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>>> MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY, SCENIC
AS FALL BEGINS IN SOUTHERN
PENNSYLVANIA WITH THE COOL AIR,
THE CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT
DURING QUALIFYING.
FOUR RECORDS AND THE RACERS
ANSWERED AND REWROTE THE NITRO
RECORD BOOKS.
DAVE GRUBNIC TIED THE@@ QUICKES
TOP FUEL RUN EVER.
THEN MORGAN LUCAS SURPRISED EVEN
HIMSELF.
HE SET A NEW@@ NATIONAL ET RECO.
THEN IN FUNNY CARJACK BECKMAN
SET THE RECORD.
HE ALSO BROKE THE NATIONAL SPEED
RECORD AND JACK IS LOVING EVERY
MINUTE.
>> IT'S OVERWHELMING.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE AS A DRAG
RACER AND A FAN, THIS IS WHAT
YOU DREAM OF, RECORDS LIKE THIS
WHERE RECORDS CAN KEEP GETTING
BROKE.
YOU HAVE THE DRAMA CAPPS DOESN'T
GET INTO THE LAST SESSION.
I ABOUT DROVE IT INTO THE SAND.
THERE'S LOVELY SCENERY AT MAPLE
GROVE.
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC VALVOLINE
NEXT GENERATION CAR IS RUNNING
FA@@ST.
TIMES LOOK IT GOOD AND DOES IT
RUN AFTER RUN AFTER RUN AND NO
REASON TO THINK WE CAN'T DO FOUR
MORE OF THEM.
THAT OUGHT TO PUT AN EXT
SMILE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS
BUT I'M LOVING THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RON CAPPS, THE POINTS LEADER,
IS NOW UNDER ATTACK BY HIS OWN
TEAMMATE AS WE SHOW YOU THE
FUNNY CAR POINTS AT THE TOP.
JACK BECKMAN STANDING 17 BACK.
HE MOVED FROM 30 UP TO 17.
>> IF THE POINTS WERE AWARDED
RIGHT NOW HE WOULD BE IN THE
LEAD BY THREE POINTS OVER RON
CAPPS BUT THOSE POINTS WON'T BE
AWARDED UNTIL THE END OF THE
EVENT.
>>> IN TOP FUEL SPENCER MASSEY
IS SECOND IN THE POINTS, BUT IN
QUALIFYING HE HAS TWO UNUSUAL
INCIDENTS.
ON FRIDAY WATCH MASSEY AS THE
ENGINE LETS GO.
LOTS OF FIRE.
VERY LOUD ***.
BUT THEN ON SATURDAY RIGHT SIDE
OF YOUR SCREEN THERE SPENCER
MASSEY AGAIN AND THERE IS FLAME,
FIRE, AND PARTS EVERYWHERE FOR A
SECOND TIME.
>> AND HOW COSTLY WAS IT?
FIVE POINTS FOR AN OIL DOWN
PENALTY ON THIS RUN.
HE WAS ONLY ONE RUN BEHIND
ANTRON.
BEFORE THE RUN HE WAS TWO ROUNDS
BEHIND AFTER THAT PASS.
>> AND SPEAKING OF ANTRON BROWN,
HE IS ALREADY IN THE STAGING
LANES AS WE SHOW YOU THE TOP
FUEL POINTS.
BROWN IS ON A HIGH RIGHT NOW
COMING OFF OF BACK-TO-BACK WINS.
YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE POINTS,
YOU SEE SPENCER MASSEY LOST A
ROUND DURING QUALIFYING BUT TONY
SCHUMACHER ACTUALLY MADE UP ONE
ROUND WITH HIS QUALIFYING BONUS
POINTS.
>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE
WITH WEATHER IS GOING TO AFFECT
THE DAY.
IT RAINED EARLY THIS MORNING.
IT'S COLD HERE NOW, 52 DEGREES.
RACK TEMPERATURE IS LOW AS WELL,
69, MIKE.
>> GOING TO BE AWFULLY TIGHT OUT
THERE.
PRETTY DRY AS FAR AS WATER
DRAINAGE SO YOU CAN MAKE A LOT
OF HORSEPOWER.
>> NOW LET'S ACCEPTED YOU OVER
TO GARY GEROULD.
>>> WELL, FOR THE MOST PART IT
HAS BEEN A SEASON WITH LITTLE
ADVERSITY FOR SPENCER MASSEY AND
HIS TEAM BUT, OF COURSE, WE SAW
THE VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS IN
QUALIFYING EARLIER THIS WEEKEND.
COMBINE THAT WITH THE FACT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST
PAIR TO GO DOWN A NEWLY PREPARED
RACETRACK.
CAUSE FOR ALARM, CONCERN,
APPREHENSION?
>> WELL, A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN
FOR TWO DIFFERENT REASONS.
WITH EXPLOSIONS ON FRIDAY AND
SATCHARACTERISTIC FOR
THE PRESS TONE TEAM.
WITH AN EXPLOSION LIKE THAT
DRIVING A TOP FUEL CAR ANYTHING
CAN HAPPEN.
I HAVE TOTAL CAN CONFIDENCE IN
THIS ENTIRE TEAM, THE MOTORS AND
ALL OUR PARTS THAT IT WILL STAY
TOGETHER.
IT NEEDS TO.
WE NEED THIS ROUND WIN.
COMING OUT HERE WITH THIS FRESH
TRACK, IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT
SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S SO COOL.
NOBODY HAS BEEN DOWN THE TRACK
ALL DAY TODAY BUT, THERE AGAIN,
THE TRACKS 110%.
GENERALLY WHENEVER SOMETHING
HAPPENS, IT'S USUALLY BETTER
THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
SO I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE
RACETRACK.
WITH THE WAY THE AIR IS, THE
TRACK IS GOING TO BE, THERE WILL
BE AWESOME NUMBERS AND HOPEFULLY
IT WILL BE THE PRESTONE CAR.
>> WE WILL GET SOME QUESTIONS
ANSWERED SHORTLY.
>> YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT, GARY
GEROULD.
JACK BECKMAN'S CREW, THEY WARM
UP HIS CAR.
WHAT WILL THIS DAY BE FOR THEM
AS HE CHASES RON CAPPS, THE
POINTS LEADER.
>> THAT CAR WASN'T QUALIFYING
EVERY SINGLE RUN, YOUR NUMBER
ONE QUALIFIER, NEW RECORD
HOLDER.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY PRESSURE
ON JACK BECKMAN BUT, HEY, IT'S
THE COUNTDOWN AND WE'RE GETTING
TO THE END.
>> THERE IS THE LUCAS OIL LADDER
AS TOP FUEL COMES OUT.
SHAWN LANGDON FIVE ROUNDS OUT OF
FIRST WITH 12 ROUNDS LEFT TO
PLAY.
HE'LL TAKE ON BOB VANDERGRIFF
WHO CAN ONLY PLAY AS A SPOILER.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THAT MATCHUP
BETWEEN STEVE TORRENCE AND
ANTRON BROWN.
STEVE TORRENCE, IF HE CAN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, WATCH OUT,
ANTRON.
>> SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS DAY AND YOU BELIEVE IT, IN
THE VERY FIRST PAIR OUT IS THE
DEFENDING CHAMPION AT THIS
TRACK, SPENCER MASSEY.
THERE HE IS.
NOW A YEAR AGO HE WON THIS
EVENT.
WHEN DETHAT HE WON OVER AL ANABI
DRIVER DEL WORSHAM.
AND NOW HE FACE
BALOOSHI/AL ANABI.
AS WE GET READY TO GO FOR THE
FIRST PAIR AT MAPLE GROVE
RACEWAY, WE WELCOME YOU.
THE WHOLE GANG'S HERE, MIKE
DUNN, DAVE RIEFF, GARY GEROULD,
JAMIE HOWE, AND THE STAT GUY.
AND THIS, MANY PEOPLE SAY, WILL
BE A PIVOTAL RACE.
>> BALOOSHI IS PLAYING THE
SPOILER ROLE.
NOT IN THE COUNTDOWN.
HE COULD HELP OUT HIS TEAMMATE
IF HE TAKES OUT SPENCER MASSEY
IN THE FIRST ROUND HERE.
>> SPENCER HAS BEEN THE RUNNER
UP FOR THE LAST FOUR RACES, THE
LAST FOUR RACES ON THE TOUR.
>> LOOK AT THE BURNOUT BY
SPENCER MASSEY, REALLY DRIVING
THAT THING TRYING TO KEEP IT
STRAIGHT.
IT'S NOT A PRETTY BURNOUT.
>> THREE OF THE LAST FOUR RACES
ON THE TOUR, RUNNER UP IS
SPENCER.
GOING AGAINST SPENCER, NOT VERY
GOOD FOR HIM.
HE HAS NEVER TAKEN SPENCER DOWN
IN A ROUND.
10,000 HORSEPOWER.
THE FIRST PAIR THIS WILL TEST
THE TRACK.
DO WE START THIS DAY WITH A
MAJOR UPSET.
KHALID TAKES DOWN SPENCER
MASSEY.
LOOK AT THE JOY FROM THE AL
ANABI TEAM.
SECOND IN THE POINTS, HOPING TO
TAKE OVER TODAY, IS OUT IN FIRST
ROUND.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT IS
UNBELIEVABLE BUT YOU CAN'T CAN'T
COUNT THEM OUT.
HE DID A GOOD JOB DRIVING.
A HUNDREDth OF A SECOND BEHIND
SPENCER MASSEY.
BOTH HAD GOOD REACTION TIMES BUT
KHALID HAD THE BETTER RACE CAR
ON THE TRACK AND, BOY, DOES THAT
CHANGE THINGS AROUND.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE @@LUCAS OIL
PHOTO FINISH CAM.
KHALID BALOOSHI TAKES OUT NUMBER
TWO IN THE POINTS.
>> AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TALE
OF THE TAPE AS WELL ON THE
FINISH.
MARGIN OF VICTORY, 37 INCHES.
>> THE ASSISTANT CREW CHIEF ON
SPENCER MASSEY'S CAR, WHAT'S
GOING ON OUT THERE?
DID YOU MAYBE UNDERESTIMATE THIS
RACETRACK A LITTLE BIT?
>> LOOKS LIKE WE DID.
WE WERE GOING OUT THERE AND JUST
DIDN'T GET IT.
>> THINKING ABOUT THAT BURNOUT,
JUST THINK AGAIN.
>> I DON'T THINK IT HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.
THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED
HIM.
>> TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, HERE
COMES ANTRON BROWN AND STEVE
TORRENCE.
WE'VE TOLD YOU THIS IS GOING TO
BE A GREAT DAY DESPITE THE FACT
THE WEATHER IS THREATENING, AND
IT MAY BE A DAY YOU SEE A CHANGE
IN THE TACTICS THE TEAM USED.
YOU WERE TELLING ME?
>> NORMALLY A SITUATION LIKE
THIS YOU SAY YOU NEVER GO FOR A
NATIONAL RECORD ON RACE DAY.
YOU RACE THE RACETRACK.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE CONDITIONS
YOU GO FOR THE NATIONAL RECORD.
2006 THE FINALS TONY SCHUMACHER
MAKING THE RUN HAD TO HAVE THE
NATIONAL RECORD TO WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
LET'S TALK ABOUT CRUD PEDREGON
AND MIKE NEFF.
THEY'RE QUITE A WAYS OUT, THIRD
AND FOURTH IN THE POINTS.
MIGHT BE A SITUATION THAT IS
REALLY GOOD, LET'S GO TO FOR IT,
TRY TO GET THE RECORD.
WHAT THE HECK, SECOND PLACE IS
THE FIRST LOSER.
>> BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE PLENTY
OF GUYS LINED UP TO TAKE A SHOT
AT NATIONAL RECORDS.
THE CREW CHIEF FOR ANTRON BROWN.
>> AND WHAT A WAY TO START THIS,
SPENCER MASSEY CALLING OUT.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THAT WAS A
MILD UPSET ONLY BECAUSE OF ALLEN
JOHNSON CALLING THE SHOTS,
DIDN'T MAKE IT A HUGE UPSET.
STILL A SURPRISE.
THIS MAN HERE WILL TRY TO DO THE
SAME THING, TRY TO UPSET THE
POINTS LEADER ANTRON BROWN.
>> THEY'VE ONLY HAD ONE ROUND
WIN THE LAST FIVE RACES ON THE
TOUR.
>> GOT AWAY FIRST.
GOOD RACE.
ANTRON BROWN, 327 MILES AN HOUR,
AND ANTRON CONTINUES HIS MARCH
TOWARD A CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> ANOTHER GOOD RACE.
STEVE TORRENCE A SLIGHT
ADVANTAGE OF ANTRON BROWN.
STRUGGLED IN QUALIFYING AND THAT
WAS A NICE PASS IN THE SECOND
ROUND.
>> AND WITH SPENCER MASSEY ON
THE TOP END THERE'S A BITTER
STING THAT GOES WITH THE
FIRST-ROD LOSS.
ANTRON HAS NOW ADVANCED.
WAS THERE A PROBLEM ON THE
BURNOUT?
>> NO, IT REALLY WAS NOT A
PROBLEM ON THE BURNOUT.
IT WAS TRYING TO WASH OVER A
LITTLE BIT.
I TROO I TO FIGHT IT A LOT EVEN
ON NORMAL RUNS, TRY TO WHIP THE
WHEEL AND KEEP THE REAR TIRES IN
THE RIGHT SPOT.
TRYING TO WASH OUT.
NOTHIN@@G TO DO WITH THE WAY TH
CAR RAN.
OBVIOUSLY GOOD ENOUGH TO GET THE
ROUND WIN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
DID NOT NEED TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE COUNTDOWN.
THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE AND DIE
FOR.
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO NOT
HAPPEN.
WE WANTED TO COME OUT AND WIN.
SEEING ANTRON WIN THAT ROUND,
HE'S GETTING FURTHER AHEAD OF US
IN POINTS, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN
CATCHING UP TO US.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE PRESTONE
TEAM.
DEFINITELY NOT WHAT WE WANTED.
>> YOU SEE THE EMOTION.
HERE IS BRANDON BERNSTEIN AND
LARRY DIXON.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU THE
FINISH,UCAS OIL FINISH, ANTRON
BROWN OVER TORRENCE.
AND LET'S TALK NOW ABOUT TOP
FUEL POINTS BECAUSE WITH SPENCER
MASSEY OUT, ANTRON BROWN IS IN
PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
BUT YOU WILL NOTICE BOTH SHAWN
LANGDON AND TONY SCHUMACHER,
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE
FORWARD BUT THEY HAVE TO WIN AS
WELL.
>> THAT WAS DEFINITELY A GOOD
MOVE THERE.
SPENCER MASSEY, WHAT A WEEK,
LOST THOSE FIVE POINTS WITH@@ T
OIL DOWN, ANOTHER LOSS IN THE
FIRST ROUND.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH
WEEKEND FOR THEM.
>> BRANDON BERNSTEIN, RAN A @@
CAREER BEST THE LAST TIME
QUALIFYING, WAS A @@375.8.
HE FEELS THAT THIS IS TIME FOR
HIM TO WIN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
>> TWO THINGS ABOUT THE
RACETRACK, 65 DEGREES RIGHT NOW
AND IT'S VERY, VERY TIGHT.
A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN TIRE
SHAKE AND TIRE SPIN.
WE'LL PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.
THROMETER A LOT BETTER
TODAY.
CARS ARE MAKING BIG, BIG
HORSEPOWER AND AS WE'VE SEEN
BOTH LANES ARE ROCK SOLID.
>> LARRY DIXON THE LAST OF THREE
RACES.
HE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE 3.81.
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE DOWN
A CHARGING BRANDON BERNSTEIN.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD
DECLARATION, 3.74, 327 MILES AN
AND HE UPS HIS CAREER BEST.
>> HIS NUMBERS ARE CAREER BEST.
WE'LL SEE HIM A LOT.
WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT LARRY
DIXON.
NICE LAUNCH ON THE CAR.
MAKES ANOTHER NICE PASS, A 3.81.
WITH CONDITIONS LIKE THIS THOUGH
HE'S CARRYING THE FRONT END VERY
NICELY THERE, IT JUST WASN'T
ENOUGH TO GET AROUND BRANDON
BERNSTEIN.
3.80 DON'T MEAN NOTHING TODAY.
>> YOU KNOW THE BROWN FAMILY
DOESN'T LIVE ALL THAT FAR AWAY
AND GRANDMA BROWN HAS MADE IT
DOWN HERE TO KEEP ANTRON GOING.
WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON INSIDE THE HEAD OF RON
CAPPS RIGHT NOW?
THE THREE-TIME BRIDESMAID, NEVER
A BRIDE, RON CAPPS WAS IN FIRM
CONTROL OF THE FUNNY CAR
COUNTDOWN JUST SEVEN DAYS AGO
BUT AN EARLY EXIT IN ST. LOUIS,
A JACK BECKMAN WIN AND STRUGGLES
IN QUALIFYING SEEING A
FIVE-ROUND LEAD PLUMMET TO JUST
A SINGLE ROUND.
IN THE OPENING STANZA THEY TAKE
ON JEFF AREND AND THE DHL TEAM.
A HUNGRY SQUAD.
WIN THAT RACE AND CAPPS HAS THE
POSSIBILITY OF TAKING ON JACK
BECKMAN IN ROUND NUMBER TWO.
TODAY WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT KIND
OF METTLE THIS MAN IS MADE OF.
>> LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
RON CAPPS' STRUGGLES IS HIS
TEAMMATE, JACK BECKMAN.
PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE
FACT THAT JACK MADE IT DOWN THE
TRACK IN ALL FOUR SESSIONS OF @@
QUALIFYING.
HE'S ALSO THE DEFENDING NATIONAL
RECORD HOLDER FOR THE LAP TIME
AND SPEED.
HE AND TODD SMITH AND TERRY
SNYDER HAVE PROVEN THEY HAVE
THIS CAR FIGURED OUT AND IT
COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER
TIME.
WITH ONLY THREE RACE DAYS
REMAINING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP,
ONLY 17 POINTS BEHIND.
THEY SAY THEY'RE STILL LEAVING
SOMETHING ON THE TABLE.
TODAY THEY START WITH MIKE SMITH
IN ROUND ONE.
>> THERE'S PLENTY MORE TOP FUEL
YET TO COME AND MAYBE RECORDS,
AND RECORDS DO FIT INTO THE
COUNTDOWN.
TONY SCHUMACHER 2006 NEEDED TO
SET THE NATIONAL RECORD AND WIN
THE RACE.
ALLEN JOHNSON AND DOUG KALITTA
CAN ONLY LOOK IN @@
>>> JEFF AREND PART OF OUR
MARQUEE MATCHUP GETTING READY
FOR FUNNY CAR TO COME OUT AT THE
AUTO-PLUS NATIONALS.
JEFF AREND WILL FACE THE POINTS
LEADER.
HAS NOT HAD A ROUND WIN HERE IN
FOUR YEARS.
HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF TOP
FUEL.
>> HOW GOOD WAS IT?
TONY SCHUMACHER RAN THE THIRD
QUICKEST ELAPSED TIME EVER IN
SESSION NUMBER THREE.
BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY IT
WOULD BE DROP DOWN TO THE FIFTH
QUICKEST.
>> OUT CAME TEAM KALITTA.
DAVID GRUBNIC WILL RUN A TIE FOR
THE QUICKEST TIME EVER WHILE
DOUG KALITTA RAN THE SECOND
FASTEST SPEED EVER.
GRUBNIC, 3.728.
KALITTA 3.3145.
>> MORGAN LUCAS CAME UP TO THE
LINE.
BOTH CARS RUNNING WELL ALL
WEEKEND BUT IT WAS MORGAN LUCAS
WHO HAD A NEW RECORD.
>> MORGAN LUCAS AND TONY
SCHUMACHER, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
FROM MORGAN.
>> A BIG RUN.
TONY SCHUMACHER FIFTH ALL TIME.
GRUBNIC TIED FOR FIRST WITH THAT
RUN, AND MORGAN LUCAS, THE THIRD
QUICKEST AND IS CURRENTLY THE
NATIONAL RECORD BUT WITH
CONDITIONS THE WAY THEY ARE
RIGHT NOW, HE MAY NOT LEAVE WITH
THAT RECORD.
