{"id":2610,"date":"2016-05-01T22:26:24","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T03:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=2610"},"modified":"2016-05-01T22:26:24","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T03:26:24","slug":"force-kalitta-and-anderson-race-to-victory-at-nhra-springnationals-in-baytown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/05\/01\/force-kalitta-and-anderson-race-to-victory-at-nhra-springnationals-in-baytown\/","title":{"rendered":"Force, Kalitta and Anderson race to victory at NHRA SpringNationals in Baytown"},"content":{"rendered":"

BAYTOWN, Texas – Courtney Force<\/strong> raced to her first Funny Car victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway<\/a>. It is the fifth consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series<\/a> event that has featured a female winner.<\/p>\n

Doug Kalitta<\/strong> (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson<\/strong> (Pro Stock) also were winners at the sixth of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events on the season.<\/p>\n

\"095-CourtneyForce-Sunday-Houston\"<\/p>\n

Force posted a 3.913-second pass at 327.90 mph in her Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS to defeat No. 1 qualifier Tim Wilkerson, who powered his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang to a 3.943 at 323.81. This is Force\u2019s eighth career win and first since 2014 in St. Louis. She now shares the Funny Car points lead with Wilkerson.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a pretty amazing weekend for our Traxxas Chevy Camaro team,\u201d Force said. \u201cI was nervous going into the final against Wilkerson. I knew what kind of numbers he could put on the board and I knew I just had to be right there with him. We\u2019ve been working really hard and I feel like this one felt even better than my first ever career win. We wanted it more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"097-CourtneyForce-Sunday-Houston-Celebration\"<\/p>\n

Force defeated Bob Bode, Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the early rounds before facing Wilkerson in the final.<\/p>\n

Wilkerson, a two-time 2016 event winner, battled past Jim Campbell and former world champions Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman to make it to the final round.<\/p>\n

With Force\u2019s victory, the NHRA Mello Yello Series has now seen four different female winners in the Nitro categories so far this season \u2013 the most in a single season in NHRA history.<\/p>\n

Top Fuel winner Kalitta powered to his first victory of 2016 and third at the NHRA SpringNationals with a final round pass of 3.813 at 280.60 for a holeshot victory in his Mac Tools dragster over No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence. Torrence, a Kilgore, Texas native and driver of the Capco Contractors\/Torrence Racing dragster, raced to a 3.810 at 306.81, but his slower reaction time proved to be the difference.<\/p>\n

Kalitta, the defending and three-time event winner, earned his 39th career victory to tie Antron Brown and Kenny Bernstein for fourth on the Top Fuel all-time wins list.<\/p>\n

\"092-DougKalitta-Sunday-Houston\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually didn\u2019t realize I had won until I had gotten to the end and turned around and came back,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cI was real happy. It\u2019s good to get a win and get the momentum going. It just charges everybody up. It was just a really good day for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalitta outlasted Terry Haddock, Kebin Kinsley and Phoenix winner Leah Pritchett in the earlier rounds.<\/p>\n

Torrence had no easy route to the final round.\u00a0 He sprinted past Rob Passey in the first, and then beat eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher and reigning world champ Brown in the second and third rounds, respectively.<\/p>\n

\"094-DougKalitta-Sunday-Houston-Celebrations2_Personality_RA\"<\/p>\n

With the win, Kalitta moved to second in points behind Brittany Force by jusy one point. Force, a two-time 2016 winner, made an early exit in the first round. Brown is third and Torrence is fourth.<\/p>\n

This is the first time in NHRA history that sisters have led their respective Nitro category points standings.<\/p>\n

In Pro Stock, Anderson won his third race of the season on a holeshot against Ken Black Racing teammate Jason Line. Anderson pushed his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to a 6.630 at 209.43 to defeat the point-leader\u2019s 6.597 at 209.95 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. Anderson, who has three career wins at the SpringNationals, was also the No. 1 qualifier. The duo has combined to win the first six races of the 2016 season and share three victories apiece.<\/p>\n

\"099-GregAnderson-Sunday-Houston-Celebration\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a tremendous day today,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cI was having a ball today. I just kept wondering, \u2018When\u2019s it going to rain? When\u2019s it going to rain? Please don\u2019t because I feel great today.\u2019 My car is great. My car was just a dream to drive every run and I knew I had a great chance today to win an event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, opened eliminations with a bye before defeating Vincent Nobile and Allen Johnson in the second round and semifinals, respectively. Anderson trails Line in the points standings by 79.<\/p>\n

\"098-GregAnderson-Sunday-Houston\"<\/p>\n

Two-time world champion Line extended final-round-appearance streak to six \u2013 racing for a Wally in every race so far this season. He defeated veteran V. Gaines in the opening round before he had a bye in the second and outlasting teammate Bo Butner in the semifinals.<\/p>\n

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues May 13-15 with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

