KENT, Wash. - Kenny Bernstein led all Top Fuel qualifiers Friday at the
15th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific
Raceways.
Tony Pedregon and Jeg Coughlin also were the leaders of their
respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the 14th of 23
events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Bernstein blasted his Budweiser King dragster down the quarter-mile in
4.591 seconds at 319.37 mph in the only Top Fuel session of the day due to
rain delays and curfew restrictions. Funny Car and Pro Stock both
completed two rounds of qualifying.
"We don't like losing a run today but everybody (in Top Fuel)
loses it so it makes us all equal," said Bernstein. "I think we
could have run a little better (in the second session), but the other cars
could've too. It's just one of those things.
"The track is really rough like it was last year. We have only run
in the one lane so I can't make a determination on the other lane yet. I
think if the sun was shining and it was hot, it would be a very rough race
track."
Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon, who has seen Bernstein trim his
lead from 257 points to 119 over the past two races, was in the No. 3 spot
after the first session with a 4.626 run at 317.72.
Pedregon outran all Funny Car competitors with a 4.848 run at a track
record speed of 315.19 in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang.
"We are without (crew chief) John Medlen for this race due to some
minor surgery he needed and I was a little nervous," said Pedregon.
"It's been seven years since someone other than Medlen has pulled me
up to the starting line, but (co-crew chief) Dick Venables made the right
calls. We knew these were 4.70-second, 320-mph conditions, but we wondered
if the track could hold it, and it proved it can. I think closing the day
with running an 84 and an 85 (by No. 2 qualifier Whit Bazemore in the
opposite lane), we put on a great show."
Coughlin used a run of 6.820 at 202.09 in his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy
Cavalier to set the pace for the Pro Stock field.
"Contrary to everyone's belief the track was pretty good,"
said Coughlin. "On Saturday Pro Stock runs at 10 a.m. so it should be
cool, but I think we'll improve on the 82."
Professional qualifying continues Saturday at 10 a.m.
KENT, Wash. - Friday's qualifying results for the 15th
annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the 14th
of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL
1. Kenny Bernstein, 4.591 seconds, 319.37 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 4.599,
321.19; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.626, 317.72; 4. Andrew Cowin, 4.670, 313.07; 5.
Cory McClenathan, 4.677, 315.93; 6. Darrell Russell, 4.779, 305.84; 7. Ken
Zeal, 4.846, 294.69; 8. David Grubnic, 4.860, 237.09; 9. Brady Kalivoda,
4.979, 290.19; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.983, 266.21; 11. Scott Weis,
6.655, 127.65; 12. Tony Schumacher, 7.708, 127.78; 13. Doug Herbert,
8.972, 91.54; 14. John Smith, 10.805, 78.79; 15. Ron Smith, 15.550, 72.69;
16. Robert Hallock, 15.945, 59.08.
FUNNY CAR
1. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.848, 315.19; 2. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac
Firebird, 4.859, 314.39; 3. Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica, 4.862, 306.40; 4.
Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.977, 304.25; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird,
5.026, 298.60; 6. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 5.029, 305.70; 7. Gary Densham,
Mustang, 5.047, 303.71; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.050, 280.78;
9. Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.076, 303.37; 10. John Force, Mustang, 5.126,
247.93; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 5.129, 279.38; 12. Bob Gilbertson,
Firebird, 5.262, 274.22; 13. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.360, 216.10; 14. Todd
Paton, Camaro, 6.234, 153.18; 15. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T, 7.582,
107.58; 16. Terry Haddock, Dodge Avenger, 8.533, 95.20.
PRO STOCK
1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.820, 202.09; 2. Jim Yates, Pontiac
Grand Am, 6.830, 200.86; 3. Greg Anderson, Cavalier, 6.837, 201.43; 4.
Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, 6.844, 201.82; 5. Warren Johnson, Grand Am,
6.855, 201.43; 6. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.855, 201.04; 7. Allen Johnson,
Dodge Neon R/T, 6.856, 201.19; 8. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.856, 200.92; 9.
V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.860, 201.40; 10. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.863,
201.46; 11. Larry Nance, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.864, 200.59; 12. Larry
Morgan, Neon R/T, 6.866, 200.83; 13. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.866, 200.80;
14. Darrell Alderman, Neon R/T, 6.871, 201.04; 15. Jamie Yates, Grand Am,
6.876, 200.68; 16. Tom Lee, Neon R/T, 6.879, 200.98.
NHRA Communications
