Richie Crampton jumped to the Top Fuel #1 qualifier Friday at the 5th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.  Robert Hight dominated both Friday sessions to capture Funny Car top qualifier. Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also top qualifiers.
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Funny Car
Robert Hight powered his dragster to a 3.893-second pass at 328.38 mph in his second pass Friday. Hight also led after the first pass earlier in the day with a 3.941-second at 325.61 pass.
“It was a big day for us,” said Hight. “but it is only one day.”
Hight who drives for weekend race sponsor, AAA Insurance, came to Gateway Monday to test in order to be prepared for the big weekend.
“It is really hard to judge your performance because you don’t have other cars there,” said Hight.
But the results paid off Friday night with two quick passes down the straightaway. He won the Gainsville event earlier in the year but has not been top qualifier yet this year.
“We made a lot of changes and it is starting pay off,” said Hight.
Hight said he has extra responsibilities this week racing his AAA Insurance Funny Car car in the AAA sponsored event at Gateway Motorsports Park.
“I like being busy all week because you don’t have time to think about anything and  you can focus,” said Hight.
Hight is currently 7th in points in the NHRA season Championship Countdown.
Jack Beckman took second place in the Friday night run with a 3.907 ET at 325.22 mph. This was a great improvement over his first pass when qualified 13th.
Tim Wilkerson who calls Gateway Motorsports his home track, grabbed the third overall with a 3.912 ET /Â 325,61 mph pass. Wilkerson’s hometown is Springfield Illinois.
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Robert Hight Auto Club Camaro 3.893 328.38
2. Jack Beckman Infinite Hero Charger 3.907 325.22
3. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 3.912 325.61
4. Matt Hagan Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 3.914 327.51
5. Courtney Force Traxxas Camaro 3.918 324.36
6. Del Worsham DHL Camry 3.929 324.75
7. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 3.933 322.81
8. Alexis DeJoria Tequila Patron Camry 3.974 323.27
9. Chad Head Head Inc. Camry 3.994 320.36
10. Cruz Pedregon Snap-on/Wix Filters Camry 4.009 314.68
11. Brian Stewart Brian Stewart Motorsports Must 4.009 290.82
12. John Bojec Speed City Solara 4.037 293.22
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. John Hale Oberto Beef Jerky Charger 4.177 279.09
14. Brandon Welch AutoAnything Monte Carlo 4.257 290.07
15. John Force Peak Camaro 4.440 193.29
16. Tommy Johnson Jr. Make A Wish Charger 4.470 189.15
17. Dale Creasy Jr. Tek Pak Inc. Impala 4.559 192.06
18. Jack Wyatt Jack Wyatt Racing Stratus 11.019 86.08
Top Fuel
Richie Crampton drove his dragster to the top qualifying position in Friday’s second session with a 3.733ET / 323.50 MPH
“In the Countdown is when you want to start running your best,” said Crampton, who is from Australia.
“We have struggled a lot this year,” said Crampton “You can’t start a weekend much better than on pole.”
He is has yet to win this year and is in 10th and last spot in the season championship countdown.
“We might catch a lot of people by surprise,” Said Crampton.
Track temperatures were over a 100 degrees at the start of the second session “evening” run.
“A hot race track is always the great equalizer,” said Crampton. “This is when you see great upsets”
And for Crampton he is hoping we will have the big upset this weekend.
