John Force continues hot start with win in Vegas
When the 14-time world champion took the stage, a cheer erupted that was similar to the Beatles taking the stage at Shea Stadium. It's the latest chapter in the late career renaissance for the NHRA's most popular driver, who won for the third time in six races this year.
Larry Dixon, (RFC) John Force and (RFC) Mike Edwards made it to the winner's circle in Sunday's SummitRacing.com Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Despite the blazing hot track temperature, Force's mechanical brain trust of Mike Neff, Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly went conservative all weekend and it paid off.
In Funny Car, (RFC) Force's Ford
Mustang went 4.334, 284.93 mph vs. Tony Pedregon's 5.630, 138.34 mph. Pedregon's Chevy Impala had an engine fire in winning the semis. Force leads Matt Hagan by 120 points.
In Top Fuel, Dixon earned his 51st career W, powering to a 4.016 second, 313.37 mph triumph over Cory McClenathan's 5.113, 158.41 mph tire-smoking run. Dixon is one point ahead of McClenathan.
In Pro Stock, (RFC) Mike Edwards' Pontiac GXP clocked 6.751, 205.51 mph to best (RFC) Greg Stanfield's 6.813, 203.12 mph in a GXP. (RFC) Ron Krisher qualified second in the Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt and lost in the semifinals. Edwards tops (RFC) Allen Johnson by 261 points.
Dixon won for the second time in as many weeks in the Al-Anabi Racing dragster beating Cory McClenathan in the Fram dragster.
The win is Dixon's 51st of his career and also third of the season. Dixon also took the points lead and is ahead of McClenathan by one point.
(RFC) Mike Edwards continued his domination of the Pro Stock category by defeating (RFC) Greg Stanfield in the Penhall Pontiac GXP Nitro Fish.
It was the fourth time (RFC) Edwards has won a race this year, and he holds a commanding 261-point lead over second-place (RFC) Allen Johnson.
The Full Throttle Series takes a weekend off before heading to the St. Louis area for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2.
Read more:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010041 ... z0lYAqck5C