IF HE DOESN'T, HE WON'T GET THE
20 POINTS BUT SOMEBODY WILL
LEAVE HERE WITH 20 POINTS FOR A
NATIONAL RECORD.
>> AND THEN AGAIN MORGAN JUST
MIGHT LOWER THAT RECORD.
LOGANO DOESN'T GET DOWN THE
TRACK FOR MORGAN.
330 MILES AN HOUR.
SEEMS HAPPY WITH THAT RUN BUT,
BOY, THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE, 53,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW.
>> BROOKS LOVES THESE
CONDITIONS.
291 MILES AN HOUR TO THE EIGHTH
MILE.
ONLY ONE GUY HAS DONE IT, MORGAN
LUCAS.
AND HE'S DONE IT THREE TIMES.
>> GETTING READY FOR THE FIRST
ROUND, HE TOLD ME THIS WEEKEND
IT'S NO MISTAKE TIE.
THEY HAVE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP NOW
THAT SPENCER MASSEY IS OUT FOR
TODAY BUT TONY SAID HE HAS TO
GET UP THERE, DO HIS JOB, AND
HE'S READY.
>> AND A REMINDER OF OUR
COVERAGE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AHEAD FOR THE NHRA DRAG RACING
SERIES.
TO LAS VEGAS.
CONTINUES THREE WEEKS FROM NOW,
QUALIFYING ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER
27th, AND FINAL ELIMINATIONS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th.
HERE COMES THE NUMBER ONE
QUALIFIER, DAVE GRUBNIC.
HE GOES UP AGAINST IKE MAIER.
>> CHECK IN WITH MORGAN LUCAS,
TELLING HIM AT THE EIGHTH MILE,
HEARD HIM SAY, MAN, THE NUMBERS
ARE SO STOUT.
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO THIS DAY?
>> IT'S WEIRD.
I FELT SOMETHING FUNNY IN THE
GAP.
SLIPPED THE TIRES A LITTLE BIT.
YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT KIND
OF STUFF.
PROUD OF THE TEAM.
THEY KEEP STEPPING UP AFTER
SITTING AROUND ALL MORNING
WAITING, NOT KNOWING WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> WAY TO BE IMPRESSED.
>> THE FIRST TIME HE SET A
RECORD WAS TEN YEARS AGO DRIVING
FOR BERRIAN AND THAT WAS AT THE
FINALS AT POMONA.
>> YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IKE MAIER
AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THERE,
LOOKING TO WIN HIS FIRST EVER
ROUND OF RACING, A MAJOR TALENT
WHEN YOU GO UP AGAINST THE
NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER DAVE
GRUBNIC WHO STARTS NUMBER ONE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR
YEARS.
HE HAS ALSO BEEN A VERY STOUT
CAR HERE AT MAPLE GROVE.
>> COMING INTO THIS RACE THE CAR
HAD IMPROVEMENT.
IT WAS A SURPRISE TO RUN THAT
KIND OF NUMBER BUT NOT A BIG
SURPRISE HE RAN WELL.
OH, BUT LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S A SURPRISE.
>> OH, DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
IKE MAIER IS TAKING DOWN THE
NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER, DAVE
GRUBNIC.
MAIER RUNS A@@ 5.69 BUT GRUBNICS
NOWHERE.
KALITTA IS PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.
MIKE?
>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO DO.
SPINS THE TIRES, DAVID GRUBNIC.
IKE MAIER WENT AFTER IT BEFORE
HE STARTED RUNNING, TRYING TO
FEATHER THE THROTTLE.
HE FINALLY GETS IT GOING AND WAS
ABLE TO GET THE WIN.
THAT'S A TOUGH BREAK.
PULLS THE TIRES RIGHT OFF THE
GROUND.
JUST TRYING TO GET THAT THING
BACK IN THERE.
REALIZING I DON'T SEE GRUBBY IN
THE OTHER LANE.
I HAVE TO GET THIS THING GOING
AGAIN.@@
>> AND THERE IS THE ROLE OF
SPOILERS AS WE ARE IN THE
COUNTDOWN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, COMING UP
NEXT IS TONY SCHUMACHER, HIS
350th RACE DAY START.
HE WILL FACE TERRY McMILLEN WHO
CAN ONLY SERVE AS A SPOILER.
ooo♪
>>> WELCOME BACK.
PART OF THE INFORM MANUFACTURE
FULL THROTTLE DRAG
SERIES.
HELD A SPEED RECORD FOR TWO FULL
RUNS IN QUALIFYING IN THE FOURTH
SESSION.
COURTNEY WILL BE FACING MATT
HAGAN WHEN HE COMES UP BUT RIGHT
NOW IT IS TONY SCHUMACHER WHO
WON INDY, RUNNER-UP IN
CHARLOTTE.
SINCE THEN SECOND ROUND LOSSES,
TWO OF THEM.
NOT GOOD.
TERRY McMILLEN, 0-9, RACING THE
SEVEN-TIME CHAMPION.
WOULD THAT BE AN UPSET IF
McMILLEN GETS HIM CONSIDERING
THE UPSET HE'S ALREADY SEEN,
MIKE.
>> IS THAT BAD?
>> YEAH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.
HE HASN'T WON ANY OUT OF NINE.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS HE JUST SAW
IKE MAIER IN FRONT OF HIM SET UP
THAT WIN OVER GRUBNIC.
UP AGAINST TONY SCHUMACHER, TONY
SCHUMACHER HAS MORE OF A
CONSISTENT RACE CAR AND HAS BEEN
RUNNING CONSISTENTLY WELL THIS
WEEKEND, ALSO.
NOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT
THERE AND BACK THIS THING DOWN
BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING
McMILLEN, THEY'RE SEEING ALL THE
OTHER CARS GO DOWN THE
RACETRACK.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE
AND RUN THEIR NUMBER.
NOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUSH IT
ALL THE WAY TO THE MAT.
TRY TO GET DOWN THAT RACETRACK
AND GET THE WIN.
>> TONY SCHUMACHER COMES INTO
THE DAY THIRD IN THE POINTS, 76
BACK.
THE ONLY CAR IN THE FIELD THAT
HAS THE CANOPY ONBOARD.
HERE WE GO.
AND IT'S TONY SCHUMACHER, 3.74,
326 MILES AN HOUR.
SO NOW TONY SCHUMACHER WILL
ADVANCE AND HE'LL FACE BRANDON
BERNSTEIN IN SECOND ROUND.
>> WATCH TERRY McMILLEN GAVE HIM
A PRETTY GOOD RACE THERE AT
LEAST IN THE BEGINNING.
HE HAD A HUNDREDTH OF A SECOND
ADVANTAGE.
HE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM BUT
THEN TONY SCHUMACHER WAS ABLE TO
DRIVE AROUND WITH THAT GREAT
PASS.
>> WITH IKE MAIER IN THE 2,
EXCITED TO GET BACK AND GET THIS
CAR PREPARED BECAUSE THEY'VE
NEVER HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF
GOING TO A SECOND ROUND.
TELL US ABOUT THAT SURPRISE.
>> I'M VERY SURPRISED BUT IN
TERMS OF RACING AND RACING LUCK,
YOU JUST NEED IT EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE.
REALLY LIKE TO MAKE A GOOD LAP
WITH THIS CAR.
GUYS WORK HARD.
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO DO.
>> I LIKE THE STICKER DOWN HERE
ALONGSIDE THE COCKPIT.
THE DRIVER CARRIES NO SH.
DRAG RACING GOT IT ALL.
DAVE RIEFF?
>> DOWN WITH THE ASSISTANT, YOU
GUYS ARE MAKING IT LOOK EASY OUT
THERE.
WE DID SEE ONE CAR, DAVID
GRUBNIC'S CAR.
HAD PROBLEMS ON THE STARTING
LINE.
WHAT ARE THEY SPECIFICALLY AT
THE STARTING LINE?
>> WELL, WE THINK AN IDEAL TRACK
IS AT 80 DEGREES.
DOWN TO 70, THE RUBBER GETS SO
TIGHT THAT THE TIRE DOESN'T WANT
TO RUN IN A LIMITED APPLICATION
WANT TO STAY COMPLETELY TUCKED
AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SHAKE OR
COMPLETELY COME LOOSE.
>> A NICE PASS THERE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF RUBBER.
THE GRIP METER STILL SAYS IT'S
ABOUT THE SAME AS IT WAS
YESTERDAY.
THAT RUBBER IS COLD AND HARD,
IT'S DIFFERENT.
I HEARD AARON BROOKS SAY IT
WOULD BE NICE IF THEY CAME UP
WITH SOME BALD SPOTS SO WE COULD
GET THAT WHEEL SPEED.
>> HERE COMES THE SECOND KALITTA
CAR.
THIS IS DOUG KALITTA.
YOU SEE DAVE GRUBNIC ALREADY GO
OUT AS THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER.
HERE IS DOUG GOING TO FACE CLAY
MILLICAN.
AND HERE AT THIS TRACK IT IS THE
50th ANNIVERSARY, AND THEY HAVE
A LOT OF HISTORY SINCE THEIR
OPENING IN 1962 AND THE FIRST
NHRA RACE, THE FIRST NATIONAL
EVENT, 1985.
>> 1989 JOE AMATO IN THE FIRST
SIDE-BY-SIDE FOUR-SECOND RUN.
>> '94 MIKE DUNN WITH THE
DEFEAT, 300-MILE-AN-HOUR
SIDE-BY-SIDE RACE.
I'M PROUD OF YOU, MAN.
>>@@ DEFEATED SCHULTZ AND BECAM
THE FIRST FEMALE@@ IN PRO STOCK
MOTORCYCLE.
IN 2011 THA@@T GREAT FINAL WHER
SPENCER MASSEY@@ DEFEATED DEL
WORSHAM ON THE HOLESHOT, RAN TH@
QUICKEST PASS EVER, 50@@ YEARS.
AND THAT IS A FINE @@MYSTERY.
KALITTA ON THE LINE.
DOUG KALITTA THE LAST CAR IN HIS
STABLE OUT AGAINST CLAY
MILLICAN.
WOW.
KALITTA UP 325 MILES AN HOUR TO
MILLICAN'S LOSING 3.88.
>> I WONDER IF DOUG KALITTA'S
TEAM JIM OVERWHO HAVE HAD TO
SLOW THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT
AFTER SEEING HIM SPIN THE TIRES.
THEY WEREN'T AGGRESSIVE AT 60
FEET, HAD TO DRIVE AROUND CLAY
MILLICAN AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT
THE FINISH CAM.
IT LOOKED CLOSER THAN THAT.
STILL WITHIN HALF A CAR LENGTH
AT THE STRIPE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE INCREMENTALS
HERE.
CLAY MILLICAN WAS OFF THE LINE
EARLY AND CARRIED IT FOR QUITE A
WAYS BEFORE DOUG KALITTA WAS
ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND AND GET THE
WIN.
>> JACK BECKMAN, DOWN TO CRUNCH
TIME.
ONLY THREE RACES REMAIN IN THE
COUNTDOWN.
YOU SAY YOU HAVE SOMETHING LEFT
ON THE TABLE.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE TODAY?
>> YESTERDAY AND FRIDAY I THINK
OUR CAR COULD HAVE RUN EVEN
BETTER WHICH SEEMS HARD TO
BELIEVE.
TODAY I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S SO COLD OUT THERE.
AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU
COULD TAKE A SHOT.
THERE'S A COUPLE CARS THAT CAN
RUN BETTER THAN OUR CURRENT
RECORD.
WE HAVE TO WIN ROUNDS.
THERE ARE 20 POINTS.
IF WE SMOKE THE TIRES, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO LOOK TOO SMART.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COVERAGE OF "MONDAY NIGHT
FOOTBALL" CONTINUES.
FIRST AT 6:30 IT'S "MONDAY NIGHT
COUNTDOWN" SERVED BY APPLEBEE'S
AND THEN THE TEXANS FACE THE NEW
YORK JETS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET
BACK ON TRACK AFTER A
DISAPPOINTING WEEK FOUR LOSS.
"MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL," THE
TEXANS/JETS, 8:30, ESPN.
LANGDON AND VANDERGRIFF.
LANGDON STARTS THE DAY EXACTLY
FIVE ROUNDS OUT OF FIRST PLACE.
THE POINTS LEAD.
12 ROUNDS LEFT IN THE SEASON.
>> RON CAPS MAY BE ON AN
EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER MAY BE
AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
I WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE
YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL, I CAN'T WAIT, TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD RUN 4.15 OR
4.12 AND IT WENT 4.05.
WE GOT IN THE SHOW AND NOW JEFF
AREND, YOU KNOW, I TOLD
BECKMAN'S GUYS DON'T COUNT THAT
20 POINTS YET.
THIS CAR CAN DO IT.
IT CAN FLY.
WE NEED TO GET THE ROUND WIN AND
START CAMPAIGNING SOME POINTS
AGAIN.
>> BOB VANDERGRIFF STRUGGLED A
BIT, ONLY ONE ROUND WIN DURING
THE COUNTDOWN.
>> TAKE A LOOK AT SHAWN LANGDON
THERE.
HE KNOWS HIS TEAMMATE DID IT FOR
HIM BY TAKING OUT SPENCER MASSEY
NOW UP TO SHAWN TO DO HIS JOB
AND CLOSE THE GAP UP ON THE
POINTS LEADERS.
>> HE QUALIFIED WITH A CAREER
BEST SPEED 328 MILES AN HOUR.
>> JOHNSON WOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO
GO FOR A NATIONAL RECORD.
HE'LL BE AGGRESSIVE BUT I DON'T
KNOW IF HE'LL GO CRAZY WITH IT
RIGHT NOW.
>> HE HAS THE GUTS.
>> OH, YEAH.
THERE'S AL ANABI.
LANGDON 3.74, 324 MILES AN HOUR.
PUT THAT DOWN AS LOW OF THE
ROUND.
THE TOP FUEL POINTS.
YOU HAVE SHAWN LANGDON.
>> GO OUT AND DO WELL TODAY
OBVIOUSLY AND GUYS LIKE SPENCER
GOING OUT WHICH HAS ALREADY
HAPPENED.
TONY OR ANTRON STUMBLES AND
SHAWN WINSES A RACE AND NOW
WE'RE IN FOR A NATIONAL RECORD
LIKE LAST YEAR WITH DEL.
IT CAN ALL CHANGE.
>> AND AS WE TAKE A LOOK NOW FOR
THE LUCAS OIL LADDER LOOKING
AHEAD TO THE SECOND ROUND, LOOK
AT THAT.
TWO AL ANABI CARS.
THEY COULD END UP FACING ONE
ANOTHER IN THE SEMIFINALS.
>> EVERY ONE OF THESE GUYS WENT
3.74.
THAT'S AMAZING.
MORGAN LUCAS OVER ANTRON AND
TONY SCHUMACHER WILL PICK HIS
LANE OVER BRANDON BERNSTEIN.
>> MARIO CARPINO IS A SPECIAL
GUEST.
JOHNNY WILL TAKE OFF WITH THE
RING.
>>> THE NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG
RACING SERIES AT BEAUTIFUL MAPLE
GROVE JUST AS THE FALL COLORS
BEGIN TO CHANGE, THE AUTO PLUS
NATIONALS, THIS IS A GREAT TRACK
AND DESPITE WHAT IS QUESTIONABLE
WEATHER, IT'S COLD, COULD BE
WET.
IT'S BEEN WET FOR MUCH OF THE
WEEKEND.
BUT THE WAY IT'S SETTING UP NOW
IT'S GIVING US SOME GREAT DRAG
RACING.
HERE WE GO WITH FUNNY CAR, THE
FIRST PAIR WILL BE ALEXIS
DeJORIA AND JIM HEAD.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE LUCAS OIL
LADDER, SEE WHO'S COMING DOWN
THE TRACK IN FUNNY CAR.
POINTS LEADER RON CAPPS, HE'S
GOING TO TAKE ON JEFF AREND.
CAPPS HAS NOT WON A ROUND OF
RACING HERE THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
HE COULD COULD FACE JACK BECKMAN
IN THE SECOND ROUND.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
LADDER ALEXIS DeJORIA AND JIM
HEAD.
ALEXIS WITH THE NEW CAR, LOOKING
FOR HER FIRST ROUND WIN SINCE
SONOMA.
>> WE'LL BE ONBOARD WITH ALEXIS
WHO QUALIFIED WITH A CAREER BEST
4.03, 319 MILES AN HOUR.
THEY'RE BOTH OUT OF IT.
NOW WE HAVE A GOOD PEDAL FEST.
OH, JIM HEAD, THE VETERAN, OVER
THE FUNNY CAR ROOKIE.
>> WOW.
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN A GOOD PEDAL
FEST IN A LONG TIME.
>> GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN THE
TRACK.
THAT'S GREAT.
GREAT FOR US TO WATCH.
>> NOT FOR THEM.
>> WHEN YOU'RE A DRIVER OR CREW
CHIEF THIS IS AGONY.
AS A DRIVER YOU ALWAYS FEEL GOOD
TO WIN ON A PEDAL FEST.
I'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT,
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT ON THE
LOSING SIDE.
I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT A GOOD
FEELING.
A GOOD JOB.
AT ONE POINT LOOKED LIKE WAS
GOING TO DROP THE CENTER LINE.
>> TAKE A LOOK AT ALEXIS.
SHE GETS THE FRONT END UP BUT
THEN SHE GETS OFF THE THROTTLE,
DROPS IT BACK DOWN.
NOW LOOK AT THE REAR TIRES
COMPLETELY OFF OF THE GROUND,
MIGHT BE ONE REASON IT SPUN,
DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
SETTLE DOWN, BECAUSE SHE STARTED
ROLLING ON THE THROTTLE AND IT
BOUNCED UP ON THE REBOUND.
WOW.
THAT'S A WILD RIDE RIGHT THERE.
>> AND THE NEXT PAIR, COURTNEY
FORCE, WHO WILL NOW FACE MATT
HAGAN.
TODAY YES, SIR FUNNY CARS MAKE
UP TO 10,000 HORSEPOWER CAN BE A
HANDFUL TO DRIVE FOR EVEN THE
MOST SEASONED VETERANS.
FOR A ROOKIE THE LEARNING CURVE
IS STEEPER.
SOME ROOKIES HAVE RESPONDED
BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND THAT'S
THE SUBJECT OF OUR EXTREME POWER
SESSION.
>> BACK TO COURTNEY FORCE IN THE
FIRST ROUND IN ST. LOUIS.
SHE SMOKED THE TIRES.
ONE OF THE KEYS TO BACKPEDALING
IS THE QUICKER YOU KAFRP IT, THE
LESS YOU HAVE TO DO TO RECOVER.
THE PROBLEM FOR ANY DRIVER WHEN
YOU HAVE A CAR THAT GOES DOWN
THE TRACK EVERY MORNING IN
QUALIFYING, SOMETIMES YOU'RE
BEHIND.
COURTNEY TOOK OVER A SECOND
RESPONSE TO THE TIRE SMOKE.
NOW THE BIG PROBLEM HERE IS SHE
GOT BACK ON THE THROTTLE
QUICKLY.
AS A DRIVER, YOU WANT TO GET THE
CAR MOVING AGAIN, BUT SHE DIDN'T
HET IT SETTLE DOWN, HAD TOO MUCH
WHEEL SPEED AND NEVER A CHANCE
TO RECOVER.
SHE LIFTS THE SECOND TIME.
THIS TIME SHE STAYED OUT OF IT
FOR A WHILE.
THREE THINGS HAPPENED TO CAUSE
THAT CAR TO GO INTO THE WALL.
RIGHT THERE THE CAR JUST STARTED
TO RTATE AROUND.
SECOND, IT ACTUALLY DID HOOK UP
A LITTLE BIT AND, THIRD, NUMBER
THREE AND SEVEN CYLINDERS WENT
OUT TO HELP LAUNCH THAT CAR
COMPLETE HADLY SIDEWAYS.
SHE DID A GREAT JOB, THOUGH, TO
GET THE CAR TO ROTATE AROUND AND
SQUARE UP INTO THE WALL AVOIDING
MAJOR DAMAGE TO THAT FORD
MUSTANG.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HOW DID SHE
RESPOND AS A ROOKIE AFTER THAT?
THE FIRST RUN DOWN THE RACETRACK
4.09, THIRD QUICK OF THE
SESSION.
THE GIRL HAS NO FEAR.
