DSR Chicago Qualifying Report
Joliet, IL – Route 66 NHRA Nationals
DSR Chicago Saturday Highlights:
The entire Don Schumacher Racing contingent will start race day at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals from the top half 
of the Top Fuel and Funny Car fields
Antron Brown blasted to the quickest pass of the final Top Fuel qualifying session to add three more bonus points to his total of five
Tommy Johnson Jr. was the only Funny Car pilot to crack into the three-second range during Q3
After running low E.T. during the third session, Johnson returned and made the second-quickest pass during Q4
Driver Information:
Top Fuel:
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of Matco’s Tools for the Cause Top Fuel Dragster
Matco’s Tools for the Cause to benefit the Fisher House Foundation
Qualified: No. 2 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 15 Brittany Force
The Results:
Q1: 3.784 E.T. at 320.89 MPH
Q2: 3.753 E.T. at 320.74 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Q3: 4.265 E.T. at 195.68 MPH
Q4: 3.715 E.T. at 328.14 MPH (Three bonus points for quickest run of the session)
Bonus Points: Five
Quotable:
“It felt really good for our Matco team to step up and go to the No. 2 spot and to be low E.T. of Q4, but our main focus is on tomorrow. I feel really confident in Mark Oswald, Mike Neff, Brad Mason, and all our Matco Tools/Toyota boys and the direction that we’re going. We’re building and improving each weekend, and we’re hoping this could be our breakout race. We’re going to take it one round at a time tomorrow, that’s the game plan, and see if we can put it in the winner’s circle here at Route 66.”
LEAH PRITCHETT
Driver of the Okuma Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 8 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 9 T.J. Zizzo
The Results:
Q1: 3.776 E.T. at 327.82 MPH
Q2: 6.358 E.T. at 107.47 MPH
Q3: 6.110 E.T. at 114.63 MPH
Q4: 3.785 E.T. at 327.82 MPH
Quotable:
“Of course, this is a hometown race for Don Schumacher, but for what everyone at Don Schumacher Motorsports is doing back home in Brownsburg is just phenomenal. We’re running it loud and proud, we made it down in two out of four hits and we’re looking forward to eliminations tomorrow.”
Funny Car:
JACK BECKMAN
Driver of the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 5 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 12 Blake Alexander
The Results:
Q1: 3.940 E.T. at 325.92 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Q2: 4.013 E.T. at 316.75 MPH
Q3: 4.714 E.T. at 172.81 MPH
Q4: 3.899 E.T. at 331.28 MPH
Bonus Points: Two
Quotable:
“We came off the trailer with the second-low E.T. run after testing in Richmond. Then we ended qualifying with a 3.89 which keeps us in the top half of the field and I think that’s most important because tomorrow’s conditions are going to be unbelievable. It should be a cool, fast race track. We actually were going to face better conditions on Sunday than on any of our qualifying runs until we got this late Saturday rain-delayed run. I love the fact that we got test data. I feel really confident about our car. We can’t control what the cars in the other lane do. We’re getting a better handle on our car, I feel like I’m driving better, we’re getting close to that first win of the year.”
RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Brakes Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 3 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 14 Bob Bode
The Results:
Q1: 3.893 E.T. at 326.00 MPH (Three bonus points for quickest run of the session)
Q2: 3.933 E.T. at 324.05 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest run of the session)
Q3: 4.110 E.T. at 250.18 MPH
Q4: 3.882 E.T. at 325.53 MPH (One bonus point for third quickest of the session)
Bonus Points: Six
Quotable:
“Obviously, conditions change a lot. That’s why I brag about the NAPA Know How (crew chief Rahn) Tobler has. Just to not only get down the track but to have a shot at the pole every time. We saw (Austin) Prock, (Robert) Hight and my teammate Tommy Johnson and John Collins make big runs. I mean, everybody’s throwing these shots out there. To sit in the car and know that you have a chance to go up there and battle for the No. 1 spot – a horse to ride to get that No. 1 spot – and to end up third, we did a great job. We’re just trying to carry on these NAPA Brakes colors; the fans are enjoying it, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
MATT HAGAN
Driver of the MOPAR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 7 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 10 Bob Tasca III
The Results:
Q1: 4.004 E.T. at 318.24 MPH
Q2: 7.540 E.T. at 87.38 MPH
Q3: 6.708 E.T. at 101.48 MPH
Q4: 3.936 E.T. at 323.97 MPH
Quotable:
“We finally got our race car back that last lap. We were struggling with some power issues a little bit earlier, but we got that problem figured out. Anytime you have some issues come up, it kind of puts you a little behind the eight-ball, but honestly, the confidence I have in Dickie (Venables) and Mike (Knudsen), I know we’re going to have a great car on Sunday. It’ll be a good race against Bob Tasca. He’s got a good car over there. But, at the end of the day, I feel like we can turn the win lights on.”
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.
Driver of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Qualified: No. 2 (lane choice)
The Competition: No. 15 Paul Lee
The Results:
Q1: 3.951 E.T. at 323.04 MPH (One bonus point for quickest run of the session)
Q2: 7.265 E.T. at 85.34 MPH
Q3: 3.933 E.T. at 323.81 MPH (Three bonus points for quickest run of the session)
Q4: 3.882 E.T. at 326.24 MPH (Two bonus points for second quickest of the session)
Bonus Points: Six
Quotable:
“I’m super excited about Q3. Those were conditions where nobody was getting down the track, and we set low E.T. but I’m almost more excited about tonight’s run. We’ve struggled with night qualifying and to come out here in conditions like that and go No. 2 with similar conditions to what we’ll see tomorrow was awesome. We’ve been to the final here a few times so, tomorrow if we can continue to run like that, we should maybe get another one.”
