The nitromethane divisions we have seen really tight competition for trophies crowded surprises, failures favorites, false starts, the vagaries of weather and spectacular fireworks. But in the Pro Stock class once again the situation was utterly predictable. But let's all in order.
Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta this year's outstanding performance did not shine, but at the same time, unlike its main competitors hardly wrong in the first round knockout rounds, and slowly but surely score points by staying in the top positions of the standings. Therefore, the veteran win at O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals was highly anticipated, though, we have to admit, not without opponents banal luck and bad luck. On the way to his first victory in the season finished with Kalitta Terry Heddokom, Leah Pritchett, who has once again changed the team, as well as easily passed outsider Kebin Kinsley.
At the end of the pilot Kalitta Motorsports met with Steve Torrance, noted the day before the first place in the qualification, as well as two of the best indicators of clean time in the races Shootout. Winning the first stage of this championship Torrens looked in the showdown hundred percent favorite, and his motivation to prevail on home track was just a killer. But more experienced opponent solely by the lightning-fast reaction at the start of revenge for the defeat in Pomona, and took home thirty-ninth trophy of his career.
Thus, for most wins in a classroom Doug Kalitta now shares fourth place with Antron Brown and the legend of the world of drag racing Kenny Bernstein. Pilots Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) once again did not stir: Tony Schumacher again was eliminated in the second round, and the dream was not to be the defending champion Brown Antron its one hundredth of the account appears in the final thanks to all the same Torrens who looked at this weekend, in spite of everything, extremely convincing. As a result of events in Houston Brittany Force continues to occupy first place in the standings with a minimum margin of one point from Doug Kalitty and Antron Brown moved to the third position.
Funny Car
John Force Racing (JFR) at full strength went sad in the paddock after the first round. Robert Hite could not really catch on at the start, while Jack Beckman has worked flawlessly, and John Force lost because of a false start, then by all shestnadtsatikratny champion no one expected.
The challenge to defend the honor of the team then laid down on the fragile shoulders of Courtney, the only one in the team who stayed in the game. And with this mission pilotessa handled as «excellent», chalked up first podium since 2014. In the final racer got perhaps the most difficult opponent of all possible — Tim Wilkerson, won two victories during the championship and took first position on the basis of qualifications. All were convinced almost a hundred percent owner in the victory of the fastest and most stable dregster this season, but Courtney was able to make his best race of the weekend and the suspension finally protracted series of setbacks.
All four DSR participants successfully passed the second round, then «fell» one after the other under the pressure of the finalists. At the moment, the star team of seven pilots can boast only two trophies that fit poorly with just yet overwhelming superiority in 2015. After Houston, Tim Wilkerson and Courtney Force shared the first position in the standings, and Ron Capps comes on the heels of them with a third place. By the way, the gap between the first and seventh place is not more than seventy points, so there is every reason to believe that the leaders throughout the national championship will be replaced several times, because in these circumstances, every single race can drastically change the balance of power in the top.
Pro Stock
The situation in the only naturally aspirated division once again developed into a familiar scenario to the pain: three KB Racing car of the three reached the semi-finals, and in the decisive battle clashed Jason Line and Greg Anderson, who finished qualification once again in first place. Line's Event for six participated in each (!) Race Shootout and lost just twice. And both times, Anderson only by the superiority of his teammates in the rate of reaction. And this time, four-time champion was quicker again at the start, adding to his piggy bank Wally third this season.
At the end of a rainy Sunday in Houston, the situation in the top does not change: Line is still the third, Anderson closed the gap, and Bo Butner closes the top three. By the way, the victor of Event there are only four wins to catch up with the legendary Bob Gliddenom by the number of trophies won, and there is every reason to believe that it will happen this year. About the rest of the national championship even have nothing to say, the superiority KB Racing looks so overwhelming that after a couple of steps, which passed in a similar vein, the discussion about the chances of the other teams in the championship final will move into the category of not very science fiction.
Pilot Event: Courtney Force. After the whole team JFR crumbled in the first round, pilotessa could pass a very tough opponents on the way to a long-awaited victory and take first place in the standings. For the first time in the history of NHRA for the fifth time in a row on the podium girl. Four different racers have not won trophies in a single season, in principle, never And ahead, it is worth recalling eighteen stages. How long he can hold the daughter of award-winning pilot associations on top of personal credit — a big question, because the competition in the classroom simply prohibitive, and the outcome of each race unpredictable.
Check Event: Ron Capps vs. Cruz Pedregona. The first round of the knockout rounds. Absolutely identical reaction times and finish with a difference of five thousandths of a second — a very rare case, even taking into account the vast experience of the opponents.
Failure Event: Brittany Force against Kebin Kinsley. The first round of the knockout rounds. You can of course happy for the first victory in the career of budding pilots, but the disappointment of losing so offensive by standings leader among the pilots was much stronger emotionally. The lack of a hook and, as a consequence, the defeat in the early playoff Brittany cost quite a comfortable gap from the nearest competitors.
Photo: NHRA and open source
