C. FORCE, TORRENCE, GRAY AND TONGLET EMERGE VICTORIOUS AT INAUGURAL VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS

C. Force stays locked in with fourth victory of the season from No. 1 qualifying position

  • Torrence builds on Top Fuel points lead with fourth win of 2018
  • Gray becomes second Pro Stock driver to earn two victories on the season
  • Tonglet finds himself in winner's circle for the first time on the year

  DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Courtney Force was able to build on her points lead in the Funny Car category at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park as she brought home her fourth Funny Car victory of the season.   Steve Torrence (Funny Car), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock), and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the 10th of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.   Force’s 4.039-second pass at 321.96 mph in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS was enough to take down her father, John Force, in the final round on Sunday.  

“It was really exciting for us to be part of an all John Force Racing final, but to have my team tuning this car so well all weekend helped get us a win here,” Force said. “We just have to maintain our focus throughout the season and keep performing well as a driver as we prepare for the Countdown to the Championship.”  

 

This marked the 50th time in the history of John Force Racing that two team cars faced off in the final. She took down Jeff Diehl, Jim Campbell, and J.R. Todd on her road to victory.   Torrence powered to the Top Fuel win with a run of 3.812 at 322.96 in his Capco Contractors dragster to take down Doug Kalitta in the finals. The current points leader in the class notched his fourth victory of the year and the 20th of his career in his 200th race as a Top Fuel competitor.

  “We didn’t qualify exactly where we wanted to, but at the end of the day we were in the right spot to win the race so I was proud of my team,” Torrence said. “This is one of the best racetracks I’ve ever been down because it’s so smooth, I really enjoyed coming back here where my Top Fuel career started.”   Torrence qualified sixth for the event and defeated Scott Palmer, Terry McMillen, and Antron Brown en route to victory.   Kalitta secured his second runner-up of the season and first since Charlotte, as he is still aiming for his first win since the season-opening Pomona event.   Gray was able to take down two-time world champion Erica Enders in the final round for his seventh career victory and second of the season. His 6.595 at 208.81 in his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro made him just the second Pro Stock competitor to reach the winner’s circle twice in 2018.   “Every time we match up with Erica it makes for some good racing, it’s a lot of fun getting to race the two-time champion,” Gray said. “It means a lot to get a win in my first time at the track, so it’s fun to get a win here in Virginia especially since it isn’t far from my home.”   He took down Kenny Delco, Vincent Nobile, and Drew Skillman to lock down the win.   Enders now has three runner-up finishes on the year to go along with a victory in Charlotte, as her four final rounds are the most in the class in 2018.   Tonglet earned his first victory of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, using a 6.841 at 196.76 on his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki to take down points leader Andrew Hines in the finals.   “Getting this win was huge, especially going against a Harley-Davidson bike because we know they are always going to be tough to beat,” Tonglet said. “Our bike is just flying and is fun to ride right now.”   After qualifying fifth, he bested John Hall, defending champion Eddie Krawiec, and No. 1 qualifier Hector Arana Jr. to notch the win.   Hines now has three runner-up appearances on the season, as he still chases his first win of the year.  

The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. from June 15-17.  

***   DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the Inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.   TOP FUEL: 1. Steve Torrence; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Richie Crampton; 5. Terry McMillen; 6. Tony Schumacher; 7. Leah Pritchett; 8. Bill Litton; 9. Dom Lagana; 10. Scott Palmer; 11. Dan Mercier; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Mike Salinas; 14. Brittany Force; 15. Clay Millican.   

FUNNY CAR: 1. Courtney Force; 2. John Force; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Tim Wilkerson; 5. Cruz Pedregon; 6. Jim Campbell; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Jonnie Lindberg; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 11. Matt Hagan; 12. Robert Hight; 13. Shawn Langdon; 14. Jack Beckman; 15. Jeff Diehl; 16. Bob Tasca III.    PRO STOCK: 1. Tanner Gray; 2. Erica Enders; 3. Chris McGaha; 4. Drew Skillman; 5. Vincent Nobile; 6. Greg Anderson; 7. Jeg Coughlin; 8. Bo Butner; 9. Alex Laughlin; 10. Val Smeland; 11. Buddy Perkinson; 12. John Gaydosh Jr; 13. Kenny Delco; 14. Wally Stroupe; 15. Jason Line; 16. Tommy Lee.   

