NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The predicted forecast was possibly for rain, but most certainly for cool temperatures that could have been conducive to record-setting runs and a pleasing outcome for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at New England Dragway. Unfortunately, the day turned into a tire-smoking affair before rain moved into the area and the day's action was called. The first round of the challenge was contested, though, and the drivers who advanced to the final will share the spoils. 

Brittany Force was looking for revenge from her Chicago semifinals loss to Clay Millican, but it was not to be had. Force went up in smoke early and Millican soon followed suit, kicking off an intense pedalfest that rattled through New England Dragway. Force's engine gave way down track, and Millican narrowly missed crossing the centerline to get the win light, 5.09 to 5.24.

"It went out there and shook, I gave it a pedal, and it carried the front end, then it got over by the wall, I let off and got back on, and it spun again," said Millican. "I didn't do a very good job of it, but it was enough to turn the win light on. With this #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, there's a little money out there. I'd never do that in qualifying, but for this, you gotta stomp on that loud pedal a few times." 

In the next pair, Leah Pruett had lane choice over Josh Hart, but lane choice mattered not as another wild pedalfest ensued. Pruett shook the tires violently at the hit and got off of the gas, but when she saw Hart fall into trouble, she got back in it. Pruett got the nod, 5.21 to 8.83. 

"That was some hardcore tire shake," said Pruett. "We're still qualifying at the end of the day, but I wanted to get the trophy." 

The first round of the Funny Car Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge set up a battle between Phoenix Challenge winner Chad Green and reigning world champion Ron Capps, who won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Chicago two weeks ago. Green left the starting line first but soon fell into a thunderous rattle of tire smoke. Capps soon followed into the trouble zone, and Green got back on the throttle. The two traded whomps down the racetrack, and Capps won the match on a 5.91 to a 10.01.

"I was like Fred Flintstone out there," said Capps. "To have this much horsepower in treacherous conditions, the fans ought to be loving this right now. As a driver in conditions like this, you want to do right by your team – but even the G.O.A.T. John Force had trouble getting down the track. That tells you how difficult it is."

In Force's match with Tim Wilkerson, he lost traction, pedaled, then crossed the centerline. As he did so, he took out two timing blocks, while Wilkerson lost traction and had to pedal as well. As the timing blocks had been taken out by Force, no time was awarded. 

The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is set up to award bonus points that are to be applied when the Countdown to the Championship begins, but due to the rainout of the special race, bonus points will not be awarded. The cash payouts will be dispersed amongst the finalists as follows: Millican and Capps will each receive $5,000 as the quickest round-one winners, Pruett and Wilkerson will each receive $1,500, and the remaining drivers will each receive a $500 cash prize. 

Semifinalists at the New England Nationals will meet for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at Bristol Dragway in one week.