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NHRA: Hines wins fourth straight Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel

5 September 1999

Amato's track record run remains the best in Top Fuel qualifying for U.S. Nationals

CLERMONT, Ind. - Matt Hines continued his domination of the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel by claiming his fourth straight victory Saturday at the 45th U.S. Nationals, defeating rival Angelle Seeling in the final round of the lucrative Pro Stock Motorcycle special event.

Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., covered the Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile in 7.286 seconds at 182.85 mph on his Superman Racing Suzuki to collect the $15,000 winner's share, passing Seeling's Team Winston Suzuki at the finish line, which ran a slower 7.343 at 180.12.

"What can I say? I love racing at Indy on Saturday," Hines said. "This is as good as it gets. I thought I was in a dream on that run, it was so smooth. It was one of the best ever. We knew we had to have a fast bike to beat Angelle and when I saw the win light come on I was ecstatic."

If Hines can win Monday's bike finals he will earn an additional $10,000 'double-up' bonus from the NHRA, bringing his potential earnings at this event to over $35,000.

Joe Amato, Tommy Johnson, Jr., Warren Johnson, Mark Osborne and Hines continued to lead qualifying in their respective pro categories at the $2.6 million race, the 16th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Amato, from Exeter, Pa., held on to the top spot in Top Fuel with his track record run of 4.529 at 324.20 in his Superman Racing dragster.

Johnson Jr., from Ottumwa, Iowa, remained No. 1 in Funny Car in a Pontiac Firebird as no one bettered his Friday evening run of 4.885 at 315.71. Johnson, of Buford, Ga., stayed on top in Pro Stock with his category-best 6.920 at 196.67 in a Pontiac Firebird.

Hines continued to pace the Pro Stock Motorcycle field on a Suzuki, running 7.260 at 183.94.

Osborne, of Abingdon, Va., earned his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock Truck, running 7.623 at 176.67 in a Chevrolet S-10.

Qualifying continues Sunday with pro sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 4 p.m., while Pro Stock Truck eliminations start at 11 a.m. Ron Capps will lead a select field of Funny Car competitors after the $100,000 Big Bud Shootout prize beginning at noon.

CLERMONT, Ind. - Saturday's qualifying results for the 45th annual U. S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the 16th of 22 events in the $40-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.529 seconds, 324.20 mph; 2. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.582, 320.97; 3. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.589, 316.60; 4. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.619, 316.30; 5. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.656, 310.20; 6. Mike Dunn, Wrightsville, Pa., 4.658, 307.23; 7. Eddie Hill, Wichita Falls, Texas, 4.659, 293.79; 8. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.666, 317.57; 9. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.669, 308.78; 10. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.673, 307.58; 11. Randy Parks, Lombard, Ill., 4.682, 294.88; 12. Paul Romine, Indianapolis, 4.688, 303.84; 13. Steve Smith, Princeton, N.C., 4.704, 312.86; 14. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.719, 304.39; 15. Andrew Cowin, Huntington Beach, Calif., 4.726, 302.62; 16. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, 4.770, 306.46.

Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Pontiac Firebird, 4.885, 315.71; 2. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 4.891, 305.15; 3. Ron Capps, San Diego, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.902, 304.80; 4. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Camaro, 4.908, 312.06; 5. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.919, 315.05; 6. Frank Pedregon, Alta Loma, Calif., Firebird, 4.969, 300.26; 7. Cristen Powell, Portland, Ore., Firebird, 4.993, 301.20; 8. Jerry Toliver, Huntington Beach, Calif., Chevrolet Corvette, 5.023, 306.46; 9. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 5.033, 305.15; 10. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Firebird, 5.040, 305.42; 11. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 5.043, 301.33; 12. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Firebird, 5.051, 301.60; 13. Del Worsham, Laguna Hills, Calif., Firebird, 5.057, 301.74; 14. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Mustang, 5.069, 292.46; 15. Cory Lee, Sierra Del Oro, Calif., Avenger, 5.090, 303.09; 16. Phil Burkart, Yorkville, N.Y., Firebird, 5.132, 280.49.

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.920, 199.82; 2. Mark Pawuk, Bath, Ohio, Firebird, 6.966, 197.39; 3. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.971, 197.54; 4. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 6.974, 196.64; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 6.977, 197.51; 6. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Avenger, 6.988, 197.39; 7. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 6.988, 196.73; 8. Mike Thomas, Knoxville, Tenn., Firebird, 6.990, 197.08; 9. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 6.991, 196.70; 10. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., Chevrolet Camaro, 6.992, 196.24; 11. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.995, 197.22; 12. George Marnell, Las Vegas, Firebird, 6.996, 197.31; 13. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., Firebird, 6.996, 196.22; 14. Terry Adams, Millers Creek, N.C., Cutlass, 6.999, 197.28; 15. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Camaro, 7.001, 198.70; 16. Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Firebird, 7.001, 196.44.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki, 7.260, 183.94; 2. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki, 7.343, 181.40; 3. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.358, 180.94; 4. Antron Brown, Chesterfield, N.J., Suzuki, 7.371, 181.50; 5. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.373, 180.50; 6. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.374, 180.45; 7. John Smith, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.378, 183.72; 8. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Suzuki, 7.391, 178.17; 9. Greg Underdahl, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.403, 180.84; 10. C.J. Smith, Champlin, Minn., Suzuki, 7.437, 179.47; 11. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.441, 179.64; 12. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.462, 182.45; 13. Steve Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., Suzuki, 7.476, 177.16; 14. Gary Tonglet, Metairie, La., Suzuki, 7.481, 177.53; 15. Brian DeLong, Circleville, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.532, 177.37; 16. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.570, 175.43.

CLERMONT, Ind. - Saturday's pairings for the first round of eliminations in Pro Stock Truck.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Mark Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Chevrolet S-10, 7.623, 176.67 vs. 16. Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., Dodge Dakota, 7.671, 175.21; 2. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., S-10, 7.625, 176.81 vs. 15. Larry Seay, Mayfield, Ky., S-10, 7.669, 176.14; 3. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.636, 175.05 vs. 14. John Lingenfelte, Decatur, Ind., S-10, 7.666, 176.07; 4. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., S-10, 7.640, 176.65 vs. 13. Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.664, 175.23; 5. Brian Self, Houston, S-10, 7.647, 176.03 vs. 12. Tim Freeman, Roan Mountain, Tenn., S-10, 7.664, 175.25; 6. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City,, La., S-10, 7.647, 175.46 vs. 11. Steve Johns, Mountville, Va., S-10, 7.664, 176.26; 7. John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.652, 175.87 vs. 10. Scott Perin, Pen Argyl, Pa., S-10, 7.662, 176.01; 8. Larry Perkins, Collegeville, Pa., S-10, 7.655, 175.71 vs. 9. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., Dakota, 7.658, 175.41.

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