2005 NHRA O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals
COMING UP NEXT, DRAG RATIO ITS MATCHUPS YOU HEARD. THE WINNER GETS POSSIBLY TONY SCHUMACHER. MAYBE BOBBY LAGANA JFERR JR. ON THE OTHER SIDE, MELANIE TROXEL. MIKE: THAT’S A BIG MATCHUP WITH MELANIE. THAT’S AWFULLY TOUGH ON RACE DAY.
MARTY: AS WE COME BACKTRACKSIDE, MORGAN LUCAS, HERE COMES BRANDON BERNSTEIN. YOU TALK ABOUT BUTTERFLIES. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. THIS WAS WHERE WE WERE YESTERDAY IN QUALIFYING IN THE THIRD SESSION. TEMPERATURE ABOUT THE SAME. TRACK TEMPERATURE IN THE HIGH DOUBLE DIGITS.
AND AS WE GET READY, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP. BECAUSE AFTER QUALIFYING IT IS NOW DOUG KALITTA HAVING THE MARVIN OVER TONY SCHUMACHER BY 64 POINTS. MIKE: SO EVEN THOUGH BRANDON BERNSTEIN IS A HIGHER QUALIFYING CAR, MORGAN LUCAS HAS HAD THE
BETTER CAR. HE WENT DOWN THE RACETRACK ALL FOUR HIS QUALIFYING RUNS, HE JUST DIDN’T RUN THE BIG NUMBER. BASICALLY MORGAN WENT AROUND 469. BRANDON DID NOT DO THAT UNTIL THE LAST SESSION LAST EVENING. SO RIGHT NOW TIM RICHARDS PROBABLY ISN’T REAL COMFORTABLE
WITH THE HOT WEATHER SETUP RIGHT NOW. IT’S THE FIRST PAIR OUT. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. MARTY: MORGAN LUCAS GOT HIS FIRST EVER ROUND WIN ONE YEAR AGO RIGHT HERE IN MEMPHIS. AND HE’S GOING TO GET IT, AT THE EXPENSE OF BRANDON BERNSTEIN. THERE’S TIM RICHARDS, EXACTLY
WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. FRUSTRATING. MIKE: IT’S JUST TOUGH BEING THE FIRST PAIR OUT ON A HOT RACETRACK LIKE THIS. WE SAW THE SAME THING IN ST. LOUIS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXTREMELY WARM. IT’S EXTREMELY TRICKY. RIGHT ABOUT THAT POINT YOU’RE
TRYING TO BRING THE CLUTCH IN. YOU SAW BRANDON WITH THE TIRES VERY HARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN. MORGAN LUCAS DID THE SAME THING BUT DID NOT SPIN THE TIRES AS HARD. HE GOT THE RECOVERY A LITTLE BETTER.
HIS DROVE INTO THE SMOKE A LITTLE BIT EASIER, SO THAT ALLOWED THE DRIVER TO BE ABLE TO CATCH IT A LITTLE BETTER. IT HAZED THEM A LITTLE BIT. AT THAT POINT HE JUST TOOK IT IN. MARTY: BRANDON BERNSTEIN, HIS
FIFTH FIRST ROUND LOSS OF THE YEAR AS WE GET READY FOR DOUG KALITTA AND MELANIE TROXEL. GARY: WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AS YOU GOT READY IN HOW CONCERNED WERE YOU? >> THE CAR IN QUALIFYING, THE FIRST RUN ON SATURDAY WENT RIGHT
DOWN THE TRACK NO PROBLEMS. IT WAS KIND OF ABOUT THE SAME TEMPERATURE. BUT I THINK THE TRACK’S A LITTLE LOOSE RIGHT THERE. BRANDON’S A GREAT TEAM TO RACE AGAINST. THEY’RE ALSO LUCAS OILSTONE USERS. WE USE KEYSTONE AUTO PARTS. THAT’S JUST HOW IT GOES.
DAVE: AS YOU GUYS ROLLED, NO WONDER WHY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES ARE THE BOXES THAT CARRY UP TO 12 DIFFERENT TIMING SEQUENCES. BOB JUMPED IMMEDIATELY TO HIS BOX AND MADE A LAST SECOND CHANGE NO DOUBT TO TAKE SOME OF
THE POWER AWAY FROM DOUG’S CAR. THEY NEED A WIN. THIS IS A BIG RACE. MARTY: THESE TWO MET BACK IN SEATTLE. SHE’S GOT LANE CHOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER RETURN. OH, IT’S CLOSE. AND THE WIN TO MELANIE TROXEL.
GET READY FOR THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP TO TIGHTEN UP AGAIN. THE INVESTMENT JUST PAID DIVIDENDS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED TO HAVE HAPPEN. MELANIE COMES OUT AND TAKES OUT THE POINTS LEADER IN ROUND NUMBER ONE.
OPENS THE DOOR FOR TONY SCHUMACHER AND SECOND PLACE. DAVE: WITH DON SCHUMACHER, A PRETTY HAPPY GUY. THAT’S WHAT THE INVESTMENT’S FOR. >> THAT’S WHAT IT’S FOR. DAVE: HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF THIS TEAM AT THIS POINT? THEY’VE BEEN STRUGGLING ALL SEASON.
>> I’M REAL PROUD OF THEM. THEY’VE BEEN DOING A GREAT, GREAT JOB. THEY’VE BEEN WORKING WITH A SYSTEM THAT’S BRAND NEW. WE’LL GO ROUNDS TODAY. DAVE: THAT COULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT CAR’S GOING GONE DOWN THE RACETRACK ON ALL OF THEM SINCE THEY CAME OUT.
MARTY: THERE GOES MELANIE. I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT ALL OVER, THEN ABOUT HALF TRACK THE THING STARTED SLOWING. THEN HE STARTED PUTTING SOME CYLINDERS OUT. MADE DON VERY HAPPY. THERE AT THE FINISH LINE IT’S MELANIE TROXEL. LET’S TALK TO A VERY HAPPY MELANIE TROXEL.
GARY: MELANIE, WHAT’S THE SATISFACTION METER READING RIGHT NOW? >> I TELL YOU IT, SEEMS LIKE THAT FIRST ROUND WIN WAS NEVER GOING TO COME FOR US. WE’VE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT. BUT BOY, YOU COULDN’T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER ROUND TO WIN.
THAT TEAM IS SO TOUGH OUT THERE. TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DOUG OUT, DO SOMETHING TO HELP OUT TONY, WE CAN’T SAY ENOUGH. THIS SKUL TEAM IS TRYING TO HANG IN THERE, KEEP IT TOGETHER. WE KNEW THINGS WOULD TURN AROUND. LOOKS LIKE WE FINALLY GOT THERE.
MARTY: LAST ROUND WIN, DENVER OF 2003. WE GET READY FOR CLAY MILL KEN AND DAVID GRUBNIC. MIKE: CLAY MILIKEN THE HOMETOWN BOY. HE WOULD LOVE TO WIN IN FRONT OF ALL HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AT THIS POINT THE CAR LOOKS PRETTY GOOD GOING DOWN THE
TRACK. HOPEFULLY HE CAN GET IT. MARTY: LET’S GO BACK TO LAST YEAR BECAUSE THESE TWO MET IN ROUND NUMBER TWO. AND WATCH THIS BECAUSE IT WAS A TALL SHOT FOR MILLICAN OVER DAVID. THE SECOND CLOSEST FINISH OF THE YEAR. THAT’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE
STRIPE. I BET YOU DAVID’S REMEMBERING THAT ONE. WELL, HE GETS REVENGE THIS YEAR. DAVID GRUBNIC NOFFS TO SECOND ROUND. — MOVES IN TO SECOND ROUND. MIKE: LET’S WATCH CLAY LAUNCH OUT OF THE STARTING LINE. HAD THE ADVANTAGE A LITTLE BIT,
BUT WHEN HE TRIES TO APPLY THE CLUTCH HE’LL START SPINNING THE TIRES. HE BACK PEDALS, GETS BACK ON IT. GOT THE RECOVERY OK. THEN PUT A CYLINDER OUT. AT THAT POINT ALL HE COULD DO WAS WATCH DAVID GRUBNIC RIGHT HERE JUST BLOW AWAY FOR THE WIN.
HE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM EARLY IN THE RUN TO GET THE WIN. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ESPN, INC.] MARTY: WE’RE BACK HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. YOU SEE THE REACTION FROM MELANIE TROXEL AFTER TAKING OUT THE POINTS LEADER, DUL KALITTA.
NOW WE GET READY FOR CORY MCCLENATHAN AND MITCH KING. REMEMBER THAT FEIGN MUST LANE SWITCH? MIKE: THAT WAS A BAD MOVE. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF CARS IN THAT LEFT-HAND LANE SMOKE THE TIRES ABOUT 300 FEET DOWN THE TRACK. MARTY: RIGHT CHOICE THIS WEEK.
WE WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CORY HEAFING THE HELMET INTO THE VAN AT THE FAR END OF THE RACETRACK. HE’LL BE COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED AFTER TAKING THIS WIN. MIKE: IT WAS A BONEHEAD MOVE LAST WEEK, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT THIS WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE.
CORY GOES RIGHT DOWN THE RACETRACK, 484 INTO THE SECOND ROUND. MARTY: ONE OF THOSE DAYS. CORY’S GONE FROM ZERO TO HERO IN A MATTER OF ONE WEEK. DAVE: PRESSURE-PACKED RACE COMING UP RIGHT NOW. SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WATCHING
ALLEN JOHNSON AND THE ENTIRE ARMY TEAM TRYING TO MAKE THEIR LAST-MINUTE PREPARATIONS. DOUG KALITTA SAW ALLEN JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY JUMP BACK INTO THE BOX AFTER WATCHING THE FIRST THREE PAIRS. WE SAW RON TAKE THE CAR BACK OUT TOO MUCH.
HE’S A HIGH HORSEPOWER CAR, TOO. IT’S HARD TO PULL A CAR BACK. EVEN MORE SO, I HAVE TO BELIEVE ON ONE OF THESE HOT, SLIPPERY RACETRACKS. >> IT WASN’T HOT AND SLIPPERY WHEN WE WENT RACING LAST WEEK IN BRAINERED. EVERYONE WAS STUNNED WITH THIS
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THAT’S SOME ACTION DOWN THE STREET. THE ACTION IS HOT EVERYWHERE IN THIS TOWN. TEMPERATURES ARE SORRYING. I STILL — TEMPERATURES ARE SOARING. I STILL HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT HOW THAT GUY DOES THAT. SCOTT KALITTA OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE. DOUG HERBERT IN THE LEFT LANE.
NO KALITTA HAS EVER WON THIS RACE. CERTAINLY DOUG’S NOT GOING TO HAVE A SHOT. HE’S OUT OF HERE. LET’S GET READY FOR THIS ONE. THIS IS A TEAM THAT’S REALLY STARTING TO TURN SOME CORNERS. DAVE: THIS IS A GOOD MATCHUP.
BOTH THESE TEAMS, WAYNE AND DOUG — HERBERT’S ACTUALLY BETTER ON RACE DAY. THEY’RE TRYING TO GET THAT THING TOGETHER. MARTY: THIS TIME IT IS DOUG HERBERT TAKING THE SHORTENED. SCOTT TAKES THE WIN BY 4.803. HE IS NOW THE QUICKEST RUN OF THIS FIRST ROUND.
NICE PASS BY SCOTT KALITTA. THEY WERE STRUGGLING WITH SMOKING THE TIRES. THIS WAS A TRICK RACETRACK. DIDN’T HAVE LANE CHOICE, WAS PUT IN THAT RIGHT-HAND LANE. DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE. THEY SAY THERE MAY BE A LITTLE
MORE BUMP IN THAT RIGHT-HAND LANE. MARTY: SO SCOTT WON BACK AT POMONA. MARTY: SO DON’T FORGET ON SUNDAY IT, COULD BE THE SKOAL SHOWDOWN. COMPETING FOR NEARLY $150,000. 100 OF IT GOES TO THE WINNER. EIGHT HAVE MADE THE FIELD. IT’S ALL PART OF OUR COVERAGE OF
THE 51ST MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS. WE GET READY NOW FOR LARRY DIXON AND JOHN SMITH. FINAL PAIR HERE IN OPENING ROUND ACTION OF TOP FUEL. AGAIN, BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR LARRY DIXON. HE KNOWS THE POINTS LEADER IS OUT OF HERE. NUMBER TWO IN THE POINTS HAS ALREADY WON.
HE’S GOT TO WIN TO KEEP PACE. LET’S CHECK IN WITH DAVE ON THE FUNNY CAR ACTION. DAVE: DO NOT LEAVE. YOU THINK THE POINT RACES WERE TIGHT AND TOUGH. FUNNY CAR, IT’S EVEN TIGHTER. YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME GREAT MATCHUPS.
JOHN FORCE FACES A POTENTIAL ROUND TWO MATCHUP WITH THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER, ROBERT HEIGHT. CHASING THESE GUYS IN THIS ULTRA CLOSE POINTS BATTLE IS THE TEAM SCHUMACHER CARS. THEY RELATION EACH OTHER IN ROUND NUMBER ONE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY TAKE
ON GARY SCELZI, THE MAN WHO’S CHASING THEM. THIS COULD BECOME WIDE OPEN HERE, TOO AS EARLY AS THE FIRST ROUND, MAYBE THE SECOND ROUND. >> MARTY: WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. LOOKING DOWN ON LARRY DIXON. THIS IS ONE WHERE IN THE COCKPIT
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS ROUND. MIKE: YOUR FOCUS IS TO GET THE CAR DOWN THE RACETRACK AS FAST AS IT WILL GO. IF THE TIRES START SMOKING BE READY TO BACK PEDAL. IF IT DOES SPIN THE TIRES, KEEP IT RUNNING.
LARRY’S MADE THREE VERY GOOD RUNS. HE DID SPIN THE TIRES ON THE ONE AFTERNOON SESSION YESTERDAY ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS WE’RE RUNNING NOW SO, THIS WILL BE CRITICAL FOR THEM TO GET THIS THING HOOKED UP AND TRY TO GET
TO THE NEXT ROUND. MARTY: WELL, THE MAN WHO HAS GONE TO FIVE FINALS OVERALL IS GOING ON. 4.88 THE ELAPSED TIME. 247 MILES PER HOUR. OBVIOUSLY THE CYLINDERS DROPPING AT THE FAR END OF THE TRACK. MIKE: LET’S WATCH LARRY AS HE GOES THROUGH STAGING PROCEDURE.
RIGHT HAND ON THE BRAKE AS HE PUMPS IT BEFORE HE PULLS THE CAR IN. TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. GOING TO ROLL THE THING IN. THE FUEL PUMP’S ALREADY BEEN TURNED ON. GRABS THE BRAKE. WATCH HIS RIGHT FOOT.
