Worsham Captures NHRA Virginia Nationals Funny Car Win in All-Team Valvoline Final
DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2009) -- In an all-Team Valvoline Funny Car final, Del Worsham came out ahead, defeating Tim Wilkerson for his third win of the season.
The victory at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond was also the 25th career win for Worsham.
Driving the Al-Anabi Funny Car Solara for team owner Alan Johnson, Worsham's final round numbers in the 1,000-foot drag race were 4.091 seconds at 305.39 miles per hour. Wilkerson ran a 4.179 at 281.13.
"I had a good feeling this morning," said Worsham. "You know, things were just kind of going my way. I was in the car right before first round, and I was just running through everything and I felt the reverser. It felt OK and then all of a sudden, it just felt too loose, and the reverser cable wasn't hooked up. Right before they started the car, I'm screaming for the clutch guy, Hook up the reverser cable.' When you find things like that, it's just kind of your day and you can't make a mistake."
With two NHRA national-event races remaining, Worsham is currently eighth in the Countdown to 1 Funny Car standings. Wilkserson is fifth.
In the Top Fuel competition, Team Valvoline drivers had early exits, but still maintained the top three spots in points. Tony Schumacher, who leads the dragster standings, lost in the quarterfinal round. Dixon, second in points, was also eliminated in the quarterfinal round. Cory McClenathan, third in points, lost in the semifinal round. Schumacher has a 47-point lead over Dixon and 68 over McClenathan.
The Virginia Nationals Top Fuel winner was Brandon Bernstein and the Pro Stock winner was Mike Edwards.
The NHRA Full Throttle Series will have the next two weekends off before resuming competition Nov. 1 in Las Vegas.
Team Valvoline NHRA Race Results
NHRA Full Throttle Series
Oct. 11, 2009
NHRA Virginia Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Dinwiddie, Va. (near Richmond)
Top Fuel:
Larry Dixon, Alan Johnson Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 2nd
Cory McClenathan, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 3rd
Tony Schumacher, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 1st
Funny Car
Jack Beckman, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 6th
Ron Capps, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 4th
Matt Hagan, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 12th
Tim Wilkerson, Team Wilkerson Racing
Runner-up
Point Standing: 5th
Del Worsham, Alan Johnson Racing
Won Event
Point Standing: 8th
Pro Stock
Ron Krisher, Krisher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 8th
Pro Stock Motorcycle
(did not compete at Richmond)
Next NHRA Event
Nov. 1
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas
