Mustang Club of Maryland

NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series

For the first time in NHRA history, nitro cars raced to a 1,000-foot finish in Sunday's Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, outside of Denver.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher won, going 4.007 seconds, 304.05 mph to defeat Antron Brown, 4.173, 276.97 mph. Schumacher is 275 points ahead of Brown.

In Funny Car, (RFC) Tim Wilkerson's Chevrolet Impala ran 4.398, 262.23 mph to best Jack Beckman's Valvoline Dodge Charger, 4.661, 205.41. Tim beat three of the four cars on the Force team and then Fast Jack. Ugg! Beckman qualified 10th. Wilkerson enjoys a 275-point advantage over Robert Hight.

In Pro Stock, which still went a quarter-mile, Greg Anderson's Pontiac GXP clocked 7.024, 196.39 mph to defeat (RFC) Allen Johnson's Dodge Stratus, 7.028, 195.79 mph. (RFC) Ron Krisher qualified seventh in the Valvoline Chevy Cobalt and went to the semifinals. Anderson is 96 points up on Kurt Johnson.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, which also contested to a quarter-mile, Matt Smith's Buell won with a 7.326, 180.74 mph pass over Steve Johnson's Suzuki, 7.340, 180.81 mph. Andrew Hines tops Smith by 38 points.

A 24-event 2009 schedule was revealed, starting Feb. 8 at Pomona. Purses will increase more than $1.3 million.

Top Fuel and Funny Car race winners will receive $50,000, a 25-percent increase.

Pro Stock will go to $25,000

Pro Stock Motorcycle $10,000.

First-place awards are doubled at the U.S. Nationals. NHRA announced members of its Safety Task Force: Dan Olson, Austin Coil, Jim Head, Alan Johnson, Jon Oberhofer, Mark Oswald and Tim Wilkerson. Tuner Jimmy Walsh returned to the Tuttle Top Fuel team with driver Steve Torrence.

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I did watch some of it yesterday and was wondering what was going on with the 1,000 foot deal.

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Dave

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Some people are like Slinkys. They have no purpose, but they sure bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

After the crash and death of Scott Kalettia into the wall at Englishtowne, the NHRA has decided to do something immediately to slow down the nitros. There are other options but at least the older tracks get another 320 feet of shut down and a slower speed for now. Most guys say it is a good thing because it is safer. less catastrophic engine failures and less parts go bad. They appointed a committee to study and make recommendations.

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