Schumacher Nails Down Top Fuel Pole At NHRA Gatornationals

Story By: SCOTT SMITH / NHRA – GAINESVILLE, FL – Tony Schumacher secured the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Schumacher piloted his U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster to a track elapsed time record pass of 3.682 seconds at 328.22 mph in the second qualifying session to earn his 81st career No. 1 qualifier, first of the season.

“The Gatornationals to me, even as a kid, was always one of the greatest moments for my father,” Schumacher said. “It’s a great chance, great opportunity. When you’re given a great opportunity, you surround yourself with people capable of that moment, which we have done. You hope for great weather and the perfect situation tomorrow; great storm, great race. What you want is for the fans to walk away going, ‘We paid good money for this race and we feel like we owe more.’”

In the first round of eliminations Schumacher, who will be in pursuit of becoming the first five-time Top Fuel winner at the Gatornationals, will face Smax Smith. Doug Kalitta is qualified second with a 3.698 at 328.78 in his Mac Tools dragster and will race Ike Maier and defending world champion Antron Brown and his Matco Tools dragster are in third and will line up against Chris Karamesines.

John Force (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the third event of 24 on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Force raced his PEAK Chevy Camaro to the 155th No. 1 qualifier of his career with a track elapsed time record of 3.832 at 333.25. He will face Bob Tasca in the first round.

“It’s exciting to come here to Gainesville,” Force said. “I haven’t run this good in years. We kept low ET, that’s an honor, I love it. It’s a good weekend of us. The team gelled. We’ll just go from there. I want to come out here tomorrow and I want to try to win. Don’t know who I race, don’t matter, I race my lane. I go A to B. But I’m really excited just to be in the hunt.”

Force’s teammate, Robert Hight, is qualified second with a 3.844 pass at 331.61 in the Auto Club Chevy Camaro and will race Del Worsham and Matt Hagan is third.

Line’s 6.476 pass at 213.87 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro from Friday held up to secure his third consecutive Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier of the season, 52nd of his career.

“We just try to go as fast as we can,” Line said. “The strategy is the same, early season, late season, mid-season, it doesn’t matter, it’s to put the Summit cars in the Winner’s Circle. Qualifying No. 1, obviously to me, is the best way to start. Our Summit Camaro is running really, really well so I’m super excited about tomorrow.”

Teammate Bo Butner is second with a 6.477 at 213.60 in his Jim Buner’s Auto Chevy Camaro and will line up against John Gaydosh in the first round of eliminations. Two-time world champion Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro are qualified third and race Alan Prusiensky in round one.

Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Savoie earned the ninth No. 1 qualifier of his career with a 6.753 pass at 198.99 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki in the third qualifying session. He will race Shawn Gann in the first round of eliminations.

“I’ve been coming to the Gators six years now,” Savoie said. “My first year out we qualified No. 6. I had really thought, when I bought all of Mr. (Don) Schumacher’s stuff and everything, that it was going to be easy, I thought we were going to qualify No. 1 and win the race. Six years later finally, finally we get to qualify No.1 in Gainesville. For me it’s a special privilege.”

Savoie bumped Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec who is second with his 6.791 pass at 198.17 from Friday. Joey Gladstone, in his second season, qualified third with a pass of 6.810 at 197.51 on his San Marino Excavation Suzuki.

Eliminations for the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Catch all the action on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Steven Jackson held on for his first career No. 1 qualifying position in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., is the first of 12 events on the season. His qualifying pass of 5.781-seconds at 251.58 mph on Friday secured the No. 1 position.

Jackson, in his Jerry Bickel Race Cars built Camaro, was unable to parlay the No. 1 qualifying position into success in eliminations as he was defeated by Eric Latino in the first round. Latino posted a winning time of 5.779 at 256.45 to Jackson’s losing run of 6.664 at 146.30. Latino will face Troy Coughlin in his JEGS.com Chevy Corvette when eliminations continue on Sunday.

Also in eliminations, Rickie Smith the defending event winner and 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series champion was ousted by Michael Biehle in his ’13 Ford Mustang. Smith’s IDG ’15 Camaro lost traction early in the run and Biehle was able to get the round win.

“It feels good. I mean, every round I win feels good, no matter who it is,” Biehle said. “Obviously it feels great when you’re able to take somebody out that’s as great as Rickie. He’s got a lot of seat time and he does an awesome job with his car and his whole program. It just feels good to still be here.”

Biehle will match up with Danny Rowe; Mike Janis will race Steven Whiteley; and Mike Castellana will compete against Kevin Rivenbark on Sunday.

Pro Mod Series eliminations will resume on Sunday at approximately 12:30.

