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NHRA: Force and McClenathan lead into Sunday Eliminations at Prestone Route 66 Nationals

4 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
JOLIET, Ill. - John Force will go for a record-breaking 86th NHRA victory Sunday as the top qualifier in Funny Car at the Prestone Route 66 Nationals. Cory McClenathan, Ron Krisher, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also will lead their respective categories into tomorrow's 10 a.m. eliminations at Route 66 Raceway. The $2 million race is the 10th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

In racing completed Saturday, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Randy Daniels were winners in Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel bonus events. Coughlin defeated older brother Troy for his second-straight $50,000 Pro Stock duel victory, while Daniels earned $20,000 by defeating Bob Panella in the Pro Stock Truck segment of bonus events that feature the eight quickest cars and trucks from the last year.

Both Coughlin and Daniels are eligible for lucrative 'double-up' bonuses from the NHRA should they post victories tomorrow. Coughlin can claim an additional $25,000, while Daniels could earn an extra $10,000.

Force, 51, claimed his 96th No. 1 qualifying award with a track record run of 4.851 seconds at 312.78 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. He'll face local favorite and Funny Car rookie John Lawson in the first round of eliminations.

"We used today to get a baseline setup for tomorrow because you don't run 4.80s on Sunday, you try to run 4.90s and be consistent," said Force, who has never won at the quarter-mile located just southwest of Chicago. "We've got the new kid from Joliet in the first round tomorrow. There's a number of people I hate to race and a new guy is one of 'em. I don't know him that well, but the fans do. They're cheering for the hometown hero. If he can beat John Force tomorrow he'll have a good story to share with his buddies."

If Force can win however, what a story he'll have to tell. With a victory, Force will become the NHRA's all-time win leader, moving past Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden, who is currently tied with Force for the mark with 85 wins.

"I'd just like to win it at this race for Austin (Coil, crew chief)," Force said. "This is his hometown. He used to race the old Chi-Town Hustler, which is one of the most famous cars in drag racing. He's got a ton of friends out here and people cheerin' him on. Besides, these Chicago fans are great. I'd love to win it here for them, too."

McClenathan powered his Joe Gibbs-owned MBNA dragster to his 25th career No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel, recording a career-best 4.547 at 317.72 , the quickest run of the year under the new 90-percent nitro rules established by the NHRA.

"Wes (Cerny, crew chief) put some new parts on the car and said hang on kid," McClenthan said. "I'd say he was right. That car really puts you back in the seat when it's on a run. I can't believe I had my career-best with the 90-precent rules. These crew chiefs are like mad scientists and when everything comes together on a run it's a dream to drive."

Krisher earned his second No. 1 qualifying award of the season in Pro Stock, posting a track record run of 6.868 at 200.14 in his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird.

Panella claimed the top position in Pro Stock Truck, covering the distance in 7.477 at 179.61 in a Chevy S-10.

Hines took top qualifying honors in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as he sped down the quarter-mile to a track record run of 7.200 at 186.61 on his Eagle One Suzuki.

