NHRA: Gateway Chevy FC/PS Qualif. Notes
24 June 2000
CHEVROLET NOTES AND QUOTES SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS NHRA WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY MADISON, ILL. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2000 FINAL QUALIFYING FUNNY CAR: JIM EPLER LEADS FIVE CAMAROS IN QUALIFYING JIM EPLER, WWF RACING CAMARO Z28, qualified No. 3 with a 4.927-second elapsed time at 304.39 mph, leading the a five-Camaro contingent competing this weekend in Funny Car, each of which qualified in the top 16. RON CAPPS, U.S. TOBACCO CO. CAMARO Z28, is No. 6, 4.960/302.55; SCOTTY CANNON, CAMARO Z28, is ninth, 5.017/296.31. He's followed by BOB GILBERTSON, TRICK TANK CAMARO Z28, in 10th, 5.043/300.66. WHIT BAZEMORE, KENDALL OIL/MATCO TOOLS CAMARO Z28, is No. 12, 5.053/285.83. SCOTT WEIS, in a CORVETTE, completes the list in 16th, 5.141/268.38. A short rain shower interrupted the pro qualifying runs tonight. CAPPS: ON THE 4.960 SET TONIGHT: "We expected to run better after the rain today. We kind of set up the car in the first run to run pretty hard to see if it would take it in the first round tomorrow night. It got loose and smoked the tires early in the first pass, but in tonight's run we wanted to get down the track but we didn't want to have to lose the run by smoking the tires. We're disappointed with the time; we were definitely capable of taking the No. 1 spot. We also felt that right now being smarter was a lot better than being aggressive tonight. The most important thing is that we're qualified in the top eight and we have lane choice (against Al Hofmann) in the first round. After that it doesn't matter who we get because it's going to be a tough deal." BAZEMORE (who posted his lowest e.t. in the third session, the first today, then ran a 10.23/89.05 in the final session): "We have had all kinds of weird thing happen on the runs at half track. We get this certain part that's supplied to us and that part failed twice -- this afternoon and last night -- and last night our 330-ft. (time) was the same as (Jerry) Toliver's (No. 1 qualifier). Terry (Manzer, new crew chief) has the Camaro running really well. I think we found that problem, we solved it -- at least for the weekend -- and I'm looking for the car to go from A to B and when it does go from A to B full power I think it will run really well. We haven't done that well, I have to admit. It's a little frustrating; it's something out of our control. Tonight I don't know what the driver was thinking. He was looking at the lightning or something. I could have pedaled it and probably improved, but I didn't. The situation here is really good. I'm impressed with Terry Manzer. He does things a lot different than Tim (Richards, former crew chief). It's not fair to compare them, but you can't help it when you're in my position. Everyone is working together very well and there seems to be a new spring in everyone's step. I think that's exciting." PRO STOCK: KJ NO. 2, V.GAINES QUALIFIES, HAMMONDS DNQs KURT JOHNSON, ACDELCO CAMARO Z28, is No. 2 qualifier, 6.952/197.48, behind Ron Krisher. V. GAINES, WESTERN MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z28, qualified for the first time since he won the Castrol Nationals three races ago, in No. 12, 6.998/196.99. TOM HAMMONDS, WINNEBAGO/GM PERFORMANCE PARTS CAMARO Z28, did not qualify. He's No. 22, 7.024/196.90, but is showing improvement. KURT: ON THE QUALIFYING RUNS: "We ended up No. 2, which isn't too bad. Ron Krisher's making good runs; he's got a lot of power out there. Obviously, he's the one to beat right now, but we ran down the track every time. We ran a 6.98, 6.95, 7.01, 7.04, and it didn't really like that right lane on the last run; but we're pretty pleased. We've been making changes to the Camaro, trying to pick it up. We know we're behind a little in the power department or just making good runs. I don't know which one it is, because Krisher is obviously running faster than we are. He was right ahead of us on every run and he's just making good runs. We've changed things around on the chassis and the car's responding. We're No. 2, so we've just got to pick it up to be number one. Somebody's just kicking our butt out there right now." HAMMONDS: "We had this problem that has plagued us all year, and it finally came to the forefront this morning. Donnie (Gardner) and my guys have been testing throughout my basketball season and had the same problem. I think we actually had a bad batch of clutch discs. We got a couple of new discs from a different manufacturer this morning, and put in a totally new clutch in the Camaro to eliminate that variable as well. It ran like we were capable of running. It is just so disappointing that we had to wait so long to find the problem. We are kicking ourselves so much that we didn't try something else sooner. That's drag racing. Sometimes it's a drag. But I keep going. We have good power. Ron Krisher, Jimmy Oliver, Tom Roberts (engine builders) -- I owe those guys an awful lot. That's never been a problem. Just trying to get the car figured out has been the biggest obstacle. But I feel that we are heading in the right direction and I look forward to the next race, because now we have something to work with." Tom and NHRA T.V. broadcaster and announcer Bob Frey faced off in a friendly one-on-one match on the basketball court at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club in St. Louis on Friday morning in front of an audience of several hundred kids. The "contest" will air on "NHRA Heat" on ESPN2 in a couple of weeks. Check your local listings. Tom commented on the experience: "It was a blast. It was probably some of the most fun I've had in a long time, especially when you're able to go out and break the monotony of trying to qualify a little bit, have some fun with Bob Frey and mix it up with the kids at the Herbert Hoover Girls and Boys Club." HOW WELL DID FREY PLAY? "He tries to make like he's just a little, small NHRA announcer. He really surprised me. He had a couple of nice shots that I definitely couldn't make. He's a great guy and NHRA is very fortunate to have someone like him on their side." WHAT KIND OF SHOTS DID HE MAKE? "He stood behind the basket and even though it took him a couple of shots, he rolled the ball up over the back of the backboard and shot the ball into the front of the rim, and I wouldn't even think about doing that. He had a nice repertoire of 'Horse' shots and it made the game interesting. We will save it for the rematch. I think we will settle for a 'no decision.' We will save it for the next rematch, whenever that will be. We'll keep everybody guessing (as to who was better). They'll just have to watch 'NHRA Heat' to find out what happened."