91����

The first pair of Top Fuel dragsters take to the track in the coolest conditions of the weekend. Defending event champion Austin Prock is ousted by the driver who has claimed the most Top Fuel wins in Reading – Tony Schumacher (he’s won here five times). The SCAG Power Equipment dragster reels off a 3.70 to beat a 3.71. 

***

After shredding a tire in the final round of qualifying and damaging the body and chassis of his primary Mac Tools dragster, Doug Kalitta’s team had to bring out an older car – without the canopy cockpit – as backup for raceday in Reading. Kalitta made the best run of the entire weekend, a blistering 3.65 at 335 mph, to defeat Josh Hart. 

“That thing ran well,” said Kalitta at the top end, with a tip of the cap to crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen, as well as the Mac Tools team for working into the night to prepare the car. “I wasn’t sure what to expect; it has a different look without the canopy. But that felt good. It’s one of my old faithful cars.” 

***

No. 1 qualifier Justin Ashley gets a single when Scott Farley’s team cannot get the car to fire. Ashley doesn’t have to pedal without a challenger beside him and goes 6.49 for the win. It’s a lucky one for incoming points leader and No. 1 qualifier Ashley.

***

Crew chief David Grubnic (pictured) said before the weekend that the Monster Energy team is going back to what they know, and that approach is proving successful in the first race of the Countdown to the Championship. Brittany Force flies to a 3.71 to defeat Jacob Opatrny and start on a much better note than the first-round loss she suffered at the U.S. Nationals two weeks ago. 

“We put together four solid qualifying runs, and that first round, 3.71, that’s what we want – but we have three more,” said Force. “Every run right now is crucial in this Countdown, and we want to win it. We have that No. 1 on our car, and we want it to stay.”

***

The Matco Tools dragster is charging along for two-time Reading winner Antron Brown, but as he crosses the finish line, the engine backfires, the supercharger comes off, and a big ball of flame erupts. Brown wins the round on a 3.75 over Doug Foley, but he’ll forfeit lane choice to Steve Torrence in round two. 

“That’s racing,” said Brown, who is not only the driver but also the team owner. “Right now, we’re in the middle of this battle. Indy went well, but we had a couple things go wrong in qualifying here and that’s not the type of thing you want to happen. Right there, we were on a nice run and should have run about a 3.72, but it dropped a hole and started moving over to the left. I just said, ‘Get to the finish line, get to the finish line.’ It expired before we got there, but my Matco Tools boys have all the tools in the pits to make it happen. We’re going to go back to work, keep our head down, and just get ready for this next round.” 

***��

No shuffling at the top: the top six drivers in the Top Fuel standings are all advancing to the second round.

***

Top Fuel pairings, round two (lane choice first): Tony Schumacher vs. Justin Ashley; Steve Torrence vs. Antron Brown; Brittany Force vs. Leah Pruett; Doug Kalitta vs. Shawn Langdon

***

Terry Haddock goes red, but Chad Green doesn’t see it. The tail of his Bond-Coat Ford Mustang Funny Car is wagging fiercely as he’s on and off the throttle trying to get through tire shake. He makes it down there with a 5.309, and crew chief Dan Wilkerson will have a chance to race against his father next round when Tim Wilkerson goes 3.900 to defeat a tire-smoking Alex Laughlin. The elder Wilkerson has a 3-1 advantage over Green in elimination rounds this year, but the Bond-Coat car has been steady and climbing. 

***��

Cruz Pedregon and John Force have raced one another 121 times in eliminations. This worthy match goes awry downtrack as Pedregon’s Snap-On Tools Toyota swoops across the centerline and gets up against the wall in the opposite lane from where he started. Force wins with a slightly troubled 4.65.

“It got pretty sideways when it struck the tire right there,” said Pedregon. “I wasn’t even trying to race Force at that point, I was too crooked. All of a sudden, the right front locked up, and the tire went flat. I’m not sure what happened. It’s a scary thing, and I would be lying if I told you any different. It was either lock the brakes up, or I’m going to eat that wall for breakfast. We’re finding new ways to lose. We’ve got a great team, we’re just snakebit right now.” 

