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NHRA: Scelzi, Bazemore and Krisher enter Eliminations as Number One Qualifiers

30 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

KENT, Wash. -- Gary Scelzi earned his sixth number one qualifying position of the season and the 24th of his career Saturday at the Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Seattle International Raceway.

Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., sped down the quarter-mile in his Team Winston dragster in 4.652 seconds at 312.64 mph to set the pace for the Top Fuel category.

"Seattle's been good to us in the past," said Scelzi. "Tomorrow morning we'll say our prayers cross our fingers and throw the same things at it we've been throwing at it all weekend. Hopefully if I do my job and the car does its job we'll be in good shape and I'll be (the winner) tomorrow night."

Whit Bazemore and Ron Krisher were also number one qualifiers in their respective categories at the $1.6 million race, the 14th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Bazemore, from Indianapolis, earned his second number one qualifying position of the season in the Funny Car category when he covered the distance in 4.875 at 306.81 in his Kendall Oil / Matco Tools Chevrolet Camaro. Bazemore's elapsed time was also a new track record which he set on Friday during the second round of qualifying.

"It's hard to win at these summer races," said Bazemore. "We feel pretty good about where we are right now and about where were going with the race day set up. It should be hot tomorrow, but If we run a few 5.01's we'll probably be good enough to win."

Warren, Ohio's, Ron Krisher continued to run strong in the Pro Stock category at SIR. His pass of 6.907 at 199.32 earned him the number one qualifying position in his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird.

"Any place where you can qualify number one is a good track," said Krisher. "It's just a matter of getting adjusted and getting down the racetrack. It's taking the whole combination and adapting it to the track and being prepared when you get here. If you're not prepared when you get here you are not going to do well. We think we'll be able to hold our position all through Sunday's elimiations."

Final eliminations begin at 10 a.m. Sunday.

KENT, Wash. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 13th annual Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals Presented by NAPA at Seattle International Raceway, the 14th of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, 4.652 seconds, 312.64 mph vs. 16. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.855, 300.80; 2. Doug Kalitta, 4.662, 293.03 vs. 15. Paul Romine, 4.843, 300.33; 3. Cory McClenathan, 4.666, 306.26 vs. 14. Bobby Lagana, 4.826, 297.75; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.671, 312.57 vs. 13. Gary Clapshaw, 4.820, 286.25; 5. Bob Vandergriff, 4.674, 308.92 vs. 12. Craig Smith, 4.786, 292.65; 6. Tony Schumacher, 4.677, 308.43 vs. 11. David Grubnic, 4.771, 297.81; 7. Joe Amato, 4.688, 304.39 vs. 10. Don Lampus, 4.735, 306.60; 8. Doug Herbert, 4.724, 294.11 vs. 9. Kenny Bernstein, 4.727, 306.88.

Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Chevy Camaro, 4.875, 306.81 vs. 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 5.219, 233.60; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.952, 294.31 vs. 15. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 5.175, 265.64; 3. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 4.963, 303.09 vs. 14. Cory Lee, Dodge Avenger, 5.165, 252.47; 4. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 4.981, 298.93 vs. 13. Jim Epler, Camaro, 5.119, 289.38; 5. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.994, 292.96 vs. 12. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.112, 276.46; 6. Louis Sweet, Avenger, 5.015, 260.26 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.086, 286.92; 7. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.039, 290.57 vs. 10. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.051, 287.90; 8. Dean Skuza, Avenger, 5.050, 293.09 vs. 9. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.051, 291.89.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Pontiac Firebird, 6.907, 199.32 vs. 16. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.959, 197.22; 2. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 6.915, 199.61 vs. 15. Scott Geoffrion, Dodge Avenger, 6.956, 197.42; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.917, 198.76 vs. 14. Tom Martino, Firebird, 6.954, 198.20; 4. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.921, 199.32 vs. 13. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.947, 198.44; 5. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.927, 197.45 vs. 12. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 6.946, 198.47; 6. Jim Yates, Firebird, 6.929, 198.93 vs. 11. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 6.943, 197.36; 7. Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.929, 197.48 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Camaro, 6.941, 198.20; 8. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.931, 198.90 vs. 9. Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 6.935, 198.26.

Text provided by J.E. Wert

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