The 2019 NHRA drag racing season has become a haven for repeat winners in the upper division classes at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider, Andrew Hines won his third-straight national event over teammate Eddie Krawiec in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final. The win is the 52nd of Hine's career and came on the back of a 6.845-second ET at 195.68 mph. After qualifying number one, Hines also defeated 2018 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith in the Semifinals.
Pro Stock driver Bo Butner leaves Virginia with similar results. Butner defeated his K.B. Racing teammate Greg Anderson to score his fourth Wally in five races. He got off the starting line second but ran down Anderson's Summit Chevrolet to extend his lead in the Pro Stock class. Driving the Jim Butner Auto Group Chevrolet, Butner is now just one win away from matching the five wins from his 24-race schedule Pro Stock title-winning year in 2017.
In Nitro Funny Car, Ron Capps kept the ball rolling by winning back-to-back national rounds in his NAPA Brakes Dodge Charger SRT. He defeated reigning world champion J.R. Todd with a 4.097-second ET at 310.98 mph after Todd's Camry broke coming off the line. Capps had eliminated teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the semifinals and defeated 2019 points leader Robert Hight in round two. The win is Ron Capps' 63rd overall and 62nd in Funny Car as well as the second win on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello season.
Steve Torrence's first Top Fuel victory came at Virginia Motorsports Park and Sunday marked the 30th Wally the Texas native has earned in Top Fuel. Torrence joined Hines, Butner and Capps by winning multiple times this season in his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster. Torrence narrowly edged three-time champion Antron Brown in the final round with a 3.881-second ET at 319.82 mph. Steve had to out pace teammate Scott Palmer in the second round before eliminating his dad (Billy Torrence) in the Semifinals. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues to Chicago for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway May 30th through June 2nd.
Photo courtesy of Action Sports Photography