>> SO THERE SITS COURTNEY
AGAINST MATT HAGAN, A REMATCH IN
THE SEATTLE FINALS.
THAT ONE WAS WON BY THAT LADY
RIGHT THERE.
WE'LL SEE A LOT, TOO, AS THEY
DEAL WITH THE RECOGNITION OF
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DURING
THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
COURTNEY DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE.
MATT HAGAN, 4.05, 311 MILES AN
HOUR.
HE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND ROUND.
>> THE TOP END WITH JIM HEAD.
WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR HE
COULD TELL I DON'T THINK ANY
DRIVER, ANY TUNER IS REAL HAPPY
WHEN YOU GET INTO A PEDAL FEST.
THAT WAS ONE HEADING FOR THE
BOOKS.
TELL US WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN
YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THAT.
>> JUST DEAD FRUSTRATING, YOU
KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE SHUTTING IT OFF
BECAUSE TOTAL FAILURE AS A
TUNER.
YOU WANT TO GET THE WIN LIGHT SO
YOU HAVE ANOTHER SHOT AT IT,
MAYBE GET IT FIXED.
WE'VE GONE DOWN THE TRACK FOUR
TIMES AND THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT
A FIFTH.
OBVIOUSLY WE DID NOT.
>> AT LEAST YOU ARE GOING ON,
GOING TO RACE SOME MORE.
>> GOT ANOTHER SHOT AT IT.
IT WILL BE FUN.
>> THANKS, JIM.
>> OUR MARQUEE MATCHUP IS COMING
UP.
THAT WILL PIT RON CAPPS AGAINST
JEFF AREND.
JEFF AREND LOST IN THE SECOND
ROUND AT GATEWAY LAST WEEK.
RON CAPPS LOST IN ROUND TWO LAST
WEEK AS WELL.
>>> IN THE EARLY DAYS THE
PRESSURE TAKES OVER.
A LOT OF DRIVERS FAIL UNDER
PRESSURE.
NONE THERE THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD
IT.
YOU LEARN THAT IN TIME.
I WOULD SIT IN MY CAR, SWEAT SO
BAD I COULDN'T SEE.
I NEEDED TO WIN THIS ROUND.
I NEEDED TO WIN THIS RACE.
AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT AND@@ WON
LIKE ME, I DON'T EVEN THINK
ABOUT IT ANYMORE BECAUSE MY RACE
CAR DOESN'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING
FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
IT DOESN'T KNOW IT.
AND SO WHY WOULD I WANT TO DRIVE
IT ANY DIFFERENT?
IS WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW IT?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
THE CREW CHIEF HAS TO DO THE
SAME THING THAT I DO.
HE HAS TO KEEP HIS MIND RIGHT,
KEEP THE FOCUS AND RACE THE CAR
JUST LIKE HE RACED IT AT THE
OPENING RACE.
>> THE BEST TIMES I WOULD DRIVE
WHEN I REALIZED, HEY, YOU KNOW
WHAT, CARS ARE FUN TO DRIVE.
JUST FOCUS ON RUNNING THE ARE
CAR.
TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF IT.
THAT'S USUALLY WHEN I DID WELL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, SOMETIMES
THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
>> A HELMET CAM DOWN TRACK ON
ONE OF THE SAFSAFARI GUYS.
THERE HE IS, BILL BUCHANAN.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET A VIEW OF
EVERYTHING HE LOOKS AT.
WHAT'S HE DOING?
HE'S SHOWING US EVERYTHING HE
PICKS UP.
THAT'S PRETTY NEAT.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TRACK THIS IS.
THERE HE IS RIGHT DEAD IN THE
CENTER OF THE TRACK.
TONY PEDREGON OUT THERE NOW.
TAKE A LOOK AT POINTS IN FUN QUI
CAR.
RON CAPPS, JACK BECKMAN, MIKE
NEFF AND THAT'S THE DO OR DONE
LINE.
>> MIKE NEFF AND CRUZ PEDREGON
HAVE A BACKUP FOR A NATIONAL
RECORD.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE WHAT WE SAW
WITH ALLEN JOHNSON HE MAY NOT
NECESSARILY WANT TO GO FOR IT
NOW.
WANT TO HAVE A GOOD RUN.
CONDITIONS SHOULD BE GOOD ALL
DAY LONG.
>> TALKING TO RON CAPPS.
>> A COUPLE OF RACES THIS YEAR.
>> SO NOW BACK OUT TO THE LINE
AND MIKE NEFF.
FUNNY CAR, BECKMAN AS HE STARTS
THE DAY.
>> MIKE NEFF TELLING US THIS
WEEKEND, PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO WIN
OUT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO WIN
THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
MEAN@@ING HE HAS TO WIN THE FIN
THREE EVENT@@S.
HE DID TEST AT ST. LOUIS MONDAY.
HAD TWO VERY GOOD PASSES, @@4.0
AND 4.05.
WE MUST BE AGGRESSIVE AND GO FOR
EVERY POSSIBLE POINT.@@
>> AND LANE CHOICE WHEN IT COMES
TO FUNNY CAR, THEY PREFER TO THE
RIGHT SIDE.
FOR TOP FUEL, A LOT OF CREW
CHIEFS SAY IT'S SIMPLY SMOOTHER
IN THE RIGHT LANE FOR THE FUNNY
CARS.@@@@
>> MIKE NEFF ALL THE WAY.
HE RUNS A 4.03 AT 316 MILES AN
HOUR TO TAKE DOWN TONY PEDREGON.
>> WELL UNDER WAY FOR THE MATCO
TOOLS TEAM AND ANTRON BROWN,
ADVANCING ON TO THE SECOND
ROUND, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE
POSITION BEFORE WHERE YOU'RE IN
CONTENTION FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
BUT NEVER WON ONE.
HOW ARE YOU MANAGING THE
PRESSURE?
>> BY LEANING ON EACH OTHER.
THIS MA IT TCO TOOLS THIS
WEEKEND, WE'RE GOING TO LEAN ON
EACH OTHER.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE
CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE IN '09 AND
2011.
WE CAN SEE WHEN SOMEBODY IS ON
EDGE.
THE OTHER PERSON ON THE TEAM, WE
TALK TO THEM AND IT EASES YOUR
NERVES.
THAT HAS BEEN CARRYING US
THROUGH, WORKING HARD NOT TRYING
TO CHANGE ANYTHING WE'VE DONE
THAT GOT US HERE.
WHAT GOT US HERE IS WHAT'S
KEEPING US GOING.
JUST KEEP ON THAT SAME ROAD AND
THAT SAME TRACK.
RUN FOR THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> NOT SECOND-GUESSING HIMSELF
OVER HERE.@@
>> ON THE LINE TONY PEDREGON.
HIS BROTHER WILL FACE LESENKO.
ESPN'S 34-30 SERIES, REVISITING
THE 1988 OLYMPICS IN WHICH WORLD
CLASS SPRINTER BEN JOHNSON RAN A
TIME OF 9.79 TO WIN THE 100
METER FINAL.
ONLY TO BE FOUND GUILTY OF
STEROID USE A COUPLE DAYS LATER.
>> CRUZ PEDREGON AND TODD
LESENKO AT THE LINE NOW.
SPENT TIME TALKING TO CRUZ THIS
WEEKEND.
HE SAYS HE HAS TO TALK TO THE
GUYS AFTER EVERY RUN AND CANNOT
REMEMBER THE MESSAGE WAS THAT
THEY WERE OUTRIGHT.
THEY'RE ALWAYS BEATING
THEMSELVES.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE TOO
AGGRESSIVE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BLAME THIS ON
ANYONE ELSE.
THEY WANT TO GO UP THERE, RUN
DOWN CLEANLY AND STAY IN THE
COUNTDOWN CHASE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY BUT
THE KEY IS WE SAW SOME FUNNY
CARS SPINNING THE TIRES AT THE
HIT OF THE THROTTLE.
MIKE NEFF WHO IS SOFT, WHO IS
NOT AS FLAT BUT WE'VE SEEN SOME
0.80s, YOU HAVE TO CONTROL THE
WHEEL SPIEL OR IT WILL GO UP IN
TIRE SMOKE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK.
MIKE NEFF WAS GOING 271 MILES AN
HOUR.
MORGAN LUCAS 291 MIDDLE OF THE
TRACK IS EXCELLENT.
>> CRUZ PEDREGON/TODD LESENKO.
CRUZ IS IN THE RIGHT LANE.
>> HE HADAL IT.
HE'S DONE.
>> WOW, ANOTHER UPSET.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
JIM DUNN IS HAPPY.
TODD LESENKO RUNS A 4.29 IN A
PEDAL FEST AGAINST CRUZ
PEDREGON, A GREAT VETERAN, AND
HE WINS.
>> ONE MORE LOOK.
WATCH THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN.
HELD IT TWICE.
IT JUST DID NOT GET GOING AFTER
HE GOT BACK ON IT BUT TAKE A
LOOK AT TODD LESENKO.
DID NOT MAKE A GREAT PASS.
YOU SEE THERE A CYLINDER OUT AS
SOON AS HE HIT THE THROTTLE,
ALLOWED THE CAR TO GO DOWN THE
RACETRACK.
HEY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
WHEEL SPEED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE ENOUGH POWER.
WHY DID IT NOT SHAKE THE CAR?
EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN.
THE CLUTCH MATCHES UP WITH THE
ENGINE AND MAKES THE WHOLE CAR
SLOWER WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED
FOR TODD LESENKO BUT IT WAS GOOD
ENOUGH TO GET THE WIN.
>> IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE
EXPRESSION VERY MUCH, DOES HE
THERE IS JOHN FORCE WHO IS
GETTING READY TO GO AGAINST HIS
TEAMMATE ROBERT HIGHT.
THEY'LL BE COMING UP IN A FEW
MINUTES.
TO GARY GEROULD.
>> YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST YOUR
BUDDY IN THE SECOND ROUND.
TELL US HOW GOOD THE CONDITIONS
ARE AND IS IT EASY TO MAYBE
SECOND-GUESS YOURSELF?
>> YEAH.
THESE ARE PHENOMENAL.
AS GOOD AS THEY ARE, WE DON'T
RUN IN THESE CONDITIONS THAT
OFTEN.
SO EVERYTHING IS REAL TRICKY TO
KEEP IT FROM SHAKING THE TIRES
HERE, SO MUCH CLUTCH ON IT TO
GET IT TO GO.
I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THESE
CARS SMOKING THE TIRES PLUS THE
AIR IS GOOD.
IT'S COOLED OFF SO MUCH TODAY,
THE POWER.
NOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE
ADJUSTMENT FOR THE COMPRESSION
AND THE BLOWER SPEED TRYING TO
GET ENOUGH POWER OUT OF IT TO
ADJUST TO WHAT THE CONDITIONS
ARE.
SO IT IS TRICKY.
EVEN THOUGH THE TRACK IS GOOD,
YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD
SETUP TO MAKE IT GO.
>> YOU TALK TO HIM, YOU KNOW THE
RECORD, JACK BECKMAN STARTS THE
DAY HOLDING BOTH ENDS OF THE
FUNNY CAR NATIONAL RECORD OF
3.98, 320 MILES AN HOUR.
>> SECOND SESSION, JACK BECKMAN
ALONGSIDE AREND.
A MEDIOCRE RUN IN THE FIRST
SESSION BUT THE SECOND ONE WAS
DIFFERENT.
NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER, 320 MILES
AN HOUR.
>> THERE'S A CERTAIN IRONY
CONSIDERING HE HAD THAT GREAT,
ALMOST PERFECT WEEKEND LAST
SUNDAY IN ST. LOUIS COMING FROM
FIVE ROUNDS DOWN AND WITHIN A
ROUND AND A HALF COMING INTO
PENNSYLVANIA.
LOOK AT THE CHANGES THEY'VE MADE
ON THIS.
THEY TALKED ABOUT CHANGING THE
FUEL PUMP, THE IGNITION SYSTEM,
THE SUPERCHARGER, THEY CHANGED
ALL THE DATA SENSORS AND WHAT
HAS HAPPENED IS THIS WE SAW THE
3.989 IN QUALIFYING AFTER ALL
THOSE CHANGES.
SOMEBODY HAS DIALED IT IN SPOT
ON.
>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, GARY
GEROULD, THAT'S NOT GOING TO
CHANGE IS THE TUNE-UP.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER
GOING UP AGAINST THE 16 MACHINE.
THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE
RECORD.
WE JUST HEARD FROM MIKE NEFF AND
THE OTHER CREW CHIEFS ABOUT HOW
GOOD THIS STARTING LINE IS.
TODD SMITH SAYS WE SIMPLY CAN'T
BACK THIS CAR DOWN.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THAT
CHANCE.
THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GO OUT
AND RUN A 4.00 OR A 4.02.
>> GETS OFF THE STARTING LINE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT
EASILY.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING
OUT OF BECKMAN ALL WEEKEND.
3.98 AT 318 MALES AN HOUR AS
BECKMAN LOWERS THE RECORD.
WOW.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> THAT THING WAS HURTING ITSELF
JUST PAST HALF TRACK.
WATCH THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN.
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR RIGHT
THERE, IT STARTS TO BURN ITSELF
UP A LITTLE BIT AND STILL 3.98,
WHY IT ONLY WENT 318.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL OVER 320
MILES PER HOUR.
THAT THING WAS FLYING.
>> YOU SAID 4.02ISH.
HOW DID YOU MISS THAT FAR?
>> WELL, THIS TRACK IS REALLY
GOOD, SPECTACULAR CONDITIONS.
WE'RE JUST LOVING IT.
>> CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY.
>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RACE.
JACK BECKMAN LOWERS THE RECORD,
WHAT A WEEKEND THAT MAN HAS HAD.
>> JACK BECKMAN COMING OUT HERE.
SO YOU LOWER THE RECORD.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO
EAT ITSELF UP AT HALF TRACK.
THERE WAS MORE THERE, WASN'T
THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT RAN OKAY TO ABOUT 990 FEET.
I DON'T KNOW WE WERE TUNED IN
FOR 3.98.
A LOT OF WHEEL SPEED EARLY.
AS A DRIVER YOU FEEL IT
SASHAYING.
3.98 FIRST ROUND.
THEY ARE GUTSY AND THE CAR IS
TAKING IT.
ONE MORE WIN LIGHT.
>> HE'S RIDING THE MAGIC CARPET
RIGHT NOW.
>> JOHNNY GRAY AND BOB TASCA ARE
NEXT UP.
IT'S TIME FOR MIKE DUNN AND HIS
TEQUILA UPSET ALERT.
AROUND THAT GUY, VINCENT NOBILE.
>> I'M PICKING VINCENT TO UPSET
ALLEN JOHNSON.
THE KID CAN DRIVE THE RACE CAR
AND, BOY, EVERYBODY BEHIND ALLEN
JOHNSON IN THE POINTS CHASE IS
HOPING VINCENT CAN DO IT.
SOME PRETTY BRAVE PICKS YOU HAVE
GOING, MR. DUNN.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PRESSURE?
BECKMAN HAS GONE AHEAD BY Mont.
>>> MAPLE GROVE, THE AUTO PLUS
NATIONALS, JOHNNY GRAY AND BOB
TASCA COME UP NOW.
GRAY HAS NO ROUND WINS TO START
THE COUNTDOWN.
TASCA IS A DALLAS WINNER.
>> THE ULTIMATE SPOILER WERE A
LOT OF ROUND WINNERS.
BOB TASCA LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE, HE'S A LITTLE BIT BUT IT
WORKED OUT FOR HIM IN DALLAS.
FOR TASCA, GRAY WINS IT 4.1
285.
SAW TASCA LIGHT UP FOR JUST A
MOMENT.
WENT OUT PRETTY QUICK.
JOHNNY GRAY GETS THERE FIRST.
>> ABOUT 334.
AS YOU SAID BOB TASCA, HE HAD A
LITTLE BIT OF A FIRE UNDERNEATH
THERE.
NOT SURE WHAT EITHER DRIVER WAS
ING ARE FOR.
JOHNNY GRAY DID GET THE WIN.
HAD CYLINDER OUT.
LOOKED LIKE IT PUSHED A HEAD
GASKET OUT AND LIT HER UP PRETTY
GOOD THERE.
>> THEY ARE TEAMMATES, JOHN 40s
AND ROBERT HIGHT.
SIT ON THE LINE.
ROBERT HIGHT THE PRESIDENT OF
JOHN FORCE RACING.
HE TAKES ON THE OWNER.
IT'S OUR 0 FIRST EVER MATCHUP
HERE AT MAPLE GROVE.
THE NHRA NITROGEN RACIAL.
THIS TIME WITH THE FAMILY.
THE NHRA CREW CHIEF.
IN 2009 WON THE FUNNY CAR
CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ROBERT HIGHT.
>> AND AS A SECOND GENERATION
CREW CHIEF, HE QUOT HIS START IN
RACING FROM HIS FATHER, VERY
SUCCESSFUL MATCH RACE DRIVER.
WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED WITH HIM
ON THAT SUBJECT.
>> THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE,
MY DAD USED TO RACE BACK IN THE
'70s.
I STARTED OUT AND WE HAD AN
INTEREST IN IT.
HE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU
KNOW.
I WAS ABLE TO TAG ALONG WITH HIM
AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
ALL THE CREW GUYS AND THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU MEET, THE THINGS YOU
SEE AND DO, YOU KNOW, WAS A
GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT INTO IT
WITHOUT HIM AND YOU KNOW HE'S
HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY A LOT.
JIMMY PROCK NEVER GOT THE
DRIVING BUG BUT HIS FATHER WAS A
TUNER.
HE'S TURNED INTO ONE OF THE
FINEST TUNERS EVER.
>> AND HOW ABOUT THE FACT HE IS
THE ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA
QUESTION, WHO WAS IN THE OTHER
LANE WHEN THE GREAT JUNGLE JIM
WAS ONLY NATIONAL IN FUNNY CAR,
IN 1975.
JUNGLE JIM HELPED.
HE WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO THE
SPORT.
>> HE KNEW THE HISTORY OF DRAG
RACING, DON'T YOU?
JOHNNY GRAY CARRYING THE YELLOW
OF ALEX LEMONADE STAND AND HAS A
SPECIAL GUEST THIS WEEKEND,
9-YEAR-OLD MARIO CARPINO.
HE HAS INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMORS
BUT, BOY, THE KID HAS A SMILE
AND HE'S HELPED WITH EVERYTHING,
THEY TREATED HIM SO WELL.
HE HAS RAISED OVER $80,000 FOR
ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND AND MARIO
HIMSELF HAS RAISED $50,000 WITH
TWO OF HIS OWN STANDS.
WHAT A GREAT KID AND WHAT A
WONDERFUL GESTURE BY JOHNNY
GRAY.
MARIO HAS HAD A GREAT WEEKEND.
JOHNNY GRAY IS CARRYING THE ALEX
LEMONADE STAND COLORS ON HIS
CAR.
ROBERT HIGHT AND JOHN FORCE WAIT
ON THE LINE.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
SPRINKLE OF RAIN, NOT ENOUGH TO
SHUT US DOWN FOR A LONG TIME, SO
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
WHEN IS A STUD LIKE THIS ONE NOT
A STUD?
WHEN IT'S A DUD.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THIS AND HOW IT COST JEFF
@@@@@@
>>> THE MAPLE@@ GROVE RACEWAY
CELEBRATING ITS 50th@@ ANNIVERSY
WITH THE AUTO PLUS NATIONALS.
HERE@@ IS JOHN FORCE AND ROBERT
HIGHT.
THEY ARE TEAMMATES AND JOHN
FORCE COMING OFF A @@FIRST-ROUN
LOSS AT ST. LOUIS.
ROBERT HIGHT IS THE DEFENDING
CHAMPION HERE.
>> IT'S AN ISSUE OF CONSISTENCY.
YOU WANT TO GET BACK IN THE
WINNER'S CIRCLE.
YOU RUN THE NUMBERS WHEN THEY
NEED TO, ON FRIDAY NIGHT RUNNING
THAT BIG 321 MILES AN HOUR, THE
SECOND FASTEST EVER.
STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT
DOWN THE RACETRACK.
>> ROBERT HIGHT CAN BACK UP THE
SPEED RECORD.
A REPORT FOR HIGHT.
