The 2007 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) season kicked off this past weekend with the 47th running of the CarQuest Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway, and the weekend did not lack in excitement. This marks the first of twenty-three national NHRA events in 2007.
Here is brief breakdown of each CarQuest Winternational event.
Funny Car- Gary Scelzi’s speed of 332.26 mph (4.716 seconds) was enough for him to be listed as the winner of the introductory Funny Car event of the season. Also included in the headlines, John Force’s daughter, Ashley, made her Funny Car debut, and it was a rollercoaster ride to say the least. After her father knocked her out of the program with his qualifying trial, she climbed back into her car and qualified her way back into the show.
"I've got to be a dad, but I've also got to do my job for my team…I thought when my baby got her Funny Car license that I could never be more excited for her, but today proved that I can,” said an emotional John Force after his daughter Ashley rallied her way back into the event.
Scelzi felt an emotion of a different kind after his victory. "Last year we fought to get this car in a consistent groove and find a combination that would keep us in the fight. We missed getting it sorted out, but coming out and winning the first race of 2007 shows we're in a pretty good place already."
Top Fuel- Tony Schumacher was the fastest qualifier, however, it was J.R. Todd who won the event with a breathtaking speed of 324.98 mph (4.716 seconds). Todd had qualified fifth fastest. He is coming off his brilliant rookie season in 2006.
"I never expected things to happen as quickly as they have. I'm just trying to take it race by race. Last year was kind of a Cinderella year for us and we surprised a bunch of people, but it wasn't really all that surprising to ourselves towards the end of the season," said the victorious J.R. Todd.
Pro Stock- For the second consecutive season Greg Anderson won the CarQuest Winternationals with an incredible speed of 207.05 mph (6.651 seconds). Anderson unfalteringly defeated Greg Stanfield who posted a speed of 163.65 (7.001 seconds).
On February 23rd through 25th, the boys and girls of the NHRA will compete in the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Phoenix, Arizona.
