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NHRA: Schumacher, Pedregon, Pawuk among winners at 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals

19 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Tony Schumacher claimed his second Top Fuel victory of the season and third of his career, defeating veteran Joe Amato Sunday at the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway.

Tony Pedregon, Mark Pawuk, Angelle Seeling and Randy Daniels also were winners at the $1.9 million race, the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher's Exide Batteries dragster pulled away for the victory when the parachute on Amato's machine deployed early near mid-track. Schumacher covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.648 seconds at 316.15 mph, while Amato's slowing dragster ran 5.165 at 178.10.

Schumacher's march to victory included round wins over Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Cory McClenathan and Kenny Bernstein.

"It's Father's Day and this is a great present for my dad," said Schumacher in a post race tribute to his team owning father Don, a pioneer in the sport of drag racing. "It's an awesome feeling. We really stepped on it that last run. Our car left great and I didn't see Joe during the entire run. We knew he was going to be tough because he had been running 4.62s all day. Dad made a great call for the final and we got by him."

With the victory, Schumacher closed the gap on Gary Scelzi's Winston points lead, cutting the margin to 32 points.

"It's going to be a battle, no question," Schumacher said. "Every single point counts in this deal and we have to earn every one that we can."

Pedregon used a holeshot start to hold off Jerry Toliver for his first Funny Car victory of the season. Pedregon covered the distance in 4.893 at 316.08 in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, defeating Toliver's quicker WWF Racing Pontiac Firebird at the finish, which posted a 4.876 at 310.20.

"I guess being persistent pays off," said Pedregon of his first win in four finals this season. "I owed Toliver that one for beating me earlier in the year at Pomona (Winternationals). I think that final was the first full run down track we made all weekend. Fortunately it came at the right time."

Toliver, who defeated John Force in a rare first round meeting, moved into the Funny Car points lead with the runner-up finish, 11 ahead of his rival.

Pawuk ended a five year winless streak by claiming the Pro Stock victory against fellow Ohio resident Ron Krisher. Pawuk, who earned his last victory in 1995 at Memphis, Tenn., left the starting line first in his Pontiac Firebird and never looked back, clocking a winning 6.980 at 197.33 to Krisher's quicker but losing 6.975 at 197.51.

"This race has been on my wish list for a long time," said Pawuk, who lives near Akron. "I'm glad to finally win here close to home for my family, friends and sponsor, Summit Racing. We're having a great year and I'm certain that this team is on the verge of exploding for even more wins."

With the win, Pawuk earned a guaranteed starting spot in the 16-car Pro Stock order for the second annual Winston Showdown, July 7-9, at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway. Prior to the race he wasn't qualified for the $742,000 NHRA all-star event.

Hometown favorite Jeg Coughlin was upset by Krisher in the semifinals, but managed to increase his Winston points lead to 284 over Warren Johnson.

Seeling claimed her third win of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding her Team Winston Suzuki to the victory over Tony Mullen. Seeling posted a track record time of 7.196 at 182.28 leaving Mullen's Suzuki trailing in the distance with a 7.281 at 183.00.

"I think this is my most emotional win ever," Seeling said. "I was so shocked that the bike went 7.19 in the final. Everyone said that you couldn't run that good under these conditions. Team Winston has been working so hard and I just drove my heart out today."

Seeling, who outran Brian DeLong, Matt Hines and Antron Brown during eliminations, increased her Winston points lead to 79 over second place rider Dave Schultz. Hines, who fouled against Seeling in the second round, dropped to third in the overall standings, 98 points back.

Daniels claimed his fifth Pro Stock Truck victory of the season, defeating rival Bob Panella in a battle between Chevy S-10s. Daniels also used a holeshot to get the win, recording a 7.554 at 178.42 and holding off Panella's quicker truck, which ran 7.546 at 178.00.

Daniels also dedicated his victory to his father and crew chief, Garley.

"He's totally behind the operation and the main reason that I've been able to win so much this season," said Daniels, who defeated Larry Seay, Steve Johns and Brian Self on his way to the final. "I feel so lucky to be able to race with him. I'm sort of getting used to this winning thing."

Despite losing the final round, Panella maintained a 14-point lead over Daniels in the Winston point standings.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event will be the fourth annual Sears Craftsman Nationals, June 22-24 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

Text Provided by Anthony Vestal

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.