4.08, 310 MILES AN HOUR.
JOHN FORCE WILL NOW MOVE ON AND
HE'LL TAKE ON TODD LESENKO IN
SECOND ROUND.
>> WE GO BACK TO THE TODD
LESENKO PITS, GETTING READY FOR
THE SECOND-ROUND MATCHUP AND
GETTING THE CAR READY, ANOTHER
ENGINE IN THE CAR GETTING READY
FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
>> TONY CRUZ'S TEAM GETTING
READY.
TONY, YOU'RE STILL IN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE.
SPENCER MASSEY IS NOW OUT.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO
IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES?
>> WE JUST HAVE TO WIN.
WE KNEW COMING INTO THIS THERE'S
JUST TOO MANY GOOD CARS.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE WITH
ONE OR TWO.
THERE'S A HANDFUL.
MAYBE FIVE, SIX GOOD CARS THAT
GO OUT ANY GIVEN DAY AND WIN
RACES AND TO WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP, WE JUST HAVE TO DO
IT.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND THAT'S
DOMINATE.
SURPRISINGLY FIRST ROUND, 74,
74, THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE
FANS THIS IS TIGHT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT WHO
CAN STEP UP ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
RIGHT NOW WITH SPENCER OUT, WE
HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE
SECOND SPOT.
THAT'S NOT OUR GOAL.
WE HAVE TO CATCH ANTRON.
HE'S IN THE LEAD.
TEAMMATE OR NOT, IT'S RACE DAY.
>> HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.
HE'S A SEVEN-TIME CHAMP .
THREE IN THE COUNTDOWN
STRUCTURE.
>> BACK OUT TO THE LINE IN FUNNY
CAR.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS.
JEFF AREND AND RON CAPPS.
RON CAPPS NEEDS THE WIN HERE AS
HE CONTINUES TO BATTLE HIS
TEAMMATE JACK BECKMAN.
CAPPS CAME IN HERE NUMBER ONE
BUT THESE ARE THE CURRENT
POINTS.
JACK BECKMAN AND THEN RON CAPPS.
>> ROUND WIN FOR BECKMAN IS NOT
EVEN COUNTING THE NATIONAL
RECORD, CAN'T GET THOSE POINTS
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
RON CAPPS AROUND JEFF AREND.
YOUR NUMBER EIGHT QUALIFIER, RON
CAPPS WILL GET YOU NUMBER NINE.
JEFF AREND WENT DOWN FOUR TIMES.
THEY HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT.
HAVEN'T RUN BIG NUMBERS BUT IS
GOING DOWN THE RACETRACK.
RON CAPPS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE IN
THE FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION,
THEY'RE HOPING THEY DID.
THEY DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GET
AROUND JEFF AREND.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT RON CAPPS
FOCUSSING, IT COULD BE LITERALLY
AND FIGURATIVELY.
HE HAS AN EYE ISSUE, IS NOT
FEELING THE BEST.
WE HAD A STOPPAGE AND HE CLIMBED
OUT OF THE CAR, PLAYED AROUND
FOR HIS EYES AND HAD TO GO BACK
TO GET A LITTLE BIT EXTRA EYE
DROPS PUT INTO HIS EYES.
SOMETIMES THOSE DISTRACTIONS CAN
DO JUST THAT, DISTRACT YOU FROM
WHAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON MOST.
>> WHEN WE LOOKED AT HIM THE
OTHER NIGHT, YOU AND I, DAVE,
PRETTY RED.
I WAS SURPRISED THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN TREATED MORE.
RON CAPPS, JEFF AREND.
FOR CAPPS, IT'S A MUST-WIN.
>> RON CAPPS COMES BACK!
IT'S A 4.24, 310 MILES AN HOUR.
THAT MAN NEEDED THAT WIN AND HE
REALLY FOUGHT FOR IT.
>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT
RON CAPPS, HE HAS BEEN DOING A
HECK OF A JOB DRIVING THAT RACE
CAR.
WATCH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE
SCREEN.
HE PEDALS IT.
GETS BACK IN AND GETS IT TO
RECOVER.
JEFF AREND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
YOUR SCREEN NOW WAS VERY GOOD
FOR 300, ALMOST 400 FEET, AND
THEN THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT WENT
SIDEWAYS.
AND THEN STARTS PUSHING OUT A
HEAD GASKET WHEN HE GOT BACK ON
IT AND THAT MOMENTUM FOR RON
CAPPS DOING THAT DRIVING JOB GOT
HIM AROUND.
THIS CAR STARTS GOING OVER TO
THE WALL AND IT ALWAYS STARTS
SPINNING.
RON FELT THAT.
ROLLS IT BACK IN.
BECAUSE OF HIS DRIVING JOB, I
DON'T KNOW IF HE DESERVES THE
LUCKY DOG OF THE RACE.
HE WAS ONLY LUCKY BECAUSE JEFF
AREND HAD PROBLEMS.
RON CAPPS DID A FANTASTIC
DRIVING JOB THERE.
>> LOOK AT THE WHOLE TEAM.
OH, NO.
>> HAD IT WON.
>> HE SURE DID.
RON CAPPS HAS TO BE BREATHING
EASIER NOW HAVING GOTTEN OUT OF
FIRST ROUND.
AND NOW HAS A 17-POINT LEAD OVER
JACK BECKMAN.
TO GARY GEROULD.
>> RON CAPPS WENT TO GET SOME
SUNGLASSES HERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EYE AND HOW
HE'S HAVING TO HAVE TREATMENT ON
IT ON A REGULAR BASIS BUT, BOY,
RIGHT THERE YOU DODGE ANOTHER
BULLET.
HOW MUCH OF A SENSE OF RELIEF IS
THERE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, EVERY ROUND COUNTS,
GARY.
NICE JOB.
GOOD RACE.
THOSE ARE MY GUYS, BEEN MY GUYS
OVER THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M REAL HAPPY FOR THEM.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.
DON'T COUNT OUT THE NAPA CAR.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE OUTRUN HERE
BUT I HAVE NAPA KNOW-HOW AND
THEY MAY RUN 3.98 AGAIN BUT WE
MAY GO 3.96.
>> CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT NEXT
ROUND.
>> SO FAR SO GOOD.
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH WRONG
WITH THAT RACE CAR THIS WEEKEND.
>> THE LUCAS OIL LADDER AS WE
LOOK TO THE SECOND ROUND.
JACK BECKMAN AND RON CAPPS WILL
FACE ONE ANOTHER.
ONE AND TWO IN THE POINTS.
HUGE.
>> THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LADDER
FOR MIKE NEFF, THIRD IN THE
POINTS.
ONE OR TWO GOING OUT IN THE
SECOND ROUND.
HE NEEDS TO GET THIS WIN AGAINST
JIM HEAD TO STAY IN THE HUNT.
>> JEFF AREND TAKES THE FIRST
ROUND LOSS.
IN SECOND ROUND JUST A WEEK AGO,
JEFF AREND HAD AN UNUSUAL
SITUATION.
THE BURNOUT AND THEN THEY LOOK
BEHIND THE CAR AND THERE WAS
THIS LONG STREAK OF OIL.
AND THAT'S THE SUBJECT OF OUR
LINCOLN TECH FIX IT PIT REPORT.
>> ON THTTOM OF EVERY 10,000
HORSEPOWER CAR IT'S THE CRANK
SHAFT THAT DELIVERS THE POWER IT
TO THE REAR WHEELS.
ON THE FRONT AND REAR IF YOU
TURN THEM UPSIDE-DOWN YOU'LL
FIND TWO STUDS.
IT IS TWO V-STUDS THAT THE OIL
PAN SITS AFFIXED TO WITH THE
BOLTS THAT ARE TIED TIGHTLY.
THE BOLT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE
WAS TIED OKAY BUT THE STUD
ITSELF ACTUALLY BACKED OUT.
AND WHEN IT BACKED OUT, IF YOU
LOOK ON THE SIDE HERE, YOU'LL
SEE A LITTLE HOLE.
THAT IS ACTUALLY AN 0 OIL RETURN
LINE.
AND WHEN THE STUD CAME OUT, IT
ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK UP INTO THE
PAN, OUT TO THE DIAPER, AND ONTO
THE RACETRACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT COST JEFF AREND
THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE PRICE OF THIS, YOU'VE HEARD
OF THE 50 CENT PARK, YOU GIVE
YOU THE 20 CENT PART BUT LESSON
LEARNED, KALITTA CHECKS THESE
NOW BEFORE EVERY RUN THEY MAKE.
>> PRO STOCK POINTS TO TAKE A
LOOK AT.
ALLEN JOHNSON SITTING THERE
NUMBER ONE FOLLOWED BY JASON
LINE AND THEN ERICA ENDERS GOT
THAT DO OR DONE LINE.
IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN TO
ALLEN EARLIER, ERICA PICKED TO
DO WELL.
HARD TIME GETTING ALLEN.
>> RONNIE HUMPHREY IN A PONTIAC.
THE FIRST PAIR TO GO DOWN FOR
PRO STOCK.
6.53, 212 MILES AN HOUR.
>> AND THAT BRINGS UP RON
KRISHER IN THE LOWER PART OF THE
COUNTDOWN AND JEG COUGHLIN.
JEG HAS HAD HAD A ROUGH YEAR
TRYING TO GET THIS MOPAR
WORKING.
>> HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE OFF THE
START LINE.
NICE PASS.
>> THAT IS SWEET.
TO THE LINE AND, MIKE, HERE IS
YOUR UPSET ALERT.
>> SPENCER NOBILE AND JOHNSON.
ALLEN JOHNSON WITH THE
COMMANDING LEAD.
TOUGH FOR SPENCER, ONE OF THE
BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
ROOM FOR HIM TO GET AROUND
ALLEN, KEEP HIM FROM WINNING THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
ALLEN HAS BEEN DOING WELL
LATELY.
HE'S NO SLOUCH.
>> LOOK AT THE REACTION TIMES.
OH, BOY.
NOBILE DOUBLED BUT HE CAN'T TAKE
DOWN ALLEN JOHNSON WITH THAT
EITHER.
JOHNSON 6.52, 212 MILES AN HAD
HOUR.
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, MIKE.
>> HE WAS TAKEN OFF THE LINE BUT
DID NOT HAVE GOOD EARLY NUMBERS.
BETTER EARLY BUT THAT HORSEPOWER
FROM ALLEN, NICE UP THROUGH THE
MIDDLE.
THE FINISH CAM, ANOTHER GOOD OLD
DRAG RACE IN PRO STOCK AS ALLEN
JOHNSON GETS TO THE STRIPE BY
JUST A NOSE.
>> AND FOR ALLEN JOHNSON, HE CAN
CONSIDERS THAT PROBABLY A VERY
GOOD BLESSING CONSIDERING A
GREAT RUN TO 0 START QUALIFYING.
EVER SINCE THEN THEY BROKE A
MOTOR AND THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR
THEIR TUNER FOR THAT 6.52 AND
NOW HAVE A BASELINE AND CAN GET
AFTER IT THE REST OF THE DAY.
>> BACK IN TONY SCHUMACHER'S
PIT, TRYING 0 TO GET UP IN THE
POINTS, HE'S CURRENTLY THIRD.
HE TAKES ON BRANDON BERNSTEIN IN
SECOND ROUND.
NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES BUT IN
THREE WEEKS IT'S LAS VEGAS.
ONLY TWO RACES LEFT ON THE
SEASON.
THE NHRA FULL-THROTTLE DRAG
RACING SERIES ON ESPN2.
THERE ARE YOUR TIMES AND DATES.
>>> BACK OUT TO THE LINE NOW,
PRO STOCK THERE.
DAVE CONNOLLY.
HE CAN BE AND HAS BEEN A
SPOILER.
HE IS UP AGAINST THE 4 OF FRANK
GUGLIOTTA.
>> WHAT A JOB HE'S DONE COMING
BACK.
>> THAT IS A CAREER BEST ET FOR
DAVE CONNOLLY.
>> JOHNSON, WE'VE HEARD YOU AND
OTHER DRIVERS OVER THE YEARS
TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
CONSISTENCY.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A STRETCH IN
YOUR CAREER WHERE YOU'RE AS
CONSISTEAS YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?
>> NOT EVEN CLOSE.
THE WHOLE TEAM IS DOING GOOD FOR
MOPAR AND MAKING GREAT
DECISIONS.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE CAR
RUNNING JUST A TICK BETTER
BECAUSE THAT PROBABLY WASN'T
GOOD ENOUGH.
>> ROLLING ON THAT FIRST SPEED.
HERE IS V. GAINES AND WARREN
JOHNSON.
V. WAS THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER
ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL SESSION
AND THEN HE ENDED UP STARTING
FOURTH.
THE COMBINED AGE, 134 YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT,
AREN'T WE?
THAT'S A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
EASY WIN FOR V. GAINES.
AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE CAREER
BESTS FOR V. GAINES.
>> THAT'S GOOD MILE AN HOUR.
>> JACK BECKMAN'S PIT, I TALKED
TO HIS CREW CHIEF AND THEY SAID
THOUGH THEY ARE ADVANCING ON TO
THE SECOND ROUND IT WAS NOT A
CLEAN RUN FOR THEM IN THE FIRST
ROUND.
THEY BURNED THE EXHAUST VALVE
WHICH DID HURT THEIR ET.
THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID THE
NORMAL MAINTENANCE.
THEY'LL BE READY FOR THE SECOND
ROUND WITH RON CAPPS.
>> AND WE SAW ON THAT PARTICULAR
RUN SOME OF THE @@PRESSURE ON TT
RUN, 320 MILES AN HOUR HAD THAT
NOT HAPPENED.@@@@
>> BACK TO THE LINE AND RADIO
WITH ENDERS.
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE, THE LAST
TIME A FEMALE DRAG RACER WON
FOUR RACES IN A SINGLE SEASON
LIKE ERICA HAS, BACK TO ANGELLE
EIGHT YEARS AGO.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
>> ERICA IS ALONGSIDE AND WILL
FACE KURT JOHNSON WHO IS COMING
OFF THREE CONSECUTIVE DNQs, THE
FIRST TIME EVER IN HIS LONG
CAREER.
>> DAVE CONNOLLY GOT THAT ROUND
WIN.
HE'S GOING TO FACE ALLEN JOHNSON
HOPEFULLY HE CAN TAKE HER OUT.
ERICA KNOWS SHE HAS TO FOCUS ON
DOING HER JOB AND GET AROUND
KURT JOHNSON.
>> ERICA ENDERS, 212 MILES AN
HOUR.
AND THAT TAKES OUT KURT JOHNSON.
LOOK AT THE CROWD.
DESPITE THE COLD TEMPERATURES,
IT'S 51 DEGREES AND THE
SPRINKLES THAT KEEP COMING
THROUGH HERE, THEY COME OUT AND
ATTEND DRAG RACING AT MAPLE
GROVE.
YOU'RE ONBOARD NOW, SHANE GRAY
WILL BE THE OTHER GUY.
>> FOR GRAY, IT'S HIS SECOND
START WITH HIS BACKUP CAR.
HE CRASHED HIS NEW CAMARO.
>> 6.48, 213 MILES AN HOUR.
>> THAT TIES THE SECOND QUICKEST
RUN EVER.
>> WOW.
THAT WAS 60 FEET.
YOU HEARD AS THE ENGINE CAME UP
PERFECTLY.
>> SO JASON LINE, THE NUMBER ONE
QUALIFIER, LAYS DOWN A HUGE
NUMBER THERE.
BACK IN THE TOP FUEL PITS,
SPENCER MASSEY'S CAR IS DONE.
HE WENT OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND
AND THEY LOADED IT ON 0 THE
TRAILER TO TAKE IT HOME.
HE'S 44 POINTS OUT RIGHT NOW.
HE COULD BE MUCH MORE BEFORE THE
DAY IS OVER.
HE WILL HAVE TO WAIT THREE WEEKS
UNTIL WE RACE AT LAS VEGAS.
HERE IS GREG ANDERSON, FIFTH IN
THE POINTS GOING UP AGAINST
LARRY MORGAN.
THE TEAMMATE OF JASON LINE WHO
JUST RAN THAT VERY STOUT RUN.
CAN ANDERSON MATCH IT?
>> LARRY GOES RED.
>> A CAREER BEST FOR GREG
ANDERSON BUT NOT QUITE GOOD
ENOUGH TO TO BEAT HIS TEAMMATE
WHO HAD THE 6.482.
HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THOSE
EFFORTS?
>> I'M SATISFIED, GARY.
I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A CRY
BABY BUT WE WANT THE 20 POINTS.
THAT WAS OUR BEST CHANCE TO DO
IT, AND WE DIDN'T GET IT DONE.
IT DIDN'T MAKE A VERY GOOD RUN.
ALL IN ALL, HEY, THE TWO FASTEST
SUMMIT KA MARROWS, PRO STOCK
CARS.
YOU REALLY CAN'T BE MAD ABOUT
THAT.
ALL IN ALL SO FAR, YOU KNOW,
GOOD START TO THE DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THEY WERE ING TO TRY
AND BACK UP THAT RECORD.
WE LOOKED AT THE LUCAS OIL
LADDER NOW AND JASON LINE,
RONNIE HUMPHREY, THEY'LL FACE
ONE ANOTHER.
V. GAINES AND GREG ANDERSON.
ALLEN JOHNSON 102 POINTS OVER
JASON LINE.
THAT'S NO CHANGE THROUGH FIRST
ROUND.
>> THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LADDER
JEG COUGHLIN LANE CHOICE OVER
ENDERS.
GUGLIOTTA CAME UP SHORT AGAINST
DAVE CONNOLLY.
DAVE WILL TAKE ON POINTS LEADER
ALLEN JOHNSON AND HE WILL HAVE
LANE CHOICE.
>> WHEN TOP FUEL COMES OUT IN
SECOND ROUND, ANTRON BROWN, THE
POINTS LEADER, WILL FACE MORGAN
LUCAS.
BOTH ARE ON A HIGH RIGHT NOW.
ONE BECAUSE HE IS NUMBER ONE AND
MORGAN SET AN ET RECORD HERE.
THAT'S ALL COMING UP.
>>> ANTRON BROWN TOLD ME HIS
GRANDMA WOULD BE HERE OVER THE
WAEKD AND HE WOULD HAVE TO
STRAIGHTEN UP.
SHE IS HERE SO LOOK OUT, ANTRON.
THERE'S ANTRON, THE MACHINE IS
READY.
HE'S FACING MORGAN LUCAS IN THE
SECOND ROUND.
COVERAGE OF "MONDAY NIGHT
FOOTBALL" CONTINUES.
FIRST AT 6:30 "MONDAY NIGHT
COUNT YOEN" SERVED BY APPLEBEE'S
AND THEN IT'S THE TEXANS AS THEY
TAKE ON THE NEW YORK JETS.
"MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL," TEXANS
AND JETS MONDAY AT 8:30 ON ESPN.
WELL, WE START WITH JAMIE HOWE.
>> THE U.S. ARMY TEAM PREPARES
FOR THE SECOND ROUND WHERE TONY
SCHUMACHER WILL FACE BRANDON
BERNSTEIN WHO LOST ON A HOLESHOT
LAST WEEK AT ST. LOUIS.
ALSO IN THE SECOND ROUND.
TONY IS A FOUR-TIME WINNER HERE,
MORE THAN ANY OTHER TOP FUEL
DRIVER.
HE HAS NOT BEEN PAST THE SECOND
ROUND SINCE 2008.
IF HE'S GOING TO STAY IN THE
COUNTDOWN HUNT, HE CAN'T AFFORD
ANY MISTAKES TODAY.
>> RON CAPPS, THE MON
MATCHUP IN FUNNY CAR.
JUST WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE RON
CAPPS AND HIS NAPA TEAM TURNED
THE CORNER ON SATURDAY, ALONG
CAME SUNDAY.
BOTH FELT THEY HAD A GOOD IDEA
WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THEIR
CAR.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WHY
THEIR CAR BROKE SO FREE SO EARLY
IN ROUND NUMBER ONE.
THE BIGGEST ROUND OF THE YEAR
STARING THEM IN THE FACE.
HOW TO GET RON'S CAR DOWN THE
RACETRACK.
>>> MIKE NEFF ADMITS HE GOT
CAUGHT UP IN THE RECORD
POSSIBILITIES YESTERDAY AND AS A
CONSEQUENCE HAS ELECTED TO PULL
BACK HIS TUNE-UP TODAY.
