CONCORD, N.C. – Jack Beckman ended a 54-race winless streak by racing to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Larry Morgan (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the unique event that features NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams racing in a four-lane configuration.
Beckman powered his 10,000-horsepower machine to the quickest run of the weekend to take the victory over rival finalists Del Worsham, Chad Head and Tommy Johnson Jr. Beckman pulled away from the pack with a final round performance of 3.983 seconds at 308.78 mph at the controls of his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T.
Beckman’s last victory came in St. Louis in 2012. It was his second win at this event, third win at this track and 16th career victory.
“I can’t guarantee we’ll win another race this season,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion. “I think we will, but I can’t say for 100 percent. But, I know for sure we’ll be better than we were today. Jimmy [Prock, crew chief] and the team will be even better the rest of the year because they’re getting better every race. All the little things are coming together and now the car is doing what they hope it will.”
Beckman moved to seventh in points with the win. He also won in earlier quads, beating Ron Capps, Johnson Jr. and Paul Lee in the opening round and then defeating Johnson Jr., John Force and Robert Hight in the second round.
Worsham moved into the series points lead with his second runner-up finish of the season.
In Top Fuel, Brown claimed his second consecutive victory at this event when he defeated Steve Torrence, Richie Crampton and Clay Millican. Brown crossed the finish line first in his Matco Tools dragster with a 3.749 at 319.90, to take his 48th career victory. By joining Beckman in the winner’s circle the duo gave team owner Don Schumacher his 44th multiple-title event.
“It’s been an incredible run at this race,” Brown said. “You have to dig deep to win races like this. We’ve had a long road with a new combination. We’ve had some gremlins, but in the final we laid down the gauntlet to bring the win home. It was also huge for the bossman [Don Schumacher] to double up. I hope we can keep that streak going for him.”
Brown won his opening round quad against Dave Connolly, J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon with a 3.771 second run and then earned a wild pedal-fest victory in the second round over Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Connolly.
Brown moved into the series points lead with the victory, ahead of reigning world champ Tony Schumacher and third-place Langdon.
Veteran driver Morgan ended a 120-race drought from winner’s circle in Pro Stock when he held off Greg Anderson, Vincent Nobile and Jonathan Gray in the final round. He drove his FireAde Chevy Camaro to a career-best 6.464 at 214.52 in the winning effort.
“I knew I was still good enough to let the clutch out,” said Morgan of his 11th career victory, and his first win since Las Vegas in October of 2009. “I knew I could still drive. I just needed to get the right financial backing and hook up with Johnny Gray to get some horsepower. Jerry Haas built me a new car in 30 days, and a lot of other great people helped me get to the winner’s circle today. I’ve surrounded myself with good people, and that’s how you win. It wasn’t just one guy who won today, it was a team effort.”
Morgan advanced with a second place finish in the opening round against Jason Line, Rodger Brogdon and John Gaydosh. He finished first in the second round match against Vincent Nobile, defending event winner Jimmy Alund and Line.
Line moved into the points lead and Morgan jumped from ninth to seventh in the standings with his win.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champ Hines claimed his first win of the season and 39th of his career by outrunning Eddie Krawiec, Scotty Pollacheck and Hector Arana Jr. Hines claimed his second Four-Wide victory and his fourth at this track with a winning performance of 6.805 at 196.30 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
“We got on the dyno last week and tried a few things,” Hines said. “We followed through and my V-Rod got us to the final round. We just went out and did what our team does best.”
Hines won his first round quad over Mike Berry, Brian Pretzel and Karen Stoffer and also finished first in the second round quad by outrunning Scotty Pollacheck, Berry and Matt Smith.
Krawiec moved into the series lead with his second consecutive runner-up finish of the season and Hines is second overall in the series standings.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues April 10-12 with the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada.
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CONCORD, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Sixth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown; 2. Steve Torrence; 3. Richie Crampton; 4. Clay Millican; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Brittany Force; 8. Dave Connolly; 9. Spencer Massey; 10. Pat Dakin; 11. J.R. Todd; 12. Larry Dixon; 13. Ike Maier; 14. Shawn Langdon; 15. Leah Pritchett; 16. Chris Karamesines.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Jack Beckman; 2. Del Worsham; 3. Chad Head; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 5. John Force; 6. Robert Hight; 7. Cruz Pedregon; 8. John Hale; 9. Tony Pedregon; 10. Ron Capps; 11. Dale Creasy Jr.; 12. Courtney Force; 13. Alexis DeJoria; 14. Paul Lee; 15. Tim Wilkerson; 16. Matt Hagan.