AS SOON AS HE SEES THAT AMBER LIGHT HE’S GOING TO MASH ON THAT GAS. LARRY PUT A CYLINDER OUT EARLIER. THAT’S BEEN THE PROBLEM, HE PUTS A CYLINDER OUT AND IT STARTS REALLY EATING THAT ENGINE UP. THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE,
BUT LUCKILY THE BLOWER BELT STAYED ON LONG ENOUGH JUST TO KEEP THEM UP AHEAD OF JOHN SMITH AND GET THEM INTO THE NEXT ROUND. MARTY: THE ARROW INDICATES WHO GETS LANE CHOICE. THE BIG SURPRISE IS MELANIE TROXEL WHO GETS LANE CHOICE.
MARTY: ALREADY THE CARS BACKING UP AFTER THE BURNOUT HERE IN FIRST ROUND ACTION OF FUNNY CAR AS WE ARE GETTING READY FOR TIM WILKERSON AND PHIL BURKART. IT’S A FOUR HORSE RACE IN THE CHASE FOR THE NHRA FUNNY CAR CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHO WILL DROP FIRST AS WE HEAD DOWN THE STRETCH? ONLY 45 POINTS SEPARATE THE TOP FOUR WITH ONLY SEVEN RACES TO GO. AND AS WE COME BACKTRACKSIDE, GETTING READY FOR PHIL AND TIM, HERE’S OUR FUNNY CAR LADDER. THEY’RE ALL STACKED ON THE SAME
SIDE. BAD NEWS FOR THEM. MARTY: YOU SAW THE TIRES MOKE ON PHIL BURKART’S CAR, AND THAT’S ALL TIM WILKERSON NEEDED TO TAKE THE WIN LIGHT AND MOVE INTO SECOND ROUND ACTION. REMEMBER, HE WASA RUNNR-UP HERERE BFO.. THEYNONOW HOWO NEGOT THIS TRAC
MIMIKE: P WILL SMOKE TIRES ERY EARLY. SASAYAYS A LITTLE TO THE LEF THEN IT GOES INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TIRE SHAKE BECAUSE IT WAS SPINNING THE TIRES BASICALLY. TIM WILKERSON TRYING TO SINK DOWN. HE STARTS HAZING THE TIRES ON THE OTHER END.
MARTY: ON BOARD WITH CRUZ PEDREGON. JOHN FORCE IN THE LEFT LANE. LET’S TAKE YOU BACK TO SEATTLE BECAUSE THESE GUYS HAVE MET THREE TEAMS, 6 C1 BECAUSE THESE GUYS HAVE MET THREE TEAMS, AND SO FAR CRUZ HAS WON THREE OF THEM, INCLUDING THIS ONE.
IT WAS THE CLOSEST RACE SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE MOTEL 6 AWARD. MIKE: FEAST OR FAMINE. CRUZ PEDREGON WON IN 1992. BEFORE THAT IT WAS 1989. MARTY: CRUZ SLIPPED UP JUST ENOUGH FOR JOHN TO GET PAST HIM. 5.19 SECONDS THE ELAPSED TIME TO CRUZ’S 5.42.
MIKE: GIVE SOME PROPS TO CRUZ. HE DID A GOOD JOB. LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN, YOU’LL WATCH HIM. SMOKING TIRES, BACK PEDALS. GETS TO RECOVER. CRUZ CAN STAY IN THE GAME FOR A WHILE. ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, YOU TRY TO BACK THIS THING DOWN. IN A FUEL FUNNY CAR AND DRAGSTER
THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST E.T. FROM 150 FEET TO HALF TRACK. THEY HAVE TO SPLIT THAT CLUTCH, WHAT HAPPENS, IT PUTS A CYLINDER OUT, WHICH SLOWS IT DOWN EVEN MORE. LUCKILY JOHN WAS STILL ABLE TO GET UP ON CRUZ.
THERE IS WES SERVING AS A CONSULTANT FOR THIS PAST LAST WEEKEND. AS HE LOOKS ON TO THE ACTION AS WE GET READY TO FIRE, IT WILL BE RON KAPPS AND WHIT BAZEMORE COMING TO THE LINE NEXT. WHILE WE’VE GOT A MOMENT, LET’S TALK ABOUT NEXT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. THE INAUGURAL RUNNING OF THE ARJENT — ARGENT MORTGAGE GRAND PRIX. FOR MORE LOG ON TO ESPN.COM. DOWN THE TRACK YOU SEE THE GRANDSTANDS. THERE IS THE TRACK TEMPERATURE, 134. DAVE: JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW TO NEGOTIATE THIS RACETRACK.
YOU HAVE TO STEAL POWER FROM EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST THE MIDDLE, BUT HERE AT THE STARTING LINE AS WELL WHERE IT CAN BE A LITTLE SLIPPERY, THE RUBBER STARTING TO PEEL UP. YOU HAVE TO JUST YANK IT BACK. MARTY: BOTH CARS GET DOWN THE
TRACK, AND BOY DID KAPPS GET CLOSE TO THAT WALL. DON SCHUMACHER SAYS THAT’S ALL RIGHT. THESE GUYS RACED IT ALL THE WAY BOTH ENDS OF THE TRACK. SCHUMACHER HAS KEPT HIS WORD. HE SAID WHEN BOTH HIS TEAMS CAME UP, THEY WOULD GO FOR IT.
MIKE: WHEN IT PUT A CYLINDER OUT IT, REALLY PUSHED THAT THING OVER TOWARDS THE WALL. 1,000 POUNDS PER SIDE, WHEN ONE OR TWO GOES OUT IT WANTS TO LIEN — LEAN THAT THING OVER AGAINST THE WALL. MARTY: RON IS TRYING TO TELL EVERYBODY UNDERNEATH THE HELMET.
♪ MARTY: WE’RE BACK HERE AT THE MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK. THAT NOTE TO R.J. PHILIPS. HE IS A CAMERA OPERATOR, HE IS RECOVERING. GOING TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW. FOUND OUT HE WAS WATCHING NHRA THIS MORNING WITH ALL THE NURSES IN HIS ROOM.
IS HE GOING TO TAKE SOME HEAT WHEN HE GETS BACK TO INDY. GARY DENSHAM, HE PICKED UP HIS FIRST EVER WIN IN 30 YEARS OF TRYING AT THIS TRACK. HE GOES DOWN IN DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF DEL WORSHAM. MIKE: THAT WAS A TOUGH BREAK FOR
GARY DENSHAM, BECAUSE HE REALLY HAD A GOOD LAUNCH OFF. I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DEL, IF HE WAS JUST THINKING MORE ABOUT GETTING THE CAR DOWN THE RACETRACK. BASICALLY IN THIS SITUATION THAT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING A GOOD RAG TIME.
MARTY: AS WE GO BACK INTO THE PIT AREA, THERE IS JOHN FORCE. WE GOT WORD THAT THE FIRE BOTTLES WENT OFF. THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CLEANUP. YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE CHASSIS.
GARY: IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHEN JOHN GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CREW GOT THERE, HE APOLOGIZED TO THEM BECAUSE IT’S VERY, VERY MESSY. A LOT OF STUFF ON THE TOP END. A TURNOUT AREA. BUT THEY WERE IN THERE DOING
BUSINESS AS USUAL YESTERDAY DURING OUR QUALIFYING SHOW. WE MET ALL THE MEMBERS OF JOHN FORCE’S TEAM, AND ALL THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCED BEING PUT TO GOOD USE RIGHT NOW. MARTY: NUMBERS THREE AND FOUR HAVE ADVANCED. NUMBERS ONE AND TWO STILL TO COME.
AND ERIC MEDLEN KEEPS PACE. IN FACT HE GOES LOW FOR THIS FIRST ROUND OF FUNNY CAR. 5.10 AT TWOR 84 MILES PER HOUR. — AT 284 MILES PER HOUR. MIKE: NICE JOB BY ERIC MEDLEN. THIS HAS BEEN THE HOTTEST CAR ON
THE CIRCUIT LATELY, AND HE JUST PROVED WHY. THAT’S NOT A BAD PASS. MARTY: HE’S WON TWO THAT’S NOT A BAD PASS. MARTY: HE’S WON TWO OF THE LAST THREE RACES. MIKE: PEDESTRIAN PEDESTRIAN, THEY JUST CAN’T SEEM TO — — TONY PEDREGON, THEY JUST CAN’T
SEEM TO GET A HANDLE ON HIM. SHAKES THE TIRES, TRIES TO PEDAL IT, BUT AT THAT POINT ERIC’S LONG GONE. EVERYBODY’S SPINNING THE TIRES FROM HALFTRACK ON. YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR MOMENTUM AND KEEP IT HOOKED UP TO AT LEAST HALF TRACK.
DAVE: CLAY MILLICAN, SO MUCH SUCCESS ON THE IHRA, TO COME OVER HERE AND NOT WIN YET AND TO GO OUT EARLY TODAY, HOW DIFFICULT A PILL IS THAT TO SWALLOW? >> I TELL YOU WHAT, IT’S REALLY HARD COMING OVER HERE,
ESPECIALLY AT THIS RACETRACK. BUT IT’S A PART OF RACING. YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE FIRST ROUND, BUT I HATE LOSING. >> YOU ALSO HAD A PRETTY EXCITING BLOWOVER. TELL US ABOUT IT. >> IF YOU’RE GOING TO CRASH A
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER I DID IT THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. IT DIDN’T HURT. IT WAS REAL SMOOTH. DAVE: YOU WENT ALL THE WAY OVER THE TOP IN MICHIGAN. MARTY: WE’RE LOOKING AT THE STILL PHOTOS OF THAT. PRETTY UGLY, BUT CLAY CAME OUT
OF IT UNHARMED. THIS IS HIS HOMETOWN TRACK. HE USED TO RACE HERE YEARS AGO BEFORE TURNING PROFESSIONAL. TIME NOW FOR GARY SCELZI IN THE LEFT LANE, BOB GILBERTSON IN THE RIGHT LANE. NUMBERS TWO AND 15 QUALIFIERS. SCELZI SECOND IN THE POINTS. ALTHOUGH IF HE LOSES THIS ROUND,
FORCE PASSES HIM. MIKE: HE WATCHED HIS TEAMMATES UP AHEAD OF HIM GO DOWN THE TRACK FAIRLY WELL. THAT’S GOT TO MAKE HIM FEEL A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT. ER WANTS TO DO THE SAME THING, DOES NOT WANT TO SMOKE THE TIRES.
TRUST ME, IT’S NOT EASY TO DO. YOU SAY HEY, JUST TAKE A BUNCH OF HORSEPOWER OUT AND GO DOWN THE RACETRACK, BUT THEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION LIKE TONY PEDREGON WHERE THE TIRES WEREN’T SPINNING FAST ENOUGH AND THEY KIND OF ROLL OVER THEMSELVES.
THAT’S A SITUATION THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY WATCH. MARTY: THIS IS THE FIRST RACE IN THE LAST FOUR THAT BOB GILBERTSON HAS QUALIFIED FOR. HE’S NEVER BEATEN SCELZI IN FOUR PRIOR MATCHUPS. MIKE: IF THEY GET THAT WHEELY BAR TOO LOW THAT WILL SMOKE THE
TIRES, TOO. MARTY: SO EVERYBODY SO FAR HAS KEPT PACE. SCELZI TAKES THE WIN LIGHT. 5.16 SECONDS. YOU SAW THE TIRES SMOKE FOR BOB GILBERTSON. MIKE: IT’S FUNNY TO WATCH THESE THINGS. THEY LEAVE THE LIGHT AND THEY’RE OK THE FIRST COUPLE HUNDRED FEET.
BUT THEN WHEN THEY START PICKING UP RIGHT THROUGH THERE, YOU THINK, MAN THOSE THINGS LOOK SLOW, BUT YOU’RE STILL TRAVELING A QUARTER MILE IN 5.16 SECONDS. MARTY: RON KAPPS WILL HAVE LANE CHOICE AGAINST HIS TEAMMATES. MARTY: THAT IS ERIC MEDLEN’S CAR BEING TOWED BACK TO THE PITS FOR
THE 75-MINUTE TURNAROUND. TIME FOR THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF POWERADE POWER TIME. GARY: YOU GOT YOURSELF BACK ON THE FRINGE OF THIS AMAZING CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT. YOU HAD WINS IN THE LAST OF YOUR TWO EVENTS. HOW MUCH DOES IT DO FOR YOUR
CONFIDENCE AND THE TEAM’S CONFIDENCE, AND DO YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT ANY KIND OF A SHOT HERE IN THESE LAST SEVEN EVENTS? >> I THINK ANYBODY IN THE TOP 10 HAS A REALISTIC SHOT. YOU SAW FORCE LAST YEAR GAIN 200 POINTS IN JUST KIND OF A BLINK
OF AN EYE, SO TO SPEAK. ANYBODY THAT’S UP THERE HAS A SHOT RIGHT NOW. LIKE MY DAD SAID THIS MORNING IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, IT’S HOT, MISERABLE OUT HERE, EVERYBODY KIND OF WANTS TO GO HOME, BUT SOMEBODY AT THE END OF THE DAY
IS GOING TO BE STANDING ON THAT STAGE UP THERE, AND IT MIGHT AS WELL BE US. IF WE PULL OUT THAT ONE EXTRA HAIR OF EFFORT IT, COULD POSSIBLY BE US. WE’RE GOING TO TRY REAL HARD AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
GARY: TELL ME ABOUT BRAINERED AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO UPSIDE BY SIDE AGAINST THE BOSS AND BEAT HIM ON A BIRTH-DAY WEEKEND. >> THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD BIRTHDAY PRESENT. WE GOT SOME FANTASTIC GUYS OVER THERE.
WE HAVE SEVEN OF THE BEST CREW GUYS OUT THERE AND TWO OF THE BEST CREW CHIEFS. I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER RIGHT NOW FOR CASTROL, TRIPLE A, MAC TOOLS AND EVERYBODY. THEY’RE REALLY STANDING BEHIND US. MARTY: TOMMY JOHNSON JR. GOES 5.19 SECONDS TO KEEP PACE.
SO NUMBERS TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND SIX IN THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT HAVE ALL WON HERE IN FIRST ROUND. GUESS WHO IT COMES DOWN TO, THE POINTS LEADER, ROBERT HIGHT, AND HE’S UP NEXT. MIKE: I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BARTONE.
HE WAS DEAD LATE OFF THE START. T.J. HAD ALMOST .2 OF A — OF AN ADVANTAGE. T.J.’S BEEN MAKING GOOD RUNS ALL WEEKEND. THIS WAS A DECENT BREAK THERE, DRFTING A LITTLE BIT. TS IT TO HE FIINIH LINENICE MART THAT INGS OOWN TO OUFINAL IR JCKWYTIN
SECOND SRTRT OF THE SEONON. D D HIS BEST RCE OF HHIS CAREER THIS YEAR IN BRIS GIING EE SEMIFINALS. AND HE BEAT ROBERT HIGHT IN THE FIRST ROUND. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, THE MOST LEAD CHANGES IN A SEASON. NOTICE IT’S HAPPENED BETWEEN
191988 AND 2002. HERE WE ARE IN 2005, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE AT LITERALLY BREAKING ALL THE MARKS. WE’VE ALREADY DONE IT IN PRO STOCK. FUNNY CAR IS ONE FROM TYING. TOP FUEL HAS FOUR TO GO. LET’S GET AN UPDATE ON ROBERT HIGHT.
