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NHRA: Force, Scelzi win Castrol Nationals; Force ties Glidden's victory record

29 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

ENNIS, Texas. - John Force won his 85th career national event Sunday at the fourth annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at the Texas Motorplex, tying Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden's career record for NHRA national event victories.

Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., blasted his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang down the track in 4.919 seconds at 313.26 mph to defeat teammate Tony Pedregon's Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang in the Funny Car final for his third straight event victory. Pedregon lost traction at the start and slowed to a pass of 9.747 at 84.38. "I'm happy to have it over with," said Force. "It's kinda hard to claim a victory and jump up and down cause I never raced Bob Glidden in my life but I congratulate him for setting a record that we all had to chase. Now my deal is to stay focused and do everything I've done for the last ten year's of winning and maybe I can keep winning a little bit longer."

The win was sweet for Force for two reasons. After tying Bob Glidden's all-time national event win record of 85, Force also moved into the points lead advancing to 33 points ahead of Jerry Toliver. Force achieved the victory by driving past Al Hofmann, Cristen Powell and Ron Capps before his meeting with Pedregon.

Gary Scelzi, V. Gaines, and Matt Hines were also the winners in their respective categories at the $1.9 million race, the ninth of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., won his third event of the year in his Team Winston dragster when he covered the distance in 4.614 at 316.67 to hold off Larry Dixon's Miller Lite dragster and his time of 4.696 at 309.59 in the finale.

The win was his second consecutive Castrol Nationals Top Fuel title and it was the second straight year Team Winston has been to the final in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. Scelzi had to defeat Don Lampus, and Cory McClenathan before facing Dixon in the final. With the victory, Scelzi advanced ahead of current points leader and defending series champion Tony Schumacher by 39 points.

"It's a good feeling, this is the position I want to be in," said Scelzi. "Everybody says being chased is a tough deal, not me, I want to be chased, I like being number one, I'm used to being number one, I don't like being number two or anywhere lower than that. This is where we want to be and this is where I knew we could get to be. I just didn't know it was going to happen this soon. I was hoping we'd get a shot to stick our nose out and make a shot at this deal. I think it looks like were in a good position right now."

V. Gaines, from Lakewood, Colo., won his first ever NHRA national event in his Western Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. His pass of 7.041 at 196.93 was just enough to hold off five-time NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird who went 7.016 at 197.93. Gaines outlasted Tom Martino, Richie Stevens, and Greg Anderson before meeting Johnson in the final. The last time V. Gaines made it to the final round was in '98 at Sonoma, Calif., where he was defeated by Johnson. "Warren's obviously the man to beat," said Gaines. He's got the experience and he's got the equipment. We just went out and raced our race and it turned out to be the right thing to do. It probably hasn't sunk in yet but it's such an incredible feeling to want to get here all our racing career. I think it will take a couple days to sink in."

Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., won his first Pro Stock Motorcycle final round this season on his Eagle One Suzuki GSXR, covering the distance in 7.289 at 184.57. Hines defeated Ron Ayers, Blaine Hale, Antron Brown and Angelle Seeling to the title. His 24th career victory puts him in second place 59 points behind Seeling.

"The last couple races I felt like a rookie out there," said Hines. "I made some adjustments to the bike at the last few races which made it harder to ride. So I went back to the old school ways of doing things and the bike became a lot easier to ride, so I feel really good right now." The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the third annual Prestone Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., June 1-4.

ENNIS, Texas -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 4th annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at Texas Motorplex. The $1.7 million race is the ninth of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Gary Scelzi; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Cory McClenathan; 4. Joe Amato; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6.. Kenny Bernstein; 7. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 8. David Grubnic; 9. Doug Kalitta; 10. Doug Herbert; 11. Joe Hartley; 12. Don Lampus; 13. Tim Gibson; 14. Andrew Cowin.

FUNNY CAR:

1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Tony Pedregon, Mustang; 3. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 4. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird; 5. Cristen Powell, Firebird; 6. Jerry Toliver, Camaro; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 8. Scotty Cannon, Camaro; 9. Al Hofmann, Firebird; 10. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger; 11. Jim Epler, Camaro; 12. Bruce Sarver, Firebird; 13. Bob Gilbertson, Chey Camaro; 14. Whit Bazemore, Camaro; 15. Del Worsham, Firebird; 16. Todd Paton, Camaro.

