Hight, Brown, Skillman & Krawiec Notch NHRA Wins At Mile-High Nationals
Story By: SCOTT SMITH / NHRA – MORRISON, CO – Robert Hight powered to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious in their respective categories at the 14th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Hight earned the victory with a 3.995-second pass at 317.57 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro against Tommy Johnson Jr. who ran a 4.099 pass at 297.16 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T during the final round. He earned his first victory of the season and the 38th of his career. Hight’s win also marked the 13th consecutive season in which he has earned at least one victory.
“We definitely struggled through the first few rounds and we were lucky to get those round wins, but I have a great team who figured things out and helped get me to the winner’s circle,” Hight said. “It’s definitely a long-time coming and we hadn’t had much luck, but today we had some luck and we hope this continues throughout the Western Swing.”
Hight qualified third and defeated Todd Simpson, Jack Beckman and Cruz Pedregon before reaching his third final round of 2017. Johnson Jr. qualified 12th and took down points leader Ron Capps, Jonnie Lindberg and Jim Campbell en route to his third final round of the year and second in a row.
Hight jumped up to third in the standings with the victory, while Ron Capps and Matt Hagan retain their position in the top two.
Brown knocked off teammate and No. 1 qualifier Leah Pritchett in the final round with a pass of 3.792 at 319.82. After having lost his three previous final round appearances, Brown now has three victories on the season and 64 in his career.
“This race definitely put us through a marathon this weekend, but seeing those win lights makes it all worthwhile,” Brown said. “Next year when we come out we know the bar will be raised even more at this track with all of this information all of these drivers learned this weekend, but we feel like we have a good idea how to get things done here in Denver.”
Brown surpassed Leah Pritchett to take the second spot in the Top Fuel standings, while Steve Torrence remains in first after a quarterfinal appearance this weekend.
In Pro Stock, Skillman drove to victory with a 6.916 run at 198.15 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro to defeat points leader Bo Butner in the final. He has won back-to-back events and now has five career victories.
Skillman was the No. 1 qualifier and maintained that success with round wins over Richie Stevens and Jason Line on the way to his second consecutive victory this season. Butner qualified in the ninth spot and took down Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile and Erica Enders before reaching his sixth final round of the season, tied for the most in the category.
“Our car kept running the same numbers, which is the sign of a good car and a great team,” Skillman said. “We have finally figured out a way to put it all together, and as long as we stay aggressive as a team we know we can win.”
Skillman sits in seventh in the standings as he became the first Pro Stock driver to win back-to-back races in 2017, while Bo Butner stays in first following his runner-up showing. Greg Anderson and Tanner Gray round out the top three in the points standings.
Krawiec finished atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle field with a 7.145 pass at 188.28 in his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to defeat Matt Smith in the final round. After notching his 35th career No. 1 qualifier on Saturday, he earned his second victory of the season and 38th of his career.
After qualifying in the top spot, Krawiec defeated David Hope, Joey Gladstone and Scotty Pollacheck as he locked down his third final round appearance this season. Smith had qualified third and beat Angie Smith, Andrew Hines and Jerry Savoie as he secured his second final round appearance in 2017.
“We’ve gotten off to a slow start since we had to switch bikes, so we were behind in terms of figuring out the strengths of this new bike and how it works,” Krawiec said. “We really like where we are at currently, and we’re going to try and keep this momentum going on the West Coast.”
Krawiec remains in second following his second victory in seven events, while LE Tonglet is still atop the standings despite a quarterfinal exit.
The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway July 28-30.
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MORRISON, Colo. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The race is the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Antron Brown; 2. Leah Pritchett; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Clay Millican; 7. Steve Torrence; 8. Terry Haddock; 9. Scott Palmer; 10. Bob Vandergriff; 11. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 12. Steven Chrisman; 13. Greg Carrillo; 14. Shawn Langdon; 15. Rob Passey; 16. Terry McMillen.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 3. Cruz Pedregon; 4. Jim Campbell; 5. Matt Hagan; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Jack Beckman; 8. Jonnie Lindberg; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Alexis DeJoria; 11. Tim Wilkerson; 12. Courtney Force; 13. Jeff Diehl; 14. John Force; 15. Todd Simpson; 16. Del Worsham.
