GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18, 2016) – Don Schumacher Racing
capitalized on a two-hour delay Friday that produced the best conditions
of the day in qualifying for the 47th annual NHRA Gatornationals as
Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T set track records
and are poised to earn their second pole in the third event of the
24-race Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Right on the heels of Beckman’s 3.913 seconds at 323.74 mph pass is
teammate Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge with crew chief Rahn
Tobler whose team holds the No. 2 provisional position after winning the
pole two weeks ago near Phoenix and being second to Beckman at the
opener at Pomona, Calif.
Heavy rain on Thursday followed by a dreary forecast was complicated
after a couple on-track incidents during Sportsman competition led
Friday’s second session beginning around 6 p.m. with a dry, tight track
and temperatures in the mid-70s under a cloudy sky.
“It’s always tough when you show up to a race and the forecast is
rain, rain, rain,” Beckman said. “It rained yesterday and it didn’t look
good for today. Gainesville is the Winternationals (season-opener) of
the East Coast and you want to race for the fans.
“We got the first run in and we smoked the tires. I was sure that was
going to be our only run of the day. I was a little frustrated.
“To be able to get both sessions in for the fans, and to be able to
run that good makes it a perfect day,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car
world champion who won a category and career best seven races a year
ago.
Beckman is seeking his first pro title at Gainesville while Capps is the defending titlist and has won at the track three times.
In Top Fuel, reigning world champion Antron Brown and DSR’s Matco
Tools/U.S. Army team sits No. 2 heading to Saturday’s final two
qualifying sessions with a time of 3.755 (319.07) with teammate Tony
Schumacher and the U.S. Army team ranked fourth after being quickest in
the first session.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” Brown said of his second run that greatly improved after the first session’s 4.74.
“We wanted to run good that first run, but it takes a run to get
adjusted with the moisture and the air conditions out here. That last
run felt good, the car felt really good and strong in power. It made a
nice move off the starting line and had a good 60-foot time and just
felt good all the way down.
“We’ll come back tomorrow and hit it strong. Whatever the track can handle we’ll keep throwing at it.”
TOP FUEL
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Brittany Force (John Force Racing), 3.745 seconds, 309.26 mph
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tool/U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster
Provisional qualifying position: No. 2
FRIDAY: 4.798 sec., 149.70 mph, (Session 1); 3.755, 319.07, (Session 2)
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster
Provisional qualifying position: No. 4
FRIDAY: 3.771 sec., 307.30 mph, (Session 1); 3.760, 314.75, (Session 2)
SHAWN LANGDON, Sandvik Coromant/Red Fuel Top Fuel Dragster
Provisional qualifying position: No. 14
FRIDAY: 5.634 sec., 123.18 mph, (Session 1); 8.134, 85.30, (Session 2)
FUNNY CAR
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.913 mph, 323.74 mph (track records)
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Provisional qualifying position No. 1
FRIDAY: 5.806 sec., 115.79 mph, (Session 1); 3.913, 323.74, (Session 2)
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Provisional qualifying position: No. 2
FRIDAY: 4.195 sec., 243.46 mph, (Session 1); 3.929, 319.37, (Session 2)
MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Provisional qualifying position: No. 6
FRIDAY: 4.034 sec., 304.05 mph, (Session 1); 3.965, 321.12, (Session 2)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T
Provisional qualifying position: No. 10
FRIDAY: 4.074 sec., 305.29 mph, (Session 1); 4.209, 224.40, (Session 2)
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