***

In a New England-themed battle, Rhode Island’s Bob Tasca III, the No. 1 qualifier in his Motorcraft/Quicklane Ford Mustang, comes up against Cory Lee in the New Englander car. Tasca runs into tire shake and Lee almost pulls off a major upset, but like fellow low qualifier Justin Ashley, luck is on Tasca’s side here. He coasts to a 4.38 to 4.52 victory. 

“The car left great and was pulling; we were on our way, and I said ‘Man, we got this thing won.’ But then it knocked the tire off, and the safety device went off. I had no throttle pedal, and the only thing I could do was lean the car out. I trimmed the fuel down, trying to get a little more speed – but I was helpless waiting for Cory to come around us. We got lucky, but you’re not going to do that second round and win.” 

***

Points implications for the top four are nil as they all advance. J.R. Todd, No. 5 in the standings entering the day, loses a couple of positions as the four drivers behind him all advance. 

***

Funny Car pairings, round two (lane choice first): Alexis DeJoria vs. Bob Tasca III; Tim Wilkerson vs. Chad Green; Ron Capps vs. John Force; Matt Hagan vs. Robert Hight

***

A surprise to start the round, and it isn’t a pleasant one for the man who arrived in Reading with No. 1 on his mind. Dallas Glenn relinquishes the points lead with a -.001 red light next to Corral Boots campaigner Cristian Cuadra. The two run identical 6.539s, but Cuadra will advance on the basis of a green-light start. No. 1 qualifier Erica Enders, driving the JHG/Melling Performance Camaro wins her match with Val Smeland on low-of-the-round 6.49 and moves into the points lead by three marks. 

***

Matt Hartford, who was No. 2 in the points entering the event and dropped down to third after a tough go at qualifying, arrived this morning with a whole new attitude – and a much-revised racecar. His Total Seal/CIP 1 Chevrolet flew down the quarter-mile to a 6.53 to defeat five-time champion Greg Anderson’s 6.555. Anderson moved first by a smidge with a .022 reaction time to Hartford’s .023, but at the top end, it was KB Titan customer Hartford with the crucial Countdown win light. 

“We struggled in qualifying, and last night we rolled out on a rollback and went out and tested after asking NHRA if it was legal,” revealed Hartford. “We still had the same issues, and we didn’t get it completely corrected, but it gave us some stuff to change this morning. We came in and basically rewired the car from front to rear. Everything is brand-new in the car, but we went up there like nothing was wrong. I hate it for Greg, we shouldn’t have had to race each other, but luckily our win light came on.”

***

Kyle Koretsky and his Lucas Oil/Talladega Light Chevrolet are right at home at Maple Grove Raceway – literally. He and his family took ownership of the historic facility last year, and Koretsky is not only driving a racecar this weekend and looking for important Countdown points, but also taking tickets at the gate, empty trashcans around the property, and making sure fans and racers alike are happy. 

When he comes to the starting line, it’s for a reincarnation of the drag racing Beer Wars. It’s Jerry Tucker’s Outlaw Beer Chevrolet vs. his own branded with Michael Waltrip Brewing Company’s Talladega Light. Koretsky gets it done with a 6.531 and the crowd goes well.

“That’s a lot of pressure off of me,” admitted Koretsky after the run.

***

Enders takes over the points lead here, Glenn moved down to second, and Hartford and Coughlin remained third and fourth, respectively. Aaron Stanfield moved around Deric Kramer into fifth. 

***

Pro Stock pairings, round two (lane choice first): Erica Enders vs. Cristian Cuadra; Troy Coughlin Jr. vs. Bo Butner; Aaron Stanfield vs. Kyle Koretsky

***

With 15 Pro Stock Motorcycles on the property, No. 1 qualifier and points leader Gaige Herrera takes a bye run. He’s been the only rider to break into the 6.6s this weekend and he does it again here with a 6.69 at 202. If anyone was hoping for a record today, this might be indication that it’s not out there. We shall see what the day holds. 

