky, 6.740, 204.20; 22. Matt Hartford, 6.742, 204.48; 23. Rickie Jones, 6.751, 204.66; 24. Justin Humphreys, 6.758, 204.35; 25. Steve Spiess, 6.771, 203.86; 26. Rickie Smith, 6.795, 203.28; 27. Ben Watson, 6.795, 202.09; 28. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.815, 202.52.