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NHRA CSK Nationals - Phoenix, Az.
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The
latest results from the second stop on the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series
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By Brian Wood Photos by James Drew, Ken Sklute |
SUNDAY FINAL - BERNSTEIN, WORSHAM AND JOHNSON EARN CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NATIONALS VICTORIES
(3-7-2004) - Brandon Bernstein remains undefeated in final round appearances in Top Fuel competition as he earned the victory Sunday during the 20th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA at Firebird International Raceway. Del Worsham and Kurt Johnson also earned wins in their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series. Bernstein’s fourth career victory was the second consecutive outside of Phoenix. Bernstein earned three wins en route to rookie of the year honors in 2003 before he was sidelined with injuries suffered during a May incident at Englishtown, N.J. Bernstein beat Doug Kalitta, driving his Budweiser dragster to a 4.537-second run at 326.63 mph. Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster smoked the tires before half-track, turning in a 5.837 at 184.85. “To come back out and get another win at the track where I got my first career victory after being laid up and out of the car for so long is really special,” Bernstein said. “Having won here before I had a level of comfort and once we got past the first round and I saw how we were running and how everyone else was running, I felt like we had a good chance to win this thing.” The biggest competition to the cars on Sunday was the heat. Saturday’s qualifying session was warm, but Sunday’s conditions created the warmest yet, with track temperatures soaring as high as 120 degrees.
Bernstein’s crew chief, Tim Richards, seemed to master the heat this time. Worsham won his sponsor’s event, driving his Checker Schuck’s Kragen Pontiac Firebird to a 4.970 pass at 303.78 for his 15th career Funny Car victory. Worsham beat defending POWERade series Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon, who turned in a 5.098 at 251.58 in his Quaker State Chevy Camaro. “Winning your sponsor’s race is a close second to winning the POWERade championship in terms of goals,” Worsham said. “We’re hoping the championship isn’t too far behind.” Worsham has finished as high as third in the point standings. The victory Sunday moved Worsham into the points lead for the first time in his career. “It’s early in the season and you don’t want to look at the points too much,” Worsham said. “But you also don’t want to get too far behind. If you don’t get points early, you won’t be able to catch up and you won’t be in the game late in the season when it really matters.” Worsham’s teammate, Phil Burkhart Jr., advanced to the semifinals. Worsham beat Burkhart, but the team was still pleased with the performance from both cars. “Having both cars in the semifinals is very exciting,” Worsham said. “I guess I’m partial, I wanted the red car to win.”
Johnson earned his 28th career victory by defeating first-time finalist David Connolly in a battle between two Chevy Cavaliers. Johnson went 6.835 at 203.49 in his AC Delco Cavalier to earn the win over Connolly’s 6.860 at 202.39 in his Bullet Motorsports Cavalier. “We made four perfect runs today,” Johnson said. “I felt confident after we ran a 6.80 (in qualifying) on Saturday and that made me feel confident. I felt confident this morning and I have a great team behind me.” Johnson raced - and defeated - defending series champion Greg Anderson in the semifinal. Anderson had won four consecutive Pro Stock events before Johnson knocked him out by what turned out to be less than six inches. Johnson went 6.850 at 202.88 to Anderson’s 6.820 at 203.09. Johnson beat Anderson off the line with a reaction time of .027 to Anderson’s .063. “When we raced (Anderson) I was scared to look over,” Johnson said. “I could feel him on my left side. I just had to suffer for those seven seconds and wait for the win light to come on.” The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 35th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, March 18-21, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla.
