NHRA: Force, Dixon lead Mac Tools US Nationals testing at IRP

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 23, 2001

CLERMONT, Ind. -- John Force and Larry Dixon posted the quickest runs in their respective categories to open testing Tuesday for the 47th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. NHRA Teams are preparing for the world's most prestigious drag race, to be held Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29-Sept. 3). The $2.6 million race, which will feature over 11 hours of coverage by ESPN and ESPN2, is the 18th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Force powered his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a 4.819 second run, quicker than the existing 4.885 second track record for Funny Car set by Tommy Johnson Jr. in 1999, with a speed of 309.59.

Force teammate Gary Densham posted the second-quickest run, a 4.886 effort with the day's top speed of 316.23. WWF Racing's Jerry Toliver logged the third-best attempt at 4.896, 290.41 in an unpainted Pontiac Firebird. Scotty Cannon clocked in at 4.918, 315.67 in his Oakley Firebird.

Winston points leader Dixon drove his Miller Lite dragster to a shut-off run of 4.714 at 259.21 for the day's best quarter-mile performance in Top Fuel. Kenny Bernstein, currently second in the Winston point standings, clicked his Budweiser King dragster off at the 1,000-foot mark and posted a 5.024 at 205.05. Defending Top Fuel winner Tony Schumacher made several launches, but his best result was an 1/8-mile performance of 3.208 at 218.39 in the U.S. Army Dragster. Andrew Cowin's K&N dragster lost traction immediately at the start during his only attempt.

Ron Krisher clocked the best performance in Pro Stock, driving his Eagle One Chevy Cavalier to a 6.893 at 200.53. Fellow Cavalier driver V. Gaines also dipped into the 6.8s, posting a 6.896 at 200.26. Greg Anderson pulled double-duty, driving George Marnell's Pontiac Grand Am (6.905, 199.60) and his Marnell-Humphrey sponsored Pontiac Firebird (6.907, 200.44).

Steve Johnson was the only Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor to participate in the test. He powered his K&N Suzuki to a 7.327 at 180.75. Don Smith recorded the quickest Pro Stock Truck lap, covering the distance in 7.481 at 180.21 in a Chevy S-10.

Testing continues Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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