NHRA U.S. Nationals
Event 18 of 24 (Indianapolis)
Lucas Oil Raceway
Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, 2019
DSR Indianapolis Elimination Highlights:
- Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman capped off a near-perfect race weekend with a runner-up finish
- Semifinalist Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) lead the DSR brigade heading into the start of the Countdown to the Championship, with both drivers starting from the No. 3 position.
- Beckman and Ron Capps (Funny Car) join Brown and Johnson with ‘top five’ rankings
- Funny Car pilot Matt Hagan raced to his fourth consecutive semifinal appearance
- Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier Mark Pawuk led the DSR Drag Pak duo by racing to a quarterfinal finish
(EXCERPT)
Driver Information:
Funny Car
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.
Driver of the Riley Kids Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 10 (3.909 E.T. at 319.82 MPH)
The Results:
E1: 9.686 E.T. at 88.23 MPH defeated by Shawn Langdon 3.895 E.T. at 328.70 MPH
Race Recap:
Tommy Johnson Jr. is in the midst of a career-best season, and the two-time 2019 Funny Car winner was looking to add a U.S. Nationals triumph to his list of accomplishments. After struggling during the first two days of qualifying, Johnson put the Riley Kids Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in the field Sunday with a pair of solid runs to grab the No. 10 position for Monday’s eliminations. Unfortunately, in his first-round race with Shawn Langdon, the issues resurfaced. Johnson left first, but his machine quickly overpowered the track and lost traction. Langdon made a clean run to defeat Johnson, who coasted to a pass of 9.686 seconds. Johnson will now turn his focus to preparing to chase his first Funny Car championship from the third position in the standings.
Quotable:
“It wasn’t the Indy we were looking for. We had a strong car coming in here, and it was just one of those weekends where we just never hit it. We struggled all weekend with a lot of issues. Not the weekend you want that to happen, but at the same time if it’s going to happen, let’s get it out of the way before we get to the Countdown where it’s really important. We’ll shake this off and go out to Reading and start the Countdown. We are going to start it in the best position we ever have, and this team has a great chance at winning a championship. We’re excited to get to Reading and kick things off with the MOPAR Mega Block Party, and the activities that surround that race. Earlier this year in Denver, we were able to win the race for Dodge and MOPAR, and hope to do it again in Reading.”
NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship Starting Positions:
Top Fuel
1. Steve Torrence – 1742
2. Doug Kalitta – 1184
3. Antron Brown – 1109
4. Brittany Force – 1108
5. Mike Salinas – 1071
6. Clay Millican – 1058
7. Leah Pritchett – 957
8. Austin Prock – 936
9. Richie Crampton – 842
10. Billy Torrence – 819
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight – 1481
2. John Force – 1376
3. Tommy Johnson Jr – 1269
4. Jack Beckman – 1259
5. Ron Capps – 1234
6. Matt Hagan – 1165
7. Bob Tasca III – 1116
8. J.R. Todd – 1095
9. Shawn Langdon – 997
10. Tim Wilkerson – 863
About Don Schumacher Racing:
Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) is the winningest team in NHRA Drag Racing history, having claimed more than 335 NHRA national event titles and 17 world championships since opening its doors in 1998.
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, DSR fields seven professional teams competing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series. In Top Fuel, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown, the MOPAR/Pennzoil/Sparkling Ice dragster driven by Leah Pritchett and eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher’s machine. In Funny Car, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat driven by 2016 world champion Ron Capps, the Mopar Express Lane/Pennzoil/Sandvik Coromant Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat piloted by Matt Hagan, and in Terry and Doug Chandler’s ‘giving cars,’ 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, and Tommy Johnson Jr. behind the wheel of the Make-A-Wish Dodge.
DSR also campaigns two Factory Stock Showdown entries. The duo is piloted by Pritchett, the 2018 Factory Stock Showdown Series champion, and former Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at Shoeracing.com, on Twitter and Instagram at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.