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NHRA: Schumacher, Capps, Allen and Hines close Friday's qualifying on top in Brainerd

19 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
BRAINERD, Minn. - Tony Schumacher drove the quickest dragster Friday to open Top Fuel qualifying at the 19th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals.

Ron Capps, Bruce Allen and Matt Hines also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the 16th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher leads the order in Top Fuel, recording a 4.587 second elapsed time at 319.14 mph. at the Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway.

Schumacher's Exide Batteries machine edged out Doug Herbert's Snap-On Tools dragster for the top spot.

"This was a great run. It was night qualifying, but not an 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock run." Schumacher, the 1999 NHRA Winston Top Fuel champion, said. "The sun was still out, and it evens the playing field. We really don't run that great at night and we never race at night. We are out here to go down the race track on Sunday, and that builds confidence."

Capps posted the best elapsed time in the Funny Car division, clocking in at 4.901 at 305.98. If Capps' elapsed time can hold off the competition through Saturday night, he will record his third number one qualifying position of the 2000 season.

"Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) reached in there before the run and said, 'Well, we got after it pretty good, so you might have your hands full here.'". Capps said. "I think we can run better (Saturday). I am really excited about tomorrow and now that we are in good and we qualified well, we can really use tomorrow for reference for Sunday. The same session later tomorrow is just like (the conditions) the final round Sunday."

Allen led the 16-car pro stock field, speeding down the quarter-mile to a 6.948 at 197.45 to set a track record for elapsed time.

Hines also set the track record for elapsed time in pro stock motorcycle, running 7.285 at 181.64.

Professional qualifying continues on Saturday at 11:15 am and 4 p.m.

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 19th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals at Colonel's Brainerd Int'l Raceway, 16th of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.587 seconds, 319.14 mph; 2. Doug Herbert, 4.661, 297.35; 3. Don Lampus, 4.662, 313.80; 4. Cory McClenathan, 4.682, 314.17; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.685, 303.98; 6. Kenny Bernstein, 4.702, 311.92; 7. Larry Dixon, 4.711, 314.02; 8. Gary Scelzi, 4.723, 312.35; 9. David Grubnic, 4.886, 297.29; 10. Jim Cavalieri, 4.901, 305.15; 11. Joe Amato, 5.056, 207.02; 12. Chris Karamesines, 5.130, 284.56; 13. Joe Hartley, 5.169, 227.11; 14. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 6.196, 83.14; 15. Andrew Cowin, 7.167, 93.30; 16. Luigi Novelli, 7.228, 120.44.

Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.901, 305.98; 2. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.911, 307.02; 3. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.919, 308.57; 4. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.945, 312.50; 5. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.000, 301.67; 6. Jim Epler, Camaro, 5.036, 304.80; 7. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.062, 305.15; 8. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.118, 298.73; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., Firebird, 5.121, 285.35; 10. Cory Lee, Avenger, 5.166, 308.43; 11. Gary Densham, Firebird, 5.241, 286.44; 12. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 5.449, 277.09; 13. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.518, 191.24; 14. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.972, 158.65; 15. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 6.883, 129.28; 16. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 9.224, 86.71.

Pro Stock -- 1. Bruce Allen, Pontiac Firebird, 6.948, 197.45; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.951, 197.57; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.971, 196.96; 4. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.983, 196.62; 5. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 6.988, 196.62; 6. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.990, 196.47; 7. V. Gaines, Camaro, 6.990, 196.73; 8. Bob Benza, Firebird, 6.993, 196.47; 9. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.998, 196.02; 10. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.998, 195.96; 11. Jim Yates, Firebird, 6.999, 196.76; 12. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.004, 197.62; 13. Ron Krisher, Firebird, 7.004, 197.54; 14. Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 7.004, 196.64; 15. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.010, 196.16; 16. Mark Osborne, Firebird, 7.011, 196.02.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.285, 181.64; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.313, 186.38; 3. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.327, 178.68; 4. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.348, 181.89; 5. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.358, 177.74; 6. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.360, 185.28; 7. John Smith, Suzuki, 7.412, 179.11; 8.. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.417, 181.62; 9. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.427, 182.03; 10. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.428, 174.41; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.431, 179.66; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.440, 176.21; 13. Greg Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.448, 177.58; 14. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.457, 181.45; 15. C.J. Smith, Kawasaki, 7.490, 177.86; 16. Todd Doege, Suzuki, 7.495, 178.50.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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