Leah Pritchett NEWS
| Aug-19 |
Aug-19
Pritchett resets her world time record in DSR's Papa John's Pizza Top Fueler at Brainerd
POSTED BY: Leah Pritchett in NEWS
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2016) - Leah Pritchett and Don Schumacher Racing's Papa John's Pizza Top Fuel dragster Powered by Pennzoil and led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam gave "Papa" John Schnatter the perfect one-year anniversary present on Friday night at Brainerd International Raceway.
One year ago at Brainerd, Schnatter attended his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event to see Pritchett and DSR's gold Papa John's dragster.
The traditional gift for one year together is paper and Pritchett delivered a paper timeslip from her last run Friday that shows her run of 3.640 seconds that eclipsed the record she previously held. On her first run of the day, she bolted to the top with a 3.677 and on is the cusp of earning her team its sixth pole of the season through 17 Mello Yello events.
The last qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Saturday heading to Sunday's championship eliminations.
"If I would have been delivering a pizza on that run someone would have gotten in record time," said Pritchett, ranked third in Mello Yello points with three wins this season.
"Thanks to Todd, Joe, (team manager) Scott Okuhara and this whole Papa John's team. And we had John here. (Team owner Don Schumacher) and Papa John have given us all the ingredients we need."
Pritchett wasn't the only one to set a record at Brainerd, but the other wasn't celebrated in the DSR camp.
DSR's Matt Hagan not only lost his NHRA world time record at Brainerd International Raceway, but he missed the opportunity to add another milestone to his resume.
In the fastest and quickest side-by-side run in NHRA Mello Yello history, Robert Hight of John Force Racing knocked Hagan off the provisional pole with the first Funny Car run to crack into the 3.7-second range. Hight, who has won two of the past three NHRA events, completed his run in 3.793 seconds at 338.50 mph to better Hagan's previous record of 3.802.
But Hagan and the Pennzoil/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T weren't far behind, and tied the fourth quickest run ever with a time of 3.807 at 336.57.
Hagan was the first to crack the 4-second barrier in 2011 and first to reach 3.8 in 2015.
The following are Friday's qualifying results for DSR from Brainerd:
TOP FUEL
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Leah Pritchett (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.640 sec.-world record, 330.63 mph
LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza Fuel dragster - 3x winner, five finals in 2017
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.677 sec., 331.53 mph-career best, (first session); 3.640 sec.-world record, 330.63 mph, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Terry McMillen
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 8, lost in first round to Clay Millican
Career at Brainerd: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 16 3 2 7 3 1 5 0 35-13
CAREER 86 4 3 14 16 43 6 6 69-76
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec.-world record, (2017, Brainerd); 331.53 mph (2017, Brainerd)
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 4
FRIDAY: 3.754 sec., 325.53 mph, (first session); 3.695, 329.42, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Leah Pritchett
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to DSR teammate Antron Brown
Career at Brainerd: Wins 3 (2000, 2004, 2008), Runner-ups 3 (2003, 2006, 2011),
Poles 6 (2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 16 1 3 3 5 5 3 0 23-15
CAREER 472 83 64 74 130 114 83 8 799-381
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster - 3x world champion; won last event
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 7
FRIDAY: 10.926 sec., 62.50 mph, (first session); 3.723, 321.73, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Terry McMillen
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 1, lost in championship round to Brittany Force
Career at Brainerd: Wins 5 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2006-PSM; 2011-TF), Runner-ups 2 (2012, 2016-TF),
Poles 4 (2001, 2004-PSM; 2014, 2016-TF)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 16 4 5 2 5 0 2 0 40-12
CAREER 374 65* 52 76 98 80 49 3 663-306
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
FUNNY CARS
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Robert Hight (John Force Racing), 3.793 sec.-world record, 338.50 mph
MATT HAGAN, 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen
Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec., (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph, 2017, Topeka
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 2
FRIDAY: 3.831 sec., 333.33 mph, (first session); 3.807, 336.57, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr.
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 1, lost in championship round to Del Worsham
Career at Brainerd: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2013, 2016), Poles 2 (2011, 2011)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 2nd 16 3 1 6 4 2 3 0 31-13
CAREER 208 25 23 34 66 58 29 4 296-179
Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec.-world record, (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph-world record, 2017, Topeka)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Doug & Terry Chandler's Make-A-Wish 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 5
FRIDAY: 3.907 sec., 328.22 mph, (first session); 3.880, 329.58, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 3, lost in championship round to Robert Hight
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 3, lost in second round to Courtney Force
Career at Brainerd: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 3 (1993, 1995-TF; 2015-FC), Poles 0
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 5th 16 1 3 5 3 4 1 0 26-15
CAREER 414 16* 27 58 101 168 15 44 362-354
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)
JACK BECKMAN, Doug & Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 6
FRIDAY: 6.535 sec., 129.18 mph, (first session); 3.886, 333.25, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 5, lost in second round to Courtney Force
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 4, lost in second round to DSR teammate Ron Capps
Career at Brainerd: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2010), Poles 3 (2012, 2013, 2012)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 16 2 2 3 7 2 0 0 26-14
CAREER 268 26 27 48 80 80 21 7 358-235
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS 2017 Dodge Charger R/T - 6x winner in '17, world champ, points leader
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 8
FRIDAY: 3.928 sec., 325.14 mph, (first session); 4.237, 217.00, (second session)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr.
A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to DSR teammate Matt Hagan, won in championship
round over Del Worsham in completion of rain-delayed event from Seattle.
Career at Brainerd: Wins 5 (1998, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2014), Runner-ups 3 (1997, 2009, 2011), Poles 0
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 16 6 2 2 3 3 0 0 35-10
CAREER 499 56* 52 91 101 181 21 19 662-424
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES TOP FUEL STANDINGS
(Official after Seattle; 16 of 24 events: wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR
1. ANTRON BROWN (4) 1,418 ----- 1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,330 -----
2. Steve Torrence (6) 1,405 -13 2. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,172 -158
3. LEAH PRITCHETT (3) 1,329 -76 3. Robert Hight (2) 1,164 -166
4. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 1,064 -341 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,104 -226
5. Brittany Force (1) 992 -413 5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,081 -249
6. Doug Kalitta
7. Clay Millican (1) 937 -468 7. John Force (1) 877 -453
8. Terry McMillen
9. Scott Palmer
10.Troy Coughlin Jr. 560 -845 10. Cruz Pedregon
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by Doug and Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 313 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
Source: shoeracing.com
