Denny Hamlin snatches victory on the last lap Showdown

RICHMOND, Virginia — as a driver and sponsor charity race, Denny Hamlin polished Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway. By Steve Helber, AP

Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning his short track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway.

By Steve Helber, AP

Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning his short track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway.

After qualifying on pole position for the fourth annual Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, Hamlin sent his No. 11 Toyota back at the start of the race of 75 laps. He needed every circuit to make it back to the front, bumping Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch led off the first inning of the last lap for a victory that capped a come from behind for a tour de force of hometown crowd. "It's good," said Hamlin, who scored his first victory at the event. "It seems that a victory Cup".After a celebratory burnout and salute to the crowd, NASCAR Sprint Cup runner-up last year, who grew up in nearby Chesterfield, walked to the flagstad and left his helmet on the wall of the pit because "there was a kid that had a shirt 48 (Jimmie Johnson) eme I felt that he needed a helmet"Because of procedures intended to make the first late model race at RIR on 14 years safer qualification (for maintaining certain drivers inside lane), Hamlin said he was given the top starting spot, even though he would have qualified 10 about 0,75-mile oval. "I felt as if I had my chances to win, he said."But I felt that I needed to do it right. So we did it the hard way. "His race ended almost as soon as it began. Starting 36th, Hamlin narrowly avoided a 12-car pileup outside the backstretch in the first round. Although he flat-spotted his tires in the accident, Hamlin managed to March steadily forward. He restarted 22 after the accident and moved to the top 20 within 15 laps. He reached the top 10 just before a competition caution with 30 laps left.His big break came after another caution with 10 laps remaining. On a restart with seven laps remaining, Darrell Wallace Jr. (who won the race of K & no delayed rain earlier in the evening) spun while trying to pass Busch for the leadership to bring out a yellow end.Hamlin jumped from seventh to third parties to restart with two laps remaining. Fighting a fuel pickup problem apparent, Busch Toyota began to stir in the backstretch on the penultimate lap and Hamlin nudged him side by entering the final turn. Hamlin, "I'm happy that he ran out of fuel, because he could have gotten ugly," he said. "Trust me, I would have done everything possible to get around in the last couple of corners. That's what this race is built around. This is the old school racing. "The race has not been corrected, trust me. Kyle Busch was not going to let me win this race. "Michael Waltrip finished second, followed by Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Frank Deiny Jr. Busch hanging for sixth. "I know what could have gone better? Denny WINS, "Waltrip said. "I was right about him the last lap, but how can you knock a guy out of the way when it is your rush? was really happy that Denny has asked me to run. Tony (Stewart) never asked me to run in your race (an all-star exhibition at Eldora). "Most products in the event of Hamlin will for its Foundation, and 10% will go to relief efforts for victims of tornadoes that swept Wednesday night the West .it's all added up to a sweet twist of Hamlin, who was bumped out of the first in the last corner of the race for charity last year.Coming back, it was just difficult to do, "he said. "It's just a good confidence booster."For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards Editor Brent Jones. For consideration of publication in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and State for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections usatoday.com. We've updated the guidelines of the conversation. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation of how to use the "report abuse" button. Read more.

