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NHRA: Grubnic, Johnsons, Hines Lead Qualifying at Autozone Nationals

10 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Australian Dave Grubnic was Saturday's surprise leader following the first round of Top Fuel qualifying at the 12th annual NHRA AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Grubnic, a native of Brisbane that now calls Ennis, Mont. home, covered the Memphis Motorsports Park quarter-mile in 4.570 seconds at 306.67 mph to pace the 16-car Top Fuel order.

The first round of pro qualifying for the $1.7 million event was completed early Saturday evening following a lengthy rain delay that wiped out all racing on Friday and a good portion of Saturday's schedule.

Pro qualifying will continue Sunday at 10 a.m. with one final session for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The final order for Pro Stock Truck is set. Final eliminations will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Tommy Johnson Jr., Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella were also qualifying leaders in their respective pro categories at the 19th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Johnson, from Ottumwa, Iowa, led Funny Car qualifying with a 4.972 at 305.29 in his Interstate Batteries Pontiac Firebird.

Buford, Ga.'s Johnson topped the Pro Stock order in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird, covering the distance in 6.946 at 198.96.

Hines was tops in Pro Stock Motorcycle, setting the pace on his Eagle One Suzuki at 7.293 at 183.62.

Panella, from Stockton, Calif., claimed his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock Truck, running 7.549 at 178.80 in a Chevy S-10. Panella will face Craig Eaton in the first round of Sunday's truck eliminations.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Saturday's results following the first round of qualifying for the 12th annual Autozone Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, the 19th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL -- 1. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 4.570 seconds, 306.67 mph; 2. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.592, 313.73; 3. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., 4.594, 316.67; 4. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.618, 311.85; 5. Randy Parks, Lombard, Ill., 4.683, 305.15; 6. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.688, 299.60; 7. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.698, 303.37; 8. Eddie Hill, Wichita Falls, Texas, 4.710, 309.63; 9. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.715, 308.57; 10. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.716, 299.60; 11. Mike Smith, Round Rock, Texas, 4.722, 309.34; 12. Terry Mullins, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 4.750, 268.44; 13. Larry Dixon, San Diego, 4.752, 308.92; 14. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.756, 303.57; 15. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 5.020, 229.39; 16. Luigi Novelli, Crete, Ill., 5.031, 223.88.

FUNNY CAR-- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Pontiac Firebird, 4.972, 305.29; 2. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Firebird, 5.001, 302.55; 3. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Ford Mustang, 5.019, 303.37; 4. Cristen Powell, Portland, Ore., Firebird, 5.026, 280.95; 5. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Chevrolet Corvette, 5.107, 243.94; 6. Del Worsham, Costa Mesa, Calif., Firebird, 5.117, 292.84; 7. Ron Capps, La Costa, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 5.140, 247.52; 8. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Mustang, 5.246, 248.57; 9. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Camaro, 5.269, 298.80; 10. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., Mustang, 5.271, 232.91; 11. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., Firebird, 5.404, 247.47; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Firebird, 5.502, 231.56; 13. Cory Lee, Sierra Del Oro, Calif., Dodge Avenger, 5.534, 289.01; 14. Dale Creasy Jr., Lansing, Ill., Firebird, 5.596, 282.60; 15. Jim Blake, Tylertown, Miss., Daytona, 5.819, 234.57; 16. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 6.161, 175.84.

PRO STOCK -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.946, 198.96; 2. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Avenger, 6.975, 197.39; 3. Larry Nance, Akron, Ohio, Avenger, 6.980, 196.99; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.994, 197.77; 5. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.994, 196.10; 6. Mark Pawuk, Bath, Ohio, Firebird, 7.004, 196.96; 7. John Nobile, Melville, N.Y., Cutlass, 7.005, 196.47; 8. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Chevrolet Camaro, 7.010, 197.28; 9. Lewis Worden, Festus, Mo., Firebird, 7.011, 195.62; 10. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., Camaro, 7.015, 195.96; 11. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 7.020, 196.04; 12. Tony Gillig, Lake Zurich, Ill., Cutlass, 7.024, 196.96; 13. Tom Martino, Farmingdale, N.J., Firebird, 7.026, 197.74; 14. Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Firebird, 7.027, 196.16; 15. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 7.032, 196.64; 16. George Marnell, Las Vegas, Firebird, 7.035, 196.36.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE-- 1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki GSXR, 7.293, 183.62; 2. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki, 7.294, 182.13; 3. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.308, 183.79; 4. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.366, 179.76; 5. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.368, 180.07; 6. Steve Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., Suzuki, 7.378, 176.86; 7. Antron Brown, Chesterfield, N.J., Suzuki, 7.393, 182.01; 8. John Smith, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.402, 181.94; 9. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Suzuki, 7.414, 180.16; 10. Fred Collis, Americus, Ga., Suzuki, 7.438, 179.28; 11. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.459, 176.26; 12. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.465, 178.40; 13. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.483, 177.67; 14. Greg Underdahl, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.493, 178.24; 15. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.503, 176.65; 16. Blaine Hale, Midland, Texas, Kawasaki ZX7R, 7.514, 177.56.

Sunday's pairings for the 12th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil, the 12th of 14 events for Pro Stock Trucks in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

PRO STOCK TRUCK -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., Chevrolet S-10, 7.549, 178.80 vs. 16. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., Dodge Dakota, 7.635, 175.59; 2. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.570, 178.02 vs. 15. Scott Perin, Pen Argyl, Pa., S-10, 7.634, 176.65; 3. Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.575, 177.95 vs. 14. Jeff Lukovich, Royal Oak, Mich., S-10, 7.632, 176.40; 4. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City,, La., S-10, 7.584, 178.14 vs. 13. Bart Price, Hayward, Calif., S-10, 7.626, 177.04; 5. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., S-10, 7.585, 177.77 vs. 12. Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., S-10, 7.623, 176.72; 6. John Lingenfelte, Decatur, Ind., S-10, 7.599, 178.73 vs. 11. Jerry Haas, St. Louis, S-10, 7.623, 176.77; 7. Brian Self, Houston, S-10, 7.602, 177.56 vs. 10. Mark Osborne, Abingdon, Va., S-10, 7.609, 177.00; 8. Larry Kopp, Baltimore, S-10, 7.607, 177.51 vs. 9. Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., Dakota, 7.607, 176.93.

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