The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NHRA: Amato leads qualifying at 35th Automobile Club of Southern California Finals

12 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
POMONA, Calif. - Joe Amato led Top Fuel qualifying Thursday at the 35th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

Ron Capps, Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $1.7 million race, the final of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Amato, from Exeter, Pa., covered the Pomona Raceway quarter-mile in 4.610 seconds at 316.90 mph to lead the 16-car field, while Winston championship points leader Tony Schumacher qualified ninth with a 4.712 at 300.13. Schumacher needs only to qualify for Sunday's eliminations to clinch his first NHRA Winston championship.

"If you can't win a Winston championship, you have to focus on doing the next best thing," Amato said. "This weekend we're focused on winning the race and the Big Bud Shootout. There's a lot of money out there to be won this weekend. On the first qualifying pass we just wanted to come out and run a conservative pass and get in the show."

Capps, from San Diego, was quickest in Funny Car, running 4.868 at 309.34 in his Ed McCulloch-tuned Copenhagen Chevy Camaro.

"The run was good," Capps said. "It quivered the tires just a little, then I pedaled it and it took off. Really, it was an easy ride."

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., led the 16-car Pro Stock order with a 6.908 at a track record speed of 201.07 in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird.

"The conditions were good for us," said Johnson, who has already clinched his fifth Winston championship. "It was dry, which produces a lot of speed in a Pro Stock car. We made some substantial chassis changes to make the car more compatible with all the race tracks."

Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines paced Pro Stock Motorcycle with a track record time of 7.225 at 182.45 on his Eagle One Suzuki.

Panella, from Stockton, Calif., drove his Chevy S-10 to the top spot in Pro Stock Truck, covering the distance with a track record run of 7.515 at 178.61.

Qualifying continues Friday at 1:45 p.m.

Pomona, Calif. -- Results Thursday after qualifying for the 35th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway, 22nd of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Friday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Joe Amato, Exeter, Pa., 4.610 seconds, 316.90 mph; 2. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., 4.613, 316.90; 3. Kenny Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.653, 314.75; 4. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., 4.658, 293.98; 5. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.669, 315.56; 6. Tim Gibson, Irvine, Calif., 4.693, 304.39; 7. Bob Vandergriff, Cumming, Ga., 4.693, 276.29; 8. Don Lampus, Garland, Texas, 4.704, 311.99; 9. Tony Schumacher, Park Ridge, Ill., 4.712, 300.13; 10. Mike Dunn, Wrightsville, Pa., 4.720, 286.13; 11. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, 4.744, 301.74; 12. Larry Dixon, San Diego, 4.751, 290.19; 13. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.775, 274.27; 14. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, 4.784, 261.74; 15. Mike Smith, Round Rock, Texas, 4.787, 297.55; 16. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.847, 284.62.

Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, La Costa, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 4.868, 309.34; 2. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Ford Mustang, 4.957, 314.31; 3. Jim Epler, Phoenix, Pontiac Firebird, 4.990, 308.07; 4. Dale Creasy Jr., Lansing, Ill., Firebird, 5.071, 300.13; 5. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Dodge Avenger, 5.082, 308.85; 6. Del Worsham, Costa Mesa, Calif., Firebird, 5.220, 252.14; 7. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., Firebird, 5.251, 288.27; 8. Cory Lee, Sierra Del Oro, Calif., Avenger, 5.379, 245..09; 9. Larry Huff, Bell Canyon, Calif., Firebird, 5.544, 260.97; 10. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Firebird, 5.593, 264.08; 11. Mitch McDowell, Jerome, Idaho, Firebird, 6.305, 187.23; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Firebird, 6.844, 130.33; 13. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Firebird, 7.497, 117.60; 14. Glenn Mikres, Dana Point, Calif., Firebird, 8.375, 96.11; 15. Peter Russo, Victoria, Avenger, 8.602, 99.35; 16. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Firebird, 8.788, 102.62.

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., Pontiac Firebird, 6.908, 201.07; 2. Mark Pawuk, Bath, Ohio, Firebird, 6.924, 198.70; 3. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Firebird, 6.928, 198.00; 4. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Firebird, 6.937, 198.79; 5. Troy Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.947, 198.64; 6. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., Firebird, 6.959, 198.03; 7. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Avenger, 6.959, 197.83; 8. Tom Martino, Farmingdale, N.J., Firebird, 6.960, 199.11; 9. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Chevrolet Camaro, 6.962, 199.49; 10. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Firebird, 6.967, 198.41; 11. Arturo Delgado, McAllen, Texas, Firebird, 6.973, 197.91; 12. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., Camaro, 6.975, 198.41; 13. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, Firebird, 6.977, 198.47; 14. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Avenger, 6.982, 197.16; 15. Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg, Va., Ford Probe, 6.993, 197.45; 16. Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., Firebird, 7.001, 196.99.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Trinidad, Colo., Suzuki GSXR, 7.225, 182.45; 2. Antron Brown, Chesterfield, N.J., Suzuki, 7.242, 184.80; 3. Angelle Seeling, New Orleans, Suzuki, 7.259, 182.92; 4. David Schultz, Fort Myers, Fla., Suzuki, 7.286, 184.12; 5. Craig Treble, Chandler, Ariz., Suzuki, 7.329, 178.50; 6. Steve Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., Suzuki, 7.383, 181.94; 7. Joe DeSantis, Rootstown, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.434, 180.74; 8. Greg Underdahl, Minneapolis, Suzuki, 7.437, 185.82; 9. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., Suzuki, 7.449, 182.18; 10. Ron Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.453, 179.09; 11. Gary Tonglet, Metairie, La., Suzuki, 7.454, 178.17; 12. Chris Reuter, Gretna, Neb., Suzuki, 7.490, 177.32; 13. Brian Ayers, Greenville, N.C., Suzuki, 7.504, 176.93; 14. Fred Camarena, Placentia, Calif., Suzuki, 7.532, 174.98; 15. Brian DeLong, Circleville, Ohio, Suzuki, 7.536, 174.50; 16. Blaine Hale, Midland, Texas, Kawasaki ZX7R, 7.542, 176.53.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., Chevrolet S-10, 7.515, 178.61; 2. Mark Osborne, Abingdon, Va., S-10, 7.553, 178.54; 3. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., S-10, 7.570, 177.46; 4. Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., S-10, 7.588, 177.46; 5. Brian Self, Houston, S-10, 7.592, 178.00; 6. John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.593, 176.84; 7. Steve Johns, Mountville, Va., S-10, 7.595, 178.31; 8. Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.595, 178.52; 9. John Lingenfelte, Decatur, Ind., S-10, 7.605, 178.07; 10. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., Dodge Dakota, 7.618, 176.07; 11. Jerry Haas, St. Louis, S-10, 7.632, 177.79; 12. Bart Price, Hayward, Calif., S-10, 7.636, 176.97; 13. Ruben Celedon, Edinburg, Texas, S-10, 7.637, 175.84; 14. Scott Perin, Pen Argyl, Pa., S-10, 7.644, 177.14; 15. Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10, 7.645, 176.53; 16. Larry Kopp, Baltimore, S-10, 7.647, 175.64.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.