Well, Bob is denied yet another Wally. Overcoming, what seemed to overwhelming odds, the UPS Top Fuel dragster advanced to his tenth career final and ran his best ET of the weekend but just could not keep up with Powerade Champion Tony Schumacher.
Vandergriff was solidly in the 4.60 range, from his qualifying number of 4.68 to a 4.61. The trouble is, Tony and Alan Johnson had the US Army dragster running like a bracket car with consistent 4.50's. Bob HAD to cut a good light and run a good race but Tony came through again, even though Bob ran his best ET at 4.59.
He remains at number 6 in the Chase to the Championship, where they take the top 8 points leaders after the Pennsylvania race in mid-Aug. Two more races to go. Four have already been mathematically locked in.
This year could be a banner year for UPS in drag racing.