Regardless of the winners at the Toyota NHRA Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway, the running of the fastest elapsed times in history in both Top Fuel and Funny Car has been the big talking point.
Ron Capps, who has blasted into form over recent events, set the drag racing world alight with his 3.964 at 516.4 kph (320.89 mph) in Friday qualifying. This was soon overshadowed by Spencer Massey in the following Top Fuel session with his mark of 3.728 at 530.94 kph (329.91 mph).
Capps continued the run that he’s shown lately by once again overshadowing the John Force Racing conglomerate. Capps made his fifth consecutive NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car Final up against his team-mate Johnny Gray. Capps wasn’t able to complete the perfect weekend, instead finishing runner up to his elder team-mate, recording his second win with a 4.078 pass at 505.96 kph (314.39 mph).
It wasn’t easy for Gray, having to dispose of Jim Head, John Force and Robert Hight on his way to Victory Lane.
Hight extended his Championship lead over Capps by virtue of his semi-final appearance.
TOP FUEL
Steve Torrence took his second Top Fuel win of the season at Englishtown, really standing up as a potential Championship contender as the Countdown draws closer.
In a magnificent final, Torrence came up against a resurgent Brandon Bernstein, Torrence getting the nod in a close affair – 3.800 at 520.88kph (323.66 mph) over Bernstein’s 3.807.
Torrence defeated Tony Schumacher and Spencer Massey on his way to the Final. He has moved to fifth in the standings with Massey increasing his lead.
PRO STOCK
Greg Anderson raced to his 74th NHRA Full Throttle victory and fourth of the season beating out Jason Line by two one-hundredths of a second. Line – Anderson’s team-mate – had the best of the running throughout the early part of the Final, but broke a valve spring, allowing Anderson to surge on by.
Anderson gave his brand new racecar – a Chevrolet Camaro – a victory on debut and increased his lead in the Championship with the 6.56 second pass.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Emotional scenes abounded as Eddie Krawiec took his first win ever at Englishtown. Krawiec – born and bred in the town and a former race track manager at Old Bridge – took the win when Hector Arana Snr. fouled on the startline, allowing him a trouble free 6.921 second pass aboard his Screamin’ Eagle Harley.
Krawiec increased his Series lead by virtue of the win, defeating Joe DeSantis, along with Matt Smith and LE Tonglet on his way to the Final.
Teams were lucky to get the Finals run, with a thunderstorm passing through the area just prior to them starting.
The next event on the NHRA Full Throttle Series calendar is June 15-17 at Bristol.