Del Worsham shows why he is champion in NHRA Brainerd qualifying
Del Worsham doesn't need to prove why the No. 1 is on the side of his Toyota Funny Car, but that doesn't stop him from doing it.
Worsham thundered to the top of the pack in Friday qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Joining the defending NHRA series champion were Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Worsham established a new Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) track record by recording a 3.856 ET at 326.71 mph in the final pairing against Ron Capps. Capps, the current points leader, was second quickest with a 3.866 at 324.98 mph.
“We thought we would run better than that, and we just missed it,” Worsham said. “The track is very good out here, the grip is very good, and we just didn’t have quite enough horsepower, and it just got the best of us. It was a great run, but it is probably going to take a little more than that tomorrow.”
The battle between Worsham and Capps is also a preview of Saturday's rain-delayed final from two weeks ago in Seattle, Wash.
Schumacher, the driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, ran 3.712 seconds at 323.50 mph to pull ahead of Steve Torrence in Friday's second session. If his time holds, it will be Schumacher’s 81st career No. 1 qualifier and seventh at Brainerd. It would also be his second top qualifier award in a row.
“I was really surprised when I got out,” said Schumacher, a three-time Brainerd winner. “We were too early in the pack. There were too many good cars behind us and I didn’t think it was going to stick. Some people came close. We probably pushed some over the limit, which is always good when you run early. We’re building and we’ve been building for eight or nine races. We are getting better and better.”
Butner, a member of the dominant three-car KB Racing team, snagged the top spot in Pro Stock qualifying with a 6.622, 207.78 mph performance. If his run holds through Saturday qualifying, it will be the fourth top qualifying effort of his short career.
“I think it’s definitely important (to get a jump on the competition), especially with the forecast,” Butner said. “We were conservative first round. I had a great car out west and in Seattle, and we still have a good car. It’s always good to be at the top on day one. We don’t know what the weather will do, but I like starting No. 1.”
Sampey, a Louisiana-native, is racing this weekend with a heavy heart, affected by flooding in the Baton Rouge area. She used the adversity to ride her Star Racing / Precision Service Equipment Buell to the No. 1 spot with a 6.848 at 194.94 mph.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can hold on to No. 1," said Sampey. "I’m really hoping we can get a win here for a couple of reasons: I’ve never won it and would love to do it, and I have a lot of friends and family hurting back home with the devastation from the floods. I think bringing home a Wally to them would probably lift their spirits, and that would be the happiest I could be – to do that for them.”
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Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
