Worsham, Hight, Enders and Arana Jr. Qualify Number One in Norwalk
Del Worsham (Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster; Click images for larger versions)
Del Worsham, Robert Hight, Erica Enders, and Hector Arana Jr. raced to the No. 1 qualifying spots in their respective categories at the at the 5th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the 10th of 22 events in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
Worsham drove to a 3.798-second run at 318.54 mph to take his third Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier of the season and eighth of his career.
“It was a great run,” said Worsham. “I only qualified No. 1 five times before this season, and we’ve done it three times (in 2011) alone. It’s pretty exciting driving for Al-Anabi, Sheikh Khalid (Al Thani), Alan Johnson, and Brian (Husen).”
Worsham will take on Luigi Novelli in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday, while his 6th-place qualified teammate, defending event winner and Bristol winner Larry Dixon will face Bob Vandergriff.
Robert Hight
In Funny Car, Hight followed up his win at the previous race in Bristol, Tennessee, by taking the No. 1 qualifying spot in Funny Car when he drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.065 run at 306.53. It’s Hight’s first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 39th of his career and third at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
“Eighteen races without being the No. 1 qualifier is a long time for this team,” said Hight. “In all honesty, it’s paid off. Jimmy Prock likes to swing for the fences, but he’s been more focused on consistency. We looked back at what we’ve done in the past, and we’ve won more rounds when we’ve had a car that goes down the track every run.”
Hight will face off against Jeff Arend in the first round of eliminations, while teammate and current points leader Mike Neff will face two-time world champion Tony Pedregon.
Enders held off a competitive class to take the top spot in Pro Stock. Enders drove her ZaZa Energy Chevy Cobalt to a 6.585 run, a new track record, at 209.10 to earn her second No. 1 qualifier of the season and third of her career.
“The run we made out there today was awesome,” said Enders. “We laid down a pretty stout run. I knew it when I let the clutch out. It just carried the front end real nice. Earlier this morning, our first run, we knew we had to get down the racetrack considering we were only going to get two (rounds).”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, rookie rider Arana Jr. raced to the No. 1 qualifying position. Arana Jr. rode his Lucas Oil Buell to a 6.887 at 191.59 run to take his first career No. 1 qualifier and a career best for time.
“It’s just an amazing feeling to be No. 1,” said Arana Jr. “We’ve been struggling the first couple of races this season, and as you can see, we finally got our stuff together. This weekend, I have a brand new motor in my bike, and that was the first pass down the track when I ran the .88, and her name is Gracie after my mother. She’s doing good so far.”
Eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m.
NORWALK, Ohio — Sunday’s first-round pairings for professional eliminations for the 5th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the 10th of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed after pairings.
Top Fuel – 1. Del Worsham, 3.798 seconds, 318.54 mph vs. 16. Luigi Novelli, 8.113, 91.47; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.848, 316.30 vs. 15. Pat Dakin, 7.655, 80.04; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 3.857, 315.71 vs. 14. Ike Maier, 4.389, 188.15; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.859, 313.66 vs. 13. Scott Palmer, 4.329, 226.01; 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.860, 313.88 vs. 12. David Grubnic, 3.956, 298.27; 6. Larry Dixon, 3.877, 306.12 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.945, 275.00; 7. Spencer Massey, 3.886, 315.12 vs. 10. Terry McMillen, 3.911, 303.84; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.895, 309.98 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 3.907, 287.78. Did Not Qualify: 17. Chris Karamesines, broke.
Funny Car – 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.065, 306.53 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.231, 281.30; 2. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.095, 299.26 vs. 15. Melanie Troxel, Solara, 4.210, 284.33; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.097, 307.51 vs. 14. Jim Head, Solara, 4.199, 295.53; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.106, 304.32 vs. 13. Bob Bode, Solara, 4.197, 298.21; 5. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.110, 309.06 vs. 12. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala SS, 4.194, 280.25; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.137, 295.08 vs. 11. Paul Lee, Impala SS, 4.184, 306.26; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.143, 304.05 vs. 10. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.167, 286.74; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.153, 287.41 vs. 9. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.164, 294.75. Did Not Qualify: 17. Brian Thiel, 4.256, 292.52; 18. Jon Capps, 4.270, 267.85; 19. Terry Haddock, 4.433, 222.44; 20. Johnny Gray, 4.449, 242.84; 21. Dale Creasy Jr., 5.571, 141.37.
Pro Stock – 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.585, 209.36 vs. 16. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.622, 208.23; 2. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.587, 209.07 vs. 15. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.620, 208.39; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.589, 208.68 vs. 14. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.616, 208.52; 4. Vincent Nobile, Dodge Avenger, 6.592, 209.07 vs. 13. Warren Johnson, Cobalt, 6.611, 208.91; 5. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.592, 208.94 vs. 12. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.604, 208.17; 6. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.596, 208.84 vs. 11. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.603, 209.36; 7. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.600, 208.49 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.602, 208.84; 8. Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.602, 209.20 vs. 9. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.602, 209.17. Did Not Qualify: 17. Buddy Perkinson, 6.625, 207.88; 18. Steve Kent, 6.639, 207.21; 19. Steve Spiess, 6.639, 206.80; 20. Bob Benza, 6.693, 205.76; 21. Steve Schmidt, 6.696, 205.85; 22. Frank Gugliotta, 6.760, 204.76; 23. Mark Hogan, 7.183, 145.53; 24. John Gaydosh Jr, 15.293, 94.96.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 1. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.887, 191.59 vs. 16. GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.077, 187.81; 2. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.917, 192.36 vs. 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.063, 190.03; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.917, 191.27 vs. 14. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.042, 188.78; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.922, 193.85 vs. 13. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.035, 189.84; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.934, 191.19 vs. 12. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.023, 186.15; 6. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.944, 191.70 vs. 11. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.999, 192.08; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.956, 190.94 vs. 10. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.983, 189.18; 8. David Hope, Buell, 6.965, 190.19 vs. 9. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.978, 191.84. Did Not Qualify: 17. Junior Pippin, 7.081, 187.16; 18. Joe DeSantis, 7.085, 185.95; 19. LE Tonglet, 7.098, 189.15; 20. Justin Finley, 7.120, 183.10; 21. Bailey Whitaker, 7.122, 183.49; 22. Dawn Minturn, 7.124, 186.23; 23. Wesley Wells, 7.539, 176.70; 24. Odolph Daniels, 8.714, 106.35.
