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NHRA: U.S. Nationals Qualifying Report

5 September 1999

CLERMONT, Ind. - Three-time U.S. Nationals winner Joe Amato drove his Superman Racing dragster to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel Friday, leading a parade of track record performances to highlight the opening round of qualifying at drag racing's most prestigious event. Amato, from Exeter, Pa., covered the Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile in 4.529 seconds at 324.20 mph, setting track records for both time and speed.

Tommy Johnson Jr., Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Mark Osborne also were leaders in their respective categories at the $2.6 million race, the 16th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Johnson Jr. paced the Funny Car order, covering the distance in track record fashion at 4.885 at 315.71 in his Interstate Batteries Pontiac Firebird.

Johnson, of Buford, Ga., led the 16-car Pro Stock order behind the wheel of his GM Goodwrench Firebird, posting a track record time of 6.920 with a speed of 196.67.

Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines was tops in Pro Stock Motorcycle on a Suzuki, running a track record time of 7.260 at 181.08. Osborne, of Abingdon, Va., led Pro Stock Truck qualifying, setting both ends of the track record at 7.623 at 176.58 in a Chevrolet S-10. Qualifying continues Saturday with pro sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Defending winner Hines will lead Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors in pursuit of bonus cash in the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel.

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 45th annual U. S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, 16th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday and Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.529 seconds, 324.20 mph; 2. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.619, 316.30; 3. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.678, 308.78; 4. Randy Parks, Lombard, Ill., 4.686, 294.88; 5. Paul Romine, Indianapolis, 4.688, 298.21; 6. Mike Dunn, Wrightsville, Pa., 4.691, 265.90; 7. Steve Smith, Princeton, N.C., 4.704, 312.86; 8. Andrew Cowin, Huntington Beach, Calif., 4.726, 302.62; 9. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.734, 311.56; 10. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, 4.770, 306.46; 11. Allen Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 4.804, 247.70; 12. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.965, 203.92; 13. Terry Mullins, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 7.978, 110.14; 14. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 9.272, 85.55; 15. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 9.455, 82.87; 16. Luigi Novelli, Crete, Ill., 9.869, 72.79.

Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Pontiac Firebird, 4.885, 315.71; 2. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 4.891, 305.15; 3. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.908, 312.06; 4. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.919, 315.05; 5. Frank Pedregon, Alta Loma, Calif., Firebird, 4.969, 297.88; 6. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 5.033, 305.15; 7. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 5.043, 301.33; 8. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Firebird, 5.051, 301.60; 9. Phil Burkart, Yorkville, N.Y., Firebird, 5.136, 248.52; 10. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Firebird, 5.142, 291.63; 11. Cristen Powell, Portland, Ore., Firebird, 5.148, 225.37; 12. Dale Creasy Jr., Lansing, Ill., Firebird, 5.206, 290.88; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Firebird, 5.235, 267.06; 14. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., Mustang, 5.248, 292.52; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Firebird, 5.360, 248.66; 16. Jack Wyatt, Allerton, Iowa, Firebird, 5.486, 267.64.

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.920, 196.67; 2. Mark Pawuk, Bath, Ohio, Firebird, 6.966, 197.39; 3. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.971, 197.54; 4. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 6.974, 196.64; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 6.987, 197.13; 6. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 6.988, 194.25; 7. Mike Thomas, Knoxville, Tenn., Firebird, 6.990, 196.73; 8. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 6.991, 196.24; 9. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.995, 197.22; 10. George Marnell, Las Vegas, Firebird, 6.996, 197.02; 11. Terry Adams, Millers Creek, N.C., Cutlass, 6.999, 197.28; 12. Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Firebird, 7.003, 196.44; 13. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Avenger, 7.004, 197.31; 14. Ray Franks, New Carlisle, Ohio, Firebird, 7.006, 195.73; 15. Troy Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 7.008, 197.33; 16. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., Firebird, 7.008, 195.39.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki GSXR, 7.260, 181.08; 2. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki, 7.359, 178.61; 3. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.373, 180.50; 4. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.374, 179.06; 5. John Smith, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.378, 179.23; 6. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.386, 178.59; 7. Larry Cook, West Linn, Ore., Suzuki, 7.391, 178.17; 8. Antron Brown, Chesterfield, N.J., Suzuki, 7.395, 181.50; 9. Greg Underdahl, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.403, 176.79; 10. Steve Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., Suzuki, 7.496, 176.44; 11. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.498, 178.87; 12. Gary Tonglet, Metairie, La., Suzuki, 7.504, 174.30; 13. C.J. Smith, Champlin, Minn., Suzuki, 7.546, 177.37; 14. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.556, 177.81; 15. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.570, 175.43; 16. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.618, 173.85.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Mark Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Chevrolet S-10, 7.623, 176.58; 2. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., S-10, 7.643, 176.42; 3. John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.663, 175.55; 4. Steve Johns, Mountville, Va., S-10, 7.664, 176.26; 5. Scott Perin, Pen Argyl, Pa., S-10, 7.664, 175.71; 6. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., S-10, 7.665, 175.73; 7. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.667, 175.05; 8. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City,, La., S-10, 7.669, 175.07; 9. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., Dodge Dakota, 7.674, 175.21; 10. Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.675, 175.05; 11. Lou Ficco, Wheatridge, Colo., S-10, 7.676, 175.39; 12. Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., Dakota, 7.677, 174.68; 13. Jerry Haas, Fenton, S-10, 7.681, 175.00; 14. Brian Self, Houston, S-10, 7.690, 175.68; 15. Mark Whisnant, Stockbridge, Ga., S-10, 7.692, 173.76; 16. John Lingenfelte, Decatur, Ind., S-10, 7.700, 175.25.

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