But the situation has changed radically in the course of the races Shootout against all expectations and predictions. Women's final in the fastest division, setbacks and failures of the favorites last year, and has repeatedly rewritten the record strip time. Let's understand what happened at CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Top Fuel
Steve Torrence, opens his podium current season, he was leading on points even before the first round, which was defeated by Terry McMillen. Defending champion Antron Brown and his teammate Tony Schumacher continued to ramble below fifth place in the standings, while veteran Doug Kalitta under cover again reached the semifinals, so that for the first time in 2014, staked their place on top of the individual athletes. But the main sensation and decoration Event was the second in NHRA history of the women's final in the class (the first happened back in 1982 with the participation of the legendary Shirley Maldauni), where they met Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force.
Pritchett won it minimum margin solely due to better reaction at the start that in the races Top Fuel dregster itself is a fairly rare outcome as opposed to the class Pro Stock, where the finish line with a difference of a couple of inches happens all the time, and the time at reaction thousandths of a second will not surprise anybody. Anyway, Lia fully met the expectations of the chief of his new team, though, that even had no idea after his triumph as remarkable from a historical point of view, it was the victory. Pritchett also noted that their confrontation with the daughter of NHRA most titled pilot can become one of the main intrigue of the season. At this point Miss Force leader with scanty margin of four points, but what we have in connection with such statements will be looking forward to the next stage in Gainesville.
Funny Car
A couple of years ago out of the chetyrehsekundnoy area was a real event, and cause a standing ovation in the stands, and in today's realities even result at the level of 3.96 seconds is not a guarantee of victory. And Alexis DeZhoria defeat in the first round by Jack Beckman was an excellent proof of that. Ron Capps continued his triumph in Pomona, taking first place in qualifying, but after this stage had not explicitly specified. Team John Ford Racing (JFR) in full force reached the semi-finals, but the heroes of last season, in the face of affairs Vorshema, Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan were unable to pass on the second round of the knockout rounds. In the semifinals, John Force Courtney traveled safely, securing thus 242 th of his career start in the final, and Robert Hite due to problems with the hook «leaked» Tim Wilkerson.
In the decisive battle were two old enemy, and this time luck was on shestnadtsatikratny champion. Anyway, it would be incorrect to write off at least the nineteenth victory Wilkerson on the banal luck, because in three of the four rounds he steadily went from four seconds, while his opponents fought fiercely with his fireballs, trying to cling to the covering strip. In the individual competition, Ron Capps still holds a leading position, John Force with a minimum margin on his heels, and his son Robert Hite closes the top 3 in this division. I would like to note the very dense and successful performance of all riders JFR, which in the past year, quite frankly, did not stand out against the background of outstanding results unequivocally dominated pilots Don Schumacher Racing (DSR). Change leaders? We still will not comment on these judgments.
Pro Stock
Results Event in the Pro Stock class is unlikely to become for someone revelation. KB Racing once again rose to the occasion, with only one difference: this time Jason Line went to the podium, to avenge his colleague Greg Anderson team for the defeat two weeks ago at the NHRA Winternationals and depriving him of first place in the standings. But Elite Motorsports, which many thought before the season the undisputed leader for the second time in a row does not justify the hopes. And it is logical to assume that the problem lies precisely in the technical component. It is obvious that the team mechanics and engineers are not yet able to adapt under the new regulation requirements.
Others proved successful holder of the title «Rookie of the Year 2015» Drew Skillman, who is currently fourth in points. It was he who sent to the paddock in the first round of the knockout rounds to the defending champion Eric Enders Stephens, which this season things are worse than ever. Anyway, the racer still continues to show phenomenal response times, but in each race it is not enough stable hundredths of a second to cross the finish line first. It is hoped that the Elite Motorsports experts in the near future will be able to properly configure their dregster because watching throughout the year would be unbearably boring for the confrontation of the two pilots Chevrolet Camaro with Summit Racing logos on the sides.
Next stop — Gainesville. And I want to believe that the first spring event will be as eventful and degree of intrigue will surely stay at the highest level.