PRO STOCK: 1. Larry Morgan; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Jonathan Gray; 4. Vincent Nobile; 5. Jimmy Alund; 6. Chris McGaha; 7. Jason Line; 8. Erica Enders-Stevens; 9. Allen Johnson; 10. Drew Skillman; 11. Shane Gray; 12. Rodger Brogdon; 13. Buddy Perkinson; 14. V. Gaines; 15. John Gaydosh Jr; 16. Mark Hogan.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines; 2. Eddie Krawiec; 3. Hector Arana Jr; 4. Scotty Pollacheck; 5. Chaz Kennedy; 6. Mike Berry; 7. Matt Smith; 8. LE Tonglet; 9. Freddie Camarena; 10. Katie Sullivan; 11. Angelle Sampey; 12. Brian Pretzel; 13. Hector Arana; 14. Karen Stoffer; 15. Shawn Gann; 16. Jim Underdahl.
CONCORD, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the Sixth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fourth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.749 seconds, 319.90 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.847 seconds, 317.57 mph and Richie Crampton, 4.030 seconds, 277.15 mph and Clay Millican, 5.526 seconds, 128.02 mph;
Funny Car — Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.983, 308.78 def. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.012, 314.24 and Chad Head, Camry, 7.455, 92.95 and Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 12.177, 40.68;
Pro Stock — Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.464, 214.52 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.475, 214.93 and Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.498, 214.72 and Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.508, 214.25;
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.805, 196.30 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.812, 195.19 and Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.804, 199.88 and Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, foul;
Top Alcohol Dragster — Mia Tedesco, 5.503, 263.26 def. Jake Allen, 5.663, 227.61.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Jonnie Lindberg, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.406, 269.94 def. Steve Harker, Monte Carlo, 14.450, 69.80.
Super Stock — David Rampy, Chevy Camaro, 10.879, 96.09 def. Dan Fletcher, Camaro, foul.
Stock Eliminator — Joel Warren, Pontiac Firebird, 10.294, 129.52 def. Russell Linke, Chevy Camaro, 10.414, 123.78.
Super Comp — Andre Nunez, Dragster, 8.900, 173.09 def. George Caheely, Dragster, 8.896, 172.06.
Super Gas — Jim Perry, S-10, 9.900, 172.45 def. John Labbous Jr, Chevy Corvette, 9.853, 160.73.
Top Dragster — Lynn Ellison, Dragster, 6.361, 212.43 def. Jeff Burns, Dragster, 6.670, 199.97.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the sixth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Steve Torrence, 3.799, 314.24 and Doug Kalitta, 3.912, 252.52 def. Spencer Massey, 4.101, 313.29 and Ike Maier, 6.797, 169.25; Brittany Force, 5.041, 184.85 and Richie Crampton, 7.020, 111.34 def. Pat Dakin, 7.188, 88.47 and Chris Karamesines, 10.782, 54.11; Tony Schumacher, 3.720, 319.37 and Clay Millican, 3.755, 318.09 def. Larry Dixon, 8.328, 87.10 and Leah Pritchett, 9.436, 92.86; Antron Brown, 3.771, 313.58 and Dave Connolly, 3.944, 301.07 def. J.R. Todd, 7.389, 84.37 and Shawn Langdon, 8.257, 85.87;
SEMIFINALS — Brown, 5.817, 185.00 and Torrence, 6.019, 200.95 def. Kalitta, 7.786, 100.73 and Crampton, 3.741, 324.12 and Millican, 3.801, 310.77 def. Schumacher, 4.109, 242.98 and Force, 8.096, 98.46;
FINAL — Brown, 3.749, 319.90 def. Torrence, 3.847, 317.57, Crampton, 4.030, 277.15 and Millican, 5.526, 128.02.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.040, 306.26 and Chad Head, Camry, 4.464, 227.96 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 7.691, 89.70 and Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 8.579, 80.65; Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.027, 304.05 and John Force, Camaro, 4.250, 278.69 def. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 5.386, 142.85 and Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 10.200, 80.97; Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.051, 304.05 and Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 7.803, 92.73 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 11.704, 77.05 and Ron Capps, Charger, DQ; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.167, 299.46 and John Hale, Charger, 4.219, 244.56 def.
Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 12.157, 99.80 and Matt Hagan, Charger, DQ;
SEMIFINALS — Beckman, 4.000, 309.34 and Johnson Jr., 4.132, 301.20 def. J. Force, 9.267, 81.00 and Hight, 8.104, 81.89; Worsham, 4.067, 288.64 and Head, 4.080, 303.09 def. Hale, 16.578, 50.85 and C. Pedregon, broke;
FINAL — Beckman, 3.983, 308.78 def. Worsham, 4.012, 314.24, Head, 7.455, 92.95 and Johnson Jr., 12.177, 40.68.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Jonathan Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.465, 214.11 and Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.467, 215.13 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.463, 214.42 and V. Gaines, Dart, 6.626, 209.17; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.479, 213.74 and Jimmy Alund, Pontiac GXP, 6.536, 213.27 def. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.491, 214.04 and Mark Hogan, GXP, broke; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.455, 214.48 and Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.501, 214.42 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 7.919, 125.44 and John Gaydosh Jr, GXP, 12.365, 71.09; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.521, 214.42 and Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.481, 214.28 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.524, 213.37 and Buddy Perkinson, Dodge Avenger, 6.550, 212.19;
SEMIFINALS — J. Gray, 6.488, 214.18 and Anderson, 6.478, 215.48 def. McGaha, 21.771, 28.79 and Enders-Stevens, 22.958, 26.43; Morgan, 6.477, 214.25 and Nobile, 6.480, 213.77 def. Alund, 6.525, 214.01 and Line, 9.255, 100.14;
FINAL — Morgan, 6.464, 214.52 def. Anderson, 6.475, 214.93, J. Gray, 6.498, 214.72 and Nobile, 6.508, 214.25.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Eddie Krawiec, Harley V-Rod, 6.818, 193.07 and LE Tonglet, Suzuki GSXR, 6.849, 195.76 def. Freddie Camarena, GSXR, 6.842, 197.16 and Shawn Gann, Buell XB9R, 7.057, 172.10; Matt Smith, Victory Gunner, 6.865, 191.38 and Scotty Pollacheck, Buell XB12R, 6.895, 192.44 def. Angelle Sampey, 6.938, 191.97 and Hector Arana, XB9R, 6.948, 191.59; Andrew Hines, V-Rod, 6.815, 194.77 and Mike Berry, XB9R, 6.887, 192.03 def. Brian Pretzel, Buell GSXR, 6.940, 187.86 and Karen Stoffer, Suzuki TL1000R, 6.963, 184.17; Hector Arana Jr, XB9R, 6.860, 198.12 and Chaz Kennedy, XB9R, 6.823, 194.66 def. Katie Sullivan, TL1000, 6.911, 195.42 and Jim Underdahl, GSXR, 7.490, 147.10;
SEMIFINALS — Krawiec, 6.839, 193.54 and Arana Jr, 6.795, 199.26 def. Kennedy, 6.889, 193.24 and Tonglet, 6.970, 191.21; Hines, 6.816, 195.34 and Pollacheck, 6.869, 192.28 def. Berry, 6.906, 193.43 and M. Smith, 6.899, 191.67;
FINAL — Hines, 6.805, 196.30 def. Krawiec, 6.812, 195.19, Arana Jr, 6.804, 199.88 and Pollacheck, foul.
CONCORD, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the sixth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 354; 2. Tony Schumacher, 328; 3. Shawn Langdon, 312; 4. Spencer Massey, 286; 5. Doug Kalitta, 238; 6. Richie Crampton, 232; 7. Steve Torrence, 213; 8. Brittany Force, 192; 9. Clay Millican, 189; 10. J.R. Todd, 180.
Funny Car: 1. Del Worsham, 305; 2. Matt Hagan, 303; 3. Ron Capps, 279; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 239; 5. Robert Hight, 230; 6. John Hale, 224; 7. Jack Beckman, 208; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 206; 9. Courtney Force, 198; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 193.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 359; 2. Rodger Brogdon, 316; 3. Greg Anderson, 299; 4. Chris McGaha, 283; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens, 268; 6. Drew Skillman, 266; 7. Larry Morgan, 234; 8. Shane Gray, 199; 9. Vincent Nobile, 193; 10. Allen Johnson, 176.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 192; 2. Andrew Hines, 180; 3. Karen Stoffer, 148; 4. LE Tonglet, 128; 5. Hector Arana Jr., 116; 6. (tie) Shawn Gann, 103; Angelle Sampey, 103; Scotty Pollacheck, 103; 9. Matt Smith, 94; 10. Hector Arana, 88.
