NHRA: Johnson, Force quickest in final Nitro Spring Training session
Tommy Johnson Jr. and Brittany Force were fastest in their respective categories on Satuday during the final day of NHRA Nitro Spring Training at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.
Nitro Spring Training was a four-day test for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, giving them a chance to prepare for the season opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. LIVE coverage of Winternationals begins Feb. 14 at 5:00 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports GO app.
Johnson posted an unofficial quickest run ever in Funny Car -- a 3.874 second run at 318.47 mph. Matt Hagan currently holds the official quickest run in NHRA history with a 3.879 second run at Brainerd last season.
"We ran really well all week and John [Collins, crew chief] kept saying we weren't really leaning on it, we were just testing parts to learn some things," Johnson said. "This afternoon he said we're going to make one more run and we're going to lean on it a little bit. It was a really good run early and it didn't run as well at the top end as we were expecting, but a 3.12 to the eighth-mile is pretty awesome."
"We had our entire team stay intact after last year and we have sort of picked up where we left off last year. The crew worked really hard during the offseason and I am just happy for the guys to make a run like that to close out testing. It's a good reward for them for all their hard work."
Ron Capps ended the NHRA Nitro Spring Training with a time of 3.919 seconds at 320.66 mph and two-time champion Matt Hagan posted a 3.962 second run at 326.79 mph.
Brittany Force set the quickest Top Fuel time during the final day with a 3.721 second run at 319.07 mph. Force also had three of the 10 fastest runs of the day, with times of 3.747 seconds at 325.53 mph and 3.758 seconds at 317.64 mph.
"There have differently been some big changes for the entire Monster Energy team," Force said. "We teamed up with [consultant] Alan Johnson and [crew chief] Brian Husen. I'm excited to be out here. We all needed this testing, especially me; I've been out of the seat a few months. It feels good to get back in the car. Things are a little different, a whole new system. I'm learning that. We had some great runs. We're ready to get to Pomona."
Other notable runs in Top Fuel include Doug Kalitta with the third-quickest time of the day -- 3.745 seconds at 325.53 mph. Defending Top Fuel champion Antron Brown ended the day with a 3.768 second run at 297.88 mph.
Quickest times from NHRA Nitro Spring Training on Saturday:
TOP FUEL
3.721, 319.07 -- Brittany Force
3.739, 288.87 -- Clay Millican
3.745, 325.53 -- Doug Kalitta
3.747, 322.81 -- Brittany Force
3.748, 319.22 -- Richie Crampton
3.758, 317.64 -- Brittany Force
3.768, 297.88 -- Antron Brown
3.770, 316.08 -- Shawn Langdon
3.791, 320.13 -- Antron Brown
3.802, 325.69 -- J.R. Todd
3.839, 272.72 -- Leah Pritchett
3.882, 251.67 -- J.R. Todd
3.916, 256.75 -- Terry McMillen
3.929, 255.00 -- Troy Buff
3.935, 306.05 -- Terry McMillen
4.123, 242.19 -- Troy Buff
FUNNY CAR
3.874, 318.47 -- Tommy Johnson Jr.
3.885, 329.34 -- Robert Hight
3.890, 323.89 -- Courtney Force
3.914, 327.35 -- John Force
3.915, 323.74 -- Courtney Force
3.919, 320.66 -- Ron Capps
3.927, 323.66 -- John Force
3.930, 328.14 -- John Force
3.931, 323.43 -- Robert Hight
3.962, 326.79 -- Matt Hagan
3.972, 320.51 -- Alexis DeJoria
3.982, 289.57 -- Jack Beckman
3.983, 320.81 -- Del Worsham
3.987, 319.29 -- Ron Capps
3.993, 322.58 -- Alexis DeJoria
3.999, 320.97 -- Del Worsham
4.008, 273.94 -- Cruz Pedregon
4.015, 316.01 -- Brian Hough
4.070, 273.39 -- Del Worsham
4.153, 252.24 -- Jim Campbell
4.211, 225.60 -- Matt Hagan
Quickest times overall from NHRA Nitro Spring Training:
TOP FUEL
1. 3.683, 325.37 -- Tony Schumacher
2. 3.714, 330.15 -- Dave Connolly
3. 3.716, 327.35 -- Doug Kalitta
4. 3.718, 320.58 -- Tony Schumacher
5. 3.721, 319.07 -- Brittany Force
6. 3.721, 318.54 -- Brittany Force
7. 3.727, 322.88 -- Doug Kalitta
8. 3.729, 326.08 -- Steve Torrence
9. 3.731, 326.48 -- Steve Torrence
10. 3.733, 315.49 -- Shawn Langdon
FUNNY CAR
1. 3.874, 318.47 -- Tommy Johnson Jr.
2. 3.880, 325.77 -- Jack Beckman
3. 3.885, 329.34 -- Robert Hight
4. 3.890, 323.89 -- Courtney Force
5. 3.894, 327.03 -- Jack Beckman
6. 3.895, 325.06 -- Jack Beckman
7. 3.904, 318.54 - Courtney Force
8. 3.912, 324.20 -- John Force
9. 3.913, 326.16 -- Robert Hight
10. 3.914, 327.35 -- John Force