RAN A 4.03 IN THE FIRST ROUND
OVER PEN DRE GONE.
JUST AS HE WOULD LOVE TO WIN
ANOTHER 4.02 OR 4.03.
HE AND THE TEAM MUST NOT BEAT
THEMSELVES.
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE
BLOWER BELT.
IT DRCYLINDER DURING THE
RUN.
THIS IS WITH THE CYLINDER OUT.
THE END IS TRYING TO BACK UP.
HOW CAN YOU FIT THAT?
PUT A STEEL BELT ON THAT.
NOT FROM YOUR MROER BELT.
>> AS WE GET READY TO GO WITH
THE SECOND ROUND OF TOP FUEL
HERE IS THE LUCAS OIL LADDER FOR
YOU.
MORGAN LUCAS AND ANTRON BROWN
ARE COMING UP AND OF COURSE
TALKING TO A GUY THAT HAS A
RECORD HERE AND A GUY WHO IS
NUMBER ONE IN THE POINTS.
IT WILL BE KHALID BALOOSHI AND
IKE MAIER.
NEITHER ONE OF THESE GUYS HAVE
MADE IT IN A A SEMIFINAL IN
THEIR CAREER.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE MORE RAIN
HERE.
HERE IS THE CURRENT WEATHER.
>> THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE
SAW, TEMPERATURES 68 DEGREES.
STILL VERY DRY, 420 FEET, ALMOST
IDENTICAL IN THE FIRST ROUND.
>> THE CONDITIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY
GREAT AND THAT SETS US UP.
NATIONAL RECORD BACKUP.
THAT'S THE TOPIC.
>> AND THE NATIONAL ET OR SPEED
RECORD, A DRIVER MUST MAKE TWO
RUNS, 1% OF THE RECORD SETTING
RUN.
IF WE ROUND IT OUT FUNNY CAR, A
FOUR-SECOND PASS, WHAT PERCENT
WOULD BE 400 SO YOU WOULD HAVE
TO RUN 4.04 QUICKER TO BACK UP
THE SECOND PASS.
>> KHALID BALOOSHI SECOND ROUND
LOSSES IN THE LAST SIX RACES.
IT'S JUST AMAZING HE GOT HERE AT
ALL.
HE TOOK DOWN DAVID GRUBNIC.
GRUBNIC THE NUMBER ONE
QUALIFIER.
>> A LOT OF PEDALING.
>> A PRETTY GOOD JOB, TOO.
BALOOSHI 396, 328 MILES AN HOUR
AND HE IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
INTO A SEMIFINAL.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN THE
TRACK IS TIGHT AND COOL.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE WHEEL
SPEED, GOES OUT THERE.
I DIDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF TIRE
SHAKE BUT FELT SOMETHING
OBVIOUSLY.
GETS ON THE PEDAL, OFF THE
PEDAL, GETS BACK ON IT.
THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GO DOWN THE
RACETRACK AND GET THE WIN.
STARTED RATTLING TIRES.
HE WAS READY FOR IT TO GET ON
THHROTTLE.
>> LOOK AT THIS.
BACK IN THE STAGING LANES.
JACK BECKMAN AND RON CAPPS, 1-2
IN THE POINTS AND THEY WILL FACE
ONE ANOTHER IN THIS ROUND.
BACK DOWN TO THE STARTING LINE.
SCHUMACHER AND BRANDON
BERNSTEIN.
TONY SCHUMACHER HAD A
SECOND-ROUND LOSS IN ST. LOUIS
WITH BRANDON.
>> SCHUMACHER RACING, FOUR
COUNTDOWN RACES, TALK ABOUT TOP
FUEL AND THE REST OF THE TOP
TEN.
THREE DRIVERS WITH DON
SCHUMACHER RACING.
TWO WINS VERSUS THE REST OF THE
TOP TEN.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN HITTING TOP
TENS.
ONLY ONE WIN AND ONE FINAL.
SCHUMACHER RACING HAS BEEN
DOMINATING IN TOP FUEL.
>> HAD A CAREER BEST IN
QUALIFYING, THE LOW CAREER BEST
3.74.
SAID ACTUALLY WE GOT VERY GOOD
EARLY NUMBERS BUT WE'RE STILL
MISSING IT MID TRACK.
A LITTLE SLUGGISH THERE.
TRYING TO GO A LITTLE BIT
QUICKER AGAIN AND TAKE OUT TONY
SCHUMACHER IN THE SECOND
CONSECUTIVE RACE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CALL
BECAUSE THE MIDDLE OF THE
RACETRACK IS OUTSTANDING HERE
RIGHT NOW.
>> IT THE LAST WIN AT RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA, IN '09.
HE'S HUNGRY.
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, HE MAY JUST
BE HUNGRY ENOUGH.
A 3.73, 3ILES AN HOUR, A
CAREER BEST IN BOTH ET AND SPEED
WITH BRANDON BERNSTEIN.
ONBOARD WITH TONY SCHUMACHER.
>> YOU HEARD THE ENGINE COME UP.
THE CAR WAS NOT PULLING THROUGH
THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK, BUT
BRANDON BERNSTEIN MAKES A NICE
PASS.
>> BACK AT THE SING LINE.
TONY SCHUMACHER THIRD IN THE
POINTS BUT NOW OUT IN SECOND
ROUND.
THERE'S A HAPPY MAN, TOO, AS WE
TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP FUEL
POINTS FOR YOU AND IS YOUR LINE
GOING TO CHANGE NOW ANY, MIKE?
>> NOT YET.
WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE
END OF THE DAY BUT THERE'S
DEFINITELY SOME MOVEMENT.
THE KEY IS WITH ANTRON.
>> SPEAKING OF ANTRON, HE IS
COMING UP NEXT.
ANTRON BROWN WHO IS NUMBER ONE
IN THE POINTS AND HE FACES
MORGAN LUCAS.
LUCAS ANDEKEND IN MAPLE GROVE A
CONTINUES TO BE.
RON CAPPS WITH JACK BECKMAN AT
THE AUTO-PLUS NATIONALS FROM
MAPLE GROVE.
FUNNY CAR POINTS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A MOVING
TARGET NOW.
>> WATCHING THAT MATCHUP VERY
CLOSELY.
>> SO THAT TAKES US OUT TO THE
LINE AND A REMINDER THE COLOR
PINK SHOWING ON MOST OF THE CARS
IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER TO
SUPPORT THE BATTLE WITH BREAST
CANCER AND PROMOTE BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS.
TRACK CHANGE AT ALL?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.@@
>> MORGAN LUCAS AND ANTRON
BROWN.
WITH BRANDON BERNSTEIN WHO@@
ADVANCES TO ANOTHER@@ SEMIFINAL
SAID IT WAS TIME TO GET MORE @@
AGGRESSIVE AND ATTACK THE MIDDLE
PART OF THE @@TRACK.
MADE A BIG DIVIDEND.
>> IT WAS HUGE.
A GREAT RUN TO PROTECT THE TEAM.
IT WAS A HANDFUL.
YOU WATCH THE REPLAY AND THE
ROUND DOWN HALF TRACK AND@@ IT S
REALLY, YOU KNOW, HARD TO KEEP
THAT THING IN THE GROOVE.
IT WAS MOVING ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
WHAT A GREAT RUN AND, HEY, WE
NEEDED TO DO THAT.
HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS US.
PRETTY SOON WE'LL PLAY OFF.
WE'LL SEE.
>> AND NOW HERE COMES
BERNSTEIN'S TEAMMATE MORGAN
LUCAS WITH A TEAM TO MAKE THINGS
MORE INTERESTING.
ALL THESE CREW CHIEFS RIGHT NOW
GETTING GREEN, THEY CAN REAP THE
DIVIDENDS.
THE BEST CAR WAS BACK IN
GAINESVILLE THIS YEAR, BUT THIS
CAR ARE THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND
HAS BEEN OFF BY A COUPLE
HUNDREDTHS IN 60 FEET.
WE'LL GET OFF EARLY TRYING TO GO
QUICKER AGAIN.
>> DON'T FORGET MORGAN LUCAS
BEAT ANTRON BROWN.
>> RAIN DROPS.
DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE
WINDSCREEN OF THESE CARS.
LET'S SEE AS THEY GET READY TO
LAUNCH.
>> MORGAN IS OUT OF IT AN
ANTRON BROWN, 3.72, 325 MILES AN
HOUR.
QUICKEST RUN IN HISTORY.
LOOK AT THAT.
3.722 FOR ANTRON BROWN.
>> OH, MAN.
TALK ABOUT MAKING A STATEMENT.
THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO STEP UP
BECAUSE THAT CAR HAS BEEN
RUNNING SO WELL AND, MAN, DID
THEY.
REMEMBER, THEY STRUGGLED IN
QUALIFYING ON FRIDAY BUT, BOY,
THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD TOGETHER
TODAY IN ELIMINATION.
>> WE ALREADY HAVE THE BACKUP SO
THAT IS THE RECORD.
ANTRON BROWN, HE DIDN'T MAKE A
STATEMENT.
HE PUT UP A BILLBOARD.
>> HE TOOK AWAY THE NATIONAL
RECORD.
>> NOW REPORTING MORE RAIN
DROPPING ON THE TRACK.
REMEMBER, THE OFFICIALS HERE
VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.
IN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH
MARK LYLE OF NHRA.
LET'S GO TO GARY GEROULD.
>> ANTRON BROWN, BOY, THE
NUMBERS KEEP GETTING BETTER AND
BETTER, BUT WHEN YOU GOT OUT,
DID I HEAR YOU SAYING IT WAS ALL
OVER THE RACETRACK?
>> IT GOT HAIRY OUT THERE.
YOU FEEL LITTLE DROPS AND IT GOT
REAL SKETCHY.
YOU SEE MORGAN DOING THE SAME
DEAL.
IT FELT GOOD EARLY BUT MY CAR
SKIDDED ALL AROUND.
WE'VE GOT MOISTURE OUT HERE.
WE HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT IT AND
THAT WAS A GREAT ROUND THERE FOR
THE MATCO TOOLS TEAM.
WE HAVE TO KEEP ON PUSHING FOR
BREAST CANCER.
IT'S A GREAT DEAL AND FOR THE
U.S. ARMY TOYOTA.
WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT THEM EITHER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
A GREAT RUN FOR ALL MY BOYS.
GREAT JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GET OVER HERE TO
MORGAN LUCAS, OBVIOUSLY VERY
UPSET.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, MORGAN?
>> IT WAS JUST STUPID.
ANTRON HAD A GREAT RUN.
I'M GLAD.
IT WAS COMPLETELY IGNORANT AND
STUPID TO RUN CARS IN THE RAIN
LIKE THIS.
IDIOTIC.
THEY WANT TO MAKE THIS TV SHOW
AND THAT'S FINE.
THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND BE
SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE PEOPLE'S
HEALTH -- IT'S 3:30 OUT HERE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET PEOPLE
HURT.
BE SMART.
>> I THINK HE'S A LITTLE UPSET
ABOUT THAT, ISN'T HE?
WHAT ABOUT THE REALITY OF IT?
>> WELL, I MEAN, THE THING IS
THE REALITY CARS ARE ON THE
OTHER END.
I DON'T THINK THE RAIN HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE EARLY
PART OF THE RUN.
THEY MISSED ON THE SETUP.
THEY WENT DOWN THE RACETRACK AND
SO DID THE OTHER TEAMS.
HE HAS A POINT, THOUGH.
>> AND SO THE RAIN REALLY COMING
DOWN AT THE TOP END.
MARK LYLE CONTINUES TO SURVEY
THE START LINE.
HOW IS IT LOOKING, ANTRON BROWN.
>> ANTRON MENTIONED HE STARTED
SKATING AROUND PAST HALF TRACK,
THE SAME THING WITH BRANDON AND
WE SAW WITH TONY SCHUMACHER IN
THE OPPOSITE LANE SKATING AROUND
ALSO NOW.
HERE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
OBVIOUSLY THIS THING IS HITTING
ON ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS WENT 298,
ALMOST 290 MILES AN HOUR.
IT TRUCKED ALONG PRETTY GOOD AT
THAT POINT.
THEN, AS HE SAID, IT STARTED
KIND OF SKATING AROUND A LITTLE
BIT AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE THAT WHEN THE DEW POINT IS
SO CLOSE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH PRO
STOCK.
YOU SEE RIGHT THERE THE CAR MADE
A MOVE.
HE CORRECTS THERE.
THE BACK END STARTS TO WASH OUT.
AS A DRIVER YOU'RE HANGING UP
FROM THAT POINT, REACTING TO
WHAT THE CAR IS DOING, SKATING
AROUND.
SPEED DOWN TO 325.
STILL A DECENT SPEED.
>> 30 FOR 30 RETURNS AND
INTERVIEWS EIGHT SPRINTERS FROM
THE NOW INFAMOUS RACE AND
CHRONICLE OF THE AFTERMATH OF
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS IN
SPORTS HISTORY WHEN BEN JOHNSON
RAN A 9.79 AT THE OLYMPICS AND
THEN THEY FOUND ANABOLIC
STEROIDS.
TUESDAY, 8:00.
>>> TALKING WITH JACK BECKMAN'S
CREW CHIEF TODD SMITH BEFORE
ROUND TWO AND YOU TOLD ME HE'S
NOW BACK IN HIS COMFORT ZONE.
GOING INTO ROUND ONE, HE WAS
VERY NERVOUS.
WHY?
BECAUSE HE HASN'T RUN A FUNNY
CAR IN THESE CONDITIONS SINCE
2006.
HE SAYS THE CONDITIONS ARE OFTEN
MORE DIFFICULT THAN YOUR
OPPONENT EVEN WHEN IT'S A
TEAMMATE AND POINTS LEADER RON
CAPPS.
HE SAID GOING INTO ROUND TWO,
NOW THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECTS.
STAT GUY?
>> IF IF JACK BECKMAN WINS THE
NEXT ROUND HE'LL LEAD THE POINTS
FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN HIS
CAREER.
HE LED THE POINTS WITH JUST TWO
RACES TO GO.
THE FINISH CAME UP SHORT.
WE'LL SEE A BETTER OUTCOME THIS
SEASON.
>> THE RAIN IS FALLING AGAIN
HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE SNOW, DOESN'T IT?
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
>> SLOWS IT RIGHT DOWN.
>> A LITTLE BIT EARLIER FUNNY
CAR HIJINKS, JACK BECKMAN AND
RON CAPPS WILL FACE ONE ANOTHER
MOMENTARILY BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
CAPPS REFUSE ADD FIST PUMP.
>>> THE WORSHIPPERS ALL AROUND
AS ANTRON BROWN AND HIS CAR COME
BACK TO THE PIT AREA AT THE AUTO
PLUS NATIONALS.
THE FIRST RECORD IN TOP FUEL OF
3.722.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR PIT
REPORT.
HERE IS DAVE RIEFF.
>> THIS IS SOME OF THE MATCO
MEN.
IT WAS NOT A PERFECT PASS.
IT WAS A FLAWED PASS.
IT MAKES ME THINK YOU CAN FIX IT
AND GO EVEN QUICKER.
>> I PUT A CYLINDER OUT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO WORK ON IT
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DECISION
TO GO UP THERE AND TRY TO MAKE
RUNS LIKE THAT?
>> WELL, WE HAD A LOT OF TIME
BETWEEN THAT SESSION BECAUSE OF
THE LITTLE BIT OF RAIN.
WE TAKE EACH PART OF THE RUN AND
DISSECT IT.
WE LOOK IN AREAS WE'VE RUN
BETTER AND CAN MAKE AN
IMPROVEMENT THERE.
IN THESE CONDITIONS YOU CAN, WE
FEEL, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THOSE
AREAS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE TAKE THE SPLIT NUMBERS
BETWEEN THE INCREMENTS AND TRY
TO MAKE THE BEST RUN WE CAN IN
THAT AREA.
A LOT OF TIMES THAT PUTS YOU IN
AREAS BEHIND.
>> DID YOU SNEE.
>> PRETTY GOOD.
>> HE TALKED ABOUT THE RAIN THAT
WE'VE HAD.
WE'VE HAD SOME MORE.
BUT HERE ARE THE TOP FUEL POINTS
AS THEY STAND AT THE MOMENT.
REMEMBER THAT SPENCER MASSEY
WENT OUT IN FIRST ROUND.
>> AND LANGDON HASN'T RAN YET F.
HE GETS THAT ROUND WIN HE WOULD
BE 100 BEHIND ANTRON BROWN.
>> HIS DRIVER BRANDON BERNSTEIN
GOING INTO THE SEMIFINALS FACING
ANTRON BROWN WHO IS BREAKING
NATIONAL RECORDS.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO BEAT
HIM?
>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BEAT HIM
ALL SUMMER.
HE'S BEAT US A FEW TIMES AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO REPAY HIM TODAY.
CONDITIONS ARE AS GOOD AS THEY
CAN GET AND WE'RE GIVING IT
EVERYTHING WE HAVE.
THESE GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
WITH THIS CAR.
THERE'S NO WAY TO RUN THESE KIND
OF TIMES LAP AFTER LAP WITHOUT
HAVING THEM DO THEIR JOB
PERFECTLY.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT
AGAIN, TRY QUICKER AND TRY TO
BEAT THEM.
>> WHERE HAS HIS CONSISTENCY
COME FROM?
>> WE RACED ALL YEAR TRYING TO
GET BETTER SO WE WERE AS GOOD AS
WE CAN BE AND THE COUNTDOWN
MATTERED MOST.
FORTUNATELY FOR US WE'VE HAD A
FEW BREAKS.
WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOOD, THAT WE
CAN RUN WITH THESE GUYS.
REALLY WANT TO WIN ONE BAD.
>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR PRESTONE
ASK THE EXPERT.
>> FOR JOE, YOU HAVE FUNNY CAR,
THAT WAS A CLASSIFICATION IN THE
'70s FOR TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR.
HOW IS IT THAT YOU CHOSE TOP
FUEL INSTEAD OF FUNNY CAR?
>> THERE'S THE ANSWER, THE
LEGEND, JOE AMATO.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THIS TRACK IS THE TRACK THAT
STARTED MY CAREER.
I GOT MY ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
LICENSE AND I RAN RICHARDS ON MY
FIRST BURNOFF.
THE CLUTCH STOP WASN'T SET
RIGHT.
WE DID RUN ALCOHOL/FUNNY CAR IN
PRO COM.
THEN TOP FUEL WE WENT FROM THE
DRAGSTER TO THE TOP FUEL
DRAGSTER.
BUT THEN IN 1984 I BUILT A AA
FUNNY CAR, CANDY APPLE RED
MUSTANG JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE
IN BOTH, WE WEREN'T SURE WHICH
WAY THE CLASS WAS GOING TO GO SO
WE RAN THAT ONE NHRA RACE AND
THEN WE PARKED IT BECAUSE WE WON
THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN '84 AND I
SOLD THE MUSTANG AND STAYED IN
TOP FUEL.
THAT'S WHERE I HAD MORE FUN.
THE CAR SEEMED FASTER.
IT WAS LIKE RIDING GO CARTS.
SITTING ON THE GROUND.
MORE OF A THRILL.
>> DEFINITELY A LEGEND.
AMATO WON HIS LAST RACE HERE IN
THE YEAR 2000.
HIS CAREER 52 WINS.
HE WAS SOMETHING.
>> ONE THING I'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER ABOUT HIM, HE STRUGGLED
TO GET A WIN IN MAPLE GROVE.
HE GOT HIS FIRST WIN IN 1999, A
VERY EMOTIONAL VICTORY FOR JOE
AMATO.
>> ANOTHER PENNSYLVANIAGEND
BEING HONORED HERE THIS WEEKEND.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
WE CALL HIM BILL GRUMPY JENKINS.
GOT TO LOVE THOSE HIDEAWAY HEAD
LAMP CAMAROS.
THE CIGAR IS A TRADITION FOR
JENKINS.
HE'S MISSED BY THE FANS HERE AT
THE GROVE.
THEY HAD A TRACK WALK EARLIER
TODAY.
EVERYBODY LOVED IT.
HERE IS THE STAT ABOUT BILL.
HE RACED ONE TIME IN A FINAL
ROUND HERE AT MAPLE GROVE.
