Courtesy of the NHRA
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The second event of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series concluded Sunday as Billy Torrence took home the Top Fuel victory at the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) were also winners in their respective categories at the second of 24 events on the 2019 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Torrence emerged victorious with a run of 3.965-seconds at 326.40 mph in his Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster to take down Leah Pritchett in the final round. After earning the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday, B. Torrence secured his second career victory.
“It’s just a blessing to be out here,” B. Torrence stated. “I’m trying not to choke up. The car ran great and they all worked so hard to keep a good car under me. Even Steve’s (Torrence) team came over to help them out and it was just outstanding.”
Torrence took down Terry Totten, Mike Salinas and rookie debut Jordan Vandergriff as he raced to his first win in 2019. Pritchett overcame Cameron Ferre, Terry McMillen and teammate Antron Brown en route to her first final round of 2019.
Hagan powered his Sandvik Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the Funny Car victory with a run of 3.890 at 325.06 to take down defending world champion J.R. Todd in the final round. This is his first victory of the season and third at the facility.
“For us, this win is huge with the new Hellcat body,” Hagan said. “Hats off to Dickie Venerables (crew chief). He won the race. He had a race car underneath me that was just going down the track every lap. We were able to put on a great show for our fans.”
Hagan qualified second on the weekend and defeated Phil Burkhart Jr., Shawn Langdon and Bob Tasca III, on his path to victory. Todd secured the No. 5 qualifying spot and took down Terry Haddock, Tommy Johnson Jr. and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight as he reached his first final round of the season.
In Pro Stock, Coughlin drove to the winner’s circle with a 6.557 at 210.67 run in his JEGS.com/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Matt Hartford in the final round. He secured his 62nd victory and 1000th round win of his career.
“I felt really good behind the wheel,” Coughlin stated. “We came out on top today and it feels great today to get our 1000th Pro Stock round win. Huge win today and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Coughlin was the No. 7 qualifier as he was victorious against Greg Anderson, Alex Laughlin and teammate Erica Enders as he earned his first victory of the season. Hartford qualified No. 4 on the weekend and beat Val Smeland, Rodger Brogdon and Deric Kramer as he notched his second career final round.
The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues at the 50th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 14-17 in Gainesville, Fla.
Media Center Interviews:
Billy Torrence –
Matt Hagan –
Jeg Coughlin Jr. –
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The race is the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
- Billy Torrence; 2. Leah Pritchett; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Jordan Vandergriff; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Mike Salinas; 7. Austin Prock; 8. Terry McMillen; 9. Brittany Force; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Steve Torrence; 12. Richie Crampton; 13. Cameron Ferre; 14. Jim Maroney; 15. Terry Totten; 16. Scott Palmer.
FUNNY CAR:
- Matt Hagan; 2. J.R. Todd; 3. Robert Hight; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Jack Beckman; 7. John Force; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Tim Wilkerson; 12. Cruz Pedregon; 13. Blake Alexander; 14. Phil Burkart; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Jeff Diehl.
PRO STOCK:
- Jeg Coughlin; 2. Matt Hartford; 3. Deric Kramer; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Rodger Brogdon; 6. Bo Butner; 7. Jason Line; 8. Alex Laughlin; 9. Kenny Delco; 10. Fernando Cuadra; 11. Steve Graham; 12. Alan Prusiensky; 13. Joey Grose; 14. Chris McGaha; 15. Val Smeland; 16. Greg Anderson.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Sunday’s final results from the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Billy Torrence, 3.965 seconds, 326.40 mph def. Leah Pritchett, 9.568 seconds, 75.68 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.890, 325.06 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, Broke.
Pro Stock — Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.557, 210.67 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Top Fuel Harley — Beau Layne, Weekend, 6.381, 220.08 def. Doug Vancil, Weekend, 9.924, 97.22.
Competition Eliminator — Bill Kent, Dragster, 6.657, 202.27 def. Ralph Van Paepeghem, Roadster, 7.318, 178.66.
Super Stock — Justin Lamb, Chevy Cobalt, 8.589, 152.19 def. Rick McKinney, Olds Cutlass, 10.672, 123.28.
Stock Eliminator — Cody Lane, Chevy Corvette, 11.358, 113.20 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Camaro, 9.905, 132.10.
Super Comp — Craig Anderson, Dragster, 8.918, 185.77 def. Kevin Wright, Dragster, 8.910, 175.00.
Super Gas — Ron MacKenzie, Chevy Corvette, 9.893, 154.32 def. Ken Mostowich, Corvette, 9.882, 159.61.
Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — James Warden, Dragster, 7.261, 183.42 def. Ed Olpin, Dragster, 6.748, 199.14.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Bart Smith, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.015, 189.50 def. Joe Roubicek, Chevy Camaro, 6.615, 208.23.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final round-by-round results from the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Mike Salinas, 5.690, 96.87 def. Scott Palmer, Foul – Centerline; Jordan Vandergriff, 3.692, 333.41 def. Brittany Force, 3.768, 314.02; Doug Kalitta, 3.741, 322.42 def. Jim Maroney, 6.447, 97.24; Antron Brown, 3.728, 330.63 def. Steve Torrence, 3.930, 256.50; Terry McMillen, 3.726, 329.02 def. Richie Crampton, 4.061, 215.79; Billy Torrence, 3.736, 329.42 def. Terry Totten, Foul – Centerline; Austin Prock, 3.748, 328.22 def. Clay Millican, 3.862, 306.74; Leah Pritchett, 3.722, 329.67 def. Cameron Ferre, 4.263, 207.82; QUARTERFINALS — B. Torrence, 3.687, 329.58 def. Salinas, 3.848, 275.17; Vandergriff, 3.734, 323.89 def. Kalitta, 3.735, 327.51; Pritchett, 3.731, 308.64 def. McMillen, 5.011, 146.69; Brown, 4.198, 261.12 def. Prock, 4.389, 179.40; SEMIFINALS — Pritchett, 3.721, 332.10 def. Brown, 3.763, 325.85; B. Torrence, 3.709, 328.70 def. Vandergriff, 9.920, 84.65; FINAL — B. Torrence, 3.965, 326.40 def. Pritchett, 9.568, 75.68.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.901, 327.03 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.736, 168.41; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.933, 317.19 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.968, 319.98; J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 4.655, 215.03 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.667, 182.62; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.863, 329.67 def. Jeff Diehl, Camry, Broke; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.919, 324.12 def. Phil Burkart, Charger, 5.662, 126.26; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, No Time, No Speed def. Jim Campbell, Charger, Foul – Centerline; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.264, 293.22 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 5.394, 133.08; Shawn Langdon, Camry, 3.911, 326.24 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 5.244, 144.18; QUARTERFINALS — Todd, 3.967, 323.27 def. Johnson Jr., 5.048, 134.74; Hight, 3.879, 327.82 def. Force, 3.988, 325.92; Tasca III, 3.950, 321.96 def. Beckman, 3.963, 321.73; Hagan, 3.894, 327.19 def. Langdon, 3.951, 326.48; SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.921, 321.96 def. Tasca III, 3.983, 320.13; Todd, 3.919, 327.19 def. Hight, 3.922, 326.24; FINAL — Hagan, 3.890, 325.06 def. Todd, Broke.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 6.573, 210.18 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 7.305, 144.74; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.568, 210.90 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 20.633, 48.17; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.577, 210.64 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.565, 210.44; Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.544, 211.53 def. Fernando Cuadra, Camaro, 6.590, 210.01; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.556, 209.39 def. Val Smeland, Camaro, 12.750, 67.81; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.548, 211.10 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.637, 206.13; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.551, 211.06 def. Joey Grose, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.541, 211.73 def. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.603, 208.97; QUARTERFINALS — Kramer, 6.567, 209.69 def. Butner, 6.582, 210.80; Enders, 6.552, 210.28 def. Line, 6.605, 190.67; Hartford, 6.569, 210.08 def. Brogdon, 6.538, 211.73; Coughlin, 6.562, 210.41 def. Laughlin, Foul – Red Light. SEMIFINALS — Hartford, 6.568, 209.79 def. Kramer, 6.555, 210.57; Coughlin, 6.541, 210.28 def. Enders, 6.575, 210.18; FINAL — Coughlin, 6.557, 210.67 def. Hartford, Foul – Red Light.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Point standings (top 10) following the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
- Billy Torrence, 178; 2. Doug Kalitta, 172; 3. Leah Pritchett, 145; 4. Steve Torrence, 137; 5. Terry McMillen, 132; 6. Mike Salinas, 122; 7. Antron Brown, 115; 8. Austin Prock, 106; 9. Jordan Vandergriff, 77; 10. Richie Crampton, 66.
Funny Car
- Robert Hight, 205; 2. Matt Hagan, 160; 3. Jack Beckman, 151; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 132; 5. Bob Tasca III, 129; 6. (tie) John Force, 126; J.R. Todd, 126; 8. Shawn Langdon, 111; 9. Ron Capps, 89; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 86.
Pro Stock
- Bo Butner, 181; 2. Jason Line, 157; 3. Erica Enders, 152; 4. Matt Hartford, 147; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 145; 6. Alex Laughlin, 136; 7. Deric Kramer, 110; 8. Rodger Brogdon, 100; 9. Chris McGaha, 84; 10. (tie) Steve Graham, 82; Val Smeland, 82.
