DSR Houston Final Qualifying Report – by the Numbers
Baytown, TX – MOPAR Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil
DSR Houston Saturday Highlights:
The MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat piloted by Jack Beckman won the MOPAR Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil ‘Best Appearing Car’ award
Ron Capps leads DSR qualifying and will start race day from the No. 2 spot after making the best run of the fourth session
Leah Pritchett will start race day from the No. 3 spot after powering the Pennzoil Top Fuel machine to the second quickest run of Q4
Beckman and Matt Hagan also qualified in the top-half of the Funny Car field
Driver Information:
Top Fuel:
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 11
The Competition: No. 6 Mike Salinas
The Results:
Q1: 7.022 E.T. at 99.44 MPH
Q2: 3.782 E.T. at 320.74 MPH
Q3: 3.753 E.T. at 326.56 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Q4: 3.780 E.T. at 317.27 MPH
Bonus Points: Two
Quotable:
“We just need to get ready for Sunday. It definitely wasn’t the run we were looking for in Q4. We got on the asphalt and we started spinning a little bit, so it dropped a hole. We should have run better than that, but we’ll take it as it is. We’ll go back in and analyze everything and get ready for tomorrow.”
LEAH PRITCHETT
Driver of the Pennzoil Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 3 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 14 Shawn Reed
The Results:
Q1: 3.763 E.T. at 323.81 MPH
Q2: 3.720 E.T. at 326.40 MPH (One bonus point for third quickest run of the session)
Q3: 6.429 E.T. at 109.77 MPH
Q4: 3.709 E.T. at 326.79 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Bonus Points: Three
Quotable:
“I think we definitely have all of our ducks lined in a row. This is the ultimate proving grounds for Pennzoil and to have everybody out here has been phenomenal. My guys just went through a last-minute scramble before the final qualifying session because of the extreme changes in weather conditions. I’m super proud of the TF4 Pennzoil team for making that happen really quick for this last run. I’m feeling good where we stand heading into eliminations tomorrow and we’re just going to keep this flow going.”
Funny Car:
JACK BECKMAN
Driver of the MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 8 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 9 Bob Tasca III
The Results:
Q1: 3.932 E.T. at 311.34 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Q2: 7.761 E.T. at 94.63 MPH
Q3: 6.150 E.T. at 115.15 MPH
Q4: 3.965 E.T. at 315.86 MPH
Bonus Points: Two
Quotable:
“I’m okay with how we did, we got a chance to push and went too far on a couple of runs. We got points; we were second quickest out of the box. We’re doing some great stuff. The feedback from the fans on this MD Anderson program, I had no idea this many patients and former patients of that cancer center would be here this weekend. It’s been mind-blowing for me and to know that we’re a part of helping them fund cancer research is pretty gratifying. So, that’s Friday and that’s Saturday. Sunday is about the trophy. We could go a long way toward raising even more money. If we can get this car in the winner’s circle, it’s certainly going to help our chances of raising even more funding.”
On the MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat winning the ‘Best Appearing Car’ Award:
“Like Alan Reinhart said, it’s not so much about the car, it’s about what the car represents; it’s making a difference for people. We get to do that the other 23 races through Infinite Hero. We’re still selling the challenge coins at this race to fund the injured vets, but this one’s about cancer research and helping the people and the families of the cancer patients. I’ve been on both sides of that. I lost my mom and I’ve been through cancer, so I get it from both ends.”
RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 2 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 15 Jeff Diehl
The Results:
Q1: 3.942 E.T. at 312.06 MPH
Q2: 3.940 E.T. at 317.94 MPH
Q3: 3.924 E.T. at 315.56 MPH (One bonus point for third quickest run of the session)
Q4: 3.893 E.T. at 319.29 MPH (Three bonus points for quickest run of the session)
Bonus Points: Four
Quotable:
“We’ve been bragging that the proof is in the Pennzoil all weekend long. We’ve got to give kudos to the Safety Safari, NHRA, the men and women up there to take that race track from getting rained on, rubber peeling up, and to scrape it and get it ready to have the side-by-side three-second runs we saw in Funny Car that last session was unbelievable.”
On running the quickest pass of Q4:
“Listen, we are only five races in and we are always counting points, so we’ll take those three points. It was just a great job by the NAPA AutoCare team. Again, the proof is in the hard work. What (crew chief Rahn) Tobler’s done to put this car back to where it was in championship form the last couple of years, I love to see when he’s got a plan and watch it evolve and come together. I’ve got the best seat in the house to watch it from. I’m so happy for our team with Pennzoil in the house, USA Compressions, a great sponsor of ours, a Texas-based company, and they are here and obviously all of our NAPA people. It’s going to be fun tomorrow. Cool conditions. It’s going to be fast and I’m looking to rekindle the magic we’ve had with Houston Raceway Park.”
MATT HAGAN
Driver of the Pennzoil Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 6 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 11 Tommy Johnson Jr.
The Results:
Q1: 3.974 E.T. at 315.56 MPH
Q2: 3.916 E.T. at 318.47 MPH (One bonus point for third quickest run of the session)
Q3: 3.944 E.T. at 318.47 MPH
Q4: 3.942 E.T. at 316.67 MPH
Bonus Points: One
Quotable:
“I feel really, really good about this race car right now. We’ve been down the race track all four qualifying sessions and in a bunch of different conditions. The car is handling well, the lanes are great. (Crew chief) Dickie Venables has really got a handle on the top end. It was a little tricky to navigate at first because it was looping the tire, but he really dialed this thing in and it’s running a lot better on the big end. This Pennzoil Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is handling amazing, my lights are coming around, and everything is looking like we’re setup to have a great race day tomorrow. I can’t say enough about my team; my guys are just knocking it apart and putting it back together great. Dickie up there in the computer wheelhouse is doing a great job. This is a big event for us, it’s MOPAR and Pennzoil’s race and we’re driving the Pennzoil car. We’re going to put on a great show for them tomorrow and have some fun.”
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.
Driver of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 11
The Competition: No. 6 Matt Hagan
The Results:
Q1: 8.406 E.T. at 78.26 MPH
Q2: 4.810 E.T. at 168.43 MPH
Q3: 3.987 E.T. at 309.70 MPH
Q4: 3.959 E.T. at 312.13 MPH
Quotable:
“We haven’t been our normal selves in qualifying. We kept fighting it and I think we got back close with our Saturday runs. We’re making progress. We’re just struggling a little bit in the conditions. I’m confident this team will get it figured out tonight and we’ll be much better tomorrow. It’s just been a little bit of a bumpy weekend, but we’ll be okay tomorrow.”
