FUNNY CAR

"We're just slow starters, but we're strong finishers," said Johnson, who was able to celebrate at the track with his father, Tommy Johnson Sr., who also celebrated his birthday last week. "I love this race, and Father's Day seems to be really good to me."

In the first round of eliminations, Johnson faced Cruz Pedregon and used a run of 3.988 seconds at 316.38 mph to turn on his first win light of the day. 

He moved on to round two, where his 3.990 eliminated Robert Hight. In the semifinals against Alexis DeJoria, he beat the heat with a 4.039. That sent him to the final round against Hagan. Johnson was quicker off the starting line with an outstanding 0.035 seconds reaction time that enabled his 4.039 to overcome Hagan's quicker 4.030.

"Today, the car drove flawlessly," Johnson said. "(Collins) made all the right adjustments to get the car down the track in these hot conditions. He used the data (from an earlier run) to make the car go down the track all day. This is just a great way to celebrate Father's Day and my dad's birthday."

Matt Hagan reached his third final round in the past five NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events.

Hagan and the Rocky Boots/Mopar Express Lane team led by crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen opened eliminations with the best elapsed time of the day, 3.945 seconds at 309 mph, to take out Tim Wilkerson. Hagan then disposed of Courtney Force and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps, who has won the last two Mello Yello titles, before meeting DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round.

MOPAR teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps met in the second round with Capps taking the win. Capps head defeated Jim Campbell in the first round while “Fast Jack” moved John Force out of the competition.