Steve Johnson Wins Penultimate NHRA Nationals
In qualifying for the 21st annual Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Steve Johnson hoped to make up some ground on Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Matt Smith. After all, Johnson was in the hauler early at Bristol when he lost to Ron Tornow in the opening round at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. However, Matt Smith put together an impressive run to close out qualifying with a 6.839 ET at 198.23 mph on the Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR to move past Johnson who was the provisional Number One qualifier.
It was Smith’s fourth Number One qualifier of the season and the forty seventh of his career. The points leader has his eyes on the prize as he moves one step closer to owning back-to-back world championships.
Johnson had a big turnaround this weekend at The Strip. Johnson stayed alive in the championship hunt with a 6.869 ET at 195.11 mph on his USA Electric Mac Rak Suzuki in his final round against Karen Stoffer, who left too early. Johnson picked up his third win of the season and the ninth of his career.
Dallas Glenn Post Perfection Reaction Time of .000 Seconds
In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn was nearly perfect on the starting line again in the final round, holding off defending world champ Erica Enders with a 6.660 ET at 204.60 mph in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. Glenn is having an impressive rookie season, as he picked up his third victory in 2021.
Enders reached the final round for the sixth time this year and 61st time in her career. She posted wins against Bo Butner, Matt Hartford and Troy Coughlin Jr. and made up ground on points leader Greg Anderson. With Anderson and Enders both aiming for their fifth NHRA World Championship, Anderson took a 32-point lead into Pomona, with Glenn in third 109 points back.
Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson Racing Facebook
NEXT UP:
Auto Club NHRA Finals
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series closes out the 2021 season on Nov. 11-14 with the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