BAYTOWN, Texas — Final finish order (1-16) at the 29th annual SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway.\u00a0 The race is the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.<\/em><\/p>\n

TOP FUEL:<\/p>\n

Doug Kalitta; 2.\u00a0 Steve Torrence; 3.\u00a0 Antron Brown; 4.\u00a0 Leah Pritchett; 5.\u00a0 Shawn Langdon; 6. Tony Schumacher; 7.\u00a0 Kebin Kinsley; 8.\u00a0 Scott Palmer; 9.\u00a0 Troy Buff; 10.\u00a0 Terry McMillen; 11. Brittany Force; 12.\u00a0 J.R. Todd; 13.\u00a0 Richie Crampton; 14.\u00a0 Clay Millican; 15.\u00a0 Terry Haddock; 16. Rob Passey.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR:<\/p>\n

Courtney Force; 2.\u00a0 Tim Wilkerson; 3.\u00a0 Jack Beckman; 4.\u00a0 Tommy Johnson Jr.; 5.\u00a0 Del Worsham; 6. Matt Hagan; 7.\u00a0 Alexis DeJoria; 8.\u00a0 Ron Capps; 9.\u00a0 Chad Head; 10.\u00a0 Cruz Pedregon; 11.\u00a0 Todd Simpson; 12.\u00a0 Robert Hight; 13.\u00a0 Bob Bode; 14.\u00a0 John Force; 15.\u00a0 Jim Campbell; 16.\u00a0 John Hale.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK:<\/p>\n

Greg Anderson; 2.\u00a0 Jason Line; 3.\u00a0 Allen Johnson; 4.\u00a0 Bo Butner; 5.\u00a0 Vincent Nobile; 6.\u00a0 Drew Skillman; 7.\u00a0 Chris McGaha; 8.\u00a0 Alex Laughlin; 9.\u00a0 Erica Enders; 10.\u00a0 Shane Gray; 11.\u00a0 Jeg Coughlin; 12.\u00a0 Aaron Strong; 13.\u00a0 V. Gaines.<\/p>\n

\"101-HoustonGroup<\/p>\n

BAYTOWN, Texas — Sunday’s final results from the 29th annual SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. The race is the sixth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:<\/em><\/p>\n

Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.813 seconds, 280.60 mph\u00a0 def. Steve Torrence, 3.810 seconds, 306.81 mph.<\/p>\n

Funny Car — Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.913, 327.90\u00a0 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.943, 323.81.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.630, 209.43\u00a0 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.597, 209.95.<\/p>\n

Pro Modified — Jim Whiteley, Chevy Chevelle, No Time Recorded\u00a0 def. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Centerline.<\/p>\n

Top Alcohol Dragster — Lee Callaway, 5.285, 271.84\u00a0 def. Joey Severance, 6.610, 141.46.<\/p>\n

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Steve Gasparrelli, Chevy Camaro, No Time Recorded\u00a0 was unopposed.<\/p>\n

Competition Eliminator — David Rampy, Bantam, 7.344, 164.69\u00a0 def. Dick Maris, ProStart, 8.362, 110.26.<\/p>\n

Super Stock — Tommy Phillips, Chevy Cavalier, 9.549, 130.94\u00a0 def. Jacob Pitt, Dodge Stratus, Foul – Red Light.<\/p>\n

Stock Eliminator — Kevin Helms, Dodge Challenger, 9.136, 137.33\u00a0 def. Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.441, 115.04.<\/p>\n

Super Comp — Steve Collier, Dragster, 8.912, 175.91\u00a0 def. Shannon Brinkley, Dragster, 8.897, 172.06.<\/p>\n

Super Gas — Rustin Mayse, Chevy Corvette, 9.900, 149.95\u00a0 def. Bryan Sandlin, Chevy Camaro, 9.878, 150.40.<\/p>\n

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — J.R. Baxter, Dragster, 6.421, 211.96\u00a0 def. Aaron Stanfield, Dragster, 6.420, 205.41.<\/p>\n

BAYTOWN, Texas — Final round-by-round results from the 29th annual SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:<\/em><\/p>\n