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. LE Tonglet; 2. Andrew Hines; 3. Matt Smith; 4. Hector Arana Jr; 5. Eddie Krawiec; 6. Jerry Savoie; 7. Scotty Pollacheck; 8. Angie Smith; 9. Steve Johnson; 10. Hector Arana; 11. Joey Gladstone; 12. John Hall; 13. Mark Paquette; 14. Jim Underdahl; 15. Cory Reed; 16. Kelly Clontz.   

DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Sunday's final results from the Inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:    Top Fuel -- Steve Torrence, 3.812 seconds, 322.96 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.844 seconds, 309.56 mph.   

Funny Car -- Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.039, 321.96 def. John Force, Camaro, 4.076, 307.65. 

  Pro Stock -- Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.595, 208.81 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.628, 208.46.    Pro Stock Motorcycle -- LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.841, 196.76 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.848, 196.22.  

Pro Modified -- Mike Janis, Chevy Camaro, 5.821, 246.26 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.002, 246.93.   

Super Stock -- Joe Tysinger, Pontiac Firebird, 10.590, 125.68 def. Joe Lisa, Chevy Camaro, 10.335, 129.42.    Stock Eliminator -- Randy Parker, Dodge Mirada, 12.163, 79.60 def. Eugene Monahan, Pontiac Firebird, Broke.   

Super Comp -- Jeg Coughlin, Dragster, 8.894, 170.11 def. Rich Dorr, Dragster, Foul - Red Light.    Super Gas -- Charlie Kenopic, Chevy Corvette, 9.893, 156.21 def. Mike Sawyer, Corvette, 9.893, 171.05.   

DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:   TOP FUEL:    ROUND ONE -- Richie Crampton, 3.879, 317.19 def. Dom Lagana, 3.880, 322.27; Steve Torrence, 3.818, 325.85 def. Scott Palmer, 3.905, 321.96; Terry McMillen, 3.942, 302.96 def. Terry Haddock, 4.111, 289.32; Tony Schumacher, 3.825, 323.74 was unopposed; Bill Litton, 4.026, 257.53 def. Brittany Force, 5.273, 147.34; Doug Kalitta, 3.932, 299.60 def. Dan Mercier, 3.979, 304.74; Leah Pritchett, 4.630, 187.94 def. Clay Millican, Foul - Red Light; Antron Brown, 3.869, 321.96 def. Mike Salinas, 4.321, 238.22; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.817, 323.89 def. Pritchett, 4.023, 247.02; Brown, 3.865, 321.04 def. Litton, 4.709, 172.19; Torrence, 3.799, 321.19 def. McMillen, 3.796, 321.73; Crampton, 3.805, 316.01 def. Schumacher, 3.823, 315.93; 

SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 4.009, 274.94 def. Crampton, 5.866, 136.06; Torrence, 3.875, 320.36 def. Brown, Foul - Red Light;  FINAL -- Torrence, 3.812, 322.96 def. Kalitta, 3.844, 309.56.   

FUNNY CAR:    ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.130, 303.43 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.152, 280.43; Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.208, 245.05 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 6.723, 97.46; Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.254, 261.67 def. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.314, 233.20; J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.428, 216.79 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 10.211, 78.20; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.828, 228.46 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.972, 199.94; Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 4.095, 310.77 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.251, 245.72; John Force, Camaro, 4.141, 308.78 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.233, 272.06; Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.210, 301.40 def. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 4.461, 230.02; 

QUARTERFINALS -- C. Force, 3.972, 325.45 def. Campbell, 5.591, 129.92; Wilkerson, 4.014, 298.14 def. Lindberg, Broke; Todd, 4.074, 317.87 def. Worsham, 7.564, 106.24; J. Force, 4.096, 317.64 def. Pedregon, 4.534, 196.47; 

SEMIFINALS -- J. Force, 4.077, 316.97 def. Wilkerson, 4.623, 201.70; C. Force, 4.067, 310.84 def. Todd, 4.115, 302.28;  FINAL -- C. Force, 4.039, 321.96 def. J. Force, 4.076, 307.65.   

