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Remembering Orange County Raceway

NHRA – Memphis Same Day Coverage

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AMS Pro Modified Coverage - Memphis

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SUNDAY - Bernstein moves in front of Garlits on NHRA'S Top Fuel wins list; Pedregon regains POWERade Series lead in Funny Car, Coughlin also wins at CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

Top Fuel -- Kenny Bernstein, 4.503 seconds, 328.46 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.638 seconds, 321.35 mph.

(9-27-2003) - Kenny Bernstein passed Don Garlits on the NHRA's Top Fuel wins list by earning his first victory of the season Sunday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

Tony Pedregon and Jeg Coughlin also were winners in the $1.6 million race, the 19th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein earned his 36th career Top Fuel victory, and 66th overall (30 Funny Car wins), when he raced his Budweiser-Lucas Oil dragster to a 4.503 second run at 328.46 mph, to edge rival Larry Dixon, who posted a 4.638 at 312.35 in the Miller Lite dragster. With the victory, Bernstein moved to second in Top Fuel wins behind leader Joe Amato (52 wins) and ahead of Garlits (35 wins).

Bernstein, 59, who retired from driving last season, returned to the cockpit in May after his son Brandon received season-ending injuries in a crash at Englishtown, N.J. It was Bernstein's fourth victory at Route 66 Raceway, where in 2001 he shared the winner's circle stage with his son, who won in Top Alcohol Dragster.

"It's always good to win, but this is a special one because it is for Brandon because he's been through so much since the accident," said Bernstein, who defeated David Grubnic, Paul Romine and Shirley Muldowney to advance to his 115th career final. "To move ahead of Garlits is a great honor because he made this sport go in the early days and I still consider him to be the man. If he would have kept racing he would've won a lot more. We really worked hard today to get this win."

Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.769, 316.52 def. Phil Burkart, Pontiac Firebird, broke.

Amazingly, Bernstein's national E.T. record of 4.477 seconds (Chicago 2001) survived the onslaught of stellar performances during the weekend, including three of the quickest runs in NHRA history: 4.428 seconds (Doug Kalitta), 4.463 seconds (Cory McClenathan) and 4.464 seconds (Tony Schumacher). Kalitta set the national speed record at 333.00 mph, but neither driver was able to certify their quick elapsed times by posting another run within one percent as required by NHRA rule.

"I can't believe that record held up," Bernstein said. "I was sure that baby was going to fall this weekend with the numbers those guys were throwing up there. I thought Doug or Tony would knock it out of the park for sure."

Dixon increased his series points lead to 323 with his 13th final round appearance of the season.

Pedregon ran unopposed in the Funny Car final round when Phil Burkhart's Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird broke on the starting line following the burnout. Pedregon clocked a 4.769 at 316.52 in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang for his seventh victory of the season and 26th of his career. Pedregon moved back into the series points lead, 69 ahead of Whit Bazemore, who was upset in the first round.

"It was important to come out of this race with some momentum and a little more confidence," said Pedregon, who had posted four first round losses in the last six races. "Today was all about teamwork and we pulled together when we needed to. Bazemore got ahead of us last week but that didn't affect us much because I know in my heart that we have a great team. We know our work isn't done because things can change easily out here from week to week. We need to win some more races."

Pro Stock -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.749, 203.22 def. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, foul.

The cool weather conditions also helped produce record-setting performances in Funny Car as Gary Scelzi set the national speed record in his Oakley Dodge Stratus at 329.18 mph. Gary Densham clocked the second-quickest time for a Funny Car at 4.723 seconds and was followed by Bazemore (4.725 seconds) and John Force (4.725 seconds).

Coughlin claimed his second win of the season and 33rd of his career in Pro Stock, defeating series points leader Greg Anderson, who fouled at the start in the final round in his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am. Coughlin drove his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavailer to round wins over Ron Krisher, Kurt Johnson and Bruce Allen to make it to the final. He posted a string of low 6.7 second times in his march to victory, including a 6.749 at 203.22 in the final.

