NHRA: Superman Force Dodges Top Fuel Kryptonite, Scores Winston Showdown Victory
12 July 1999
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Eight-time NHRA Winston Funny Car champion John Force earned the title of professional drag racing's king by winning the inaugural NHRA Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway, the first drag race to feature Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars.Force marched through a lineup of some of the best Top Fuel drivers in the sport, including Cory McClenathan, Jim Head, Doug Kalitta and Cristen Powell before defeating Bob Vandergriff in Sunday's rain-delayed final. Force, driving a special edition Superman Racing Castrol Ford Mustang, collected the $200,000 payday by crossing the finish line first following a wild side-by-side tire-smoking battle against Vandergriff, driver of the Jerzees dragster. Force covered the quarter-mile in 5.470 seconds at 262.18 mph, while Vandergriff finished just behind, running 5.876 at 243.90.
Jeg Coughlin, Matt Hines and Randy Daniels were also winners in their respective pro categories at the $1.1 million race, NHRA's all-star event.
Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio, claimed the $50,000 Pro Stock top prize by defeating brother Troy in an all-Oldsmobile Cutlass final, running 7.004 at 196.85, while Troy had problems at the start and posted a 9.982 at 91.63.
Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines took the $10,000 Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in a battle of Suzuki's against veteran Dave Schultz. Hines, a two-time Winston champion, ran 7.347 at 185.92, pulling away from Schultz's bike, which went 7.461 at 183.05.
Daniels, from Grantsboro, N.C., earned the $15,000 Pro Stock Motorcycle winner's share by defeating a red-lighting Brad Jeter in a rematch of the season-opening Winternationals from Pomona, Calif.
The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 21st annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, July 15-18, at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver.
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