Top Fuel veteran Terry McMillen piloted his dragster to his first career victory Sunday at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned victories in their respective categories at the fifth of six playoff events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
McMillen raced to his first winner's circle with a pass of 3.870 seconds at 253.99 miles per hour in his AMALIE Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR after Brittany Force red-lit in her Monster Energy dragster. He became the 104th different Top Fuel winner after 195 career starts.
"This is the stuff you dream of as a small kid," McMillen said. "To have that opportunity to go out there and get that win is truly an amazing feeling. Hats off to my crew.
"This is the first time in a long time where the turnarounds were really quick, and they turned around that car flawlessly. The car was really quick on the starting line, lights were good and it all just fell into place."
On his way to victory, McMillen defeated Richie Crampton, Clay Millican and Shawn Langdon. Force took down Shawn Reed, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pritchett before to reach the finals. She remains second in overall points heading into the final event of the season, trailing leader Steve Torrence by 20.
Hagan powered his Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T to his first career victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after a run of 3.942 at 329.42, defeating Courtney Force's 4.020 at 320.05 in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro. It was Hagan's fourth victory of the season and 26th of his career.
"There's no replacement for the feeling of winning," Hagan said. "That's a fix you can't get nowhere else. My guys busted tail all day.
"We had a car that went down the track every run we've been here. I was just trying not to mess it up."
His route to victory included win lights against Gary Densham, Del Worsham and teammate Jack Beckman. Force faced Jeff Arend, Alexis DeJoria and category points leader Robert Hight before entering her third final round in the Countdown.
Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier Anderson raced his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro to victory for the fourth time this season with a pass of 6.698 at 204.70, defeating KB Racing teammate Bo Butner. Anderson secured his fifth career victory at the Las Vegas event and 90th of his career.
Category points leader Anderson sits 40 points ahead of teammate and defending World Champion Jason Line. Butner rounds out the top three.
"The ultimate scenario for us at KB Racing was to eliminate the Gray team over there," Anderson said. "Didn't think it would happen, because they are great race car drivers, but somehow we found a way and we outlasted them today.
"They're now not a part of the equation when we go to Pomona. Now we're just going to have to go out there and settle it among ourselves."
Anderson bested Alan Prusiensky, Chris McGaha and Line on the way to his 11th final around appearance this season. Butner topped Shane Tucker, Alan Johnson and Drew Skillman before losing to Anderson.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, category points leader Krawiec rode his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.924 at 193.16 to defeat Hector Arana Jr. It was his third career victory at this event, his seventh of the season and 43rd of his career.
"My motorcycle has been a pleasure to ride," Krawiec said. "I've got a great group of guys behind me that make tune-up calls and make the bike as good as it is. By no means is it just one person.
"It's really about the whole crew that those guys do for me and give me the opportunity to have a bike that can win a race is really something special."
Krawiec's road to victory was lined with wins over John Hall, Angelle Sampey and Scotty Pollacheck. The win put him 150 points ahead of L.E. Tonglet, who remains second.
Arana Jr. rode past Katie Sullivan, Mike Berry and Tonglet en route to the finals.
NHRA Toyota Nationals
Complete results
TOP FUEL
1. Terry McMillen; 2. Brittany Force; 3. Leah Pritchett; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Clay Millican; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Antron Brown; 10. T.J. Zizzo; 11. Scott Palmer; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Shawn Reed; 14. Richie Crampton; 15. Mike Salinas; 16. Troy Buff.
FUNNY CAR
1. Matt Hagan; 2. Courtney Force; 3. Jack Beckman; 4. Robert Hight; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. John Force; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Tim Wilkerson; 10. Jonnie Lindberg; 11. J.R. Todd; 12. Ron Capps; 13. Cruz Pedregon; 14. Gary Densham; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Jeff Arend.
