O'Reilly Fall Nationals : Cannon qualifies in top half of field, in 8th, in Dallas

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 21 of 23
O'Reilly Fall Nationals
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, Texas
Race Dates: Oct. 10-12, 2003

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 11, 2003) - Scotty Cannon qualified his Oakley Time Bomb
Dodge Stratus in No. 8 position for tomorrow's O'Reilly Fall Nationals Funny
Car final eliminations, by virtue of the 4.902/318.58 pass he posted Friday
night, which was good for No. 6 at the time.

Cannon struggled in today's two qualifying sessions, but dropped only two
positions after a 5.93/252.31 lap in the first round, and a 5.259/275.14 in
the second round.

"It had way too much boost in it, something happened," he said following the
final session. "I don't know if a cam messed up or what, but it burned every
piston in it in less than 200 feet. It was running good until then."

After not qualifying in two of the last three races, Cannon was pleased to
be in the top half of the field. "It feels good, but I'd rather be No. 1,"
he laughed. "Naah, I'm not complaining after last week. We're just plugging
away at it, as I've said all along."

Cannon will meet Phil Burkhart Jr. in the first round of final eliminations
tomorrow, to whom he lost in the first round in Joliet, Cannon's last event
for which he qualified. "I guess it's my turn," Cannon said.