Deric Kramer is the winner at the Carolina Nats
 

Following his second win of the season, Deric Kramer is back in the battle for the Mello Yello Pro Stock championship. Ranked in eighth place following the first two rounds of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Kramer knew he’d need a big effort going forward in order to have a shot at the title, and the American Ethanol driver delivered with his fourth career victory. Kramer drove to a 6.541 in the final to edge Matt Hartford, who was close behind with a 6.558. With the win, Kramer is 88 points behind leader Erica Enders/

“This gives us a chance,” said Kramer, who also won his first Pro Stock title on a Monday a year ago in Topeka. “That’s all we wanted was a chance. We didn’t’ do so well at the last race in St. Louis and we just wanted a chance to redeem ourselves and that’s what we did. This is another race win on a Monday. All I can say is we like the rain.”

Kramer was the No. 10 qualifier but found his groove in Monday’s rain-delayed final rounds with wins against Kenny Delco, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and upstart Aaron Stanfield. Kramer’s KB Racing-powered Chevy was not only quick but consistent with a pair of 6.53 runs and a 6.54. More importantly, Kramer managed to avoid the rash of holeshots that took out several of the leading title contenders including Bo Butner, Alex Laughlin, Greg Anderson, and incoming points leader Jason Line, who lost to Shane Tucker, 6.57 to 6.54 in perhaps the biggest shocker of the day.

As much as he wanted a win, Hartford and his Total Seal team had a huge points day with their second-straight final round appearance. After losing in the final of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals two weeks ago, Hartford continued to turn on win lights in Charlotte with victories against Fernando Cuadra Jr. and Chris McGaha, before a huge semifinal win against Enders, who left first, but shook the tires and slowed. In three Countdown events, Hartford has two runner-up finishes and he’s just 19-points out of the lead with three races remaining.

