NHRA Northwest Nationals
July 9-11th, 2010 Kent, WA
| TOP FUEL | Name | ET | MPH | Career Win |
| Winner: | Cory McLenathan | 3.887 | 311.70 | 34th |
| R/UP: | Antron Brown | 3.909 | 308.92 | |
| Low ET: | Tony Schumacher | 3.819 | ||
| Top Speed: | Tony Schumacher | 322.19 | ||
| Bump Spot: | N/A (15 cars) | |||
| FUNNY CAR | Name | ET | MPH | Career Win |
| Winner: | Tim Wilkerson | 4.221 | 292.39 | 16th |
| R/UP: | Ron Capps | 4.246 | 289.51 | |
| Low ET: | Ron Capps | 4.098 | ||
| Top Speed: | Del Worsham | 304.12 | ||
| Bump Spot: | 5.120 | |||
| PRO STOCK | Name | ET | MPH | Career Win |
| Winner: | Greg Anderson | 6.599 | 209.56 | 62nd |
| R/UP: | Johnny Gray | 6.626 | 209.43 | |
| Low ET: | Mike Edwards | 6.598 | ||
| Top Speed: | Allen Johnson | 210.28 | ||
| Bump Spot: | 6.741 | |||
| LUCAS OIL | ||||
| Sportsman Class Winners: | Name | ET | MPH | |
| Top Alcohol Dragster | Chris Demke | NTR | NSR | |
| Top Alcohol Funny Car | Sean O’Bannon | 5.581 | 257.87 | |
| Competition | Alan Ellis | 7.599 | 117.26 | |
| Super Stock | Ryan McClanahan | 8.509 | 147.07 | |
| Stock | Kevin Cour | 10.12 | 127.90 | |
| Super Comp | Tom Malicki | 8.900 | 177.44 | |
| Super Gas | Reg Wilson | 12.63 | 111.36 | |
| Super Street | Darrel Saxby | 10.86 | 123.32 |
Grueling NHRA Western Tour Kicks Off
(By NHRA Communications – Michael Padian)
With their wins on July 11th during the 23rd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, Cory McClenathan and Greg Anderson successfully began their respective quests to become the first driver(s) to sweep the Western Swing twice.
The other winner at the 14th race in the 23-event NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series was Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), who also won at this event in 2009.
McClenathan faced off against Antron Brown – who swept the Western Swing in 2009 – in the Top Fuel final round and his 3.887 at 311.70 in the FRAM dragster was just good enough to outrun Brown’s 3.909 at 308.92 in the Matco Tools dragster.
“There’s Antron (Brown) and myself in the final, we’ve both won (the Western Swing) … I want to be the first to win it two times,” said McClenathan, who swept the Western Swing in 1997. “I know that’s a lot to ask for, but you can’t get there until you win this first one and that’s what we did.”
The win also moved McClenathan around teammate Tony Schumacher and into second place in the Top Fuel point standings.
The Funny Car final was also a near photo-finish with Wilkerson (4.221 at 292.39) powering the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford to a narrow victory over Ron Capps (4.246 at 289.51) and the NAPA Dodge Charger team.
It was the third straight final round for the LRS Ford team and second straight win in a space in the schedule – summertime – where they traditionally have done well.
“We’re happy to be in the position we’re in and we seem to really come into our own in this kind of weather,” said Wilkerson, who moved around Ashley Force Hood into fifth place. “We try not to think about it or do anything to pull us backwards. Just go run the racetrack every round.”
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson won his second straight race with a 6.599 at 209.56 in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to Johnny Gray’s 6.626 at 209.43 in his NTB Pontiac GXP.
“I’m the only guy (in Pro Stock) with a chance two sweep (the Western Swing),” said Anderson, who remains the only Pro Stocker to sweep the Western Swing (he did it in 2004). “It’s a neat, neat deal. I’ve been able to do it once in my career and I remember what a great feeling that was. It’s still a long way down the road, and I’m not going to say we’re going to win those two races, but we’ve got a chance. I’ve got a great hot rod right now.”
Sunday Tragedy
For the 2nd time this season a NHRA national event race was marred by an ultimate tragedy involving one of it’s drivers. Top Alcohol Dragster racer Mark Niver, from Nevada, received fatal injuries during the semi-final rounds on Sunday.
Niver, who was 60 years old, was racing alongside Canada’s Shawn Cowie and had just beaten Cowie to the finish line. There was then an apparent parachute malfunction and Niver’s injected nitro dragster went off the end of the race track at high speed.
He was transported from the scene to local hospital but was soon pronounced.
NHRA officials are continuing their investigation of the accident.
DragRaceCanada, on behalf of all Canadian drag racing fans, joins NHRA and Pacific Raceways officials in extending its deepest sympathies to the entire Niver family and race team.
Top Fuel Winner Cory McClenathan - (Photo by: Gerry Frechette)
