DSR’s Pritchett drives Papa John’s dragster to track record, provisional pole

Beckman’s stellar run to No. 2 with Infinite Hero Dodge overshadowed

SONOMA, CA – Leah Pritchett seemed to be on the cusp of setting the second world record on Friday night at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco but although her Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster slowed just before the finish line it was quick enough to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Pritchett, who set the record at Phoenix in the second event of the year at 3.658 seconds, blasted to a time of 3.669 at a slowing speed of 304.80 mph that still set the track’s elapsed time record.

“In these Q2 sessions you have to hang it out all on the line from a crew chief standpoint to a driver standpoint and stick with it because things are going to get funky out there,” she said of her dragster Powered by Pennzoil and led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam. “It got with it sooner than it ever had before and we didn’t even make it to the finish line.”

Within about 100 feet of the finish line, the engine lost the blower belt that virtually stalled the engine.

“We really could have popped out a (3.63) if the belt didn’t give out,” said Pritchett, who has three event titles this year and has advanced to five final rounds including last week at Denver after she won her fourth pole of the year.

“It feels incredible. I’m overwhelming impressed with my team. I knew we were going after it. We talked about it all week and all day, and prepared for it. I can’t thank Papa John’s enough and Don Schumacher enough for supplying me with the greatest people and the greatest organization to work for.”

She earned the Denver pole in the last qualifying session and also was quickest to start Friday in the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, which is the second stop on the three-week Western Swing. She was joined in her pit area by “Papa John Schnatter before she  opened with a time of 3.729 (328.38).

Joining Pritchett in the top-five are teammates Antron Brown (Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota) in fourth and Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) in fifth.

In Funny Car, Jack Beckman and Terry Chandler’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil recorded a remarkable time of 3.854 at 328.70, but not many in the near capacity crowd at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco seemed to notice.

In the other lane with nighttime temperatures in the mid-60s, Robert Hight of John Force Racing set a world record with a speed of 339.87 mph that took the mark from Beckman’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan, whose previous record was 338.85 set earlier this year at Topeka, Kan.

Hagan, who is seeded fifth, had set the track record at 330.39 in the opening session.

The most frightening run in the first session was with Terry Chandler’s Make-A-Wish Dodge but driver Tommy Johnson Jr. used his veteran experience to save what could have been a disastrous run. Just passed half-track at about 270 mph, the right-side rear axle broke that allowed the wheel to separate from the car and Johnson backed out of the throttle almost instantly before the right rear quarter-panel was damaged when it smacked guardwall.

“It could have been a lot worse. An interesting ride,” said Johnson, whose team led by crew chief John Collins and assistant Rip Reynolds have advanced to championship rounds at the last two events.

“I can’t remember the last time I saw a rear axle shear off like that. When it happened, the left tire was still going and it instantly powered the car toward the wall. I was able to catch it quickly and steer it away. Then I saw the right tire passing me.”

The Make-A-Wish crew replaced the body and rear end for the next session when Johnson responded with a 3.908 (327.43) to settle for the No. 6 spot going into Saturday’s final two sessions before Sunday eliminations are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. (MDT).