Fri, 20 Feb 2009, 10:00 PM Dixon Capps and Edwards Lead Qualifying after Day One

By Rick Green At the 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals

CHANDLER, Ariz. --

Larry Dixon

Larry Dixon with a 3.807 second run, Ron Capps at 4.023 seconds, and Mike Edwards at 6.065 seconds lead qualifying after the first day at the 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals.

Larry Dixon, after failing to qualify at the rain plagued season opener in Pomona two weeks ago, was the quickest Top Fueler on the property today after both sessions of qualifying. Dixon, in his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi racing dragster, ran a personal best elapsed time and speed for 1000 feet today, 3.843 seconds at 313.95 mph to lead the first qualifying session. He was then in the last pair of cars to go down the track today, paired up with Antron Brown, when he covered the 1000 feet in 3.807 seconds at 313.95 mph. He said he was "bummed" after Pomona, but doesn't let himself get too low just as he won't let himself get too high after today. "I'm just glad to know that I will be racing on Sunday."

Brown in the Matco Tools dragster went to the number two spot in that last pair with Dixon, running 3.830 seconds at 313.80 mph. In the pair before those two, Tony Schumacher, in the Mike Green-tuned Army Top Fueler, had gone to the number one spot at 3.840 seconds at 315.27 mph. Schumacher's pass was the fastest of the day. Spenser Massey, in the Don Prudhomme owned U.S. Smokeless dragster, was fourth (3.847 at 310.27) and Brandon Bernstein, in the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster, rounded out the top five ((3.875 at 308.07).

Ron Capps

Ron Capps, in NAPA Dodge Charger, continued his hot streak following his win at the seson operner WinterNationals with a provisional number one spot in the opening day at Firebird International Raceway. He was in the last pair of Funny Cars today and blasted down the 1000-foot course with the second quickest pass in the 1000-foot era at 4.023 seconds and 305.63 mph. "I quoted Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) at the top end, 'confidence breeds success,'" said Capps. "That's so apparent now. Obviously, [when] you win, you have a lot of confidence, but I really left there knowing we had a great car. And you always want to show up at a race after winning and at least in the next couple of runs show that you did win because you were the best car. And we proved that already. So, it's just nice to keep doing that."

Mike Neff, in his John Force Racing Ford, qualified number two with a great pass of 4.050 seconds at 309.06. He is pulling double duty this weekend as he is tuning the car while crew chief John Medlen is recovering in Indianapolis from a heart stent procedure. Del Worsham qualified number three in his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Solara, 4.072 seconds at 305.22 mph. Force teammates Robert Hight (4.077 at 303.71) and John Force (4.089 at 298.14) round out the top five.

Mike Edwards

Mike Edwards, in his Young Life Penhall Pontiac GXP, set the track E.T. record in the first qualifying session and continued his dominance in round two, lowering the track record to 6.605 seconds at 208.52 mph. Greg Anderson, in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP, qualified number two with a 6.619 seconds at a track record tying speed of 209.49. Jeg Coughlin, Allen Johnson and Jason Line round out the top five.

Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday.

In Lucas Oil competition, Clint Neff, in his K/A Ford '23 T Roadster, leads qualifying in Competition Eliminator, 0.667 seconds under the index of 7.893 seconds, at 166.68 mph. Competition Eliminator will get one more qualifying session at 11:30 am and then will run round one at 2:00 pm. In Super Stock, Tibor Kadar, in his SS/GM '92 Chevy Camaro, leads qualifying at 1.288 seconds under the index with a pass of 9.412 seconds. Steve Hagberg, in his A/SA '64 Savoy, leads qualifying in Stock with a 1.131 seconds under the index pass of 10.169 seconds. Stock will get one more qualifying session and Super Comp will get one more time trial tomorrow morning before going into eliminations. Super Stock will get one qualifying session and Super Gas will get one more time trial after Pro qualifying tomorrow and then will go into eliminations.

Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, second of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.807 seconds, 313.95 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.830, 313.80; 3. Tony Schumacher, 3.840, 315.27; 4. Spencer Massey, 3.847, 310.27; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 3.875, 308.07; 6. Morgan Lucas, 3.879, 306.46; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.888, 305.63; 8. David Baca, 3.910, 305.77; 9. Joe Hartley, 3.913, 308.07; 10. Clay Millican, 3.914, 307.65; 11. Cory McClenathan, 3.918, 310.91; 12. Del Cox Jr, 3.936, 306.46. Not Qualified: 13. Doug Kalitta, 4.058, 264.70; 14. Terry Haddock, 4.119, 287.78; 15. Troy Buff, 4.137, 222.33; 16. Steven Chrisman, 4.214, 277.83; 17. Mike Strasburg, 4.555, 187.39; 18. Arley Langlo, 5.804, 119.44; 19. Steve Faria, 7.573, 78.58.

Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.023, 305.63; 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.050, 309.06; 3. Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.072, 305.22; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.077, 303.71; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.089, 298.14; 6. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.104, 295.72; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.106, 301.94; 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.106, 298.93; 9. Jim Head, Solara, 4.116, 296.37; 10. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.122, 302.08; 11. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.125, 301.40; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.164, 296.05. Not Qualified: 13. Gary Densham, 4.172, 291.76; 14. Jeff Arend, 4.237, 297.75; 15. Tim Wilkerson, 4.332, 272.23; 16. Ashley Force Hood, 5.003, 183.27; 17. Bob Bode, 7.431, 101.12.

Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.605, 208.71; 2. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.619, 209.49; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.624, 208.33; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.630, 208.68; 5. Jason Line, GXP, 6.638, 208.71; 6. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.643, 207.91; 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.649, 208.20; 8. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.650, 208.01; 9. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.652, 207.72; 10. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.658, 207.59; 11. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.665, 207.34; 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.669, 207.66. Not Qualified: 13. Rickie Jones, 6.680, 206.95; 14. Larry Morgan, 6.680, 207.15; 15. David Beckley, 6.681, 206.89; 16. Bob Panella, 6.698, 205.85; 17. Steve Spiess, 6.700, 206.45; 18. V. Gaines, 6.709, 205.54; 19. Jerry Haas, 6.766, 205.10; 20. Roger Brogdon, 6.787, 202.36; 21. Erica Enders, 6.791, 202.48; 22. Gordie Rivera, 24.049, 33.95.