FUNNY CAR

(Ron Lewis photo)

Tommy Johnson Jr. and the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team led by crew chief John Collins put a wrap on one of the most successful seasons ever at Don Schumacher Racing when the team funded by Terry Chandler won the final national event of the season.

It was Johnson's third event win of the year, which is the most ever in a year for the veteran driver.

Perhaps more importantly, Collins with assistant Rip Reynolds guided Johnson to a second-place finish in points for the season, which is Johnson's highest spot after finishing third each of the past two years.

Johnson's victory pushed the DSR total to 293 including 14 in 24 events this year that is one short of tying the DSR record a year ago for Funny Cars. This is the fourth time since 2005 that DSR has won both nitro world championships: Antron Brown and Ron Capps this year, Tony Schumacher and Matt Hagan in 2014, Brown and Jack Beckman in 2012, and Schumacher and Gary Scelzi in 2005.

Johnson won round one against Dave Richards in a pedalfest to the finish line as Johnson coasted to a 4.373-second pass at 235.23 mph. He advanced to round two where he took out Robert Hight with a 3.897 lap at 325.31 mph.

He then faced Courtney Force in the semifinals. Johnson won on a holeshot victory with his 3.929 topping Force's quicker 3.916.

Finally, Johnson lined up against John Force for the last final round of 2016. Johnson left the starting line first and got his second holeshot win of the day, both against JFR cars.

Both racecars launched simultaneously with Johnson getting an edge of .046 to .041 and that turned out to be the difference as both cars lit up the scoreboards with 3.918-second runs.