ENNIS, Texas. - Two NHRA Winston champions were crowned Saturday at the
15the annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at the
Texas Motorplex. Gary Scelzi claimed his third Top Fuel NHRA Winston
championship while Bob Panella Jr. earned his second career NHRA Winston Pro
Stock Truck championship.
Cory McClenathan, John Force, Kurt Johnson and Steve Johns were the winners
at the $1.8 million race, the 22nd of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA
Winston Drag Racing Series.
Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., lost to eventual event runner-up Melanie Troxel
in the semi-finals but left with a 226 point lead over Larry Dixon to clinch
the 2000 NHRA Winston Top Fuel championship. "This is a special thing
for me and (team owner and crew chief) Alan (Johnson) and everybody,"
said Scelzi. "There are guys on the team that have never won a race
before and then there are those guys that have been there since the
beginning that this is nothing new to them."
Scelzi needed only to complete the bye run in the first round to clinch his
third championship. Scelzi smoked the tires right off the starting line in
the opening round for an uneventful way to clinch a championship. "We
were trying something since we had a free shot," Scelzi said, the 1998
and 1999 NHRA Winston Top Fuel champion. "We were hoping it was going
to make it down the track. We didn't plan on smoking the tires."
Much like Scelzi's championship, Panella's title came without an event win
at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals. "Fortunately the qualifying scenario
worked to my advantage and we did what we had to do," said Panella.
"We would have liked to have won the race but I'll take the
championship over the race any day."
Panella won his second career NHRA Winston Pro Stock Truck championship
winning five races in 2000 with one remaining. After winning his second NHRA
Winston title, Panella dispelled the rumors of moving over to another
professional category in the NHRA. "I'm happy where I am at,"
said, Panella, a former competition eliminator driver. "I enjoy the
challenge. We work real hard to try to make as much horsepower as possible
with 358 cubic inches. It's fun to flex your muscles now and then."
The qualifying at the 15th annual O'Reilly Nationals was the first time an
elimination order was determined using the NHRA Winston points standings
following the Matco Tools SuperNationals. The event had been originally
postponed on October 21 because persistent rain showers prevented qualifying
to be completed. The rainy weather again washed out the entire day of
qualifying two weeks later and officials were forced to use the
unprecedented format in order to complete the race.
Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., recorded his tenth victory of the 2000 NHRA
Winston Drag Racing season, defeating Jerry Toliver with a run 4.863 seconds
at 302.55 mph in the Funny Car category. Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
exploded the super charger at the finish line of the quarter-mile to edge
Toliver's Chevrolet Camaro. "We killed Frankenstein, only (crew chief
Austin) Coil could kill Frankenstein," said Force, "It was
trucking and it blew just short of the lights." Force was running a
special monster theme Funny Car Ford Mustang body that was destroyed as a
result of the explosion..
Force clinched his tenth NHRA Winston Funny Car championship last weekend in
Houston at the Matco Tools SuperNationals while running on a four disc
clutch engine. Force won his tenth event of the season using the five disc
clutch. "This is the first time we've run a five disc clutch,"
said Force, the all time winningest driver in NHRA history. "She's a
bad boy and she has consistency that we've never had before.
Force had to beat Cristen Powell, Del Worsham, and Tony Pedregon before
facing Toliver.
McClenathan, from Anaheim, Calif., didn't need the 4.659 at 314.02 to defeat
Melanie Troxel who lost traction in the final, giving McClenathan his second
win in a row. "Two wins in barely less than a week is like a dream come
true," said McClenathan, "It always looks good if you can win,
especially when you don't have a job."
McClenathan will be out of work come the 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing
season if he does not find another ride. McClenathan's current team owner,
Joe Gibbs, has announced he will not continue to run a car next year in the
NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. McClenathan will try to keep MBNA as his
primary sponsor next season no matter who he drives for. "MBNA and I
are working to stay together for next year," said McClenathan. "I
don't like to talk before it happens. Hopefully I'll have a job next year,
but right now I am worried about racing."
McClenathan beat Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Mike Dunn and Larry Dixon before
meeting Troxel in the final.
Johnson, from Lawrenceville, Ga., used a 6.966 at 196.73 run to edge 2000
NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin. The win was Johnson's fifth
this season in his AC Delco Chevrolet Camaro. "We needed this win to
put a few points on a few cars out there." said Johnson. "I love
this kind of racing. You just go out and take a shot. It's like going to
Vegas because it's a gamble."