Hamlin makes it 2 wins in 2 nights in Richmond

RICHMOND, Virginia — make it two WINS in two nights of Denny Hamlin at his home track.Hamlin grabbed the lead for the first 44 laps of time for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night and dominated the rest of the 250-lap race.He lost the lead briefly when he pitted under green flag again when Aric Almirola have underneath him after you restart the first, and then he grabbed back six laps later for good.The victory was the 11th career Hamlin in the Nationwide Series and came a night after he passed Kyle Busch on the final lap to win his race for charity at the track.After arriving in Richmond 17TH in points in the Sprint Cup Series and hoping to jump start its season, Hamlin said he expects the momentum of two victories mean the start of something. "It is a big snowball is rolling and rolling, he said. "I hope it keeps going."Unlike charity race, in which Hamlin required all 75 laps to rally starting on the back of the field, he was 11th on the grid and had huge leads most of the night.But as Busch, who ran out of gas before arrival Thursday, Hamlin was severing close, prompting the head of team Adam Stevens to beg him to save fuel as he sought his first victory. "It is difficult to tell a driver, ' Slow down! Slow down! ' " Hamlin said. "It is completely out of our mentality, but he had a plan. He knew that we were right there in number. I had a feeling that we were going to make it. I felt very confident, but dude, it's great to win again in Richmond ".He took 199 of 251 laps and made it look too easy whenever he had the chance.When the ' Kelly Bires spun in turn 4 wall for the first caution on lap 124, Hamlin was leading by 8 seconds. And when he opened a lead of almost six seconds over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with less than 30 laps, Hamlin was able to try to save fuel to make it to the checkered flag.Stenhouse, however, took the second caution when he ran out of gas on lap 243, and when Almirola was also without gas behind it, Hamlin opted to pit to be safe.On the restart on lap 250, he'd Paul Menard behind him, followed by points leader Justin Allgaier. Hamlin easily won Menard in the first round in green and was crossing when a crash in the fourth turn brought another caution, clinching the victory of Hamlin.Com only three cars on the lead lap, Menard said he was "just going to bomb it into a" trying to pass Hamlin on the last lapbut prudence took this option. "He just had a better resume than I do, basically," Menard said about Hamlin, adding that he was not so sure that would have lasted Hamlin had fuel race ended without care.Chesterfield is the native of second runway 15 miles from his hometown.Menard was second, followed by Allgaier, Elliott Sadler, Brad Keselowski. The five were the only cars on the lead lap finish, in part because Almirola, who crossed the finish line in fifth place, was penalized for speeding on pit road and dropped to 14 overall.Sadler, a native of Virginia, Emporia that never worked well on the track also considered his course of origin credited team owner Kevin Harvick with giving him advice very helpful. "He said: ' look, this is what I want you to do, this is how I want you to be executed, that is what I want you to focus on ', and it saved my ass. I ran a lot better tonight, "said Sadler. Stenhouse, who shared the points lead with Allgaier coming race, ended at 21".We hated to see Ricky have trouble had tonight, "said Allgaier, who leads No. 2 Sadler by six points. "You never want to take something someone else's misfortune."

Denny Hamlin WINS race across the country to go 2-for-2 in Richmond

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — make it two WINS in two nights of Denny Hamlin (FSY) at his home track. By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin took 199 251 laps to win the Nationwide Series race in his hometown track in Richmond, Virginia

By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin took 199 251 laps to win the Nationwide Series race in his hometown track in Richmond, Virginia

