Langdon, Hagan, Edwards and Ray Win NHRA Summernationals

Shawn Langdon (above) raced to his third Top Fuel victory of the season June 2, at the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Michael Ray (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were pro class winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Langdon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his first Englishtown win with a performance of 3.853 seconds at 316.38 mph to hold off his Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi, who ran at 3.869 seconds at 297.29 mph in the final round. This was the first time the two Al-Anabi drivers raced in the final round. With the victory, Langdon takes the points lead away from U.S. Army dragster driver Tony Schumacher.

“From the first round to the final, we’ve made some really strong runs,” said Langdon of his second consecutive victory. “The run wasn’t quite as fast as we were wanting it to be. But  the first Al-Anabi Racing team final between alBalooshi and me is a great way to end it.”

Hagan claimed his second Funny Car win of the season and seventh of his career by defeating reigning Mello Yello world champion and Don Schumacher racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round.

“To come back and be this strong, thrown together at the last minute, really blows me away,” Hagan said. “Even though, we’re teammates out there you still get to poke them in the chest and get bragging rights. It was such a huge round and felt like someone handed me the ball and we made a slam dunk. We’re still learning each other and it doesn’t quite feel like an old hat, but we’re breaking her in.”

Hagan powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger to a performance of 4.112 seconds at 308.00 mph to hold off Beckman’s 4.182 second pass at 303.98 mph in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger. With the win, his first at Englishtown, Hagan takes over the series points lead from DSR teammate Johnny Gray.

In Pro Stock, Edwards powered his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro to his third victory of the season by defeating defending world champion Allen Johnson.

“The whole weekend was phenomenal,” said Edwards of his second career win at Englishtown. “I think we’ve saved the best for last. Hats off to all my guys. It feels good to run good and win. Hopefully, we just keep it up.”

Edwards covered the distance in 6.589 seconds at 210.21 mph to defeat Johnson’s Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, which ran 6.641 at 209.95 in the final round. With the victory, his 37th of his career, Edwards retains the series points lead.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Ray claimed his first NHRA national event win of the season and second of his career on his Team Soverign-Star Racing Buell with a holeshot victory over Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. Ray’s performance of 6.954 seconds at 193.49 mph defeated Arana Sr.’s run at 6.952 seconds at 191.02 mph in the final round.

“To me the biggest thing to win was to get the [George Bryce] team back to the winner’s circle since 2008,” Ray said. “This is a dream come true. It’s a true statement to how we’re going to run in the coming months. We’re trying to get that Mello Yello championship.”

With the victory, Ray moves up to fourth in the points.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues June 14-16 with the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway.

(Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster; Click to enlarge)

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Final round-by-round results from the 44th Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL

ROUND ONE — Dom Lagana, 4.782, 155.97 def. Steve Torrence, 9.032, 72.37; Bob Vandergriff, 3.849, 316.90 def. Antron Brown, 3.871, 315.49; Tony Schumacher, 3.860, 316.97 def. Sidnei Frigo, 4.017, 272.01; Clay Millican, 4.021, 247.93 def. Brandon Bernstein, 7.218, 90.57; Khalid alBalooshi, 3.872, 317.05 def. Larry Dixon, 4.197, 255.39; Brittany Force, 3.884, 315.19 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.873, 317.87; Spencer Massey, 3.852, 317.64 def. Morgan Lucas, 3.862, 314.39; Shawn Langdon, 3.836, 312.13 def. T.J. Zizzo, broke; QUARTERFINALS — alBalooshi, 3.877, 314.61 def. Lagana, 3.999, 267.91; Massey, 4.232, 254.76 def. Force, 4.301, 293.79; Schumacher, 3.895, 311.20 def. Vandergriff, 4.004, 278.12; Langdon, 3.835, 318.54 def. Millican, 3.892, 308.71; SEMIFINALS — alBalooshi, 3.920, 295.01 def. Schumacher, 8.603, 78.09; Langdon, 3.901, 315.05 def. Massey, 4.152, 247.70; FINAL — Langdon, 3.853, 316.38 def. alBalooshi, 3.869, 297.29.

