The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NHRA: Vandergriff, Force, Johnson, Seeling earn number one qualifying positions at Brainerd

21 August 1999

BRAINERD, Minn - Bob Vandergriff, John Force, Warren Johnson, and Angelle Seeling led their respective fields Friday after the first round of qualifying at the 18th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 15th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Vandergriff, from Cumming, Ga., covered the quarter-mile in 4.597 seconds at 311.77 mph in his Top Fuel dragster, which was fast enough to lead the pack. Eight-time NHRA Winston champion John Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., had the quickest Funny Car pass of the day of 4.900 at 312.28 to set the mark in his category.

Defending NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, from Buford, Ga., earned the number one qualifying position with a pass of 6.955 at 197.59, shattering both ends of the track record.

Seeling, from New Orleans, made a pass of 7.356 at 182.82 to hold on to the number one spot after the first day of qualifying in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Top Fuel -- 1. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.597 seconds, 311.77 mph; 2. Mike Dunn, Wrightsville, Pa., 4.614, 315.86; 3. Larry Dixon, Cardiff, Calif., 4.628, 306.95; 4. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.648, 320.36; 5. Eddie Hill, Wichita Falls, Texas, 4.653, 307.58; 6. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.671, 316.60; 7. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.673, 299.93; 8. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.679, 311.13; 9. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.723, 282.42; 10. Paul Romine, Indianapolis, 4.731, 305.70; 11. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.747, 297.81; 12. Allen Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 4.771, 289.82; 13. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.798, 230.33; 14. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 4.816, 281.36; 15. Randy Parks, Lombard, Ill., 4.849, 238.93; 16. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 5.861, 150.80.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.900, 312.28; 2. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.984, 299.66; 3. Jerry Toliver, Huntington Beach, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 5.013, 297.55; 4. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 5.039, 303.91; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Firebird, 5.042, 298.80; 6. Frank Pedregon, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Firebird, 5.080, 287.96; 7. Ron Capps, La Costa, Calif., Camaro, 5.084, 293.79; 8. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Firebird, 5.121, 283.25; 9. Del Worsham, Laguna Hills, Calif., Firebird, 5.224, 290.01; 10. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., Firebird, 5.253, 285.05; 11. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Mustang, 5.256, 243.15; 12. Terry Haddock, Great Meadows, N.J., Avenger, 5.312, 258.57; 13. Dale Creasy Jr., Lansing, Ill., Firebird, 6.069, 166.03; 14. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Avenger, 6.847, 123.95; 15. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 7.514, 123.70; 16. Cory Lee, Sierra Del Oro, Calif., Avenger, 9.592, 92.16.

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.955, 197.59; 2. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Chevrolet Camaro, 6.963, 197.45; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.004, 196.36; 4. Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Firebird, 7.004, 195.05; 5. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 7.011, 195.28; 6. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 7.015, 195.87; 7. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Firebird, 7.025, 194.63; 8. Troy Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 7.027, 195.96; 9. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Avenger, 7.034, 194.49; 10. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Firebird, 7.039, 194.74; 11. Tom Hammonds, Crestview, Fla., Camaro, 7.040, 194.66; 12. John Nobile, Melville, N.Y., Cutlass, 7.043, 194.52; 13. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 7.045, 194.66; 14. Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Firebird, 7.051, 194.97; 15. Tony Gillig, Lake Zurich, Ill., Cutlass, 7.053, 195.00; 16. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., Camaro, 7.053, 194.83.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki GSXR, 7.356, 182.82; 2. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki, 7.358, 180.74; 3. John Smith, Champlin, Minn., Suzuki, 7.393, 180.38; 4. Antron Brown, Yardley, Pa., Suzuki, 7.402, 181.28; 5. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.416, 181.47; 6. Tony Mullen, Houston, Suzuki, 7.426, 178.24; 7. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Suzuki, 7.433, 179.23; 8. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Suzuki, 7.458, 178.68; 9. Greg Underdahl, Forest Lake, Minn., Suzuki, 7.459, 180.12; 10. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.461, 178.45; 11. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.527, 174.96; 12. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.539, 175.84; 13. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.554, 177.21; 14. C.J. Smith, Champlin, Minn., Suzuki, 7.644, 181.37; 15. Brian DeLong, Circleville, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.663, 172.56; 16. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.805, 169.64.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.