Hamlin grabbed the lead for the first 44 laps of time for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night and dominated the rest of the 250-lap race.He lost the lead briefly when he pitted under green flag again when Aric Almirola (FSY) got underneath after you restart the first, and then he grabbed back six laps later for good.The victory was the 11th career Hamlin in the Nationwide Series and came a night after he passed Kyle Busch (FSY) on the last lap to win his race for charity at the track.After arriving in Richmond 17TH in points in the Sprint Cup Series and hoping to jump start its season, Hamlin said he expects the momentum of two victories mean the start of something. "It is a big snowball is rolling and rolling, he said. "I hope it keeps going."Unlike charity race, in which Hamlin required all 75 laps to rally starting on the back of the field, he was 11th on the grid and had huge leads most of the night.But as Busch, who ran out of gas before arrival Thursday, Hamlin was severing close, prompting the head of team Adam Stevens to beg him to save fuel as he sought his first victory. "It is difficult to tell a driver, ' Slow down! Slow down! ' "Hamlin said.Is completely outside our mentality, but he had a plan. He knew that we were right there in number. I had a feeling that we were going to make it. I felt very confident, but dude, it's great to win again in Richmond ".He took 199 of 251 laps and made it look too easy whenever he had the chance.When Kelly Bires (FSY) spun in turn 4 wall for the first caution on lap 124, Hamlin was leading by eight seconds. And when he opened a lead of almost six seconds over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (FSY) with fewer than 30 laps, Hamlin was able to try to save fuel to make it to the checkered flag.Stenhouse, however, took the second caution when he ran out of gas on lap 243, and when Almirola was also without gas behind it, Hamlin opted to pit to be safe.On the restart on lap 250, he'd Paul Menard (FSY) behind him, followed by points leader Justin Allgaier (FSY). Hamlin easily won Menard in the first round in green and was crossing when a crash in the fourth turn brought another caution, clinching the victory of Hamlin.Com only three cars on the lead lap, Menard said he was "just going to bomb it into a" trying to pass Hamlin on the last lapbut prudence took this option. "He just had a better resume than I do, basically," Menard said about Hamlin, adding that he was not so sure that would have lasted Hamlin had fuel race ended without care.It was the second victory on the track of the native of Chesterfield 15 miles from his hometown.Menard was second, followed by Allgaier, Elliott Sadler (FSY) and Brad Keselowski (FSY). The five were the only cars on the lead lap finish, in part because Almirola, who crossed the finish line in fifth place, was penalized for speeding on pit road and dropped to 14 overall.Sadler, a native of Virginia, Emporia that never worked well on the track also considered his course of origin credited team owner Kevin Harvick (FSY) with giving him advice very helpful. "He said: ' look, this is what I want you to do, this is how I want you to be executed, that is what I want you to focus on ', and it saved my ass. I ran a lot better tonight, "said Sadler. Stenhouse, who shared the points lead with Allgaier coming race, ended at 21".We hated to see Ricky have trouble had tonight, "said Allgaier, who leads No. 2 Sadler by six points. "You never want to take something someone else's misfortune."

Contract via email paying for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

. RICHMOND, Va. — Kelley Earnhardt once joked her younger brother would be content living in a tent with a computer and a T1 line connecting him to the world of online racing.

By Andrew P. Scott, USAT

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) talks with crew chief Steve Letarte during Sprint Cup practice at Richmond International Raceway. Earnhardt is ranked third in points and has five top 10s in his first eight races with Letarte leading the No. 88 Chevrolet team.

By Andrew P. Scott, USAT

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) talks with crew chief Steve Letarte during Sprint Cup practice at Richmond International Raceway. Earnhardt is ranked third in points and has five top 10s in his first eight races with Letarte leading the No. 88 Chevrolet team.

So perhaps the notion of Dale Earnhardt Jr. pounding away on a laptop until the wee hours of the morning isn't so stunning.

Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, though, has been witness to another side of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate's technophile tendencies this season.

"I up Monday morning, and I had three emails from him explaining different scenarios about what he thought went on with the car and how to make our stuff better," Johnson said. "And then I looked at who he had sent it to, and it was the engineers, the crew chiefs, and myself.

"I don't know what he was like before, but he, like he has always been, (is) committed to his team and is doing his best job."

One of the early storyline of the 2011 season is the turnaround of Earnhardt, who is third in points entering Saturday's Matthew and Daniel Hansen at Richmond International Raceway after missing the Chase for the Sprint Cup the past two seasons.

Earnhardt, 36, says his methods are the same as when he started with Dale Earnhardt Inc. 12 years ago, but he has gotten "better at being plugged in" since joining Hendrick three years ago.

"I got better at my communication because how they do things is different than what I've done in the past at DEI," he said. "The team meetings after the practices, the team meetings during the week prior to the races, and the communication between the driver and the crew chief being more on a daily basis.

"All those things are opportunities for an idea to pop up or for you to just be continuously giving the crew chief and the team your information and your thoughts and vice-versa. We never really did much of that at DEI. We just kind of showed up and went to the track and if (crew chief Tony Eury) needed to know something, he'd call and ask me, you know? We just didn't do those things, which a lot of teams didn't at the time.

"But at Hendrick, they just do it differently. So I think I've gotten better at utilizing their approach and utilizing their ideas on what communication is. And that's helped me a lot."

