US Nationals always stood apart from the rest's Event NHRA. Back in 1955, when the national championship itself, which consists of several stages, did not exist, this event brought together for the first time drag racers East and West coast.
Since then, more honorable and desirable Wally, produced in Indianapolis, where the US Nationals held since 1961 for the pilot there is nothing but the first place in the championship. Every year, Lucas Oil Raceway gathers a huge number of riders, many of whom do not participate in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on a regular basis, hoping to become the first number, and write your name in history.
In addition, the US Nationals — the final stage of the regular season, after which only the ten leading on points of pilots in each class will continue to fight for the top trophies.
For all the winners podium at Indy this year was the first in his career. Although the results were to be expected, this does not in any way affected the entertainment races and the general atmosphere of uncompromising struggle, given that for some drivers it is in the last weekend of the fate of their continued participation in the competition.
In the class Top Fuel (TF) with a score of 3.864 in the final seconds @ 319.90 mph was the winner Morgan Lucas, who did not participate in the championship on a regular basis.
Leader of the standings and winner of nine titles US Nationals Tony Schumacher fell down in the first heat elimination, and the second number in the standings Antron Brown lost to Dave Connolly, whose only chance to go to the Countdown To One was reaching the final of the event, with which a beginner in class TF coped well.
However, a kind of consolation for Brown was the victory in the bonus race Traxxas Nitro Shootout, enriched the champion in 2012 for $ 100,000.
Brittany Force, to which the first half of this season is not the best way, continues to enjoy great results. It again failed to reach the semifinals, where in the most complex and spectacular arrival was defeated by Dave Connolly, who unlike his daughter titled daddy, demonstrated brilliant piloting skills and was able to cope with the slip fell into dregster than actually secured a place in the top- 10.
ack Beckman last weekend continued its triumphal procession in the classroom Funny Car (FC), winning in all possible categories in this event: first place in qualifying, victory in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout, which also earned him a hundred thousand dollars, and the podium on the results of the the prestigious stage of the national championship.
In the final, only because the best response to the start (Holeshot Win), Beckman to thousandths of a second ahead of Robert Hite, who won this race could bring the fourth title of US Nationals.
The rest of the favorites, one by one went to the paddock sad after the second round and the semi-finals.
The main intrigue, however, turned down the standings. It was a series of elimination races had to decide the question: who of the two pilotess, Courtney Force and Alexis DeZhoria, will take place in Countdown To One.
Force was able to defeat in the first round of his rival, but Tommy Johnson Jr. in the next arrival put an end to her hopes to go to the playoffs.
Erica Enders Stephens repeated her success in Brainerd, having made a series of incredible victories, three of which she got through lightning-fast response to green light the Christmas tree.
The second number in the standings, Greg Anderson and teammate Elite Motorsports Drew Skillman gave her only due to the fact that lingered at the start than the current champion successfully seized, demonstrating truly superhuman reflexes. This victory was the eighteenth in the career of Eric.
Thus, the number of trophies she caught up with her childhood idol the great Shirley Maldauni, simultaneously becoming the first woman in the class of Pro Stock (PS) win at US Nationals.
Regular season ended.
Ahead of six stages Countdown To One, and in November we already know the winners.
The most interesting thing to come, growing degree of drama, and I am sure we are in for a lot more sensational, exciting races and rich in events the events.
