NHRA pros at Las Vegas

Tanner Gray Gets First Pro Stock Win

Results compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis

Antron Brown piloted his Matco Tools dragster to the Top Fuel victory Sunday, April 2, at the 18th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and rookie Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) were also winners at the fourth event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Wind and a tricky track surface made the event a challenge for racers, tuners and the fans.

Tommy Johnson Jr. and Terry Chandler's Make-A-Wish 2017 Dodge Charger R/T team won its first Funny Car title of the year for Don Schumacher Racing's 299th win and that was followed by an all-DSR final in which three-time and reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown and the Matco Tool team beat teammate Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army team for No. 300.

The 68th double-up of nitro titles by DSR at the same race since 2003 was also the third time in four NHRA races this year when DSR won both Top Fuel and Funny Car titles.

Coincidentally, the same teams earned DSR its 199th and 200th wins; Johnny Gray was in what is now the Make-A-Wish Funny Car sponsored by his sister, Terry Chandler, and Brown was at the wheel of the Matco dragster.