KALITTA, BAZEMORE, LINE AND JOHNSON EARN VICTORIES AT MAC TOOLS NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Doug Kalitta raced to the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Whit Bazemore, Jason Line and Steve Johnson also were winners at the $2 million race, the third of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

In a thrilling, tire-smoking finish, Kalitta managed to regain traction in his Mac Tools dragster and cross the finish line just in front of final-round opponent Larry Dixon. Kalitta claimed his 20th career victory by recording a 5.182 at 296.24, while Dixon trailed with a 5.925 at 169.81 in his Miller Lite dragster.

"That was certainly an exciting final," Kalitta said. "(My tires) started spinning at half-track and I could see Larry out there turning sideways and (losing traction) too, so I gave it a hit and it hooked back up. Obviously both teams were trying hard to run a number against the other guy knowing they'd be up for it and it got both of us.”

It was Kalitta’s second victory at Gainesville and it put him back on the championship track after opening the season with back-to-back first round losses.

"To win this race is phenomenal,” said Kalitta, who defeated Doug Herbert, Andrew Cowin and Cory McClenathan to advance to the final-round. “There's so much history with this race. I came here just wondering what it would take to get back in the mix (of the championship chase) and I guess this will go a long way towards helping us out. We moved up to fifth today so that's a start."

Bazemore earned his 18th Funny Car victory when final round opponent Bob Gilbertson fouled at the start in his Prestone/Autolite Chevy Monte Carlo. Bazemore, who clocked a 4.897 at 315.67 in his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus, moved into the series points lead with the victory.

Bazemore, who earned his competition license at this track in 1986, claimed his first victory at the historic quarter-mile dragstrip by beating Cruz Pedregon, top qualifier Robert Hight and teammate Gary Scelzi in earlier rounds.

"This is huge," Bazemore said. "I remember our family driving to Orlando for Thanksgiving with my grandparents when I was 10 years old. On the way home I begged my parent to stop by Gainesville Raceway. I just had to see it. I remember thinking I'd come here and race one day. I took Frank Hawley's (Drag Racing) School here, but to actually win a national event here, the Gatornationals, is incredible. This is a special place for drag racers. This is one of the classics, like Indy or Pomona.”

Line beat fellow young gun Dave Connolly to score his fifth Pro Stock victory. Line drove his KB Racing Pontiac Grand Am to a 6.716 at 205.90 to hold off Connolly’s Bullet Motorsports Chevy Cavalier, which posted a 6.749 at 205.66.

"It's a tough task to race Dave with a trophy on the line, trust me," Line said. "He's unbelievable on the Tree. I did about the best I can do with a .027 and I made some mistakes shifting, but we ended up with the win. Credit the horsepower the guys gave me today.”

Line, a former engine builder on the NASCAR circuit who won the Auto Club Road to the Future Award last year which recognizes NHRA’s top rookie performer for the year, said he and team owner Greg Anderson are finally moving in the right direction after a slow start to the 2005 campaign. Anderson, the two-time defending series champion and 2004 Driver of the Year, lost in the second round to Warren Johnson, but earned 20 bonus points for resetting the national elapsed time record ( 6.633 seconds). Anderson also upped the national speed record to 208.23 mph.

"We haven't been happy with our performance this year on either car but we had a great rebound weekend for the whole team,” said Line, who defeated Ron Krisher, Richie Stevens and Jim Yates to advance to the final-round. “With Greg setting all the records and being No. 1 and then me winning, the only thing that could have been better was if he was in the other lane in the final. I remember losing here in the semis in 1992 in my Stocker and I was bummed out for weeks. I never thought I'd get that close again."

Johnson became the series points leader for the first time in his career in Pro Stock Motorcycle by earning his second career victory. Johnson raced to a performance of 7.139 at 187.26 on his Snap-on Tools Suzuki to hold off rival Craig Treble’s Matco Tools Suzuki, which trailed with a 7.161 at 185.95.

Johnson rolled to easy victories over red-lighting Chip Ellis and Andrew Hines and used a holeshot start to hold off the quicker U.S. Army Suzuki of Antron Brown before using more horsepower to drive around Treble in the final.