Another big factor is his relationship with crew chief Steve Letarte, who has guided Earnhardt to five top 10s in their first eight races. The radio chatter has become more measured and informative from Earnhardt, who had been known for meltdowns inside the cockpit of his No. 88 Chevrolet.

"The confidence that I see in Dale Jr. today is the chemistry between he and Steve," Johnson says. "This sport is about people. We always say it. We preach about it in the No. 48 car and why it's had the success that it's had. It really boils down to people and the relationships those people have."

Though he is known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, no one has seemed less impressed with his hot start than Earnhardt.

"It's because I am the only one under the pressure to keep it up," NASCAR's most popular driver said. "I don't have the time to be worried about anything else other than just trying to keep going. It's a lot of pressure to try to keep up the expectations that everybody has for you. So when we accomplish certain goals like when we win a race or a couple of races, or make the Chase, or win a race in the Chase or battle for the championship, those are the kinds of things that I can excited about and be happy with, and I will enjoy those moments."

Fresh rubber? In finishing second in Thursday's Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, Michael Waltrip had a pleasant flashback to a bygone era in NASCAR. The charity event featured Late Models running on bias-ply tires, which were replaced by radials 22 years ago.

"If you put the (Sprint) Cup cars on bias-ply tires and watched those guys race, it'd be amazing," said Waltrip, who began racing Cup in 1986. "I promise. Because you can get these cars so out of whack. And with all the power a Cup car has, it'd look more like a dirt race than an asphalt race, they'd be so sideways. I really enjoy the bias-ply tires."

But the owner of Michael Waltrip Racing (who retired from full-time driving last year) says Goodyear probably wouldn't be amenable to deviating from the radial tires, which are faster and more durable.

"It would change the car somewhat because there's a lot of deflection in the bias-ply tires," he said. "They just wobble around a lot. It'd be fun to see. I say that knowing that the belt on the radials keep tires from cutting as much, so the radials are a safer tire. Putting bias-ply on Cup cars would be stepping back 20 years."

That's not so appealing to Kevin Harvick, who calls such an idea "ridiculous" because of the trade-off in reliability.

"You go to Dover on a bias ply tire now, and you wouldn't have any cars left," he said.

Harvick, who watched Thursday's K&N and Showdown races from RIR's backstretch grandstands, said the tires weren't necessarily the reason the events were perceived as having good racing.

"When you have a late model race and a K&N race and even into the Truck Series, there is such a discrepancy in the back and the front of the field that makes it exciting because you have stuff going both ways all the time and you can't come in a change tires," he said. "When you get to Nationwide and Cup, the disparity and competition level is not that great so you have a different style of racing. Bias-ply tires is just not something that we would go back to on our cars. That's just crazy."

Restructuring continues: As part of an ongoing realignment of its senior executive team, NASCAR Media Group has added Steve Herbst as its vice president of broadcasting and global media strategy, reporting to president Paul Brooks. Herbst, who will be based in New York, was general manager of CBS College Sports Network from 2008-10 and also spent 19 years with the NBA in several broadcasting positions. Brooks will remain president but lead a new Innovation Group tasked with driving innovation and integration of new technologies in NASCAR.

Chief Sales Officer Jim O'Connell also was named the leader of a consolidated intellectual property group that will manage all assets carrying the NASCAR trademark.

Another revamp: The NASCAR Foundation (which benefits a group of charities) has formed a new platform called NASCAR Unites that is aimed at encompassing all charitable activities undertaken by teams, tracks and drivers' foundations. The restructuring, which is similar to NBA Cares, will focus on three pillar programs: NASCAR Day on May 20, a summer service program aimed at garnering 1 million volunteer hours and the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented to the fan who makes the biggest impact as a volunteer for children's charities. NASCAR Unites also will grant $1 million to children's charities.

Supporters are asked to pledge five volunteer hours (information is available on the NASCAR website), and wristbands showcasing fans' passion for children's causes will be distributed for a $5 donation.

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.We've updated the Conversation Guidelines. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation on how to use the "Report Abuse" button. Read more.

