NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The second half of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season kicked off with the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago, and it delivered all of the drama and excitement that fans have come to expect. The four Professional class winners -- Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Greg Anderson, and Andrew Hines -- are well-known to NHRA fans with a combined total of 13 world championships. The event also included the popular JEGS Allstars competition for racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 

Brown reached his fifth Top Fuel final of the year in the Matco Tools dragster and scored his third win when he beat J.R. Todd in the final round. Brown, a winner in Las Vegas and Epping, drove to wins over Clay Millican, Terry McMillen, and Leah Pritchett before facing Todd’s SealMaster dragster in the final. Although she lost in the second round, Brittany Force and her Monster team starred in Friday’s nighttime qualifying run with a track record 3.692, the fourth-quickest pass to date in Top Fuel.

Ron Capps made it to his sixth Funny Car final of the season, but his bid for career-win No. 50 ended when he smoked the tires against Beckman, who earned his 25th career victory, including his two Super Comp titles. Beckman became the eighth different Funny Car winner this season following a dominating performance that included wins against John Hale, Courtney Force, Robert Hight, and Capps. The track record was shattered numerous times in the Funny Car class, but no one ran quicker than two-time champion Matt Hagan’s 3.882. In addition to the win, Beckman set the track speed record with a 333.25-mph run, the third-fastest.

The KB team dominated in Pro Stock again, but there are signs that the tide is turning. For one, Anderson appeared in the final, but his Summit teammate Jason Line missed the final for just the second time this season. Line’s spot was taken by Bo Butner and his KB-powered Camaro. Anderson earned his 84th win with a 6.644 to Butner’s 6.667. The KB team did not, however, earn the No. 1 qualifying spot. That honor went to Shane Gray, who has made steady progress since the return of crew chief Dave Connolly.  

The Pro Stock Motorcycle final featured the rival Vance & Hines and Star teams, with Vance & Hines Harley rider Hines winning for the 44th time in his career. Hines, who also won the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte this season, left the starting line with a nearly perfect .002 reaction time and outran Englishtown winner Angelle Sampey, 6.85 to 6.89. Hines’ teammate, points leader Eddie Krawiec, went to the semifinal round before losing on a rare red-light start.  

The other stars of the event included Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Shane Westerfield, who won Saturday’s JEGS Allstars race and then returned on Sunday to pull off the double. Slate Cummings, who won the Super Stock title in the JEGS Allstars, returned on Sunday to race in the Super Stock and Stock finals, picking up his second victory when he won in Stock. Sportsman legend Dan Fletcher also continued his winning ways with his 98th career victory and 51st in Super Stock. Fletcher also became the first driver in a COPO Camaro to win in Super Stock.

Vote now for your favorite driver and moment of the race.