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Richie Crampton Lucas Oil Dragster 3.733 323.50
2. Doug Kalitta DEWALT FLEXVOLT Dragster 3.752 325.92
3. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 3.757 322.19
4. J.R. Todd SealMaster Dragster 3.772 322.04
5. Leah Pritchett Papa Johns Dragster 3.773 322.42
6. Shawn Langdon Red Fuel/Sandvik Dragster 3.783 325.30
7. Brittany Force Monster Energy Dragster 3.790 320.20
8. Clay Millican Denso/Great Clips Dragster 3.798 323.35
9. Wayne Newby Rapisarda Autosport Internatio 3.801 318.69
10. Steve Torrence Capco Contactors Dragster 3.805 323.19
11. Pat Dakin Commercial Metal Fabrications 3.805 309.06
12. Antron Brown Matco Tools Dragster 3.808 314.39
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. Kyle Wurtzel Xtreme Edge Inc. Dragster 3.898 307.79
14. Kebin Kinsley Hennen Motorsports Dragster 3.901 307.16
15. Luigi Novelli National Machine Repair Dragst 4.106 263.92
16. Terry McMillen Amalie Motor Oil Dragster 4.294 201.73
17. Scott Palmer Mark Industries/VooDoo II Drag 4.307 198.67
18. Troy Buff BME Dragster 6.333 95.96
Pro Stock
Greg Anderson took the Friday night lead in Pro Stock with a pass of 6.607 ET at 209.30. 
“We were right on the money,” said Anderson “we got the big weather swing tonight when the sun was hiding behind the clouds”
The cooler time allowed the former Gateway winner to take the lead from first session leader Shane Gray who dropped to second place.
Anderson is currently in 7th place and is hoping Friday night’s run will propel him to his first victory of the season.
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Greg Anderson Summit Racing Equipment Camaro 6.607 209.56
2. Shane Gray Valvoline/Nova Services Camaro 6.609 209.65
3. Alex Laughlin Gas Monkey Garage/360 Wraps Ca 6.610 209.14
4. Vincent Nobile Mountain View Tire Camaro 6.611 209.43
5. Bo Butner Jim Butner Auto Camaro 6.621 209.36
6. Jason Line Summit Racing Equipment Camaro 6.622 209.30
7. Allen Johnson Marathon Petroleum Dart 6.625 208.46
8. Chris McGaha Harlow Sammons of Odessa Camar 6.636 208.20
9. Drew Skillman Ray Skillman Chevy Camaro 6.646 207.91
10. Jeg Coughlin Magnetimarelli/JEGS Dart 6.648 207.46
11. Erica Enders Elite Motorsports Dart 6.667 206.95
12. Deric Kramer American Ethanol/Novozymes Dar 6.695 206.57
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. Mark Hogan EMSI Inc. GXP 6.783 203.09
14. Dave River River Racing Cobalt 6.925 198.93
15. Aaron Strong Strong Trucking/FigSpeed Camar 7.407 135.27
16. Alan Prusiensky Arcraceengines.com Dart 7.489 144.35
Pro Stock Motorcycles
Last weekend race winner, Chip Ellis, continued his hot steak and raced to the top of the pack in Pro Stock Motorcycles with a 6.850 ET at 196.53 mph.
“It is pretty amazing,” said Ellis when asked about his recent success. Ellis has propelled to second in points.
“I am so excited for our team,” said Ellis. “I’m really excited for these guys. We work really hard.”
Ellis and his team after winning last week, left the Charlotte race track and drove one hour to his team shop and began to pull apart the bike engine.
“We pulled all apart,” said Ellis. “Usually we don’t run it more than one race, but this time we put it all back together and decided to race it this weekend.”
Ellis and his team is hoping this engine’s success continues throughout the weekend. Hector Arana Sr. is in second placed followed by Jerry Savoie.
Psn Rider Vehicle ET Speed
1. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.850 196.53
2. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.880 195.34
3. Jerry Savoie Savoie's Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.881 194.88
4. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.884 193.88
5. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.893 195.87
6. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.897 193.65
7. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.915 194.13
8. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.930 193.32
9. Steve Johnson Slick 50 Suzuki 6.950 193.57
10. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.955 193.05
11. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.968 191.35
12. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.974 194.83
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki 7.000 193.68
14. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 7.071 191.19
15. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 7.111 187.99
16. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.149 162.88
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Story by Kevin Proot
Photos by Larry Vancil
St. Louis Motor Racing News / STLRACING.COM