***

Jianna Evaristo launches with a .018 light aboard the Scrappers Racing Suzuki, and Steve Johnson is .113 at the tree and sits up on the bike down-track. Evaristo advances on a 6.853 with the points leader waiting for her in the wings. 

***

DENSO rider Matt Smith had a plan: bring four bikes into the Countdown to the Championship and make some waves. So far, so good as all four Matt Smith Racing motorcycles advance, including Smith himself, wife Angie, Evaristo, and Chip Ellis. 

***

Hector Arana Jr. keeps hold of his position in the standings with defeat of Ron Tornow, as does Eddie Krawiec, who eliminated Kelly Clontz.

Marc Ingwersen, No. 8 in the standings, entered today as the No. 12 qualifier – so his win over Rookie of the Year contender Chase Van Sant was a bit of an upset. 

***��

The top five riders in the standings advance to keep the positions toward the top of the standings untouched. 

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings, round two (lane choice first): Gaige Herrera vs. Jianna Evaristo; Matt Smith vs. Marc Ingwersen; Eddie Krawiec vs. Chip Ellis; Hector Arana Jr. vs. Angie Smith

***

Top Fuel round two:

After watching husband Tony Stewart turn on the win light in the third round of Top Alcohol Dragster, Leah Pruett gets it done in Top Fuel for the TSR Nitro team. She powers her Dodge SRT Direct Connection Toyota to a 3.744 to beat Brittany Force’s 3.768. 

“There’s been a lot of action in the ‘war room,’ and Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala [crew chiefs] have been doing a pheromonal job,” said Pruett. “We haven’t had the best performance in qualifying, but it takes a little bit of luck, a little bit of momentum. But I’m stoked. Tony, my husband, is going to the final in Top Alcohol Dragster, we won this round. You just feel like one team, all team. Come on Matt [Hagan, TSR Nitro teammate], let’s take it.”

***

Not sure you can call it an upset as Tony Schumacher is an eight-time world champ and a five-time winner in Reading, but the SCAG Power Equipment dragster is first to launch and that matters at the top end. Incoming points leader Justin Ashley clocked a .049 that could not stand up to Schumacher’s killer .025 reaction. This counts as a holeshot win for Schumacher, 3.71 to 3.70.

“I don’t know where that light came from, but guys like Justin push you really hard,” said Schuamcher. “He’s that way every single time, but we’ll pull out a miracle every now and again.”

***

In a very close race, Doug Kalitta gets the win over Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon by just .007-second. Kalitta clocks a 3.69 to his counterpart’s 3.73 to advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive event. 

***

Justin Ashley remains in the points lead, but if Steve Torrence reaches the final round, he’ll move into first. Leah Pruett jumps up around Antron Brown and Brittany Force into third.

***

Top Fuel pairings, semifinals (lane choice first): Steve Torrence vs. Tony Schumacher; Doug Kalitta vs. Leah Pruett

***

A quick smattering of rain has the first pair of Funny Cars on hold, but after it clears, it’s Tim Wilkerson and Chad Green at the starting line. Before the rain, Wilkerson had already done his burnout, but Green was farther back in the process and had not yet started to warm the tires. The wet weather quickly dissipated, and Wilkerson opted not to make another burnout as the tires and engine still held significant warmth. Green’s team fell into their normal routine, though somewhat lopsided as they did it with Wilkerson waiting. When the tree came down, they launched together and Wilk was up in smoke almost immediately, while Green raced ahead with a 4.00. 

“That’s the weirdest win I’ve ever had,” said Green’s crew chief who also happens to be Tim Wilkerson’s son, Daniel. 

***��

On the other side of the ladder, reigning Funny Car champion and points leader Ron Capps lined his NAPA Toyota up next to John Force for the 123rd time in his career. Capps left the starting line first and recorded a 3.899 to defeat a 3.953 and continue to protect his position at the top. 