PRO STOCK:    ROUND ONE -- Drew Skillman, Chevy Camaro, 6.633, 209.39 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 12.854, 67.94; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.666, 208.97 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.633, 207.50; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.633, 209.33 def. Buddy Perkinson, Camaro, 6.692, 208.71; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.632, 209.07 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.824, 178.73; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.626, 208.07 def. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.690, 206.76; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.639, 208.46 def. Wally Stroupe, Camaro, 8.583, 107.67; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.614, 209.20 def. Tommy Lee, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.612, 208.14 def. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.763, 205.54; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Enders, 6.785, 163.29 def. Butner, 16.604, 49.93; Gray, 6.597, 209.43 def. Nobile, 6.624, 208.97; Skillman, 6.617, 209.07 def. Anderson, 6.625, 208.84; McGaha, 6.609, 209.01 def. Coughlin, 6.663, 208.46;

  SEMIFINALS -- Enders, 6.630, 208.07 def. McGaha, 6.642, 208.88; Gray, 6.635, 208.65 def. Skillman, 33.519, 20.85; 

FINAL -- Gray, 6.595, 208.81 def. Enders, 6.628, 208.46.   

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:    ROUND ONE -- Angie Smith, Buell, 6.900, 193.90 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.948, 193.52; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.881, 194.63 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.980, 193.16; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.886, 195.08 def. John Hall, Buell, 6.956, 191.97; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.935, 195.28 def. Mark Paquette, Buell, Foul - Red Light; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.867, 198.09 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.013, 192.63; Matt Smith, 6.874, 195.51 def. Cory Reed, Buell, 6.982, 191.65; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.885, 195.19 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.950, 194.52; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.936, 191.43 def. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.955, 191.62; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Tonglet, 6.871, 195.45 def. Krawiec, 6.875, 194.94; Hines, 6.859, 195.08 def. Pollacheck, 6.933, 193.02; M. Smith, 6.888, 194.86 def. Savoie, 6.927, 192.33; Arana Jr, 6.849, 197.65 def. A. Smith, 12.571, 64.41; 

SEMIFINALS -- Hines, 6.926, 195.48 def. M. Smith, Foul - Red Light; Tonglet, 6.840, 196.96 def. Arana Jr, 6.976, 196.59;  FINAL -- Tonglet, 6.841, 196.76 def. Hines, 6.848, 196.22.   

DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Point standings (top 10) following the Inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series -    Top Fuel   1. Steve Torrence, 827; 2. Clay Millican, 719; 3. Doug Kalitta, 665; 4. Tony Schumacher, 641; 5. Leah Pritchett, 639; 6. Antron Brown, 530; 7. Terry McMillen, 521; 8. Brittany Force, 518; 9. Richie Crampton, 387; 10. Scott Palmer, 383.  

Funny Car   1. Courtney Force, 856; 2. Jack Beckman, 683; 3. Robert Hight, 665; 4. Matt Hagan, 633; 5. J.R. Todd, 615; 6. Ron Capps, 576; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 554; 8. John Force, 468; 9. Shawn Langdon, 461; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 454.  

Pro Stock   1. Greg Anderson, 720; 2. Vincent Nobile, 703; 3. Tanner Gray, 693; 4. Erica Enders, 686; 5. Bo Butner, 610; 6. Chris McGaha, 605; 7. Drew Skillman, 601; 8. Deric Kramer, 592; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 546; 10. Jason Line, 532.  

Pro Stock Motorcycle   1. Andrew Hines, 454; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 401; 3. LE Tonglet, 367; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 332; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 317; 6. Matt Smith, 314; 7. Jerry Savoie, 294; 8. Hector Arana, 223; 9. Cory Reed, 204; 10. Angie Smith, 200.  

Dusty Brandel

President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, Inc. Worked with Mike Hollander since Tapsis, Compuserve, etc. and has posted to the website since the beginning. First Female photo-journalist to be given a garage and pit pass for the NASCAR garage, 1972 at Ontario Motor Speedway. One of first seven female writers, photographers given access to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage and pits in 1971. Past President of Greater Los Angeles Press Club, 1992-96, and first female editor of the 8-Ball publication for the Press Club

Read More on Drag Racing news
Volume 2018, Issue 6, Posted 8:44 PM, 06.10.2018