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Bo Butner; 3. Jason Line; 4. Drew Skillman; 5. Tanner Gray; 6. Chris McGaha; 7. Jeg Coughlin; 8. Allen Johnson; 9. Matt Hartford; 10. Alex Laughlin; 11. Brian Self; 12. Larry Morgan; 13. Alan Prusiensky; 14. Shane Tucker; 15. Deric Kramer; 16. Erica Enders.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Hector Arana Jr; 3. Scotty Pollacheck; 4. LE Tonglet; 5. Andrew Hines; 6. Angelle Sampey; 7. Mike Berry; 8. Karen Stoffer; 9. Matt Smith; 10. Joey Gladstone; 11. Angie Smith; 12. John Hall; 13. Melissa Surber; 14. Jerry Savoie; 15. Hector Arana; 16. Katie Sullivan.
Final round
Top Fuel - Terry McMillen, 3.870 seconds, 253.99 mph def. Brittany Force, Foul - Red Light.
Funny Car - Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.942, 329.42 def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.020, 320.05.
Pro Stock - Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.698, 204.70 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 15.506, 36.72.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.924, 193.16 def. Hector Arana Jr., Buell, 6.949, 192.91.
Pro Modified - Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 7.081, 138.84 def. Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, Broke.
Top Alcohol Dragster - Joey Severance, 5.286, 270.16 def. Shawn Cowie, 5.402, 271.95.
Top Alcohol Funny Car - Ulf Leanders, Chevy Camaro, 6.845, 198.47 def. Larry Dixon, Camaro, Foul - Centerline.
Competition Eliminator - Greg Kamplain, Dragster, 7.021, 166.81 def. Tom Mettler, Dodge Dakota, Foul - Red Light.
Super Stock - Ryan McClanahan, Chevy Cobalt, 10.305, 94.06 def. Darrell Dietz, Ford Mustang, Foul - Red Light.
Stock Eliminator - Justin Lamb, Chevy Camaro, 9.831, 133.66 def. Randi Lyn Shipp, Pontiac Firebird, 10.961, 118.69.
Super Comp - Marko Perivolaris, Dragster, 9.062, 171.58 def. Mark Potts, Dragster, 9.080, 149.31.
Super Gas - Val Torres, Chevy Corvette, 14.673, 81.41 def. Tanner Hiatt, Corvette, Foul - Red Light.
Preliminary rounds
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE - Leah Pritchett, 3.705, 326.16 def. T.J. Zizzo, 3.752, 329.18; Terry McMillen, 3.784, 319.45 def. Richie Crampton, 8.568, 87.90; Clay Millican, 3.710, 327.11 def. Mike Salinas, 9.509, 75.99; Tony Schumacher, 3.730, 329.10 def. Troy Buff, Foul - Red Light; Steve Torrence, 3.741,328.62 def. Terry Haddock, 3.862, 305.08; Brittany Force, 3.696, 322.04 def. Shawn Reed, 3.870, 317.19; Doug Kalitta, 3.755, 327.03 def. Scott Palmer, Foul - Red Light; Shawn Langdon, 3.739,319.07 def. Antron Brown, 3.742, 325.92.
QUARTERFINALS - Langdon, 3.795, 318.77 def. Torrence, 4.309, 222.69; McMillen, 3.786, 319.67 def. Millican, 4.972, 146.43; Pritchett, 3.754, 322.73 def. Schumacher, 3.869, 292.27; Force, 4.343, 231.83 def. Kalitta, 22.684, 56.97.
SEMIFINALS - McMillen, 3.798, 297.02 def. Langdon, 3.893, 276.69; Force, 3.714, 329.34 def. Pritchett, 3.754, 323.81.
FINAL - McMillen, 3.870, 253.99 def. Force, Foul - Red Light.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE - Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.915, 328.78 def. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 5.853, 132.26; Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 6.044, 152.85 def. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.323, 91.04; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.922, 327.98 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.922, 327.74; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.918, 330.15 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 6.399, 104.15; Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.022, 319.29 def. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.651, 183.82; John Force, Camaro, 4.469, 231.75 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 5.245, 142.42; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.962, 320.51 def. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 4.197, 254.95; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.958, 327.27 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 5.282, 143.55.
