Richie Crampton claimed his first career Top Fuel victory, becoming the 100th different winner in the category, at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals on Sunday.
Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were respective winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Crampton powered his GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster to a 3.819-second pass at 320.51 mph to defeat Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta in the final round. The victory came during the Australian’s ninth career start after replacing Morgan Lucas in the offseason and only a week after Crampton and his girlfriend welcomed the birth of their first child.
“This is all surreal right now,” Crampton said. “I’m really just living the dream. I know that sounds cliché, but I’m just lucky to be in the position I’m at in my personal life and my career.”
Crampton was the No. 2 qualifier for the event, his career-best starting spot. The win was extra sweet given Crampton’s milestone achievement.
“I had no idea coming into this race that somebody could possibly be the 100th new winner in Top Fuel, but it’s pretty special to get that particular point on the list,” Crampton said. “You think about how many great drivers there are on that particular list, and it’s icing on the cake for me there.”
Kalitta was appearing in his fifth final of the season in his Mac Tools dragster. Despite the defeat, Kalitta increased his points lead over second place Antron Brown to 103 points.
Pedregon was the class of the Funny Car field all weekend, going from No. 1 qualifier to the race victory with a performance of 4.126 at 301.33 in his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry over Del Worsham in his DHL Camry in the final. The win was a relief for Pedregon, whose team has struggled early this season.
“It was a tremendous points day,” said Pedregon. “To say I’m excited and happy would be an understatement, but I also feel relieved a little bit. We’ve dug ourselves a pretty good hole this year.”
The win was Pedregon’s 35th of his career and first of the season. With the victory, Pedregon tied NHRA legend Don Prudhomme for fourth on the all-time Funny Car wins list.
“Prudhomme is my hero, and it means a lot [to tie him],” Pedregon said. “I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve had plenty of opportunities, but I think my biggest accomplishment is the fact that I have been doing it so long in different scenarios. To be able to do this at this level and maintain it 20 years later means everything to me.”
Coughlin secured his second Pro Stock win of the season and 58th of his career by defeating Greg Anderson in the final round with a 6.510 at 213.94 in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Dart.
“We had the kind of conditions that Pro Stock cars love today with a great barometer and not a cloud in the sky but you had to work for it,” Coughlin said. “They gave us enough time to figure it out and we had a great day.”
Coughlin, the defending and five-time world champ, has reached the final in the last three events, also winning Atlanta and finishing runner-up in Topeka. He beat Anderson’s Summit Racing Chevy Camaro in both finals this season.
Erica Enders-Stevens had a great weekend performance-wise in her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro as she reset both ends of the Pro Stock national record with her 6.464 second ET and 215.55 mph speed.
Hines defeated Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate Eddie Krawiec to take the Pro Stock Motorcycle victory. It was the second win for Hines at Raceway Park.
“We are back,” Hines said. “I think we put an exclamation point on that this weekend. We’ve been digging the last year and a half to get back to where we were. I’ve always said that racing gets in the way of our R&D and this winter we had a chance to get a lot of work done and we’re starting to reap the benefits.”
A three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, Hines recorded his second win of the season and 34th of his career. He leaves Englishtown having increased his points lead.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues in Bristol, Tenn., with the 14th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, June 13-15.
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Here are Sunday’s final results from the 45th Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the ninth of 24 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Richie Crampton, 3.819 seconds, 320.51 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.848 seconds, 317.34 mph.
Funny Car — Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.126, 301.33 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.189, 296.70.
Pro Stock — Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.510, 213.94 def. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 10.314, 88.65.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.828, 196.56 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.837, 196.30.
Pro Modified — Von Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.966, 241.58 def. Jason Hamstra, Ford Mustang, 9.861, 91.12.
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Here’s the final finishing order (1-16) at the 45th Toyota NHRA Summernationals:
TOP FUEL: 1. Richie Crampton; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Morgan Lucas; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Bob Vandergriff; 7. Brittany Force; 8. J.R. Todd; 9. Leah Pritchett; 10. Dom Lagana; 11. Antron Brown; 12. Spencer Massey; 13. Steve Torrence; 14. Khalid alBalooshi; 15. Clay Millican; 16. Terry McMillen.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Cruz Pedregon; 2. Del Worsham; 3. Robert Hight; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. Matt Hagan; 7. Tim Wilkerson; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Courtney Force; 10. Ron Capps; 11. Chad Head; 12. John Force; 13. Tony Pedregon; 14. Jeff Arend; 15. Terry Haddock; 16. Bob Tasca III.
PRO STOCK: 1. Jeg Coughlin; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Dave Connolly; 4. Rodger Brogdon; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens; 6. Jason Line; 7. Shane Gray; 8. Chris McGaha; 9. Vincent Nobile; 10. John Gaydosh Jr; 11. Allen Johnson; 12. Val Smeland; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. V. Gaines; 15. Kenny Delco; 16. Jonathan Gray.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines; 2. Eddie Krawiec; 3. Hector Arana Jr; 4. Matt Smith; 5. Michael Ray; 6. John Hall; 7. Jerry Savoie; 8. Chaz Kennedy; 9. Steve Johnson; 10. Scotty Pollacheck; 11. Angie Smith; 12. LE Tonglet; 13. Hector Arana; 14. Shawn Gann; 15. Jim Underdahl; 16. Adam Arana.
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Here are the updated point standings (top 10) in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 809; 2. Antron Brown, 706; 3. Shawn Langdon, 638; 4. Spencer Massey, 598; 5. Steve Torrence, 580; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 503; 7. Tony Schumacher, 495; 8. Brittany Force, 462; 9. Richie Crampton, 433; 10. J.R. Todd, 392.