HE WON A SUPERSTOCK EVENT AND A
POINTS RACE.
HE TOOK OUT KEN MONTGOMERY AND
THERE'S ONE OF HIS GREAT
ORIGINAL VEGAS, GRUMPY TOY
NUMBER TEN.
>> AND THE TRACK WALK EARLY THIS
MORNING AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN
THIS CROWD.
IT WAS ENORMOUS.
COMING OUT TO HONOR GRUMPY
GENERAL KIPS WHO PASSED AWAY
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
>>> WE HAVE TWO GUYS PLAYING THE
WAITING GAME AT DIFFERENT
PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM.
ING TO RUN IN THE
SECOND ROUND.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A
MOMENT.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU -- I WANTED TO
GET HIM.
>> FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET THERE
AND FIRST HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO
MAKE A SEMIFINAL FINALLY.
>> I KEEP WISHING FOR A LONG
TIME BEFORE.
THE CAR IS DOING GOOD.
>> YOU HAD TO PEDAL THE CAR THAT
TIME.
THAT WAS A GOOD LEARNING
OPPORTUNITY THERE.
WHAT DID YOU FEEL?
>> NO, NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY
CHOICE ONLY TO PEDAL IT.
I SEE THE CAR BACK.
I AM HAPPY WITH IT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS SOMETHING GOOD.
>> THE MAN IS WAITING FOR YOU.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET
HIM IN THE SEMIS HERE?
>> GOT TO GET AROUND DOUG
KALITTA WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING
REALLY GOOD THIS WEEKEND.
FOR AL ANABI AND SHEIK KAY LEAD,
FOR US TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY,
GET AROUND KALITTA WE CAN GET
ONE CAR.
IN THE SEMIS, ONE CAR IN THE
FINAL.
ANTRON, HE'S RUNNING GOOD RIGHT
NOW.
HE'S RUNNING AWAY WITH THE
POINTS A LITTLE BIT.
FOR EVERYBODY HELPING US, RED
LINE, TOYOTA, WE NEED TO GET
BACK IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE.
>> YOU'RE FIVE POINTS BACK.
YOU STILL HAVE A SHOT AT THIS
CHAMPIONSHIP.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT
IT?
IS THIS A MUST-WIN?
>> YEAH, WE'RE THINKING
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THAT'S THE BIG THING, WIN THIS
RACE THI@@S WEEKEND.@@
THERE WILL BE NO GAMES OVER
HERE.
>> HE'S WAITING.@@
>> WELL, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE
WHO WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN THE
SEMIFINALS.
THEY ARE DRYING THE TRACK FROM
@@ANOTHER SHOWER THAT HAS COME
THROUGH HERE AND THEY@@ HOPE TOE
BACK RACING IN TOP FUEL IN
SECOND ROUND SHORTLY.
AND, ALSO, WE'RE STILL AWAITING
THE PRESENCE OF JACK BECKMAN AND
RON CAPPS.
THEY ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH IN
AN ONGOING FIGHT FOR THE NUMBER
ONE POSITION IN THE POINTS AND
ULTIMATELY THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
DON'T GO AWAY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>>> A LITTLE HISTORY FROM HERE
AT MAPLE GROVE CELEBRATING ITS
50th ANNIVERSARY.
>> IN 2001 JOHN FORCE FOR THE
SIXTH TIME OVER WHIT BAZEMORE.
THE RACE WAS POSTPONED UNTIL
OCTOBER DUE TO 9/11.
>>> AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE
GREAT ANGELLE SAMPAY?
SHE SET THE ET RECORD IN PRO
STOCK MOTORCYCLE RUNNING A 6.93.
THAT WAS HUGE THEN.
SHE WAS HAPPY.
THIS TRACK IS KNOWN FOR RECORD
SETTING RUNS.
>> HOW ABOUT 2007, WINNING IT ON
WEDNESDAY AND HAD A GOOD TIME AT
THE PARTY.
>> AND WE ARE AT MAPLE GROVE
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING RAIN
OFF AND ON.
THEY'RE TRYING TO DRY THE TRACK
AGAIN FOR THE AUTO PLUS
NATIONALS HERE AT MAPLE GROVE.
PART OF THE FULL THROTTLE DRAG
RACING SERIES.
LET'S LOOK AT POINTS NOW IN PRO
STOCK MOTORCYCLE AND, MIKE, YOU
THINK IT'S HARLEY ALL THE WAY.
>> I THINK IT'S DONE.
FIGURE OUT WHICH HARLEY IS GOING
TO WIN IT.
>> THERE ARE YOUR POINTS THERE.
NOW LET'S SEND YOU OFF TO JAMIE
HOWE.
.
>> THE WEATHER HAS AFFECTED PRO
STOCK MOTORCYCLE MORE THAN ANY
OTHER.
YOU GUYS HAVE THE TEN POUNDS
ADDED BEFORE DALLAS.
HAS IT AFFECTED YOU AT ALL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN THE
PERFORMANCE.
IT'S HARDTORY GET THEM OFF THE
STARTING LINE.
WE PUT THE WEIGHT IN A STRATEGIC
PLACE TO HELP AT 60 FOOT.
WE'RE NOT HAVING TOO MUCH AFTER
TRACTION PROBLEM BUT GETTING TO
A POINT WE CAN'T SPIN THE TIRE
AS MUCH AS WE'D LIKE TO TO GET
THE CONTROLLED SPIN.
WITH A CONTROLLED TRACK LIKE
THIS IT MAKES IT HARD TO GET
HOLD OF THE TRACK.
AND THAT COULD HELP US OUT BUT
ALL THE MOTORCYCLES HAVE A HARD
TIME GETTING HOLD OF A TRACK IN
THE 50, 60-DEGREE RANGE.
WE'VE TO DO IT OUR HOMEWORK AND
PUT DOWN A GOOD 60 FOOT.
WHEN WE GET HOLD OF IT, IT WILL
BE FAST.
>> THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER
COMING INTO THE EVENT.
THE WEATHER, THOUGH, HOW DO YOU
TUNE A BIKE TO GET DOWN THE
TRACK?
>> THAT'S THE DIFFICULT PART.
GOOD AIR EQUALS MORE HORSEPOWER.
EVERYTHING PLAYS IN YOUR FAVOR.
UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU GET INTO
THESE CONDITIONS YOU DO HAVE THE
TRACK YOU'RE GOING TO BATTLE
WITH.
IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A
TUNER'S RACE.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO 0 MAKE
SURE THE BIKE LEAVES THE
STARTING LINE BEFORE YOU HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE
AND MAKE THE RUN.
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
LUCKILY ENOUGH LAST YEAR WAS
SIMILAR CONDITIONS FOR HERE AND
WE WENT BACK WITH SOME NOTES AND
HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHERE WE NEED
TO BE.
HOPEFULLY THE BIKE GOES STRAIGHT
AND SMOOTH DOWN THE TRACK AND
GOOD NUMBERS POP UP ON THE
SCOREBOARD.
>> CERTAINLY READY FOR IT.
>> AND HE HOLDS 0 BOTH ENDS OF
THE PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
NATIONAL RECORD.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT PRO STOCK A
LITTLE BIT.
AND THEIR POINT, WHETHER IT'S
MORE SPREAD OUT.
>> MAKING A RUN AT IT.
HE COMES OUT OF HERE WITH
ANOTHER FINAL ROUND, I THINK IT
MIGHT BE PRETTY MUCH OVER.
>> LET'S SEND YOU OFF NOW TO
GARY GEROULD.
>> ONE NAME WE DIDN'T SEE THERE
IN THE POINT STANDINGS IS DAVE
CONNOLLY.
THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S COMPETING IN
ONLY HIS SIXTH EVENT THUS FAR
THIS SEASON.
HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE
INFLUENCE GATELY THE OUTCOME OF
THE PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
TRYING TO HELP HIS TEAMMATES AND
A WOMAN HE HAS TUTORED, ERICA
ENDERS.
FIRST, LET'S START WITH YOUR
MATCHUP AGAINST ALLEN JOHNSON
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN KNOCK HIM TO
THE SIDE THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR
ERICA TO GAIN SOME POINTS.
HOW DO YOU ASSESS YOUR CHANCES?
>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT'S A HUGE ROUND.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE
FIRST TIME IN MY WHOLE CAREER I
HAVE THE WHOLE PRO STOCK
CHEERING FOR US.
HE'S BEEN TOUGH AND HE'S AT THE
TOP OF THE SHEET FOR A REASON.
THAT AIN'T SCARING US NONE.
WE'RE NOT COUNTING POINTS SO
WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT.
TRYING TO RUIN HIS DAY AND MAKE
HIS COUNTDOWN END EARLIER IN THE
YEAR.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT RAIN
CONDITIONS, WHEN IT GETS COLD
LIKE THIS AND THE TEMPERATURES
IN THE DEW POINT GET CLOSE
TOGETHER AND A LOT OF MOISTURE
IN THE AIR, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT
TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE PRO STOCK
CARS SAFELY BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE THE BIG DOWNFORCE THAT THE
NITRO CARS HAVE?
>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT T.
COMES DOWN TO TRACK CONDITIONS
OUT THERE.
IT JUST GETS REALLY TOUGH FOR
THE NHRA SAFARI TO GET THE WATER
OFF THE TRACK AND THESE THINGS.
LIKE YOU SAID, WE DON'T HAVE,
YOU KNOW, 1,000 POUNDS OF
DOWNFORCE DOWN THE TRACK.
IT CAN GET PRETTY HAIRY AT
TIMES.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL WAIT IT OUT AND
SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND I HAVE
FAITH THEY'LL GET THE TRACK
RIGHT FOR US.
>> YOU WON THE U.S. NATIONALS
FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE TIME
THAT YOU'VE BEEN A COMPETITOR
THERE.
I IMAGINE THAT STILL FEELS
PRETTY DOGGONE GOOD EVEN A MONTH
OR SO LATER.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T SUCK.
INDY HAS BEEN GOOD TO US.
I'M BLESSED TO HAVE IBG BACK
WITH ME.
THEY'VE BEEN THE ONE THE FEW
TIMES I GET TO COME OUT AND HAVE
FUN LIKE THE PRO STOCK CARS,
THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR.
I CAN'T THANK THOSE FOLKS
ENOUGH.
WE'RE OUT HERE HAVING FUN AND
TRYING TO MIX IT UP AND KEEP
EVERYTHING AND YOU GUYS HONEST
OUT HERE.
WE HAVE A TOUGH TASK NEXT ROUND.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I FEEL GOOD AND THE CAR IS
STARTING TO COME AROUND.
WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE SOMETHING
FOR THEM.
>> DAVE CONNOLLY WILL HAVE
SOMETHING FOR SOMEBODY.
TIES INTO THAT PACKAGE ON GRUMPY
JENKINS BECAUSE HE SPENT SOME
TIME WITH HIM AND HE HAS THE
DETAIL ON THE REAR WINDOW OF HIS
CAR IN MEMORY OF THE GRUMP,
1930-2012.
RIGHT THERE.
DAVE RIEFF?
>>> HANGING OUT WITH RON CAPPS,
CHECKING OUT UPDATES ON THE
PHONE, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO FINALLY, HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY
GET THERE.
HOW HARD IS IT TO STAND HERE AND
WAIT?
>> IT'S PRETTY HARD ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU GET UP THERE,
SUITED UP, GET YOUR HELMET ON
AND GET IN THE CAR.
WHEN IT'S AN EPIC ROUND LIKE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH
BECKMAN'S TEAM.
THEY ARE SO PUMPED UP.
I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE 3.96,
THE CLOSE THEREOF.
THIS OUGHT TO BE GOOD.
WE PUT A STOP TO ROBERT HIGHT
AND WE FEEL WE'RE IN THE SAME
POSITION NOW.
>> EVERYBODY HAS APPS, PLACES TO
GO ON THEIR PHONE.
>> I'M CHECKING DELTA DEPENDING
ON WHAT THE WEATHER IS.
I'VE BEEN CHECKING MY TEAMMATE
MARTIN TRUEX AT TALLADEGA.
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> CAN YOU GO OVER THERE AND
JUMP IN BECKMAN'S HEAD AND GIVE
HIM SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT?
>> GET INTO BECKMAN'S HEAD?
HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT'S IN THERE?
>> I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S IN THERE.
>> I WOULDN'T EITHER.
A LOT OF STUFF IN THERE.
HE'S A PROFESSIONAL.
THAT TEAM IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT
THEY DO.
I JUST FEEL LIKE ITCH THE BEST
TEAM RIGHT NOW, THE BEST CAR.
WE WERE LUCKY TO GET BY AND
PEDAL THAT ROUND AND GET BY
AREND.
WE HAVE NAPA KNOW-HOW.
AND I KNOW YOU HEAR ME SAY IT.
IT'S A FACT, MAN.
AND WHEN YOU CAN COME FROM
ALMOST NOWHERE, PUT THE CAR ON
THE SHOW WITH A 4.05, YOU NEVER
COUNT OUT RON.
>> LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE
FLIGHT SCHEDULES.
WE MAY BE NEEDING THAT TOMORROW.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I'M
GETTING OUT OF TOWN.
>> WELL, THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO
DRY THE TRACK HERE THOUGH IT
LOOKS LIKE IT'S BECOMING A TOUGH
JOB.
THE NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE
CHAMPIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE IN
JUST THREE WEEKS.
WE'LL BE AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA,
ONLY TWO RACES LEFT AFTER THIS
ONE AND THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP
SPOT, TEAMS JUST PUSHING THE
LIMIT.
FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING
SERIES, IT WILL BE ON ESPN.
QUALIFYING LATE SATURDA
ESPN2, OCTOBER 27th AT 2:30 A.M.
WITH THE REAIR OF QUALIFYING AT
4:00 P.M. AND THE FINALS ON
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th, AT 8:00
P.M.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE FANS.
DESPITE THE COLD AND THE RAIN,
THEY'RE TRYING TO DRY THE TRACK,
BUT THE FANS ARE HEADING OUT FOR
SOUVENIRS, TO TALK WITH THE
DRIVERS, AND GET A FEW OUGHT 0
OWE GRAPHS.
WE WANT TO GO BACK ONE YEAR AGO
IN TOP FUEL.
SPENCER MASSEY WHO WAS OUT IN
FIRST ROUND HERE HAD A MUCH
BETTER DAY.
>> THE FINAL ROUND AGAINST DEL
WORSHAM.
DEL WORSHAM WITH THE QUICKEST
PASS IN HISTORY.
LOOK HOW CLOSE IT WAS AT THE
STRIPE.
>> AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE
FROM MAPLE GROVE RIGHT AFTER
THIS.
>>> MAPLE GROVE, THE AUTO-PLUS
NATIONALS.
THIS TRACK DRAWS SOME GREAT FANS
AND SOME STRANGE PEOPLE LIKE
STEVE JOHNSON, AND WHEN THEY
COME HERE, THEY KNOW THEY
ABSOLUTELY HAVE GOT TO HAVE AN
UMBRELLA WITH A RAINCOAT AND
SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM WARM.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF
THE GREAT MOMENTS IN FUNNY CAR
QUALIFYING.
HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS.
NUMBER TWO, JOHN FORCE,
ALONGSIDE HIS TEAMMATE ROBERT
HIGHT.
ROBERT HIGHT RUNS 321.8 MILES AN
HOUR, THE SECOND FASTEST SPEED
EVER.
LATER IN THE SAME SESSION JACK
BECKMAN, THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN, KEEP AN EYE ON HIM
BECAUSE HE RUNS THE SECOND
QUICKEST ET OF ALL TIME AND SETS
HIMSELF UP FOR A NATIONAL SPEED
RECORD WITH A 320.58 PASS.
ONLY THREE DRIVERS HAVE LANDED
IN THE THREE-SECOND RANGE.
>> ALL DON SCHUMACHER RACING
DRIVERS.
WATCH CRUZ PEDREGON IN THE
SNAP-ON TOYOTA.
HE WILL BECOME THE FOURTH GUY TO
DO IT.
A GREAT PASS.
3.997 SECONDS.
>> THE FINAL RUN OF THE DAY,
JUST TWO RUNS, HERE COMES
BECKMAN AGAIN AND BACKS UP THE
SPEED RECORD TIME.
HE HOLDS BOTH ENDS OF THE
NATIONAL RECORD.
SO NOW LET'S GO ONCE AGAIN TO
THE STAT GUY.
>> YOU SEE SOME OF THE GREAT
RUNS THIS WEEKEND.
16 DRIVERS QUALIFY, THAT MEANS
THERE'S A CHANCE FOR 32 CAREER
BEST RUNS, IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
15 TIMES IN QUALIFYING.
MY NOTES ARE COMPLETELY TRASHED
FOR THIS WEEKEND.
>> THIS TRACK DOES MAKE FOR BIG
RECORDS.
IN ROUND ONE OF FUNNY CAR, WELL,
JACK BECKMAN WAS BACK AT IT
AGAIN.
>> JACK BECKMAN WAS HURT ON THE
LEFT SIDE OF THAT ENGINE, RUNS A
3.986.
LOWERS THE ET NATIONAL RECORD AT
318 MILES PER HOUR.
>> JACK BECKMAN, LET'S TALK
ABOUT THE RECORDS THIS WEEKEND.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU AS A
DRIVER?
HOW MUCH DO YOU GET OUT THAT
HAVE?
>> IT'S A SPORT OF NUMBERS AND
RIGHT NOW THE NUMBERS WE WANT
ARE POINTS AND THAT'S 20 POINTS.
IF WE HAVE IT, TECHNICALLY WE'D
BE AHEAD RIGHT NOW IN THE
POINTS.
CAPPS BEAT US BY LESS THAN 0.004
SECONDS AND WE RACED THAT TEAM
IT'S A POINT SWING.
THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO MAYBE
TAKE THE LEAD HERE AND NOW WE
HAVE TO RACE THEM SECOND ROUND.
IT'S A MATCHUP YOU WOULDN'T
EXPECT UNTIL LATER IN THE
WEEKEND.
WE HAVE A GREAT RUN.
I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR
THEM NOW.
>> IN TERMS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP,
HOW CRUCIAL IS THIS MATCHUP WITH
YOU AND CAPPS?
>> SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE NEXT TWO
RACES YOU HAVE TO ASSUME IT'S
GOING TO BE.
THERE'S 11 MORE ROUNDS LEFT BUT
WHOEVER LOSES THIS ROUND LOSES
OUT ON THE NEXT TWO ROUNDS AFTER
THAT AND SINCE WE THINK THE
VALVOLINE CAR IS GOOD ENOUGH TO
WIN THE RACE, THERE ISN'T ANY
REASON WE CAN'T GET 60 MORE
POINTS OUT OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL.
I THINK WE NEED TO LEAVE HERE IN
THE POINTS LEAD AS GOOD AS THE
NAPA CAR IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING.
>> YOU KNOW HOW GOOD THE CAR IS
CAPABLE OF RUNNING BECAUSE THAT
WAS YOUR CAR, YOUR CREW CHIEF,
YOUR CREW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU TO
BEAT THEM?
>> I WISH I HAVE A TITLE ON THE
CAR AND I COULD LEAVE IT
SOMEWHERE RIGHT NOW.
I LOVE THOSE GUYS.
I HAVE ALL THE RESPECT FOR RON
CAPPS WHO IS A DYNAMITE DRIVER.
THE PROBLEM IS AT THE END OF THE
YEAR ONLY ONE PERSON GETS TO WIN
THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT
DRIVES MOST OF US TO COME OUT
HERE AND DO THIS IS THAT
COMPETITION.
AND WE CAN ROOT FOR EACH OTHER.
ONCE YOU GET INTO THE COUNTDOWN
IT'S A TOUGH DEAL.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR TEAM,
YOUR CAR, YOUR POINTS AND SO
BURNOUT TO TURNOUT, THERE'S NO
FRIENDS OUT THERE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE CREW CHIEFS
ARE SHARING DATA RIGHT NOW BUT
THE WAY OUR CAR IS RUNNING I'D
LIKE TO 0 LOCK THE DOORS.
>> YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT MAKING
ANY FRIENDS HAD WEEKEND.
YOU'RE THE ONLY DRIVER IN FUNNY
CAR TO POST THREE OF THE
QUICKEST TIMES AT ONE EVENT.
CAN YOU TAKE ANYTHING FROM THAT?