DAVE: IT’S ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF COMEDIC WATCHING CREW CHIEFS GO BACK TO THE STARTING LINE, BACK TO THE CARS, BACK TO THE GARAGE, BACK TO THE CARS, THE STARTING LINE MAKING AT JUST LTS. — ADJUSTMENTS. MARTY: THERE WILL BE NO LEAD
CHANGE YET IN FUNNY CAR, BECAUSE ROBERT TAKES THE WIN LIGHT WITH THE QUICKEST RUN OF THE ROUND. 5.09 SECONDS. 5.09 SECONDS. SO ROBERT HOLDS ON TO THE POINTS LEAD HERE IN ROUND ONE ACTION. SO THE TOP SIX IN THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP ALL SURVIVE.
MIKE: WE HEARD DAVE TALK ABOUT MAKING THAT JET CHANGE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. CLEAN THE ENGINE OUT. THEY KNEW THEY WOULD BE SPINNING THE TIRES DOWN TRACK. SO IT’S NOT GOING TO NEED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL VOLUME TO RUN THE BIG NUMBERS.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FUEL AWAY IF YOU TAKE THE LOAD OFF THE ENGINE. MARTY: JUST MANY OF THE FUNS HERE IN MEMPHIS. I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE IT. WE’RE HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. GLAD THAT YOU’RE WITH US AT
MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK. GLAD THAT YOU’RE WITH US. HOPE YOU’RE ENJOYING IT IN THE COOL COMFORT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM BECAUSE IT’S BLISTERING HOT. ALTHOUGH WE CAN REPORT THE TRACK DOWN HAS GONE DOWN FROM 134 TO — 133. MIKE: IT’S COMING AROUND THEN, MARTY.
THAT ONE DEGREE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. MARTY: LET’S TALK ABOUT WARREN I DON’T THINK SO ON. HIS RECORD HERE IN, FIVE FINALS HE HAS FOUR WINS. HIS LAST ONE CAME IN 1998, AND HE HAS NOT BEEN PAST SECOND
ROUND HERE IN MEMPHIS SECOND 1998. HE HAS HAD A BIT OF A STRUGGLE LATELY AT THIS RACETRACK. REMEMBER, HE’S UP AGAINST A COMPETITOR WHO TATTOOED HIM AGAINST THE TREE LAST YEAR. MIKE: THEY’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, THESE GUYS WILL DO IT.
GREG STANFIELD’S BEEN DOING JUST A GREAT JOB ALL KWLEER ON THE TREE. SMALLER BUDGET THAN WARREN JOHNSON RIGHT NOW, BUT HE’S BEEN HANGING IN THERE TOUGH. HE WOULD LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BE ABLE TO PUT AWAY W.Y. HERE IN THE FIRST ROUND.
— W.J. HERE IN THE FIRST ROUND. MARTY: CAR’S PRESTAGE. WHO’S GOING IN? OK GUYS, IT’S HOT OUT HERE. W.J.’S IN. ADVANTAGE STANFIELD. AND GREG STANFIELD DOES IT TO HIM AGAIN. GREG’S SEVENTH REACTION TIME WIN OF THE YEAR. W.J.’S EIGHTH REACTION TIME LOSS.
AND W.J., HIS SECOND PLACE POINTS POSITION COULD BE THIRD. MIKE: BOY, W.J., THIS IS TOUGH. GREG STANFIELD, ALMOST .3 ADVANTAGE. JUST PULLED AWAY. LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE AT THE FINISH LINE. MARTY: LET’S GO BACK IN TO THE TOP FUEL PITS.
WE’RE BETWEEN ROUNDS THERE. THERE IS HOT ROD FULLER. ROD, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ROUND WIN. TELL ME ABOUT YOU FEELING OUT LEE BEARD AND BEARD GETTING TO KNOW YOU. >> IT’S BEEN DIFFERENT. THIS IS BASICALLY MY THIRD AND ALMOST FOURTH CREW CHIEF.
I’VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOUR DIFFERENT CREW CHIEFS THIS YEAR. 10 IT’S QUITE THE CHALLENGE. BUT THIS IS OUR SECOND RACE OUT. THEY HAVE A HANDLE ON THIS DRAGSTER. IT’S BEEN INCREDIBLE. MY RACE CAR LIKES THE HEAT, AND I LIKE THE HEAT, AND LEE LIKES
THE HEAT. MARTY: YOU GOT DOWN THE TRACK IN THE GOOD CONDITIONS. YOU DID NOT GET DOWN THE TRACK IN THE HEAT. HOW WERE YOU FEELING GOING UP INTO THE FIRST ROUND BASED ON THAT? >> I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT. WE HAD THAT ONE RUN WE HAD TO
ABORT YESTERDAY. WE GOT A LITTLE OVER CENTER. WE BACKED IT OFF A LITTLE BIT. THAT TRACK SEEMED A LITTLE BIT BETTER TODAY. I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT, BUT I DEFINITELY WAS READY TO GET IT DOWN THE TRACK. MARTY: ROB, THANKS FOR TAKING
TIME TO TALK TO US. GOOD LUCK NEXT ROUND. WE’RE GETTING READY FOR THE SCHUMACHER TEAMMATES, JEG COUGHLIN, RICHIE STEVENS. ADVANTAGE COUGHLIN BY .5. . MY GOODNESS, I THINK THEY’RE A LITTLE EXCITED. THE 210 POWER ENGINE. >> LET THE CLUTCH OUT.
CALLED IT DOWN AND CHECKED IT DOWN REAL HARD. WE’LL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT. MIKE: THAT WAS RUSTY GLEN GETTING ALL EXCITED OVER A 6.90 RUN. THE TIRES WERE SPINNING EARLY. IT DEFINITELY WASN’T GOING ANY WHERE. BUT LUCKILY THEY HAD THE
ADVANTAGE OFF THE STARTING LINE AND CARRIED IT INTO THE SECOND ROUND. MARTY: YOU CAN SEE THEM WAVING ON IN THE BACKGROUND THERE FROM THE LONG SHOT. AT THE OTHER END THERE IS WARREN JOHNSON GETTING READY TO HEAD ON HOME. YOU KNOW A WEEK AGO THEY DEBUTED
THAT G.T.O., AND THERE WERE NO SCHOOLS OUT TOUR DECAL ON THAT CAR. AND THERE IS NO DECAL EVEN THIS WEEK. MAYBE WE’LL KNOW SOMETHING BY INY. THAT’S WHAT WARREN KEEPS TALKING ABOUT, BUT ALL HINTS KEEP LEADING TO HIM BEING BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL.
GARY: I HAD A QUICK WORD WITH STANFIELD ASKING HIM ABOUT THAT STAGING BATTLE AND HE SAID I WASN’T GOING IN UNTIL J.W. GOT IN. ERIKA ENDERS QUALIFIED YESTERDAY. HAS BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT HER UNCLE. HERE WE GO.
ERIKA’S GOT HER HANDS FULL. THE CAR STARTING TO DANCE ALL OVER THE TRACK. SHE GOT OUT OF THE GROOVE. FOR JASON LINE HE TAKES THE WIN BY 6.83 SECONDS. MIKE: WOW, ERIKA REALLY GOT THIS THING OFF OVER THE WALL. MAKES A RIGHT-HAND TURN.
COMPLETELY OUT OF THE GOOD RUBBER. JUST RIGHT NOW ON THE MARBLE WHERE IT’S VERY, VERY SLICK. SHE TRIES TO HANG ON AS LONG AS SHE COULD. AT THAT POINT WHEN IT STARTS GETTING SIDEWAYS SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO GET OUT OF IT.
AT THAT POINT JASON LINES IS LONG GONE. JASON LINE DID MAKE A VERY NICE RUN TO GET TO THE NEXT ROUND. MARTY: JASON OF COURSE THE DEFENDING WINNER HERE IN PRO STOCK. DAVE HOWARD IN THE RIGHT LANE. LARRY MORGAN IN THE LEFT LANE.
HOWARD QUALIFYING FOR HIS THIRD EVER PRO STOCK CAR RACE. WON HIS FIRST ROUND IN COMPETITION EVER LAST WEEKEND IN BRAINERED OVER ALLEN JOHNSON. HE HAS STEVE SCHMIDT POWER. LARRY MORGAN CREATES HIS OWN HORSEPOWER. HE WON THIS EVENT BACK IN 1990 OVER DARYL ALDERMAN.
MIKE: LOVE THAT DAVE HOWARD. HE JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER. THEY TESTED THE COBALT BEFORE BRISTOL. ALL OF HIS PEERS WERE TALK ABOUT HOW WELL HE WAS DOING. TO THEM IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT HE IS ACTUALLY THRUNK WELL. HE SHOWS SOME REALLY GOOD SIGNS EARLY.
IT’S JUST A MATTER OF A SITUATION WHERE EVERYTHING’S NEW. RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE GELING PRETTY WELL FOR HIM. MARTY: LANE CHOICE WENT TO LARRY MORGAN. HE SELECTED THE LEFT LANE. AND GUESS WHAT, DAVE HOWARD GETS ANOTHER ROUND WIN AT THE
SEXENTION OF THE VETERAN, LARRY MORGAN. 6.77 TO A 6.88 IN THE ELAPSED TIME DEPARTMENT. AND THE COBALT OF DAVE HOWARD IN THE SECOND ROUND. MIKE: DAVE HOWARD HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED G OF A SECOND — HUNDREDTH OF A SECOND, WAS ABLE
TO HOLD OFF LARRY MORGAN BY JUST THAT MUCH. THAT IS 17 ONE THOUSANDTH OF A SECOND. MARTY: BACK HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS AS WE GET READY FOR OUR NEXT PAIR OF PRO STOCKERS HERE IN FIRST ROUND ACTION.
RONI HUMPHREY UP AGAINST THE POINTS LEADER, GREG ANDERSON IN THE LEFT LANE. HERE IS THE MARGIN COMING IN. RONI HUMPHREY IS GREG’S BROTHER-IN-LAW. KIM ANDERSON, GREG’S WIFE. BROTHER, SISTER. HAVE I GOT YOU CONFUSED? I HOPE NOT. RONNIE IN HIS FIRST EVER PRO STOCK RACE.
HERE HE GOES UP AGAINST GREG. AND GREG TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS. 6.82 SECONDS. THERE’S JASON LINE AS THAT IS THE QUICKEST RUN OF THIS ROUND IN PRO STOCK SO FAR. MIKE: BROTHER-IN-LAW GOT THE JUMP OFF THE STARTING LINE BY 100 OF A HALF OF A SECOND.
WHEN YOU’RE RACING GREG ANDERSON, JUST LIKE HIS TEAMMATE, THEY SEEM TO REALLY HAVE A REAL NICE HANDLE ON THIS SETUP IN THE HEAT, AND HE’S ABLE TO BEAT HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW BY JUST THAT MUCH. KURT JOHNSON IS FIRMLY BACK AT THE PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE.
FOLLOWING HIS BIG WEEKEND AT BRAIN ERT. — BRAINERED. HE WENT ON TO PICK UP HIS THIRD WIN IN THE LAST FIVE RACES. DOES HE HAVE ENOUGH? LET’S TALK ABOUT LAS VEGAS. ERIC MEDLEN WAS NINTH IN THE POINTS. KURT WAS 10TH IN PRO STOCK.
NOW, COMING INTO THIS RACE, ERIC’S FIFTH. KURT IS UP TO THIRD. ONLY ONE ROUND WIN AWAY FROM MOVING IN TO SECOND. MIKE: THE BIGGEST THING FOR KURT JOHNSON WAS SWITCHING TO THE COBALT AT BRISTOL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ON FIRE. HE’S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB
DRIVING. HE’S BEEN VERY, VERY TOUGH. FRED CARTER KURT, SECOND RACE IN A WAY, HE IS RACING KENNY KORETSKY. HE IS 9-0 AGAINST KORETSKY. KEY’S GOTO ET CONTEDD UT IFDOESN’T RRRRY. SASAY GOODE.E. YOYOU SAW IT ON THE ONBOARD CAMERA. KURT JUST LEFT HIM, HAD .3 OF AN
ADVANTAGE AT THE STARTING LINE. MIKE: CLASSIC KURT JOHNSON, JUST DOING HIS JOB ON THE STARTING LINE AND DOWN THE RACETRACK. ALL THE SHIFT POINTS JUGS — JUST THE WAY YOU NEED TO. NICE JOB. MARTY: WHILE KURT’S ROLLING ON
OUT, GIVES US A MOMENT TO SHOW YOU THE SCHEDULE. AS WE LOOK BACK FROM THE FAR END OF THE RACETRACK, OF COURSE YESTERDAY ROBERT HIGHT DID WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T THINK HE COULD. HE PULLED IT OFF. HE NEEDED TO WIN A POLE AND HAVE
WHIT BAZEMORE QUALIFY 10TH OR WORSE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. HIGGETE GETS THE FINAL — HIGHT GOES UP AGAINST THE BOSS. RICKY SMITH IN THE LEFT LANE NOW. JIM YATES OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE. THIS IS RICKY’S BEST QUALIFYING EFFORT OF THE YEAR IN THE NUMBER
TWO SPOT. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PONTIAC GRAND AM. IT’S THE LAST TIME YOU WILL SEE IT FOR JIM. MIKE: WHEN THESE TEAMS BRING OUT NEW CARS THEY’VE ALL BEEN STEPPING UP. RICKY SMITH GOT THE NEW COBALT, TESTED IT, RAN GOOD OUT OF THE
BOX. IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY RACE. MARTY: SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YATES. AND RICKY GOES 6.82 SECONDS TO TAKE A VERY EASY WIN. LET’S LISTEN IN. THAT’S JAMIE YATES RIGHT THERE ■ TALKING TO RICK STEWART. THE WORD WE’RE GETTING IS THAT
HE WAS COUNTED OUT BY THE AUTOMATIC START. IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE SEVEN SECONDS FROM THE TIME THREE OF THE FOUR BULBS ARE LIT TO GET IN AND GET ALL FOUR BULBS LIT. IF YOU DON’T, IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES RED. LET’S TAKE A LOOK.
MIKE: THAT’S ACTIVATED BY THE COMPUTER. JIM YATES HAS SEVEN SECONDS TO PUT THAT LIGHT ON, OTHERWISE IT’S AN AUTOMATIC RED LIGHT. THE COMPUTER ACTUALLY ACTIVATES IT. MARTY: WE’VE CHECKED WITH NHRA OFFICIALS. THEY WERE EXACTLY AT SEVEN SECONDS.
AND HE’S COUNTED OUT. THERE IS JEG COUGHLIN AND HIS TEAM MAKING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE PIT AREA. THEY’LL DO THE SERVICE. DOESN’T TAKE THEM 75 NOINS TURN A PRO STOCK MACHINE AROUND. — MINUTES TO TURN A PRO STOCK MACHINE AROUND.
