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NHRA: Pedregon Nets Funny Car Win, Becomes Second Winston 'No Bull' Challenge Winner

26 April 1999

ENNIS, Texas -- Tony Pedregon scored a Funny Car victory April 25th that included a $100,000 Winston No Bull Challenge bonus at the third annual Castrol Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Pedregon, from Gardena, Calif., powered away from Dean Skuza's Dodge Avenger to collect his second victory of the season and record $140,000 payday. Pedregon's Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang covered the Texas Motorplex's all-concrete quartermile in 4.982 seconds at 309.70 mph, while Skuza lost traction at the start and posted a slower 13.768 at 51.25.

Pedregon, who became eligible for the Winston No Bull Challenge through a pre-race, lottery-style drawing, is the second driver in as many races to pocket the lucrative bonus offered by R.J. Reynolds.

Gary Scelzi, Warren Johnson and Antron Brown were also winners in their pro categories at the $1.6 million race, the fifth of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Defending Winston Top Fuel champion Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., ended his early season slump by defeating Doug Kalitta in a close Top Fuel final. Scelzi ran 4.563 at 319.60 in his Team Winston dragster, crossing the finish line just in front of Kalitta's dragster, which ran 4.588 at 318.02.

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., scored his second Pro Stock victory of the season, defeating defending event champion Mike Edwards. Johnson ran 6.945 at 198.85 in a Pontiac Firebird, while Edwards was slightly off the pace, running 7.002 at 196.72 in a Chevrolet Camaro.

Brown, from Chesterfield, N.J. drove his Troy Vincent-owned Suzuki to his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle victory when Angelle Seeling fouled at the start. Brown's Suzuki covered the distance in 7.406 at 185.49.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the fifth annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by Trak Auto, April 29-May 2 at Virginia Motorsports Park, Dinwiddie, Va.

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