Polo short-track Sprint Cup first Montoya claims in Richmond

RICHMOND, Virginia — Juan Pablo Montoya won the first short-track career pole position for the Sprint Cup, bumping Regan Smith top in qualifying Friday at Richmond International Raceway. By Andrew p. Scott, today e.u.a.

Juan Pablo Montoya smiles after turning the fastest lasp Friday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Richmond International Raceway.

By Andrew p. Scott, today e.u.a.

Juan Pablo Montoya smiles after turning the fastest lasp Friday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Richmond International Raceway.

Montoya will start first in 0,75-mile oval for the seventh time in his cup career. His previous Poles had arrived at Talladega (twice), New Hampshire (twice), Indianapolis and Fontana, Calif. all its poles have come since 2009 when the driver Earnhardt Ganassi Racing made the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Montoya said qualifying for the first time in Richmond meant more than Talladega (where the quality of the car plays a role greater than the talent of a driver). "You must drive the hell out of a car," he said. "You have to drive the same way in a mile and a half, and I find it more difficult for a mile and a half of a shorter range, because the chances of losing a car is smaller. You can hustle the car a little more here (in Richmond). " Ultimately though, the veteran no-nonsense formula 1 and IndyCar said he prefers to stand out in all tracks. "Everything that gives a nice trophy," he said. "I really don't care. To go to the Championship, you have to perform well in all places. " Smith qualified a career-best second at no. 78 furniture row Chevrolet, starting his fifth top 5 in the last eight races ".I would like to know why the last two to three years that I couldn't qualify to save my life, "said Smith. "The key for us is to translate it for the race. We had good cars with bad luck and weeks. We are on the verge of taking the next step. Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin rounded out the top 5 in qualifying Saturday for Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400. Denny Hamlin, who won the race last fall's laugh, qualified 11th and Kyle Busch will begin Saturday 20th. The teammates Joe Gibbs Racing won the last four Cup races at RIR. *****complete schedule:1. (42), Juan Pablo Montoya (FSY), Chevrolet, mph. 2 128,639. Regan Smith (78) (FSY), Chevrolet, 128.382.3. (33) Clint Bowyer (FSY), Chevrolet, 128.272.4. (4) Kasey Kahne (FSY), Toyota, 128.15.5. (5) Mark Martin (FSY), Chevrolet, 128.053.6. (24) Jeff Gordon (FSY), Chevrolet, 128.011.7. (2) Brad Keselowski (FSY), Dodge, 128.011.8. (99) Carl Edwards (FSY), Ford, 128.005.9. (20) Joey Logano (FSY), Toyota, 127.98.10. (27) Paul Menard (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.956.11. (11) Denny Hamlin (FSY), Toyota, 127.78.12. (29) Kevin Harvick (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.66.13. (39) Ryan Newman (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.473.14. (47), Bobby Labonte (FSY), Toyota, 127.473.15. (13) Casey Mears (FSY), Toyota, 127.455.16. (30) David Stremme (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.401.17. (1) Jamie McMurray (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.352.18. (43) Allmendinger, Ford, 127.334.19. David Reutimann (00) (FSY), Toyota, 127.334.20. (18) Kyle Busch (FSY), Toyota, 127.31.21. (56) Martin Truex Jr. (FSY), Toyota, 127.304.22. (66)-Michael McDowell (FSY), Toyota, 127.298.23. (16) Greg Biffle (FSY), Ford, 127.131.24. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.095.25. (31) Jeff Burton (FSY), Chevrolet, 127.047.26. (87) Joe Nemechek (FSY), Toyota, 127.023.27. (6) David Ragan (FSY), Ford, 127.017.28. (38) Travis Kvapil (FSY), Ford, 126.892.29. (36) Dave Blaney (FSY), Chevrolet, 126.886.30. (48) Jimmie Johnson (FSY), Chevrolet, 126.88.31. (14) Tony Stewart (FSY), Chevrolet, 126.713.32. (60) Mike Skinner (FSY), Toyota, 126.582.33. (17) Matt Kenseth (FSY), Ford, 126.393.34. (2) Landon Cassill (FSY), Chevrolet, 126.351.35. (9) Marcos Ambrose (FSY), Ford, 126.269.36. (22) Kurt Busch (FSY), Dodge, 126.21.37. (83) Brian Vickers (FSY), Toyota, 126.186.38. (32) Ken Schrader (FSY), Ford, 126.139.39. (34) David Gilliland (FSY), Ford, 125.915.40. (46) J.J. Yeley (FSY), Chevrolet, 125.488.41. (71) Andy Lally (FSY), Ford, 124.832.42. (7) Robby Gordon (FSY), Dodge, owner Points 43. (37) Tony Raines (FSY), Ford, 125.482.44. (92) Brian Keselowski (FSY), Dodge, 123,288. For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards Editor Brent Jones. For consideration of publication in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and State for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections usatoday.com. We've updated the guidelines of the conversation. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation of how to use the "report abuse" button. Read more.

Short-track trio preps to unseat Harvick and take Richmond

His short-track win streak ended recently, but Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin likely remain the trio crash at Richmond International Raceway. By Tim Sharp, AP

Set to return for short track, Kyle Busch can be the title favorite in the race this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

By Tim Sharp, AP

Set to return for short track, Kyle Busch can be the title favorite in the race this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

Busch, Hamlin and Johnson had combined to win 15 consecutive races in three bands short Sprint Cup Series before a victory by Kevin Harvick on Martinsville this month.Busch would be the favorite for Matthew and Daniel Hanson 400 Saturday. The driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, which won at Bristol Motor Speedway last month triumphed in Richmond, a year ago. "It is very cool," Busch said its dominance short track.Hamlin, teammate JGR Busch, will also be a threat, having won twice with an average finish of eighth in his hometown track.Fresh AsphaltAfter a bone-rattling debut of the IndyCar Series the streets of Sao Paulo last season, the 2nd Circuit. 6-mile has been re-paved for Sao Paulo Sunday 300. At the request of drivers, three brakes were removed to improve the transit zones, and grooves have been added to a previously bumpy surface. The track also features a backstretch is the longest on the circuit for nearly a mile. "It really doesn't matter where you qualify. You know you can get through the package, "said the willpower of the Team Penske, who won in Brazil last year. "That's what I love about this place."Gain time? Three of the four 2010 Champions — Larry Dixon (Top fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock motorcycle) — professional classes of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing are still seeking his first victory of the season as the series heads to Houston this weekend for the O'Reilly Auto parts NHRA national Sprint. Tight riding: The Monster Energy AMA Supercross will drop the gate in Salt Lake City in his next to last race of the season with a race of four-rider for the title. Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, seeking its first title, holds a lead of six points over two-time champ Chad Reed. Ryan Dungey, defending world champion, is seven points behind Villopoto and two-time champion James Stewart tracks per nineFor more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards Editor Brent Jones. For consideration of publication in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and State for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections usatoday.com. We've updated the guidelines of the conversation. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation of how to use the "report abuse" button. Read more.

John Force's funny car tops qualifying

BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) — John Force raced to no. 1 position in the funny car qualifying on Friday at NHRA Spring nationals in Royal Purple Raceway. Force powered his Ford Mustang to 4 097-second run at 310 27 mph. If its performance holds after the final two qualifying sessions Saturdaythe strength of 62-year-old will win his third consecutive No. 1 effort of the season and inch closer to stock Pro great Warren Johnson NHRA qualifying record of 138. Tony Schumacher (Top fuel) Humphrey Ronnie (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock motorcycle) also topped their divisions.World Champion Schumacher seven times that led Top fuel qualifying with a 3,817 at a speed record of 323 81 Humphrey was the quickest in Pro stock with a 6,571 in 211.16 in a Pontiac GXP, while Defender Pro Stock Motorcycle champ LE Tonglet series led to two wheels Division with a time of record monitoring of 6,849 in 195.45.