QUARTERFINALS - Hight, 3.934, 328.38 def. J. Force, 5.178, 150.95; Hagan, 3.952, 326.79 def. Worsham, 7.125, 101.10; Beckman, 3.947, 328.54 def. Johnson Jr., 8.344, 93.10; C. Force, 3.933, 330.15 def. DeJoria, 4.099, 259.96.
SEMIFINALS - Hagan, 3.967, 329.42 def. Beckman, 7.223, 103.32; C. Force, 3.928, 331.36 def. Hight, 10.402, 83.40.
FINAL - Hagan, 3.942, 329.42 def. C. Force, 4.020, 320.05.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE - Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.681, 206.13 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.680, 205.54; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.682, 205.07 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.692, 205.13; Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.716, 202.82 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 7.036, 163.49; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.691, 205.29 def. Brian Self, Camaro, 6.720, 204.73; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.690, 203.46 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.786, 202.79; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.661, 205.60 def. Deric Kramer, Dart, Foul - Red Light; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.677, 204.76 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.775, 203.65; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.684, 205.13 def. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.744, 203.83.
QUARTERFINALS - Butner, 6.695, 204.35 def. Johnson, 15.017, 88.22; Line, 6.694, 205.44 def. Coughlin, 6.705, 205.88; Anderson, 6.687, 204.20 def. McGaha, 6.696, 206.01; Skillman, 6.698, 205.72 def. Gray, 6.693, 205.16.
SEMIFINALS - Butner, 6.772, 192.14 def. Skillman, Foul - Red Light; Anderson, 6.716, 204.60 def. Line, 6.719, 204.60.
FINAL - Anderson, 6.698, 204.70 def. Butner, 15.506, 36.72.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE - Angelle Sampey, 7.009, 188.25 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.044, 189.82; Mike Berry, Buell, 7.035, 189.28 def. Hector Arana, Buell, Foul - Red Light; L.E. Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.987, 191.00 def. Melissa Surber, Buell, 7.021, 188.96; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.040, 189.84 def. Angie Smith, Buell, Foul - Red Light; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.967, 192.30 def. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 7.005, 190.38; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.955, 189.39 def. Matt Smith, 6.964, 192.11; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.939, 192.85 def. John Hall, Buell, 7.009, 189.73; Hector Arana Jr., Buell, 6.947, 192.30 def. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, Broke.
QUARTERFINALS - Tonglet, 6.974, 193.18 def. Stoffer, 7.152, 189.34; Pollacheck, 6.924, 192.49 def. Hines, 6.974, 192.60; Arana Jr, 6.966, 192.99 def. Berry, Foul - Red Light; Krawiec, 11.547, 70.41 def. Sampey, Foul - Red Light.
SEMIFINALS - Arana Jr., 7.061, 191.10 def. Tonglet, 7.009, 191.62; Krawiec, 6.932, 194.24 def. Pollacheck, 6.974, 190.89.
FINAL - Krawiec, 6.924, 193.16 def. Arana Jr., 6.949, 192.91.
Update points standings
Top Fuel
1. Steve Torrence, 2,527; 2. Brittany Force, 2,507; 3. Doug Kalitta, 2,443; 4. Antron Brown, 2,392; 5. Leah Pritchett, 2,361; 6. Tony Schumacher, 2,340; 7. Clay Millican, 2,326; 8. Shawn Langdon, 2,267; 9. Terry McMillen, 2,261; 10. Scott Palmer, 2,169.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 2,548; 2. Ron Capps, 2,533; 3. Courtney Force, 2,423; 4. Jack Beckman, 2,396; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,387; 6. John Force, 2,306; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,276; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,237; 9. J.R. Todd, 2,233; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,163.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 2,597; 2. Bo Butner, 2,557; 3. Jason Line, 2,521; 4. Tanner Gray, 2,413; 5. Drew Skillman, 2,384; 6. Erica Enders, 2,286; 7. Allen Johnson, 2,235; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 2,234; 9. Chris McGaha, 2,207; 10. Vincent Nobile, 2,052.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,628; 2. LE Tonglet, 2,478; 3. Andrew Hines, 2,427; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,406; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 2,400; 6. Jerry Savoie, 2,393; 7. Matt Smith, 2,345; 8. Karen Stoffer, 2,252; 9. Angie Smith, 2,209; 10. Joey Gladstone, 2,200.