Sportsman Finals
Final round-by-round results from the 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series - TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Cory McClenathan, 4.692, 312.86 def. Doug Herbert, 6.623, 131.99; David Baca, 4.556, 318.54 def. Clay Millican, 6.553, 128.80; Brandon Bernstein, 4.540, 316.45 def. John Smith, foul; Doug Kalitta, 4.640, 308.14 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 11.188, 87.06; Larry Dixon, 4.582, 298.47 def. Scott Kalitta, 4.597, 316.52; Darrell Russell, 4.538, 329.18 def. Scott Weis, 4.722, 308.21; Tony Schumacher, 4.535, 326.08 def. Mike Strasburg, 4.870, 263.31; David Grubnic, 4.593, 317.94 def. Glenn Mikres, 11.065, 91.46; QUARTERFINALS -- McClenathan, 5.069, 278.98 def. Grubnic, 8.402, 85.48; D. Kalitta, 4.843, 293.60 def. Dixon, 4.853, 243.55; Bernstein, 4.572, 323.66 def. Russell, 4.678, 311.85; Schumacher, 4.569, 319.37 def. Baca, 9.897, 89.94; SEMIFINALS -- D. Kalitta, 4.740, 304.05 def. McClenathan, 6.075, 156.64; Bernstein, 4.552, 321.88 def. Schumacher, 4.564, 320.13; FINAL -- Bernstein, 4.537, 326.63 def. D. Kalitta, 5.837, 184.85. FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.938, 307.79 def. Ron Capps, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.156, 164.63; Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.934, 298.40 def. Bob Gilbertson, Pontiac Firebird, 5.105, 251.34; Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.961, 304.19 def. Keith Jackson, Firebird, 13.096, 72.77; Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.875, 310.13 def. Tony Bartone, Firebird, foul; Phil Burkart, Firebird, 4.949, 293.35 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.932, 304.19; Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.822, 309.70 def. Bob Bode, Firebird, foul; Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.912, 308.78 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.923, 308.21; Tony Pedregon, Chevy Camaro, 4.886, 312.57 def. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 8.600, 97.57; QUARTERFINALS -- Burkart, 5.024, 292.77 def. Scelzi, 8.393, 92.58; Worsham, 4.954, 304.19 def. Bazemore, 4.958, 303.98; Medlen, 4.871, 303.03 def. Johnson Jr., 7.505, 111.74; T. Pedregon, 4.913, 305.36 def. Densham, 6.022, 161.13; SEMIFINALS -- Worsham, 4.984, 299.26 def. Burkart, 5.028, 295.40; T. Pedregon, 5.896, 231.75 def. Medlen, 6.265, 162.68; FINAL -- Worsham, 4.970, 303.78 def. T. Pedregon, 5.098, 251.58. PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus R/T, 6.869, 201.16 def. Rickie Smith, Chevy Cavalier, 6.854, 202.88; Larry Morgan, Stratus R/T, 6.836, 201.37 def. Jason Line, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.849, 202.91; Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.866, 201.70 def. Darrell Alderman, Stratus R/T, 6.863, 202.30; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.818, 203.46 def. JR Carr, Cavalier, foul; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.846, 202.12 def. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.854, 202.79; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.922, 199.29 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.145, 192.36; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.791, 203.61 def. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.843, 202.42; Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.818, 201.91 def. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.858, 201.67; QUARTERFINALS -- Connolly, 6.868, 201.82 def. Yates, 6.927, 200.53; K. Johnson, 6.834, 203.31 def. W. Johnson, 6.861, 202.58; Morgan, 6.861, 202.24 def. Allen, 6.862, 201.49; Anderson, 6.818, 203.16 def. A. Johnson, 6.883, 202.15; SEMIFINALS -- Connolly, 6.862, 202.33 def. Morgan, 6.838, 202.39; K. Johnson, 6.850, 202.88 def. Anderson, 6.820, 203.09; FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.835, 203.49 def. Connolly, 6.860,
202.39.
Event Notes from Top Fuel to Pro Stock• Brandon Bernstein, from Lake Forest, Calif., recorded his second consecutive victory at FIR and his first since returning to the seat of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster following the season-ending injury he suffered at Englishtown, N.J. in May 2003. Bernstein, who is undefeated in final round competition (4-0), steered his dragster to the finish line in 4.537 seconds at 326.63 mph to outrun Doug Kalitta's Mac Tools dragster, which slowed to a pass of 5.837 at 184.85. It was Kalitta's second straight runner-up finish. • Bernstein has competed in Top Fuel at 10 NHRA national events and has four victories, a 23-6 record in elimination rounds, two No. 1 qualifying positions, and led the POWERade point standings following his victory at Bristol, Tenn., last season. • David Grubnic earned his second career No. 1 qualifying position and his first top spot since becoming the driver of the Connie Kalitta-owned Kalitta Air dragster. Grubnic, a native Australian and the top qualifier at Memphis, Tenn. in 1999, established a track record for elapsed time when he covered the distance in 4.486 at 324.51, setting him atop the 16-car qualifying order. • Bernstein's victory moved him into sole possession of third place in the NHRA POWERade point standings, four points behind second-place Kalitta and six points behind current leader Tony Schumacher. • Defending NHRA POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and the Miller Lite team are off to a slow start compared to the last two seasons. Dixon has a 2-2 record in eliminations and is currently No. 8 in the POWERade standings. It is his lowest position in the standings since 1999, when he ended the season in the No. 8 spot. Dixon qualified at FIR in the No. 13 position, his lowest qualifying position since the 1999 Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif., where he qualified No. 14. (Dixon posted a DNQ at St. Louis 2002 and Indianapolis 1999). FUNNY CAR • Del Worsham, from Corona Del Mar, Calif., drove his Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird to the winner's circle at Phoenix for the second time in