NHRA: Force, Scelzi take qualifying awards at Castrol Nationals
27 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
ENNIS, Texas. - John Force earned his fifth No. 1 qualifying award of the season Saturday at the fourth annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at the Texas Motorplex.
Gary Scelzi, Kurt Johnson and Matt Hines also were qualifying leaders in their respective pro categories at the $1.9 million race, the ninth of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.
Force, 51, in a fierce charge to pass up Friday's top qualifier Whit Bazemore, powered his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a 4.872 second pass at 319.71 mph, tying Bazemore's elapsed-time from Friday. "We put a good mile-an-hour down and life is good," said Force. "I sure would have liked to see the look on Bazemore's face when we posted a bigger speed to take the top spot, our 319 beat his 310 and that's all that matters."
Force is only one win away from tying NHRA Pro Stock Legend Bob Glidden's career record for national event victories (85). He has won 41 of his 84 national events from the top qualifying position. The nine-time NHRA Winston Funny Car Champion will face legendary Funny Car driver Al Hofmann in the first round to start Sunday's 10 a.m. eliminations.
Scelzi, 39, covered the Motorplex quarter-mile with a run of 4.577 at 322.81 in his Team Winston dragster to earn his third qualifying award for the season. The run was the fastest for the 6,000 horsepower category since NHRA mandated the 90-percent nitromethane rule at the beginning of the season. He will face NHRA Top Fuel Rookie and hometown favorite Don Lampus, from Garland Texas in the first round.
"Tomorrow's first round is extremely important for us," Scelzi said. "If we get by that I think we'll be in good shape, it's gonna be tricky but were just gonna go up there, hit the gas and hope that win light comes on. "
Johnson, 37, took his second top qualifying position of the season and paced the field in Pro Stock, covering the distance in 6.976, with a speed of 198.28 in his AC Delco Chevrolet Camaro.
Hines, 28, also earned his second No. 1 qualifying position, clocking a 7.317 at 182.81 on his Eagle One Suzuki GSXR to lead the field.
ENNIS, Texas -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 4th annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at Texas Motorplex, the ninth of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, 4.577 seconds, 322.81 mph vs. 14. Don Lampus, 5.847, 162.01; 2. Joe Amato, 4.604, 317.68 vs. 13. David Grubnic, 5.544, 164.80; 3. Kenny Bernstein, 4.606, 320.39 vs. 12. Joe Hartley, 4.961, 287.53; 4. Cory McClenathan, 4.610, 316.56 vs. 11. Doug Kalitta, 4.775, 306.74; 5. Tony Schumacher, 4.624, 322.11 vs. 10. Andrew Cowin, 4.774, 309.81; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.640, 319.03 vs. 9. Tim Gibson, 4.767, 306.95; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.640, 318.13 vs. 8. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.751, 310.13.
Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.872, 319.71 vs. 16. Al Hofmann, Pontiac Firebird, 5.050, 295.66; 2. Whit Bazemore, Chevy Camaro, 4.872, 310.34 vs. 15. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.032, 306.85; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.877, 309.70 vs. 14. Bob Gilbertson, Chey Camaro, 5.018, 305.18; 4. Jerry Toliver, Camaro, 4.887, 311.52 vs. 13. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.998, 309.91; 5. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.906, 311.31 vs. 12. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.997, 300.30; 6. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 4.933, 310.98 vs. 11. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.985, 315.01; 7. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.936, 314.57 vs. 10. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.971, 306.33; 8. Cristen Powell, Firebird, 4.954, 299.60 vs. 9. Todd Paton, Camaro, 4.967, 305.70.
Pro Stock -- 1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.976, 198.28 vs. 16. Bruce Allen, Pontiac Firebird, 7.049, 196.03; 2. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.001, 197.28 vs. 15. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Avenger, 7.043, 195.01; 3. Ron Krisher, Firebird, 7.010, 197.49 vs. 14. Brad Jeter, Firebird, 7.042, 196.37; 4. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.011, 197.06 vs. 13. V. Gaines, Camaro, 7.040, 196.67; 5. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.013, 196.03 vs. 12. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird, 7.039, 195.99; 6. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.019, 196.37 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.035, 196.07; 7. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 7.022, 195.95 vs. 10. Allen Johnson, Avenger, 7.033, 195.82; 8. Greg Anderson, Firebird, 7.026, 196.37 vs. 9. Jim Yates, Firebird, 7.026, 196.16.
Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.317, 182.81 vs. 16. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.676, 179.38; 2. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.353, 180.39 vs. 15. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.604, 175.84; 3. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.355, 182.03 vs. 14. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.597, 172.19; 4. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.357, 185.41 vs. 13. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.580, 174.65; 5. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.414, 180.46 vs. 12. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.538, 178.57; 6. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.431, 182.96 vs. 11. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.536, 177.79; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.445, 181.96 vs. 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.528, 179.53; 8. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.509, 179.03 vs. 9. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.518, 176.92.
Text Provided by Anthony Vestal
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