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Drag Racing Story of the Day!

NHRA Finals: Dixon wins Budweiser Shootout
while Bernstein, Bazemore, Yates, Savoie,
and Lingenfelter Qualify No. 1

By NHRA Communications

POMONA, Calif. - Larry Dixon drove his Miller Lite Dragster to a win in the 17th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday during the 37th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

Dixon beat Doug Kalitta with a run of 4.514 seconds at 323.19 mph to Kalitta's 4.557 pass at 321.73, earning a $100,000 bonus. The Budweiser Shootout featured the quickest eight Top Fuel drivers of the season. Dixon beat Tony Schumacher and Mike Dunn en route to the special event win.

Kenny Bernstein, Whit Bazemore, Jim Yates, Angelle Savoie and John Lingenfelter are the top qualifiers in their respective categories at the $2 million race, the final of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

This is the second time Dixon has captured the Budweiser Shootout victory, also winning during his rookie season of 1995.

"It feels awesome," Dixon said. "It's just as good as the first time. (Crew chief) Dick LaHaie is awesome. Each round we picked up a little more. We had a great car today and hopefully it will rub off for (final eliminations)."

Bernstein turned in a 4.498 run at 327.59 in his Budweiser King Dragster to earn his ninth No. 1 qualifying spot of the Top Fuel season.

"The 4.49 was a great run, but the conditions for the first three rounds tomorrow, which are so critical for us, will be much different," Bernstein said.

Bernstein is in the hunt for his sixth career Winston championship. Bernstein must advance to the final round to clinch the title over Dixon. To win his first Winston championship, Dixon must win the race and hope that Bernstein loses in the first or second round.

Bazemore set both ends of the track record in his Matco Tools Pontiac Firebird on Friday for his ninth No. 1 effort of the season. The 4.741 run at 324.67 to set the pace for the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history.

"The car has been really quick and consistent," Bazemore said. "But this Matco Tools team was actually hoping for something more tonight."

Yates' qualifying effort of 6.850 at 201.22 in his Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Grand Am was the best in the Pro Stock category. This is the fourth No. 1 qualifying award of the year for Yates. 

Savoie grabbed her sixth No. 1 qualifying spot of the season with a 7.186 pass at 184.07 on her Team Winston Suzuki GSXR to lead the Pro Stock Motorcycles.

Lingenfelter set both ends of the track record as well as the national speed record with a 7.399 pass at 182.75 in his Summit Racing GMC Sonoma to lead the Pro Stock Truck category. This is the second consecutive race that Lingenfelter has gone into final eliminations with a No. 1 qualifying spot.

Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

POMONA, Calif. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 37th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway, the 24th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Top Fuel -- 1. Kenny Bernstein, 4.498 seconds, 327.59 mph vs. 16. Robert Reehl, 4.708, 307.58; 2. Larry Dixon, 4.514, 323.19 vs. 15. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.702, 312.93; 3. Mike Dunn, 4.533, 329.67 vs. 14. Brady Kalivoda, 4.670, 316.38; 4. Doug Herbert, 4.555, 325.06 vs. 13. Don Lampus, 4.654, 316.82; 5. Clay Millican, 4.555, 318.92 vs. 12. Scott Weis, 4.644, 295.01; 6. Doug Kalitta, 4.557, 321.81 vs. 11. Tim Gibson, 4.626, 312.50; 7. Tony Schumacher, 4.566, 329.10 vs. 10. Gary Scelzi, 4.592, 320.97; 8. Darrell Russell, 4.580, 313.95 vs. 9. Andrew Cowin, 4.591, 319.75. 

Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac Firebird, 4.741, 324.67 vs. 16. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 4.889, 302.69; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.788, 318.32 vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 4.877, 311.63; 3. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.793, 318.24 vs. 14. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 4.861, 309.49; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 4.797, 316.67 vs. 13. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.860, 314.75; 5. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.805, 319.82 vs. 12. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.851, 318.02; 6. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.814, 313.29 vs. 11. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.846, 318.84; 7. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.818, 314.24 vs. 10. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.826, 317.27; 8. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 4.825, 315.27 vs. 9. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 4.826, 319.07. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.850, 201.22 vs. 16. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.879, 200.50; 2. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.850, 201.10 vs. 15. Larry Morgan, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.879, 200.95; 3. Mike Edwards, Chevy Cavalier, 6.855, 200.92 vs. 14. Rickie Smith, Grand Am, 6.878, 200.71; 4. George Marnell, Grand Am, 6.863, 201.10 vs. 13. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 6.878, 201.37; 5. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.864, 201.61 vs. 12. Darrell Alderman, Neon R/T, 6.875, 201.22; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.864, 200.80 vs. 11. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.873, 201.49; 7. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.868, 201.13 vs. 10. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.870, 201.13; 8. Brad Jeter, Grand Am, 6.868, 200.41 vs. 9. Tom Hammonds, Cavalier, 6.869, 200.98. 

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.186, 185.79 vs. 16. Jay Matthews, Suzuki, 7.396, 178.54; 2. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.193, 186.43 vs. 15. Sam Hurwitz, Suzuki, 7.351, 182.18; 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.219, 188.31 vs. 14. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.348, 184.85; 4. GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.229, 184.47 vs. 13. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.331, 180.94; 5. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.230, 185.72 vs. 12. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.320, 178.59; 6. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.244, 188.65 vs. 11. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.301, 183.24; 7. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.251, 185.28 vs. 10. Geno Scali, Kawasaki, 7.301, 183.15; 8. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.274, 185.49 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.274, 182.13. 

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.399, 182.75 vs. 16. Jeff Gracia, Sonoma, 7.501, 181.11; 2. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.427, 181.89 vs. 15. Jeff Naiser, S-10, 7.495, 179.73; 3. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.435, 181.74 vs. 14. Scott Perin, S-10, 7.492, 179.83; 4. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.435, 181.18 vs. 13. Lou Ficco, S-10, 7.481, 180.48; 5. Don Smith, S-10, 7.440, 181.30 vs. 12. Bart Price, S-10, 7.475, 181.35; 6. Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.440, 180.84 vs. 11. Victor Cagnazzi, S-10, 7.473, 181.59; 7. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.442, 182.01 vs. 10. Scott Tidwell, S-10, 7.453, 181.32; 8. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.444, 181.76 vs. 9. Craig Eaton, Dakota, 7.452, 181.89. 

POMONA, Calif. -- Saturday's final results from the 17th annual Budweiser Shootout at Pomona at Pomona Raceway. 

Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.514 seconds, 323.19 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 4.557 seconds, 321.73 mph. 

POMONA, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 17th annual Budweiser Shootout at Pomona at Pomona Raceway. The $147,000 bonus event featured the eight quickest season-long qualifiers in Top Fuel.

TOP FUEL: 

ROUND ONE -- Doug Kalitta, 4.580, 319.60 def. Gary Scelzi, 6.577, 133.28; Mike Dunn, 4.700, 313.00 def. Doug Herbert, 4.973, 253.80; Larry Dixon, 4.555, 315.78 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.733, 281.89; Darrell Russell, 4.580, 313.95 def. Kenny Bernstein, 4.588, 321.04; 

SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 4.536, 322.04 def. Russell, 6.560, 128.43; Dixon, 4.527, 323.74 def. Dunn, 4.535, 319.07; 

FINALS -- Dixon, 4.514, 323.19 def. Kalitta, 4.557, 321.73. 

www.nhra.com

 




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