Antron Brown leaves Sonoma the equal NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Championship leader after defeating Championship rival, Spencer Massey in the final of the Sonoma Nationals.
With only three races left before the six race Countdown to the NHRA Full Throttle Championship, the Top Fuel Title race that has ebbed and flowed throughout 2012 is hotter than ever. After getting by Steve Torrence in the opening round, Brown eliminated current third placed man, Tony Schumacher in round two before going on to take his Matco Tools dragster past Brandon Bernstein and into the final.
Massey had to dispose of Terry McMillen, Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta on his way to the decider.
The race to the finish couldn’t be tighter with Brown crossing the line in 3.814 at 511.80kph (318.02mph) to Massey’s 3.826 at 520.62kph (323.50kph).
Australian, Dave Grubnic was eliminated in round two by Bernstein after getting by Mike Strasburg.
FUNNY CAR
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John Force Racing’s Robert Hight continues his points lead in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Series after a quarter finals appearance in Sonoma, whilst the man most likely to challenge JFR’s man of the moment, Ron Capps, was eliminated in an opening round upset by Gary Densham.
Hight’s lead is now 81 points over Capps, the pair well clear of Jack Beckman in third.
It was Johnny Gray who was able to sneak through and take the race win from Matt Hagan, showing an ominous return to form. Gray got the win when Hagan encountered problems during the final – taking it in 4.142 seconds at 491.09kph (305.15mph) to Hagan’s 5.461 seconds at 236.04kph (146.67mph).
Gray had to work his way past Tim Wilkerson, Densham and Beckman on his way to the decider, whilst Hagan had to get around Courtney Force, Jeff Arend and Cruz Pedregon to stake his claim on the Sonoma Nationals.
Hight was the best for the four car Force stable, with the triumvirate of John Force, Courtney Force and Mike Neff all eliminated in round one.
PRO STOCK CAR
Allen Johnson and Greg Anderson seem almost inseparable during season 2012 and once again in Pro Stock that proved to be the case – the two veterans squaring off in the Final.
The pair hold a slender margin in Championship points, however the rivalry between them seems set to go right down to the last race of the year.
Johnson made the final after easing past Matt Hartford, Jeg Coughlin and third placed Championship man, Jason Line. Meantime Anderson had to content with Ron Krisher, Erica Enders and Mike Edwards. The latter two making the passage even easier when they brought on the red lights at the startline.
The final was a typically close Pro Stock affair, Johnson getting the win with a 6.542 at 340.80kph (211.76mph) to Anderson’s 6.573 second run at 339.46kph (210.93mph).
Johnson leads the Championship by 54 points from Anderson. Line sits third a further 31 points behind.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Eddie Kraewic extended his Championship lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle by leading home his nearest rival, Andrew Hines in the Final. Kraewic triggered the win light with a 6.809 second pass at 318.23kph (197.74mph) to Hines’ 6.839 seconds at 315.87kph (196.27mph).
Kraewic motored by Angie Smith, John Hall and Hector Arana Senior on the way to victory, whilst Hines charged by Matt Guidern, Scotty Pollachek and Hector Arana Jnr.
The next event on the NHRA Full Throttle Championship tour is the O’Reilly Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Washington next weekend.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (Top 5 – with 3 races until the Countdown):
TOP FUEL
=1. Spencer Massey 1174
=1T. Antron Brown 1174
3. Tony Schumacher 1048
4. Steve Torrence 984
5. Doug Kalitta 828
FUNNY CAR
1. Robert Hight 1112
2. Ron Capps 1031
3. Jack Beckman 943
4. Mike Neff 899
5. Johnny Gray 881
PRO STOCK
1. Allen Johnson 1234
2. Greg Anderson 1180
3. Jason Line 1149
4. Mike Edwards 974
5. Vincent Nobile 940
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Eddie Krawiec 842
2. Andrew Hines 774
3. Hector Arana Jr 655
4. Hector Arana Sr 587
5. Karen Stoffer 450