Since qualifying positions for all four professional categories were set
based on the 2000 NHRA Winston championship points, Johnson was able to win
the O'Reilly Fall Nationals without making a qualifying pass. "We
looked at all the information we had from last year to here and racing under
these condition and put a package together that we thought that would get
down the track," said Johnson, the 1993 NHRA rookie of the year.
"With the extra spray on the track it ran 6.92 and we knew we really
had something. We didn't really change anything all day long." Johnson
held off Larry Morgan, Richie Stevens and Troy Coughlin before eliminating
Coughlin.
Johns, from Lancaster, Pa., defeated Randy Daniels with a run of 7.566 at
178.05 in the Pro Stock Truck finals. Johns last win came at the last year's
season finale in Pomona at the 1999 Auto Club NHRA Finals. "That was 11
months and three weeks ago," said Johns. "I thought I was going to
go dry for a year."
Lane choice was a major factor in Johns' win. The Pro Stock and Pro Stock
Truck performance in the right lane was noticeably down compared to the left
lane. "Maintaining lane choice had to win us this race, plus we ran
pretty good," said Johns. "It was pretty lopsided as bad as it was
here this weekend. I felt the guy in the right lane didn't even have a
chance the last two rounds, so that took some of the pressure off."
Johns kept lane choice all day and chose the left lane all four times. The
win moves Johns up to fourth place in the NHRA Winston points standings.
Johns defeated Mark Whisnant, Taylor Lastor, Bob Panella and Daniels to earn
his second career victory.
The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 36th annual Auto Club
of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, Calif.,
November 9-12.
ENNIS, Texas -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the
15th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at Texas
Motorplex. The $1.7 million race is the 22nd of 23 events in the $45-million
NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Cory McClenathan; 2. Melanie Troxel; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Gary Scelzi; 5.
Mike Dunn; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Don Lampus; 8. David Grubnic; 9. Kenny
Bernstein; 10. Bill Walsh; 11. Doug Herbert; 12. Bob Vandergriff; 13. Rhonda
Hartman-Smith; 14. Joe Amato; 15. Bobby Baldwin.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Tony
Pedregon, Mustang; 4. Scotty Cannon, Chevy Camaro; 5. Ron Capps, Camaro; 6.
Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 7. Jim Epler, Camaro; 8. Del Worsham,
Firebird; 9. Al Hofmann, Firebird; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 11. Bruce
Sarver, Firebird; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 13. Whit Bazemore, Camaro; 14.
Cristen Powell, Camaro; 15. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger; 16. Gary
Densham, Firebird.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 3. Troy
Coughlin, Cutlass; 4. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird; 5. Warren Johnson,
Firebird; 6. Richie Stevens, Firebird; 7. Darrell Alderman, Dodge R/T; 8.
Brad Jeter, Firebird; 9. Ron Krisher, Firebird; 10. Allen Johnson, Dodge
Avenger; 11. Larry Morgan, R/T; 12. V. Gaines, Camaro; 13. Tom Martino,
Firebird; 14. Bruce Allen, Firebird; 15. Greg Anderson, Firebird; 16. Jim
Yates, Firebird.
PRO STOCK TRUCK:
1. Steve Johns, Chevy S-10; 2. Randy Daniels, S-10; 3. Bob Panella Jr, S-10;
4. Mike Coughlin, S-10; 5. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma; 6. Rick Jones,
Sonoma; 7. John Coughlin, S-10; 8. Taylor Lastor, S-10; 9. Greg Stanfield,
S-10; 10. Larry Seay, S-10; 11. Mark Whisnant, S-10; 12. Jeff Gracia, S-10;
13. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota; 14. David Spitzer, Sonoma; 15. Scott Perin,
S-10; 16. Brian Self, S-10.
Saturday's final results from the 15th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals
presented by Castrol Syntec at Texas Motorplex. The $1.6-million race is the
22nd of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Cory McClenathan, 4.659 seconds, 314.02 mph def. Melanie
Troxel, 8.213 seconds, 101.48 mph.
Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.863, 302.55 def. Jerry Toliver,
Pontiac Firebird, 4.994, 306.40.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.966, 196.73 def. Jeg Coughlin,
Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.555, 141.00.
Pro Stock Truck -- Steve Johns, Chevy S-10, 7.566, 178.05 def. Randy
Daniels, S-10, 8.054, 136.40.
