Line and Anderson Remain on Top in Points Standings

With only two races remaining in the 2016 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Team Summit Racing drivers Jason Line and Greg Anderson remain first and second, respectively, in Pro Stock points standings after this weekend’s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.

Greg Anderson qualified second with a 6.579 second, 210.11 MPH pass. He won the first round of eliminations after opponent Erica Enders-Stevens fouled with a -.001 second redlight. Anderson then defeated Allen Johnson in Round Two, 6.623/208.91 to 7.762/124.48.

Anderson faced Alex Laughlin in the semi-finals. Laughlin had a slight advantage with a .049 second reaction time to Anderson’s .062, and kept the lead all the way to the finish line to take the win with a 6.637/208.59 to Anderson’s 6.659/209.14.

“We just missed it on the last run,” Anderson said. “The race track had been really good all weekend up until it disappeared around the semifinals. The starting line went away—we spun the tires too hard. It looks like things will be interesting for the rest of the year.”

Jason Line qualified Number One with a 6.568/210.34 pass, his first since the Bristol race in June.

Line got the automatic win in Round One of eliminations after Alan Prusiensky fouled with a redlight. In Round Two, Drew Skillman had the advantage off the starting line with a .016 second reaction time, which was enough for him to take the win over Line, 6.647/208.91 to 6.632/208.84.

“My car was good all weekend. I just didn’t do as good a job of driving,” Line said. “We lost a close race. It’s really disappointing that we didn’t capitalize. We’ll be testing before Vegas.”

Tim Wilkerson qualified tenth with a 3.919/322.19 run. He faced off against Ron Capps in Round One of eliminations. The pair had almost identical reaction times—.089 to .085 second—but Wilkerson smoked the tires around the 200 foot mark and Capps took the win, 3.859/325.92 to 5.278/147.04.

“We were just a little too fast leaving the starting line. I just can’t get to the back side of that problem for some reason; I’m just too aggressive,” Wilkerson said. “I’m optimistic we can have something for our competitors in Vegas.”

Wilkerson dropped to ninth place in the Funny Car points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified ninth (3.745/321.04). He defeated Richie Crampton in Round One of eliminations, but lost to Antron Brown in Round Two. Kalitta is currently second in the points standings.

“We were hoping to go rounds today and that was a tough loss,” Kalitta said. “The Mac Tools team will continue to fight hard at Toyota’s race in Las Vegas.”

J.R. Todd qualified fourth (3.723/309.27). He defeated Troy Buff and Brittany Force in the first two rounds of eliminations, but lost to Antron Brown in the semi-finals. Todd is currently seventh in the points standings. 

“We had a solid day, but it ended earlier than we would have liked,” Todd said. “The team will regroup and move to Vegas where we have had a lot of success in the past.”

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Del Worsham qualified sixth (3.857/326.95). He defeated Chad Head and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first two rounds of eliminations, but lost to Ron Capps in the semi-finals. Worsham is currently fifth in the points standings.

“Our car ran strong all weekend, but it was not our day,” Worsham said. “Vegas is a big race for Toyota, and we plan to race hard and try to pick up a win there.” 

Alexis DeJoria qualified ninth (3.911/319.37). She defeated John Force in Round One but lost to Robert Hight in Round Two. She is currently 10th in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Antron Brown (3.744/321.12) defeated Steve Torrence (3.750/323.12)
Funny Car: Matt Hagan (3.913/327.03) defeated Ron Capps (3.906/322.19)
Pro Stock: Drew Skillman (6.661/209.36) defeated Alex Laughlin (6.708/208.30)
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec (6.880/196.36) defeated Jerry Savoie (6.856/196.76)

Next Race
The NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship continues with the NHRA Toyota Nationals, October 27-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Visit Drag Race Central for complete results from the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.