Bazemore, Bernstein Among Friday Qualifying Leaders At Matco Tools Supernationals

By NHRA.com

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Whit Bazemore tied the second-quickest Funny Car run in NHRA history Friday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park to lead qualifying for the 32nd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions.

Kenny Bernstein, Mark Pawuk, and Antron Brown also were qualifying leaders in their respective pro categories. 

Bazemore powered his Matco Tools Pontiac Firebird to a career-best 4.787-second effort with a speed of 309.56 mph to take the top spot at the $2 million race, the eighth of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. 

"I was surprised that it ran a 78 (4.78)," Bazemore said. "I knew it was a low 80 -- you just know when it's a good run. I knew the track was there and the car felt like it was really haulin' down there. That's what we were hoping for. The performance has been there all year, but we just didn't get it all together until now. I think we can get the (national) record."'

The run is the quickest for Funny Car since NHRA mandated the 90-percent nitromethane rule in 2000, and ties John Force, who posted a 4.787 in 1998 at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, for second-quickest in history. Tony Pedregon, who qualified second with a 4.801, holds the quickest pass in NHRA history, a 4.779-second run, set in 1999 at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.

Bernstein was quickest in Top Fuel, clocking a 4.561 at 322.58 in his Budweiser King dragster. Pawuk led the Pro Stock field with a 6.832 at 200.17 in his Summit Racing Pontiac Grand Am. Brown paced the Pro Stock Motorcycle lineup by clocking a 7.173 at 183.24 on his Team 23 Suzuki. Qualifying continues Saturday at 1 p.m. 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Friday's qualifying results for the 32nd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. It is the eighth of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying continues Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Kenny Bernstein, 4.561 seconds, 322.58 mph; 2. Doug Herbert, 4.604, 316.23; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.609, 313.29; 4. Bruce Litton, 4.747, 299.99; 5. Gary Scelzi, 4.769, 282.54; 6. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.782, 299.46; 7. Darrell Russell, 4.817, 216.97; 8. John Smith, 4.956, 273.83; 9. Tony Schumacher, 5.107, 203.22; 10. Bobby Lagana Jr, 5.505, 241.76; 11. Rit Pustari, 5.930, 155.67; 12. Steve Smith, 6.160, 158.11; 13. Luigi Novelli, 7.189, 112.97; 14. Mike Dunn, 7.912, 92.15; 15. Doug Kalitta, 10.152, 79.99; 16. David Grubnic, 11.343, 74.35. 

Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac Firebird, 4.787, 309.56; 2. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.801, 317.49; 3. Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T, 4.833, 312.21; 4. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.842, 316.60; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.844, 316.08; 6. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.878, 304.39; 7. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 4.886, 311.05; 8. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.888, 311.92; 9. Tony Bartone, Firebird, 4.905, 299.40; 10. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 4.913, 309.27; 11. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.913, 307.72; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 4.919, 308.28; 13. Jim Epler, Camaro, 5.064, 306.12; 14. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.108, 316.08; 15. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 5.335, 280.89; 16. Terry Haddock, Dodge Avenger, 6.110, 157.23. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.832, 200.17; 2. Mike Edwards, Chevy Cavalier, 6.834, 201.28; 3. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.839, 201.91; 4. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.851, 200.68; 5. Darrell Alderman, Dodge R/T, 6.855, 200.20; 6. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.858, 200.89; 7. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.866, 199.82; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.867, 200.29; 9. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Firebird, 6.868, 200.50; 10. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.869, 200.59; 11. Mark Osborne, R/T, 6.875, 200.56; 12. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.890, 200.41; 13. Larry Morgan, R/T, 6.892, 199.94; 14. George Marnell, Grand Am, 6.893, 199.94; 15. Richie Stevens, Grand Am, 6.898, 199.43; 16. Hurley Blakeney, Ford Mustang, 6.911, 199.73. 

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.173, 187.03; 2. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.197, 183.84; 3. GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.204, 185.56; 4. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.207, 188.44; 5. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.224, 185.97; 6. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.308, 185.23; 7. Peggy Llewellyn, Suzuki, 7.311, 181.37; 8. Stephanie Reaves, Suzuki, 7.319, 185.26; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.326, 181.91; 10. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.338, 183.29; 11. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.339, 182.35; 12. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.347, 179.11; 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.362, 180.19; 14. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.388, 180.84; 15. Neil Jacobs, Kawasaki, 7.433, 175.71; 16. Patrick Wise, Suzuki, 7.445, 178.42. 

NHRA.com