Federal-Mogul Dragster -- David Wells, Dragster, 5.392, 258.22 def. Jay
Meyer, Uyehara, 5.635, 246.12.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Todd Simpson, Avenger, 5.961, 244.65 def. Jackie
Stidham, Camaro, 5.978, 238.51.
Comp Eliminator -- Mike Saye, Cutlass, 9.039, 137.90 def. Keith Mawhee,
Pontiac Grand Am, 10.977, 89.82.
Super Stock -- Kevin Helms, Corvette, 10.077, 119.97 def. Monty Bogan Jr.,
Camaro, 12.269, 76.97.
Stock -- Toby Lang, Chevelle, 12.043, 108.59 def. Tony Wood, Camaro, 10.676,
120.69.
Super Comp -- Sammy Esch, Undercvr, 17.634, 58.33 def. James Paul, Dodge,
broke.
Super Gas -- Randy Blackwell, Fiero, 9.890, 131.70 def. Allen Temple,
Firebird, foul.
Final round-by-round results from the 15th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals
presented by Castrol Syntec at Texas Motorplex, the 22nd of 23 events in the
$45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Don Lampus, 4.828, 302.01 def. Doug Herbert, 4.836, 298.27;
David Grubnic, 4.918, 256.70 def. Bob Vandergriff, 5.158, 293.03; Cory
McClenathan, 4.791, 312.13 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 10.991, 73.68; Melanie
Troxel, 4.657, 322.27 def. Kenny Bernstein, 4.716, 313.22; Gary Scelzi,
11.902, 115.01 was unopposed; Mike Dunn, 4.727, 313.88 def. Joe Amato,
11.177, 63.81; Larry Dixon, 4.733, 297.94 def. Bill Walsh, 4.744, 309.34;
Doug Kalitta, 9.650, 84.45 def. Bobby Baldwin, broke;
QUARTERFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.805, 297.94 def. Lampus, 7.598, 104.07; Dixon,
5.039, 280.84 def. Grubnic, 12.461, 73.82; Troxel, 4.636, 325.37 def.
Kalitta, 4.636, 315.12; McClenathan, 4.558, 322.04 def. Dunn, 4.529, 320.58;
SEMIFINALS -- Troxel, 4.605, 326.08 def. Scelzi, 6.157, 162.18; McClenathan,
4.563, 315.56 def. Dixon, 4.678, 314.90;
FINAL -- McClenathan, 4.659, 314.02 def. Troxel, 8.213, 101.48.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 5.020, 299.26 def. Bruce Sarver,
Firebird, 7.647, 101.52; Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 6.781, 247.29 def. Whit
Bazemore, Chevy Camaro, 8.424, 121.33; John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.201,
215.75 def. Cristen Powell, Camaro, 9.414, 81.54; Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.870,
305.56 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 7.063, 124.32; Tony Pedregon, Mustang,
5.021, 296.05 def. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.063, 297.22; Scotty Cannon,
Camaro, 5.119, 234.98 def. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 9.855, 90.24; Jim
Epler, Camaro, 5.317, 234.21 def. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 8.263, 91.27;
Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 5.139, 299.93 def. Gary Densham, Firebird, 11.921,
75.39;
QUARTERFINALS -- Cannon, 5.164, 246.21 def. Capps, 7.241, 124.14; Force,
4.904, 312.28 def. Worsham, 14.090, 68.70; T. Pedregon, 5.014, 29.76 def.
Epler, 8.878, 88.57; Toliver, 5.007, 306.81 def. F. Pedregon, 8.446, 100.84;
SEMIFINALS -- Toliver, 4.955, 306.60 def. Cannon, broke; Force, 4.862,
298.27 def. T. Pedregon, 5.067, 257.68;
FINAL -- Force, 4.863, 302.55 def. Toliver, 4.994, 306.40.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Darrell Alderman, Dodge R/T, 14.040, 57.02 def. Jim Yates,
Pontiac Firebird, broke; Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.975, 194.91 def. Bruce
Allen, Firebird, 7.814, 132.05; Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.015,
195.48 def. Tom Martino, Firebird, foul; Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 6.992, 196.02
def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.036, 194.69; Brad Jeter, Firebird,
8.686, 105.40 def. Ron Krisher, Firebird, foul; Warren Johnson, Firebird,
6.977, 198.03 def. V. Gaines, Chevy Camaro, 7.096, 192.91; Kurt Johnson,
Camaro, 6.923, 198.44 def. Larry Morgan, R/T, 7.056, 194.80; Jeg Coughlin,
Cutlass, 6.964, 196.67 def. Greg Anderson, Firebird, 8.098, 124.45;
QUARTERFINALS -- Pawuk, 6.989, 196.24 def. Jeter, 8.195, 117.91; T.