***

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.682 seconds, 328.22 mph vs. 16. Smax Smith, 15.934, 23.58; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.698, 328.78 vs. 15. Ike Maier, 4.084, 273.11; 3. Antron Brown, 3.716, 326.24 vs. 14. Chris Karamesines, 4.043, 290.26; 4. Brittany Force, 3.719, 326.79 vs. 13. Larry Dixon, 3.988, 239.31; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.726, 327.51 vs. 12. Shawn Reed, 3.879, 315.49; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., 3.738, 328.86 vs. 11. Pat Dakin, 3.862, 289.63; 7. Leah Pritchett, 3.750, 327.66 vs. 10. Scott Palmer, 3.826, 321.73; 8. Clay Millican, 3.762, 327.11 vs. 9. Terry McMillen, 3.780, 324.51.

Funny Car — 1. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.832, 333.25 vs. 16. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.544, 191.57; 2. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.844, 331.77 vs. 15. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.215, 235.80; 3. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.854, 328.70 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.152, 255.10; 4. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.860, 333.49 vs. 13. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.152, 295.72; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.865, 329.83 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.947, 323.12; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.865, 329.58 vs. 11. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.928, 327.98; 7. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.871, 332.51 vs. 10. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.927, 325.37; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.883, 330.23 vs. 9. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.920, 309.06.

Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.476, 213.87 vs. Bye; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.477, 214.28 vs. 15. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.708, 205.94; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.490, 214.01 vs. 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.582, 211.69; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.491, 214.31 vs. 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.561, 212.33; 5. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.491, 214.59 vs. 12. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.553, 211.83; 6. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.493, 214.11 vs. 11. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.549, 211.56; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.517, 212.96 vs. 10. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.539, 214.08; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.526, 213.20 vs. 9. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.531, 213.37.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.753, 198.99 vs. 16. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.922, 194.07; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.791, 199.88 vs. 15. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.918, 195.00; 3. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.793, 198.35 vs. 14. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.910, 193.99; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.793, 198.15 vs. 13. Angelle Sampey, Victory, 6.898, 194.02; 5. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.813, 198.26 vs. 12. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.890, 189.71; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.819, 196.79 vs. 11. Cory Reed, Victory, 6.888, 192.71; 7. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.828, 198.03 vs. 10. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.857, 195.17; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.831, 197.94 vs. 9. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.848, 197.77.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Shawn Gann, 6.941, 191.21; 18. John Hall, 6.952, 192.22; 19. Chip Ellis, 6.955, 192.49; 20. Scott Bottorff, 6.969, 191.62; 21. David Hope, 6.970, 191.24; 22. James Surber, 7.307, 182.70; 23. Andie Rawlings, 8.273, 135.65; 24. Brian Pretzel, 10.993, 72.09.

Pro Modified:
ROUND ONE — Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.807, 252.24 def. Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 5.825, 252.38; Kevin Rivenbark, Corvette, 5.857, 245.76 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.837, 247.38; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 5.840, 246.57 def. Shannon Jenkins, Ford Mustang, 7.360, 135.88; Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.799, 252.19 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.865, 247.16; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.901, 247.16 def. Jim Whiteley, Chevy Chevelle, 5.903, 248.75; Michael Biehle, Mustang, 5.843, 253.90 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.948, 121.62; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.897, 249.72 def. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.786, 256.36; Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.779, 256.45 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.664, 146.30;

Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The race is the first of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Psn—Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type—————Qual-ET–Qual-Spd

1 280 Steve Jackson, Evans GA, ’17 Camaro 5.781 251.58
2 288 Sidnei Frigo, Sao Paulo BZ, ’16 Corvette 5.795 256.70
3 1 Rickie Smith, King NC, ’17 Camaro 5.798 252.05
4 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, ’16 Camaro 5.803 248.25
5 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, ’14 CTS-V 5.805 251.58
6 8 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, ’15 Corvette 5.815 252.14
7 7 Khalid alBalooshi, Ajman UA, ’17 Camaro 5.820 249.49
8 5 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, ’68 Camaro 5.821 253.85
9 2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, ’15 Corvette 5.828 253.33
10 205 Kevin Rivenbark, Wallace NC, ’15 Corvette 5.836 246.17
11 77 Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa AL, ’16 Mustang 5.838 249.35
12 202 Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville NC, ’69 Camaro 5.845 248.39
13 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, ’69 Chevelle 5.848 215.75
14 4 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, ’67 Mustang 5.854 250.64
15 44 Mike Castellana, Oyster Bay NY, ’17 Camaro 5.855 250.64
16 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, ’69 Camaro 5.855 235.76

———— Not Qualified ————

17 213 Chip King, Roxboro NC, ’69 Daytona 5.856 248.89
18 303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, ’16 Camaro 5.881 250.18
19 220F Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL, ’10 Mustang 5.882 248.25
20 3 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, ’15 Corvette 5.888 246.62
21 1262 Chuck Little, Atkinson NH, ’63 Corvette 5.939 236.55
22 5012 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, ’69 Camaro 5.953 243.63
23 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, ’69 Chevelle 5.985 243.50
24 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, ’68 Firebi 6.026 245.05
25 275T Ruben Tetsoshvili, Wesley Chapel FL, ’17 Cama 6.203 243.33
26 1518 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, ’69 Daytona 6.313 170.13 170.13
27 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, ’68 Firebird 6.625 166.95 166.95