Hagan wins first, Dixon 50th, Coughlin 49th at Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas – Larry Dixon outlasted Antron Brown in a thrilling pedal-fest in the Top Fuel final at the 23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Sunday at Houston Raceway Park to win for the second time this season and the 50th time in his career.

The other winners at the fifth event in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

The win in the Al-Anabi dragster – a 4.541-second pass at 222.36 mph to Brown’s 4.638 at 173.32 – moved Dixon into eighth place on the all-time NHRA Full Throttle Series wins list, breaking a tie with former owner and NHRA legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme (49 career wins).

“That’s more than I thought I’d ever do in my lifetime … and I’m not done living yet,” said Dixon, who proceeded to dedicate the win to his three-year old son Darien who was hospitalized earlier in the week with a bacterial infection. “He’s a tough, tough kid. He wanted us to win this race for him and we did. We’re going to bring this trophy home to him.”

Dixon moved into second place and he’s within 28 points of Cory McClenathan, whom he defeated in the semifinals.

Technically, Dixon also broke a tie with Jeg Coughlin (6.599 at 210.77), who moments earlier collected his 49th career Pro Stock win over Allen Johnson (6.596 at 210.77). Coughlin won No. 49 in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt on a holeshot, using a 21-hundredths edge on the starting line to build a lead over Johnson’s Team Mopar Dodge Avenger that he never relinquished.

“This is a special place to me,” said Coughlin, who won his first career Pro Stock race here in 1997 and his first career Super Stock race here in 1994.

In Funny Car, 2009 Rookie of the Year contender Hagan collected his first career win with a 4.390-second pass at 247.57 mph in his DieHard Dodge Charger to runner-up Jeff Arend’s 4.714 at 231.20 in the DHL Toyota Camry.

“Other than my wife and kids, this is the best feeling in the world,” said Hagan, whose breakthrough came in his 33rd career race and third career final round. “Thank God we got it today. That’s the first hurdle you have to go over to win a championship.”

With the win, Hagan passed teammated Jack Beckman and Ron Capps in the standings and he’s within 70 points of first-place John Force, who spun his tires in a first-round loss to No. 16 qualifier Tony Pedregon.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, three-time champion Hines won for the first time in 2010 aboard his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson with a 6.998-second pass at 196.02 that was just icing on the cake as defending Series champion and current points leader Hector Arana fouled.

Hines moved up from 10th place in the standings all the way to fourth and he’s just 70 points shy of Arana. “To get the race win and all those points is a breath of fresh air for this team,” said Hines, who became the first Harley rider to win a Wally at Houston Raceway Park in the 23-year history of the event. “Coming here for (23) years and never winning a Wally … to win a Wally here in Houston is sweet.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Series resumes racing this upcoming weekend with the 11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 23rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fifth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:
1. Larry Dixon; 2. Antron Brown; 3. Morgan Lucas; 4. Cory McClenathan; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Shawn Langdon; 7. David Grubnic; 8. Brandon Bernstein; 9. Terry McMillen; 10. Spencer Massey; 11. Bobby Lagana Jr.; 12. Del Cox Jr; 13. T.J. Zizzo; 14. Steve Torrence; 15. Tony Schumacher; 16. Troy Buff.

FUNNY CAR:
1. Matt Hagan; 2. Jeff Arend; 3. Del Worsham; 4. Tony Pedregon; 5. Tim Wilkerson; 6. Ashley Force Hood; 7. Cruz Pedregon; 8. Robert Hight; 9. Bob Tasca III; 10. Jeff Diehl; 11. Jim Head; 12. John Force; 13. Jack Beckman; 14. Melanie Troxel; 15. Ron Capps; 16. Paul Lee.

