NHRA WINTERNATIONALS: FASTEST TOP FUEL FIELD QUALIFIES.Byline: Steve Ramirez Staff Writer POMONA - Pomona Raceway at Fairplex has long been regarded among the top tracks Top-Tracks, is a fully automated XM Classic Rock channel. The station is available on XM 46 and DirecTV Channel 833 . The channel focuses on Early Classic Rock artists such as The Rolling Stones. on the 23-race National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Powerade Drag Racing drag racing Form of motor racing in which two contestants race side by side from a standing start over a straight quarter-mile strip of pavement. Winners go on to compete against others in their class until only one is left undefeated. Series tour. The reason was apparent Saturday, when the famed quarter-mile yielded three track records during final qualifying for today's 45th Carquest Winternationals. Tony Schumacher This article is about the drag racer. For the German football players, see Toni Schumacher. Tony Schumacher (born December 25, 1969 in Long Grove, Illinois), is an American drag racer, currently competing in the NHRA top fuel class, of which he is a four-time set the pace with a 4.447-second run at 326.79 mph to claim the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel. Tony Pedregon followed with a 4.681 at 323.35 mph for the pole in Funny Car, and veteran Jim Yates secured the top spot in Pro Stock with a 6.699. Pedregon's sprint, the second-quickest in Funny Car history (behind John Force's 4.665 at Chicago last October), ended with a parachute malfunction in the shutdown area, with Pedregon sliding his Chevy Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (môNtā` kärlō`), town (1982 pop. 13,150), principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera. in the sand trap at the end of the track. ``I was really disappointed at the end of the run, until they said I ran a (4.68),'' said Pedregon, who will face No. 16 Terry Haddock (5.357) in the first round. ``What happened could happen when you run slower. It was more important for us to run that quick.'' Because of heavy rains that canceled Friday's qualifying session, the sand trap was virtually a mud pit, causing partial damage to Pedregon's car after a strut on the parachute cable broke. ``It was a mess,'' Pedregon said. ``It looked worse than what it actually was. I think that car will live to see more days.'' Will it be ready for today's eliminations? ``We got a backup body, and the team will do their thing on the chassis,'' Pedregon said. ``I think our biggest challenge, because of all the sand and (mud), we just have to be a little more thorough than we normally would have to be.'' Schumacher led a list of seven Top Fuel competitors who qualified in the 4.4 range to form the quickest field in history. Included are the three Team Kalitta cars driven by David Grubnic (4.464), Scott Kalitta Scott Kalitta (b. February 18 1962 in Snead Island, Florida) is an American drag racer, currently competing in the Funny Car class in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series. (4.47) and Doug Kalitta Doug Kalitta (b. August 20 1964, Ypsilanti, Michigan) is an American auto racing driver. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car Champion and is a current NHRA top fuel drag racer. Doug Kalitta is the nephew of Hall of Fame driver Connie Kalitta. (4.480). Australian Andrew Cowan Andrew Cowan (born December 13 1936) is a Scottish former rally driver, and the founder and senior director of Mitsubishi Ralliart until his retirement on November 30 2005. qualified No. 16 despite running a stout 4.597. ``It's going to be a great race,'' Schumacher said. ``The second, third and (final) rounds are going all be in the 4.40s. If you can't run that way, it's going to be real tough to win (in the) first round.'' Yates is happy to qualify after missing the field for this event the past two seasons. Steve Ramirez, (626) 962-8811 steve.ramirez(at)sgvn.com |
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