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NHRA: Force, Schumacher among leaders at Route 66 Nationals in qualifying

3 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

JOLIET, Ill. - John Force was quickest in opening Funny Car qualifying Friday at the third annual Prestone Route 66 Nationals at the state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway.

Force, who is seeking to become NHRA's all-time win leader with a victory at this event, drove his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to the front of the field with a track record run of 4.851 seconds at 312.78 mph. He and Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden are currently tied with 85 wins each.

Force edged Jerry Toliver for the top spot. Toliver drove his WWF Racing Chevy Camaro to a 4.862 at 304.25 just moments before Force turned in the quicker result.

"(Dale) Armstrong (Toliver crew chief) kinda led the way and showed us what was out there so we decided to get after it a little bit," Force said. "It pumped 'em a little bit and rattled me at the start, but it trucked on down there. There's some good racin' here at nighttime."

Tony Schumacher, Troy Coughlin, Matt Hines and Randy Daniels also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $2 million race, the 10th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Local favorite Schumacher recorded the quickest pass of the day in Top Fuel, clocking a 4.593 at a track record speed of 322.58 in his Exide Batteries dragster.

"I want to stay No. 1 because it would be my very first," said Schumacher, from nearby Park Ridge, the defending Winston Top Fuel champion. "Even with my championship and victories, I've never been the top qualifier. The whole team deserves it. This would be the best place in the world to get my first No. 1, right here in my hometown."

Schumacher edged Gary Scelzi for the top spot. Scelzi qualified second overall with a 4.602 at 316.67, a time and speed clocked just moments before his Team Winston dragster went out of control and crashed. Scelzi was uninjured in the spectacular crash, but his dragster received major damage and he didn't make the call for the second session. Scelzi's Team Winston crew planned to work throughout the evening to prepare the back-up car for both of Saturday's qualifying sessions (11 a.m. and 4 p.m.).

"As soon as the chutes opened, it was like a tire came off," said Scelzi, who was quickest of the first session, and ironically, running alongside Schumacher at the time. "The car started vibrating violently and one second later I was upside down, sliding backward on fire. That was a good lap, regardless of the accident."

Coughlin led the 16-car Pro Stock field, speeding down the quarter-mile to a 6.871 at 199.05 in his Jeg's Mail Order Oldsmobile Cutlass. Coughlin is one of eight Pro Stock drivers set to compete in the special Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel, which will reward the winner with a $50,000 payday.

Hines paced Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying, running 7.200 at 186.61 pass on his Eagle One Suzuki.

Daniels topped the Pro Stock Truck order in his Chevy S-10, covering the distance with a track record run of 7.493 at 179.66. Daniels will be one of eight Pro Stock Truck competitors in a battle for the $20,000 winner's share of the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel for Pro Stock Trucks, a special event also scheduled for tomorrow.

JOLIET, Ill. - Friday's qualifying results after qualifying for the third annual Prestone Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, 10th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.593 seconds, 322.58 mph; 2. Gary Scelzi, 4.602, 316.67; 3. Doug Herbert, 4.609, 301.67; 4. Cory McClenathan, 4.613, 312.71; 5. Joe Amato, 4.623, 319.37; 6. Kenny Bernstein, 4.633, 314.53; 7. David Grubnic, 4.642, 308.43; 8. Larry Dixon, 4.648, 311.34; 9. Bob Vandergriff, 4.648, 311.99; 10. Andrew Cowin, 4.664, 278.00; 11. Tim Gibson, 4.692, 306.95; 12. Don Lampus, 4.714, 314.75; 13. Doug Kalitta, 4.714, 302.41; 14. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.764, 311.77; 15. Luigi Novelli, 5.186, 239.87; 16. Joe Hartley, 5.666, 174.50.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.851, 312.78; 2. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Camaro, 4.862, 304.25; 3. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.894, 308.64; 4. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.910, 306.33; 5. Todd Paton, Camaro, 4.931, 296.11; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Pontiac Firebird, 4.947, 257.19; 7. Gary Densham, Firebird, 4.963, 305.84; 8. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.972, 304.80; 9. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.989, 311.20; 10. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.047, 288.15; 11. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.063, 281.95; 12. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.095, 267.06; 13. John Lawson, Firebird, 5.169, 238.93; 14. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 5.186, 287.23; 15. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.247, 289.69; 16. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 7.700, 99.86.

Pro Stock -- 1. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.871, 199.05; 2. Brad Jeter, Pontiac Firebird, 6.871, 198.70; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.883, 199.46; 4. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.884, 199.32; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.885, 200.00; 6. Terry Adams, Firebird, 6.886, 198.41; 7. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 6.888, 199.79; 8. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.888, 197.94; 9. Ron Krisher, Firebird, 6.889, 200.02; 10. Tom Martino, Firebird, 6.893, 198.93; 11. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.893, 198.50; 12. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.898, 199.91; 13. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 6.902, 197.94; 14. Tony Gillig, Cutlass, 6.903, 197.97; 15. Jamie Yates, Firebird, 6.911, 197.71; 16. Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 6.921, 198.23.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.200, 186.61; 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.235, 183.24; 3. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.238, 185.56; 4. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.251, 184.02; 5. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.256, 183.29; 6. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.293, 183.22; 7. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.322, 180.24; 8. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.336, 182.75; 9. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.384, 180.36; 10. Hector Arana, Suzuki, 7.387, 181.76; 11. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.398, 178.02; 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.436, 179.16; 13. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.445, 177.14; 14. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.467, 179.35; 15. C.J. Smith, Kawasaki, 7.467, 178.64; 16. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.490, 177.16.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Randy Daniels, Chevy S-10, 7.493, 179.66; 2. Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.493, 178.95; 3. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.528, 178.90; 4. Scott Tidwell, S-10, 7.536, 178.07; 5. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.542, 178.24; 6. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.544, 177.44; 7. Larry Seay, S-10, 7.548, 177.16; 8. Rick Jones, GMC Sonoma, 7.555, 177.67; 9. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.557, 178.59; 10. Brian Self, S-10, 7.557, 177.60; 11. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.565, 177.72; 12. John Lingenfelter, Sonoma, 7.567, 177.63; 13. Tim Freeman, S-10, 7.572, 177.37; 14. Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.572, 176.74; 15. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.586, 177.65; 16. Jose Maldonado, S-10, 7.593, 176.77.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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