J. FORCE, SCHUMACHER AND ANDERSON VICTORIOUS AT NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

EPPING, N.H.  – John Force picked up his second Funny Car win of the season Sunday at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also took home victories in their respective categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Boston. All three winners of the event rank as the active wins leaders in their classes.

Force, a 16-time Funny Car world champ, raced to a winning performance of 4.160 seconds at 309.49 mph in his PEAK Antifreeze Chevy Camaro SS, defeating No. 1 qualifier Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final. The victory was Force’s 143rd of his career, 99 ahead of second place Ron Capps. The win was Force’s first at New England Dragway following a runner-up at this event in 2013. With the win, Force now has a victory at every track that has appeared on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.

“I had a great day,” said Force, who moves to third in points with the win. “I’m not going out of racing any time soon, but I was going to win at New England. I almost did the first year and this year I finally did.”

Johnson Jr. was appearing in his first final of the season. The No. 1 qualifier for the weekend, Johnson Jr. leaves Epping still searching for his first win since Bristol last June. He is now fifth in Funny Car points.

In Top Fuel, Schumacher went the distance as the No. 1 qualifier, running a 3.809 at 321.35 in his U.S. Army dragster during a final round win over three-time world champ Larry Dixon, who finished in 3.881 at 319.60 in his C&J Energy Services dragster. Schumacher, the defending and eight-time world champ, secured his second win of the season, second in a row at Epping and 79th of his career. The victory propels Schumacher to second in points.

“[Crew chiefs] Mike [Green] and Neal [Strausbaugh] did an outstanding job today,” said Schumacher. “I felt like I drove well today. Together as a team we went out and won. We did a great job, what a battle.” 

Dixon, whose last win came in 2011 at Phoenix, was appearing in his third final of the season and first at New England Dragway. He is now fifth in points.

Anderson drove his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro to a 6.512 at 214.72 in the final round, defeating 2012 Pro Stock world champ Allen Johnson, who trailed with a 6.530 at 213.50 in his Magneti Marelli Dodge Dart. The win was Anderson’s third of the season and 77th of his career. Anderson, a four-time world champ who won last weekend at Englishtown while also beating Johnson in the final, has now won back-to-back races for the first time since 2011.

“My car has been fantastic,” said Anderson, who is now three for three in final rounds this season. “I’m absolutely having a ball. I’ve got a great race team behind me and they are doing a great job. I can’t wait to go to the next race.”

Johnson appeared in his second consecutive final of the season and he moved to fifth in points with the runner-up finish.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to Bristol, Tenn. next weekend for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 19-21 at Bristol Dragway.

***

EPPING, N.H. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the Third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park.  The race is the tenth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1.  Tony Schumacher; 2.  Larry Dixon; 3.  Brittany Force; 4.  Spencer Massey; 5.  Dave Connolly; 6.  Richie Crampton; 7.  Terry McMillen; 8.  Clay Millican; 9.  J.R. Todd; 10.  Dan Mercier; 11.  Morgan Lucas; 12.  Antron Brown; 13.  Leah Pritchett; 14.  Steve Torrence; 15.  Doug Kalitta; 16.  Shawn Langdon.

FUNNY CAR:

1.  John Force; 2.  Tommy Johnson Jr.; 3.  Cruz Pedregon; 4.  Courtney Force; 5.  Del Worsham; 6.  Matt Hagan; 7.  Alexis DeJoria; 8.  Robert Hight; 9.  Ron Capps; 10.  Tony Pedregon; 11.  Tim Wilkerson; 12.  Dom Lagana; 13.  Bob Tasca III; 14.  Jack Beckman; 15.  Dave Richards; 16.  Jeff Diehl.

PRO STOCK:

1.  Greg Anderson; 2.  Allen Johnson; 3.  Jason Line; 4.  Erica Enders; 5.  Drew Skillman; 6.  Vincent Nobile; 7.  Chris McGaha; 8.  Jonathan Gray; 9.  Shane Gray; 10.  Larry Morgan; 11.  John Gaydosh Jr; 12.  Alan Prusiensky; 13.  Val Smeland; 14.  Kenny Delco; 15.  V. Gaines.

EPPING, N.H. -- Sunday's final results from the Third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park. The race is the tenth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.809 seconds, 321.35 mph  def. Larry Dixon, 3.881 seconds, 319.60 mph.

Funny Car -- John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.160, 309.49  def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.195, 304.25.

Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.512, 214.72  def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.530, 213.50.

Competition Eliminator -- Peter Luciano, Chevy Cobalt, 8.573, 144.88  def. Steve Szupka, Bantam Roadster, 8.144, 158.80.

Super Stock -- Joe Santangelo, Chevy Camaro, 8.861, 135.82  def. Lincoln Morehead, Chevy Camaro, 10.208, 122.58.

Stock Eliminator -- Donald Pires, Chevy Nova, 12.053, 87.71  def. Jim Roberts, Chevy Camaro, foul.

Super Gas -- Ray Sawyer, Chevy Camaro, 9.911, 170.39  def. Jason Kenny, Chevy Corvette, 9.890, 159.76.

Super Comp -- Alan Kenny, Dragster, 8.870, 180.77  def. Jason MacNeil, Dragster, 8.865, 159.21.