"We've definitely narrowed the performance advantage Greg has had for most of the year," Coughlin said. "I used another new engine this week so the guys back at the shop are obviously on their game. It's a great feeling to win. We're working on finishing strong this year and we'll come out swinging next year (for the POWERade championship)."

With the runner-up effort Anderson increased his points lead to 286 over Johnson.

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the rain-delayed Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Oct. 3-5 at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa.

Sportsman Results

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Morgan Lucas, 5.258, 270.92 def. David Wells, 5.272, 270.59.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Camaro, 5.586, 257.19 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 7.519, 137.65.

Competition Eliminator -- Doug Engels, Dragster, 7.835, 132.96 def. Sal Biondo, Chevy Beretta, 16.422, 64.04.

Super Stock -- Tony DeFrank, Pontiac Grand Am, 10.221, 116.15 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.090, 127.70.

Super Stock -- Tony DeFrank, Pontiac Grand Am, 10.221, 116.15 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.090, 127.70.

Stock Eliminator -- Mark Biskup, Ford Mustang, 12.370, 104.99 def. Nick Folk, Chevy Camaro, foul.

Super Comp -- Lonnie Grim, Dragster, 8.953, 155.54 def. Jim Perry, Dragster, 9.391, 137.11.

Super Gas -- Steve Cohen, Chevy Corvette, 9.922, 152.45 def. Mike Coughlin, Corvette, 9.921, 155.96.

Super Street -- Gary Thompson, Chevy Corvette, 10.914, 133.75 def. Bill Webb, Ford Fairlane, 10.900, 136.86.

Final round-by-round results from the Third annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 20th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Tony Schumacher, 6.037, 320.97 def. Scott Kalitta, 6.576, 159.76; Shirley Muldowney, 4.578, 325.77 def. John Smith, 5.021, 263.77; Paul Romine, 4.606, 295.14 def. Jim Head, 6.338, 134.19; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.523, 319.75 def. David Baca, 4.643, 303.09; Larry Dixon, 4.959, 309.13 def. Darrell Russell, 11.294, 114.41; Kenny Bernstein, 4.539, 329.10 def. David Grubnic, 5.234, 187.63; Cory McClenathan, 4.541, 323.74 def. Luigi Novelli, 5.231, 198.12; Doug Kalitta, 4.516, 331.53 def. Mike Strasburg, 4.623, 322.27;

QUARTERFINALS -- Muldowney, 5.066, 296.24 def. McClenathan, 6.444, 164.95; Bernstein, 4.494, 328.38 def. Romine, foul; Dixon, 5.699, 193.07 def. Hartman-Smith, 9.237, 101.16; Schumacher, 4.464, 330.96 def. D. Kalitta, 7.769, 134.95;

SEMIFINALS -- Bernstein, 4.511, 331.69 def. Muldowney, 4.612, 320.05; Dixon, 6.050, 315.78 def. Schumacher, 10.195, 105.33;

FINAL -- Bernstein, 4.503, 328.46 def. Dixon, 4.638, 321.35.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Phil Burkart, Pontiac Firebird, 4.817, 320.05 def. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 9.103, 85.52; Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.786, 320.66 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.862, 305.56; Cory Lee, Firebird, 4.960, 304.12 def. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 5.172, 235.97; John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.883, 305.42 def. John Lawson, Dodge Status, broke; Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.768,
328.70 def. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.800, 321.73; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.845, 312.28 def. Bob Bode, Firebird, 9.406, 87.89; Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.875, 322.04 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 7.903, 106.35; Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.723, 324.90 def. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 4.910, 303.09;

QUARTERFINALS -- Force, 4.833, 320.58 def. Capps, 10.619, 91.37; Burkart, 4.773, 318.54 def. Lee, foul; T. Pedregon, 4.996, 235.15 def. Densham, 9.461, 84.05; Scelzi, 4.738, 329.18 def. Worsham, 4.764, 321.19;

SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.797, 318.84 def. Force, 10.949, 91.96; Burkart, 4.776, 319.75 def. Scelzi, 4.842, 314.90;

FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 4.769, 316.52 def. Burkart, broke.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Darrell Alderman, Dodge Stratus, 8.683, 109.10 def. Mike Edwards, Pontiac Grand Am, foul; Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.769, 204.17 def. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.826, 202.67; Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.777, 202.27 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.837, 202.33; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.769, 202.67 def. Gene Wilson, Stratus, 6.791, 202.91; Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.780,
204.11 def. Jason Line, Cavalier, 6.774, 204.35; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.784, 203.77 def. Steve Schmidt, Cavalier, 6.819, 202.73; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.722, 204.82 def. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, foul; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.723, 203.40 def. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.762, 203.46;

QUARTERFINALS -- Allen, 6.801, 201.70 def. W. Johnson, 6.753, 204.45; Morgan, 6.750, 203.95 def. Yates, 6.772, 203.06; J. Coughlin, 6.748, 202.82 def. K. Johnson, 6.796, 204.01; Anderson, 6.729, 204.85 def. Alderman, 6.764, 203.74;

SEMIFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.723, 203.28 def. Allen, 6.741, 203.83; Anderson, 6.735, 204.48 def. Morgan, 6.769, 203.92;

FINAL -- J. Coughlin, 6.749, 203.22 def. Anderson, foul.

POST RACE NOTES

TOP FUEL

Shirley Muldowney drove her Mac Tools dragster to a performance best of 4.579 at 327.66 and reached the semis. (Cory Janssen)

* Kenny Bernstein, from Lake Forest, Calif., returned to the winner's circle to win his first race of the season after returning to the cockpit for his injured son, Brandon, defeating category points leader Larry Dixon in the final round. Bernstein drove his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to a pass of 4.503 seconds at 328.46 mph outrunning Dixon's Miller Lite dragster, which clocked a run of 4.638 at 321.35.

* Bernstein's win was the 66th of his career and 36th in Top Fuel. The win moved Bernstein past Don Garlits for second all-time in NHRA Top Fuel wins. Also, the win at Joliet, Ill. moved Bernstein into the POWERade top ten point standings, ironically bumping out his son Brandon from the No. 10 spot.

* Doug Kalitta earned his ninth No. 1 qualifying position of the season when he blasted his Mac Tools dragster to the quickest pass in NHRA history of 4.428 at 333.00 to lead the Top Fuel order. Kalitta's blast set the Route 66 Raceway track E.T. record, but Kalitta was not able to certify the pass as a national record because he failed to back-up the run within the required one percent mandated by the NHRA. Kalitta did set the national speed mark at 333.00 mph.

* By advancing to his category-best 12th final round of the season, Dixon increased his commanding points lead to 323 over Kalitta, who was defeated by Tony Schumacher in the quarterfinals.

* The cool autumn conditions at Route 66 Raceway produced a number of career best times and speeds. Most notable was Shirley Muldowney traveling quicker and faster than she had ever gone in her storied career. Muldowney drover her Mac Tools dragster to a performance of 4.579 at 327.66. A total of nine drivers lowered their personal best in either time, speed, or both at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals.

FUNNY CAR

* Tony Pedregon, from Chino Hills, Calif., reclaimed the Funny Car points lead back from Whit Bazemore defeating Phil Burkhart in the Funny Car final. Pedregon earned his seventh victory of the season and 26th of his career by blasting his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang to a run of 4.769 at 316.52. Burkhart was unable to race Pedregon in the final because his Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird was shut off by chief starter, Rick Stewart, due to an oil leak at the starting line.

* Bazemore also earned his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 24th of his career when he powered his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools Dodge to a run of 4.725 at 324.20. Bazemore and John Force ran identical E.T.'s but Bazemore was awarded the top qualifying spot by virtue of his speed for the second consecutive event. Bazemore's speed was faster than Force's 323.81.