THRASH THAT YOU WOULD SEE IF IT WAS A TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR. JEG WILL GO IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMPUTER DATA, ALONG WITH RUSTY AND THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS. THEY’LL MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS. AS WE COME BACK OUT, HERE’S RON
KRISHER AND ALLEN JOHNSON, OUR FINAL PAIR HERE IN PRO STOCK. GARY: IN THIS EXTREME HEAT, WHAT DO YOU DO TO TRY TO STAY COOL AND KEEP COLLECTED? >> GOD, YOU KNOW, I PUT A TOWEL, FOUR, FIVE ICE CUBES AND PUT IT ON MY NECK.
ALL YOU CAN DO IS KEEP PUMPING DOWN THIS DASANI AND KEEP PUMPING IT YOU THERE. THEY HAD TO TAKE 32 PEOPLE OUT OF HERE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT. HOPEFULLY THEY’RE ALL RIGHT. HOPEFULLY THE SUN WILL GO DOWN
AND WE CAN PUT SOME MORE POINTS ON THE BOARD. MARTY: ACTUALLY 60 WERE ACTUALLY TREATED AND 17 WERE TRANSPORTED. IT HAS BEEN BLISTERING HOT. SLIGHT ADVANTAGE OFF THE STARTING LINE FOR RON KRISHER, AND THEN THEY SEALS THE DEAL AT THE OTHER END. 6.84 SECONDS AND 2010.
SO OUR FIRST ROUND OF PRO STOCK ACTION IS COMPLETE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTO FINISH. THERE IT IS. THE MARGIN, FOUR ONE HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND. WHEN WE COME BACK IT WILL BE TIME FOR THE PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLES.
MARTY: BACK HERE AT MEMPHIS AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. TALK ABOUT FOOD, WE HAD OUR FIRST-EVER COOKOFF BETWEEN THREE OF THE TEAMS, AND THE WINNER WAS DALE JOHNSON. TIME NOW FOR PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLES. THE HARLEY DAVIDSON RODS DOMINATED LAST WEEKEND IN BRAINERED.
NOW THEY’RE 1-2 IN THE MOTORCYCLE POINTS. WILL THE SCREAMING EAGLES MAKE IT A TWO-MAN RACE FOR THE TITLE IN OR WILL SOMEONE ELSE STEP UP TO CHALLENGE? LET’S SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND NUMBER ONE OF PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE.
FIRST UP IT WAS KAREN STOPHER AND RYAN SCHNITZ. KAREN GOES RED. FOURTH TIME THIS13 KAREN GOES RED. FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR THAT SHE’S TURNED ON THE RED BULB. SCHNITZ RUNS IT THROUGH. 180 MILES PER HOUR. BIG HIT IN THE POINTS FOR KAREN.
AND THEN IT WAS MIKE BARRY DOING THE SAME THING. HE GOES RED OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE. AND BARRY GIVES AWAY A .728 ELAPSED TIME. THEN WE COME UP TO JIM BELLIST AND CHUCK END. ELLIS HAS TO GET OUT OF IT.
THEN IT WAS CHRIS RIVAS AND STEVE JOHNSON. STEVE GOES RED. GIVES THE WIN TO MR. RIVAS. THEN IT WAS MATT GU DAREA — GUIDERA AND ANTRON BROWN. THIS IS GOING TO HURT ANTRON. AND THEN HERE COMES ANOTHER SUZUKI, UP AGAINST ONE OF THE
HAR LIZ. SCALI GOES RED. 181 MILES PER HOUR. THEN WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS ONE? MARTY: DESANTIS GOES RED. SHE SAMPY MOVES UP TWO POINTS IN THE SPOTS WITH THAT WIN. THEN ANDREW HEINZE AND MATT SMITH. IT WOULD BE ALL ANDREW. THE ELAPSED TIME, 7.34.
WHEN WE COME BACK IT WILL BE MORGAN LUCAS GOING UP AGAINST TONY SCHUMACHER. MARTY: CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE NANS MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE? THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO BE IN THE HIGH 90’S. IT HAS BEEN SOARING AND SIMMERING ALL WEEKEND LONG.
I’M RUNNING OUT OF WAYS OF EXPLAINING IT TO Y’ALL AT HOME. IT’S JUST BLASTED HOT. WE’RE GETTING READY FOR SECOND TOP IN — FOR SECOND ROUND IN TOP FUEL. DOUG KALITTA NOW NEEDS HELP FROM HIS TEAMMATES. MIKE: THE BAD NEWS IS IF HE CAN
GET ANY HELP IT WOULDN’T BE UNTIL SCOTT KALITTA. RIGHT NOW SCOTT HAS TO RUN CORY MCCLENATHAN, WHO’S VERY TOUGH. BASICALLY RIGHT NOW DOUG KALITTA’S BEST FRIEND IS MORGAN LUCAS. KALITTA’S BEST FRIEND IS MORGAN LUCAS. MARTY: VERY WELL PUT. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE TRACK
CONDITIONS. WE’RE STILL IN THIS HEAT. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE SECOND ROUND? THEY’VE HAD ANOTHER SHOT AT IT. MIKE: THEY’RE STILL GOB TO BE TIP TOWING, BUT SOME OF THE — THEY’RE STILL GOING TO BE TIP
TOING, BUT SOME OF THE TEAMS WILL TRY TO PUSH IT A LITTLE MORE. SOME OF THE TEAMS MIGHT TRY TO RUN A 475 IN TOP FUEL, BUT THAT MAY BE PUSHING IT JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
DAVE: IT’S JUST LIKE WE SAID FOLLOWING ROUND ONE. IT’S ODDS AND EVENS. IN THE POINTS IT’S NUMBERS ONE AND THREE. JOHN FORCE AND ROBERT HIGHT COMING UP IN THE SECOND ROUND, WHILE THE NUMBERS TWO AND FOUR, GARY SCELZI AND RON KAPPS GET
SET TO RACE EACH OTHER. LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TEAMMATES RACING. WHAT ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS LIKE NORMALLY IN >> MY CHEEKS USUALLY HURT FROM BEING THARN GUY BECAUSE HE MAKES ME LAUGH ALL THE TIME. >> GLAD YOU CLARIFIED THOSE CHEEKS.
>> WE HAVE A GOOD TIME. EVERYBODY KNOWS GARY IS LIKE HE IS ON TV. HE’S FUN. WE’RE LAUREL AND HARDY USUALLY. BY THE TIME WE GO TO DO SOMETHING IT’S FUN. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE HIM LAUGH
IS JUST TO DROP HIS PARTS AND HE GETS EMBARRASSED BY IT. DAVE: NOW YOU GUYS CAN’T BE FRIENDS, OR CAN YOU? >> WE CAN. WE TRY TO CROSS LANES IN THE BURNOUT. IT’S ALL GOOD. I’M OLD AND UGLY. HE HAS ALL THE PERSONALITY.
I DON’T SEE WHY HE SHOULD LET ME GO FIRST. DAVE: I FEEL LIKE A BOXING REF REEFMENT NO LOW BLOWS. GO TO YOUR CORNERS. MARTY: THE BELL HAS SOUNDED AND OUT WE COME. WHEN WE COME BACK IT WILL BE TIME FOR TOP FUEL SECOND ROUND.
MARTY: WELCOME BACK TO THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. YOU’RE LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF1 MARTY: WELCOME BACK TO THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. YOU’RE LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF MELANIE TROXEL. SHE IS LOOKING TO TAKE OUT NUMBER THREE IN THE POINTS,
LARRY DIXON HERE. SECOND ROUND TOP FUEL ACTION. DIXON OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE. MELANIE WILL BE IN THE LEFT LANE. AS WE GET READY FOR THE BURNOUTS. DIXON HAS COMPLETED HIS. HERE COMES MEL. JUST IN CASE YOU’RE TUNING IN
AND WEREN’T WITH US FOR ROUND NUMBER ONE, THE POINTS LEADER, DOUG KALITTA WENT DOWN. IT WAS MELANIE TROXEL FROM TEAM SCHUMACHER BY JUST THAT CLOSE OF A MARGIN. SHE WAS CELEBRATING HER FIRST ROUND WIN SINCE 2003. TONY SCHUMACHER CUT THE MARGIN
AS HE TOOK A WIN FROM BOBBY LAGANA. LARRY DIXON ALSO KEPT PACE BY PUNCHING OUT JOHN SMITH. RIGHT NOW DOUG LEADS TONY SCHUMACHER BY 44. AND LARRY DIXON BY 119. JOINING US IN THE BOOTH, HE’S IN THE PENALTY BOX, THE POINTS
LEADER IN TOP FUEL, DOUG KALITTA. THANKS FOR JOINING US. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST ROUND IN HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT? >> WE JUST DIDN’T GET IT DONE. WE WERE JUST A HALF TIRE BEHIND HER. WE WERE JUST STRUGGLING TO GET DOWN PAST HER.
WE STILL GOT SCOTT AND DAVE OUT THERE. SO WE’RE STILL IN THE HUNT HERE. UNFORTUNATELY NOT WITH MY CAR. MARTY: LET’S GO BACK DOWN TRACKSIDE AND GET READY FOR THIS MATCHUP. HERE IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE CONTENDERS. HERE IS MELANIE TROXEL.
SHE CAN HELP HER TEAMMATE, TONY SCHUMACHER, ONCE AGAIN. AND IT’S GOING TO BE LARRY DIXON, 4.77 SECONDS. MIKE, YOU WERE RIGHT. THEY DID TRY TO PICK UP THE PACE A LITTLE BIT. THEY’RE DIPPING INTO THE 470S. MIKE: I THINK THAT’S ABOUT ALL
THEY’RE GOING TO WANT TO TRY. EVERYBODY SO FAR EXCEPT FOR CORY CHOOSING THAT LEFT-HAND LANE. CAN YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LANES? >> I THINK THE LEFT LANE IS A LITTLE BETTER. BUT LARRY GOT — IS HE IN THE LEFT LANE ON THAT ONE?
MARTY: LARRY WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE. MIKE: IS THERE A LITTLE MORE BUMP IN THE RIGHT LANE IN SOME OF THE DRIVERS SAID THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE BUMP. >> FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY.
MARTY: AS WE GET READY FOR OUR NEXT PAIR IT WILL BE MORGAN LUCAS AND TONY SCHUMACHER. MORE ON THAT MATCHUP. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ALLEN JOHNSON RULE. IT IS OUR AMARE QUEST MORTGAGE TECH SPEC. IDLE TIME CHANGED, THAT MEANS IT WILL START SOONER.
THE RATE AT WHICH ENGINE IS RETARDED, TRYING TO KEEP THAT BASE R.P.M. AT 8,300 R.P.M. AS OPPOSED TO BEFORE IT WAS 8,400. MARTY: HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE RULE CHANGE IN YOUR CAR? >> NO, NOT REALLY. SEEMS TO BE FINE.
MARTY: LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS MATCHUP. IN OUR SEGMENT JUST BEFORE YOU JOINED US, MIKE SAID THAT YOUR BEST FRIEND RIGHT NOW IS MORGAN LUCAS. YOU HAVE A SET OF MAAC TOOLS READY FOR HIM — OF MAC TOOLS READY FOR HIM?
>> HE’S A GREAT DRIVER. I THINK HIS CAR’S BEEN RUNNING PRETTY GOOD. MY MONEY’S ON MORGAN. WE’LL SEE IF HE CAN GET IT DONE. MIKE: HE LOOKED GOOD IN QUALIFYING. VERY, VERY CONSISTENT. ANY TIME YOU’RE UP AGAINST TONY SCHUMACHER, HE CAN RISE TO THE
OCCASION. OH, IT’S OH SO CLOSE. THE WIN LIGHT TO TONY SCHUMACHER. THEY RUN IDENTICAL IN ELAPSED TIMES. 4.806. MIKE: MORGAN LUCAS IS GOING TO BE KICKING HIMSELF. BECAUSE HE HAD A 102 REACTION TIME. UNCHARACTERISTICALLY BAD FOR MORGAN LUCAS.
TONY SCHUMACHER, 094. A LITTLE QUICKER. AND THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE AT THE FINISH LINE. MARTY: LOOK AT HOW CLOSE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTO FINISH. THE BAD NEWS IS TONY SCHUMACHER IS NOW 24 POINTS BEHIND. >> THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES HERE. THEY’RE STRONG.
THAT WAS A GOOD RUN FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY GOING TO INDY, TOO. THEY’VE BEEN GOING STRONG THERE. MARTY: LET’S GO TO THE FAR END AND TALK TO HIM. GARY: TONY, PULLING OFF THE HELMET AND GETTING THE GLASSES ON, ANY EASIER THE SECOND TIME
DOWN THE TRACK UNDER THESE BLAZING HOT CONDITIONS? >> I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE RAN. HE GOT DOWN THERE AND THOSE R.P.M.’S WERE UP. WE WERE AFRAID OF SMOKING THE TIRES DOWN TRACK. ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPENED, SPUN THE TIRES.
IT WENT AWFUL STRAIGHT AND SPUN THE TIRES. YOU CAN USUALLY TELL IT MOVES AROUND. THE R.P.M., THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE CLUTCH. THAT SURE FELT LIKE A CLOSE DRAG RACE. >> IT WAS A CLOSE DRAG RACE. POLE SHOT WIN TO YOU.
MARTY: WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GET READY FOR ROD FULLER AND DAVE GRUBNIC COMING TO THE LINE. I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU, THESE REACTION TIMES COMING INTO THIS RACE. YOUR WORST WAS BETTER THAN DIXON’S AND SCHUMACHER’S AVERAGE.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? >> IT’S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO STAY LOW KEY ABOUT BECAUSE IT SURE COULD STAY AROUND ON YOU QUICK IN JUST ONE RUN. PROBABLY YOU HAVE CONNIE BACK THERE IN THE PIT AREA. HE DEFINITELY IS CRUSHING THE NUMBERS REAL CLOSE.
MARTY: RON TOBLER TOLD ME HE MADE CHANGES IN THE COCKPIT BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE TELLING HIM WAS COMFORTABLE. HAS THAT HELPED? >> HE’S CHANGED THINGS AROUND. THE CAR IS MORE COMFORTABLE FOR ME THIS YEAR. MARTY: HOT ROD FULLER GOES 4.4 SECONDS.
SO YOUR TEAMMATE GOES DOWN AT THE HANDS OF THE SECOND ROUND WIN FOR THIS TEAM SINCE LEE BEARD HAS COME ON BOARD AS CREW CHIEF REMEMBER, FULLER’S GONE TO TWO OTHER FINALS EARLIER THIS YEAR. SO HE PICKS UP THE WIN LIGHT HERE.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, GUYS. MIKE: GOOD JOB BY HOT ROD FULLER. GOOD RUN TIME. GREAT TUNEUP ON THIS RACE CAR TO BE ABLE TO RUN A 4.74. OVER 305 MILES PER HOUR. >> THAT WAS A STRONG ONE FOR THEM. DAVE: YOU KNOW WHO ELSE NEEDS TO
BE APPLAUDED HERE, AND THAT’S THE STAFF AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP THE FANS COOL. THEY’RE DOING SO BY PROVIDING THREE MISS MISTERS, AND IHHAVE TO TELL YOU, IT FEELS VERY, VERY NICE IN FRONT OF THIS FAN.