TOP FUEL:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Tony Schumacher, 3.768, 325.61 def. Terry McMillen, 3.889, 306.26; Leah Pritchett, 3.817, 325.37 def. Clay Millican, 6.021, 103.86; Scott Palmer, 3.922, 309.42 def. Richie Crampton, 5.540, 133.43; Doug Kalitta, 3.763, 325.69 def. Terry Haddock, 6.200, 115.25; Steve Torrence, 3.764, 327.27 def. Rob Passey, Broke; Antron Brown, 3.823, 313.66 def. J.R. Todd, 5.054, 142.26; Shawn Langdon, 3.772, 322.42 def. Troy Buff, 3.824, 316.67; Kebin Kinsley, 4.002, 239.10 def. Brittany Force, 4.861, 185.69; QUARTERFINALS — Brown, 3.780, 321.27 def. Palmer, 4.014, 266.69; Pritchett, 3.745, 329.18 def. Langdon, 3.762, 318.77; Torrence, 3.742, 328.30 def. Schumacher, 3.808, 318.77; Kalitta, 4.309, 200.80 def. Kinsley, Foul – Red Light; SEMIFINALS — Kalitta, 3.755, 322.11 def. Pritchett, 4.639, 187.08; Torrence, 3.730, 327.03 def. Brown, 3.769, 309.34; FINAL — Kalitta, 3.813, 280.60 def. Torrence, 3.810, 306.81.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.037, 307.02 def. Jim Campbell, Dodge Charger, 7.728, 80.43; Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.946, 324.83 def. Todd Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 4.244, 284.45; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.939, 321.73 def. John Hale, Charger, Broke; Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.951, 321.04 def. Bob Bode, Toyota Solara, 5.847, 125.66; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.958, 319.67 def. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.562, 216.20; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.032, 315.93 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.037, 312.57; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.987, 316.97 def. John Force, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.998, 317.64 def. Chad Head, Camry, 4.010, 315.56; QUARTERFINALS — C. Force, 3.962, 318.17 def. Capps, 4.674, 179.56; Johnson Jr., 3.985, 316.97 def. DeJoria, 3.971, 321.58; Beckman, 3.949, 325.22 def. Worsham, 3.944, 324.59; Wilkerson, 3.926, 323.50 def. Hagan, 3.954, 324.59; SEMIFINALS — C. Force, 3.932, 327.03 def. Johnson Jr., 3.964, 317.34; Wilkerson, 3.906, 325.14 def. Beckman, 3.941, 322.04; FINAL — C. Force, 3.913, 327.90 def. Wilkerson, 3.943, 323.81.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK:<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Vincent Nobile, Chevy Camaro, 6.655, 207.50 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.651, 208.10; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.668, 206.26 def. Erica Enders, Dodge Dart, 6.659, 207.18; Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.635, 208.46 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.661, 208.30; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.973, 160.63 def. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, Foul – Red Light; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.636, 208.65 def. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.708, 206.61; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.608, 209.43 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 13.741, 58.89; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.597, 209.92 was unopposed; QUARTERFINALS — Butner, 6.636, 208.84 def. McGaha, Foul – Red Light; Johnson, 6.655, 208.42 def. Skillman, 7.511, 139.57; Line, 6.602, 209.72 was unopposed; Anderson, 6.598, 210.08 def. Nobile, 6.659, 208.49; SEMIFINALS — Line, 6.605, 209.62 def. Butner, 6.649, 208.84; Anderson, 6.604, 209.85 def. Johnson, 6.644, 208.23; FINAL — Anderson, 6.630, 209.43 def. Line, 6.597, 209.95.<\/p>\n

BAYTOWN, Texas — Point standings (top 10) following the 29th annual SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –<\/em><\/p>\n

Top Fuel<\/p>\n

Brittany Force, 464; 2.\u00a0 Doug Kalitta, 463; 3.\u00a0 Antron Brown, 445; 4.\u00a0 Steve Torrence, 417; 5. Clay Millican, 355; 6.\u00a0 J.R. Todd, 316; 7.\u00a0 Tony Schumacher, 295; 8.\u00a0 Leah Pritchett, 291; 9. Richie Crampton, 275; 10.\u00a0 Terry McMillen, 259.<\/p>\n

Funny Car<\/p>\n

(tie) Courtney Force, 439; Tim Wilkerson, 439; 3.\u00a0 Ron Capps, 417; 4.\u00a0 Robert Hight, 404; 5. John Force, 384; 6.\u00a0 Jack Beckman, 379; 7.\u00a0 Del Worsham, 376; 8.\u00a0 Alexis DeJoria, 339; 9.\u00a0 Chad Head, 303; 10.\u00a0 Matt Hagan, 280.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock<\/p>\n

Jason Line, 689; 2.\u00a0 Greg Anderson, 610; 3.\u00a0 Bo Butner, 508; 4.\u00a0 Drew Skillman, 399; 5.\u00a0 Chris McGaha, 339; 6.\u00a0 Allen Johnson, 318; 7.\u00a0 Vincent Nobile, 262; 8.\u00a0 Erica Enders, 257; 9.\u00a0 Jeg Coughlin, 255; 10.\u00a0 Alex Laughlin, 220.<\/p>\n

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BAYTOWN, Texas – Courtney Force raced to her first Funny Car victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. It is the fifth consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that has featured a female winner. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were winners at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[53,138,106,6,194,133],"class_list":["post-2610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhra","tag-courtney-force","tag-doug-kalitta","tag-greg-anderson","tag-nhra","tag-nhra-springnationals","tag-royal-purple-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/101-HoustonGroup-Winners-e1462159418540.jpg?fit=615%2C430&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-G6","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2624,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610\/revisions\/2624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}