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NHRA: McClenathan pockets $200,000 for winning the Winston Showdown

10 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Cory McClenathan added a bright spot to what has been a frustrating season and in the process gave drag racing's nitro bragging rights back to the Top Fuel contingent by winning Sunday's second annual Winston Showdown.

Troy Coughlin, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also were winners in their respective pro categories at the $742,000 NHRA all-star event at Bristol Dragway.

McClenathan, from Anaheim, Calif., claimed his first all-star event win and first NHRA victory since last season's U.S. Nationals, by defeating Ron Capps for the $200,000 payday in a thrilling side-by-side finish.

"This is huge for us," said McClenathan, who has struggled to a seventh place position in the Winston points standings this season. "When you are used to winning races and contending for championships, a season like we've had this year is hard to stomach. This race has saved our season. It's that big."

McClenathan, who defeated defending Showdown winner John Force, Whit Bazemore, Bob Gilbertson and Gary Scelzi in early elimination rounds, powered his MBNA dragster to a final round run of 4.852 seconds at 291.32 mph, and crossed the finish line just in front of Capps' U.S. Tobacco Chevy Camaro, which covered the same distance with a run of 5.168 at 275.28.

"I really wanted to win this one for the Top Fuel guys -- to get our title back," said McClenathan, who played a big part in the 13-9 victory parade the dragsters enjoyed over the funny cars. "We really had to beat some heavy hitters today. I've won at Indy before and that's special, but this is the best race I've ever had."

Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio, earned $50,000 for his first major event win in Pro Stock, defeating Mark Pawuk in a photo finish. Coughlin recorded a 7.086 at 194.10 in his Jeg's Mail Order Oldsmobile Cutlass, edging Pawuk's Summit Racing Pontiac Firebird at the finish, which posted a slower 7.100 at 194.24.

"This is absolutely fabulous," Coughlin said. "I've been in a lot of final rounds and to finally get a win makes a world of difference. I just went up there, put my game face on and went for it. This is a total confidence-booster for the entire team."

Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines earned his third-straight NHRA all-star victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle, overcoming a holeshot start by Antron Brown in an all Suzuki final. Hines posted a 7.337 at 184.19 en route to the $15,000 win, crossing the finish line just in front of Brown's bike, which ran 7.364 at 178.52.

"The bike performed flawlessly all weekend," said Hines, who beat Connie Cohen, Ron Ayers and Angelle Seeling to advance to the final. "Antron was running good too, and fortunately we were able to hold him off and get the win."

The Pro Stock Truck final featured an all Chevy S-10 battle as Panella, from Stockton, Calif., covered the distance in 7.695 at 175.21 to defeat defending winner Randy Daniels, who clocked a 7.709 at 175.96.

"It's a great feeling to win this race," said Panella. "I was able to drive well all day and we had the horsepower to get the job done."

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 22nd annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, July 13-16, at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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