Torrence Takes Top Fuel Qualifying; Ashley Gets Winternationals

Justin Ashley holding up his Wally after winning the Winternationals final at Firebird Motorsports Park (Photo: NHRA Media)

CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Top Fuel dragsters started the Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park off with qualifying.

Qualifying Session 1

The first round of session one was between best friends Jasmine Salinas and Travis Shumake. Salinas had the better round with a 3.893 second elapsed time and a 252.76 final speed. Shumake had a 8.493 second elapsed time and a 83.34 final speed.

The next match-up consisted of Tony Stewart and Terry Totten. Stewart’s rear tires slipped causing him to smoke and giving the better qualifying spot to Totten who had an elapsed time of 4.934 seconds and a final speed of 148.17. Stewart had an elapsed time of 6.165 seconds and a final speed of 100.36.

Krista Baldwin and Clay Millican took to the track next. Baldwin reigned better than Millican with an elapsed time of 3.755 seconds and a final speed of 325.37. Millican had a 4.508 second elapsed time and a 171.42 final speed.

Shawn Reed and Doug Kalitta showed up next. Even though Kalitta blew up at the end, he took the cake with an elapsed time of 3.697 seconds and a final speed of 323.66.  Reed had an elapsed time of 4.026 seconds and a final speed of 276.41.

The final match-up of session one was with none other than Antron Brown and Josh Hart.  Brown had the better round with an elapsed time of 3.738 seconds and a final speed of 329.34 while Hart had 8.167 seconds and 77.54.

Qualifying Session 2

The first round of session two saw Stewart go down the strip by himself. He wouldn’t fare too well, bringing in an elapsed time of 11.459 seconds and a final speed of 68.74

The next round was between Totten and Millican. Millican’s engine blew up at the end of the race, even though he moved up three positions into the ninth spot. Millican did have the better elapsed time though, with 3.848 seconds while Totten had 3.858. Totten had the better final speed though at 318.24 while Millican had 272.01. This raised Totten up five spots and placed him in the tenth position.

Salinas and Brown went head-to-head next with Brown having the better run. He had an elapsed time of 3.771 seconds and a final speed of 329.02 while Salinas had 3.774 seconds and 318.92. Salinas also moved up four spots into the seventh qualifying position.

Shawn Langdon and Kalitta took to the strip next, with Langdon taking the better run. Langdon had a 4.539 second elapsed time and a 165.66 final speed. Kalitta had a 5.954 second elapsed time and a 112.18 final speed.

Steve Torrence competing in the Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park (Photo: NHRA Media)

FINAL QUALIFYING

The first person down the strip for final qualifying was Stewart. Once again, he went solo. This time though, he had no issues and pulled off an elapsed time of 3.982 seconds and a final speed of 255.24. This bumped him up three spots into the 13th position.

Billy Torrence and Reed were up next. Torrence had the better final speed with 328.86 while Reed had 327.74, but Reed had the better elapsed time with 3.772 seconds while Torrence had 3.799 seconds. This round bumped both men up, with Torrence being bumped up six spots into the tenth position and Reed being bumped up seven into the seventh spot.

Shumake went by himself next and pulled off an elapsed time of 4.175 seconds and a final speed of 203.61. This bumped him up one spot and into 16th.

Hart and Brown showed up to the track next and Hart dominated the round with an elapsed time of 3.820 seconds and a final speed of 320.81 while Brown had an elapsed time of 5.927 seconds and a final speed of 114.22. This kept both men in their spots which were 11th and fourth, respectively.

Langdon and Kalitta had deja vu as they once again faced each other in qualifying. Kalitta had the better final speed with 330.96 while Langdon had 327.74. Langdon had the better elapsed time though, with 3.750 seconds while Kalitta had 3.766 seconds. These results kept Kalitta in third but moved Langdon up four spots and into fifth.

Millican kept his 12th spot as he raced down the track by himself and earned an elapsed time of 3.841 seconds and a final speed of 308.07.

In the second to last match-up for qualifying, it was an all-female lineup with Salinas and Brittany Force. Both would do just as good as the other. Force had the better final speed with 329.91 while Salinas had the better elapsed time with 3.780 seconds. Force’s elapsed time was 3.812 seconds and Salina’s final speed was 314.61. This kept both women in their positions which was second for Force and ninth for Salinas.

The final round was between Baldwin and Steve Torrence. Baldwin smoked her tires, resulting in Torrence having the better round. Torrence had a 3.768 second elapsed time and a 331.36 final speed. Baldwin had a 5.856 second elapsed time and a 109.71 final speed. This gave Torrence the number one qualifying spot for Top Fuel and kept Baldwin in seventh.

2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE

The final round of the 2Fast2Tasty Challenge was between Tony Schumacher and Force. Force smoked her tires later on in the race, resulting in a loss. She still pulled off a reaction time of .094, an elapsed time of 4.378 seconds and a final speed of 216.62, though. Schumacher had a reaction time of .067, an elapsed time of 3.925 seconds and a final speed of 292.77.

“It’s a great side show and I love it,” said Schumacher on winning the challenge. “It wasn’t a great round, but we got the win light. We’ll learn from it and move on.”

WINTERNATIONALS FINAL

The final round of the Winternationals saw Schumacher and Ashley go head-to-head. Ashley got a holeshot win due to having the better reaction time with .023 while Schumacher had .081. Schumacher had the better elapsed time with 3.772 seconds while Ashley had 3.802 seconds but Ashely also had the better final speed with 330.15 while Schumacher had 326.00.

“Holeshot or no shot, it’s still a win,” said Ashley. “It was a close race. What a blessing it is to be here, and even though we couldn’t finish in Pomona it’s still a Wally.  Couldn’t be happier.”