THERE WERE ABOUT 300 FANS HERE RIGHT UP UNTIL THEY STARTED THE SESSION. WE HAVE CITY TRANSIT BUSES PROVIDED FOR THE FANS TO GO IN, AND THEY’RE AIR CONDITIONED. THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE HEAT. WE DID TALK TO OFFICIALS. THE NUMBER OF CASES THEY’VE SEEN
HEAT RELATED ARE DOWN ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AS THEY’VE SEEN YESTERDAY. FROM 60 TO 30. VERY FEW PEOPLE TODAY. THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS. THE TEMPERATURE AT 10:00 TODAY VERSUS 10:00 YESTERDAY, SEVEN DEGREES WARMER. VERY, VERY HOT DAY. IT’S AS HOT TODAY, MAYBE EVEN
HOTTER THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY. MARTY: ARE YOU GETTING ANY BREEZE AT ALL DOWN THERE? >> VERY, VERY LITTLE. IT’S A STIFLING, HUMID DAY. MARTY: HOW BAD IS IT IN THE COCKPIT? >> IT’S NOT TOO BAD. NOT AS HOT AS WE’VE SEEN.
BUT YOU GUYS HAVE IT PRETTY NICE BACK HERE. MARTY: YEAH. DON’T TELL ANYBODY. GARY AND DAVE REIF ESPECIALLY DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT. HERE’S THE LAST CHANCE FOR TEAM CA LITA. NO KALITTA CAR HAS EVER WON HERE AT MEMPHIS. SO NOW IT FALLS ON JIM
OVERHOFFER AND YOUR COUSIN. >> YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. MIKE: SCOTT DID NOT HAVE LANE CHOICE AND THEY RAN VERY GOOD IN THAT RIGHT-HAND LANE. THAT’S PROBABLY WHY THEY CHOSE THE RIGHT-HAND LANE. MARTY: OH, ANOTHER CLOSE FINISH. AND THE WIN LIGHT TO CORY MCCLENATHAN. 4.83.
MIKE: I KNOW IT’S CLASSIFIED AS A WHOLE SHOT WIN, BUT CORY ONLY HAD A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE OFF THE STARTING LINE. SCOTT BASICALLY HAD THIS RACE WON UP TO HALF TRAK. YOU CAN SEE THE CYLINDER GOES OUT JUST BEFORE HALF TRACK, AND
THAT STARTED SLOWING THE CAR DOWN. WHAT A GREAT RACE. MARTY: WE SHOULD POINT OUT, CORY HAD A 073 LIGHT. 078 FOR SCOTT. AS THE NUMBERS GO IT’S STILL A WHOLE SHOLT. AND IT’S THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THAT SCOTT’S LOST WHOLE SHOT.
MIKE: SOUNDS LIKE CORY ACT C13 MIKE: SOUNDS LIKE CORY ACTUALLY PEDALED THE THROTTLE, WHICH ALLOWED SCOTT TO JUMP OUT THERE. CORY WAS ABLE TO GO AROUND HIM WHEN SCOTT PUT THE CYLINDER OUT. MARTY: SO IT WILL BE NO TEAM KALITTA CAR AGAIN.
YOU CAN SEE THE REACTION FROM CLENCLEB — FROM CORY MCCLENATHAN AS HE IS PUMPING THE PISS. — FIST. PARTICULAR MAR BACK HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS AS — MARTY: BACK HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS. COMING TO THE LINE IT WILL BE
DEL WORSHAM IN THE LEFT LANE. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. IN THE RIGHT. LET’S PUT A PERIOD ON TOP FUEL AND GO TO GARY. GARY: I’M WONDERING, YOU’RE GOING 300 MILES PER HOUR. IT HAPPENED SO FAST. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAD WON
THAT BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS? >> I HAD TO PEDAL IT OUT THERE. MY OLD NEMESIS, SCOTT KALITTA AND I, WE’RE PALS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RACING, WE GO AT IT. WE GOT IT HALFWAY, GOING OUT REAL GOOD. STARTED SPINNING THE TIRE.
I HAD TO REEL THEM IN, TOO. SHE’S GOING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. FOR SKOAL AND EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY’S DOING A GREAT JOB. WE JUST WANT TO KEEP GOING ROUNDS. THANKS. MARTY: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK CAN MAKE. FUNNY CAR ROUND ONE.
RON KAPPS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE ELIMINATES HIS TEAMMATE WHIT BAZEMORE. AND THEN IT WAS GARY SCELZI KEEPING PACE. HE OUSTS BOB GILBERTSON. AND ROBERT HIGHT OUTS JACK WYATT IN ROUND ONE. THERE’S WORSHAM. HE HAS LANE CHOICE. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE T.J.’S OUT IN FRONT.
TOMMY TAKES THE WIN. SO THE MAN WHO IS NUMBER SIX IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS CHASE SCORES 20 MORE. MIKE: HE FIRED THAT ONE UP PRETTY QUICK ON THESE GUYS. MARCHING ON. GREAT REACTION TIME. OC1 MARCHING ON. GREAT REACTION TIME. OVER .006 OF AN ADVANTAGE OVER
WORSHAM. THINK THAT MAYBE THAT CAR IS NOT REACTING WHEN HE HITS THE THROTTLE. JOHNNY WEST, TOMMY JOHNSON JR. DOING A GREAT JOB GETTING THAT CAR IN THE SEMIFINALS. >> AS YOU KNOW THIS WEEK WE’RE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. IT’S ABOUT 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
BUT I’M IN THE BUS WITH JEG COUGHLIN. WE’RE CELEBRATING THE RE JEG COUGHLIN. WE’RE CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF THE NEW PLAY STATION II GAME. JEG AND I ARE GOING TO RUN WINNER TAKE ALL IN PRO STOCK. HE’S GOING TO SCHOOL ME OR I’M
GOING TO LEARN SOMETHING. HERE WE GO. LEFT ON YOU. >> I’M CATCHING UP. YEAH. SORRY, MAN. NOW YOU MIGHT THINK THAT SINCE WE’RE NOT IN A RACE CAR WE DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT DRIVING, BUT IT’S ALL I THINK ABOUT, AND I’M
SURE THE SAME THING WITH JEG. LET’S GET IT ON, HUH IN >> LET’S GO. MARTY: WE HAVE TWO FORMER TOP FUEL RACERS. DOUG, RUMORS ARE THAT MAYBE SCOTT WOULD WANT TO GO INTO FUNNY CAR. WHAT ABOUT YOU? >> IF I COULD WIN THIS
CHAMPIONSHIP I THINK I HAVE A TEST OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR THAT I’VE HAD. I’D LIKE TO GET THE CHAMPIONSHIP CAR AND GO DOWN. MARTY: LET’S GET AN UPDATE ON TRACK CONDITIONS. DAVE: THE FUNNY CAR CREW CHIEFS HAVE BEEN TELLING ME IT IS
GETTING BETTER OUT THERE. ESPECIALLY FROM THE 330 FOOTMARK ON. NOT REMARKABLY BETTER, BUT A LITTLE BETTER. THE SUN STARTING TO GO DOWN IN THE WESTERN SKY. AS THE SUN GOES DOWN, EXPECT THE TIMES TO GET BETTER AND BETTER. MARTY: YOU SEE THE WIN LIGHTS.
SCELZI WON THE FINAL OVER KAPPS. HERE WE GO. AND ANOTHER GREAT RACE. AND THE WIN LIGHT GOES TO KAPPS. 5.13 SECNDS TO A 515. ME: WOW WHAHAT, A GEAT RACE. TH. ROPPS HAAS BENDDOING AGRATAT JOB THIS WEEK. LLAST WEEK HIS CAR WAS RUINING VERY WELL.
HE HADN’T BEEN RUNNING THE BIG NUMBERS, BUT RON KAPPS JUST KEEPS GOING DOWN THE RACETRACK. AS A RESULT HE GOT BY HIS TEAMMATE, GARY SCELZI, AT THE END THERE. MARTY: THAT’S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AT THE STRIPE. .002 OF A SECOND.
FOR RON KAPPS IT’S GOOD NEWS. FOR GARY SCELZI, NOT GOOD. DID YOU HEAR HIM? I THINK HE SAID THERE’S A WASP INSIDE THE CAR. MIKE: HE’S GOT A LOT OF STUFF ON. DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. HE CAN’T GET TO HIM.
MARTY: HOW IS A WASP GOING TO PENETRATE ALL THAT ARMOR. GARY: DO YOU REALIZE YOU GOT A HELMET AND FIRE SUIT. THAT WASP CAN’T HURT YOU. >> I’M IN THE CAR AND IT’S COMING UP AROUND HERE. NOT NOW. I NEED TO CONCENTRATE.
GARY: HE’S ALL RIGHT. COME HERE, WASP. I DON’T SEE ANY WASP IN HERE. >> HE’S WHINING LIKE A TOP FUEL DRIVER. COME ON. MIKE: I DON’T SEE ANY WASP. MARTY: SO AS THE ENGINES COME BACK TO LIFE, TIM WILKERSON WILL BE IN THE RIGHT LANE.
AND ERIC MEDLEN HAS COMPLETED HIS BURNOUT IN THE LEFT LANE. AS THEY COMPLETE THE BURNOUT PROCESS, ALREADY BACK AT WORK IN TOMMY JOHNSON’S PIT AREA, THEY ARE DOING THE 75-MINUTE TURNAROUND. MIKE: I KNOW YOU FLY YOUR OWN AIRPLANE, DOUG.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT HERE AND YOU’LL BE FLYING HOME, BUT WHO’S GOING TO BE DRIVING? YOU OR UNCLE CONNIE? >> CONNIE USUALLY DOES THE FLYING. I CALL HIM THE WHEEL HOG. HE DOES A GREAT JOB FLYING THE AIRPLANE. MIKE: SO SINCE HE LET’S YOU
DRIVE HIS DRAGSTER, HE’S GOING TO FLY YOUR AIRPLANE HOME. 1245 HOW IT WORKS? >> THE AIRPLANE THAT WE’VE GOT TODAY IS HISNO CARRIERRINGCONNE0 >> IT’S A SCARY FEELING WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY OUT THERE LIKE THAT. MIKE: YOU WONDER, SHOULD I SHUT IT OFF?
SHOULD I SHUT IT OFF IN BUT YOU THINK, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CATCH HIM. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU’VE BEEN QUICK ALL YEAR THIS YEAR. MARTY: YOU CAN SEE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY. AS WE GO BACK NOW TRACKSIDE.
THE POWER EAD — THE POWERADE CHAMPIONSHIP. LET’S GO BACK TO MEMPHIS. HERE IN FUNNY CAR ACTION. THIS IS JOHN FORD. — JOHN FORCE, WHEN HE CATCHES ON FIRE. LITERALLY THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING CRASHES WE HAD EVER SEEN.
MIKE: YOU SAID YOU WANT TO DRIVE A FUNNY CAR. YOU STILL WANT TO DRIVE ONE? >> THAT WAS QUITE A WRECK THERE. MIKE: THAT WAS A BAD ONE. HE WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT FROM UNDER THERE AND THEN WALK AWAY. THAT WAS A REALLY BAD ONE FOR JOHN.
MARTY: 1992. IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THERE WHERE JOHN SAID I SAW ELVIS. JOHN HAD A FEW BURNS ON HIS HANDS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT. THAT IS ALL TEAM FORCE. DODGE AND CHEVY. SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY. FIRST IN THE POINTS ROBERT HIGHT. SECOND IN POINTSON FORCE.
MIKE: GOOD MATCHUP HERE. TWO VERY GOOD CARS. SAW JOHN AND ERIC RACE IN THE FINAL LAST WEEK IN BRAINERED WITH ERIC WINNING ON A WHOLE SHOT. RIGHT NOW JOHN HAS A CAR THAT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS THREE OR FOUR RACES AGO.
MARTY: AND THE WIN LIGHT GOES TO ROBERT HIGHT. THEY BOTH RAN IT THROUGH. JOHN WAS SECOND OFF THE LINE, BUT IT DIDN’T MATTER BECAUSE ROBERT HAD THE E.T. HE STRETCHES HIS POINTS LEAD OVER GARY SCELZI WHO LOST, AND JOHN FORCE WHO LOST.
SO NUMBERS TWO AND THREE IN THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP. ARE OUT OF HERE. MIKE: JUST A GREAT SIDE BY SIDE RACE. ROBERT HIGHT HAD ALMOST ONE HUNDREDTH OF A SECOND. THAT PROBABLY HURT HIM QUITE A BIT. IT MAY HAVE KEPT HIM FROM SPINNING THE TIRES, TOO.
YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW. IT ALLOWED ROBERT TO GET THE WIN BY JUST A LITTLE BIT. MARTY: ROBERT LEADS SCELZI BY 35. JOHN BY 47. KAPPS SCORED BY 50. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS. HIGHT WILL HAVE LANE CHOICE OVER
HIS OTHER TEAMMATE, ERIC MEDLEN. AND THEN LANE CHOICE TO TOMMY JOHNSON JR. SO AS WE GET READY TO SAY FARE WELL TO DOUG KALITTA, WE WON’T BE OFFENDED IF YOU NEVER COME TO VISIT US AGAIN ANY TIME SOON. GOOD LUCK.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A COMMERCIAL BREAK. STAY WITH US. MARTY: BACK HERE AT THE O’REILLY MID-SOUTH NATIONALS AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, AS WE HAVE JUST SEEN A GREAT ROUND OF FUNNY CAR AND TOP FUEL. NOW WE GET READY FOR THE FACTORY HOT RODS.
THERE IS RON KRISHER AS HE DOES THE BURNOUT IN ONE LANE. DAVID HOWARD OVER IN THE OTHER. LET’S GO TO THE FAR END. GARY: TERRIFIC RACE HERE BETWEEN THESE TEAMMATES, JOHN FORCE AND ROBERT HIGHT. JOHN, YOU GOT TO THE FINALS AGAINST ERIC MEDLEN AND HE
KNOCKED YOU OUT AT BRAINERED A WEEK AGO. HOW TOUGH IS IT TO TAKE IT WHEN THESE YOUNG BUCKS TAKE YOU OUT? >> I JUST AIN’T BEEN WINNING LATELY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. WE’RE DOING OUR JOB.
IT DIDN’T DO SCELZI ANY GOOD EITHER. GARY: ROBERT, ARE YOU THINKING AT ALL ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS? A LOT OF FOCUS THIS WEEKEND WAS GETTING INTO THE SKOAL SHOWDOWN AT THE EVENT IN INDIANAPOLIS. >> NO, I’M TRYING TO JUST GO ONE
ROUND AT A TIME AND THE POINTS WILL COME WITH IT. I DON’T WANT TO GET WRAPPED UP IN THE POINTS. A LOT OF RACING LEFT. A LOT OF GOOD CARS. IT AIN’T MUCH FUN BEATING UP THE GUY THAT GAVE YOU THIS CHANCE,
BUT WE HAVE TO LEAVE HERE WITH THE POINTS LEAD. I WANT TO WUSH AUSTIN PROCK, JIMMY’S SON A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY. >> AND I’D LIKE TO SAY BEAT ME UP EVERY TIME YOU CAN, JUST GET ONE OF US THERE.