PRO STOCK:

1. V. Gaines, Chevy Camaro; 2. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 4. Greg Anderson, Firebird; 5. Mark Pawuk, Firebird; 6. Richie Stevens, Firebird; 7. Bruce Allen, Firebird; 8. Ron Krisher, Firebird; 9. Kurt Johnson, Camaro; 10. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass; 11. Tom Martino, Firebird; 12.. Brad Jeter, Firebird; 13. Jim Yates, Firebird; 14. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Avenger; 15. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird; 16. Allen Johnson, Avenger.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Matt Hines, Suzuki; 2. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki; 3. David Schultz, Suzuki; 4. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 5. Tony Mullen, Suzuki; 6. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki; 7. Brian Ayers, Suzuki; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 9. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 10. Ron Ayers, Suzuki; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 12. Brian DeLong, Suzuki; 13. Clarence Markham, Suzuki; 14. Chris Reuter, Suzuki; 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 16. Mike Berry, Suzuki.

ENNIS, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the 4th annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts at Texas Motorplex. The $1.6-million race is the ninth of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Gary Scelzi, 4.614 seconds, 316.67 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.696 seconds, 309.59 mph.

Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.919, 313.26 def. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 9.747, 84.38.

Pro Stock -- V. Gaines, Chevy Camaro, 7.041, 196.93 def. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Firebird, 7.016, 197.93.

Pro Stock Bike -- Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.289, 184.57 def. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.315, 182.62.

Federal-Mogul Dragster -- Rick Santos, 5.508, 256.26 def. Troy Buff, 5.691, 252.03.

Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Pat Austin, Pontiac Firebird, 5.719, 253.02 def. Jay Payne, Chevrolet Camaro, 5.885, 249.65.

Comp Eliminator -- Scott Benham, Chevrolet Lumina, 8.155, 165.71 def. Pete Carbery, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.450, 184.76.

Super Stock -- James Kunkel, Chevy S-10, 9.727, 135.72 def. Kirk Neal, Chevy Camaro, 10.041, 133.90.

Stock -- Lee Bannister, Pontiac Formula, 11.647, 114.85 def. Kevin Helms, Chevy Camaro, 10.726, 121.19.

Super Comp -- Frank Kohutek, 8.941, 154.69 def. Mike Green, 8.912, 151.87.

Super Gas -- Jimmy Lintz, Chevy Camaro, 9.916, 132.02 def. Scott Costello, Chevrolet Lumina, 9.878, 152.59.

ENNIS, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from 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:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 13.075, 78.59 def. Doug Herbert, 5.945, 151.05; Larry Dixon, 5.122, 297.52 def. Tim Gibson, 10.922, 80.87; Tony Schumacher, 4.618, 318.69 def. Andrew Cowin, 11.748, 79.26; Cory McClenathan, 4.682, 286.71 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.728, 307.37; Gary Scelzi, 4.616, 321.08 def. Don Lampus, 8.046, 132.27; Joe Amato, 4.656, 319.14 def. David Grubnic, 4.693, 305.39; Kenny Bernstein, 4.713, 316.34 def. Joe Hartley, 6.041, 147.46;

QUARTERFINALS -- Dixon, 4.735, 300.80 def. Bernstein, 7.068, 111.55; McClenathan, 4.648, 312.71 def. Schumacher, 4.701, 314.57; Amato, 4.660, 316.01 def. Hartman-Smith, 13.669, 65.28; Scelzi, 4.624, 314.79 was unopposed;

SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 4.679, 312.17 def. Amato, 4.999, 285.26; Scelzi, 4.686, 314.90 def. McClenathan, 4.737, 286.98;

FINAL -- Scelzi, 4.614, 316.67 def. Dixon, 4.696, 309.59.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.811, 310.13 def. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.961, 300.70; Tim Wilkerson, Pontiac Firebird, 4.930, 310.13 def. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.045, 301.50; John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.874, 310.77 def. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 4.911, 294.69; Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 4.947, 287.08 def. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 5.734, 168.98; Jerry Toliver, Camaro, 4.889, 313.69 def. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.942, 310.45; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.008, 314.46 def. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 4.968, 301.60; Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.290, 233.52 def. Del Worsham, Firebird, 7.542, 117.14; Cristen Powell, Firebird, 5.658, 169.23 def. Todd Paton, Camaro, 15.362, 66.70;

