Top Fuel rookie Richie Crampton leads qualifying

By foxsports
Published

BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) Top Fuel rookie Richie Crampton led qualifying Friday in the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway.

Making his sixth career Top Fuel start, Crampton had a 3.807-second run at 322.11 mph.

''It's still surreal that I get to do this,'' said Crampton, who replaced team owner Morgan Lucas in the car. ''It's a tribute to (crew chief) Aaron Brooks and this team. We've been working hard this season and haven't quite qualified the way we like to. To get into the No. 1 spot tonight was just a payoff for all that hard work.''

Del Worsham led the Funny Car field, and Allen Johnson took the Pro Stock lead.

Worsham had a 4.051 at 314.68 in a Toyota Camry. The 2011 Top Fuel series champion has three career wins at Royal Purple Raceway - two in Funny Car and one in Top Fuel.

Johnson, the 2012 Pro Stock champion, had a 6.555 at 211.63 in a Dodge Dart. He won this season in Chandler, Ariz., and Gainesville, Fla.