PRO STOCK:
1. Drew Skillman; 2. Bo Butner; 3. Jason Line; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Vincent Nobile; 6. Greg Anderson; 7. Chris McGaha; 8. Tanner Gray; 9. Allen Johnson; 10. Alan Prusiensky; 11. Richie Stevens; 12. Jeg Coughlin; 13. Deric Kramer; 14. Matt Hartford.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Jerry Savoie; 4. Scotty Pollacheck; 5. Hector Arana Jr; 6. Andrew Hines; 7. LE Tonglet; 8. Joey Gladstone; 9. Angelle Sampey; 10. Melissa Surber; 11. Karen Stoffer; 12. Cory Reed; 13. Mike Berry; 14. Angie Smith; 15. David Hope; 16. Steve Johnson.
MORRISON, Colo. — Sunday’s final results from the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The race is the 14th of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.792 seconds, 319.82 mph def. Leah Pritchett, 3.816 seconds, 324.90 mph.
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.995, 317.57 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.099, 297.16.
Pro Stock — Drew Skillman, Chevy Camaro, 6.916, 198.15 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.953, 198.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.145, 188.28 def. Matt Smith, Victory, Foul – Red Light.
Competition Eliminator — David Rampy, Roadster, 7.720, 166.46 def. Jessie Oman, Dragster, 7.328, 183.42.
Super Stock — Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 11.122, 116.46 def. Justin Jenkins, Chevy Cobalt, 10.298, 131.88.
Stock Eliminator — Kevin Helms, Dodge Challenger, 11.296, 106.82 def. Scott Wells, Chevy Camaro, 12.624, 105.54.
Super Comp — Kris Whitfield, Roadster, 9.544, 149.70 def. Gary Wamboldt, Dragster, 9.515, 154.03.
Super Gas — Bradley Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 10.464, 152.18 def. Morgan Minor, Roadster, 10.432, 145.97.
Super Street — Troy Grant, Chevy II, 11.553, 124.60 def. John Bianco, Chevy, 11.499, 140.07.
Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Brad Basgall, Dragster, 6.901, 191.08 def. Jason Covington, Dragster, 6.679, 206.13.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Randy Cruickshank, Chevy Corvette, 8.209, 134.63 def. Bud Preuss, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
MORRISON, Colo. — Final round-by-round results from the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Antron Brown, 3.837, 321.27 def. Scott Palmer, 3.861, 318.02; Brittany Force, 3.915, 255.15 def. Terry McMillen, 4.672, 172.54; Steve Torrence, 3.814, 325.06 def. Rob Passey, 4.627, 199.17; Leah Pritchett, 3.797, 321.58 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., 3.966, 256.31; Doug Kalitta, 3.827, 320.20 def. Greg Carrillo, 4.344, 281.01; Tony Schumacher, 3.837, 323.97 def. Steven Chrisman, 4.240, 238.09; Terry Haddock, 4.171, 280.31 def. Shawn Langdon, 4.393, 247.07; Clay Millican, 3.798, 315.19 def. Bob Vandergriff, 3.866, 311.99;
QUARTERFINALS — Schumacher, 3.806, 325.37 def. Haddock, 10.469, 90.44; Brown, 3.796, 315.34 def. Kalitta, 3.814, 324.75; Force, 3.806, 321.58 def. Torrence, 3.972, 294.56; Pritchett, 3.817, 320.28 def. Millican, 3.927, 254.47;
SEMIFINALS — Pritchett, 3.794, 323.43 def. Schumacher, 3.790, 324.36; Brown, 3.797, 317.12 def. Force, 4.459, 163.10;
FINAL — Brown, 3.792, 319.82 def. Pritchett, 3.816, 324.90.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 13.653, 71.60 def. Todd Simpson, Dodge Charger, Foul – Red Light; Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.260, 239.53 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.271, 242.67; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.102, 310.55 def. John Force, Camaro, 4.339, 247.66; Jonnie Lindberg, Toyota Camry, 4.043, 319.14 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.292, 303.71; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.040, 311.20 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.017, 311.99; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.027, 320.20 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.056, 316.90; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.463, 205.35 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 7.416, 103.46; J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.072, 316.30 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.203, 263.98;
