Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals is one of the key's Event in the calendar series. Firstly, this is the last stage of the regular season, after which the fight for the title will continue only ten participants in each class. Secondly, this event was held at the time when such as the NHRA championship did not exist in principle, and therefore the victory in Indianapolis — a prestige and a place in the history of drag racing on a par with the best drivers of all time. Thirdly, it is $ 250,000 in prize money. A very nice bonus, given that the yield of $ 500 000, and victory at any other event brings the total of $ 50 000 for the title.
Top Fuel: Schumacher against all
Finally, fans of the award-winning rider in the class waited for his holiday. In the past weekend to stop it was more difficult than the two-kilometer derailed freight train with failed brakes. Eightfold champion for the tenth time took the trophy U.S. Nationals, and equal to him in this statistical index is not in its division or beyond, if we talk about the Pro-classes. Until the pile Schumacher won the race and the bonus Traxxas Nitro Shootout, earning thus for the weekend for a total of $ 350 000. Speech Tony in Indianapolis can unreservedly be called a truly phenomenal. In the second round, he was the only one of four drivers who could win on the right track, while all the others one by one flew out of the race because of the total lack of a hook. The real competition champion was able to make only Steve Torrence in the final, which, despite the advantage of pure time lost on the Christmas tree. This victory allowed Schumacher to move the winner of the last stage of Brittany Force from the fourth place. The rest of the situation in the standings remained unchanged: the defending champion Antron Brown still leads Doug Kalitta second, and closes the top three Torrens.
One of the main intrigues Event was the one who would be able to jump on a departing train step called Countdown To The Championship: Leah Pritchett or Terry McMillen. Both pilots fell in the first round of races Shootout, but young pilotessa skated a little better qualified, and thanks to a meager difference of one point will continue to fight for the highest regalia.
We should also mention Clay Millikan, which is five times champion of IHRA, but never went to the podium at the event NHRA. This Monday is not ended in victory for him, but the first place in qualifying — this is definitely a success and a new level for the rider.
Funny Car: Matt Hagan is back in business
Two-time champion, has objectively the fastest race car this year, finished the qualification in the first place, by rewriting the record tracks, and then very confidently he made his way to the final, where nearly nearly tripped on Vorsheme, which is the same as Steve Torrence, He lost only due to the fact that the start bit gape. For the Haganah's first victory in the U.S. Nationals in his career, which brought him to a heap third place in the standings.
But for the defending champion Cases Vorshema another appearance in the finals was the ticket to straight to second place standings. And this situation is painfully reminiscent of what happened a year ago, whereas Affairs also did not shine for almost the entire regular season, then to change the course of the national championship in four Event on the vine. The leader Ron Capps season very strong this season, but because last year everyone thought that the triumph in the pocket of Jack Beckman, while in the arena does not appear the pilot yellow Toyota Camry.
Courtney Force, though, and moved through the final Hagan-Vorshem on the background of their own poor performance in the second to fourth position, won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout, and can make a serious competition to more experienced and titled opponents. The only thing, perhaps, for the moment not enough racer, so it's stability. In any case, we will have a very tight battle in the playoffs, and certainly no plans to give up without a fight.
Alexis DeZhoria after due to injury missed two stages, was on the verge of vanishing from the race. However, the only real contender in its place in the top 10 of Chad Head and could not take advantage of his chance: the two were bad, but racers had quite an impressive head start on points, while in Heda for error simply did not exist.
Pro Stock: The balance of power is changing. And it is already a reality, and not a series of accidents
To say that unequivocally lead in the first half of the season, Greg Anderson and Jason Line lost its advantage, it would not be entirely correct, but the fact remains: the dominance is no longer one wicket speech. Both drivers were once again without first places in qualifying and more — not even gone to the semifinals.
At this time in the top were very different person: Shane Gray is slowly but surely continues to score points, Allen Johnson showed a completely inhuman reflexes on the Christmas tree and lost only in the final battle, and Vincent Nobile repeatedly proves the other participants that it will have to be considered anyway.
Hero Event was Chris MakGehey, chalked up the first win of the season. It is noteworthy that before the past five years the driver was unable to win a single round in the races Shootout at U.S. Nationals, and the weekend was able to gather together all the ingredients for success, and thus completed the most prestigious stage of the series on the podium.
Five-time champion Jag Coughlin and his teammate Eric Enders Stephens also at the last minute secured a place in the Countdown To The Championship. I'd like to hope that their mechanics will be able to solve all the technical problems, and the cars will go to the Champions worthy of their skill level.
Pilot Event: Without a doubt Tony Schumacher. Pilot won everything he could, deposited to your bank account on a large sum, and until the pile gave a first-class show, where all waiting at the biggest event of the series.
Failure Event: unexpected loss of Jack Beckman in the first round. Motivation his opponent Hedu Chad was not to occupy, because at stake was a chance to reach the playoffs. However, such a failure of one of the best pilots in the last few years did not expect one
Check Event: Final class in Top Fuel. The standoff, which decide the outcome of six thousandths of a second — it is definitely exactly what fans were waiting on the condition that the winner will get a quarter of a million dollars.
Photo: open source