MARTY: RON KRISHER TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE SEMIFINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER HERE AT MEMPHIS. DAVID HOWARD, OF COURSE, IN HIS THIRD PRO STOCK RACE. RED LIGHT FOR KRISHER. HOWARD’S GOING TO HIS FIRST SEMIAT MEMPHIS. AND DAVID GOES EVEN QUICKER.
IN THE ELAPSED TIME A PAIR OF 6.86S, BUT HOWARD HAS A ONE AT THE END AND RON KRISHER HAS A FIVE. AND THAT’S RON KRISHER’S THIRD FOUL THIS YEAR. LET’S GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON PRO STOCK. GR13
LET’S GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON PRO STOCK. GREG STANFIELD TAKES CARE OF WARREN JOHNSON. THIS IS GREG ANDERSON’S TAKES IT AND OPENS UP A LITTLE MORE GROUND. BUT KURT JOHNSON COMES TO THE LINE, AND HE TAKES THE WIN,
NOFFING TO SECOND PLACE IN THE POINTS, BUMPING HIS PARTNER, WARREN, DOWN TO THIRD. LANE CHOICE GOES TO SMITH AND ANDERSON. SO AS WE GET READY NOW, YOU’RE ON BOARD WITH KURT JOHNSON. HE’LL BE IN THE LEFT LANE. CRAIG STANFIELD WILL BE OVER IN
THE RIGHT. LET’S CHECK IN. GARY: DAVE HOWARD EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO THE SEMIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOU TOLD ME EARLIER YOU’RE MISSING A FLIGHT THIS EVENING. YOU’LL GLADLY MAKE THE CHANGE, I’M SURE. >> YEAH, I’M MISSING A FLIGHT
AND I’LL MISS WORK TOMORROW MORNING. HOPEFULLY MY BOSS IS WATCHING. BUT I’LL TELL YOU, THIS IS JUST GREAT. QUALIFYING, BRAINERED, ST. LOUIS, COMING HERE AND WIN SECOND ROUND. THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE. IT’S JUST — THE MAIN SPONSOR, HE’S HERE TODAY SO THIS IS
REALLY BIG FOR HIM. HUGE FOR HIM AND ALL THESE GUYS. MY WIFE’S NOT HERE, MY DAUGHTER’S NOT HERE, BUT THEY’RE WATCHING ON TV. GARY: WE KNOW THEY’RE ENJOYING IT. GOOD LUCK IN THE SEMIS. MARTY: BACK AT THE STARTING LINE, GETTING READY FOR A
REMATCH OF THE FINALS FROM JUST A WEEK AGO. IT WAS KURT WINNING THAT ONE. BOTH CARS ARE RESTAGE. — PRESTAGE. STANFIELD HAD A STAGING DUEL WITH WARREN. NOW HE HAS ONE GOING WITH KURT. MIKE: THIS ONE’S ALREADY GONE LONGER. MARTY: STANFIELD SAID HE WAS NOT
GOING TO PULL IN FIRST AGAINST WARREN. HE DIDN’T. STEWART’S ASKING FOR THE CHAIR. THERE IT IS. HE’LL SIT IT OUT. NOW THE QUESTION IS WITH ALL THIS EXTRA HEAT BUILDING UP IN THE MOTOR. HERE THEY GO. THEY’RE MOVING IN. SLIGHT ADVANTAGE. STANFIELD.
WIN LIGHT KURT JOHNSON. 6.85 SECONDS. AND FOR THE SEVENTH RACE IN A ROW, K.J. IS GOING TO THE SEMIFINALS. LOOK OUT, BOYS, THIS GUY IS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT CHALLENGING FOR THIS CHAMPIONSHIP. MIKE: GREG STANFIELD WAS ABLE TO TO GET THE ADVANTAGE.
GREAT REACTION TIME BY BOTH DRIVERS. MARTY: LET’S CHECK IN WITH GARY. GARY: LET ME GRAB THIS TEMPERATURE GUN. JUST GET A QUICK SHOT IN HERE. 112 DEGREES. 115. >> I HAD THE A.C. ON. >> IT WAS WORKING GOOD FOR YOU. IT DIDN’T LOSE TOO MUCH POWER,
HUH? >> NO, NO, WE’RE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. HAD A GREAT RUN UP THERE. SOME OF THESE DRIVERS THEY GET A LITTLE CONFUSED AND DON’T KNOW WHEN TO GO INTO STAGE, AND IT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY FUN. >> THAT WAS ABOUT A 35-SECOND
MELTDOWN WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT IT GOING. WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT MELTDOWNS TODAY, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE REAL DEAL. MIKE: HOW MUCH MELTING ARE WE DOING? IS IT THE HOTTEST EVER? >> 15 YEARS OF DRIVING A PROFESSIONAL CAR, IT’S PROBABLY
THE HOTTEST RACE I’VE EVER HAD TO ENDURE. IT’S TOUGH. IT’S REALLY TOUGH THIS WEEKEND. NOT ONLY ON ME BUT THE GUYS, TOO. DAVE: I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO. HOW MUCH BETTER IS IT FOR YOU?
YOU’VE BEEN FLYING SOLO UNDERNEATH THE RADAR, BUT YOU’RE ENJOYING A CAREER YEAR. >> IT’S THE SAME CORE GROUP OF GUYS. ALL MY GUYS ON THE RACING TEAM, THEY’RE THE SAME GUYS. IT’S THE SAME CAR. BUT IT GIVES ME A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE A REAL GOOD RACE CAR. MARTY: HERE WE GO WITH GREG ANDERSON LEFT LANE, JASON LINE IN THE RIGHT LANE. IT WAS JASON OFF FIRST. JASON HAS BEEN STRUGGLING ON THE TREE. GREG DRIVES AROUND HIM. GREG GAVE UP ABOUT FOUR
HUNDREDTHS AT THE STARTING LINE. MIKE: JUST A GREAT RUN IN THESE KIND OF CONDITIONS. AND HE NEEDED EVERY BIT OF IT. JASON BEEN STRUGGLING OFF THE STARTING LINE. BUT HE HIT THE TREE GOOD ON THAT RUN. HE SAW JASON GET A LITTLE SIDEWAYS, A LITTLE TOO MUCH
WHEEL SPIN OFF THE STARTING LINE, AND THAT COST HIM. SAW JASON MAKE THE MOVE RIGHT OVER TOWARD GREG. START SPINNING THE TIRES, AND THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE. MARTY: THERE ARE THE INCREMENTALS. AS WE GET READY FOR OUR LAST PAIR OF RICKY SMITH AND JEG
COUGHLIN, HERE’S OUR SCHEDULE IN TWO WEEKS. MARTY: ON BOARD HERE WITH JEG COUGHLIN. MIKE: JEG COUGHLIN ON T FIRST RUN, BLEW THE RES OFF OO USE HISS WOS, ICH MMEAS EXCESSIVE RE SPIN. CKY ITH’S BEN LOKING AWFULLY GOOD AEEKEND. MAR:: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE B T THEN
HE’S OUT OF IT. TOO MUCH SPIN. SOMETHING LOOKED LIKE IT FELL OFF THE CAR. AND RICKY’S GOING TO HIS FIRST SEMIFINAL OF 2005 AS HE RUNS THROUGH AT 6.84 SECONDS. I HAVE NO IDEA — THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FROM JEG’S CAR.
MIKE: I CAN’T TELL WHAT THAT IS. MARTY: LET’S TAKE A LOOK. RIGHT THERE. MIKE: PART OF THE HEADER IT LOOKS LIKE. HE DROVE RIGHT OVER IT. MARTY: THEY’LL SHOOT OUT THE BACK FROM THE TIRES. LUCKY SOMEBODY DIDN’T GET HIT. LOOK AT THAT.
IS THAT THE HEADER PIPE? MIKE: IF I HAD TO GUESS I’D SAY THAT’S WHAT IT WAS. IT LOOKED LIKE HE SMASHED IT FROM GOING UNDERNEATH THE TIRE. MARTY: WHATEVER IT IS, DON’T TOUCH IT. IT’S GOT TO BE HOT. WE HAVE MATT GUIDERA IN THE LEFT
LANE. CHRIS RIVAS IN THE LEFT LANE. LET’S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT JEG COUGHLIN. LET’S GO ON BOARD. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE LADDER. THE LANE CHOICE GOES TO ANDREW HINES. OF THE EIGHT LEFT, FIVE ARE V-TWINS. 007 FOR GUIDERA.
BUT CHRIS RIVAS DRIVES AROUND HIM. 175 MILES PER HOUR. LET’S PUT A PERIOD ON PRO STOCK AND CHECK IN WITH GARY. GARY: THE DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION FROM 2004. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF HEAT? WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN IT HAVE
ON PERFORMANCE. >> IT’S ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL. IT HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON PERFORM AROUND, BUT MORE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DRIVERS. THE SWEAT POURING IN YOUR EYES. IT’S A BATTLE OF SURVIVAL, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME IT’S A
HEMAN CHALLENGE FOR THE CREW GUYS. MY GUYS HAVE THE UPPER HAND. I’M PROUD OF THEM RIGHT NOW. GARY: HOW TOUGH IS VISIBILITY WHEN IT’S DRIPPING IN YOUR EYE AND YOU CAN’T GET TO IT. >> THEY BURN YOUR EYES. YOU’RE SQUINTING.
SOMETIMES IT’S JUST A BLUR. MIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE LUCK AND SOMEBODY TELLING YOU IT’S TIME TO GO. MARTY: AS WE GET BACKTRACKSIDE WE GET READY FOR TONGLET AND MICHAEL PHILLIPS. PHILLIPS GOES RED. MICHAEL’S FOURTH FOUL THIS YEAR. G.T. RUNS IT3
MICHAEL’S FOURTH FOUL THIS YEAR. G.T. RUNS IT THROUGH AT 7.26 SECONDS. SO HE IS IN TO THE SEMIFINALS. THE POINTS LEADER KEEPS PACE. AND BACK IN THE PIT AREA, GARY SCELZI IS WATCHING. GARY, TAKE US THROUGH — IT WAS A GREAT RACE BETWEEN YOU AND RON
KAPPS. >> WELL, IT WAS. I’M JUST LOOKING AT THE VIDEO WE FILMED. LOOKING AT THE THING, I TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF THE CHUNK BECAUSE I HAD TO DO SOMETHING. KAPPS HAS BEEN KILLER ON THE TREE. THE BULBS ARE GOING OUT AT
EXACTLY THE SAME TIME PER FRAME. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PER FRAMES THIS CAMERA DOES, BUT IT SATURDAY HECK OF A JOB. BUT — IT DOES A HECK OF A JOB. WE JUST GOT OUTRAN. IF HE GOES AROUND ME AND GETS IN
THE LEAD IT’S THE SCHUMACHER TEAM TCHOOG AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR. MARTY: THIS DEFINITELY DOESN’T TAKE YOU OUT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT. A LOT MORE RACES. >> THERE’S A LOT MORE MILK OF MAG NIESHA AND ULLSER MEDICINE WE’LL BE TAKING.
WE’RE GOING TO HEAD TO INDY TONIGHT. MARTY: ALL RIGHT. WE’LL SEE YOU. GETTING READY FOR SAMPEY AND SHAWN. SHAWN DRILLS THE TREE. AND IT’S GOING TO COST ANGELLE IN A HUGE WHOLE SHOT. GANN TAKES THE WIN LIGHT. THIRD REACTION TIME LOSS FOR
ANGELLE, AND THAT’S GOING TO HURT HER IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE. SHE WAS 15-2 OVER GANN COMING IN TO THIS RACE. MAKE IT NOW FWEAVERPB — THREERN 3. — 15-3. SHE HAD THE HORSEPOWER BUT NOT QUITE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO RUN
DOWN SEAN GANN. MARTY: YOU’RE ABOUT THE ONLY GUY NOT SWEATING PROFUSELY, TONY SCHUMACHER. HE’S ONE OF THE VERY FEW DRIVERS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS. TONY, HOW DO YOU STAY IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE? I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT THE FANS DON’T.
>> I THINK MOST OF THE DRIVERS OUT HERE IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM DO SOME KIND OF ATHLETIC ACTIVITY. I DO HOCKY. I SWEAT MORE IN HOCKY. IT’S MY SPORT. I GO OUT THERE TO WORK HARD, KEEP MY STOMACH MUSCLES IN
SHAPE. DRIVING A RACE CAR REQUIRES YOU WILL THAT, HAND-EYE COORDINATION. IT’S EXTREMELY HOT. I KNOW ALL THE DRIVERS ARE FEELING IT, INCLUDING MYSELF. BUT THE GUYS WHO STAY IN SHAPE PROBABLY FEEL BETTER. MARTY: ANDREW HINES FINISHES THE ROUND WITH A WIN.
THE MARGIN OF VICTORY. BOTH OF HARLEYS, ONE AND TWO IN THE POINTS. TAKE A LOOK AT G.T. AS HE MAKES HIS WAY BACK TOWARD THE PIT AREA. WE GET READY TO SHOW YOU THE SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS. MARTY: WE’RE BACK HERE AT MEMPHIS.
NICE-LOOKING BI PLANE AS WE GET READY FOR SEMIFINAL ACTION. LET’S GET YOU CAUGHT UP. ROUND ONE, THE BIGGEST SURPRISE DOUG KALITTA OVER ON THE FAR SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN GETS TAKEN DOWN BY MELANIE TROXEL. THAT OPENS THE DOOR IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE.
GUESS WHAT, LARRY DIXON AND TONY SCHUMACHER STEPPED THROUGH IT. ROUND TWO, OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE, DIXON TAKES CARE OF MELANIE TROXEL. AND THEN TONY SCHUMACHER COMES TO THE LINE AND ELIMINATES MORGAN LUCAS FROM COMPETITION IN A RACE THAT WAS OH SO CLOSE.
MIKE: NOW THIS TRACK HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND TO TONY SCHUMACHER. LET’S TAKE YOU BACK TO 2000, ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING MOMENTS. TONY’S IN THE RIGHT LANE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. IT CAME LOOSE AND DROVE THE CAR INTO THE WALL. THE CAR COMES APART.
SCARY, SCARY MOMENT UP TO THAT POINT. LUCKILY TONY JUST HAD MINOR INJURIES. MARTY: THAT TREE WAS REMOVED SOON AFTER. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO TONY AS HE FLEW PAST THE FINISH LINE. MIKE: A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR
BROKE IN HALF IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT. MARTY: HE CAME BACK TO WIN THAT RACE IN 2003. NOW TONY SCHUMACHER HAS A CHANCE TO LITERALLY NARROW THE POINTS CHASE. AND HE DOES IT. 4.67 SECONDS AS THE QUICKEST RUN OF ELIMINATIONS. 308 MILES PER HOUR.
THE SUN BEGINNING TO SET. WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE NUMBERS COME BACK. SO, TONY SCHUMACHER IS GOING TO HIS 50TH FINAL OF HIS CAREER. SIXTH THIS YEAR. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE POINTS LEAD IS DOWN TO JUST FOUR. MIKE: GIVE THIS TO ALLEN JOHNSON.
