Race Weekend Results 03-16-15

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It was a challenge against the weather over the weekend at Baton Rouge, but the IHRA crew worked hard to get the track prepped so the show could go on. The Hawaiian Nitro funny car crew worked through challenges to bring home the win!  TMS Titanium had a full weekend meeting the fans and displaying their expertise by answering questions regarding titanium needs. They co-sponsored an exhibition race between Alex Taylor in the Badmaro and Tina Pierce in the Street Outlaws S10. The first race was successful and the fans enjoyed watching the ladies race. The second pass did not go as well - Tina’s S10 took a violent left and climbed over the wall coming to a rest on the wrong side of the wall. The IHRA track crew performed well, fighting their way through the fans to Tina’s aid. Fortunately, Tina escaped with no injuries. Overall, both TMS-sponsored drivers and their crews really enjoyed Baton Rouge.

The fourth race of the season in Avondale, Arizona over the weekend brought one top-5 and one top-10 finish for Hendrick Motorsports. The No.5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS raced consistently in the top 10 all day, and Kasey Kahne finished the race with a top-five position in fourth. Jeff Gordon started the race in the 10th position and continuously stayed near the top 10. The No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS ran near the front all day Sunday and eventually ended the race ninth.

Don Schumacher Racing’s NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car personified the definition of “team” by the way it won Sunday’s NHRA Gatornationals title, with driver Ron Capps at the wheel. The NAPA team has now advanced to two final rounds in this season’s first three events. The Gatornationals win was Ron’s 44th career event title (one Top Fuel title) and now Ron has the second most Funny Car wins in NHRA history at 43. We also saw a win by the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant team who couldn’t have picked a better time to pick up their first event title of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Brittany Force and the JFR Top Fuel dragster were the top performers for John Force Racing at the 46th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday. Force qualified No. 7 and took out Dave Connolly in the first round before losing a close quarter-final race to eventual Gatornationals Top Fuel winner Spencer Massey. The third year pro is still looking for her first win after four final round appearances in 2014 but she did move up into a tie for seventh place in the Mello Yello Top Fuel point standings with Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon.

Defending Gatornationals champion Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, along with the rest of Team Kalitta were strong at Gainesville and look to continue the strong start to the season. As of Friday, Kalitta Motorsports is the only multi-car team in the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to have every team driver ranked in the top ten in the point standings.