the past three seasons at his sponsor's event. Worsham covered the quarter-mile in 4.970 seconds at 303.78 mph to defeat defending NHRA POWERade Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon, who recorded a slower 5.098 run at 251.58 in his Quaker State Chevrolet Camaro. • Gary Densham piloted the Auto Club Ford Mustang to the top of the Funny Car qualifying order for the seventh time in his career. Densham set both ends of the track record with his pass of 4.773 at 325.77 to lead the field. Densham's No. 1 position gives Force Racing the No. 1 qualifying position at the first two events of the 2004 season. Team owner John Force was the top qualifier at the season-opener. • Jerry Toliver, who led the POWERade point standings following his victory at the season-opening K&N Filters Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., posted a DNQ at Firebird Raceway in his Schick Quattro Toyota Celica. Toliver dropped from first to fifth in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car point standings. • Worsham's victory moved him atop the point standings for the first time in his 15-year career, 35 points ahead of Densham and 57 ahead of third place Gary Scelzi. PRO STOCK • Kurt Johnson, from Lawrenceville, Ga., collected his 28th career victory in an all-Chevy Pro Stock final. In the closest race of the event, Johnson's ACDelco Cavalier crossed the finish line just ahead of first-time finalist David Connolly and his Bullet Motorsports Cavalier. Johnson posted a quicker run of 6.835 seconds at 203.49 mph to defeat Connolly and his pass of 6.860 at 202.39. Connolly had the advantage at the starting line, but Johnson made up the difference and the 21-year-old missed out on his first career victory by approximately three inches. • Johnson earned a $1,000 bonus by earning the Motel 6 'Who Got the Light' award when he defeated Connolly by 0.0008-second in the final round of Pro Stock eliminations. • Greg Anderson earned his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position and the seventh consecutive top spot dating back to last season. Anderson set both ends of the track record for the second straight event, powering his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am down the drag strip in 6.746 at 204.82. Anderson has been the top qualifier at 16 of the last 25 events, dating back to the 2003 season-opener. • Anderson, beginning with the 2003 Dallas event, had won four consecutive NHRA national events and 18 consecutive elimination rounds before falling to Johnson in the semifinals. • Johnson, who chased Anderson last season for the POWERade championship, moved into second place in the standings with his victory. He now trails Anderson by five points. Johnson's father Warren is third, 47 points behind Anderson. |
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| David Grubnic earned his second career Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying position Saturday . |
(3-6-2004) –David Grubnic earned his second career Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying position Saturday at the 20th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway.
Gary Densham and Greg Anderson also earned the top spots in their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the second of 23 races in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Grubnic used a career best pass in the Kalitta Air dragster to earn the honors. The native Australian blasted down the quarter-mile drag strip in a track-record time of 4.486 seconds at 324.51 mph to top the 16-car order. The top qualifying effort came in Grubnic’s second start for the three car team owned by Connie Kalitta.
"We ran a 4.53 in the heat today which I think is stellar compared to the problems everyone else was having," Grubnic said. "Our goal for tomorrow is to have one of the three dragsters Kaliita’s win the event."
Grubnic, who recorded a then-career-best 4.492 time at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., has been impressive in the first two events of the 2004 season.
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| Gary Densham notched his seventh career top qualifying effort in the Funny Car category when his Auto Club Ford Mustang set the track record for time and speed with a pass of 4.773 at 325.77 to lead the field . |
"All the credit has to go to the team for our performance," Grubnic said. "This team put the car together on short notice, had to get everything working right, then we come out and run these great numbers. That just speaks for itself. You have to have quality parts of course, but most importantly you have to have quality people."
Densham notched his seventh career top qualifying effort in the Funny Car category when his Auto Club Ford Mustang set the track record for time and speed with a pass of 4.773 at 325.77 to lead the field. Densham, who was the runner-up at the season opener last week, headlines the three Mustangs from Force Racing. Along with Densham’s top spot, team-owner John Force qualified third and rookie Eric Medlen was in the No. 5 position.
"There are so many good teams out there, every point you can earn is important," Densham said. "We have 16 bad hot rods in the Funny Car category that can win a race. One thing I have learned since I joined Force Racing, we can win more events by intimidation than by anything else. Tomorrow is going to be a whole different ball game as far as track conditions go. The track is going to be warmer and we should be happy to run in the 80s in the first round. Running a 90 in the heat of the day may be enough to win it."
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| Greg Anderson earned his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position and the 19th of his career. |
Anderson, the defending NHRA Pro Stock champion, earned his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position and the 19th of his career when his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am made it to the finish line in a track-record time of 6.746 at a track record speed of 204.82.
