On a cool, cloudy Monday at Memphis Motorsports Park, an impressive crowd were onhand for some of the biggest upsets in recent memory for the NHRA Full Throttle Series’ O’Reilly NHRA Midsouth Nationals. Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all hoisted Wallys against presumably stronger opponents. Jason Line (Pro Stock) was the one exception, earning his fifth victory of the season after his finals opponent, Ron Krisher, fouled out with a -.018 red light.
For Arend and his Kalitta Racing team, it was an emotional Winner’s Circle with memories of Scott Kalitta, whose name still adorns the car. Kalitta, a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and the son of team owner and legendary racer Connie Kalitta, was killed in an accident in Englishtown, N.J., last year.
“Our crew guys…obviously a lot of them were there last year for Scott’s accident and today, there were tears in their eyes,” said Arend, who beat Tony Pedregon in the Funny Car finals. “It was hard for me to come in (to this team), but it’s obviously a lot tougher for the whole team and we’ve turned a big corner here today. We’re going to bring that trophy to Scott, that’s for sure.”
The win was Arend’s first since Maple Grove in 1996, where, coincidentally, he beat Pedregon, and is his second career Wally. He earned Monday’s victory with an ET of 4.091 at a speed of 310.41 mph, which ties the fourth-fastest FC time in the 1,000-foot era. The Canadian-born Arend beat Jack Beckman, John Force, and Ashley Force Hood to get to the final round.
In Top Fuel, Lucas beat six-time and defending class champion Tony Schumacher, who is currently at the top of the standings with five wins in 2009. Both drivers smoked the tires off the starting line and Lucas was able to top “The Sarge” in a dramatic peddle fest down the track.
“I went (to the line) with the intention to do what we’ve done in every other round today and that’s just to go down the track and just try to nail the tree,” he said. “It’s funny sometimes how wins happen. Sometimes you’re on, sometimes the car is on, sometimes you’re both on. Today, I felt like both of us were on.
“The awesome part of thousand-foot racing for me is that you get to see the scoreboard and you get to know if you won. (The run was) really intense and I’m so proud of my guys.”
Lucas took the victory with an ET of 5.133 at a speed of 251.44 mph, beating teammate Shawn Langdon, event top qualifier Larry Dixon, and surprise semi-finalist Steve Torrence to get to the final round. He is now fifth in points, 133 behind Schumacher.
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