HE IS DEALING WITH THIS RACETRACK TO BE ABLE TO RUN THIS KIND OF RUN. MARTY: TONY HAS NOW BEAT CORY THE LAST EIGHT TIMES THAT THEY HAVE MET HEAD TO HEAD. GET READY FOR THE NEXT PAIR. IT IS ROD FULLER AND LARRY DIXON.
DIXON HAS TO TO WIN KEEP PACE WITH SCHUMACHER. ROD FULLER WANTS TO GO. TO ANOTHER SEMIFINAL. LET’S CHECK IN AT THE FAR END. GARY: WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ALLEN JOHNSON. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT HE WORKS HIS MAGIC. HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE
IN THE MAN WHO DOES THIS MACHINE IN >> JUST A TON. IT’S NOT JUST ONE RACE, BUT OVERALL HE’S THE KING OF THE HILL. IF I DIDN’T MESS UP A COUPLE EARLY ON WE’D BE DOING REALLY WELL RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY WE EXPECT BETTER. WE EXPECT PERFECTION. THESE GUYS THAT WORK ON THE CAR ARE GOOD. WITHOUT A COUPLE MISTAKES WE’D BE IN THE LEAD. ALLEN JOHNSON, IF HE CAN DO HIS
JOB LIKE HE DOES EVERY TIME AND I CAN PULL MINE OFF, WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER TROPHY HERE. MARTY: JUST A QUICK MOMENT TO TELL YOU ABOUT ESPN’S COVERAGE OF THE ARGENT MORTGAGE GRAND PRIX. LARRY DIXON LOOKING TO GO TO HIS SEVENTH FINAL IN HIS CAREER.
SIX IN A ROW HERE AT MEMPHIS. MIKE: YOU SEE HOT ROD FULLER, STAGED TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THAT LANE BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE GOOD RUBBER IS ON THAT STARTING LINE. HE’S GOING TO WANT TO MOVE IT OVER JUST A LITTLE BIT TO KEEP
IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GROOVE. IT’S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE SUN ELEMENT, THE TRACK CONDITIONS THE WAY THEY ARE. MARTY: THE WIN LIGHT GOES TO ROD FULLER. LEE BEARD AND HIS TEAM IS GOING TO FULLER’S THIRD FINAL THIS
YEAR, THIRD OF HIS CAREER. MIKE: WHAT A GREAT JOB BY THAT TEAM. HOT ROD FULLER DOING THE JOB ON THE STARTING LINE. DOING THE JOB GETTING IT DOWN THE RACETRACK. NICE PASS IN THESE CONDITIONS. LARRY DIXON WAS RIGHT THERE UNTIL THAT CYLINDER WENT OUT
JUST PAST HALF TRACK. THAT ALLOWED HOT ROD TO PULL AWAY. RIGHT THERE A CYLINDER GOES OUT ON LARRY’S CAR. YOU SAW A COUPLE GO OUT ON HOT ROD’S CAR, BUT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN. MARTY: SO LANE CHOICE WILL GO TO TONY SCHUMACHER.
♪ MARTY: WE’RE BACK HERE AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK. LET’S CHECK IN WITH DAVE REIF. DAVE: WE’RE THROUGH THE CRITICAL PART OF THE DAY. NOW CAN YOU GUYS GO BACK AND USE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FROM QUALIFYING? >> YEAH, I THINK WE CAN.
BOTH THOSE RUNS WERE IN THE NIGHTTIME SO, THAT DATA WILL E NIGHTTIME SO, THAT DATA WILL APPLY TO WHAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE FINAL. DAVE: IS THERE MUCH MORE OUT THERE THAN WHAT YOU PUT ON THE RACETRACK?
>> I’M SURPRISED THIS IS HANGING ON AS GOOD AS IT IS. BUT THE FINAL ROUND IS ANYBODY’S GAME. 13 BUT THE FINAL ROUND IS ANYBODY’S GAME. IT’S AN AWFULLY TOUGH TEAM, THAT ARMY CAR. DAVE: WE HAD A CAR GO 337 LAST WEEK.
THAT WAS ONLY THE NINTH 300 MILES PER HOUR PASS THIS WEEKEND. MARTY: WHAT A DIFFERENCE FROM BRAINERED TO MEMPHIS. THE TEMPERATURE ABOUT THREE DEGREES WARMER, AND IT’S SHOWN IN THE PERFORMANCE. TOMMY JOHNSON IN THE LEFT LANE. RON KAPPS IN THE RIGHT LANE.
AND ANOTHER GREAT DRAG RACE. LOOK AT KAPPS, THE FIRST TO DIP INTO THE FOUR-SECOND RANGE IN FUNNY CAR TODAY. A 4.98. CAPPS TAKES THE WIN. MIKE: RON CAPPS DOING HIS JOB. BOTH DRIVERS EXCELLENT OFF THE STARTING LINE. STARTING LINE. 4.98, THAT’S WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT.
THE FUNNY CARS, THE TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS USUALLY RUN ABOUT .3 OF A SECOND BETTER. THAT’S PROBABLY WHAT THEY’RE TUNING FOR. THAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF RUNNING BEHIND THE DRAGSTERS FOR THE FUNNY CAR. THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE DATA.
MARTY: CAPPS GOING INTO HIS FIFTH FINAL, AND HE’S JUMPED INTO SECOND PLACE IN THE POINTS. ROUND TWO. THIS IS WHERE THINGS REALLY STARTED TO SHAKE OUT. RON TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS WITH HIS TEAMMATE GARY SCELZI WHO, WAS SECOND IN THE POINTS.
JOHN FORCE WAS THIRD IN THE POINTS, BUT HIS PROTEGE ROBERT HIGHT PUT HIM ON THE TRAILER. NOW WITH CAPPS’ WIN, HE HAS LEAP FROGGED SCELZI. LET’S CHECK IN AGAIN WITH DAVE. DAVE: YOU JUST MENTIONED RON CAPPS WAS THE FIRST FUNNY CAR TO
JUMP INTO THE FOUR SECOND RANGE THIS WEEKEND. WE JUST GAVE YOU THE TATS ON TOP FUEL. HOW MANY DO YOU SUPPOSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO FAR THIS WEEKEND, MARTY IN TAKE A STAB. MARTY: WELL, YOU TOLD ME AHEAD
OF TIME, SO THAT WOULD NOT BE FAIR. DAVE: NOT ONE 300 MILES PER HOUR PASS SO FAR. WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE ONE BY DAY’S END. MARTY: THERE YOU SEE ROBERTS’ NUMBERS. ROUND RECORD. ROBERT LOOKING TO GO TO HIS FIFTH FINAL THIS YEAR.
ERIC LOOKING TO GO TO HIS FOURTH. TEAM FOUR IS GUARANTEED AT LEAST ONE CAR HERE IN THE FINAL ROUND. MIKE: THE DRIVERS ARE STILL ROOKIES. ERIC, IT’S HIS SECOND YEAR, BUT THAT’S NOT A LOT OF SEAT TIME IN ONE OF THESE FUNNY CARS WHEN
IT’S ONLY 4 TO FIVE SECONDS. THEY’RE BOTH DOING A GREAT JOB. MARTY: AND GUESS WHAT, ERIC MEDLEN IS GOING TO THE FINALS AGAIN. OUR WINNER LAST WEEK AT BRAINERED HAS TAKEN OUT THE POINTS LEADER, OPENING THE DOOR FOR RON CAPPS AND ALSO ERIC
MEDLEN AS HE CHOPS OFF ANOTHER 20 POINTS ON THE LEAD. MIKE: WE STILL HAVEN’T GOT OUR FIRST 300 MILES PER HOUR TODAY IN FUEL FUNNY CAR. BUT WE DID GET A GREAT SIDE BY SIDE RACE. BOTH DRIVERS LEFT THE STARTING LINE TOGETHER.
NEITHER HAD GREAT REACTION TIMES. BUT BOTH OF THEM GOT DOWN THE RACETRACK. ERIC WAS SLIDING AROUND A LITTLE BIT WHEN HE MADE THAT TRANSITION FROM THE CONCRETE TO THE ASPHALT, BUT DID A GOOD JOB HANGING ON TO GET THE WIN. MARTY: YOU’RE ON BOARD WITH KURT JOHNSON.
THAT MEANS IT’S TIME FOR THE PRO STOCK FINALS. LET’S TAKE YOU BACK TO THE FIRST ROUND WHEN WARREN JOHNSON, THE SECOND IN A ROW BY GREG STANFIELD. POLE SHOT IT OUT OF HERE. AND IT COST HIM DEARLY BECAUSE HE DROPPED FROM SECOND TO THIRD
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE BECAUSE JOHNSON TOOK CARE OF HIM IN THE SECOND ROUND, ELIMINATING THE VERY SAME GREG STANFIELD. KURT MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE BEHIND GREG ANDERSON. GREG KEEPS PACE. YOU’RE RIDING ON BOARD WITH HIM AS HE TAKES OUT TEAMMATE JASON LINE.
SO THAT SETS THE STAGE. T THAT SETS THE STAGE. SO THAT SETS THE STAGE. – THERE YOU SEE THE MARGIN AT THE FINISH STRIPE. WE GET READY FOR K.J. IN THE LEFT LANE. DAVE HOWARD LOOKING TO GO TO HIS FIRST EVER CAREER FINAL AND IN
HIS THIRD ONLY PRO STOCK START. TALK ABOUT BUTTERFLIES. GUESS HE’S GOT A FEW. RED LIGHT HOWARD. AND KURT RUNS IT THROUGH AT 6.81 SECONDS. IT WOULDN’T HAVE MADE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE FINALS ANYWAY.
K.J. GOING TO HIS FIFTH FINAL IN THE LAST SIX RACES. AND THE 60TH OF HIS PRO STOCK CAREER. LET’S CHECK IN WITH FUNNY CAR FOR THIS SEMIFINAL ROUND WITH GARY. GARY: ERIC, WE SAW THAT CAR ON GARY: ERIC, WE SAW THAT CAR ON
THE REPLAY SLIDING AROUND A LOT. COULD YOU FEEL IT? DID YOU SENSE IT WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM YOU? >> OH, YEAH, IT WAS SPINNING. IT HAD BEEN SPINNING ALL DAY. IT GETS PAST ABOUT 700 FEET AND SPINS ON DOWN THROUGH THE LIGHTS.
UNCLE STEVE SAYS NEVER GIVE UP UNTIL SHE’S UPSIDE DOWN OR HITTING THE WALL. I AIN’T GIVING UP UNTIL I CROSS THAT FINISH LINE. I SURE HATE RACING YOUR TEAMMATES, BUT IT SURE MAKES IT GREAT WHEN YOU CAN RACE AS FRIENDS.
MARTY: WHO WILL BE JOINING THE PRO STOCK PARADE? WILL IT BE GREG ANDERSON? OR WILL IT BE RICKY SMITH? SMITH LOOKING TO GO TO HIS FIRST FINAL THIS YEAR, BUT HE HASN’T FWON A FINAL SINCE 1999 WHEN HE WON AT HOUSTON.
MIKE: RICKY SMITH HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER. HE’S BEEN MAKING CONSISTENTLY GOOD RUNS. IF HE CAN GET THE SETUP ON THIS RUN HE’S GOING TO BE AWFULLY TOUGH TO BEAT. RICKY SMITH, THEY REALLY HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THAT RACE CAR.
IT’S NOT GOING TO BE EASY FOR GREG. MARTY: RICKY HAS NEVER BEATEN GREG IN FOUR PRIOR MEETINGS. RICKY JUMPS IN QUICKLY. ADVANTAGE RICKY. BUT THE WIN LIGHT TO GREG ANDERSON. HE DRIVES AROUND HIM. 6.78 SECONDS THE ELAPSED TIME. 201 MILES PER HOUR.
SO IT’S GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE IN THE POINTS VERSUS NUMBER TWO IN THE POINTS. THAT TIME OF 6.78 IS LOW FOR ELIMINATIONS IN PRO STOCK. MIKE: TRICKY RICKY EARNING HIS NICKNAME THERE. HE TRIED EVERYTHING IN THE BOOKS.
HE ACTUALLY REVED THE ENGINE UP BEFORE GREG WAS STIGED TRY TO THROW HIM OFF. IT ALMOST WORKED BECAUSE HE GOT A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE OFF THE STARTING LINE, BUT HE DIDN’T RUN THE NUMBER HE NEEDED BECAUSE GREG ANDERSON WAS MAKING A
PERFECT RUN IN THAT LEFT-HAND LANE. GREG GOES TO HIS SEVENTH FINAL OF THIS YEAR AND 53RD OF HIS CAREER. IT WILL BE LANE CHOICE TO GREG ANDERSON. AS WE SAID IT’S NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO IN THE POINTS.
GARY: RICKY SMITH, HE’S A HANDFUL UP THERE, TRYING EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK TO DISRUPT YOUR CONCENTRATION. DID HE ALMOST SUCCEED? >> THEY DON’T CALL HIM TRICKY RICKY FOR ANYTHING. I’VE SEEN HIM IN A LOT OF YEARS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
FROM HIM. YOU BETTER BE READY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A HECK OF A FINAL. GARY: WE’LL SEE BOTH OF THEM COMING UP SHORTLY IN THE FINALS. MARTY: OFF THE TRACK HE’S GOOD FRIENDS ARE KURT JOHNSON, BUT WON’T BE WHEN WE SEE THEM BACK
HERE. MARTY: FIRST OF OUR SEMIFINALS IN PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE. WE ARE GUARANTEED OF A FIRGS TIME EVER MEMPHIS WINNER WITH OUR FOUR SEMIFINALS HERE. IT IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE IT COULD BE AN ALL HARLEY AFFAIR AGAIN.
HALF OF THE PROGRAM HAS DONE IT. MIKE: NICE PASS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK ON THAT HARLEY. YUGS POWERS AWAY FROM THE SUZUKI. MARTY: YOU SEE THE CELEBRATION BACK AT THE STARTING LINE, BUT THEY WON’T BE CELEBRATING FOR
LINE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. HERE COMES ANDREW HINES. AND CHRIS RIVAS HAS STALLED THE BIKE DOWN ON THE STARTING LINES. GARY: HE DROPPED THE CLUTCH TO START THE TIRE C13 GARY: HE DROPPED THE CLUTCH TO START THE TIRE SPINNING.
FOR SOME REASON IT DIDN’T WANT TO GO. HE WAS ABLE TO GRAB THAT CLUTCH AGAIN VERY, VERY QUICKLY. BUT HE TRIED IT AGAIN AND THE BIKE STALLED. HE’S GOING TO STAGE THIS BIKE, BUT PROBABLY NOT HAVE A HECK OF
A LOT MORE FOR THE COMPETITOR IN THE OTHER LANE. MARTY: ANDREW CONCENTRATING, WAITING FOR CHRIS TO GET THERE. MIKE: IT DOESN’T SOUND RIGHT. BUT HE HAS TO GO UP THERE. MARTY: IT DIDN’T GO FIVE INCHES. IT’S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ALL HARLEY FINAL.