Super Street -- Keith Mayers, Porsche, 10.914, 151.48  def. Chris DePascale, Vega, 10.897, 135.46.

Top Dragster -- Zac Biron, Dragster, 6.784, 197.28  def. Michael Galofaro, Dragster, 6.508, 209.23.

Pro Stock Snowmobile -- Tiina Duncanson, Ski-Doo, 8.112, 159.17  def. Heath Smith, Ski-Doo, 8.500, 150.23.

EPPING, N.H. -- Final round-by-round results from the Third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park, the tenth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Richie Crampton, 3.779, 321.88 def. Dan Mercier, 3.956, 297.81; Brittany Force, 4.287, 211.03 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.039, 117.17; Larry Dixon, 3.785, 320.58 def. Antron Brown, 4.149, 236.38; Terry McMillen, 4.268, 259.56 def. Shawn Langdon, 7.004, 100.77; Tony Schumacher, 4.027, 250.69 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.070, 238.81; Dave Connolly, 4.172, 242.23 def. Steve Torrence, 4.257, 246.12; Spencer Massey, 4.090, 261.22 def. Leah Pritchett, 4.216, 219.08; Clay Millican, 3.822, 322.42 def. J.R. Todd, 3.911, 288.64;

QUARTERFINALS -- Massey, 3.875, 313.51 def. Connolly, 3.936, 298.93; Schumacher, 3.909, 320.13 def. Millican, 4.410, 197.10; Dixon, 3.905, 312.78 def. McMillen, 4.331, 212.59; Force, 3.885, 316.08 def. Crampton, 4.121, 265.06;

SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 3.855, 322.73 def. Force, 3.894, 317.57; Schumacher, 3.865, 320.74 def. Massey, 3.908, 311.92;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.809, 321.35 def. Dixon, 3.881, 319.60.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.115, 315.19 def. Tony Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.320, 228.23; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.109, 307.93 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.691, 211.30; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.147, 314.39 def. Dave Richards, Toyota Solara, 6.420, 103.02; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.202, 287.66 def. Jeff Diehl, Solara, 11.011, 81.12; Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.130, 312.28 def. Dom Lagana, Solara, 4.653, 186.98; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.101, 314.46 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.822, 177.70; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.366, 231.04 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.450, 208.59; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.172, 292.90 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.212, 272.78;

QUARTERFINALS -- J. Force, 4.186, 309.84 def. Hagan, 4.182, 303.71; Johnson Jr., 4.157, 306.60 def. DeJoria, 4.439, 201.61; C. Force, 4.198, 307.72 def. Hight, 4.628, 192.06; C. Pedregon, 4.119, 284.51 def. Worsham, 4.152, 308.14;

SEMIFINALS -- Johnson Jr., 4.139, 309.77 def. C. Force, 10.651, 80.01; J. Force, 4.183, 298.14 def. C. Pedregon, 4.193, 265.59;

FINAL -- J. Force, 4.160, 309.49 def. Johnson Jr., 4.195, 304.25.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.567, 213.30 def. Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.595, 213.00; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.559, 212.53 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.565, 213.64; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.538, 212.73 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 7.848, 128.16; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.549, 213.37 def. John Gaydosh Jr, Pontiac GXP, 6.597, 211.10; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.513, 214.69 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 17.766, 39.39; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.515, 214.38 def. Val Smeland, Chevy Cobalt, 6.982, 158.84; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 9.389, 98.67 was unopposed; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.531, 213.50 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Avenger, 6.664, 210.31;

QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson, 6.554, 213.06 def. McGaha, 13.226, 65.40; Line, 6.615, 210.44 def. J. Gray, 13.876, 61.15; Anderson, 6.519, 214.11 def. Skillman, 6.533, 213.84; Enders, 6.506, 214.66 def. Nobile, 6.546, 213.47;

SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.516, 214.42 def. Line, 6.533, 212.39; Johnson, 6.537, 213.33 def. Enders, 6.540, 214.21;

FINAL -- Anderson, 6.512, 214.72 def. Johnson, 6.530, 213.50.

EPPING, N.H. -- Point standings (top 10) following the Third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park, the tenth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

Top Fuel

1.  Antron Brown, 790; 2.  Tony Schumacher, 757; 3.  Spencer Massey, 657; 4.  Richie Crampton, 640; 5.  Larry Dixon, 600; 6.  Doug Kalitta, 587; 7.  Shawn Langdon, 568; 8.  Brittany Force, 551; 9.  J.R. Todd, 491; 10.  Clay Millican, 479.

Funny Car

1.  Matt Hagan, 746; 2.  Ron Capps, 685; 3.  John Force, 652; 4.  Del Worsham, 643; 5.  Tommy Johnson Jr., 611; 6.  Jack Beckman, 601; 7.  Robert Hight, 546; 8.  (tie) Alexis DeJoria, 540; Cruz Pedregon, 540; 10.  Tim Wilkerson, 513.

Pro Stock

1.  Greg Anderson, 907; 2.  Erica Enders, 837; 3.  Jason Line, 776; 4.  Chris McGaha, 646; 5.  Allen Johnson, 554; 6.  Drew Skillman, 540; 7.  Larry Morgan, 518; 8.  (tie) Shane Gray, 507; Vincent Nobile, 507; 10.  Rodger Brogdon, 493.

-30-