B. Force, Beckman, Line & Hines Start Strong, take Provisional No.1 Spots at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 31, 2019 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) –  Brittany Force powered her way to the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel on Friday during the 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the final regular-season race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. It is the 18th of 24 events in 2019.

Force, who is seeking her first Indy win, ran 3.670-seconds at 327.27 mph in her Advance Auto Parts dragster to take the top spot. If the run, which was just off the track record at Indy, holds, it would give Force her sixth No. 1 qualifier of 2019 and 16th in her career. Defending world champion and points leader Steve Torrence was the only other driver to reach the 3.60s, going 3.688 at 323.81 to sit second. His father, Billy, is third after a run of 3.715 at 325.61 as he tries to break into the top 10 this weekend.

“It definitely felt fast,” Force said. “We went right down the track and put an awesome number on the board. It was a pretty awesome run, but the next two days are going to be the important ones setting us up for Monday. We’re really looking for consistency because that’s where we’ve been struggling, so this is a good start to the weekend and we’re very happy with that. I want to win here. I’ve been coming here since I was a baby and it’s on my bucket list.”

Funny Car’s Beckman, who is after his first win of 2019, drove his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to an impressive 3.875 at 328.46. It would give Beckman, the 2015 Indy winner, his first No. 1 qualifier this year and 25th in his career if it holds.

His Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps, who won the most recent race in Brainerd, is second after his blast of 3.882 at 327.66, while J.R. Todd, the defending and back-to-back Indy winner, sits third thanks to his 3.883 at a class-best 331.20. Before Friday’s run, Todd and his team also unveiled the special Mello Yello wrap they will be sporting this weekend on his Camry.

In Pro Stock, Line went 6.570 at 209.62 to take the No. 1 spot in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. Line, who won the most recent event in Brainerd, is aiming for his second straight and third overall top qualifier of 2019, and 56th in his career. Erica Enders, the runner-up at Brainerd, is second after Friday thanks to her 6.590 at 207.24, while points leader Bo Butner is third after going 6.592 at 209.95. On Friday, the NHRA also revealed the official logo for the 50th anniversary of Pro Stock, which will be celebrated during the 2020 season.

Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Hines raced to the top spot on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, going 6.864 at 194.63. It would give Hines, a seven-time winner this year, his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 45th in his career. Defending world champion Matt Smith is currently second after his run of 6.874 at 197.02 and Jerry Savoie is a spot back thanks to his pass of 6.898 at 193.85.

In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, three-time world champ Rickie Smith took the top spot on Friday with a run of 5.746 at 251.95 in his Camaro.

Qualifying continues Saturday at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals with two rounds at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. ET.

BROWNSBURG, IN — Friday’s results after the first one of five rounds of qualifying for the 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Monday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.670 seconds, 327.27 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.688, 323.81; 3.Billy Torrence, 3.715, 325.61; 4. Leah Pritchett, 3.726, 325.22; 5. Antron Brown, 3.729, 328.06; 6. Richie Crampton, 3.738, 325.53; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.743, 327.19; 8. Jordan Vandergriff, 3.746, 323.19; 9. Scott Palmer, 3.759, 307.93; 10. Terry McMillen, 3.780, 322.65; 11. Shawn Reed, 3.797, 299.00; 12. Wayne Newby, 3.803, 322.11; 13. T.J. Zizzo, 3.832, 319.37; 14. Pat Dakin, 3.931, 278.00; 15. Mike Salinas, 4.176, 201.85; 16. Luigi Novelli, 5.341, 132.71.
Not Qualified: 17. Clay Millican, 5.433, 121.23; 18. Austin Prock, 7.404, 86.21.

Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.875, 328.46; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.882, 327.66; 3. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.883, 331.20; 4. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 3.887, 330.63; 5. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.896, 331.94; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.923, 326.08; 7. John Force, Camaro, 3.942, 326.00; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.949, 291.13; 9. Bob Bode, Mustang, 3.987, 321.81; 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.987, 287.84; 11. Justin Schriefer, Charger, 4.005, 317.94; 12. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 4.009, 318.99; 13. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.110, 251.63; 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.164, 300.06; 15. Phil Burkart, Charger, 4.306, 224.66; 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.368, 200.71.
Not Qualified: 17. Terry Haddock, 7.774, 83.46; 18. Bob Tasca III, 8.057, 87.58; 19. Ray Martin, broke.

Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.570, 209.62; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.590, 207.24; 3. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.592, 209.95; 4. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.593, 207.46; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.602, 208.78; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.607, 207.66; 7. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.608, 208.23; 8. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.611, 207.94; 9. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.627, 208.26; 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.632, 207.56; 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.633, 207.94; 12. Fernando Cuadra, Camaro, 6.637, 209.20; 13. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.647, 207.53; 14. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.648, 207.21; 15. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.662, 206.76; 16. Wally Stroupe, Camaro, 6.694, 206.13.
Not Qualified: 17. Cristian Cuadra, 6.719, 204.73; 18. Alan Prusiensky, 6.721, 206.61; 19. Robert River, 7.226, 198.85; 20. Richard Freeman, 10.723, 83.37; 21. Jeremy Martorella, 13.401, 77.02.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.864, 194.63; 2. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.874, 197.02; 3. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.898, 193.85; 4. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.901, 195.00; 5. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.904, 193.68; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.907, 193.32; 7. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.917, 188.96; 8. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.928, 195.11; 9. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.973, 193.21; 10. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.978, 193.46; 11. Hector Arana, EBR, 7.008, 192.30; 12. Cory Reed, EBR, 7.052, 191.00; 13. Joey Gladstone, EBR, 7.132, 186.85; 14. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.143, 187.60; 15. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 7.315, 183.89; 16. Michael Ray, Buell, 7.378, 185.26.
Not Qualified: 17. Steve Johnson, 7.780, 124.59; 18. Kelly Clontz, 11.702, 65.74; 19. Andie Rawlings, broke.

Tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

About NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Source: National Hot Rod Association

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