THIRD TIME IN THEIR CAREER, SECOND RACE IN A ROW. A 7.20 THE ELAPSED TIME. SO NUMBERS ONE AND TWO IN THE POINTS FOR THE SCREAMING EAGLE OF HINES TEAM. THESH OPENING UP A HUGE — THEY ARE OPENING UP A HUGE MARGIN.
THE COMPLEXION OF PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE HAS CHANGED JUST THAT QUICKLY. MOTORCYCLE HAS CHANGED JUST THAT QUICKLY. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE COMMENTS ARE FROM THE SUZUKI CAMP. THEY GOT A 10-POUND WEIGHT BREAK IN THIS EVENT, BUT NO SUZUKIS ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND.
LANE CHOICE GOES TO ANDREW UP AGAINST G.T. DAVE: I STUCK MY HEAD IN QUICKLY TO ASK HIM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SAID IT WAS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. MARTY: THAT WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. THEY’LL COME BACK AND TRY TO GET READY.
MARTY: WELL, THE SUN HAS BEGUN TO SET. IT’S DOWNRIGHT GETTING DARK OUT HERE. . THE TEMPERATURE HAS FINALLY MID-SOUTH NATIONS IN MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PA. LET’S CHECK INWI STT OF THDAY ND FIDOUT WHO HATHE STRETION TIME SO F.
FIRST UP, MATT GUIDERA WITH TH 60TH PERFECT LIGHT IN PRO COMPETITION. GREG STANFIELD COULDN’T GET ANY BETTER. HE GOES 0 .022. IN ROUND TWO OF FUNNY CAR, T.J. WENT .0 58. TIME TO HAND OUT HARDWARE. WHO’S TAKING IT HOME?
IN TOP FUEL, ROD FULLER LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST. TONY SCHUMACHER LOOKING TO RETAKE THE POINTS LEAD. AND IN FUNNY CAR, RON CAPPS HAS MOVED INTO SECOND IN THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE. BUT NEVER FIVE IN THE POINTS, ERIC MEDLEN LOOKING TO DO SOME
SERIOUS DAMAGE AS WELL. KURT JOHNSON, HE’S SECOND IN THE PRO STOCK POINTS. BUT THERE’S THE LEADER, GREG ANDERSON. IT’S AN ALL HARLEY FINAL. ANDREW HINES, J.T. — G.T. TONGLET IN THE RIGHT LANE, HINES IN THE LEFT LANE. LET’S QUICKLY CHECK THE TEMPERATURE.
WHEW, WHAT A CHANGE. MIKE: THAT TRACK TEMPERATURE, 110 DEGREES. THAT’S GOING TO BE THE KEY. THEY’LL BE ABLE TO RUN A LITTLE HARDER THAN BEFORE. MARTY: THIS IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE ANOTHER WIN FOR THE HARLEYS. IT WILL BE THE SEVENTH FOR THE
V-TWINS THIS YEAR IN PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE. EACH OF THESE GUYS, THE THREE TIMES THEY’VE MET, IN THE FIRST TWO THEY’VE SPLIT ONE APIECE. G.T. LAST TIME. RED LIGHT FOR TONGLET. GUESS WHAT, WE’LL HAVE A LEAD CHANGE AGAIN IN PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE.
ANDREW RUNS IT THROUGH AT 7.16 SECONDS. IT IS THE SECOND FOUL THIS YEAR FOR G.T. TONGLET. IT WILL BE THE FIFTH TIME IN THIS SEASON THAT WE HAVE A LEAD CHANGE IN PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE. THEIR RECORD IS SIX. MIKE: G.T.’S BEEN TALKING ABOUT
WORKING ON HIS REACTION TIME. UNFORTUNATELY GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO QUICK THERE AND DRUPE THE RED LIGHT. GARY: ANDREW, I’M INTERESTED IN FOUR MOTOR SWAPS THIS WEEKEND? WHAT WAS THE KEY? WHAT DID YOU MIND? >> WE JUST HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM. MY TEAM WORKED SO HARD.
EVERYBODY OUT THERE DOES NOT HAVE CLUE. SCOTT STURMAN GAVE ME AN AWESOME BIKE TO RIDE. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT EXCEPT FOR ALL THE ENGINE EXPLOSIONS. THE SCREAMING EAGLE TEAMS PUT TWO HARLEY DAVIDSON V-RODS IN THE FINAL. ANNE PALUSO, I WROTE HER A
BIRTHDAY CARD, LET’S GET THIS RACE DONE FOR YOU. MY SISTER’S BIRTHDAY WAS ON FRIDAY AS WELL. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE. GARY: GOOD JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. MARTY: HOW FUNNY. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT EXCEPT FOR FOUR ENGINE EXPLOSIONS. MIKE: MINOR DETAIL. MARTY: KURT JOHNSON IN THE RIGHT LANE.
GREG ANDERSON IN THE LEFT LANE. IT’S THE FIRST TIME EVER IN 11 FINALS THAT KURT HAD EVER BEATEN GREG. GREG CAME BACK AT SONOMA WITH THE WIN. BUT K.G.’S BEEN THE HOT CAR. MIKE: SINCE THE SECOND ROUND, GREG ANDERSON HAS HAD THE PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE.
WATCH FOR KURT TO TRY TO STEP UP RIGHT NOW. MARTY: ADVANTAGE K.J. BUT THE WIN LIGHT GOES TO GREG. 6.80 SECONDS TO A 6.83. FOR GREG HE PICKS UP HIS FIFTH WIN OF THE YEAR AND 36TH OF HIS CAREER. LET’S CHECK IN WITH DAVE.
DAVE: IT’S ALL ABOUT BIRTHDAYS. KEN BLACK, THE MAN WHO’S GETTING A TOP FUEL CAR. THIS ONE’S ALL ABOUT PRO STOCK. HOW ZILT FEEL TO GET THERE ONCE AGAIN IN >> IT’S GREAT. THIS WAS FOR MY WIFE. IT’S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY.
SHE COULDN’T BE HERE, SO THIS IS FOR HER. DAVE: SO MUCH ATTENTION PAID TO THE LONG, SKINNY CARS NOW. DO YOU LOVE IT OVER HERE? >> THIS IS MY TRUE HOME. REAL RACE CARS HAVE DOORS. MARTY: LET’S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. MIKE: BIG SURPRISE, BOTH CARS
FELL OFF A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS FROM THE PREVIOUS ROUND. YOU WOULD THINK WITH THE SUN GONE AND A NICE, TIGHT RACETRACK THEY WOULD HAVE PICKED UP. GARY: GREG, I GUESS WE CAN QUALIFY THIS AS THE STRETCH RUN IN A CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR MIND IS THIS WIN HERE IN MEMPHIS? >> THEY’RE ALL BIG, GARY, BUT THIS ONE’S HUGE. WE LET ONE SLIP AWAY LAST WEEKEND. WE HAD A FANTASTIC G.P.O. LAST WEEKEND. UFF TO SUCK IT UP WHEN THAT STUFF HAPPENS.
IT’S JUST THE BAD BREAKS. YOU HAVE TO GO HOME, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, FIX THAT TRANSMISSION. I THINK WE CAME BACK PRETTY STRONG THIS WEEK. I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY GUYS. MY CREW, I LOVE YOU GUYS. HONEY, THE KIDS, I’LL SEE YOU IN
THE MORNING. GARY: NOT A BIRTH-DAY GREETING TO BE FOUND. MARTY: HE HOISTS THE TROPHY ANOTHER TIME. TIES IT WITH ANGELLE SAMPEY ON THE ALLTIME WIN LIST. RON CAPPS HAS MOVED INTO SECOND PLACE IN THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP. IT’S NUMBER TWO NOW AGAINST
NUMBER FIVE. THERE YOU SEE RON’S ROAD TO THE FINAL. MIKE: ERIC MEDLEN HAS BEEN ON FIRE. I TELL YOU, HE’S JUST BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB. RIGHT NOW RON CAPPS HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ON THE LIGHTS. GOOD ADVANTAGE. JUST A LITTLE BETTER OFF THAT
REACTION TIME. BASED ON THE REACTION TIME AND THE ELAPSE TIME, THIS IS A GREAT MATCHUP. MARTY: ED MCCULLOUGH HAS BEEN UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS. WHAT A WAY TO END IT OFF IF HE CAN PULL IT OFF RIGHT HERE AND GET THE WIN.
HE WILL NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. IT’S BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT HE’S IN THE FINAL. HERE WE GO. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR ED, BECAUSE IT’S ERIC MEDLEN DOING IT AGAIN. 4.91 SECONDS. 300 MILES PER HOUR. RON GOES 4.98.
AND ACE SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SAYS ALMOST. MIKE: TALK ABOUT REACTION TIME. HE STEPS UP. A .053 ADVANTAGE OVER RON CAPPS, AND HE NEVER LOOKED BACK. ERIC DID HIS JOB, KEEPING IT IN THE GROOVE, GETTING THAT GREAT REACTION TIME AND GETTING INTO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE.
MARTY: ERIC WINS BACK-TO-BACK RACES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER. PICKS UP WIN NUMBER THREE THIS YEAR. THE FOURTH OF HIS CAREER. GARY: YOU SHARED A SPECIAL MOMENT WITH ED, BUT THIS IS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SON.
CAN YOU BELIEVE YOU KEEP RUNNING UP THESE WINS? >> I TELL YOU WHAT, IT’S BEYOND OUR GREATEST IMAGINATION. IT’S GOT TO BE DIVINE INTERVENTION. NO HUMAN CAN ORCHESTRATE SUCH A THING. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC CREW. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE GUYS
HAVE GONE THE GAMBIT OF ENDURING THE HEAT AND TEMPERATURE AND ADVERSITY TODAY. THEY CAME THROUGH WINNERS. THEY’RE A CHAMPIONSHIP OUTFIT AND I’M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. GARY: FINALLY, 300 MILES PER HOUR FUNNY CAR RUNS. MARTY: WE FINALLY CRACKED IT
HERE IN THE FINAL. TOP FUEL, THE FINAL RACE OF A VERY HOT, VERY LONG WEEKEND. YOU CAN SEE ERIC AT THE FAR END OF THE RACETRACK JUST FINALLY CLIMBING OUT. TONY SCHUMACHER UP AGAINST ROD FULLER. THERE IS ROD. THIS IS HIS THIRD FINAL.
HE HAS YET TO GET HIS FIRST WIN. IT’S HIS FIRST TIME IN THE FINAL WITH THAT MAN RIGHT THERE, LEE BEARD. LET’S PUT A PERIOD ON FUNNY CAR. GARY: ERIC MEDLEN, SUDDENLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR CAREER YOU’VE WON THREE EVENTS HERE IN THE LAST FOUR.
WHAT’S BEEN THE SECRET TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS? >> POWERADE. WE PUT IT IN THE PIPES, THE INJECTOR, EVERYTHING. NOW THAT I HAVE EVERYBODY LAUGHING I’LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. JUST A LOT OF HARD WORK, GARY. WE’VE BEEN WORKING REAL HARD ALL YEAR.
RIGHT NOW IT’S JUST HAPPENING FOR US. IT COULD COME AND GO JUST AS FAST AS IT COMES IT CAN GO. ROBERT’S GUYS HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS YEAR, BUT THEY’RE IN THE POINTS CHASE RIGHT NOW. JUST A GREAT JOB BY MY DAD.
JASON MORTON. DO I HAVE TIME TO NAME ALL THE GUYS? IT WOULD TAKE ME A HALF-HOUR. >> HOW ABOUT NICKNAMES? DAVE: SCHUMACHER RACING EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE IS VERY, VERY TALENTED IN HIS OWN RIGHT. HE TOLD ME THAT FOLLOWING THE
SONOMA RACES DEBUT WITH THIS DRIVER THEY WENT TO HOUSTON. HE WENT TO THIS CAR FROM FRONT TO BACK WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. HE SAYS HE IS ONE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THAT. HE SAYS HE VERY MUCH HAS A SHOT AT THIS FINAL.
MARTY: OF COURSE LEE BEARD WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO WIN AGAINST HIS FORMER BOSS. HERE WE GO. TONY’S IN TROUBLE. AND ROD FULLER GETS HIS FIRST WIN. WE HAVE A SECOND FIRST-TIME WINNER THIS YEAR. LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED, 1997. LOOK AT THE CELEBRATION DOWN AT
THE STARTING LINE. SO TONY SCHUMACHER WILL REMAIN FOUR POINTS BEHIND DOUG KALITTA AS THE FIREWORKS GO OFF HERE AT MEMPHIS. DAVE: LEE BEARD, HOW SPECIAL IS THIS FOR YOU? >> I JUST CAN’T REALLY SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WHOLE DAVID POWERS VALVOLINE TEAM.
IT’S THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT’S GOING TO BE A SUPERB ORGANIZATION THAT’S GOING TO BE A FUTURE FOR US OUT HERE IN NHRA DRAG RACING. DAVE: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. DAVID POWERS, HOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM. >> THEY WERE OUTSTANDING, REALLY.
OUR WHOLE CREW, VALVOLINE MADE THIS THING SO FANTASTIC. IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE. MARTY: LOOK AT THE CELEBRATION UP AT THE FAR END OF THE RACETRACK. ROD FULLER’S NOT VERY TALL, BUT RIGHT NOW HE FEELS LIKE HE’S
MAYBE THE SIZE OF THE GREEN GIANT. LET’S GO BACK BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE TALKING AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF TOP FUEL WE SAW A BURN UP. IT REALLY WASN’T THAT STRONG. MIKE: IT JUST STARTS TO MOKE THE TIRES AND THEN HOOK UP.
MAYBE THE THROTTLE WASN’T SET RIGHT. BUT TONY DID THE RIGHT THING, HE GOT OUT OF THE THROTTLE. I DON’T THINK IT AFFECTED THE RUN, BUT IT DIDN’T HELP IT. GARY: RON, I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME.
THIS NEW TEAM WITH LEE BEARD, DAVID BOWERS, EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER, WHAT IS IT YOU’RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW? >> 10 LONG, HARD YEARS OF PERSISTENCE TO GET BACK HERE. VALVOLINE STICKING WITH ME FOR ALL THESE YEARS, MAC TOOLS, LEE BEARD AND ROB FLINT.
MOST OF ALL THE TWO WOMEN IN MY LIFE. MY MOM, IT’S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY, AND MY WIFE. UNBELIEVABLE. SHE’S NOT FEELING VERY WELL THIS WEEKEND. SHE’S UNDER THE WEATHER. I LOVE YOU. YOU’RE THE GREATEST. GARY: TERRIFIC. CONGRATULATIONS. SAVOR THAT VICTORY. MARTY: ONE FINAL COMMERCIAL BREAK.
MARTY: YOU CAN SEE THE CELEBRATION AT THE FAR END OF THE RACETRACK. ROD FULLER HUGGING EVERY MEMBER OF HIS CREW. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ESPN, INC.] LITTLE REVENGE FOR LEE BEARD. MIKE: SWEELT REVENGE FOR LEE BEARD. BEING LET GO BY DON SCHUMACHER.
HE COMES BACK AND TAKES OUT DON’S NUMBER ONE CAR. MARTY: LARRY DIXON THIRD BY 99. THAT’S GOING TO DO IT FOR US. CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE –WWW.NCICAP.ORG–
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