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NHRA: Scelzi, Capps lead Friday qualifying for the Winston Showdown

8 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps were the qualifying leaders for the special Top Fuel-Funny Car eliminator at the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway.

Ron Krisher, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also were qualifying leaders Friday for the $742,000 race, NHRA's all-star event. It is the only NHRA-sanctioned event that pairs Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars during eliminations. Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., recorded a 4.675 second run at 303.30 mph in the Team Winston dragster to pace the 12-car Top Fuel lineup.

"The car ran well tonight and I think the track will be even better as the weekend goes on," said Scelzi. "I'm sure we're going to see some good numbers. It's going to be an interesting show."

Capps, from San Diego, was quickest in Funny Car, posting a 4.887 at 301.40 in the U.S. Tobacco Chevy Camaro. Capps entered the event needing to secure one of two open qualifying positions.

"We were going for number one," Capps said. "We wanted to rip their hearts out. This is a race to let it all hang out and go for all that money. We wanted to get aggressive. When Ace (Ed McCulloch, crew chief) gets that look in his eye, even I want to stay away from him."

Others that moved into open qualifying positions included Bob Vandergriff, David Grubnic and Paul Romine in Top Fuel and Funny Car driver Scotty Cannon.

Krisher, from Warren, Ohio, led Pro Stock with a 7.030 at 196.02 in his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird.

Defending event winner Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., paced Pro Stock Motorcycle, running a track record 7.345 at 183.17 on his Eagle One Suzuki. Panella, from Stockton, Calif., was the leader in Pro Stock Truck, posting a track record run of 7.664 at 175.84 in his Panella Trucking Chevy S-10.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 11 a.m. for all categories. Another qualifying session will be held for Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck and Pro Stock Motorcycle at 4 p.m. The first round of the 24-car Top Fuel-Funny Car eliminations will begin at 5 p.m.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Friday's results after qualifying for the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway, NHRA's $742,000 all-star event.

Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, 4.675 seconds, 303.30 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 4.693, 305.63; 3. Doug Herbert, 4.721, 304.53; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 4.722, 306.81; 5. David Grubnic, 4.740, 300.40; 6. Doug Kalitta, 4.756, 297.61; 7. Kenny Bernstein, 4.766, 292.01; 8. Jim Head, 4.808, 303.09; 9. Paul Romine, 4.808, 302.35; 10. Larry Dixon, 4.968, 271.90; 11. Cory McClenathan, 5.536, 193.24; 12. Mike Dunn, 6.531, 122.06.

Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.887, 301..40; 2. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 4.949, 304.46; 3. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 4.966, 295.01; 4. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.981, 286.56; 5. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.986, 269.03; 6. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.004, 305.49; 7. John Force, Mustang, 5.009, 302.62; 8. Jim Epler, Camaro, 5.036, 296.18; 9. Jerry Toliver, Firebired, 5.064, 289.57; 10. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.115, 275.84; 11. Phil Burkart, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 5.179, 291.01; 12. Tommy Johnson Jr., Firebird, 5.553, 282.72.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Pontiac Firebird, 7.030, 196.02; 2. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.043, 195.11; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.045, 195.00; 4. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.055, 195.65; 5. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.067, 194.55; 6. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.067, 194.16; 7. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 7.074, 194.32; 8. Mark Osborne, Firebird, 7.084, 194.16; 9. Greg Anderson, Firebird, 7.095, 194.72; 10. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 7.106, 193.90; 11. Mike Thomas, Firebird, 7.107, 193.99; 12. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 7.115, 194.16; 13. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 7.116, 195.14; 14. V. Gaines, Camaro, 7.127, 193.74; 15. Jim Yates, Firebird, 7.133, 193.54; 16. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 8.284, 119.44.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.345, 183.17; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.358, 186.02; 3. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.396, 183.19; 4. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.401, 183.87; 5. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.406, 179.06; 6. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.444, 182.18; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.447, 183.02; 8. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.508, 181.47; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.547, 176.58; 10. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.549, 182.35; 11. Zackia Little, Suzuki, 7.706, 176.19; 12. Will Johnese, Suzuki, 7.727, 171.31; 13. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.747, 173.94; 14. Horace Wright, Suzuki, 7.971, 165.03; 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 8.482, 117.28; 16. Connie Cohen, Harley, 8.821, 116.14.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.664, 175.84; 2. Rob Slavinski, S-10, 7.707, 174.48; 3. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.707, 173.81; 4. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.723, 175.07; 5. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.725, 174.39; 6. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.728, 174.71; 7. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.759, 173.74; 8. Larry Kopp, S-10, 7.769, 173.43.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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