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Jack Beckman set a national record and raced to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Saturday.
Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were No. 1 qualifiers at the third of 24 events in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Beckman posted a 3.879-second at 329.26 mph sprint in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T to reset the elapsed time national record and become the No. 1 qualifier. His time was a Gainesville Raceway track record. He has 17 No. 1 qualifiers in his career and two so far in 2016. This is his first No. 1 at Gainesville Raceway and he will hope to secure his first win at the facility tomorrow. Beckman will open eliminations against Jeff Diehl.
“I’m always excited to come here,” said Beckman. “This place was setting records long before I ever came out here when I was reading about it in National Dragster. Driving for (crew chief) Jimmy Prock, we can set records most places we go.”
Courtney Force qualified second in her Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS with a 3.893 at 322.96. Force will open eliminations against Dave Richards. Her John Force Racing teammate, Robert Hight, pushed his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS to a 3.921 at 327.43 to qualify third. Hight will face Terry Haddock in Sunday’s first round.
Phoenix winner Tim Wilkerson will enter eliminations as the fourth qualifier and race Cruz Pedregon. Pomona winner Ron Capps is fifth and will meet John Hale in the opening round.
Crampton powered his Lucas Oil dragster to the fifth-quickest Top Fuel pass in NHRA history with a 3.698 at 317.42, earning his first No. 1 of 2016, fourth of his career and first ever at Gainesville Raceway. Crampton, a South Australia native, will open Sunday’s eliminations against Chris Karamesines.
“We struggled a bit yesterday and we were looking forward to the overcast conditions today because we didn’t know what (crew chief) Aaron Brooks could do when the weather was like that, with a cool track temperature,” said Crampton, the 2014 Rookie of the Year. “To do what we did in the first qualifying session today and then run a 3.6 was very cool. Hats off to Aaron Brooks and my Lucas Oil guys.”
Clay Millican raced to a 3.722 at 326.71 in his Parts Plus / Great Clips dragster to qualify second. Millican was the runner-up in Gainesville in 2013. He will face Ike Maier in Sunday’s first round.
Defending Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown pushed his Matco Tools dragster to the No. 3 spot with a 3.729 at 318.54. The 2013 Gainesville event winner will battle Terry McMillen in the opening round of eliminations.
Phoenix winner Leah Pritchett is fourth and will meet Tripp Tatum in the first round, while Phoenix runner-up Brittany Force is fifth and will race Morgan Lucas.
In Pro Stock, Line raced his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to the No. 1 qualifier with a 6.584 at 208.84. Line, riding momentum from his recent win in Phoenix, has 42 No. 1 qualifiers in his career. After a first round bye, Line will meet the winner of Shane Gray versus Vincent Nobile in the second round.
“We made good runs,” said Line, a four-time Gatornationals winner. “We struggled a little bit with the race car but my Summit hot rod is pretty fast right now. My car has been very good and that’s probably one of the reasons she’s been a little faster than everybody else’s. We fell a little bit short but still had very good runs today and I’m very happy about that.”
Line’s Ken Black Racing teammate, Bo Butner, pushed his Jim Butner Auto Chevy Camaro to the No. 2 qualifier with a 6.591 at 209.26. Butner will open Sunday’s eliminations against V. Gaines. Greg Anderson, the third member of the Ken Black Racing team, qualified third with a 6.595 at 209.65 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. The defending event winner will go up against Matt Hartford Sunday morning.
Krawiec posted a 6.801 at 196.42 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to become the No. 1 qualifier at the first of 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events in 2016. Krawiec has 28 No. 1 qualifiers in his career and two at Gainesville Raceway. He has won this event three times and was the event runner-up one year ago. Krawiec will face Michael Phillips in the first round of eliminations.
“You want to get back on that motorcycle,” said Krawiec, a three-time world champion. “Definitely wanted to come out here to Gainesville, blow the dust off, get the cobwebs behind me and start moving forward. The key yesterday was making a good lap off the trailer and setting the tone for the weekend. Anybody could win. Every round is important and every round you have to do your best.”
