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NHRA: McClenathan among first round winners at the Winston Showdown

9 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Cory McClenathan will have the perfect opportunity to get some revenge Sunday at the second annual Winston Showdown.

The MBNA dragster driver will face defending Winston Showdown winner John Force in a rematch of last year's semifinal when Force powered his Ford Mustang past McClenathan's machine en route to the $200,000 victory and bragging rights among the two 6,000 horsepower categories.

McClenathan, in a rare opportunity to race the nine-time Winston Funny Car champ, hopes to return the favor in tomorrow's 11 a.m. eliminations at Bristol Dragway. The Winston Showdown is the only NHRA-sanctioned event to feature Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars during eliminations.

"I can't wait to race Force," said McClenathan, who defeated Whit Bazemore's Kendall Oil Camaro in the first round. "If you can take out the king of the hill, everyone will look at you like you're somebody. With a little bit of luck and some good reaction times, I think we can take home the big money tomorrow."

Other marquee second round Top Fuel-Funny Car matchups include Gary Scelzi vs. Jim Epler; Tony Schumacher against Tony Pedregon; and '99 Winston Showdown runner-up Bob Vandergriff paired against Phil Burkart, one of four reinserted first round losers.

Among the notable nitro drivers not advancing to the second round is current Winston Funny Car points leader Jerry Toliver, who pulled away from Vandergriff's dragster by midtrack, but crossed the center-line near the finish and was disqualified.

"It's always disappointing to lose," said Toliver, who will rally behind teammate Epler tomorrow in hopes of reeling in the big payday. "The wheel got crossed up on me and I just had to ride it out. Unfortunately we flipped the cone down there at the finish line. It happens."

Ron Krisher, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also will lead their respective categories into eliminations at NHRA's $742,000 all-star event. Krisher drove his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird to front of the 16-car Pro Stock order, covering the distance in 7.004 at 196.53.

Hines lowered the track time record to 7.275 with a speed of 184.30 on his Eagle One Suzuki to take top honors in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.

Panella will lead eight Pro Stock Truck entries into eliminations as the top qualifier, clocking a track record 7.637 at 176.56 in his Chevy S-10.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Saturday's first round results for Top Fuel-Funny Car at the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway, NHRA's $742,000 all-star event.

Top Fuel-Funny Car (first round) -- Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.082, 291.19 def. Larry Dixon, Dragster, 6.349, 145.81; Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro, 5.053, 293.22 def. Doug Kalitta, Dragster, 6.399, 138.70; Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.065, 290.44 def. Jim Head, Dragster, 4.848, 299.00; Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.197, 262.59 def. Kenny Bernstein, Dragster, 6.522, 139.79; Bob Vandergriff, Dragster, 4.999, 240.72 def. Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebired, 5.268, 271.79; John Force, Mustang, 4.987, 298.67 def. David Grubnic, Dragster, 4.825, 299.20; Doug Herbert, Dragster, 4.863, 295.08 def. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.210, 272.83; Paul Romine, Dragster, 4.822, 299.66 def. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.612, 207.11; Tony Schumacher, Dragster, 4.792, 303.57 def. Phil Burkart, Firebird, 5.203, 286.68; Cory McClenathan, Dragster, 4.747, 301.60 def. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 7.346, 115.22; Gary Scelzi, Dragster, 4.679, 308.35 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Firebird, 5.879, 180.14; Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.911, 299.53 def. Mike Dunn, Dragster, 5.033, 279.85.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Sunday's elimination pairings for professional categories for the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway, NHRA's $742,000 all-star event.

Top Fuel-Funny Car -- 1. Gary Scelzi, Dragster vs. 16. Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro; 2. Ron Capps, Camaro vs. 15. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Tony Schumacher, Dragster vs. 14. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang; 4. Cory McClenathan, Dragster vs. 13. John Force, Mustang; 5. Doug Herbert, Dragster vs. 12. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 6. Paul Romine, Dragster vs. 11. Phil Burkart, Firebird; 7. Bob Vandergriff, Dragster vs. 10. Jim Head, Dragster; 8. Del Worsham, Firebird vs. 9. David Grubnic, Dragster.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Pontiac Firebird, 7.004, 196.53 vs. 16. V. Gaines, Chevy Camaro, 7.116, 194.21; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.029, 195.45 vs. 15. Mike Thomas, Firebird, 7.107, 194.18; 3. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 7.036, 195.68 vs. 14. Jim Yates, Firebird, 7.106, 193.85; 4. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.043, 195.82 vs. 13. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.099, 193.90; 5. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.055, 195.65 vs. 12. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.090, 194.35; 6. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 7.060, 194.46 vs. 11. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird, 7.085, 194.60; 7. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.064, 195.31 vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Firebird, 7.084, 194.74; 8. Mark Osborne, Firebird, 7.064, 194.91 vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.067, 194.16.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.275, 184.30 vs. 16. Connie Cohen, Harley, 8.491, 140.83; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.338, 187.36 vs. 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 8.482, 117.28; 3. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.350, 182.18 vs. 14. Horace Wright, Suzuki, 7.971, 169.06; 4. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.360, 180.31 vs. 13. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.747, 177.02; 5. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.363, 184.47 vs. 12. Will Johnese, Suzuki, 7.727, 171.31; 6. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.401, 183.87 vs. 11. Zackia Little, Suzuki, 7.605, 178.87; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.437, 183.02 vs. 10. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.536, 183.00; 8. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.508, 181.47 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.530, 176.60.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.637, 176.56 vs. 8. Larry Kopp, S-10, 7.718, 174.30; 2. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.668, 175.34 vs. 7. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.712, 175.21; 3. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.676, 176.35 vs. 6. Steven Farr, S-10, 7.696, 175.23; 4. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.682, 175.52 vs. 5. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.684, 175.62.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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