Tony Stewart is in the midst of some action at Gainesville. (Photo: NHRA Media)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Top Fuel division had their third qualifying session on Sunday morning with only eight cars taking to the strip.
The first of four qualifying sessions for the third round was between Cody Krohn and Tony Stewart. Stewart would win the elapsed time with 3.797 while Krohn’s was 3.850, but Krohn would win the final speed with 317.64 while Stewart’s was 287.35.
This was because Stewart’s car has a cylinder head issue. This race would boost Krohn from 15th up to 14th while Stewart would remain in seventh.
The next race consisted of Billy Torrence and Tony Schumacher. Starting in sixth, Schumacher would stay there as he lost both the elapsed time and final speed to Torrence. Torrence had an elapsed time of 3.770 and a final speed of 329.02, while Schumacher’s was 4.700 and 158.67 as Schumacher lost traction and let off the throttle. Torrence would move up from tenth to ninth.
The third matchup was between Tripp Tatum and Clay Millican. Very early on in the race, Tatum would spin tires and fade giving the win to Millican.
At the end of the strip, Millican’s engine blew up although he won the elapsed time and final speed with 4.013 and 219.47, respectively. Tatum’s scores were 6.578 and 90.40. Both would stay in their starting seeds, which were eighth for Tatum and fifth for Millican.
The fourth and final shootout of qualifying session three was Steve Torrence and Josh Hart. Even though Hart won the reaction time with .030, he would have the same fate as Millican, but early on in his race that he did not get an elapsed time or a final speed.
Meanwhile, Torrence’s reaction time was .116, with his elapsed time being 3.786 and a final speed of 336.32. Torrence would remain in the first spot as Hart would in tenth.
Doug Kalitta competing in the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway (Photo: NHRA Media)
Final Qualifying Session
The final qualifying session started off with Justin Ashley racing down the strip by himself. He had an elapsed time of 3.719 and a final speed of 325.37, keeping him in the fourth spot.
The next race was a matchup between Doug Foley and Torrence. Torrence would win both the elapsed time and final speed, bumping Foley down a spot putting him in 13th. Torrence’s times were 3.713 and 334.15, while Foley’s were 3.913 and 237.50.
Following the lead of Ashley, Shawn Reed would also race by himself. He pulled off an elapsed time of 3.766 and a final speed of 314.61. This would put Reed from 11th all the way up to eighth.
Hart and Krohn took the strip next. Hart would dominate the race by going from ninth to fifth and by winning both the elapsed time and final speed. Hart’s elapsed time was 3.744 while Krohn’s was 3.861 and Hart’s speed was 322.65 while Krohn’s was 312.35. Krohn would stay in 16th.
Tony Stewart and Tatum went head-to-head next. Stewart would go from seventh to fifth by winning both the elapsed time and final speed. Stewart had 3.725 and 310.34 while Tatum had 3.757 and 292.39. Tatum would stay in 11th.
The two lanes were then filled by Schumacher and Doug Kalitta. Schumacher would win the elapsed time while Kalitta won the final speed. Schumacher had 3.712 while Kalitta had 3.714 and Kalitta had 330.80 while Schumacher had 326.79. Kalitta moved up from fifth to fourth.
After that, Millican and Mike Salinas would take to the strip. Millican would stay in his ninth spot due to the fact that he lost traction very early on in the race and would spin tires. Salinas would win the elapsed time and final speed with 3.705 and 331.53 while Millican would have 8.080 and 80.18.
The second to last qualifier had Shawn Langdon and Torrence. Torrence would be bumped down one spot putting him in third. Langdon would be victorious with an elapsed time of 3.682 and a final speed of 334.15. Torrence would have an elapsed time of 3.712 and a final speed of 330.55.
Following the final round of the Callout the night before, the final matchup of the final qualifying session would be between Antron Brown and Brittany Force. Brown was victorious in the Callout, claiming the $80,000 payday.
