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NHRA: Eye Injury Keeps Amato Out of Showdown

2 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Eye surgery will force five-time Top Fuel champion Joe Amato to miss this weekend's (July 7-9) Winston Showdown at Bristol, Tn. Laser surgery to repair two tears in the retina of his right eye was performed June 26 in Scranton, Pa., near Amato's home. Mike Dunn, who has 10 career Top Fuel wins and was fourth in points last year, will drive Amato's DynoMax/Valvoline/Keystone Automotive dragster in the Showdown.

"I don't know how it happened," said Amato, 52, currently fifth in NHRA points. "I started to notice a problem at Gateway (Sears Craftsman Nationals, June 24, where he was No. 1 qualifier), but I thought it was something with a contact lens. I went to my doctor when I got home and he found the tears and did the laser surgery right away. Unfortunately, he told me not to fly or drive for a couple of weeks, so I'll have to miss the Winston Showdown."

The Winston Showdown is a non-points all-star event, matching Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars. Amato expects to return in the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, July 14-16, at Colorado's Bandimere Speedway.

Text Provided By Michael Knight

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