* Bazemore's teammate Gary Scelzi, raised the NHRA Funny Car national speed record to 329.19 during his quarterfinal victory over Del Worsham. Scelzi's record speed was certified by his victory over Cruz Pedregon in the first round at 328.70.

* With the victory, Pedregon reclaimed the Funny Car points chase and leads Bazemore by 69 POWERade points, while 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force sits third, 154 points behind rival Bazemore.

* A total of 12 drivers lowered their personal best in either E.T., speed, or both at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals.

* Notable DNQ's: Dean Skuza failed to make the 16-car cut after posting a runner-up finish at Memphis just a week prior.

PRO STOCK

* Jeg Coughlin, from Delaware, Ohio, won his second race of the season and 33rd of his career, beating POWERade points leader Greg Anderson in the final round. Coughlin didn't need his performance of 6.749 at 203.22 in his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier to defeat Anderson, who left the starting line early and fouled out. With the red light, Anderson threw away the performance of 6.728 at 204.91 in his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am.

* Anderson raced to his category leading 10th top qualifying position of the season when he drove his Pontiac to an elapsed time of 6.739 at 205.07 to pace the Pro Stock field.

* Jim Yates earned a $1,000 bonus by winning the Motel 6 'Who Got The Light' award when he edged gene Wilson by 0.0037 of-a-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

* Anderson's runner-up finish extended his lead over Kurt Johnson to 286 points and third-place Coughlin by 436 points in the POWERade standings.

* Notable DNQ's: Scott Geoffrion, George Marnell, Barry Grant and Mark Pawuk.

Mark Conner Wins Chicago with RMC Tomato

Mark Conner scored the Nitro Harley exhibition win at Chicago. (Nina Henderson photo)

(9-28-2003) - "It was gonna be a good race," said Mark Conner after winning the second of three Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley exhibitions at NHRA's nationals. With an injured back, Mike Romine turned over his Nuclear Tomato to Conner to ride.

Taking off with all it was worth, Conner qualified highest of the three riders on the team with a 6.595 at 208.68 miles per hour. "It was pretty entertaining. I didn't get to keep the throttle open the whole time. The bike was going toward the center. I rolled off a little bit to get it steered. I rolled off of the throttle three times according to the computer. Hopefully tomorrow I can have a nice straight run instead of a figure S run and we can go to rounds."

Only two qualifying rounds existed, due to Friday's rain cancelled sessions. Jack Romine qualified sixth with a 6.598 at 217.67 miles per hour in the second session Saturday. "Our performance picked up a little bit in the early numbers, not quite as much as we thought they were going to. It ran real good from halftrack on. The belt stayed on this time, so we were able to run the 6.59." First round, Romine threw a belt around 1000 feet down track.

AHDRA Indy finalist Drums Brancaccio qualified seventh for the Sunday show with his 6.683 at 219.72 miles per hour against teammate Romine. "I had a killer light. When the bike left the starting line, it started spinning immediately, sashaying down the track. It tried to high-side me. I like to get my feet up onto the foot pegs around the eighth mile mark, but I couldn't do that until 1000 feet. At that point, it picked up the wheel so hard. When I got to the end of the track, I told Jack that was the fastest this NitroHarley has ever been in the quarter. Sure enough, it went 219.72. I'm just so excited to be out here. 'I want to run 220,' is what I kept saying. Second round, I ran as close to it as you can."

Brief rain showers reminded the 8-bike NitroHarley field to stay on their toes. Skipping the first round of pros, the Harleys lined up for the quarter-final round with 8 bikes. Romine ran first with a 6.62 against a 6.48. "It slowed down a little bit. I don't have much to say about my run."