Coughlin wins NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series championship; Jackson wins season-ending event in Las Vegas
Troy Coughlin earned his third NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series world championship on Sunday during the season ending event for the category at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the NHRA Toyota Nationals. This weekend's Pro Mod racing is presented by Real Pro Mod Association which is the season ending event for the category.
Coughlin earned the crown when he defeated Mike Castellana, his nearest competitor in points during the second round of eliminations.
"You look up in the stands and see all those people and you just want to win one more round," said Coughlin. "The plan of attack we had happened to work. We crossed the finish line and saw those flashing win lights on the guard wall and you think this is a dream come true. It is hard to do and this class is getting tougher and tougher."
Coughlin earned the championship, his first since 2015, on the strength of two wins, four runner-up finishes and three No. 1 qualifiers. Coughlin, who has raced full time in the series since its inception in 2010 has finished either first or second in the points every season since 2012.
Coughlin raced his way to the finals but was bested by Stevie Jackson who won his second race of the season. Jackson posted a winning time of 7.081 seconds at 138.84 mph. Coughlin suffered a broken part and didn't make a full pass down the track.
“What an awesome win. This is my first time racing in Vegas and it's an unbelievable experience,” Jackson said. “This is a tough class to even qualify for. To win the last race of the season is a game changer for us. Nobody wants to eat their Thanksgiving dinner thinking about getting their butt kicked. Jack Barbee, Mark Savage, Tracy Teasley and Robbie Lowry have killed it all year. Billy Stocklin is the best there is period. And I do a decent job half the time driving the car. Being a part of Bahrain 1 is very special. We are a big family and next year is mine.”
RESULTS
PRO MODIFIED
1. Steve Jackson; 2. Troy Coughlin; 3. Harry Hruska; 4. Dan Stevenson; 5. Mike Castellana; 6. Rickie Smith; 7. Jonathan Gray; 8. Shane Molinari; 9. Sidnei Frigo; 10. Steven Whiteley; 11. Danny Rowe; 12. Khalid alBalooshi; 13. Michael Biehle; 14. Bob Rahaim; 15. Jim Whiteley; 16. Mike Janis.
Finals
Pro Modified - Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 7.081, 138.84 def. Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, Broke.
Preliminary rounds
PRO MODIFIED
ROUND ONE - Harry Hruska, Chevy Camaro, 5.864, 250.64 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.888, 237.46; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.864, 244.96 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.940, 243.06; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.857, 248.48 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, Broke; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.882, 252.47 def. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 5.933, 243.63; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.808, 255.58 def. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.868, 252.47; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.863, 248.39 def. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 6.193, 205.57; Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 6.894, 175.43 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 9.689, 96.51; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.851, 245.36 def. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 11.551, 111.65; QUARTERFINALS -- Hruska, 5.848, 251.39 def. Molinari, 6.918, 162.33; Stevenson, 5.825, 256.02 def. Smith, 5.871, 245.85; Jackson, 5.837, 246.80 def. Gray, 5.989, 239.10; Coughlin, 5.836, 255.29 def. Castellana, 5.837, 249.07.
SEMIFINALS – Coughlin, 5.843, 254.04 def. Hruska, 5.915, 250.46; Jackson, 5.847, 245.81 def. Stevenson, 6.843, 153.60.
FINALS – Jackson, 7.081, 138.84 def. Coughlin, Broke.
Updated points standings
Pro Modified
1. Troy Coughlin, 912; 2. Mike Castellana, 847; 3. Steve Jackson, 716; 4. Shane Molinari, 686; 5. Sidnei Frigo, 611; 6. Jonathan Gray, 603; 7. Steven Whiteley, 602; 8. Steve Matusek, 547; 9. Rickie Smith, 494; 10. Khalid alBalooshi, 493.