PRO STOCK:
1. Jeg Coughlin; 2. Allen Johnson; 3. Ron Krisher; 4. Mike Edwards; 5. Shane Gray; 6. Greg Anderson; 7. Rodger Brogdon; 8. Ronnie Humphrey; 9. V. Gaines; 10. Kurt Johnson; 11. Bob Yonke; 12. Johnny Gray; 13. Rickie Jones; 14. Jason Line; 15. Greg Stanfield; 16. Justin Humphreys.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Andrew Hines; 2. Hector Arana; 3. Eddie Krawiec; 4. Matt Smith; 5. Karen Stoffer; 6. Michael Phillips; 7. Jim Underdahl; 8. Craig Treble; 9. LE Tonglet; 10. Junior Pippin; 11. David Hope; 12. Douglas Horne; 13. Mike Berry; 14. Angie Smith; 15. Steve Johnson; 16. Redell Harris.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the 23rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fifth of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.541 seconds, 222.36 mph def. Antron Brown, 4.638 seconds, 173.32 mph.

Funny Car -- Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.390, 247.57 def. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.714, 231.20.

Pro Stock -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.599, 210.77 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.596, 210.77.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.998, 196.02 def. Hector Arana, Buell, foul.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from the 23rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, the fifth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- David Grubnic, 3.871, 318.92 def. Terry McMillen, 4.077, 262.08; Shawn Langdon, 5.325, 196.47 def. Troy Buff, broke; Morgan Lucas, 3.965, 305.29 def. Steve Torrence, 8.154, 86.04; Cory McClenathan, 3.878, 315.05 def. T.J. Zizzo, 6.708, 90.47; Larry Dixon, 3.853, 316.15 def. Del Cox Jr, foul; Antron Brown, 3.858, 315.27 def. Spencer Massey, 4.176, 235.64; Brandon Bernstein, 4.004, 309.06 def. Tony Schumacher, 9.560, 74.29; Doug Kalitta, 4.209, 298.67 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.796, 166.05; QUARTERFINALS -- Lucas, 9.202, 83.89 def. Bernstein, broke; McClenathan, 3.857, 321.12 def. Kalitta, 4.279, 286.80; Brown, 3.964, 303.37 def. Langdon, 4.806, 166.39; Dixon, 3.854, 314.68 def. Grubnic, 6.910, 88.12; SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 3.873, 314.17 def. Lucas, 4.006, 298.80; Dixon, 3.891, 313.95 def. McClenathan, 4.581, 169.34; FINAL -- Dixon, 4.541, 222.36 def. Brown, 4.638, 173.32.

FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.109, 307.02 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.230, 300.33; Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.140, 307.23 def. Jim Head, Solara, 4.561, 277.37; Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.134, 282.60 def. Jeff Diehl, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.408, 224.92; Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.708, 183.79 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.898, 240.77; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.108, 309.13 def. Paul Lee, Chevy Impala SS, 7.644, 88.21; Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.215, 297.68 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 5.764, 128.20; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.217, 302.48 def. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 5.578, 141.59; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 5.051, 185.28 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 5.030, 225.71; QUARTERFINALS -- Worsham, 4.596, 252.19 def. Force Hood, 4.635, 235.80; Hagan, 4.183, 303.78 def. C. Pedregon, 4.764, 218.05; Arend, 4.246, 295.92 def. Hight, 6.314, 106.55; T. Pedregon, 4.225, 302.89 def. Wilkerson, 4.213, 299.13; SEMIFINALS -- Arend, 4.408, 290.01 def. Worsham, 5.499, 241.28; Hagan, 4.632, 230.29 def. T. Pedregon, 5.838, 130.56; FINAL -- Hagan, 4.390, 247.57 def. Arend, 4.714, 231.20.

PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 6.605, 209.85 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 13.079, 65.57; Shane Gray, GXP, 6.611, 209.17 def. Jason Line, GXP, 10.353, 87.29; Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.632, 209.72 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, 6.608, 209.72; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.617, 209.14 def. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.624, 209.20; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.594, 210.11 def. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.642, 205.88; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.572, 210.97 def. Rickie Jones, GXP, 6.706, 208.30; Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.593, 209.98 def. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 13.808, 61.49; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.582, 210.64 def. Bob Yonke, GXP, 6.634, 208.91; QUARTERFINALS -- A. Johnson, 12.133, 101.41 def. Humphrey, 13.538, 61.69; Krisher, 6.604, 210.08 def. S. Gray, 6.622, 209.23; Coughlin, 6.589, 210.64 def. Anderson, 6.657, 207.91; Edwards, 6.612, 210.24 def. Brogdon, 6.687, 209.30; SEMIFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.628, 209.95 def. Krisher, 6.680, 208.33; Coughlin, 6.601, 210.80 def. Edwards, 11.543, 72.25; FINAL -- Coughlin, 6.599, 210.77 def. A. Johnson, 6.596, 210.77.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.009, 192.96 def. Douglas Horne, Buell, 7.028, 188.23; Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.989, 193.79 def. David Hope, Buell, foul; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.939, 192.88 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, foul; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.956, 190.16 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.057, 180.91; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.885, 193.02 def. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.034, 189.47; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.940, 193.35 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.988, 188.60; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.944, 194.58 def. Redell Harris, Buell, foul; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.871, 194.52 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.088, 190.00; QUARTERFINALS -- Krawiec, 6.952, 192.58 def. Phillips, 6.996, 193.82; Hines, 6.938, 193.02 def. Stoffer, 6.984, 188.60; M. Smith, 7.004, 188.75 def. Treble, foul; Arana, 6.941, 191.02 def. Underdahl, 7.004, 190.51; SEMIFINALS -- Arana, 6.888, 195.22 def. M. Smith, 7.256, 169.42; Hines, 6.905, 195.70 def. Krawiec, 6.913, 195.87; FINAL -- Hines, 6.998, 196.02 def. Arana, foul.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 23rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, the fifth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Top Fuel
1. Cory McClenathan, 456; 2. Larry Dixon, 428; 3. Doug Kalitta, 381; 4. Antron Brown, 378; 5. Tony Schumacher, 366; 6. Shawn Langdon, 275; 7. Morgan Lucas, 245; 8. Steve Torrence, 228; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 219; 10. David Grubnic, 206.

Funny Car
1. John Force, 441; 2. Matt Hagan, 371; 3. Ron Capps, 345; 4. Ashley Force Hood, 312; 5. Jack Beckman, 311; 6. (tie) Tony Pedregon, 283; Tim Wilkerson, 283; 8. Robert Hight, 281; 9. Bob Tasca III, 268; 10. Del Worsham, 240.

Pro Stock
1. Mike Edwards, 574; 2. Allen Johnson, 382; 3. Jason Line, 338; 4. Greg Anderson, 311; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 299; 6. Greg Stanfield, 267; 7. Ron Krisher, 254; 8. Rodger Brogdon, 250; 9. Bob Yonke, 240; 10. Ronnie Humphrey, 199.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Hector Arana, 284; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 244; 3. Matt Smith, 235; 4. Andrew Hines, 214; 5. Karen Stoffer, 167; 6. Craig Treble, 164; 7. Steve Johnson, 158; 8. Michael Phillips, 157; 9. David Hope, 142; 10. Shawn Gann, 129.

LUCAS OIL SERIES
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Bill Reichert, 5.335, 267.11 def. Monroe Guest, 5.414, 262.08.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Mickey Ferro, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.543, 261.98 def. Tony Bartone, Ford Mustang, 5.561, 257.92.

Competition Eliminator -- David Rampy, Roadster, 7.322, 154.78 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 7.871, 139.98.

Super Stock -- Slate Cummings, Chevy Cavalier, 8.979, 135.24 def. Chris Chaney, Cavalier, 9.681, 133.33.

Super Comp -- Lloyd Parfait, Dragster, 8.943, 158.54 def. Jay Thornburg, Dragster, 8.926, 174.91.

Super Gas -- Tommy Phillips, Chevy Corvette, 9.868, 149.70 def. Jim Hughes, Corvette, 9.907, 156.81.

Top Dragster -- John Garner, Dragster, 7.339, 163.47 def. Mallori McCullar-Rodgers, Dragster, 9.232, 94.07.

GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MODIFIED SERIES
Pro Modified -- Danny Rowe, Chevy Camaro, 5.936, 248.93 def. Melanie Troxel, Chevy Corvette, 6.030, 245.94.