NHRA: Russell Looks to Amato's History at Firebird

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

It took Joe Amato 13 tries to achieve his first NHRA Top Fuel victory, in 1983 at Sanair, Canada, and he then promptly backed it up with another win in his very next race, at Englishtown, N.J. Darrell Russell became just the third driver in NHRA history to win his first professional event, Feb. 4 at Pomona, and now attempts to match Amato, owner of the Valvoline/Keystone dragster, with a second straight triumph this weekend (Feb. 16-18) in the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway, outside Phoenix. Amato won at the Arizona quarter-mile in 1999, one of his record 52 career Top Fuel wins, before retiring following the 2000 season and hiring Russell.

Russell joined Gary Scelzi (Top Fuel, 1997) and K.C. Spurlock (Funny Car, 1990) as the only drivers to win their NHRA pro debuts. He defeated Andrew Cowin, No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta, Bobby Baldwin and Mike Dunn in final eliminations at Pomona, causing five-time Top Fuel champion Amato to admit: "This is almost as much fun as driving. Anytime you can debut a new driver and new crew chief (Jimmy Walsh) and get the points lead, that's pretty good stuff. This is a great start for this team. It's way beyond my expectations."

Russell, 32, of Hockley, Tex., is a four-time NHRA Federal-Mogul Division Four Top Alcohol champ, but says there is really no comparison between Top Alcohol and Top Fuel machines. "With the Top Alcohol car, it was at full speed about halfway down the track. The Top Fuel (nitro) car is accelerating all the way through the run. It kind of launches itself all over again at half-track. It's pretty amazing."

Also: Ron Krisher, No. 3 Pro Stock qualifier at Pomona, will again race his 2000-model Eagle One Pontiac Firebird this weekend. Krisher, who had the fastest non-2001-style car at Pomona, is awaiting delivery of his 2001 Eagle One Chevrolet Cavalier.

Text Provided By Michael Knight

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