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NHRA: Hines sets new E.T. record, Scelzi, T. Pedregon, and W. Johnson Lead Qualifying

19 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Matt Hines set a new Pro Stock Motorcycle elapsed time national record Saturday at the 15th annual True Value NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Gary Scelzi, Tony Pedregon, and Warren Johnson were also the number one qualifiers in their respective categories at the $1.6 million race, the 17th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., anchored the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle field and captured his seventh straight number one qualifying spot when he sped down the quarter-mile in 7.188 seconds at 187.57 mph.

"I just tried to make the best pass that I could," said Hines. "There was so much pressure trying to get the record after yesterday run. I just sat there until I was ready to pop the clutch and luckily I made a good run. We have been working on our engine program and made a few adjustments and it really responded. It will probably be a little while before we get into the 7.00s so I can sit on being the first in the teens for maybe three years. It's a lot better for me to do it than somebody else."

His record-setting performance earned him 20 bonus points towards his third straight NHRA Winston championship. He trails Angelle Seeling by 77 points. "Maybe we could put up a lower number the next couple races," said Hines. "That would help my Winston points standings. We still have to make sure I win some rounds and gain some more points. I'm just going to try and do the best I can

Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., earned his fourth number one qualifying spot of the year with his pass of 4.580 at 307.58 and will collect the most qualifying points available in the closest Top Fuel points race in the history of the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

The defending event champion was the number one qualifier for the second straight year. "Wow, I'm impressed," said Scelzi. "We had a good consistent car in Brainerd (Minn.), we had a great car at Indy and we had a great car today. I feel really good but I felt good the last three races and I ended up with my chin in my boots on Sunday. I'm just hoping we can run like this all day tomorrow and if I do my job we can be in the winner's circle tomorrow."

Prior to the True Value NHRA Keystone Nationals, Scelzi was in third place in the NHRA Winston points standings just 29 back of the leader. In the first round of eliminations, Scelzi will face the number 16 qualifier Randy Parks.

"You have the ten drivers capable of winning the Winston championship this year," said Scelzi. "I'm very glad that I'm racing a guy that's not. Parks ran great in Indy and there are a lot of variables and right now I don't want to think about any of those. I just want to cherish being number one."

Gardena, Calif.'s Pedregon topped the Funny Car category for the third time this season with his afternoon run of 4.912 at 298.50.

"We had pretty ideal conditions today," said Pedregon. "With the right setup on the car it just equated to a pretty nice run."

Pedregon qualified ahead oh his teammate John Force going into tomorrow's eliminations.

"We are still ringing from Indy," said Pedregon. "That really wasn't a good showing for us. Not just for our car but for the whole team. To qualify one and two is a good start but the real work comes tomorrow."

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., continued his impressive season with his 13th number one qualifying effort this year with his pass of 6.853 at 201.43, both track records.

"At least we qualified," said Johnson. "That's the most important thing...It appears that the left hand lane is significantly faster than the right-hand lane. So lane choice, especially in our Pro Stock cars, probably will dictate in the later rounds who will win or lose races. The nitro-fueled cars with 10,000-pounds of downforce can drive across a plowed field and it wouldn't make any difference."

MOHNTON, Pa. - Sunday's pairings for the 15th Annual True Value NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 17th of 22 events in the $40-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL

1. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.580 seconds, 307.58 mph vs. 16. Randy Parks, Lombard, Ill., 11.297, 75.26; 2. Eddie Hill, Wichita Falls, Texas, 4.587, 296.15 vs. 15. Tim Gibson, Irvine, Calif., 5.360, 177.65; 3. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.589, 307.37 vs. 14. Clay Millican, Drummond, Tenn., 5.092, 212.16; 4. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.591, 314.46 vs. 13. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.729, 284.27; 5. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.604, 310.23 vs. 12. Larry Dixon, San Diego, 4.729, 297.52; 6. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., 4.633, 309.27 vs. 11. Mike Dunn, Wrightsville, Pa., 4.685, 304.36; 7. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.644, 308.74 vs. 10. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.679, 305.49; 8. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.647, 307.06 vs. 9. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.664, 301.50.

FUNNY CAR

1. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.912, 298.50 vs. 16. Del Worsham, Costa Mesa, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 5.239, 288.46; 2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Mustang, 4.945, 295.66 vs. 15. Cory Lee, Rancho St. Margarita, Calif., Dodge Avenger, 5.234, 277.60; 3. Ron Capps, San Diego, Chevrolet Camaro, 5.001, 291.26 vs. 14. Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Firebird, 5.180, 277.43; 4. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Chevrolet Corvette, 5.038, 284.53 vs. 13. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Firebird, 5.174, 241.22; 5. Jerry Toliver, Huntington Beach, Calif., Corvette, 5.087, 292.68 vs. 12. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., Mustang, 5.168, 282.13; 6. Frank Pedregon, Alta Loma, Calif., Firebird, 5.088, 282.22 vs. 11. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., Firebird, 5.154, 282.75; 7. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Avenger, 5.123, 278.46 vs. 10. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Camaro, 5.142, 281.33; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Firebird, 5.123, 270.43 vs. 9. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 5.125, 281.51.

PRO STOCK

1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Firebird, 6.853, 201.43 vs. 16. Greg Anderson, Jacksonville, N.C., Firebird, 6.955, 197.62; 2. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Camaro, 6.872, 200.13 vs. 15. Mike Thomas, Knoxville, Tenn., Firebird, 6.947, 196.63; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Cutlass, 6.899, 299.68 vs. 14. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Firebird, 6.947, 198.63; 4. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.905, 200.17 vs. 13. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 6.940, 197.54; 5. Mark Pawuk, Bath, Ohio, Firebird, 6.908, 199.11 vs. 12. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 6.938, 197.80; 6. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., Camaro, 6.915, 199.11 vs. 11. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 6.937, 198.41; 7. Tom Martino, Farmingdale, N.J., Firebird, 6.926, 199.37 vs. 10. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Avenger, 6.935, 197.71; 8. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Avenger, 6.930, 199.02 vs. 9. John Nobile, Melville, N.Y., Cutlass, 6.930, 198.71.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki GSXR, 7.188, 189.35 vs. 16. Blaine Hale, Midland, Texas, Kawasaki, 7.433, 184.23; 2. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki, 7.212, 182.77 vs. 15. Hector Arana, Miami, Suzuki, 7.431, 180.79; 3. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.268, 184.72 vs. 14. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.407, 179.06; 4. John Smith, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.309, 187.96 vs. 13. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.394, 184.50; 5. Steve Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., Suzuki, 7.316, 186.02 vs. 12. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.391, 182.59; 6. Gary Tonglet, Metairie, La., Suzuki, 7.318, 186.37 vs. 11.. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.388, 178.78; 7. Antron Brown, Chesterfield, N.J., Suzuki, 7.321, 187.42 vs. 10. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.367, 183.15; 8. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.331, 181.48 vs. 9. Greg Underdahl, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.347, 182.44.

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