FORCE, KALITTA, JOHNSON AND HINES WIN RAIN-DELAYED O'REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Thirteen-time Funny Car champion John Force raced to the lead in the POWERade Series points standings by winning the rain-delayed $1.6 million O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals Monday afternoon at Memphis Motorsports Park. Force, who has been in second place for most of the season, defeated former teammate Tony Pedregon in the final round to move in front of Ron Capps in the series standings by 17 points.

Sharing the winner's circle with Force at the NHRA POWERade Series event was Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta; Kurt Johnson in Pro Stock; and back-to-back reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Andrew Hines, who moved back on top in his category by three points.

Until Monday, it seemed every time Force had a chance to make up some ground on Capps in the points race, he'd let the opportunity slip away. Not so in Memphis as he recorded his 121st victory in his 194th career final after Capps was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Pedregon.

After leaving dead-even with Pedregon, Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.786 seconds at 318.24 mph -- the quickest and fastest pass of the weekend -- to easily better Pedregon's tire-smoking 5.048 in his Q Racing Chevy Monte Carlo.

"I ain't trying to play it cool here but let's not get too excited about being in the lead by a few points," said Force of his second win of the season. "The heat's still killing us. It just wasn't too bad today. I guess I ran a track record there in the final so that proves it. Today was good, I didn't see Elvis at 1,000 feet and we got the win. They still feel just as good as the first one did."

Kalitta's victory over first-time finalist and teammate Hillary Will was efficient, but by far his biggest win of the race was his second-round defeat of Tony Schumacher, who had been closing in fast in his U.S. Army dragster on Kalitta with five final-round showings in a row.

The Kalitta vs. Schumacher showdown could end up being a pivotal moment in the 2006 Top Fuel title chase as the two drivers have gone head-to-head for the fourth time in the last five races. This time Kalitta got the win to end Schumacher's incredible streak. Kalitta was able to pump his lead back up to 136 points over the three-time world champ.

"I've struggled here over the years to finally get a win here," said Kalitta, who posted a 4.604 at 313.95 in his Mac Tools dragster in the final round to defeat Will, who clocked a 4.644 at 312 in her KB Racing dragster in her first career final. "It was huge. It was a real close race with Tony. To have to run those guys and get by makes it more special to get that first win here at Memphis.

"We're coming out of here with a few more points than we came in with. It's really what we've needed to do, because we've been fading a little the last few races."

Line continues to have the best car in Pro Stock as his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO once again ran the quickest pass in the Pro Stock final. However, just as it was in Brainerd, Minn., one week ago, a better light by his opponent gave the trophy away.

Johnson had the quicker reaction time and powered his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt to a 6.718 at 204.42 to hold off the charging Line, who posted a quicker, but losing 6.703 at 205.38.

"I've never been able to win here on Sunday," said Johnson, a two-time runner-up at this event. "Maybe we should always race on Mondays instead. We're still figuring out a new car. We ran it at Brainerd and here, so it's only got a few passes on it, but it seems to be happy at the moment. It reacts well, goes fast, and runs quick.

"I want to win the next six races, but there are so many good drivers and crews out here. We're all human. We want to hit home runs every time up, but it usually doesn't work that way. You have to do the best you can and see what happens."

With the POWERade Series lead on the line, Pro Stock Motorcycle contenders Hines and Brown didn't get to race because Brown fouled at the start on his U.S. Army Suzuki by .006 seconds, his sixth red-light start of the year and third with the trophy on the line. It was Hines' second victory of the year and seventh of his career on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

"I saw Antron's red-light come on and everything just went blank," Hines said. "To come in here and get the win and get the POWERade points lead back is such an awesome feeling. I hope it's hot the rest of the year because we've done really well at the two hottest places we raced this year, here and Denver."

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park. The $1.6 million race is the 17th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Hillary Will; 3. Brandon Bernstein; 4. Morgan Lucas; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Larry Dixon; 7. Bob Vandergriff; 8. Scott Palmer; 9. Cory McClenathan; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Doug Herbert; 12. Melanie Troxel; 13. David Grubnic; 14. Clay Millican; 15. Troy Buff; 16. Rod Fuller.

