NHRA Summernationals

In order to count the number of equal duels in nitromethane classes on the day of the race, more than enough fingers on two hands, and the main reason for the defeat was the absence of the hook. And on both tracks. No matter how trying the command select the desired half-strip with an eye to the other participants in the race, while some flew from the start without any problems, others are already on the first meters of the distance began to turn baggy slicks in smoke. But not to say that the person on the podium someone shocked. Steve Torrens is the fifth time this season finished qualifying session in first place, but the races Shootout for him and his team became a living hell. Mechanics just before each start with the settings had to cast technology based on changing weather conditions, and we have to admit, with the task they handled, if not «excellent», it is certainly better than their opponents.
Easy to Torrence became a victory in the first round when he easily dealt with the outsider of the championship. But more serious problems began. To pass JR Todd Brittany Force and Tony Schumacher he literally had to fight and win dregster every inch tysyachefutovoy distance. Victory in the three most difficult confrontations eventually allowed Steve to take the third place of the standings, Antron Brown, despite the fact that in the second round lost to teammate Tony Schumacher is still in second place, and Doug Kalitta continues to lead the championship, though not with such an impressive margin as the ranshe. At the moment, the difference in points between the top riders in the minimal and passions heating degree does not fall so far. It is worth noting eightfold champion Tony Schumacher, the first time this year to reach the semifinals. Nevertheless, the question «When is the most titled pilot in the class already starts winning» is still on the agenda, and of concern to many.

This season for Ron Capps is hardly stable. By opening an account his victories at the first event in Topeka, he managed later in Las Vegas do not even reach the playoffs as a result of training. However, work on the bugs had been done, the reasons for failure are analyzed, and the second consecutive Capps was on the catwalk, confidently dominating daily stages. During his career, the second largest number of trophies in its class racer won five in a row of Event, but the first two places in qualifying row happened to him the first time. The outcome of the decisive match depended on the fate of the leadership in the championship on points, but Jack Beckman, like many others this weekend, encountered difficulties already at the start. As a result: as long as his car tried in vain to cling to the covering strip, team colleague has opened the brake parachute.
John Force Racing (JFR) once again did not flashed all the staff. Courtney does not lag behind its sister Brittany and continues on to the Event event to take positions in the championship more assertive and successful participants. A notable point was the arrival of force between the old and the winner of the stage. Privilege select the track was at shestnadtsatikratny champion, and just before the start, when dregster stood their ground, ready to start the engine, the chief mechanic JFR has decided to beat all. As a result of this decision and has played a cruel joke with the pilot blue and white Chevrolet Camaro. The most experienced riders among the current participants summed proverbial hook, though, is to pay tribute to the veteran — he fought until the very end, just a pity that the end is not proved victorious.

While the famous pilots tried to realize the enormous potential of the V8 crazy, and the mechanics in the pits puzzled over tuning technology, from independent teams have a chance to prove themselves. And best of all it's turned Jeff Diehl. The victory in the first round has become a revelation to him, and when he reached the semi-finals, just had no idea what to do next. As he spoke the pilot, «If not for the mechanics Heda Chad and Terry McMillen, we simply would not have time to prepare for this race. I actually planned to go to the viewer bit after the first round, my team was not ready for such an eventuality. » On the way to the semi-finals, he finished with 2009 champion Robert Hite and Tim Wilkerson, who earlier this season looked very convincing. On the one hand Dilou just lucky, and on the other its success — another proof of the fact that not all decide fatty sponsorship contracts.

Honestly, from stage to stage, the last thing I want to write anything in this section, so I'll be brief: Jason Line again the first in the qualification in the final drivers KB Racing met again, and again overtake Leon could only his teammate Greg Anderson. These two guys do not stop with the start of the championship, and the emergence of intrigue hope melts away with each event by increasing the gap between them and all the others whose romp completely does not affect the fact who will enter his name in the history of the end of the year. Several calms only that neither one nor the other for ten years as a not won at Bristol, which will host the next stage of the championship. Although such statistics in the context of the current season is much closer to superstition than to reality sample 2016 year.
Failure Event: Robert Hite defeat in the first round. No hook. But Jeff Deal with it was in order. On the one hand it is a hundred percent unpleasant surprise for JFR team fans, but on the other — including because of similar things we love drag racing. Participants of the three teams were spinning in one box, to prepare the car to the semi-final heats, while the driver himself does not find a place of happiness. Delicious!
Check Event: Final class in Top Fuel has become a textbook example of the struggle between the two riders. The outcome of the fight was only on the conscience of the pilots, not the mechanics to the engineers. Steve Torrence was able to catch up at the start, but Tony Schumacher could not keep the lead until the finish line.
Pilot Event: Steve Torrens this weekend until the end of the Doge. The first five places in qualifying from a possible nine and only one trophy at the beginning of the championship. Steve systematically went to this triumph, and deserved his victory no doubt absolutely no reason.
Photo: open source