Drums staged against Doug Vancil only to be slammed by a record setting 6.282 at 226.54 miles per hour. Drums said after the run, "There ain't nothing for that. Obviously we thought we put enough clutch in it but obviously we didn't. I didn't feel like it was on a bad run. And I just watched him walk away. It's amazing to see how quick that bike went away. I'm just glad to be out there. It's great to be a part of that run. It was the fastest bike I've run against in my life. Doug just did what we all expected him to do. It was good. I went over there and told him I hope he runs a teen."

Conner continued to improve by winning round one with a 6.55 at 216.17. "I'm glad Johnny wasn't in the other lane after the finish line. It was a pretty smooth run all in all. It's going straighter for me now. We're just working on the short numbers. It has plenty of top end." Conner had a bit of trouble going to the left at the end of the track but successfully was the only winner on the RMC team.

For the semi-final round, Conner took on Chicago number one qualifier Steve Stordeur. He won against the Team Mancuso forward with the second-quickest e.t. of the event at 6.339 at 225.45 miles per hour. "Wow! That was cool. You could have told me it went 6.65 and I would have believed you. I think I just got a good line and it just did what it was supposed to do. It didn't go crazy in the shutdown like it did last round when I went in front of Johnny. It was my personal quickest and fastest. And probably the most boring pass I ever made."

Vancil won the semi-final round with another 6.20+, at 6.29, 216.41, keeping lane choice against Conner.

In the end, lane choice didn't matter. Vancil broke a tranny and Conner won avoiding the center line at 6.773 second and 188.15 miles per hour. "It was gonna be good race. We picked up on our short numbers and I just couldn't keep it in the groove. I started looking back for Doug and working the throttle trying to get to the finish line first. I really, really, really, really, really, really need to thank Mike and Patty Romine, Chromatic, RMC, Lucas Oil, PMS Excavation, GP Manufacturing, Dan the Man for being Doug Vancil's pit rat."

RMC Racing earned the second NHRA Exhibition victory. Mike Romine's back continues to heal. Conner will go back to riding a different bike for the remainder of the season. Will he be forced to instantly 'come down' next weekend when he rides a different Nitro Harley at the AHDRA Rockingham Finals? "Are you kidding? I went 6.33 at 225 miles per hour. I'll have an illegal smile for a long time."

SATURDAY - Kalitta races to quickest time in NHRA history to claim 9th No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel

Doug Kalitta recorded the quickest Top Fuel run in NHRA history and posted a national record for speed Saturday.

(9-27-2003) - Doug Kalitta recorded the quickest Top Fuel run in NHRA history and posted a national record for speed Saturday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals outside Chicago.

Whit Bazemore and Greg Anderson also will lead their categories into tomorrow's 11 a.m. (CT) eliminations for the $1.6 million race, the 19th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Kalitta raced down the state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway quarter-mile in 4.428 seconds at 333.00 mph in his Mac Tools dragster to earn his ninth No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 16th of his career.

"That was a straight, smooth run," Kalitta said. "I knew it was quick, but it kind of surprised me. That just shows you what can happen when the conditions are this good at a good track. We're working with a new combination and Connie (Kalitta, crew chief) has switched a lot of stuff around."

Kalitta needs to post a time of 4.472 seconds or quicker tomorrow to certify the performance as a national record.

Whit Bazemore earned his third top qualifying award of the season and 24th of his career in Funny Car, posting a career-best time of 4.725 at 324.05 in his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T..

"I think (setting the national record) is possible if the conditions are the same," Kalitta said. "I think our strategy is to keep the car gassed up, so we'll see what happens. It seems like every time we try and back it down and be conservative that we mess up. We want to win the race and if we could get the record at the same time that would be nice."

Cory McClenathan, who qualified second by posting the second-quickest run in NHRA history -- a 4.463 second effort, also can set the national record by clocking a time of 4.507 or quicker. Kenny Bernstein, who set the national record at 4.477 seconds here in 2001, posted his sixth career run in the 4.4-second zone, powering the Budweiser King dragster to a 4.498 second effort for third in the 16-car order.

