Backstretch Motorsports

MOHNTON, Pa. – Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top spot from teammate Jason Line as qualifying came to an end at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, and Matt Smith remained No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

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Ashley Force, Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also claim No. 1 qualifying positions at Brainerd International Raceway

BRAINERD, Minn. — Tony Schumacher will attempt to win his fourth consecutive race and ninth overall Sunday from the No. 1 qualifying position at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

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BRAINERD, Minn. – Ashley Force raced to the Funny Car qualifying lead Friday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

She covered the Brainerd International Raceway dragstrip in 4.110 seconds at 299.40 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang as she goes for her second straight No. 1 qualifying position of the season and works to improve on her fourth place points position in the Countdown to the Championship with only three races remaining in the regular season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s playoffs, begin with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway at Concord near Charlotte, N.C.

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MORRISON, Colo. – Cory McClenathan raced to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel as qualifying came to an end Saturday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway

Tony Pedregon (shown left), Greg Anderson and Eddie Krawiec were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

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T. Pedregon, Anderson and Arana also win at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park

NORWALK, Ohio – Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and dedicated his first win of the season to the memory of his two young sons who were tragically killed in a highway auto accident in late January. Herbert had a good-luck angel with him in Norwalk in daughter Jessie and scored his first Top Fuel win of the season.

Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

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ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Five-time POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first win at Englishtown in 12 years of competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.

The event was overshadowed by the loss of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, who died from multiple injuries suffered after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday.

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ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – After nearly 15 years since his last No. 1 qualifier, Funny Car driver Jim Head raced to the provisional top spot Friday at the place he last collected his No. 1 qualifier, the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.

Larry Dixon, Greg Anderson and Chris Rivas were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 11th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

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JOLIET, Ill. – Plenty of drivers stepped up as early-season favorites this year - new names and old.

In Top Fuel, Chicago’s Tony Schumacher and crew chief Alan Johnson continue to tighten their grip on Top Fuel while drivers like teammates Antron Brown and Rod Fuller stand in their way. Fan-favorite Ashley Force has proven herself a serious contender for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship title in Funny Car – and although the moniker means less to her than the trophy, she would be the first woman to earn it.

But that can change all too fast.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Melanie Troxel became the first woman in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car when she raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Tony Schumacher and Dave Connolly also won in their respective categories at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.

Troxel, who earned five Top Fuel victories prior to switching to Funny Car this season, joined her husband Tommy Johnson as one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to earn victories in both nitro categories when she powered her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to a 5.066 at 310.27 to defeat rookie Mike Neff in the final round. She is the second female to win in Funny Car in NHRA history, following Ashley Force’s gender-breaking victory last month in Atlanta.

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BROWN WINS AT HOUSTON, EARNS FIRST CAREER TOP FUEL WIN

Becomes first NHRA driver to win in Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 30, 2008) – Antron Brown made NHRA history Sunday afternoon at Houston Raceway Park as the 32-year-old raced his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster to the win at the 21st annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals. He becomes the first driver in NHRA history to earn wins in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. He won 16 races during his 10-years in the two-wheel category.

After qualifying the Matco Tools/iLocate GPS dragster in the No. 12 position with a run of 4.644 seconds on Friday afternoon. The New Jersey native bested veteran racer Doug Foley, 29-time Top Fuel winner Cory McClenathan, perennial title contender Doug Kalitta, and two-time series champion Larry Dixon to earn his first career Top Fuel win and 17th NHRA victory.

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