FUNNY CAR:

1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo; 3.Robert Hight, Mustang; 4. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 5. Mike Ashley, Dodge Stratus; 6. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger; 7. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo; 8. Whit Bazemore, Charger; 9. Gary Scelzi, Charger; 10. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus; 11. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 13. Jim Head, Stratus; 14. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo; 15. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo; 16. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo.

PRO STOCK:

1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO; 3. Mike Edwards, GTO; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 5. Warren Johnson, GTO; 6. Larry Morgan, Stratus; 7. V. Gaines, Stratus; 8. Greg Anderson, GTO; 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 10. Greg Stanfield, GTO; 11. Tom Martino, GTO; 12. Richie Stevens, Stratus; 13. Tom Lee, Cobalt; 14. Jim Yates, GTO; 15. Dave Northrop, Stratus; 16. Dave Howard, Cobalt.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 3. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 5. Matt Smith; 6. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 7. Chip Ellis; 8. Ryan Schnitz; 9. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 10. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki; 11. Tom Bradford; 12. Steve ohnson, Suzuki; 13. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 14. Chris Rivas; 15. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 16. Craig Treble, Suzuki.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Monday's final results from the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park. The $1.6 million race is the 17th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.604 seconds, 313.95 mph def. Hillary Will, 4.644 seconds, 312.13 mph.

Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.786, 318.24 def. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, .048, 238.72.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 9.085, 96.61 def. Antron Brown, Suzuki, foul.

Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.718, 204.42 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.703, 205.38.

Competition Eliminator -- Lee Zane, Bantam Roadster, 9.325, 117.44 def. Al Ackerman, Dragster, foul.

Stock Eliminator -- Jimmy Hidalgo, Chevy Camaro, 13.239, 69.13 def. Edmond Richardson, Camaro, 11.476, 92.37.

Super Comp -- J. Lee Didier, Dragster, 8.883, 176.33 def. Phillip Chester, Dragster, 8.872, 160.81.

Super Gas -- David Tatum III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.941, 161.65 def. Ryan Bolin, Ford Mustang, 9.894, 141.64.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Final round-by-round results from the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, the 17th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Morgan Lucas, 5.180, 240.77 def. J.R. Todd, 5.225, 261.12; Doug Kalitta, 4.860, 283.73 def. Cory McClenathan, 5.149, 271.62; Larry Dixon, 4.880, 288.77 def. Troy Buff, 9.318, 85.42; Brandon Bernstein, 5.325, 221.02 def. Doug Herbert, 5.531, 257.63; Bob Vandergriff, 5.390, 199.82 def. Rod Fuller, broke; Tony Schumacher, 4.757, 296.70 def. Clay Millican, 5.751, 160.02; Hillary Will, 4.823, 295.72 def. Melanie Troxel, 5.543, 180.57; Scott Palmer, 5.044, 251.25 def. David Grubnic, 5.658, 250.23;

QUARTERFINALS -- Lucas, 4.637, 294.95 def. Vandergriff, 4.720, 312.35; Bernstein, 4.553, 327.59 def. Dixon, 4.614, 320.05; Will, 4.675, 313.58 def. Palmer, 5.761, 167.47; Kalitta, 4.599, 312.86 def. Schumacher, 4.592, 323.58;

SEMIFINALS -- Will, 4.657, 313.29 def. Lucas, 6.493, 129.94; Kalitta, 4.631, 315.93 def. Bernstein, 4.874, 310.05;

FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.604, 313.95 def. Will, 4.644, 312.13.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.426, 276.01 def. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 5.821, 215.96; Whit Bazemore, Dodge Charger, 11.545, 68.78 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, foul; Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.247, 270.16 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 5.361, 226.20; Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 6.100, 212.29 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 6.812, 158.41; Ron Capps, Charger, 5.058, 292.08 def. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.384, 249.07; John Force, Mustang, 5.356, 255.68 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 12.108, 78.38; Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.097, 283.13 def. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 5.332, 275.00; Mike Ashley, Stratus, 5.147, 274.66 def. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 5.226, 276.18;