Bazemore earned his third top qualifying award of the season and 24th of his career in Funny Car, posting a career-best time of 4.725 at 324.05 in his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T.

"It is a shame we didn't get to run yesterday because I am sure someone would have set a national record," Bazemore said. "The conditions are very good and this is a great facility. Our goal tomorrow is to try and win the first round and keep it going. At some point it might take a national record run to win this race. If it does, we'll tune the car accordingly."

John Force was second with an identical time of 4.725, but lost the top position to Bazemore due to a slower speed of 323.81 in his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang. Gary Densham drove the Auto Club Ford Mustang to a career-best time of 4.728 at 299.13 for the third in the lineup.

Greg Anderson claimed his 10th No. 1 of the season and 13th of his career in Pro Stock, powering his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to a track record.

Anderson claimed his 10th No. 1 of the season and 13th of his career in Pro Stock, powering his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to a track record run of 6.739 at 205.01.

"With only two sessions we wanted to guard against a DNQ (did not qualify)," Anderson said. "We were just concentrating on making good, clean passes. This is just a testament to how flawless my team has this Vegas General Construction Grand Am running."

Jeg Coughlin was second in his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier, posting a 6.747 at 203.34, while Warren Johnson clocked a 6.760 at 204.88 in his GM Performance Parts Grand Am for third overall.

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Third annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 19th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 4.428 seconds, 333.00 mph vs. 16. Mike Strasburg, 4.741, 280.54; 2. Cory McClenathan, 4.463, 332.10 vs. 15. Luigi Novelli, 4.669, 315.86; 3. Kenny Bernstein, 4.498, 329.75 vs. 14. David Grubnic, 4.637, 320.58; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.507, 332.10 vs. 13. Darrell Russell, 4.621, 320.81; 5. David Baca, 4.508, 321.12 vs. 12. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.614, 308.21; 6. Jim Head, 4.532, 331.20 vs. 11. Paul Romine, 4.588, 313.66; 7. John Smith, 4.542, 314.02 vs. 10. Shirley Muldowney, 4.579, 327.66; 8. Tony Schumacher, 4.555, 320.97 vs. 9. Scott Kalitta, 4.573, 319.52.

Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.725, 324.20 vs. 16. Cory Lee, Pontiac Firebird, 4.893, 285.17; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.725, 326.00 vs. 15. John Lawson, Dodge Stratus, 4.892, 316.08; 3. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.728, 299.13 vs. 14. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 4.880, 317.05; 4. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.750, 320.74 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.852, 316.08; 5. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.776, 323.50 vs. 12. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.845, 299.20; 6. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.787, 320.66 vs. 11. Bob Bode, Firebird, 4.825, 310.05; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 4.796, 320.66 vs. 10. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.816, 319.60; 8. Phil Burkart, Firebird, 4.802, 321.81 vs. 9. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.810, 325.22.

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.739, 205.07 vs. 16. Mark Whisnant, Chevy Cavalier, 6.794, 202.94; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.747, 203.34 vs. 15. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.790, 203.31; 3. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.760, 204.88 vs. 14. Steve Schmidt, Cavalier, 6.786, 203.00; 4. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.762, 204.26 vs. 13. Jason Line, Cavalier, 6.786, 203.80; 5. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.770, 203.34 vs. 12. Gene Wilson, Stratus, 6.782, 203.74; 6. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.772, 203.68 vs. 11. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.779, 203.34; 7. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.775, 203.71 vs. 10. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.778, 204.60; 8. Darrell Alderman, Stratus, 6.777, 203.34 vs. 9. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.777, 203.03.

NHRA Cancels Friday qualifying at CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

As news breaks, we'll pass it on to you.

(9-26-2003) - Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to cancel racing Friday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.6 million race is the 19th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Weather permitting, Saturday's qualifying will run as scheduled, with pro sessions set for noon and 3:30 p.m. (CT). Eliminations are set for 11 a.m. (CT) Sunday.