FUNNY CAR

ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.159, 303.78 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 4.174, 303.71; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.131, 308.92 def. Jeff Arend, Dodge Charger, 4.177, 300.06; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.167, 302.89 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.372, 291.51; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.159, 302.62 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.379, 264.08; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.098, 307.37 def. Chad Head, Camry, broke; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.088, 308.00 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.123, 306.19; John Force, Mustang, 4.167, 298.21 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.139, 305.42; Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.095, 306.60 def. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.123, 307.86; QUARTERFINALS — Worsham, 4.145, 305.42 def. J. Force, 6.466, 108.12; Wilkerson, 4.150, 304.19 def. Tasca III, 4.148, 306.46; Beckman, 4.150, 302.41 def. C. Pedregon, 4.369, 259.01; Hagan, 4.137, 307.37 def. Gray, 4.135, 306.05; SEMIFINALS — Beckman, 4.178, 302.48 def. Worsham, 4.221, 300.86; Hagan, 4.267, 261.42 def. Wilkerson, 4.719, 183.97; FINAL — Hagan, 4.112, 308.00 def. Beckman, 4.182, 303.98.

PRO STOCK

ROUND ONE — Rodger Brogdon, Chevy Camaro, 6.653, 208.42 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, foul; Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.624, 208.84 def. Lewis Worden, Ford Mustang, 6.680, 206.80; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.602, 209.43 def. Larry Morgan, Mustang, 12.922, 66.65; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.595, 209.82 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.639, 209.56; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.601, 209.62 def. Frank Gugliotta, Mustang, foul; Mike Edwards, Camaro, 6.588, 210.18 def. Lee Zane, Pontiac GXP, 8.223, 119.88; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.594, 210.21 def. Mark Martino, GXP, 6.752, 203.34; Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.619, 209.17 def. Steve Kent, Camaro, 6.679, 207.98; QUARTERFINALS — Johnson, 6.646, 209.65 def. Enders-Stevens, 14.465, 57.68; Line, 6.630, 209.30 def. Coughlin, 9.752, 96.04; Nobile, 6.723, 209.26 def. Gray, 6.635, 209.17; Edwards, 6.613, 209.39 def. Brogdon, 6.958, 171.38; SEMIFINALS — Johnson, 6.655, 209.49 def. Nobile, 14.201, 59.94; Edwards, 6.608, 209.43 def. Line, 6.633, 209.59; FINAL — Edwards, 6.589, 210.21 def. Johnson, 6.641, 209.95.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

ROUND ONE — Adam Arana, Buell, 6.993, 188.17 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.009, 190.35; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.017, 187.29 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.007, 187.78; Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.981, 192.17 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.042, 187.52; John Hall, Buell, 6.983, 189.39 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.036, 190.19; Hector Arana, Buell, 7.002, 191.67 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.800, 125.59; Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.038, 190.75 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.126, 187.23; Michael Ray, Buell, 6.990, 191.32 def. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.052, 188.83; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.972, 190.83 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.006, 190.24; QUARTERFINALS — H. Arana, 6.994, 190.43 def. Krawiec, 7.066, 186.61; Gann, 7.082, 187.57 def. A. Arana, 7.005, 190.73; Ray, 7.033, 189.66 def. Hall, 7.027, 188.44; M. Smith, 6.965, 191.29 def. Underdahl, 7.029, 192.14; SEMIFINALS — Ray, 7.073, 190.06 def. Gann, 7.121, 187.08; H. Arana, 6.999, 190.11 def. M. Smith, 7.005, 190.00; FINAL — Ray, 6.954, 193.49 def. H. Arana, 6.952, 191.02.

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Sportsman final results from the 44th Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The race is the ninth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Sportsman — Marco Abruzzi, Chevy Camaro, 6.830, 194.18  def. Ronald Riegel, Camaro, 7.304, 184.62.

Competition Eliminator — Sal Biondo, Chevy Cavalier, 8.326, 139.41  def. Calvin Hill, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.507, 134.39.

Super Stock — Lincoln Morehead, Chevy Camaro, 10.278, 126.61  def. Joe Santangelo, Camaro, 10.500, 125.47.

Stock Eliminator — Don Pires Jr., Chevy Nova, 11.586, 107.25  def. Sterling Simmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.854, 121.30.

Super Comp — Steve Sisko, Dragster, 8.919, 160.04  def. Mike Robilotto, Dragster, 8.883, 174.32.

Super Gas — Tom Goldman, Chevy Corvette, 9.998, 152.04  def. Ralph Musi, Olds Ciera, 9.980, 154.94.

11.50 Index — David Harvey Jr, Plymouth Valiant, 11.487, 111.41  def. Bob Sanders, Chevy Monte Carlo, 11.466, 110.85.

This story was originally published on June 2, 2013.