Round-by-Round results
 

Final round-by-round results from the 12th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 3.759, 328.38 def. Terry McMillen, 3.768, 310.34; Doug Kalitta, 3.905, 326.95 def. Antron Brown, 6.032, 114.16; Billy Torrence, 3.780, 327.03 def. Pat Dakin, 14.784, 34.62; Justin Ashley, 3.778, 298.40 def. Mike Salinas, 4.591, 174.53; Leah Pritchett, 5.466, 123.42 def. Chris Karamesines, Broke; Steve Torrence, 3.741, 327.82 def. Lex Joon, Broke - No Show; Brittany Force, 3.698, 329.42 def. Smax Smith, 6.139, 102.00; Austin Prock, 3.725, 329.02 def. Richie Crampton, 3.735, 327.11;
QUARTERFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.745, 329.50 def. Pritchett, 7.343, 87.24; S. Torrence, 3.742, 329.34 def. Millican, 4.170, 216.58; Ashley, 3.773, 323.58 def. Prock, 3.759, 328.06; Force, 3.747, 328.78 def. B. Torrence, 3.737, 326.48;
SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.762, 326.24 def. Force, 3.901, 262.95; S. Torrence, 3.788, 324.12 def. Ashley, 4.088, 210.77;
FINAL -- S. Torrence, 3.772, 323.19 def. Kalitta, 4.090, 274.27.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.898, 325.77 def. Shawn Langdon, Toyota Camry, 5.386, 137.25; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.933, 331.77 def. J.R. Todd, Camry, 5.539, 127.26; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.908, 324.44 def. Mike McIntire, Camry, 3.977, 309.49; Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.864, 329.99 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.863, 164.03; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.891, 326.87 def. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 4.151, 255.24; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.916, 322.04 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 7.183, 90.97; Ron Capps, Charger, 3.962, 308.92 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.064, 311.63; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.937, 330.55 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 7.801, 86.00;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hight, 3.929, 324.67 def. Wilkerson, 3.923, 324.28; Capps, 3.908, 329.58 def. Force, 3.912, 327.43; Beckman, 3.932, 323.27 def. Johnson Jr., 6.911, 102.45; Hagan, 3.922, 331.53 def. Tasca III, 3.915, 328.86;
SEMIFINALS -- Hight, 3.912, 328.78 def. Hagan, 3.947, 327.35; Beckman, 3.957, 324.44 def. Capps, 4.025, 293.41;
FINAL -- Hight, 3.917, 329.02 def. Beckman, Foul - Red Light.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Fernando Cuadra, Chevy Camaro, 6.580, 210.57 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.548, 211.63; Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.547, 210.31 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.557, 210.37; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.559, 210.90 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.549, 211.99; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.576, 211.10 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.543, 211.46; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.539, 210.70 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.602, 209.79; Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.574, 209.01 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.544, 211.36; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.519, 212.03 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.608, 209.36; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.523, 211.66 def. Val Smeland, Camaro, 7.154, 152.45;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.565, 211.69 def. Tucker, 6.567, 209.33; Hartford, 6.547, 211.16 def. McGaha, 7.266, 146.70; Kramer, 6.539, 211.06 def. Coughlin, Foul - Red Light; Enders, 6.536, 212.19 def. F. Cuadra, 6.576, 210.77;
SEMIFINALS -- Kramer, 6.537, 211.20 def. Stanfield, 6.567, 211.66; Hartford, 6.539, 211.30 def. Enders, 11.682, 78.50;
FINAL -- Kramer, 6.541, 211.33 def. Hartford, 6.558, 211.00.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Ryan Oehler, 6.860, 198.15 def. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 8.078, 120.27; Hector Arana Jr, 6.815, 198.12 def. Angie Smith, 6.899, 193.24; Scotty Pollacheck, 6.831, 197.39 def. Hector Arana, 6.872, 196.87; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.793, 198.96 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.970, 192.17; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.866, 198.88 def. Michael Ray, 6.927, 193.05; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.867, 194.69 def. Andie Rawlings, Suzuki, Broke - No Show; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.835, 198.06 def. Matt Smith, 6.942, 171.42; Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 7.125, 190.19 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, Foul - Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson, 6.937, 192.66 def. Oehler, Foul - Red Light; Hines, 6.815, 198.82 def. Pollacheck, 6.855, 197.54; Arana Jr, 6.984, 172.96 def. Salinas, 6.983, 189.87; Stoffer, 6.809, 199.05 def. Krawiec, 6.855, 197.48;
SEMIFINALS -- Hines, 6.831, 198.90 def. Arana Jr, Foul - Red Light; Stoffer, 6.797, 199.20 def. Johnson, 6.952, 193.85;
FINAL -- Hines, 6.805, 199.37 def. Stoffer, 6.804, 199.20.

EE's car shuttered like it broke a gear - again.... That girl can't seem to catch a break!

Marlin,

She will not give up! The team has been on a roll and will keep moving forward....I see a

3rd championship!!!! The bad breaks keep happening to the team...not fair but, she will

keep the dust in the sand box and the next race is theirs!!!!!!

Go EE!!

Dave
67 Nova Boy

Megan Meyer winning runs to the championship!
 

Richie Stevens JR will back in a pro stock car in Dallas...
 

Yes!! We are big Randy Meyer fans, and his 3 drivers - especially his daughter Megan and her protege from Norway Julie Nataas!!

Here's my Danny, he's becoming quite the ladies man - especially when Julie let him sit in her Ferrari!! :grin:

Very nice pictures Marlin!! The kid sure does know what girls to get a picture with.

Julie is very nice in person. Was that at the grove Marlin?

Dave
67 Nova Boy

Quick story about Randy Meyers...I was at Z-Max dragway and looked all over for Megan to

get a signature...I found her and she signed everything I had. I asked if her dad would sign

her postcard and she said he would. I find him and he is working on the car. Stops working

and washes his hands to sign postcards. I was very impressed about the team and Randy

after that!!

Yes, they are super nice people - and both drivers are surely destined for Top Fuel.

Pics were indeed at MGR...

Racers in Rental cars with Courtney Enders