You can always expect the cream to rise to the top. However, the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is nothing but.. Weekend after weekend racing fans fill the bleachers not knowing who is going to win. This weekend in the Buckeye State was no exception as the NHRA teams tried to tame the pavement at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence powered his Capco Contractors dragster to a mid-season win with a 3.743 ET posting a 331.45 mph run. Capturing his fourth victory of the season, Torrence kept the team's momentum going with a holeshot in the final round to defeat a very fast Doug Kalitta who ran a 3.736 at 331.36 mph.
On his way to the win at the Summit Nationals, Torrence defeated Troy Coughlin, Jr. and last weekend's winner Clay Millican before eliminating Brittany Force in the semi-finals. It was Torrence's sixth final round of the season. In his Mac Tools dragster, Kalitta got the better of Leah Pritchett in the semi-final round dropping Pritchett to second in the standings. Torrence is on top of the Top Fuel points standings with 1,071 points, just 50 points ahead of Pritchett. Antron Brown has 990 points in third and Doug Kalitta holds on to fifth in the NHRA Mello Yello standings.
"Fast Jack" Beckman earned his 26th career victory in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger. Like Torrence, it was Beckman's first win since Englishtown in his third consecutive final appearance. Beckman claimed his second Funny Car overall of season by defeating Robert Hight in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro. It was no contest as Beckman coasted to a win with a 4.073 ET at 311.85 mph. Hight, who has struggled this season, saw his chances go up in smoke with a mechanical issue in his final run. Beckman remains in third place in the Funny Car points standings behind teammates Ron Capps and Matt Hagan, who both fell in the quarterfinals. Capps retained the points lead ahead of Hagan and Beckman.
In Pro Stock, points leader Bo Butner returned to the top of podium after losing last weekend in Tennessee to Alex Laughlin's perfect reaction time. At the Summit Nationals, Butner grabbed the lead off the starting the line in his Jim Butner's Auto Camaro to defeat Greg Anderson in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. Butner added to his season's point lead (1,067) over Anderson, as the series first three-time winner in Pro Stock this season. E3 Spark Plugs and all the race teams head to Joliet, Illinois, for the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters. Happy 4th of July and see you there for the July 6-9 event.