JOLIET, Ill. - Sunday's first-round pairings for professional eliminations at the third annual Prestone Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 10th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 4.547 seconds, 317.72 mph vs. 16. Bobby Lagana, 5.014, 248.61; 2. Tony Schumacher, 4.593, 322.58 vs. 15. Joe Hartley, 4.795, 290.13; 3. Gary Scelzi, 4.602, 316.67 vs. 14. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.742, 311.77; 4. Doug Herbert, 4.609, 301.67 vs. 13. Doug Kalitta, 4.714, 305.42; 5. Joe Amato, 4.623, 319.37 vs. 12. Don Lampus, 4.714, 314.75; 6. Kenny Bernstein, 4.633, 314.53 vs. 11. Andrew Cowin, 4.664, 313.51; 7. Tim Gibson, 4.641, 312.42 vs. 10. Bob Vandergriff, 4.648, 311.99; 8. David Grubnic, 4.642, 308.43 vs. 9. Larry Dixon, 4.648, 312.78.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.851, 312.78 vs. 16. John Lawson, Pontiac Firebird, 5.076, 293.22; 2. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.857, 309.91 vs. 15. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Camaro, 5.035, 302.62; 3. Jerry Toliver, Camaro, 4.862, 313.58 vs. 14. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.017, 295.98; 4. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.888, 304.67 vs. 13. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.011, 302.96; 5. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.894, 308.64 vs. 12. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 4.991, 306.60; 6. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.902, 306.33 vs. 11. Gary Densham, Firebird, 4.963, 305.84; 7. Todd Paton, Camaro, 4.903, 296.11 vs. 10. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.961, 308.00; 8. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.912, 304.80 vs. 9. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.928, 311.20.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Pontiac Firebird, 6.868, 200.14 vs. 16. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 6.907, 199.05; 2. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.871, 199.05 vs. 15. Jim Yates, Firebird, 6.904, 199.32; 3. Brad Jeter, Firebird, 6.871, 198.70 vs. 14. Tony Gillig, Cutlass, 6.903, 197.97; 4. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.877, 199.70 vs. 13. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.902, 199.49; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.883, 199.46 vs. 12. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.898, 199.97; 6. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 6.885, 200.00 vs. 11. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.893, 198.50; 7. Terry Adams, Firebird, 6.886, 198.41 vs. 10. Tom Martino, Firebird, 6.893, 198.93; 8. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 6.888, 199.79 vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.888, 197.94.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.200, 186.61 vs. 16. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.408, 178.66; 2. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.231, 183.22 vs. 15. C.J. Smith, Kawasaki, 7.408, 179.18; 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.235, 183.24 vs. 14. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.395, 181.98; 4. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.237, 184.17 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.395, 180.12; 5. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.238, 185.89 vs. 12. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.384, 181.42; 6. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.251, 184.02 vs. 11. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.362, 180.65; 7. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.322, 180.24 vs. 10. Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.354, 181.96; 8. Hector Arana, Suzuki, 7.336, 183.19 vs. 9. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.336, 182.75.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.477, 179.61 vs. 16. Jeff Naiser, S-10, 7.572, 177.30; 2. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.491, 179.09 vs. 15. Tim Freeman, S-10, 7.572, 177.37; 3. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.493, 179.88 vs. 14. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.566, 177.63; 4. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.518, 178.64 vs. 13. Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.561, 177.77; 5. Brian Self, S-10, 7.536, 178.12 vs. 12. Rick Jones, Sonoma, 7.555, 177.67; 6. Scott Tidwell, S-10, 7.536, 178.07 vs. 11. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.554, 178.64; 7. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.539, 178.24 vs. 10. Larry Seay, S-10, 7.548, 177.16; 8. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.542, 178.73 vs. 9. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.544, 177.44.

JOLIET, Ill. - Saturday's elimination results for the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel at Route 66 Raceway.

QUARTERFINALS -- Jim Yates, Pontiac Firebird, 6.904, 199.32 def. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.903, 199.70; Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.964, 199.64 def. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.933, 198.15; Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.909, 199.11 def. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 6.964, 199.29; Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.906, 198.41 def. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.911, 199.97; SEMIFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.888, 199.23 def. K. Johnson, 13.221, 64.49; T. Coughlin, 6.911, 197.97 def. Yates, 6.904, 199.14; FINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.941, 198.20 def. T. Coughlin, 6.972, 197.13.

JOLIET, Ill. - Saturday's elimination results for the Holley Pro Stock Truck Dominator Duel at Route 66 Raceway.

QUARTERFINALS -- John Coughlin, Chevy S-10, 7.548, 178.73 def. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.554, 178.64; Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.518, 178.64 def. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.589, 177.53; Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.511, 179.88 def. Brian Self, S-10, 7.536, 178.12; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.477, 179.61 def. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.491, 179.09;

SEMIFINALS -- Daniels, 7.482, 179.92 def. Stanfield, foul; Panella Jr, 7.483, 178.95 def. J. Coughlin, 7.555, 179.04;

FINALS -- Daniels, 7.536, 178.71 def. Panella Jr, 8.687, 112.47.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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