Robert Hight is back at it again, recording the first sub-four second Funny Car run in New England Dragway history during Friday’s first two rounds of qualifying for the NHRA Auto-Plus New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
In the hunt for his fifth win of the season, Hight powered down the 1,000-foot dragstrip at 3.988 seconds and 321.58 mph to become the early No. 1 qualifier in the Funny Car class. There are two more qualifying rounds on Saturday prior to Sunday’s final eliminations.
Ironically, even though he has four wins thus far in 2014 and leads the NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car points standings, Hight has not earned a No. 1 qualifying position yet this season. Coming into this season, he’s been No. 1 45 times.
“That was pretty awesome,” Hight said. “We made a nice run the first run. Mike Neff told me going up there we’re not going to be cowards tonight. We’re going to get after this thing. He honestly figured there were going to be others in the threes.”
Cruz Pedregon was second-quickest in Friday’s qualifying rounds with a top run of 4.026 seconds at 307.44 mph. Courtney Force is qualified No. 3 heading into Saturday’s two final rounds of qualifying.
Force recorded the fifth-fastest speed for a Funny Car run in HRA history with a clocking of 323.45 mph.
In other categories, Antron Brown was the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel, Shane Gray was No. 1 in Pro Stock and Hector Arana Jr. was No. 1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Brown drove his dragster to a time of 3.770 seconds at 323.58 mph.
“The track definitely had some teeth in it,” Brown said. “The first session we were actually on a good run, and we came back and just wanted to improve upon it. We definitely wanted to run lower than a .77. We wanted to run a low 3.7, but the track was so good. It had such great teeth on it that it sucked some of the tune-up out of the race car on the starting line.”
Brown, who is looking for his second NHRA Top Fuel championship in the last three seasons, is also looking for his fourth win and second No. 1 qualifying position this season. Points leader Doug Kalitta was No. 2 qualifier (3.773 seconds at 323.89), while Brittany Force reset the track record in speed at 323.35 mph and qualified fourth.
Gray sat atop the Pro Stock ladder with a track record time of 6.485 seconds at 212.79 mph.
“I’m not really used to this,” Gray said of qualifying No. 1 for only the second time in his career (he also was No. 1 last weekend at Bristol, Tennessee). “But, I’m real proud of [crew chief] Justin Elks, Paul Hoskins, and all the boys at the shop. Obviously, they’ve done their work and my job is easy.”
All told, all eight track records — elapsed time and speed — were set in the four pro categories on Friday, with a potential for even more track records on Saturday or in Sunday’s eliminations.
Erica Enders-Stevens has continued her momentum from her win in Bristol by posting a performance of 6.489 at 213.98 in her Elite Motorsports Camaro to claim the second spot. Defending world champ Jeg Coughlin is fifth, having set the track record speed at 214.25 mph in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Dart.
Arana led PSM with a top qualifying run of 6.807 seconds at 195.05 mph and is seeking his first No. 1 qualifying effort of the season.
“This Lucas Oil Buell has been amazing,” said Arana Jr, who also set the track speed record at 197.57 mph on his first qualifying attempt. “We won the crank lotto. There are issues with cranks right now, and every once and a while you find a good one. Luckily, we found a good one.”
Reigning PSM champ Matt Smith was second-quickest in Friday’s qualifying with a time of 6.816 seconds at 194.49 mph.
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Here’s Friday’s results after two of four rounds of qualifying for the Second annual Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park:
Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.770 seconds, 323.58 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.773, 323.89; 3. Richie Crampton, 3.774, 69.61; 4. Brittany Force, 3.776, 325.45; 5. J.R. Todd, 3.778, 324.83; 6. Spencer Massey, 3.796, 319.90; 7. Leah Pritchett, 3.812, 318.77; 8. Steve Torrence, 3.817, 81.21; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.819, 320.81; 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.820, 322.50; 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.877, 76.43; 12. Dom Lagana, 3.915, 319.29. Not Qualified: 13. Clay Millican, 6.300, 77.40; 14. Todd Paton, 8.040, 76.28; 15. Shawn Langdon, 8.129, 83.32; 16. Terry McMillen, 8.215, 90.00.
Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 3.988, 321.58; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.026, 307.44; 3. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.031, 323.35; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.033, 318.24; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.053, 315.27; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.061, 313.80; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.083, 297.61; 8. John Force, Mustang, 4.092, 311.70; 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.102, 77.81; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.110, 84.75; 11. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.134, 68.27; 12. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.221, 278.92. Not Qualified: 13. Jeff Arend, 4.537, 193.65; 14. Dave Richards, 4.653, 158.07; 15. Mike Smith, 7.535, 89.57; 16. Tony Pedregon, 9.552, 80.10.
Pro Stock — 1. Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.485, 213.03; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.489, 213.98; 3. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.493, 212.96; 4. Shane Tucker, Chevy Cobalt, 6.496, 213.94; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.497, 214.25; 6. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.503, 213.40; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.512, 213.10; 8. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.519, 213.77; 9. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.523, 213.70; 10. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.525, 212.86; 11. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.538, 212.79; 12. V. Gaines, Dart, 6.551, 212.49. Not Qualified: 13. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.697, 206.57; 14. Larry Morgan, 6.939, 207.40; 15. Val Smeland, 6.998, 198.23; 16. Kenny Delco, 8.198, 115.42.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.807, 197.57; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.816, 194.49; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.852, 193.65; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.858, 194.07; 5. John Hall, Buell, 6.876, 193.90; 6. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.895, 192.47; 7. Adam Arana, Buell, 6.901, 194.77; 8. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.901, 194.27; 9. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.908, 195.68; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.938, 194.04; 11. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.942, 190.94; 12. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.970, 193.29.
Not Qualified: 13. Jerry Savoie, 6.973, 194.86; 14. Scotty Pollacheck, 7.025, 191.70; 15. Justin Finley, 7.064, 188.15; 16. Hector Arana, 7.328, 144.00; 17. Sam Hurwitz, 7.888, 178.76; 18. Brian Pretzel, broke.
