Capps, Langdon, Anderson, A. Smith Provisional No.1 Qualifiers after First Night of DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – September 5, 2020 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Coming off his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, veteran Funny Car standout Ron Capps stayed hot, racing to the No. 1 spot during Friday’s opening qualifying session of the prestigious 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the sixth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. It also marks the fourth straight race at Indy since the NHRA season restarted in July.

Capps went 3.895-seconds at 330.63 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat under the lights on drag racing’s grandest stage, putting him in position to pick up his 25th career No. 1 qualifier and first of the year. He was also the only driver to reach the 3.80s on Friday, giving the 65-time event winner plenty of momentum as he looks to pick up his first career U.S. Nationals victory.

“The guys went out there to run a certain number, and the weather changes, and that’s what makes (crew chief) Rahn Tobler so great to have on the NAPA team,” Capps said. “He can make changes on the fly like that. It was a handful and it was moving around, but great job by the NAPA guys.”

Bob Tasca went 3.910 at 327.11 and is qualified second, while veteran Tim Wilkerson’s 3.918 at 322.11 was good enough for third after the first qualifying session.

Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon made his best run since the NHRA returned, powering to the top spot with a run of 3.728 at 313.22 in his 11,000-horsepower DHL dragster on Friday. If it holds up, it would give the former world champ his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 19th in his career. Langdon is also after his first win of the season and second at the U.S. Nationals. Steve Torrence, the defending and back-to-back world champ who also won the most recent race, ran a 3.731 at 325.06 to put him a spot behind and Clay Millican is currently third thanks to his pass of 3.733 at 327.35. Points leader and defending event champ Doug Kalitta is fourth with a run of 3.736 at 325.45.

With an incredible track record at the Big Go, veteran Greg Anderson was impressive to open Pro Stock qualifying, jumping to the No. 1 position with a run of 6.549 at 209.52 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. It puts Anderson, a four-time world champion, in line for his first No. 1 qualifier of 2020 and 105th in his illustrious career. He is also after his seventh U.S. Nationals victory, which would put him second behind only Bob Glidden. Chris McGaha is a spot behind after the first session with a run of 6.553 at 208.52, and Matt Hartford sits third following his pass of 6.572 at 208.88.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith rode to the top spot with a run of 6.807 at 197.31 on her DENSO Racing EBR. If it holds, Smith, who has one career win, would qualify in the No. 1 position for the first time in her Pro Stock Motorcycle career. Eddie Krawiec, a multi-time world champ and two-time U.S. Nationals winner, is currently in second after his pass of 6.834 at 198.12 and Scotty Pollacheck rounds out the top three after going 6.864 at 197.28. In addition to final qualifying in the class on Saturday, the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle will also take place, as eight Pro Stock Motorcycle standouts will compete for the $25,000 prize.

In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is presented by ATI ProCharger this weekend, Jason Scruggs drove the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 5.717 at 253.04 in his blown Scruggs Farm Camaro. Scruggs will also meet Chad Green in the final round of the Lucas Oil Summernationals, which will be completed during Saturday’s final qualifying session. Mike Janis is currently qualified second with a 5.758 at 250.46 and Jonathan Gray, who won the most recent race, is in the third spot after going 5.759 at 251.30.

Qualifying at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals continues at 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. Television coverage includes action on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

BROWNSBURG, IN — Friday’s results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, sixth events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.728 seconds, 313.22 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.731, 325.06; 3. Clay Millican, 3.733, 327.35; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.736, 325.45; 5. Doug Foley, 3.756, 326.95; 6. Antron Brown, 3.760, 324.83; 7. Cory McClenathan, 3.762, 304.74; 8. T.J. Zizzo, 3.769, 327.43; 9. Pat Dakin, 3.788, 319.52; 10. Terry McMillen, 3.799, 323.27; 11. Billy Torrence, 3.799, 311.41; 12. Tony Schumacher, 3.863, 311.63; 13. Joey Haas, 4.176, 211.43; 14. Leah Pruett, 4.427, 172.12; 15. Justin Ashley, 6.274, 96.18; 16. Kyle Wurtzel, broke.
Not Qualified: 17. Luigi Novelli, broke.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.895, 330.63; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.910, 327.11; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.918, 322.11; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.932, 326.48; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.977, 321.96; 6. Bob Bode, Mustang, 4.259, 234.04; 7. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.488, 194.88; 8. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.685, 175.50; 9. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.858, 159.32; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 5.198, 138.00; 11. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 6.557, 96.09; 12. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 7.654, 75.54; 13. Jim Campbell, Charger, 7.953, 79.11; 14. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 8.272, 80.61; 15. Dave Richards, Mustang, 11.829, 71.15.
Not Qualified: 16. Paul Lee, broke.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.549, 209.52; 2. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.553, 208.52; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.572, 208.88; 4. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.576, 210.05; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.580, 209.07; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.582, 209.17; 7. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.587, 208.78; 8. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.591, 209.23; 9. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.601, 209.33; 10. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.620, 207.53; 11. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.620, 207.43; 12. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.630, 208.36; 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.636, 207.18; 14. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.640, 208.33; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr., Mustang, 6.643, 207.27; 16. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.653, 205.82.
Not Qualified: 17. Richie Stevens, 6.667, 208.07; 18. Cristian Cuadra, 7.614, 144.16; 19. Steve Graham, 18.452, 44.21.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.807, 197.31; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.834, 198.12; 3. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.864, 197.28; 4. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.895, 196.07; 5. Cory Reed, EBR, 6.897, 194.58; 6. John Hall, Suzuki, 6.909, 193.90; 7. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.913, 190.48; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.929, 192.49; 9. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.939, 194.83; 10. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.945, 197.19; 11. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.959, 192.19; 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.981, 194.10; 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.050, 189.12; 14. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.051, 191.32; 15. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.075, 196.16; 16. Ron Tornow, Victory, 7.289, 149.95.
Not Qualified: 17. Michael Phillips, 9.587, 96.54; 18. David Barron, 10.848, 75.87; 19. Marc Ingwersen, 11.650, 68.58.

About NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 17 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and E3 Spark NHRA Plugs 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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