Funny Car: 1. Robert Hight, 847; 2. John Force, 601; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 564; 4. Del Worsham, 535; 5. Ron Capps, 534; 6. Courtney Force, 527; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 508; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 506; 9. Jack Beckman, 480; 10. Matt Hagan, 454.
Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, 791; 2. (tie) Jeg Coughlin, 668; Allen Johnson, 668; 4. Jason Line, 623; 5. Shane Gray, 582; 6. Vincent Nobile, 563; 7. Dave Connolly, 535; 8. V. Gaines, 456; 9. Chris McGaha, 427; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 355.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 406; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 382; 3. John Hall, 285; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 263; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, 252; 6. Michael Ray, 235; 7. Matt Smith, 206; 8. Steve Johnson, 187; 9. (tie) Hector Arana, 168; Chaz Kennedy, 168.
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Here are final round-by-round results from the 45th Toyota NHRA Summernationals:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Bob Vandergriff, 4.476, 219.01 def. Khalid alBalooshi, 6.402, 130.57; Richie Crampton, 3.774, 316.82 def. Dom Lagana, 3.906, 312.71; Morgan Lucas, 3.834, 276.52 def. Steve Torrence, 5.438, 124.48; Shawn Langdon, 3.801, 320.58 def. Terry McMillen, 8.868, 85.83; Doug Kalitta, 3.785, 323.89 def. Clay Millican, 6.509, 97.26; Brittany Force, 3.789, 326.24 def. Spencer Massey, 4.130, 232.27; J.R. Todd, 3.820, 319.14 def. Leah Pritchett, 3.823, 320.51; Tony Schumacher, 3.782, 325.92 def. Antron Brown, 3.985, 270.37;
QUARTERFINALS — Langdon, 3.806, 322.27 def. Vandergriff, 3.880, 313.66; Lucas, 3.846, 311.99 def. Force, 4.107, 253.18; Kalitta, 3.822, 317.05 def. Schumacher, 3.827, 319.14; Crampton, 4.090, 261.07 def. Todd, 4.762, 209.04;
SEMIFINALS — Kalitta, 4.375, 249.12 def. Lucas, 6.032, 139.07; Crampton, 4.120, 293.92 def. Langdon, 6.356, 122.97;
FINAL — Crampton, 3.819, 320.51 def. Kalitta, 3.848, 317.34.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.129, 307.79 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 8.909, 76.61; Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.512, 227.08 def. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.602, 213.60; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.524, 230.45 def. Terry Haddock, Chevy Impala, 5.466, 144.88; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.120, 297.22 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.354, 281.60; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.067, 306.33 def. Chad Head, Camry, 4.177, 283.61; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.064, 311.56 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 5.109, 164.47; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.073, 301.33 def. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.116, 312.78; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.069, 313.58 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.153, 300.86;
QUARTERFINALS — C. Pedregon, 5.183, 216.41 def. Johnson Jr., 7.265, 113.14; Worsham, 4.168, 301.94 def. Wilkerson, 4.696, 188.36; Beckman, 4.133, 308.50 def. Hagan, 4.121, 300.60; Hight, 4.086, 306.33 def. DeJoria, 4.107, 308.07;
SEMIFINALS — C. Pedregon, 4.593, 234.33 def. Beckman, 6.381, 153.16; Worsham, 4.178, 298.73 def. Hight, 5.753, 129.65;
FINAL — C. Pedregon, 4.126, 301.33 def. Worsham, 4.189, 296.70.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 213.43 def. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 27.572, 25.50; Dave Connolly, Camaro, 7.097, 210.24 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 7.273, 205.88; Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 10.769, 144.91 def. Kenny Delco, Chevy Cobalt, 16.303, 58.06; Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 7.788, 170.82 def. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 9.916, 101.76; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.500, 214.45 def. John Gaydosh Jr, Pontiac GXP, 7.311, 202.42; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.543, 214.01 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 12.730, 68.44; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.519, 213.84 def. Allen Johnson, Dart, 7.808, 133.50; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.464, 214.89 def. Val Smeland, Cobalt, 8.972, 107.66;
QUARTERFINALS — Coughlin, 6.586, 213.91 def. S. Gray, 6.749, 212.66; Anderson, 7.906, 170.92 def. McGaha, 8.272, 189.26; Brogdon, 6.558, 214.04 def. Line, 6.599, 213.60; Connolly, 6.539, 213.91 def. Enders-Stevens, 6.509, 214.66;
SEMIFINALS — Anderson, 6.535, 214.25 def. Brogdon, 15.406, 54.34; Coughlin, 6.524, 213.60 def. Connolly, 6.535, 214.01;
FINAL — Coughlin, 6.510, 213.94 def. Anderson, 10.314, 88.65.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.826, 196.33 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.845, 195.39; Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.851, 194.16 def. Hector Arana, Buell, foul; Michael Ray, Buell, 6.831, 196.19 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.851, 191.48; John Hall, Buell, 6.800, 196.13 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.882, 194.49; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.834, 196.02 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 16.139, 44.40; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.774, 197.74 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, broke; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.798, 197.91 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.867, 194.63; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.770, 198.23 def. Adam Arana, Buell, broke;
QUARTERFINALS — M. Smith, 6.848, 195.99 def. Hall, 6.837, 194.77; Krawiec, 6.750, 198.90 def. Savoie, 6.860, 197.31; Arana Jr, 6.790, 198.47 def. Kennedy, 7.089, 190.35; Hines, 6.762, 197.65 def. Ray, 6.836, 195.11;
SEMIFINALS — Hines, 6.807, 195.62 def. Arana Jr, 6.827, 198.09; Krawiec, 6.801, 198.23 def. M. Smith, 7.225, 152.09;
FINAL — Hines, 6.828, 196.56 def. Krawiec, 6.837, 196.30.