>> POINTS.
I HOPE WE CAN TAKE POINTS.
I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I
DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE A GAMBLE AND TRY TO GO
QUICKER THAN THE 3.98.
MIKE NEFF IS THE ONLY CAR IN
COMPETITION WHO HAS A BACKUP
RECORD FOR THE COMPETITION.
WE HAVE TO BE SMART AND
STRATEGIC.
WE WENT 3.968 AND BURNT AN
EXHAUST VA@@LVE.
THIS CAR HAS MADE SOME OF THE
QUICKEST RUNS IN HISTORY ON RUN@
THAT HAVE FLAWS IN THEM WHICH
BLOWS MY MIND.
RIGHT NOW I THINK WE HAVE TO BE
REALLY, REALLY INTELLI@@GENT ABT
WHAT A COLD RACETRACK, WHETHER
WE RACE ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY.
>> YOUR CREW CHIEF HASN'T BEEN
IN THESE CONDITIONS WITH THE
FUNNY CAR SINCE 2006.
WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR YOUR
CONFIDENCE?
>> YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT.
I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH TODD.
HE CAME INTO THIS DEAL AND, YES,
DSR HAD A GOOD TUNE-UP PACKAGE.
OVERSAW PUTTING THIS CAR
TOGETHER SO WE DID SHARE A LOT
OF INFORMATION BUT THEN
ULTIMATELY THE TORCH GOT PASSED
TO TODD AND NOW IT'S HIS
RESPONSIBILITY.
I HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND
THEY'VE BLOWN ME AWAY AND TO BE
THE GUY THAT'S LUCKY ENOUGH TO
GET STRAPPED INTO THAT MISSILE
AND GO 320 MILES AN HOUR AT
1,000 FEET, THERE WAS A DAY THAT
THOSE TIMES IN THE QUARTER MILE
WOULD HAVE BEEN UNHEARD OF AND I
THINK THERE'S MORE IN THIS CAR.
>> YOU CERTAINLY RAISED THE BAR
THIS WEEKEND, JACK.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
>> AND HE DOES EXPLAIN ALL THE
TACTICS VERY WELL.
FUNNY CAR POINTS AND THE DO OR
DONE LINE BELOW MIKE NEFF.
>> COURTNEY FORCE OUT OF IT.
MIKE NEFF HAS A SHOT.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP
SOME ROUNDS BUT IT'S EITHER RON
CAPPS OR BECKMAN WILL GO OUT IN
THE SECOND ROUND.
I DON'T KNOW IF MIKE NEFF
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING IF HE GOES
OUT EARLY THAT LINE WILL BE
ABOVE HIM.
>>> AT THIS RACE HERE IN READING
A YEAR AGO SPENCER MASSEY AND
DEL WORSHAM WERE LOCKED IN A
FIGHT FOR THE TOP FUEL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
IT WAS A FIGHT THAT WOULD GO ALL
THE WAY TO THE END OF THE SEASON
BUT AT READING ONE OF THE
CLOSEST RUNS WE'VE EVER SEEN.
>> AND WHAT A FINAL ROUND IT
WAS.
SPENCER MASSEY GOT THE WIN OVER
DEL WORSHAM BUT IT WAS ALL ABOUT
THE NUMBERS.
SPENCER MASSEY HAD THE HOLESHOT
ADVANTAGE BY ALMOST 0.05 OF A
SECOND.
DEL WORSHAM WOULD MAKE THE
QUICKEST PASS IN HISTORY AND SET
THE RECORD.
BUT HE WOULD LOSE.
>> THE FIGHT WOULD CONTINUE IN
LAS VEGAS.
THIS WAS THE RUN.
>> DEL WORSHAM WOULD REDEEM
HIMSELF.
LOOK HOW CLOSE IT WAS AT THE
FINISH BY .18 DEL WORSHAM WOULD
GET THE WIN.
>> AND WOULD TAKE THE TOP FUEL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>>> WELL, THE VIDEO, OF COURSE,
CLEARLY TELLS THE STORY AND IT
WAS A VERY TOUGH DAY FOR DEL
WORSHAM TO STOMACH HERE AT THIS
RACETRACK A YEAR AGO BUT THEN
OBVIOUSLY THINGS TURNED AROUND
AT LAS VEGAS AND ULTIMATELY HE
WALKED AWAY WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP
AND INTO RETIREMENT IF YOU WILL.
NOW OF COURSE TUNING FOR ALEXIS
DeJORIA.
HOW PAINFUL IS IT A YEAR LATER
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED
AT THIS RACETRACK?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PAINFUL
NOW.
AT THE TIME IT WAS DEVASTATING.
TO GO THROUGH THAT AND TO GET TO
RIDE BACK WITH ALLEN FOR SIX
HOURS STRAIGHT, WE SAT THERE AND
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.
HE WAS REALLY DECENT ABOUT IT.
HE SAID MY PART AND LUCKILY IT
WORK OUT 0 THE WAY IT DID.
WE ENDED UP WITH THE ULTIMATE
PRIZE.
IT WAS A BUMPY ROAD THERE FOR A
WHILE.
>> I GUESS IT'S ALMOST A LIFE
LESSON THAT'S LEARNED IN
ADDITION TO BEING A RACING
LESSON.
>> IT IS.
AND YOU WOULD 0 THINK AFTER 21
YEARS I WOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT
BY THEN BUT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS
YOU'RE IN A SITUATION DRIVING A
CAR LIKE THAT AND THOSE KINDS OF
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE BASICALLY
SITTING THERE IN FRONT OF YOU,
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
PUT IN THAT POSITION WHERE SO
MUCH WIN OR LOSE SO EASILY JUST
ON ONE ROUND AND IT HAPPENED
THERE.
WE TOOK WHAT WE LEARNED AND IT
WORKED OUT GREAT FOR US.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THAT
NOW, AND I WONDER AND I KNOW
FANS WONDER, IS THERE ANYTHING
ABOUT DRIVING THAT YOU NOW MISS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I WAS WONDERING MYSELF WHAT
WOULD IT BE LIKE THIS YEAR NOT
DRIVING AND WATCHING THEM DRIVE
AFTER DRIVING FOR SO MANY YEARS?
I WAS SO INVOLVED AND SO
CONSUMED WITH THIS AND WORKING
ON THIS CAR AND WORKING WITH
ALEXIS AND EVERYONE HERE THAT TO
THIS POINT, NO, NOT AT ALL.
HEY, I WISH I WAS IN THE CAR
RIGHT THEN.
SO FAR IT'S BEEN GOOD.
>> WE SAW AN AMAZING PEDAL FEST
BETWEEN ALEXIS AND JIM HEAD IN
THE FIRST ROUND OF COMPETITION
TODAY.
ALEXIS CAME OUT ON THE SHORT END
OF THAT DEAL.
HOW DO YOU COACH HER IN A
SITUATION LIKE THAT, OR IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT AS A DRIVER SHE
HAS TO JUST BE ABLE TO LEARN ON
HER OWN?
>> MOSTLY SHE DOES HAVE TO LEARN
THAT ON HER OWN.
I GIVE HER ADVICE ON TIPS ON HOW
I DO IT.
I WISH TO NOT PUT HER IN THAT
POSITION.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO PUT HER IN
A POSITION TO DO THAT.
LOOKING BACK, SHE'S GOTTEN
BETTER AT IT AND FORTUNATELY
SHE'S BETTER AT IT AND
UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S GOTTEN TOO
MUCH PRACTICE AT IT.
IT'S A FEEL THING.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE
THE CAR, FEEL IT, KNOW WHEN TO
FLOOR IT AND WHEN TO BACK OFF.
SHE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB
KEEPING HERSELF OUT OF TROUBLE.
>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, DEL.
AND LET ME TELL RACE FANS IF
THEY DON'T ALREADY KNOW IT, THIS
IS A CLASS ACT RIGHT HERE.
>> YOU BET HE IS.
DEL WORSHAM.
WELL, LET'S TAKE YOU BACK ONE
YEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
GREAT MOMENTS THAT HAPPENED AT
THIS TRACK.
JASON LINE 2011.
>> SET THE MAGGS RECORD IN THAT
PONTIAC AND, GUESS WHAT,
SECOND-ROUND MATCHUP COULD BE
RACING THAT OLD CAR WITH
HUMPHREY DRIVING.
>> YEAH, IT WAS A RECORD 6.477
THAT STILL STANDS.
THIS IS THE FINAL ROUND.
JASON LINE AGAINST HUMPHREYS.
HAD IN THE SECOND ROUND THAT'S
WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE AS WELL.
NOW WE SEND YOU OFF TO DAVE
RIEFF.
>> WELL, DESPITE THE SPRINKLES,
WE STILL HAVE SMILES ON THE
FACES OF THE SUMMIT TEAMMATES.
JASON, YOU HAVE A SPEED DOG HAT
ON.
A SPEED DOG RACE CAR ONCE AGAIN.
HOW MAD ARE YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T
GET THE RECORD RIGHT THERE?
>> I'M NOT MAD.
CAN'T GET MAD AT RACING.
DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTED.
IT WAS OUT THERE FOR SURE.
MAYBE LATER ON HERE WE'LL GET
OUR CHANCE AGAIN.
IT WASN'T A PERFECT RUN, THAT'S
ALL.
HOPEFULLY A SHOT AT IT.
>> AND IF IT COMES DOWN TO
MONDAY RACING, I'M SURE YOU'RE
FINE WITH THAT BASED ON WHAT
HAPPENED A YEAR AGO.
>> MONDAYS I'M GOOD AT.
IT'S A LITTLE DID I GENTLEMAN
VIEW.
>> GREG ANDERSON'S CAR SUDDENLY
COMES ALIVE.
6.48.
I THINK WE KNOW WHY.
>> IT'S MAGIC.
>> MAGIC GAS.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE CAPABLE OF
WINNING THIS RACE NOW.
>> I THINK I HAVE A GREAT RACE
CAR AND MY CAMARO HAS COME
ALONG.
IT TOOK ME TOO LONG.
I'M IN A SUPPORTING ROLE RIGHT
NOW TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I
CAN DO TO GET JASON LINE TO
CHASE DOWN ALLEN JOHNSON AND IF
HE CAN GET THAT RECORD THAT WILL
HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
WE NEED A BIG, BIG WEEKEND.
WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO RUN THE
TABLE, GET HIM THE RECORD AND
SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO GET A.
J.
OUT BEFORE THE FINAL ROUND.
>> HE WAS TRYING TO HELP YOU
YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW THAT NOW.
YOU TOOK THE POLE AWAY.
HE WAS GOING TO BE IN POSITION
FOR A.J.'S SECOND ROUND.
>> HE WAS.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE A RADIO IN THE
CAR.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT.
HE YELLED AT ME.
I NEVER HAVE BEEN YELLED AT
BEFORE FOR GOING TOO FAST OTHER
THAN A COP.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT
OKAY.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS DONE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> THE OLD DAYS YOU BRE OUT A
LITTLE BIT THERE.
GOT AWAY WITH IT.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU ONE MORE
QUESTION, THOUGH --
>> MY SPEED DOG WORKING TOO
GOOD.
I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN.
>> YOU GET THE RACE THE CAR THAT
YOU SET THE RECORD IN.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT
THAT?
>> CONCERNED ABOUT EVERY ROUND.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO ME DOING
A GOOD JOB.
OUR CAMARO IS FAST RIGHT NOW.
I'M REALLY NOT SCARED OF TOO
MANY OTHER CARS.
I HAVE TO DO MY JOB AND WE'LL BE
OKAY.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE CALLED
YOU AFTER YOU MISSED YOUR
OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY?
DO YOU WANT TO TELL HIM?
>> DUMMY.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE.
HE'S CALLED ME A LOT WORSE
THINGS THAN THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO DRY
THE TRACK.
BOB TASKA ON FIRE.
WE HAVE MORE WITH OUR WEEKEND
>>> WELL, WE PROMISED IT AND
HERE IT IS, OUR WEEKEND WOW PACK
TORE, THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU
GO WOW.
IT WILL START OUT IN QUALIFYING
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN, THAT'S SPENCER MASSEY.
A HUGE EXPLOSION.
YOU KNOW WHAT, HE WAS ABLE TO DO
THAT NOT ONCE BUT TWICE IN
QUALIFYING.
AND THEN BOB TASCA, FLAMES
POURING OFF HIS FUNNY CAR.
A GREAT VIEW FOR THE SLO-MO AND
BOB TASCA WAS FINE.
>> HERE ALL WEEKEND LONG, TO THE
RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN, GETS
OUT OF CONTROL.
TAKES OUT THE TIMING BLOCK AND
GETS INTO CLAY MILLICAN.
JUST CLIPPING HIM IN THE SHUTOUT
AREA.
>> AND THEN IN ELIMINATION, THIS
IS JIM HEAD AN ALEXIS DeJORIA.
WHAT A GRAL FEST.
>> IT WAS.
LOOK AT ALEXIS.
TRYING TO GET THAT CAR TO HOOK
UP.
SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WANT
TO DO IT ESPECIALLY BUCKING THEM
BACK TIRES RIGHT OFF OF THE
GROUND@@.
WOW.
>> WELL, WE IT CONTINUE TO WAIT
AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET THE
TRACK DRY AND THE RAIN AWAY IN
FINAL ELIMINATIONS HERE AT THE
AUTO-PLUS NATIONALS AT MAPLE
GROVE RACEWAY JUST SOUTH OF
READING, PENNSYLVANIA.
COVERAGE OF "MONDAY NIGHT
FOOTBALL" CONTINUES.
FIRST AT 6:30 IT'S "MONDAY NIGHT
COUNTDOWN."
AND THEN THE TEXANS AND THE
JETS, MONDAY AT 8:30, ALL OF IT
ON ESPN.
>> ERICA ENDERS NOT ONLY A PRO
STOCK RACER, ALSO A FAN OF
MOTORSPORTS AS SHE CALVES UP ON
THE NASCAR HIGHLIGHTS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP.
YOU GAVE YOURSELF A FIGHT BY
BEATING ALLEN JOHNSON.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU HEADING
INTO THE FINAL RACES?
>> I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.
I ALSO KNOW THE MATH THAT GOES
INTO IT.
WE ARE A LITTLE BIT OVER ONE
RACE WIN.
EVERY 20 POINTS MATTERS.
EVERY LITTLE POINT IN QUALIFYING
MATTERS FOR THE QUICKEST OF THE
SESSION.
WE HAVE OUR HEADS IN THE GAME,
AND I'M CONFIDENT IN MY TEAM.
>> YOU GUYS SEEM TO HAVE FOUND
SOMETHING.
THIS TEAM HAS COME INTO ITS OWN.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK OUT OF THE
ENGINE DEPARTMENT, THE GUYS BACK
AT THE SHOP DAY AND NIGHT TO GET
US A CAR TO BE COMPETITIVE OUT
HERE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
TESTING.
YOU CAN'T JUST PUT YOUR FINGER
ON ONE THING BUT HORSEPOWER SURE
DOESN'T HURT.
>> LET'S GO BACK IN TIME.
YOU WON YOUR FIRST CAREER ROUND
OF RACING IN 2006 HERE AT MAPLE
GROVE.
YOU'VE WON FOUR NATIONAL EVENTS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO COME
BACK?
>> IT'S EXCITING.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE NOTES AND I
REMEMBER THAT VERY CLEARLY
BEATING RICKIE SMITH HERE.
I THINK IT WAS IN '05.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED DRIVING, WE
HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
HE HIRED ME WHEN I WAS 20.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S BEEN
THAT MANY YEARS BUT IT'S
CERTAINLY BEEN A FUN RIDE.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE
TWO RACES LEFT, LOOKING TO 2013
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
>> I EXPECT A LOT.
KNOWING WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF
THIS YEAR AS A TEAM, AS A
DRIVER, AND AS AN ORGANIZATION.
I'M SO CONFIDENT IN THE PROGRAM
THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND I'M A
FIRM BELIEVER IT'S ALL ABOUT
HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, AND I
CERTAINLY HAVE THAT.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT 2013 AND
HOPEFULLY GOING FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN NEXT YEAR,
TOO.
>> YOU HAVE YOUR CREW CHIEF DAVE
CONNOLLY ALSO IN A CAR THIS
WEEKEND.
HAVE ABOUT TL BEEN ANY DECISIONS
ON HIM BEING FULL TIME NEXT
YEAR?
>> NO.
WE'RE WORKING WITH IDG AND OTHER
SPONSOR PROJECTS ON THE TABLE
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S BEN PIGS TO BOTH OF US TO
HAVE THE EXTRA DATA.
WE RUN THE SAME CHASSIS SO TO
HAVE THAT DATA AND TO BE OUT
HERE GOING AT IT WITH EACH OTHER
BUT TO HIM HELPING ME OUT FOR
THE COUNTDOWN CHASE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, SO I'M HOPEFUL.
>> WE HEAD INTO THE FINAL RACES.
>> I'M EXCITED.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ME ABOUT
THE PRESSURE AND THE STRESS.
I LOVE WHAT I DO.
I'M SO BLESSED TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
I KNOW WHATEVER WILL HAPPEN HAS
BEEN DECIDED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN, WE'RE
GOING TO DIG OUR HEELS IN, PUT
OUR HEADS DOWN AND MAKE IT A
FIGHT, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT.
>> THE STAKES ARE HIGH, ERICA
ENDERS HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE.
>> SINCE SHE MENTIONED HOW SHE
STANDS IN PRO STOCK POINTS,
LET'S REVIEW THEM AGAIN FOR YOU.
ALLEN JOHNSON OF COURSE NUMBER
ONE AND JASON LINE AND ERICA,
YOU MENTIONED, STILL IN THE
GAME.
>> SHE DEFINITELY IS.
HER TEAMMATE DAVE CONNOLLY WILL
HAVE TO TAKE OUT ALLEN JOHNSON
IN THE SECOND ROUND.
OTHERWISE THAT LINE WILL GO UP
BELOW HIM.
>>> WE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO @@
SURPRISES.
WE SAW ONE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF
FUNNY CAR COMPETITION TODAY.
CRUZ PEDREGON, ONE OF FOUR
DRIVERS NOW, HAS BEEN IN THE
THREE-SECOND BRACKET, LOST TO@@
THIS MAN, TODD LESENKO.
HOW MUCH DID THAT SURPRISE@@ YO?
>> IT WAS A GREAT FEELING JUST
TO LINE UP ON THE STARTING LINE@
AND AFTER WE HIT THE THROTTLE I
DIDN'T SEE CRUZ@@ THE WHOLE WAY.
WENT TO THE END OF @@THE RACETRK
AND I WAS THERE BY MYSELF.@@
IT WAS A GOOD FEELING, A GREAT
FEELING @@TO ACCOMPLISH THAT FE
TODAY FOR SURE.
>> NOW AS A REWARD IN THE SECOND
ROUND, YOU GET TO GO UP AGAINST
A LEGEND IN JOHN FORCE.
WHAT'S IT LIKE WHEN A RELATIVE @
NEWCOMER IN YOURSELF GOES
AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE THE FORCE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVERY
RACE IS EVERY RACE.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING NHRA FOR A
LONG TIME, AND THE OUTCOME IS
NEVER KNOWN.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MYSTIQUE
VALUES.
ANYBODY AT ANY TIME COULD WIN A
WALLY.
TALKING ABOUT THE BEST PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD AND BY FAR CRUZ
PEDREGON AND JOHN FORCE ARE THE
BEST IN THE WORLD.
I FIND MYSELF VERY FORTUNATE.
>> OF COURSE WHEN WE MENTION
YOUR NAME A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW
AUTOMATICALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED AT THE U.S. NATIONALS
BECAUSE NOT ONCE BUT TWICE YOU
HAD MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS, BODIES
FLYING IN THE AIR OFF OF YOUR
FUNNY CAR.
WHAT WAS THAT WEEKEND LIKE FOR
YOU AND YOUR TEAM?
>> WELL, WHEN YOU GET IN BEHIND
THE WHEEL OFFUNNY CAR, YOU'RE
DRIVING AN EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE
AND YOU'RE FOCUSED.
FOCUSED ON MAKING IT THROUGH THE
END OF THE RACETRACK SAFELY,
CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAR'S
ABILITY TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
SO, I MEAN, WHEN THAT HAPPENED,
REALLY ALL THAT I SAW WAS A BIG
BLAST OF MY BODY AND IT WAS
REALLY LIGHT OUT.