QUARTERFINALS -- Capps, 4.894, 303.23 def. Toliver, 7.927, 107.04; T. Pedregon, 5.418, 192.51 def. Wilkerson, broke; Force, 4.863, 305.70 def. Powell, 4.964, 307.90; F. Pedregon, 7.085, 121.44 def. Cannon, broke;

SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 5.171, 279.32 def. F. Pedregon, 5.151, 270.35; Force, 4.915, 316.67 def. Capps, 4.942, 297.71;

FINAL -- Force, 4.919, 313.26 def. T. Pedregon, 9.747, 84.38.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac Firebird, 7.018, 196.16 def. Jim Yates, Firebird, 7.037, 196.42; Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.995, 196.12 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 8.308, 107.00; Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.030, 196.24 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.984, 197.67; Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.009, 196.07 def. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird, 7.048, 196.24; V. Gaines, Chevy Camaro, 7.007, 196.85 def. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.017, 197.19; Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.965, 197.97 def. Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 7.046, 196.29; Ron Krisher, Firebird, 6.992, 198.19 def. Brad Jeter, Firebird, 7.021, 196.72; Bruce Allen, Firebird, 7.022, 197.02 def. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 6.969, 197.80;

QUARTERFINALS -- Anderson, 7.047, 196.20 def. Allen, 7.102, 188.63; Gaines, 7.029, 196.54 def. Stevens, 7.096, 194.97; T. Coughlin, 7.058, 196.20 def. Krisher, 15.498, 47.61; W. Johnson, 7.002, 198.10 def. Pawuk, 7.022, 195.95;

SEMIFINALS -- Gaines, 7.036, 196.07 def. Anderson, 7.075, 196.80; W. Johnson, 7.006, 197.71 def. T. Coughlin, 7.030, 196.89;

FINAL -- Gaines, 7.041, 196.93 def. W. Johnson, 7.016, 197.93.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.541, 176.88 def. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.558, 175.67; Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.400, 181.45 def. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.494, 176.53; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.341, 180.94 def. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.592, 173.74; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.313, 181.50 def. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.513, 177.83; Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.341, 180.94 def. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.590, 178.42; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.410, 180.46 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.705, 172.67; David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.459, 183.71 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, no show; Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.489, 180.72 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.519, 173.74;

QUARTERFINALS -- Schultz, 7.372, 181.92 def. B. Ayers, foul; Seeling, 7.310, 178.99 def. Treble, foul; Brown, 7.352, 181.48 def. Mullen, foul; Hines, 7.307, 183.29 def. Hale, 7.527, 174.72;

SEMIFINALS -- Hines, 7.306, 182.14 def. Brown, 7.382, 176.95; Seeling, 7.343, 180.14 def. Schultz, 7.368, 180.68;

FINAL -- Hines, 7.289, 184.57 def. Seeling, 7.315, 182.62.

ENNIS, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following 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: TOP FUEL: 1. Gary Scelzi, 692; 2. Tony Schumacher, 653; 3. Larry Dixon, 646; 4. Kenny Bernstein, 569; 5. Joe Amato, 532; 6. Doug Kalitta, 426; 7. Cory McClenathan, 387; 8. Doug Herbert, 362; 9. David Grubnic, 295; 10. Don Lampus, 293.

FUNNY CAR: 1. John Force, 677; 2. Jerry Toliver, 644; 3. Ron Capps, 600; 4. Tony Pedregon, 557; 5. Jim Epler, 423; 6. Scotty Cannon, 375; 7. Dean Skuza, 341; 8. Whit Bazemore, 337; 9. Bob Gilbertson, 328; 10. Del Worsham, 320.

PRO STOCK: 1. Jeg Coughlin, 787; 2. Warren Johnson, 563; 3. Jim Yates, 459; 4. Troy Coughlin, 451; 5. Mark Pawuk, 433; 6. Ron Krisher, 430; 7. Richie Stevens, 422; 8. Bruce Allen, 402; 9. Kurt Johnson, 399; 10. Tom Martino, 366.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Angelle Seeling, 406; 2. Matt Hines, 347; 3. David Schultz, 346; 4. Tony Mullen, 302; 5. Antron Brown, 218; 6. Craig Treble, 213; 7. Geno Scali, 174; 8. Blaine Hale, 169; 9. Brian Ayers, 148; 10. Steve Johnson, 127.

Text provided by J.E. Wert

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