Hector Arana qualified second with a 6.821 at 197.10 on his Lucas Oil Buell and will go up against Mike Berry in Sunday’s opening round. Chip Ellis posted a 6.829 at 195.34 on his Junior Pippin Trucking Company Buell to qualify third. Ellis will battle Hector Arana Jr. in the first round.
Five-time and defending world champion Andrew Hines pushed his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the fourth place qualifier and will begin eliminations against Angie Smith.
Eliminations at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 47th 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. Richie Crampton, 3.698 seconds, 319.37 mph vs. 16. Chris Karamesines, broke; 2. Clay Millican, 3.722, 326.71 vs. 15. Ike Maier, 3.937, 301.00; 3. Antron Brown, 3.729, 319.07 vs. 14. Terry McMillen, 3.895, 308.57; 4. Leah Pritchett, 3.744, 325.69 vs. 13. Tripp Tatum, 3.862, 317.05; 5. Brittany Force, 3.745, 320.81 vs. 12. Morgan Lucas, 3.810, 315.64; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.754, 315.12 vs. 11. Shawn Langdon, 3.783, 318.84; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.757, 325.22 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, 3.779, 323.35; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.761, 324.05 vs. 9. Dave Connolly, 3.762, 325.45.
Funny Car -- 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.879, 329.26 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 11.122, 83.59; 2. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.893, 322.96 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 7.160, 195.68; 3. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.921, 327.43 vs. 14. Terry Haddock, Solara, 6.288, 161.32; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.928, 321.65 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 5.143, 146.42; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.929, 321.27 vs. 12. John Hale, Charger, 4.170, 290.19; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.953, 323.74 vs. 11. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.041, 314.61; 7. Chad Head, Camry, 3.957, 321.04 vs. 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.016, 307.65; 8. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.958, 320.28 vs. 9. John Force, Camaro, 3.996, 299.20.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.584, 210.44 vs. Bye; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.591, 209.33 vs. 15. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.724, 206.01; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.595, 209.65 vs. 14. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.685, 208.17; 4. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.614, 209.04 vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.663, 207.91; 5. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.616, 208.94 vs. 12. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.651, 208.17; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.627, 208.30 vs. 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.644, 208.46; 7. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.628, 207.91 vs. 10. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.636, 208.33; 8. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.631, 208.17 vs. 9. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.632, 208.62.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.801, 197.71 vs. 16. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.938, 194.49; 2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.821, 197.10 vs. 15. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.937, 190.11; 3. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.829, 195.34 vs. 14. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.917, 194.13; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.844, 194.94 vs. 13. Angie Smith, Victory, 6.914, 192.85; 5. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.847, 195.70 vs. 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.907, 197.22; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.850, 196.04 vs. 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.901, 193.65; 7. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.853, 194.86 vs. 10. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.885, 196.47; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.862, 195.82 vs. 9. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.868, 196.62.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Matt Smith, 6.942, 193.71; 18. Cory Reed, 6.950, 191.40; 19. Shawn Gann, 6.965, 190.59; 20. Kalle Lyren, 6.967, 193.21; 21. Karen Stoffer, 6.968, 193.63; 22. Joe DeSantis, 6.978, 192.58; 23. Brian Pretzel, 7.017, 193.90; 24. David Hope, 7.058, 188.86; 25. Katie Sullivan, 7.136, 187.26; 26. Lance Bonham, 7.212, 187.21.
FRIGO RACES TO NO. 1 QUALIFIER AND A FIRST ROUND PRO MOD VICTORY AT GAINESVILLE
Sidnei Frigo claimed the No. 1 qualifying position and first round victory Saturday during 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, co-presented by the Pro Line Racing and Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., is the first of 10 events on the season.
Frigo’s second-session pass of 5.839 seconds at 240.47 mph in his late model Artivinco Racing/FuelTech Chevy Corvette held up for his first career No. 1 qualifier.