"We didn’t do as well as we thought we would in the last session when it was warm," Anderson said. "We underestimated how much the track had changed and the rest of the field moved a little closer to us, but we still did well."
After a dominant season in 2003, Anderson has demonstrated the same performance that led him to the 2003 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock crown. Anderson has now qualified in the No. 1 spot at seven consecutive events, dating back to last year. Former Pro Stock competitor Bob Glidden holds the NHRA record with 23 consecutive top qualifying honors overall, and 14 consecutive in one season (1986).
"Being the No. 1 qualifier in this class for 23 straight events is unheard of now with the way the competition is," Anderson said. "We’re going to try and be the top qualifier at every race we go to. We have two in a row this season and seven straight dating back to last year, so we’ll just keep going one race at a time."
First-round pairings for Sunday’s professional eliminations for the 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL
1. David Grubnic, 4.486 seconds, 324.51 mph vs. 16. Glenn Mikres, 8.457, 97.45; 2. Tony Schumacher, 4.511, 325.06 vs. 15. Mike Strasburg, 6.567, 126.54; 3. Darrell Russell, 4.513, 326.08 vs. 14. Scott Weis, 4.912, 220.73; 4. Scott Kalitta, 4.553, 325.06 vs. 13. Larry Dixon, 4.648, 266.42; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.553, 323.43 vs. 12. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.634, 311.41; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.553, 320.81 vs. 11. John Smith, 4.632, 306.53; 7. Clay Millican, 4.563, 320.05 vs. 10. David Baca, 4.627, 310.77; 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.602, 325.14 vs. 9. Doug Herbert, 4.621, 308.07.
FUNNY CAR
1. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.773, 325.77 vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Pontiac Firebird, 4.996, 296.96; 2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.782, 322.34 vs. 15. Keith Jackson, Firebird, 4.978, 293.35; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.808, 319.82 vs. 14. Phil Burkart, Firebird, 4.968, 281.19; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.823, 311.99 vs. 13. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 4.938, 310.48; 5. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.836, 316.08 vs. 12. Bob Bode, Firebird, 4.934, 299.20; 6. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.843, 319.60 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Monte Carlo, 4.908, 306.26; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.861, 312.28 vs. 10. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.904, 314.24; 8. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Camaro, 4.881, 311.63 vs. 9. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.900, 311.99.
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.746, 204.82 vs. 16. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.828, 202.18; 2. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.784, 203.37 vs. 15. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.827, 202.61; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.792, 203.00 vs. 14. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.826, 201.94; 4. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.797, 203.86 vs. 13. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.825, 203.52; 5. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.803, 204.35 vs. 12. JR Carr, Cavalier, 6.821, 203.16; 6. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.806, 203.16 vs. 11. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Stratus R/T, 6.818, 202.85; 7. Larry Morgan, Stratus R/T, 6.809, 203.28 vs. 10. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.816, 203.12; 8. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.810, 203.52 vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Stratus R/T, 6.813, 203.55.
FRIDAY - GRUBNIC, FORCE AND ANDERSON EARN THE TOP SPOTS IN QUALIFYING AT CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
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| Australian David Grubnic paced the Top Fuel category Friday, running a career-best time to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot . |
(3-5-2004) - Australian David Grubnic paced the Top Fuel category Friday, running a career-best time to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot at the 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
John Force and Greg Anderson also led their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Grubnic used a track-record time of 4.486 seconds at 324.51 mph in his Kalitta Air dragster to lead the Top Fuel class. The last time Grubnic was the No. 1 qualifier was at Memphis in 1999.
"It's not over yet," Grubnic said. "We have to wait
and see what happens tomorrow. This is a good place to be right
now. All of the credit goes to (crew chief and team owner) Connie
Kalitta and the whole team of guys who work on all three cars. It's
an outstanding team."
Grubnic drives one of three cars in the Kalitta stable. Connie Kalitta
owns and tunes all of the cars. Grubnic was added to the team in
2004 to drive the research and development car in hopes of creating
a more consistent tuneup for the three-car program. Doug Kalitta
and Scott Kalitta pilot the other Top Fuel dragsters.
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| John Force ran a 4.808 at 319.82 in his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang to get to the top of the Funny Car class. . |
"I have to protect my teammates," Grubnic said. "If we keep going like this, I'll have to hand over my car. But I wouldn't mind driving any of these cars. They are all fantastic."
Force ran a 4.808 at 319.82 in his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang to get to the top of the Funny Car class. Force said the run didn't feel like it was the best in the category.
