Backstretch Motorsports

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Feb. 24, 2010) - Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel driver Antron Brown would like to extend his condolences to the family and friends of a woman who was killed on Sunday at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. on Feb. 21.

“My heart and my prayers go out to the woman’s family and friends,” Brown said. “Our focus is on the family’s well being during this very challenging time. We ask that the entire NHRA community keep the family in your thoughts and prayers, and also ask all of our fans and supporters to keep the family in your prayers. We also want to thank the fans for their support and words of encouragement.”

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2010) - After a long Sunday when the finals were postponed until Monday, Cory McClenathan and the FRAM Top Fuel Dragster team endured another long, rainy day in the so-called Valley of the Sun. It was worth the wait, however, as McClenathan grabbed his first victory of the season, the 32nd of his career in 58 final rounds, and the third at this event.

McClenathan, whose hot rod has been the class of the field in these first two events of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, defeated Doug Kalitta in the final round, almost matching his quickest of the day overall on Sunday of 3.812/311.70, by posting a 3.813/316.67 to Kalitta’s tire-smoking 4.730/219.47.

“It was a strange weekend and obviously a lot of things happening, especially with the rain delays,” said McClenathan, who took over the points lead with his victory. “It probably rained three different times today, so it was crazy. But, at the same time, it feels good to out and win right now and get a little bit of a head start on this year.

“It really was terrific to go out and run a 3.81 at 316 mph on what was a very green race track today after the rain. The consistency we’ve shown both days in these conditions just tells you how good this race car is right now. (Co-crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Phil (Shuler) and the guys did a great job with the FRAM dragster. Obviously all the guys prepared the car well, kept it safe and all in one piece and kept it going down the track every single time. Right now it’s just a bracket car.

“It feels good. It’s nice to be leading the points right now and have a good race car underneath me and going into the third race of the season having won one, so we have that monkey off our backs. Now we can go out and just try to go rounds. And that’s what it’s all about right now, is going rounds. I’m excited for the season, I really am.”

Next up is the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 13-15, 2010.

UNOFFICIAL TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS, AFTER TWO EVENTS, as of 2/22/10, following today’s Phoenix race:

1. Cory McClenathan, 201 (winner today)
2. Doug Kalitta, 196 (runner-up today)
3. Larry Dixon, 161
4. Tony Schumacher, 139
5. Morgan Lucas, 108
6. Steve Torrence, 105
7. Troy Buff, 103
8. Shawn Langdon, 89
9. Antron Brown, 87
10 Brandon Bernsstein, 85

***

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2010) - In a rain-delayed Monday race at the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, “Fast” Jack Beckman collected his ninth NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national-event win in his 18th career final round, by outpacing 14-time John Force in the final round.

Driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car, honoring the U.S. Troops overseas with its “To Afghanistan With Love” theme, Beckman produced a stellar run of 4.121 seconds at 301.13 mph to defeat Force’s tire-smoking 6.316/106.24, earning his first win of the 2010 season and his second at this venue (2008).

“I always wondered what it was like for the pro drivers who won a delayed race and nobody was in the stands,” said Beckman, who is now second in the point standings. “You like to get that fan fare of everybody cheering when you’re coming back down the return road. That is an irreplaceable feeling. We didn’t have that today.

“This victory was special for a couple of reasons. We overcame a lot of adversity this weekend, we weathered the storm and beat John Force in the final.

“It was a very tragic weekend and our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved one on Sunday. It’s very difficult for all the racers when something like that happens. To overcome the heavy emotions that go with that and have all the guys go out and do their jobs perfectly is amazingly rewarding.

“And then to be able to keep our focus during all these delays, and there were lots and lots of delays. It was not just yesterday, but today as well. And to be able to beat John Force when John is back in his prime, was also rewarding.

“Some have argued that he has spread himself too thin the last few years and perhaps he wasn’t the same as that John Force that dominated for so long. I think car-wise and driver-wise he’s back at the top of his game. So, for us to go out there and beat him when that team has been running so well, I think we’re making a statement and making it early.”

Next up is the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 13-15, 2010.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, AFTER TWO EVENTS, as of 2/22/10:

1. John Force, 224 (runner-up today)
2. Jack Beckman, 187 (winner today)
3. Ron Capps, 148
4. Robert Hight, 121
5. Matt Hagan, 120
6. Ashley Force Hood, 111
7. Bob Tasca III, 111
8. Tony Pedregon, 104
9. Del Worsham, 97
10. Jim Head, 86

***

JOLIET, Ill. – One-third of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season has crossed the finish line at more than 300 miles per hour and despite what many prognosticators had forecast during the last off-season, six-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2008 Driver of the Year, is still right there, at the top of the championship points order.

It is a comfortable position for the driver of the U.S. Army dragster, who with 59 victories is the all-time wins leader in the 7,000 horsepower category. With 91 final round appearances he is quickly tracking the final class record that he doesn’t already own: Joe Amato’s mark of 99 career finals. [read more...]

TOPEKA, Kan. – Antron Brown kept the top spot in Top Fuel as qualifying came to an end at the 21st annual O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Ashley Force Hood and Mike Edwards also held on to their No. 1 qualifying positions at the ninth of 24 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. [read more...]

TOPEKA, Kan. – If the Pro Stock performance that was put on display by Mike Edwards and his workaholic ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP teammates at Bristol Dragway two weeks ago is a preview of what’s to come for his fellow competitors in the 200 mph category, those respective teams better get to work.

And they better get to work fast. [read more...]

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tony Schumacher raced to his third victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Del Worsham and Mike Edwards also were winners at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. [read more...]

MADISON, Ill. – The racing at Gateway International Raceway began under clear blue skies Saturday, a marked difference from Friday, when the first day of the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol was rained out after only one round of NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.

Cool temps provided great racing as defending GIR PSM winner Andrew Hines broke the national ET record with a 6.860 and Greg Stanfield earned the top qualifier in Pro Stock for Sunday’s eliminations with a Gateway speed record of 210.37 mph. Morgan Lucas, two weeks removed from his first-ever Top Fuel win, took the pole for Sunday’s finals with a top speed of 307.02 and an ET of 3.881. Funny Car points leader

“It feels great to keep the momentum going. You never want to have something really big happen and then just fail the next week miserably, you always want to do the best you can,” said Lucas. “Its not making big changes, not doing anything radical and getting ourselves lost, staying down the path we’ve been going down.”

Ron Capps, who earned his first FC win at GIR in 1997, topped the qualifying charts in that class with a speed of 298.80 and an ET of 4.111

[read more...]

MADISON, Ill. – The NHRA Full Throttle Series officials and the staff of Gateway International Raceway put up a valiant fight, but in the end, Mother Nature won out. After on-and-off raining at the track, the first day of the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol was called after heavy rains hit the area during the first round of Pro Stock qualifying.

“Like our fans, we’re disappointed that we couldn’t see a full day of great NHRA Full Throttle Series racing,” said GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki. “However, the great thing about this sport is the fact we still have two days of NHRA stars and hotrods at Gateway.” [read more...]

LAS VEGAS - Two popular drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series — Tony Schumacher and Ashley Force Hood — are each riding a wave of confidence into this weekend’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals (April 2-5) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Both were able to reach the winners’ circle at Houston Raceway Park last weekend and in the process, put to rest nagging questions that were revolving around their 2009 campaigns. [read more...]