JOHNNY GRAY DOUBLES UP, TAKES POINTS LEAD WITH TOPEKA WIN
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 19, 2013) – For the first time in his career as a professional NHRA Funny Car driver, Johnny Gray is leaving a national event in sole possession of the points lead and hoisting the Wally for the second straight race. Gray, driver of the Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T and winner of the race in Atlanta just last weekend, scored the sixth Funny Car win of his career today with a final-round victory over John Force Racing's Robert Hight at the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals.
The closing round at Heartland Park Topeka was familiar territory for the friendly rivals as it marked the fourth time that Gray and Hight had met in the final at a national event. Despite the fact that Gray had ousted Hight in the opening round at the most recent two races on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour, the fact of the matter leading into the round was that Hight held a 3-0 advantage over Gray in finals.
The 60-year-old Funny Car driver from Artesia, N.M., was unfazed by the statistics, however, and raced ahead of a tire-smoking Hight in the last act after defeating Alexis DeJoria , 4.117 to 5.104; Del Worsham with a wicked-quick, low of the round 4.047, 313.66 to 4.115, 307.79; and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman, 4.055, to 4.104, in the first three acts. Gray's final time was a swift and strong 4.067 at a booming 314.90 mph. Read Full Article