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NHRA: Force, Scelzi lead Friday Mac Tools Gatornationals Qualifying

18 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - John Force led Funny Car qualifying Friday at the 31st annual Mac Tools Gatornationals, an event he's won six times.

Gary Scelzi, Warren Johnson, Tony Mullen and Randy Daniels also were among qualifying leaders in their respective pro categories at the $1.9 million race, the third of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., covered the Gainesville Raceway quarter-mile in 4.836 seconds at 321.50 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to lead the 16-car lineup into Saturday's final two rounds of qualifying, set for 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday's final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

Force produced the day's best effort on his first of two attempts. He smoked the tires on his second pass when crew chief Austin Coil set the car up to dip below the 4.80-second range.

"I think we can run a 4.70 tomorrow with no problem," Force said. "We tried to do that during our second run today and I think we softened it up a little too much. We'll try to make the car run a little quicker tomorrow."

Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., led Top Fuel qualifying, recording a run of 4.619 at 318.54 in his Team Winston dragster.

The two-time NHRA Winston champion expects better performances with ideal weather conditions forecasted for the weekend.

"Once it gets a little cooler and the humidity goes down, everybody's jaw might drop at some of the times and speeds," said Scelzi, who is still looking for his first Mac Tools Gatornationals victory. "Looking at the history here if you can get after it in good weather conditions the scoreboard will reflect it."

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., set a track record time of 6.849 at 200.83 in a Pontiac Firebird to pace the Pro Stock order.

Bradenton, Fla. native Tony Mullen topped the Pro Stock Motorcycle field, covering the distance in 7.219 at 184.95 on a Suzuki.

Daniels, from Grantsboro, N.C., led Pro Stock Truck qualifying, posting a track record time of 4.494 and a national record speed of 179.78 in a Chevy S-10.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Friday's qualifying results for the 31st annual Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, third of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.619 seconds, 318.54 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.635, 313.88; 3. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.646, 317.27; 4. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.651, 317.64; 5. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, 4.659, 313.88; 6. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.677, 314.90; 7. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.695, 301.67; 8. Don Lampus, Garland, Texas, 4.701, 313.95; 9. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Williamston, S.C., 4.734, 309.98; 10. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.762, 303.78; 11. Paul Romine, Indianapolis, 4.771, 308.21; 12. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.809, 293.86; 13. Terry Mullins, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 4.881, 303.09; 14. Steve Smith, Princeton, N.C., 4.910, 275.34; 15. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 5.869, 156.43; 16. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, 7.865, 96.22.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.836, 321.50; 2. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.837, 313.51; 3. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Mustang, 4.889, 317.87; 4. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Pontiac Firebird, 4.899, 311.27; 5. Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., Firebird, 4.916, 315.42; 6. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Camaro, 4.920, 301.67; 7. Jerry Toliver, Huntington Beach, Calif., Camaro, 4.943, 308.85; 8. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 4.956, 311.56; 9. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 4.966, 298.21; 10. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Camaro, 4.984, 306.53; 11. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., Firebird, 5.005, 300.00; 12. Kenny Sayers, Houston, Chevrolet Corvette, 5.041, 264.08; 13. Del Worsham, Laguna Hills, Calif., Firebird, 5.056, 303.50; 14. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 5.084, 305.42; 15. Frank Pedregon, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Firebird, 5.099, 279.32; 16. Cristen Powell, Portland, Ore., Firebird, 5.137, 268.60.

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.849, 200.83; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.870, 199.64; 3. Troy Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 6.882, 199.14; 4. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Firebird, 6.890, 199.79; 5. Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Firebird, 6.892, 199.11; 6. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.909, 199.40; 7. Tom Martino, Farmingdale, N.J., Firebird, 6.914, 199.70; 8. Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Firebird, 6.914, 198.44; 9. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 6.917, 199.79; 10. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 6.922, 197.83; 11. Tony Gillig, Lake Zurich, Ill., Cutlass, 6.923, 198.64; 12. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 6.934, 198.93; 13. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Avenger, 6.938, 197.74; 14. George Marnell, Las Vegas, Firebird, 6.942, 198.00; 15. V. Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Chevrolet Camaro, 6.944, 199.37; 16. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Firebird, 6.948, 198.79.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.219, 184.95; 2. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki, 7.253, 184.07; 3. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.275, 183.32; 4. Angelle Seeling, Matthews, La., Suzuki, 7.276, 182.82; 5. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.289, 183.92; 6. Geno Scali, Palatine, Ill., Honda, 7.335, 180.79; 7. Blaine Hale, Midland, Texas, Kawasaki, 7.348, 180.57; 8.. Fred Collis, Americus, Ga., Honda, 7.353, 182.18; 9. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, Suzuki, 7.354, 182.62; 10. Shawn Gann, Stoneville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.370, 181.15; 11. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.399, 182.45; 12. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.420, 179.33; 13. Brian DeLong, Circleville, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.430, 179.28; 14. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.430, 175.00; 15. Reggie Showers, Philadelphia, Honda, 7.434, 179.80; 16. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Suzuki, 7.452, 181.11.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., Chevrolet S-10, 7.494, 179.78; 2. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., S-10, 7.503, 179.06; 3. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., S-10, 7.521, 178.59; 4. Rick Jones, Galesburg, Ill., GMC Sonoma, 7.525, 178.54; 5. Larry Seay, Mayfield, Ky., S-10, 7.530, 178.14; 6. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., S-10, 7.534, 179.06; 7. David Spitzer, Indianapolis, Sonoma, 7.537, 178.05; 8. Taylor Lastor, Austin, Texas, 7.553, 178.17; 9. Brian Self, Houston, S-10, 7.554, 177.79; 10. John Lingenfelter, Decatur, Ind., Sonoma, 7.561, 178.05; 11. Jeff Gracia, Ontario, Calif., S-10, 7.568, 177.39; 12. Rob Slavinski, Wallingford, Conn., S-10, 7.569, 177.86; 13. Don Smith, Keller, Texas, S-10, 7.574, 178.40; 14. Tim Freeman, Roan Mountain, Tenn., S-10, 7.574, 177.67; 15. Mark Whisnant, Stockbridge, Ga., S-10, 7.576, 178.38; 16. Bart Price, Hayward, Calif., S-10, 7.579, 178.19.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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