QUARTERFINALS — Pedregon, 4.053, 291.01 def. Hagan, 4.057, 313.95; Johnson Jr., 4.052, 301.87 def. Lindberg, 4.471, 210.80; Hight, 4.146, 305.22 def. Beckman, 4.319, 289.63; Campbell, 4.084, 286.92 def. Todd, 4.198, 301.60;
SEMIFINALS — Hight, 4.068, 314.24 def. Pedregon, 4.089, 308.28; Johnson Jr., 3.988, 306.19 def. Campbell, 4.768, 176.35;
FINAL — Hight, 3.995, 317.57 def. Johnson Jr., 4.099, 297.16.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 7.010, 196.19 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 15.928, 61.08; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.995, 197.36 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.995, 196.87; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.965, 197.51 def. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.952, 198.64; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.979, 197.31 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 10.316, 116.95; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.961, 197.39 def. Richie Stevens, Dart, 7.066, 195.34; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.975, 197.97 def. Deric Kramer, Dart, 12.495, 70.79; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.983, 198.06 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 7.041, 195.68;
QUARTERFINALS — Enders, 6.978, 198.29 def. McGaha, Foul – Red Light; Butner, 6.947, 198.26 def. Nobile, 6.949, 198.90; Line, 6.942, 198.70 def. Anderson, 6.950, 198.35; Skillman, 6.925, 198.41 was unopposed;
SEMIFINALS — Butner, 6.948, 198.47 def. Enders, Foul – Red Light; Skillman, 6.952, 197.80 def. Line, 6.953, 198.67;
FINAL — Skillman, 6.916, 198.15 def. Butner, 6.953, 198.88.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.239, 183.69 def. Cory Reed, 7.307, 181.35; Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 7.235, 184.07 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.263, 184.14 def. Melissa Surber, Buell, 7.287, 183.64; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.197, 186.85 def. Angelle Sampey, 7.256, 183.32; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 7.201, 184.72 def. Mike Berry, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, 7.214, 186.02 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.326, 183.34; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.158, 188.17 def. David Hope, Buell, 7.358, 182.75; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.198, 186.54 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.398, 178.73;
QUARTERFINALS — Pollacheck, 7.195, 184.19 def. Tonglet, 7.254, 184.27; Savoie, 7.192, 184.72 def. Arana Jr, 7.185, 186.38; M. Smith, 7.240, 183.72 def. Hines, 7.195, 186.77; Krawiec, 7.181, 187.03 def. Gladstone, 7.261, 184.37;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 7.220, 184.93 def. Savoie, 7.203, 184.95; Krawiec, 7.191, 186.46 def. Pollacheck, 7.234, 183.59;
FINAL — Krawiec, 7.145, 188.28 def. M. Smith, Foul – Red Light.
MORRISON, Colo. — Point standings (top 10) following the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Steve Torrence, 1,253*; 2. Antron Brown, 1,199*; 3. Leah Pritchett, 1,183*; 4. Tony Schumacher, 974; 5. Doug Kalitta, 873; 6. Brittany Force, 871; 7. Clay Millican, 826; 8. Terry McMillen, 541; 9. Scott Palmer, 528; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., 496.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 1,244*; 2. Matt Hagan, 1,058*; 3. Robert Hight, 973; 4. Jack Beckman, 970; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 925; 6. Courtney Force, 793; 7. John Force, 757; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 634; 9. J.R. Todd, 612; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 538.
Pro Stock
1. Bo Butner, 1,240*; 2. Greg Anderson, 1,066*; 3. Tanner Gray, 976; 4. Jason Line, 931; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 888; 6. Erica Enders, 863; 7. Drew Skillman, 823; 8. Vincent Nobile, 781; 9. Chris McGaha, 540; 10. Allen Johnson, 514.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. LE Tonglet, 658*; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 584; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 483; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 455; 5. Jerry Savoie, 453; 6. Andrew Hines, 403; 7. Matt Smith, 398; 8. Joey Gladstone, 363; 9. Karen Stoffer, 323; 10. Steve Johnson, 284.
