Once again, race fans from the vicinity came out in large numbers to watch the best NHRA drag strip racers at World Wide Technology Raceway. Saturday, for the fourth time in its history at WWT Raceway, the NHRA race had a sell-out.
“The St. Louis racing community continues to show the world that they are a die-hard racing town,” said Chris Blair, World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager. “This year’s event started strong right out of the gate last December when tickets went on sale and never looked back. We went into the race week at record levels and the momentum continued. The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals has firmly established itself as one of the must-attend events on the NHRA Mello Yello Championship Tour and our venue continues to show that we are the premier motorsports showplace in the Midwest.”
In Saturday’s first session, Eric Enders held on to the weekend’s top spot with 6.580 ET, 207.15 MPH pass. In Pro Bike Matt Smith went to the top with 6.801 ET, 198.93 MPH. Last night’s top qualifier, Steve Johnson dropped to second place. Billy Torrence held on to the top spot in Top Fuel.
The final session Saturday saw more top spot reshuffles as Mike Salinas with a 3.687 ET / 330.55 MPH pass took the pole in Top Fuel. And of course the one of the hottest racers and race legend, John Force moved to the top in Funny Car with a 3.842 ET 334.4 MPH pass. Matt Smith, Pro Stock Bikes, moved to the top spot in Saturday’s early session and held the spot in the final session for the pole in his class. Eric Enders, in Pro Stocks, is the only racer who held the top spot in Friday and Saturday sessions.
“I really thought Robert Hight or even Hagan might pull it out because they had nothing to do but go for it, but we got it, got that No. 1.” said John Force. “We come here with AAA Missouri and it’s very important that Robert or I or Prock or Brittany get it done. This PEAK team got it tonight. It was a good night for me and hasn’t even sunk in yet.”
Erica Ender
Friday Night Results:
Billy Torrence is No. 1 in Top Fuel
Robert Hight is No. 1 in Funny Car
Erica Enders is No. 1 in Pro Stock
Steve Johnson is No. 1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle
Matt Smith enters as the defending champion in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Tanner Gray is the defending winner in Pro Stock, Robert Hight is the defending winner in Funny Car and Steve Torrence is the defending winner in Top Fuel.
MOST VICTORIES IN ST. LOUIS:
Antron Brown, 5, TF; Gary Scelzi, 4, TF and FC; Ron Capps, 4, FC; John Force, 3, FC; Kurt Johnson, 3, PS; Del Worsham, 3, FC; Doug Kalitta, 3, TF; Warren Johnson, 3, PS; Angelle Sampey, 3, PSM.
ST. LOUIS TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.631 sec. by Clay Millican, Sept. ‘17; 332.75 mph by Leah Pritchett, Oct. ‘17
Funny Car – 3.830 seconds by Robert Hight, Sept. ‘17; 338.60 mph by Hight, Sept. ‘17
Pro Stock – 6.492 sec. by Greg Anderson, Sept. ’15; 213.47 mph by Jason Line, Sept. ‘12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.764 seconds by Chip Ellis, Sept. ’18; 199.61 mph by Matt Smith, Sept. ‘18
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ’19, Reading, Pa.; 336.57 mph by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ‘18, Phoenix, Ariz.
Funny Car – 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd, Minn.; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.720 sec. by Andrew Hines, March ‘19, Gainesville, Fla.; 201.76 mph by Matt Smith, March ‘19, Gainesville,
Fla.