46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals - Part 1

By Robert Briggs

John Force on the quickest Funny Car run ever, 4.664 sec 329.91 mph. John failed to back it up to make it official.

Mike Edwards had the unlucky task of facing eventual Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson in the Final Round.

David Baca lost to Melonie Troxel in the Top Fuel Final Round. David qualified 10th with a 4.558 sec 328.22 mph run.

Two-time Comp Eliminator Champ Dean Carter pulls a fatter red light -0.448 in the Finals than Lou Ficco Jr.'s -0.022.

T/F winner Melonie Troxel in her Round One win against Clay Millican. The win was Melonie's first event win and the fourth woman ever to win the Winternationals.

Dallas Theobald's '69 Cuda lost in Round One of Stock Eliminator.

Robert Hight won Funny Car after scrambling to prepare a new body. The team found this one in the Top Eliminator Club tent on their show car. They didn't make the staging lanes until just prior to the Final Round and won a very close race with Ron Capps.

Funny Car Jim Head qualified 15th with a 4.803 sec 318.24 mph lap. Jim lost to Ron Capps in Round Two.

Duane Shields qualified 5th with a 5.373 sec 259.56 mph. Duane beat Aaron Olivarez in the Top Alcohol Dragster Final Round.

Super Gas Randy Balough beat himself with a red light in Round Five.

Jay Payne qualified #1 and took full advantage of a Final Round red light by Frank Manzo to win Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Former nostalgia driver Jeff Diehl has a new Funny Car ride. Jeff failed to qualify but the car looks great.

Robert Briggs
rbriggs6@charter.net