"I just found out the POWERade rules have changed; the Motorcycle season is now over and the champion will be crowned Monday," Johnson said jokingly. "This is the Gatornationals. It's our season opener and such a big race. I am thrilled to win it.”

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 18th annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, April 8-10 at Houston Raceway Park.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Clay Millican; 4. Cory McClenathan; 5. David Grubnic; 6. Morgan Lucas; 7. Andrew Cowin; 8. Tony Schumacher; 9. Scott Kalitta; 10. Doug Herbert; 11. Bruce Litton; 12. David Baca; 13. Rod Fuller; 14. Scott Weis; 15. John Smith; 16. Brandon Bernstein.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus; 2. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo; 3. Gary Scelzi, Stratus; 4. John Force, Ford Mustang; 5. Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo; 6. Robert Hight, Mustang; 7. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 8. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo; 9. Ron Capps, Stratus; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo; 11. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 12. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 13. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo; 14. Jim Head, Stratus; 15. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Pontiac Firebird.

PRO STOCK:

1. Jason Line, Pontiac Grand Am; 2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cavalier; 3. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 4. Jim Yates, Grand Am; 5. Greg Anderson, Grand Am; 6. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus; 7. Mike Edwards, Grand Am; 8. Greg Stanfield, Cavalier; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus; 10. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier; 11. Larry Morgan, Stratus; 12. V. Gaines, Stratus; 13. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 14. Rickie Smith, Cavalier; 15. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus; 16. Ron Krisher, Cavalier.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 3. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki; 6. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 7. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 8. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 9. Matt Smith, Suzuki; 10. Scott Valetti, Kawasaki; 11. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 12. Chris Bostick, Suzuki; 13. Ryan Schnitz; 14. Chip Ellis; 15. Redell Harris, Suzuki; 16. Blaine Hale, Suzuki.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sunday's final results from the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 5.182 seconds, 296.24 mph def. Larry Dixon, 5.925 seconds, 169.81 mph.

Funny Car -- Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.897, 315.67 def. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, foul.

Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.716, 205.90 def. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cavalier, 6.749, 205.66.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.139, 187.26 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.161, 185.95.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Aaron Olivarez, 5.408, 260.41 def. Ashley Force, 5.401, 267.37.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.591, 256.26 def. Mark Billington, Dodge Avenger, 5.734, 253.73.

Competition Eliminator -- Tony Stephenson, Chevy Cavalier, 7.942, 147.68 def. Bo Nickens, Dodge Neon, 7.655, 154.40.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series - TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 4.651, 313.58 def. Scott Kalitta, 4.567, 319.94; Andrew Cowin, 4.941, 216.19 def. Brandon Bernstein, foul; Morgan Lucas, 5.533, 228.60 def. John Smith, 6.821, 201.70; Larry Dixon, 4.712, 309.91 def. David Baca, 4.693, 287.53; Tony Schumacher, 4.549, 328.94 def. Rod Fuller, 4.731, 305.18; Cory McClenathan, 4.573, 315.34 def. Scott Weis, 4.732, 284.81; Doug Kalitta, 4.565, 326.44 def. Doug Herbert, foul; David Grubnic, 4.534, 322.81 def. Bruce Litton, 4.652, 315.12;

QUARTERFINALS -- McClenathan, 4.631, 320.17 def. Lucas, 4.706, 302.01; D. Kalitta, 4.700, 308.85 def. Cowin, 4.740, 265.80; Dixon, 4.594, 318.13 def. Schumacher, 5.078, 198.45; Millican, 4.649, 308.53 def. Grubnic, 4.698, 295.66;

SEMIFINALS -- D. Kalitta, 4.577, 323.62 def. McClenathan, 11.959, 71.08; Dixon, 4.546, 329.54 def. Millican, 4.609, 315.67;

FINAL -- D. Kalitta, 5.182, 296.24 def. Dixon, 5.925, 169.81.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.924, 311.41 def. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.991, 247.93; Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.886, 320.39 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.970, 273.05; Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.824, 322.69 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 5.008, 302.62; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.809, 320.05 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 12.574, 82.42; John Force, Mustang, 4.847, 323.04 def. Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 5.038, 292.58; Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.857, 319.48 def. Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.908, 315.67; Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo, 4.928, 301.60 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.913, 314.57; Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.869, 316.67 def. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 10.693, 89.68;

QUARTERFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.851, 320.51 def. Worsham, 7.604, 121.29; Bazemore, 4.917, 315.45 def. Hight, 5.253, 261.39; Gilbertson, 4.909, 309.70 def. Medlen, 5.260, 220.75; Force, 4.912, 304.87 def. Arend, 5.167, 240.96;

SEMIFINALS -- Gilbertson, 5.414, 211.41 def. Force, 5.990, 161.31; Bazemore, 4.920, 302.01 def. Scelzi, 5.377, 209.05;

FINAL -- Bazemore, 4.897, 315.67 def. Gilbertson, foul.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.706, 205.05 def. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.722, 205.94; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.716, 205.52 def. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.700, 205.52; Greg Stanfield, Chevy Cavalier, 6.711, 205.24 def. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.715, 206.18; Dave Connolly, Cavalier, broke def. V. Gaines, Stratus, broke; Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.701, 205.76 def. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.734, 205.24; Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.736, 205.71 def. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 6.752, 205.47; Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.733, 204.87 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.737, 205.05; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.676, 206.56 def. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.750, 206.32; Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.705, 205.66 def. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 9.481, 92.43;

QUARTERFINALS -- Yates, 6.772, 203.98 def. Edwards, foul; Line, 6.717, 205.62 def. Stevens, 6.725, 205.85; Connolly, 6.742, 205.33 def. Stanfield, 13.272, 63.41; W. Johnson, 6.696, 205.99 def. Anderson, 6.702, 206.23;

SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.722, 206.32 def. Yates, 6.711, 205.47; Connolly, 6.719, 205.90 def. W. Johnson, 6.679, 206.70;

FINAL -- Line, 6.716, 205.90 def. Connolly, 6.749, 205.66.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.178, 186.02 def. Chip Ellis, foul; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.193, 183.52 def. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.209, 183.18; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.179, 183.93 def. Ryan Schnitz, 7.239, 183.63; GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.130, 191.20 def. Redell Harris, Suzuki, 7.311, 176.74; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.131, 189.83 def. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 7.336, 180.07; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.158, 179.60 def. Scott Valetti, Kawasaki, foul; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.195, 186.99 def. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.211, 185.49; Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.093, 184.99 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.225, 186.79;

QUARTERFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.171, 184.84 def. Scali, 7.224, 181.81; Johnson, 7.231, 183.82 def. Hines, foul; Treble, 7.179, 184.57 def. Tonglet, 13.310, 43.85; Brown, 7.131, 186.02 def. Sampey, foul;

SEMIFINALS -- Treble, 7.159, 185.79 def. Stoffer, 7.200, 185.33; Johnson, 7.162, 187.65 def. Brown, 7.135, 184.50;

FINAL -- Johnson, 7.139, 187.26 def. Treble, 7.161, 185.95.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Tony Schumacher, 231; 2. Morgan Lucas, 223; 3. David Grubnic, 207; 4. Scott Kalitta, 203; 5. Doug Kalitta, 187; 6. Larry Dixon, 181; 7. Doug Herbert, 179; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 161; 9. Cory McClenathan, 160; 10. Clay Millican, 125.

Funny Car

1. Whit Bazemore, 237; 2. John Force, 228; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 178; 4. Bob Gilbertson, 176; 5. Phil Burkart, 174; 6. Eric Medlen, 165; 7. Gary Scelzi, 162; 8. Ron Capps, 157; 9. Robert Hight, 150; 10. Del Worsham, 142.

Pro Stock

1. Dave Connolly, 243; 2. Warren Johnson, 223; 3. Jim Yates, 202; 4. (tie) Allen Johnson, 197; Jason Line, 197; 6. Ron Krisher, 196; 7. Greg Anderson, 163; 8. Kurt Johnson, 146; 9. Richie Stevens, 141; 10. Jeg Coughlin, 136.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Steve Johnson, 112; 2. Craig Treble, 93; 3. Andrew Hines, 78; 4. Antron Brown, 75; 5. Karen Stoffer, 72; 6. GT Tonglet, 57; 7. Geno Scali, 56; 8. Angelle Sampey, 54; 9. Ryan Schnitz, 34; 10. Chip Ellis, 33.