***

In the closest match of the day, Robert Hight, No. 3 in the points heading into their meeting, defeated No. 2 man Matt Hagan with a 3.852 to a 3.859. The margin of victory was just .0001 in Hight’s favor, and the driver of the Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet moved around Hagan to No. 2 in the standings. 

***

Funny Car pairings, semifinals (lane choice first): Bob Tasca III vs. Chad Green; Robert Hight vs. Ron Capps

***

Erica Enders again uses a low-of-the-round lap to dispose of her opponent, throwing down a .007 reaction time to a .017 and clocking a 6.50 to a 6.55 for the win over Elite Motorsports teammate Cristian Cuadra. 

***

Matt Hartford continues to show a steady hand on Sunday after the extensive changes to his Eddie Guarnaccia-tuned Total Seal/CIP 1 Chevrolet prior to eliminations and knocked out KB Titan Racing teammate Camrie Caruso. He’ll have to get past the newly christened points leader next round if he wishes to bring home the first trophy of the Countdown. 

***

The support for hometown hero Kyle Koretsky is evident as a pack of friends and family stand beside his Lucas Oil/Talladega Light Chevrolet. They elicit a raucous cheer as Koretsky utilizes a .018 reaction time and 6.53 to defeat Aaron Stanfield on a holeshot. 

Stanfield was .057 on the tree and 6.52 at the finish line stripe, but he didn’t stay down for long. He returned to the starting line soon after the round for the Factory Stock Showdown final, which he was a much more characteristic .015 at the tree in his defeat of young Del Holbrook. 

***

Glenn is now No. 4 in the standings, Enders is No. 1, Hartford is No. 2, and Troy Coughlin Jr. is No. 3. Koretsky will race Coughlin Jr. in the semifinals, and if he defeats the fellow young gun, he’ll move up to No. 5 in the standings. He was eighth entering the day. 

***

Pro Stock pairings, semifinals (lane choice first): Erica Enders vs. Matt Hartford; Troy Coughlin Jr. vs. Kyle Koretsky. 

***

In a repeat of the second round in Norwalk, an incredible upset as points leader Gaige Herrera spins the tires on his Vance & Hines Mission Suzuki, and Jianna Evaristo moves ahead on a 6.89. Matt Smith gets the nod after Marc Ingwersen goes red, and he will have lane choice over Evaristo in the semifinals. After four consecutive first-round losses, the ticket to the semis is particularly sweet for Evaristo, who has reached two previous third rounds so far this year. 

***

On the other side of the ladder, Chip Ellis continues his roll aboard the Matt Smith Racing Buell, defeating five-time Reading winner Eddie Krawiec, 6.73 to 6.77. Ellis will race (and have lane choice over) the only non-Matt Smith Racing entry left: Hector Arana Jr. and his GETTRX Buell. The only rider quicker than Arana Jr. this round was Ellis. 

***

Both Matt Smith and Hector Arana Jr. have the opportunity to take over the points lead, but one of them will have to win the race to do it. Evaristo has moved up to sixth place from ninth, and if she wins, she can move up another couple to fourth. 

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings, semifinals (lane choice first): Matt Smith vs. Jianna Evaristo; Chip Ellis vs. Hector Arana Jr.

***

After an extensive weather delay, we’re back in action. Leah Pruett and Doug Kalitta show that this racetrack is ready to hold what these crew chiefs are dying to give it. They both sail swiftly down the track and make two of the quickest side-by-side runs we’ve seen. Kalitta moves up to third in the Top Fuel standings with a 3.68 that eclipses Pruett’s 3.67 on a holeshot, and he’s going to the final round for the third time this season.

***

The next pair is about to fire up, but the rain has returned. As the day wears into night, the dew point is rising, and NHRA officials have announced that racing for the day has concluded. The final decision as to when, precisely, the race will finish has yet to be determined. Keep an eye on NHRA.com for more information.