Coughlin, 7.018, 196.16 def. W. Johnson, foul; J. Coughlin, 6.971, 196.76
def. Alderman, 7.050, 195.76; K. Johnson, 6.946, 198.41 def. Stevens, 6.984,
195.56;
SEMIFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.967, 196.53 def. Pawuk, broke; K. Johnson,
6.931, 198.55 def. T. Coughlin, 8.467, 115.52;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.966, 196.73 def. J. Coughlin, 7.555, 141.00.
PRO STOCK TRUCK:
ROUND ONE -- Rick Jones, GMC Sonoma, 7.607, 176.51 def. Jeff Gracia, Chevy
S-10, 7.635, 176.40; John Lingenfelter, Sonoma, 7.606, 176.56 def. Brian
Self, S-10, foul; Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.596, 176.81 def. Larry Seay, S-10,
7.619, 175.87; Steve Johns, S-10, 7.536, 178.26 def. Mark Whisnant, S-10,
7.620, 176.44; Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.655, 175.07 def. Greg Stanfield, S-10,
7.577, 177.74; John Coughlin, S-10, 7.617, 176.03 def. Todd Patterson, Dodge
Dakota, 7.667, 174.89; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.570, 177.23 def. Scott Perin,
S-10, 8.188, 123.89; Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.554, 177.98 def. David Spitzer,
Sonoma, 7.675, 175.23;
QUARTERFINALS -- M. Coughlin, 7.585, 177.16 def. J. Coughlin, 8.090,
130.38; Panella Jr, 7.581, 177.07 def. Jones, 7.738, 173.01; Daniels, 7.552,
178.05 def. Lingenfelter, 7.593, 176.26; Johns, 7.549, 178.45 def. Lastor,
9.486, 91.88;
SEMIFINALS -- Daniels, 7.612, 177.04 def. M. Coughlin, 8.889, 170.00;
Johns, 7.597, 177.77 def. Panella Jr, 8.335, 122.21;
FINAL -- Johns, 7.566, 178.05 def. Daniels, 8.054, 136.40.
Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 15th
annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at Texas
Motorplex, the 22nd of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing
Series:
TOP FUEL:
1. Gary Scelzi, 1,776; 2. Larry Dixon, 1,550; 3. Tony Schumacher, 1,537; 4.
Joe Amato, 1,388; 5. Doug Kalitta, 1,377; 6. Kenny Bernstein, 1,243; 7. Cory
McClenathan, 1,239; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 980; 9. Doug Herbert, 892; 10. Don
Lampus, 838.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, 1,874; 2. Jerry Toliver, 1,481; 3. Ron Capps, 1,477; 4. Tony
Pedregon, 1,389; 5. Jim Epler, 1,232; 6. Scotty Cannon, 1,061; 7. Whit
Bazemore, 1,057; 8. Del Worsham, 1,000; 9. Bruce Sarver, 941; 10. Dean
Skuza, 938.
PRO STOCK:
1. Jeg Coughlin, 1,956; 2. Kurt Johnson, 1,490; 3. Warren Johnson, 1,410; 4.
Ron Krisher, 1,359; 5. Mark Pawuk, 1,180; 6. Troy Coughlin, 1,135; 7. Richie
Stevens, 1,086; 8. Jim Yates, 993; 9. Darrell Alderman, 895; 10. Bruce
Allen, 810.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Angelle Seeling, 1,198; 2. Matt Hines, 1,058; 3. Tony Mullen, 936; 4.
Antron Brown, 879; 5. David Schultz, 825; 6. Geno Scali, 758; 7. Craig
Treble, 696; 8. Shawn Gann, 539; 9. Blaine Hale, 433; 10. Steve Johnson,
408.
PRO STOCK TRUCK:
1. Bob Panella Jr, 1,299; 2. Randy Daniels, 1,088; 3. John Coughlin, 794; 4.
Steve Johns, 777; 5. Greg Stanfield, 707; 6. Mike Coughlin, 652; 7. Brian
Self, 598; 8. Rick Jones, 540; 9. Jeff Gracia, 539; 10. John Lingenfelter,
506.