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NHRA: Bernstein, Epler, Krisher, Hines and Panella leaders after first day of Qualifying

8 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
LAS VEGAS - Jim Epler drove his WWF Racing Chevrolet Camaro to the top spot Friday after opening qualifying for the Inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Epler, from Phoenix, blasted down the track in 4.947 seconds at 305.42 mph to set the pace in Funny Car. Tim Wilkerson drove his Kenworth Pontiac Firebird to the first four second pass when he sped to a 4.996 at 279.73 run.

"I wanted to be the first to run four seconds at this track but Tim was a few cars ahead of us and he ran the 4.99," said Epler. "It feels good to be out in front, especially here in Las Vegas. The Big Red Machine likes it here. It's the same car, just a new paint scheme. KANE is going to be here tomorrow and he told me if I wasn't the No. 1 qualifier that he would kick my butt. The track is great. I hope the 4.94 will hold up. If we get some shade during the second session it could be bettered."

Kenny Bernstein, Ron Krisher, Matt Hines and Bob Panella are also the leaders in their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the fourth of 23 events in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein, form Lake Forest, Calif., powered his Budweiser King Top Fuel dragster to the top of the order with his pass of 4.630 at 314.09. "We've got a brand new Hadman car that we debuted at this race and it drives a little differently," said Bernstein. "The track is really smooth. Anytime a track is that smooth you're going to see some fast racecars no matter what kind of atmospheric conditions you have. It's been a while since we've been here. It's great to get back in this position. Hopefully we can go quicker and faster tomorrow."

Pro Stock driver Krisher, from Warren, Ohio, covered the distance in 7.048 at 195.42 in his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird to lead the 16-car field.

Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., sped down the quarter-mile in in 7.377 at 180.98 on his Eagle one Suzuki to set the pace for in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Defending NHRA Winston Pro Stock Truck champion Panella, from Stockton, Calif., blasted a 7.684 run at 175.68 in his Panella Racing Chevy S-10 for leading honors.

Qualifying continues tomorrow at 10:45 a.m.

LAS VEGAS - Friday's qualifying results for the Inaugural SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The $1.8 million race is the fourth of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.630 seconds, 314.09 mph; 2. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.645, 316.67; 3. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.661, 314.46; 4. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, 4.673, 316.90; 5. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.677, 312.71; 6. Tim Gibson, Irvine, Calif., 4.742, 311.41; 7. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.744, 263.41; 8. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 4.746, 301.07; 9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.771, 307.51; 10. Don Lampus, Garland, Texas, 4.797, 305.77; 11. Rhonda Hartman, Williamston, S.C., 4.804, 298.93; 12. Bobby Baldwin, Upland, Calif., 4.982, 276.07; 13. Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.224, 193.24; 14. Arley Langlo, Goleta, Calif., 6.041, 189.15; 15. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 6.088, 144.60; 16. Joe Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 7.907, 94.43.

Funny Car -- 1. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Pontiac Firebird, 4.947, 305.42; 2. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Firebird, 4.996, 292.52; 3. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford Mustang, 5.029, 279.73; 4. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Mustang, 5.032, 318.32; 5. Del Worsham, Laguna Hills, Calif., Firebird, 5.038, 299.26; 6. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Chevrolet Camaro, 5.039, 303.64; 7. Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., Firebird, 5.040, 304.74; 8. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Camaro, 5.040, 302.62; 9. Jerry Toliver, Huntington Beach, Calif., Camaro, 5.052, 297.35; 10. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 5.070, 302.75; 11. Bruce Sarver, Bakersfield, Calif., Firebird, 5.117, 294.24; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 5.158, 302.28; 13. Dale Creasy Jr., Lansing, Ill., Firebird, 5.178, 281.01; 14. Frank Pedregon, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Firebird, 5.182, 294.37; 15. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., Avenger, 5.206, 274.00; 16. Bob Weickgenannt, Columbia, Md., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 5.246, 281.54.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Pontiac Firebird, 7.048, 195.42; 2. Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Firebird, 7.060, 195.48; 3. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Firebird, 7.075, 196.33; 4. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 7.077, 192.85; 5. Jamie Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 7.079, 194.83; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.083, 195.03; 7. Troy Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 7.088, 194.83; 8. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 7.092, 195.62; 9. Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg, Va., Ford Mustang, 7.095, 195.08; 10. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 7.098, 194.72; 11. Tom Martino, Farmingdale, N.J., Firebird, 7.103, 195.08; 12. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Firebird, 7.109, 194.91; 13. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Dodge Avenger, 7.113, 194.32; 14. John Fairleigh, Scott City, Kan., Firebird, 7.122, 192.99; 15. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., Firebird, 7.138, 193.16; 16. John Nobile, Melville, N.Y., Avenger, 7.144, 193.13.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki, 7.377, 180.98; 2. Angelle Seeling, Matthews, La., Suzuki, 7.409, 178.31; 3. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.445, 180.07; 4. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.453, 179.49; 5. Geno Scali, Palatine, Ill., Honda, 7.523, 175.16; 6. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Suzuki, 7.527, 178.24; 7. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.528, 177.14; 8. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.571, 174.32; 9. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.572, 174.48; 10. Brian DeLong, Circleville, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.576, 175.94; 11. Blaine Hale, Midland, Texas, Kawasaki, 7.576, 175.80; 12. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Suzuki, 7.584, 174.77; 13. Reggie Showers, Philadelphia, Honda, 7.590, 174.62; 14. Clarence Markham, Fontana, Calif., Suzuki, 7.618, 172.43; 15. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.623, 174.75; 16. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, Suzuki, 7.634, 153.30.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., Chevy S-10, 7.684, 175.68; 2. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.705, 175.64; 3. Taylor Lastor, Austin, Texas, S-10, 7.764, 174.32; 4. Rick Jones, Galesburg, Ill., GMC Sonoma, 7.765, 173.32; 5. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., S-10, 7.780, 174.01; 6. Larry Seay, Mayfield, Ky., S-10, 7.780, 173.25; 7. Jeff Gracia, Ontario, Calif., S-10, 7.790, 173.76; 8. John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.792, 173.92; 9. Jerry Haas, St. Louis, Chevy S-10, 7.796, 173.63; 10. Scott Perin, Pen Argyl, Pa., S-10, 7.798, 173.58; 11. Steve Johns, Lancaster, Pa., S-10, 7.804, 174.68; 12. David Spitzer, Indianapolis, Sonoma, 7.808, 173.23; 13. John Lingenfelter, Decatur, Ind., Sonoma, 7.809, 173.63; 14. Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.813, 172.74; 15. Jose Maldonado, Chicago, S-10, 7.820, 172.32; 16. Ruben Celedon, Edinburg, Texas, Chevy S, 7.824, 172.34.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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