QUARTERFINALS -- Medlen, 4.924, 300.00 def. Burkart, 5.025, 310.34; Force, 4.824, 316.23 def. Bazemore, 5.107, 238.98; Hight, 4.835, 309.20 def. Ashley, 4.833, 314.97; T. Pedregon, 4.892, 313.44 def. Capps, 4.941, 302.89;

SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.895, 312.71 def. Hight, 4.958, 297.88; Force, 5.017, 304.94 def. Medlen, 11.791, 63.13;

FINAL -- Force, 4.786, 318.24 def. T. Pedregon, 5.048, 238.72.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.810, 202.97 def. Jim Yates, Pontiac GTO, 6.864, 203.06; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.814, 203.06 def. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.788, 203.12; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.793, 203.80 def. Dave Howard, Cobalt, 17.145, 40.58; Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.798, 203.31 def. Tom Martino, GTO, foul; Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.790, 204.11 def. Dave Northrop, Stratus, 6.884, 202.36; Jason Line, GTO, 6.763, 203.68 def. Tom Lee, Cobalt, 6.835, 203.65; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.782, 203.25 def. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.797, 203.06; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.781, 203.06 def. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.812, 202.91;

QUARTERFINALS -- Edwards, 6.718, 204.54 def. W. Johnson, 6.731, 204.05; A. Johnson, 6.729, 203.71 def. Anderson, 9.844, 92.22; K. Johnson, 6.718, 204.26 def. Morgan, 6.742, 204.39; Line, 6.694, 205.10 def. Gaines, 6.759, 204.01;

SEMIFINALS -- K. Johnson, 6.708, 204.45 def. A. Johnson, 8.402, 113.84; Line, 6.726, 205.01 def. Edwards, 6.742, 204.94;

FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.718, 204.42 def. Line, 6.703, 205.38.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.273, 184.77 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, foul; Ryan Schnitz, Buell, 7.237, 182.45 def. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.241, 183.89; Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.227, 182.60 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.238, 184.55; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.211, 184.98 def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.192, 182.01; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.196, 185.10 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.262, 183.54; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.268, 182.77 def. Tom Bradford, Buell, foul; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.164, 184.77 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.251, 181.37; Mike Berry, Suzuki, broke def. Matt Smith, Buell, broke; Matt Smith, Buell, 7.131, 182.11 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.149, 185.72;

QUARTERFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.146, 184.60 def. Gann, 7.164, 185.92; Hines, 7.081, 186.95 def. Ellis, 7.172, 183.02; Brown, 7.095, 185.03 def. Schnitz, 7.177, 183.94; Phillips, 7.164, 188.36 def. Smith, 7.101, 184.42;

SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 7.048, 186.77 def. Stoffer, 7.625, 132.76; Hines, 7.085, 187.29 def. Phillips, foul;

FINAL -- Hines, 9.085, 96.61 def. Brown, foul.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 19th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park, the 17th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Doug Kalitta, 1,270; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1,134; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 1,118; 4. Melanie Troxel, 1,112; 5. David Grubnic, 966; 6. Rod Fuller, 937; 7. Larry Dixon, 911; 8. Morgan Lucas, 830; 9. Hillary Will, 801; 10. Cory McClenathan, 741.

Funny Car

1. John Force, 1,243; 2. Ron Capps, 1,226; 3. Tony Pedregon, 1,079; 4. Eric Medlen, 1,050; 5. Robert Hight, 1,024; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 972; 7. Gary Scelzi, 968; 8. Whit Bazemore, 861; 9. Del Worsham, 717; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 707.

Pro Stock

1. Jason Line, 1,245; 2. Greg Anderson, 1,124; 3. Dave Connolly, 1,074; 4. Kurt Johnson, 968; 5. Jim Yates, 928; 6. Mike Edwards, 926; 7. Allen Johnson, 914; 8. Larry Morgan, 814; 9. V. Gaines, 800; 10. Greg Stanfield, 745.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Andrew Hines, 830; 2. Antron Brown, 827; 3. Chip Ellis, 739; 4. Angelle Sampey, 715; 5. Ryan Schnitz, 600; 6. Karen Stoffer, 581; 7. Matt Smith, 579; 8. Tom Bradford, 537; 9. Matt Guidera, 492; 10. Craig Treble, 461.