In the first round of eliminations, Frigo outran Kevin Fiscus, of Jacksonville, Fla., with a 5.810 pass at 254.04. Fiscus ran an 8.643 at 85.99 in his 2012 Ford Mustang. Frigo will face Chip King in the second round of eliminations on Sunday.
Robert Patrick Jr.’s second round pass of 5.850 at 242.58 kept him qualified at second in his Purvis Ford Mustang. Patrick Jr. fell in the first round of eliminations to No. 15 qualifier Danny Rowe, of Laguna Hills, Calif., in his Agave Tequila ’68 Chevy Camaro with a pass of 6.016 at 243.41. Rowe will matchup against Steve Matusek, from Olathe, Kan., in the second round.
Matusek, in his Agave Underground ’68 Camaro, took out eleventh place qualifier and reigning world champ Troy Coughlin with a 5.873 pass at 247.57. Coughlin ran a 5.822 at 256.65 in his late model Corvette.
Third place qualifier, Jonathan Gray in his Precision Turbo and Engine Chevy Camaro, ran a 5.751 at 258.02 in his first round win over Kenny Lang and will face Bob Rahaim in the second round.
Pro Mod Series eliminations will resume on Sunday.
First round-by-round results from the 47th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
ROUND ONE -- Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 5.845, 244.43 def. Pete Farber, Daytona, 9.081, 99.95; Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 5.873, 247.57 def. Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.822, 256.65; Bob Rahaim, Corvette, 5.835, 247.20 def. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 6.091, 249.95; Mike Castellana, Corvette, 5.812, 247.47 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 6.119, 235.10; Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.810,
254.04 def. Kevin Fiscus, Mustang, 8.643, 85.99; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.784, 250.23 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.901, 246.35; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.751, 258.02 def. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.913, 245.81; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 6.016, 243.41 def. Robert Patrick Jr., Mustang, 6.965, 151.15;
Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the 47th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals:
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 288 Sidnei Frigo, Ball Ground GA, '15 Corvette 5.839 240.47 252.24
2 262 Robert Patrick Jr., Fredricksburg VA, '14 Must 5.850 242.58 242.58
3 2133 Jonathan Gray, Artesia NM, '14 Camaro 5.851 255.34 255.48
4 4 Rickie Smith, King NC, '15 Camaro 5.851 248.93 248.93
5 44 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '15 Corvette 5.854 246.48 246.48
6 360 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '15 Corvette 5.860 245.76 245.76
7 1 Troy Coughlin, Columbus OH, '15 Corvette 5.870 255.24 255.24
8 10 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona 5.876 247.43 247.43
9 213 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona 5.878 243.41 243.41
10 5450 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro 5.884 248.11 248.11
11 318 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang 5.885 252.43 252.43
12 2 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '13 Camaro 5.915 233.80 237.80
13 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS-V 5.922 246.57 246.57
14 5012 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '69 Camaro 5.926 245.63 245.63
15 7 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '15 Corvette 5.963 245.27 245.27
16 220F Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL, '12 Mustang 5.982 246.44 246.44
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 6 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '10 Mustang 6.009 235.56 235.56
18 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, '69 Camaro 6.029 241.80 241.80
19 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '69 Chevelle 6.048 244.65 244.65
20 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Chevelle 6.051 241.54 241.54
21 1109 Gerry Capano, Greenville DE, '63 Corvette 6.068 230.21 230.21
22 275T Ruben Tetsoshvill, West Chapel FL, '70 Camaro 6.140 223.47 223.47
23 2377 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '16 Corvette 6.153 184.75 200.77
24 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi 6.275 235.72 241.80
25 6967 Jim Bell, Edmonton AB, '69 Camaro 6.670 191.97 191.97
26 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, '70 Camaro 7.067 158.28 158.28
27 303 Dan Stevenson, Lisle IL, '13 Camaro 7.227 130.63 130.63
28 1262 Chuck Little, Atkinson NH, '63 Corvette 7.728 127.14 127.14
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