NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Day five is complete at the 62nd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, and it was filled with action, including the final two Mello Yello qualifying sessions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle as well as eliminations in the J&A Service Pro Mod Series and Lucas Oil Sportsman classes.

Here are the day’s top-five highlights:

1. Courtney Force wins Traxxas Shootout
Courtney Force, enjoying one of the best seasons of her career, claimed the $100,000 top prize in the Traxxas Funny Car Shootout. Force, in her Traxxas-backed Chevy Camaro, defeated teammate Robert Hight to win the special eight-car event. [Story]

2. Capps OK after net encounter
Ron Capps suffered a tough break during the first round of the Traxxas Shootout when the parachutes failed to deploy on his NAPA Dodge and wound up upside down in the Lucas Oil Raceway sand trap. Capps defeated longtime rival John Force but was unable to continue because his chassis was too badly damaged to continue. The NAPA team will have a spare car in Monday’s final eliminations. [Story]

3. Countdown drama
The battles for the final spots in the upcoming Countdown to the Championship playoffs intensified on Sunday as teams jockeyed to secure their places in the NHRA playoffs. In Top Fuel, Terry McMillen was not qualified going into the final session and needed an eleventh-hour effort just to make the field. His battle with Leah Pritchett will continue on Monday. In Pro Stock, Alex Laughlin, Erica Enders, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. are fighting for the final spot in the field, and the first round of Pro Stock Motorcycle will feature a winner-take-all battle between Cory Reed and Steve Johnson.

4. Leads change hands
The top spot in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle changed hands on Sunday with Bo Butner and Angelle Sampey securing the top spots in their respective categories. Butner turned in a 6.571 to knock Vincent Nobile from the top spot, and Sampey’s track record 6.812 dislodged Jerry Savoie in the bike class.

5. Holbrook sets Stock record
History was made in the opening round of the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology Factory Stock Showdown when Chris Holbrook drove his new Varsity Ford Cobra Jet Mustang to an 8.237, the quickest pass to date for an NHRA-legal Stock car. The final two rounds of the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown will be held on Monday.
 

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