Considering this was pre-season testing, the numbers recorded were impressive.
http://www.nhra.com/story/2011/2/6/brown-force-lead-the-way-as-racers-prepare-for-season-opener/Brown, Force lead the way as racers prepare for season openerSunday, February 06, 2011
by Phil Burgess, National DRAGSTER Editor
Antron Brown in Top Fuel and John Force in Funny Car had the best numbers in pre-season testing in Florida as NHRA’s top teams tuned up for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season-opening Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 24-27 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Brown’s Matco Tools dragster clocked a best of 3.765 at 322.80 to lead the Top Fuel pack while Force’s Castrol GTX Mustang led a pack of Funny Cars in the 4.0-second zone with a 4.037-second best.
Brown’s Mark Oswald- and Brian Corradi-tuned digger mph also ran a subsequent 3.77 at 324.50 mph; the speed was second best behind his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher, who posted a speed of 324.90 on a 3.771-second pass. Schumacher’s Mike Green-wrenched U.S. Army dragster was spectacularly consistent with additional efforts of 3.778 and 3.793.
The third DSR dragster, the Fram/Prestone entry wheeled by 2008 rookie of the year Spencer Massey, was third-quick with a best of 3.788. Terry McMillen’s Amalie dragster also was solid with a 3.828 best while Doug Kalitta (3.836) and Brandon Bernstein (3.843) also were solid in the 3.8-second zone.
Reigning NHRA world champ Force, driving the Castrol Mustang formerly driven by his now expectant daughter Ashley Force Hood and tuned by her crew chief, Dean Antonelli, was a 4.0-second rocketship all weekend with passes of 4.072, 310.20; .086, 312.50; 4.092, 306.67; and the final 4.037, 313.80.
Former world champ Cruz Pedregon, whose Snap-on Tools Toyota closed 2010 as one of the class’ strongest entries, showed no sign of let up with a best of 4.04. Championship runner-up Matt Hagan’s DieHard Charger out of the Schumacher camp ran a best of 4.055 and also clocked a 4.081 while teammate Jack Beckman had top speed at 314.90 on a 4.053 pass in the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Charger. Beckman also carded a pair of 4.10s.
Jack Beckman had the Funny Car top speed at 314.90 mph.
Team Force driver Robert Hight, whose Jimmy Prock-led Automobile Club of Southern California team was unexpectedly forced to run their new untested Mustang, showed that was no handicap by chalking up a best of 4.055 as well as passes of 4.06 and 4.10. Hight’s teammate, Mike Neff, back behind the wheel after a season off, showed no sign of rust at the wheel of Force’s championship Mustang that he tuned to victory last year, reeling off a best of 4.062 and a subsequent 4.070. Neff hasn't driven a Funny Car since he won the 2009 NHRA Finals, yet he tuned and drove this weekend.
Ron Capps’ NAPA Charger logged a best of 4.081 and his new DRS teammate Johnny Gray, who last yea finished in the top 10 in Pro Stock, looked comfortable in his return to Funny Car with a pair of 4.08s in his Service Central Racing Dodge. Bob Tasca III also was in the 4.0s with his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang with a 4.098 best.
Newly licensed Alexis DeJoria continued to make get-comfortable runs in her new class wheeling the DHL Toyota of Kalitta teammate Jeff Arend to passes of 4.20 and 4.27. Melanie Troxel and her In-N-Out/R2B2 team struggled with their new inhouse-built Toyota Camry but nonetheless made strides over the weekend freshly-built entry.
TOP FUEL
Antron Brown 3.765, 324.05
Tony Schumacher 3.771, 324.90
Spencer Massey 3.788, 315.64
Terry McMillen 3.828,313.29
Doug Kalitta 3.836, 319.98
Brandon Bernstein 3.843, 317.27
Dom Lagana 7.150, 97.36
FUNNY CAR
John Force 4.037, 313.80
Cruz Pedregon 4.040, 310.48
Matt Hagan 4.051, 311.70
Jack Beckman 4.053, 314.09
Robert Hight 4.055, 312.64
Mike Neff 4.062, 310.13
Ron Capps 4.081, 310.20
Johnny Gray 4.083, 307.09
Bob Tasca III 4.098, 308.92
Alexis De Joria 4.201, 290.94
Melanie Troxel 7.573, 87.05