"Tommy [Johnson] came around me at the top end and then banged it real good," Force said. "He had a little fire going down there and I walked over and said, 'What did you run?' He said, 'A 4.82.' So I figured that's about what I ran. I was really surprised when they came to get me for being No. 1. I already had all my excuses ready for [crew chief Austin] Coil and then I didn't need them."
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| Anderson drove his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to the top in Pro Stock, setting both ends of the track record with a 6.746 pass at 204.23. |
Anderson drove his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to the top in Pro Stock, setting both ends of the track record with a 6.746 pass at 204.23.
"This car is outstanding," Anderson said. "This car just (amazes) me every time I make a run down the track."
With warmer weather expected Saturday, Anderson said the real test has yet to come.
"We tested all offseason, but the weather was always cool, in the 50s and 60s," he said. "We haven't seen warm temperatures this season and that could take some getting used to. If I can manage to gain an edge in warm weather, then I will think we've really got something here."
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are set for 11 a.m. Sunday.
Results Friday after qualifying for the 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. David Grubnic, 4.486 seconds, 324.51 mph;
2. Tony Schumacher, 4.511, 325.06; 3. Darrell Russell, 4.513, 326.08;
4. Scott Kalitta, 4.553, 325.06; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.553, 323.43;
6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.553, 320.81; 7. Clay Millican, 4.563, 320.05;
8. Cory McClenathan, 4.602, 317.42; 9. Doug Herbert, 4.621, 305.29;
10. David Baca, 4.627, 310.77; 11. John Smith, 4.632, 306.53; 12.
Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.634, 311.41; 13. Larry Dixon, 4.649, 266.42;
14. Scott Weis, 4.912, 220.73; 15. Mike Strasburg, 11.690, 83.02.
Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.808, 319.82;
2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.809, 322.11; 3. Gary Densham,
Mustang, 4.815, 325.77; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo,
4.823, 311.99; 5. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.846, 312.93; 6. Tim Wilkerson,
Pontiac Firebird, 4.861, 312.28; 7. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.878,
319.60; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.900, 311.99; 9. Del Worsham,
Firebird, 4.904, 314.24; 10. Ron Capps, Monte Carlo, 4.908, 306.26;
11. Bob Bode, Firebird, 4.934, 299.20; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird,
4.938, 310.48; 13. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Camaro, 4.950, 311.63; 14.
Phil Burkart, Firebird, 4.968, 281.19; 15. Keith Jackson, Firebird,
4.978, 293.35; 16. Tony Bartone, Camaro, 4.996, 296.96.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am,
6.746, 204.23; 2. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.784, 202.30; 3. Jeg Coughlin,
Chevy Cavalier, 6.792, 203.00; 4. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.797,
203.86; 5. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.806, 202.64; 6. Larry Morgan,
Dodge Stratus R/T, 6.809, 203.03; 7. Allen Johnson, Stratus R/T,
6.813, 203.55; 8. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.816, 203.12; 9. Darrell
Alderman, Stratus, 6.818, 202.85; 10. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.820,
203.52; 11. Jerry Haas, Cavalier, 6.825, 203.52; 12. Jim Yates,
Grand Am, 6.826, 201.94; 13. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.827, 202.36;
14. JR Carr, Cavalier, 6.835, 202.15; 15. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier,
6.836, 203.71; 16. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.851, 201.94.
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CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS presented by CASTROL FACT SHEET
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| As news breaks, we'll pass it on to you. |
(3-5-2004) - WHAT: 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in three categories earn points leading to 2004 NHRA POWERade championships.
Sportsman competitors in six categories earn points leading to 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships.
WHERE: Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located off Interstate 10 from the north at exit 162A (Maricopa). From the south, take exit 162 (Maricopa). Follow the signs.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, March 5-7.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.8 million.
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, March 5 -- Sportsman qualifying,
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, March 6 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin
at 8 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1 and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, March 7 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION: Saturday, March 6, ESPN2 will televise
two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 7, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations
at 7 p.m. (ET).
2003 EVENT
WINNERS: Brandon Bernstein, Top Fuel; Ron Capps,
Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock.
TICKETS: For tickets call Firebird International Raceway, (602) 268-0200. Tickets also are available at Ticketmaster.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $29; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Saturday: Adult, $39; Junior (6-12 years), $15. Sunday: Adult, $43; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Children 5 and under admitted free in General Admission and pit areas each day.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday:
Adult, $39; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under),
$20.
Saturday: Adult, $49; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and
under), $20; Sunday: Adult, $55; Junior (6-12 years), $27; Child
(5 years and under), $22.
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