Hagen, Pritchett, TGray & Hines Have Great Friday At NHRA US Nationals

Story By: SCOTT SMITH / NHRA – BROWNSBURG, IN – Matt Hagan set both ends of the Funny Car track record on Friday of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also lead qualifying in their respective categories at the 18th of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Hagan ran a 3.799-second pass at 338.77 mph in his Mopar Express Lanes Dodge Charger R/T during the first of three qualifying days and first of five qualifying sessions.

“What a fun run to hang onto,” Hagan said. “The car was out there digging and it’s floating and it’s hunting around. I made a couple corrections but was trying to not do too many. It’s fun to be able to do something like that. I’m just glad to be out there and to be able to do something like that. These cars are just awesome to drive. It’s kind of a throw down right now in qualifying.”

Holding the second position is Robert Hight with a 3.827 pass at 330.96 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. Following Hight are teammates Courtney Force, in third, and John Force, in fourth.

Pritchett set the Top Fuel track elapsed-time record with her 3.667 pass at 329.50 in her Papa John’s dragster.

“We’ve been preparing for this even missing our Indy test session a couple of different reasons,” said Pritchett who also holds the national elapsed-time record. “Having the confidence and the momentum from Brainerd knowing that this is the coolest session, it feels good. Obviously there’s no guarantee and it’s very much provisional.”

Doug Kalitta is second in his Mac Tools dragster with a 3.682 pass at 329.42. Antron Brown, the three-time and reigning world champion, is qualified third in his special edition Matco Tools / Mello Yello dragster commemorating the extension of the Coca-Cola and NHRA partnership. Brown ran a 3.689 at 329.42 in his new paint scheme that was unveiled during Friday qualifying.

Pro Stock rookie Gray holds the No. 1 spot after his 6.566 pass at 209.88 in his Gray Motorsports / Valvoline Chevy Camaro. He is the youngest of three generations of Grays racing at the event marking the first time there have been three generations in the same category at a national NHRA event.

“It’s just cool to be able to go out there and race with my dad and grandpa,” Gray said. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to do anything with my grandpa like this. It’s a lot of fun and I know he’s having fun. The guys on my car are just doing what we usually do. They’re putting me under a great race car and I’m doing an okay job driving it and it shows out there.”

Greg Anderson is in the No. 2 position with his 6.568 pass at 210.31 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. Drew Skillman is third with a 6.571 pass at 210.31 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro and points leader Bo Butner is fourth.

Defending event winner Andrew Hines is at the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle order with a 6.825 pass a 194.74 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

“We needed this cool weather because our guys have been burning it up so much at the shop trying to figure out what we need to do,” Hines said. “The last two weeks have been completely grueling but the guys at Vance & Hines never stop digging and we never stop striving to get to that next level. Right now, we’re real happy putting our street rods one and two. It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, literally.”

Hines’ teammate Eddie Krawiec matched Hines with a 6.825 at a slower speed of 193.57 for the second spot and reigning world champion Jerry Savoie is in third.

Qualifying at the Chevrolet U.S. Nationals continues at Saturday with two sessions beginning at 1:45 p.m.

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BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Friday’s results after the first one of five rounds of qualifying for the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis, 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Sunday for Monday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Leah Pritchett, 3.667 seconds, 329.50 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.682, 329.42; 3. Antron Brown, 3.689, 329.75; 4. Clay Millican, 3.689, 327.59; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.712, 326.71; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.735, 327.82; 7. Scott Palmer, 3.754, 328.54; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 3.774, 325.30; 9. Ashley Sanford, 3.796, 322.04; 10. Wayne Newby, 3.803, 321.88; 11. Kebin Kinsley, 3.814, 313.88; 12. Brittany Force, 3.830, 244.21; 13. Terry McMillen, 3.848, 278.06; 14. Ike Maier, 3.861, 308.50; 15. Pat Dakin, 4.054, 256.50; 16. Richie Crampton, 4.109, 227.50. Not Qualified: 17. Shawn Langdon, 8.087, 87.02; 18. Kyle Wurtzel, broke.

Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.799, 338.77; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.827, 330.96; 3. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.847, 302.28; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.849, 336.74; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.865, 332.34; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.881, 332.02; 7. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.887, 329.83; 8. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.900, 330.88; 9. Brian Stewart, Ford Mustang, 3.924, 296.44; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.957, 304.39; 11. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.999, 319.22; 12. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.074, 314.90; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 7.533, 89.85; 14. Bob Bode, Charger, 8.382, 81.11; 15. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 9.922, 76.00; 16. Ron Capps, Charger, 10.938, 71.07. Not Qualified: 17. Justin Schriefer, broke.

Pro Stock — 1. Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.566, 209.88; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.568, 210.31; 3. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.571, 210.18; 4. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.572, 210.34; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.576, 210.01; 6. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.577, 209.95; 7. Johnny Gray, Camaro, 6.596, 210.11; 8. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.598, 209.62; 9. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.604, 209.10; 10. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.607, 208.78; 11. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.615, 209.46; 12. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.616, 209.65; 13. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.642, 209.20; 14. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.681, 207.24; 15. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.700, 206.42; 16. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.816, 204.39. Not Qualified: 17. Larry Morgan, 6.993, 194.83; 18. Allen Johnson, 12.528, 86.68; 19. Deric Kramer, broke.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.825, 194.74; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.825, 193.57; 3. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.877, 193.82; 4. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.894, 192.71; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.917, 190.73; 6. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.927, 193.32; 7. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.940, 191.81; 8. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.982, 188.02; 9. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.997, 190.78; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.000, 191.81; 11. Cory Reed, Victory, 7.019, 187.91; 12. Angelle Sampey, Victory, 7.019, 183.59; 13. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 7.026, 189.12; 14. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.056, 188.75; 15. Chip Ellis, Victory, 7.136, 193.02; 16. Mark Paquette, Buell, 7.209, 181.52. Not Qualified: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.815, 181.50; 18. Wendell Daniels, 8.051, 167.91; 19. Hector Arana Jr, 8.755, 101.94; 20. Odolph Daniels, broke; 21. Andie Rawlings, broke.