The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continued Saturday as Robert Hight powered to the top of the Funny Car category at the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.
Billy Torrence (Top Fuel) and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) are also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the second of 24 events on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Hight took over the top spot in the category during the final run of qualifying with a pass of 3.867-seconds at 329.91 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. He secured his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and is seeking back-to-back victories.
“That was a fun run,” Hight said. “I had my hands a little full at the other end since I was late with the chutes because I had to keep it off the wall. It was exciting from the step of the gas all the way to the end of the finish line. Jimmy Prock (crew chief) and Chris Cunningham (crew chief) have a really good handle on these cool and tricky conditions.”
Hight is set to face off against Jeff Diehl in round one of eliminations on Sunday. Matt Hagan sits second after a 3.881 at 323.43 in his Sandvik Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. The defending Funny Car champion J.R. Todd qualified fifth after a 3.911 at 321.35.
Ron Capps and 16-time world champion John Force will face each other for the 100th time during eliminations Sunday morning.
Billy Torrence sits atop the Top Fuel class after the final round of qualifying with a run of 3.667 at 328.46 in his Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster. This is his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and second of his career.
“We’re going to do all that we can do to turn that green hat into a yellow one,” Torrence, the father of Steve Torrence, said. “It would be nice to pick up some momentum here, pick up a win and relish that for a few weeks. I have a super team; really two super teams. Steve’s team works on my car and prepares it. Whenever I come out I have a car that is capable of winning at anytime.”
He will go head-to head against Terry Totten in round one of eliminations on Sunday. Terry McMillen qualified second after a 3.695 at 330.96 in his AMALIE Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR dragster, while Torrence's son, defending world champion Steve Torrence qualified 14th.
In Pro Stock, Butner took over the top spot after driving to a 6.522 at 211.46 run in his Jim Butner Auto Chevrolet Camaro during the first qualifying session of the day. He secured his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season after winning at the most recent event.
“Our Chevy Camaro has been pretty good since I came back out this season,” Butner stated. “This is just carrying over from Pomona because we didn’t chance a lot. I’m very happy and the momentum is going great.”
Butner matches up against Joey Grose in the first round of eliminations. Alex Laughlin is second in the qualifying order after 6.526 at 211.79, while Jason Line sits in the third spot.
Eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for 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. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Billy Torrence, 3.667 seconds, 328.46 mph vs. 16. Terry Totten, 6.821, 96.18; 2.Terry McMillen, 3.695, 330.96 vs. 15. Richie Crampton, 6.069, 101.77; 3. Antron Brown, 3.718,322.34 vs. 14. Steve Torrence, 5.682, 261.88; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 3.726, 321.88 vs. 13. Brittany Force, 4.838, 188.31; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.737, 326.95 vs. 12. Jim Maroney, 4.373, 274.22; 6. Austin Prock, 3.738, 328.46 vs. 11. Clay Millican, 4.259, 195.48; 7. Leah Pritchett, 3.744, 282.42 vs. 10. Cameron Ferre, 4.085, 232.43; 8. Scott Palmer, 3.781, 325.22 vs. 9. Mike Salinas, 3.862, 274.55.
Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.867, 329.91 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 5.843, 118.17; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.881, 323.43 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Charger, 5.070, 229.59; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.885, 325.92 vs. 14. Jack Beckman, Charger, 5.022, 159.80; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.911, 326.95 vs. 13. Jim Campbell, Charger, 5.004, 151.54; 5. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.911, 321.35 vs. 12. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.925, 167.03; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.933, 322.81 vs. 11. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.035, 270.54; 7. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 3.940, 325.30 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.960, 326.32; 8. John Force, Camaro, 3.950, 321.27 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.951, 315.49.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Gary Densham, 7.886, 85.05.
Pro Stock — 1. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.522, 211.46 vs. 16. Joey Grose, Camaro, 17.001, 47.71; 2. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.526, 211.79 vs. 15. Steve Graham, Camaro, 7.091, 154.39; 3. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.528, 212.16 vs. 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.661, 206.54; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.536, 210.87 vs. 13. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.610, 209.65; 5. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.538, 210.90 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra, Camaro, 6.579, 210.11; 6. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.544, 210.50 vs. 11. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.579, 210.60; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.544, 210.34 vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.564, 210.57; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.545, 210.11 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.548, 211.36.
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