LOTS OF FLAME.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT'S A
CONTROL THING FOR ME.
JUST CONTROLLING THE CAR, MAKING
SURE I BRING THE CAR SAFELY TO A
STOP WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
>> A BIG TRIBUTE TO THE REST OF
THE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE
CAR BACK TOGETHER AND THE FACT
YOU WERE RACING AT THE NEXT
EVENT WAS OUTSTANDING.
>> THE NEXT EVENT THE NEXT DAY.
AFTER THE FIRST EXPLOSION, IT
WAS HUGE.
AND THEN TO HAVE THE NEXT DAY TO
WAKE UP AND THE BOYS WORKED SO
DILIGENTLY.
WE HAVE A GREAT CREW.
YIM IS A GREAT TUNER.
WE HAD A RACE CAR SITTING THERE
READY TO GO.
PHENOMENAL TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM
THESE PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
>> BY THE WAY, I LIKE YOUR HAT
HERE IN AMISH COUNTRY.
>> THANKS A LOT.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
>>> WITH THE COUNTWN HOPES
ALREADY OVER FOR MATT HAGAN'S
TEAM, THIS CREW IS ALREADY
MOVING ON TO THE 2013 SEASON,
AND IN THAT THEY ARE STARTING
WITH A NEW CAR AT THE NEXT RACE.
THIS IS A FAREWELL TOUR FOR THIS
ONE.
HOW CAN YOU BRING HOME A WALLY?
>> IT WOULD BE HARD TO BRING
HOME A WALLY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CARS OUT HERE.
WE'RE IN T THREE-SECOND RANGE.
THE ONLY BLESSING WE HAVE IS THE
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN
THE TRACK IS VERY NARROW.
THEY LIKE TO SHAKE THE TIRES OR
SMOKE THE CARS EASY WHEN IT'S
THIS COLD.
JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN AND NEXT
WEEK WE'LL PUT OUR NEW CAR
TOGETHER AND SEE IF IT'S AS GOOD
AS THIS ONE.
>> MATT HAGAN, YOU CALL YOURSELF
A BIG HONKING RACE CAR DRIVER.
YOU HAVE BEEN A WRECKING BALL IN
THE COUNTDOWN SO FAR THIS SEASON
BUT YOU HAVE YET TO GET A WIN.
HOW MUCH PRESSURE ARE YOU UNDER
TO GET ONE?
>> YOU WANT TO GET ONE FOR OUR
TEAM, FOR OUR GUYS WORKING SO
HARD.
CAPPS, HE KEEPS ME LAUGHING ON
TWITTER AND STUFF.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE
THINGS WHERE YOU JUST -- WE'VE
TO DIG DEEP AND WORK HARD FOR
OUR GUYS AND FOR TOMMY AND ALL
THESE GUYS PUTTING THE CAR
TOGETHER DAY IN AND DAY OUT
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN FOR US.
NOBODY SHOWED US ANY LOVE IN THE
COUNTDOWN LAST YEAR ON OUR WAY
TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND WE'RE
NOT GOING TO SHOW ANYBODY ANY
LOVE EITHER.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUR RACE CAR,
DIG DEEP, WORK HARD, AND
HOPEFULLY GET A WIN BEFORE THE
YEAR IS OVER.
>> WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP
PRESSURE OFF YOU THIS YEAR, HOW
MUCH DIFFERENT IS THE COUNTDOWN?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.
MY WHOLE CAREER AND TOMMY'S
CAREER HAS BEEN FULL OF PRESSURE
SITUATIONS.
IT'S ODD NOT TO HAVE ANY
PRESSURE ON YOU.
THERE'S PRESSURE TO WIN BUT
THERE'S ALWAYS PRESSURE TO WIN
EVEN DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.
FOR US I THINK WE'VE BEEN KNOWN
AS A PRESSURE TEAM AND USUALLY
RISE TO THE OCCASION.
WE LET IT SLIP TLUR THROUGH OUR
FINGERS THIS YEAR.
HOPEFULLY NOW WE'RE BUILDING
TOWARDS NEXT YEAR AND WE WILL
HAVE A GREAT SEASON NEXT YEAR
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN LOOK
FORWARD IT TO.
>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP
FUEL POINTS.
ANTRON BROWN HAS A STRONG LEAD.
SPENCER MASSEY, TONY SCHUMACHER,
THEY ARE BOTH OUT OF PLAY.
SO THAT SHOULD BE AN ENORMOUS
HELP FOR SHAWN LANGDON.
>> SHAWN LANGDON HAS TO RUN AND
BERNSTEIN JUST BELOW THAT DO OR
DONE LINE.@@
THE NATURAL RECORD COME INTO
PLAY FOR THOSE.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE TOP FUEL
PITS.
DAVE RIEFF HAS ATRON BROWN.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU MAKE
THE QUICKEST RUN IN TOP FUEL
HISTORY?
TAKE THE BLOWER BELT OFF, CUT IT
INTO AS MANY PIECES AS YOU CAN
SO YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH FANS.
ANTRON SAWED THROUGH @@THAT BEL.
WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO PIECES FOR
FANS BEHIND YOU.
GREAT IDEA, MAN.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
>> JUST MAKING SURE I KEEP
EVERYBODY HAPPY.
WHEN YOU GIVE ONE BLOWER BELT
AWAY, IF YOU CUT IT INTO 10 OR
12 PIECES YOU MAKE TEN MORE
PEOPLE HAPPY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
WITH THIS CAR THIS WEEK AND
BEING ALL PINK, TRYING TO DO
WHAT WE DO OUT HERE.
ALL OF OUR MATCO BOYS OUT HERE
WORKING HARD.
WE'RE TRYING TO GO FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP, DO ONE RUN AT A
TIME AND THESE AR@@E MONUMENTAL
BECAUSE THE TRACK IS GOOD AND
YOU CAN SET THE WORLD RECORD AND
WE'RE GOING FOR IT THIS WHOLE
WEEKEND.
>> I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WALL
BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.
WE DON'T KNOW TECHNICALLY WHAT
WILL GO ON TOMORROW BUT NOW THAT
YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REALLY SOAK IN WHAT YOU
ACCOMPLISHED, HOW QUICK YOU
WENT, WHAT ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT
THIS MOMENT?
>> THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PASS.
IT NEVER STOPPED PULLING.
THAT'S WHAT THESE THINGS DO WHEN
YOU'RE GOING THAT FAST.
IT WAS GOODYEAR AND IT FELT GOOD
TO GET THAT RUN, NOT FOR ME BUT
THIS WHOLE GROUP OF GUYS.
THEY PUT SO MUCH HARD WORK IN
AND THIS IS A GUY'S DREAMS, THAT
TRAIL IS LIKE A NIGHTMARE TRYING
TO GET ALL THIS STUFF READY.
YOU GET A RUN LIKE THAT, IT PUTS
A BIG SMILE ON EVERYBODY'S FACE
FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
THIS CHAMPIONSHIP IS NO ARE
WHERE NEAR OVER.
WE HAVE TO KEEP ON PRESSING AND
PRESSING TO TRY TO BRING IT
HOME.
>> DON'T TEASE ME HERE.
YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A TOP
FUEL DRIVER.
YOU THOUGHT ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIPS.
YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RECORD RUNS.
I'LL BET YOU NEVER ONCE THOUGHT
OF IT DOING IT IN A PINK CAR
WITH A PINK SUIT ON.
>> HEY, MAN, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, PINK -- IT'S HARD TO
MAKE PINK LOOK GOOD ESPECIALLY
ON A GUY BUT, I MEAN, IT'S FOR A
GREAT CAUSE.
IT'S FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN
FOUNDATION TO FIND A CURE FOR
BREAST CANCER.
ALL THOSE WOMEN ACROSS THE
WORLD, THE STRENGTH THEY HAVE TO
BE IN THEIR MENTAL STATE TO GO
THROUGH BREAST CANCER.
WHEN YOU WEAR THESE KIND OF
COLORS, THAT WAS A STRONG RUN
COMPARED TO WOMEN ACROSS THE
WORLD WITH THEIR STRONG INNER
STRENGTH THAT THEY HAVE AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO AND
WE TRY TO DO WHAT THEY DO.
>> PINK LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.
BETTER KEEP CUTTING.
STARTING TO GET MORE FANS BACK
THERE WAITING FOR A LITTLE PIECE
OF HISTORY.
>> GET MIKE AND I ONE, WILL YOU,
PLEASE?
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
AND THAT'S WHY ANTRON IS, OF
COURSE, IN PINK.
THEY REWRAPPED HIS CAR IN PINK.
THIS IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THE
SHOP IN INDIANAPOLIS.
HEY, WE'VE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF
THE TWEETS, STAT GUY.
>> THAT CAME FROM BILLY BROWN,
ANTRON'S WIFE.
BETWEEN THE COLTS GAME, MAY HAVE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
#TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT.
BY THE WAY, THE COLTS WON AND
HER HUSBAND SET THE NATIONAL
RECORD.
>>> WELL, BECAUSE OF THE
INCLEMENT WEATHER HERE TODAY,
THE RACE HAS BEEN CALLED.
IT WILL BE RUN ON MONDAY AND WE
WILL HAVE COVERAGE FOR YOU AS
THE FINALS FROM HERE AT READING,
PENNSYLVANIA, AT 10:00 ON @@MONY
EVENING ON ESPN2 SO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE THERE.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO TALK TO
INCLUDING THAT GUY, JOHN FORCE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO TALK.
>> HOW ABOUT THE QUESTION OF THE
DAY.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY
HERE.
THE NHRA FIRST RACED HERE AT
MAPLE GROVE IN 1985.
WHO SET THE TOP SPEED RECORD OF
THAT RACE?
WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE ANSWER.o.
>>> THE RACE HERE AT MAPLE GROVE
HAS BEEN CALLED BECAUSE OF@@ RA
HERE TODAY.
IT WILL BE RUN ON MONDAY.
WE'LL HAVE COVERAGE FOR YOU AT
10:00 MONDAY NIGHT ON ESPN2 OF
THE AUTO-PLUS NATIONALS.
GET WHO HAS JOHN FORCE.
JAMIE.
>>> JOHN FORCE, WHEN WE DO GET
BACK TO RACING, THIS IS A
BUSINESS FOR YOU.
YOU ARE ALSO A TEAM OWNER.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO AN
EVENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
YOU GUYS?
>> IT MEANS MONEY THIS GAME IS
ALL ABOUT MONEY.
THIS YEAR 2012 HAS BEEN AN
EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR
EVERYBODY.
THE WEATHER SEEMS LIKE IT'S
DICTATING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN
THE THREE CATEGORIES AND THEN
INDY NHRA LOST AND INDY WAS JUST
TERRIBLE.
AND THE RAIN, YOU CAN'T FIGHT
THE RAIN.
IT JUST HAPPENS.
AND THEN WE COME BACK HERE AND
IT HITS US AGAIN.
WATCHING THESE CARS COME APART
AND GO BACK TOGETHER.
THE MONEY SPENT.
I HAD MY TOP FUEL WITH BRITTANY
SET UP TO TEST TOMORROW AND NOW
WE'RE REORGANIZING THAT TRYING
TO GET BACK TO INDY TO TEST OR
THURSDAY AFTER WE FINISH THIS
RACE TOMORROW.
BUT, YOU KNOW ME, I'M IN THE
BACK OF THE PACK, BUT THEY
JOKED.
THEY SAID YOU'RE LIKE
SEABISCUIT, YOU CAN COME FROM
BEHIND.
THIS ISN'T EXACTLY A MOVIE
SOMEBODY'S MAKING.
I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE A SHOT
EVEN THOUGH CAPPS, WE THOUGHT HE
FELL OFF THE PLANET THERE FOR
THREE ROUNDS, AND THEN, OF
COURSE, PUT HIM BACK WITH THAT
HOT ROD WITH THAT '06.
AND BECKMAN, I RAN.002 AND.04,
SO DID COURTNEY.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET AN
INTERVIEW.
I MEAN, THE THREE 0.98s, CRUZ
AND SCHUMACHER, BECKMAN, I MEAN,
WOW.
OF COURSE THE CONDITIONS WERE
KILLER.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET
RAIN AGAIN.
AND NOW IT'S COLD.
MANUFACTURE INFORM MADE THE
RIGHT CALL.
YOU CAN'T RUN WHEN IT FALLS
UNDER 60 OUT THERE ON THAT
TRACK.
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.
WE'LL COME BACK TOMORROW.
IT'S JUST MENTAL, UP, DOWN, UP,
DOWN.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO EAT
ANYMORE, KEEP YOUR ENERGY UP.
>> YOU'VE HAD AN UP AND DOWN
SEASON, YOU'RE TENTH IN THE
POINTS.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE REST
OF 2012?
>> ACTUALLY I GET A CHANCE TO
MOVE UP TO FIFTH.
IF JOHNNY GRAY GETS SNAKE BIT, I
MOVE UP.
I'M ONLY A COUPLE ROUNDS OUT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE WON SO MANY
CHAMPIONSHIPS, I EITHER WANT
NUMBER ONE -- NUMBER ONE OR
NUMBER TEN AS LONG AS I MAKE THE
COUNTDOWN I'VE DONE MY JOB UNDER
CONTRACT.
I WANT TO MOVE UP AS MUCH AS I
GO, BUT I'M GOING TO NEED A TON
OF LUCK.
NEFF IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
HUNT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING,
BUT THIS IS A RACE I DON'T JUST
WANT TO RACE IN.
I WANT TO WATCH THIS RACE.
IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO
WATCH FIRST ROUND.
BECKMAN AND CAPPS.
AND CAPPS IS A GREAT DRIVER BUT
THEN HIS EYES -- HE'S HAVING
PROBLEMS WITH HIS EYES.
THAT KID CAN'T GET A BREAK.
BUT HE WILL.
HE'S GOING TO WIN SOONER OR
LATER.
AND NEFF IS RIGHT IN THE HUNT
WITH THEM.
BUT BECKMAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED.
HIS HOT ROD JUST EVEN ING IT
SELF RUNS 98 OR 99.
>> CERTAINLY A LOT MORE ACTION
COMING FROM MAPLE GROVE.
>> THAT MAN NEVER CHANGES, DOES
HE?
LET'S LOOK AT THE FUNNY CAR
LADDER NOW AS WE WATCH THE RAIN
FALL HERE.
AND LOOKING AHEAD, JOHNNY GRAY
AND MATT HAGAN WILL RACE.
JOHN FORCE HAS TODD LESENKO AND
MIKE NEFF HAS JIM HEAD.
>> FOUR MAPLE GROVE WINS FOR
THIS MAN.
THREE COMING IN A PRO STOCK CAR,
ONE IN THE SUPER GAS DAYS NOT SO
LONG AGO.
BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE NUMBER
SEVEN QUALIFYING EFFORT IN THAT
FIRST ROUND PASS YOU MADE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THE MOPAR HAS
TURNED THE CORNER FOR THIS TEAM.
TESTIMONY I RIGHT?
>> YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE
IMPRESSED OURSELVES EVEN.
THE EDDIE HAS DONE A NICE JOB
AND THE WHOLE GROUP HAS DONE A
NICE JOB GETTING TO ACCELERATE
THE FIRST 100 FEET.
THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM MUCH OF
THE YEAR.
I KNOW ROY NICKER WORKING HARD
ON SOME HORSEPOWER, SO THAT'S
GOING TO BE DEFINITELY KEY IN
GETTING THIS MOPAR TO GET CLOSER
TO THE FRONT.
I LIKE OUR CHANCES.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE A MORE
CONSISTENT CAR.
BEEN IN THE TOP FIVE IN 60 FEET
AND 330 AND THAT'S A BIG STEP
FOR US.
>> RON KRISHER, I HAVE ERICA
ENDERS.
SHE HAS HAD A PRETTY BIG YEAR, A
BREAKOUT YEAR WITH THE FOUR
WINS.
HOW DO YOU RACE SOMEBODY LIKE
THAT HAVING A BREAKOUT YEAR?
>> THEY'VE DONE ATASTIC JOB,
YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE SINCE TOMMY
REJOINED THE TEAM, THEIR
PERFORMANCE HAS STEADILY@@
IMPROVED AND WON A BUNCH OF
RACES.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY A
CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER @@TEAM.
DIDN'T GET IT IN TH@@E FIRST ROD
WHEN THEY WENT @@525.
WE'LL PICK@@ OUR LANE AGAINST
THEM
I LIKE THE WAY I FEEL.
>> PRETTY TRICKY DRIVERS.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FROM A MIND
GAME STANDPOINT?
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO THAT
TOMORROW TO GET YOURSELF INTO A
SEMI?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.
THERE'S A MAGIC WAND IN THERE.
THE WAY WE'VE PERFORMED THERE'S
BEEN NO WAND THAT BIG.
WE HAVE A CAR THAT CAN PERFORM
TOMORROW AND WE'RE GOING TO RACE
HARD AND RACE SMART AND
OBVIOUSLY RACE AGGRESSIVE.
>> SUNDAY NIGHT EVERYONE IS
PLNING ON GOING HOME.
NOW WE HAVE TO STICK AROUND.
WHAT DO YOU DO THIS EVENING?
>> JUST HANG OUT WITH MY
FRIENDS.
IT'S FUN TO BE ON THE ROAD AND
RARELY DO WE KIND OF CHILL OUT,
SO WE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE AND JUST
GET PREPARED FOR TOMORROW.
>> GET ON OUT OF HERE.
>> WELL, HERE IS THE LUCAS OIL
TOP FUEL LADDER, AND WE STILL
HAVE ONE MORE PAIR TO GO IN
SECOND ROUND.
THAT'S DOUG KALITTA AND SHAWN
LANGDON.
BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE
SEMIFINALS ALL EYES ARE GOING TO
BE ON ANTRON BROWN AS HE FIGHTS
WITH BRANDON BERNSTEIN.
>> ONE OF THE INTRIGUING STORIES
OF THIS SEASON, OF COURSE, IN
THE FUNNY CAR RANKS IS THE
EMERGENCE OF JACK BECKMAN AND
HIS TEAM AS A CHAMPIONSH
CONTENDER.
I MEAN, REALLY BECOME A DYNAMITE
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER.
WHEN YOU LACK AT WHAT'S
TRANSPIRED FROM BACK WHEN YOU
WERE FIRST HIRED AT SCHUMACHER
RACING I THINK IN APRIL TO ARE
WHERE YOU ARE NOW, ARE YOU
SURPRISED?
>> YEAH.
I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION AND,
YES, I AM SURPRISED IN ONE
RESPECT AND IN THE OTHER RESPECT
NOT SO MUCH.
ONE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO FAST
BUT, TWO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE KAM
BER OF TEAM THAT THIS IS AND THE
QUALITY OF PERSONNEL HERE AND
THE EQUIPMENT, DON HAS GIVEN US
ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES WE NEED
AND THE PERSONNEL.
IT'S UP TO US TO GET IT DONE AND
THANKFULLY TO ME I CAME INTO A
GREAT TEAM WITH A GREAT DRIVER
AND IT WAS KIND OF AN ODD
SITUATION.
EVERYBODY GELLED TOGETHER.
THE CHEMICAL TRY WAS GAT.
IT'S WORKED OUT WELL.
>> WE GAVE YOU THE TRIVIA
QUESTION AND STAT GUY, HERE IS
THE ANSWER.
>> BIG DADDY.
THEY NOW RUN FASTER TO THE
EIGHTH MILE 290.
BIG DADDY WON THE RACE.
>> THE NHRA IS GOING TO FINISH
THIS UP ON MONDAY.
WE'LL BE ON THE AIR AT 10:00
MONDAY NIGHT.
MIKE, IT'S GOING TO BE A
BARNBURNER, ISN'T IT?
>> WHAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN UP TO
THIS POINT DOESN'T MAKE YOU WANT
TO TUNE IN TOMORROW, CHECK YOUR
PULSE BECAUSE YOU AIN'T RIGHT.
>> SO FROM MAPLE DPROEF, WE
APOLOGIZE FOR THE WEATHER BUT
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
WE'LL BE ON THE AIR AT 10:00
MONDAY NIGHT AS WE CONCLUDE THIS
RACE AND LOOK TO TO THE FINAL
TWO RACES OF THE SEASON.