KENT, Wash. - Darrell Russell scored his second straight Top Fuel victory Monday at the 15^th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

Tony Pedregon and Jeg Coughlin Jr. also won their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the 14^th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Russell blasted his Joe Amato-owned Bilstein Engine Flush dragster down the quarter-mile in 4.657 seconds at 308.00 mph to defeat Kenny Bernstein who lost traction in his Bud King dragster and slowed to a run of 5.788 at 159.12. Russell defeated Don Sosenka, Doug Herbert, Larry Dixon, and Bernstein for his second win in as many weeks.

"All I know is we're looking at one race at a time," said Russell, the 2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year. "Joe's wife, Donna, told us she has always wanted a hat trick, win all three races on the West Coast swing, and we're two-thirds the way there. "

After starting the season in disappointing fashion Amato made some personnel changes after the Las Vegas race and has been on a roll as of late.

"Right now first and second place are a little out of reach, but third place is attainable for this team," said Russell. "We can definitely achieve that if we continue to do what we are doing. From the first part of the season when we struggled until now, feels like three years ago. For what this team had to overcome in such a short period of time, to where we are now, says a lot about this team. That's all Joe Amato. He has always had that winning way about him his entire racing career and he wanted to build a team that was going to continue to go out and win. That's what he did. He had to make some tough decisions after Vegas. Sometimes change is good, but it was all a business decision and it looks like his decisions are paying big dividends."

With his runner-up finish, Bernstein now trails rival and points leader Dixon by 97 points in the Top Fuel standings. Russell would have moved into fourth with the win, but because he was penalized 10 NHRA POWERade championship points for oiling down the racing surface in his second round win over Herbert, he's in fifth place, four points behind Tony Schumacher.

Pedregon won in Funny Car for the third time this season and for the 16^th time of his career in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang. Pedregon managed to reach the finish line in 5.049 at 293.22 to outrun Bruce Sarver's slower run of 6.827 at 130.15 in his Whitecap Toyota Celica. Pedregon drove past Bob Gilbertson, Dale Creasy Jr., and Dean Skuza to set up the final round match-up with Sarver.

Pedregon's team was without their crew chief, John Medlen, who was not at the Seattle race due to a medical procedure he had to undergo. Co-crew chief Dickie Venables made all the calls for the win.

"I had all the confidence in the world prior to my first qualifying run because I saw the look," said the 37-year-old Pedregon. "I was just comfortable and it erased any questions that were there. That's all I needed to see and it made me feel good. I talked to Medlen and he'll be back (next week). But it just shows you what kind of team has been built over here. Someone can leave, or be sick, and someone else can step right in. We're a pretty solid team. I'm proud of Dickie and he's getting the trophy from this one."

With the win Pedregon, moved into second in the NHRA POWERade standings while team owner John Force remains the leader in standings while Gary Densham slips into the No. 3 spot. Force Racing once again occupies the top three spots in the Funny Car order.

"I know we've gotten closer to John in the points," said Pedregon. "He's not going to give it to me, but if we earn it, guess what, that's our chance (to win the championship). Our goal is to stay close, and if we can move into first, that's a little bit better than we wanted. John's been doing this long enough, he can fend for himself."

Coughlin scored his 25^th career Pro Stock win when he clocked a 6.864 at 200.14 in his Jeg's Mail Order Cavalier to defeat fellow-Chevy driver Mark Whisnant who rolled to a 9.309 at 96.20. The final in Pro Stock was actually held twice with a timing malfunction occurring in the original match-up and Whisnant not even making a run while Coughlin sped to a 6.831 pass. An hour later the Pro Stock final was ran again with Coughlin coming out on top.

"It was pretty bizarre," said Coughlin. "This is the most sun we have seen since Thursday. But I guess we're real pleased to defend our final round win (from earlier in the day). I guess it would have been pretty disheartening if it was the other way around."

It was Coughlin's second win in the last three events and he has won at every track on the NHRA circuit except at Dallas and at Infineon Raceways in Sonoma, Calif., the site of next weeks FRAM Autolite Nationals and the final race of the West Coast swing.

"We were going to take a few days off and go to the Napa Valley, but I wasn't weren't sure this weekend was going to end," said Coughlin "To be able to take a Wally (winner's trophy) with us is pretty outstanding. You just can't beat a win like this and we're heading in the right direction."

KENT, Wash. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 15th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. The $1.8 million race is the 14th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:
1. Darrell Russell; 2. Kenny Bernstein; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Andrew Cowin; 5. Doug Herbert; 6. Cory McClenathan; 7. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 8. Brady Kalivoda; 9. David Grubnic; 10. John Smith; 11. Don Sosenka; 12. Doug Kalitta; 13. Ken Zeal; 14. Ron Smith; 15. Scott Weis; 16. Tony Schumacher.

FUNNY CAR:
1. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang; 2. Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica; 3. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T; 4. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac Firebird; 5. Gary Densham, Mustang; 6. Del Worsham, Firebird; 7. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird; 9. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 10. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 11. Todd Paton, Camaro; 12. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 13. Johnny Gray, Firebird; 14. John Force, Mustang; 15. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird; 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro.

PRO STOCK:
1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier; 3. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am; 4. Ron Krisher, Cavalier; 5. Greg Anderson, Cavalier; 6. Larry Nance, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 7. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang; 8. JR Carr, Pontiac Firebird; 9. George Marnell, Grand Am; 10. Larry Morgan, Dodge Neon R/T; 11. V. Gaines, Cavalier; 12. Gene Wilson, Neon R/T; 13. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 14. Allen Johnson, Dodge Neon R/T; Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 16. Mike Edwards, Cavalier.

KENT, Wash. -- Monday's final results from the 15th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. The $1.8 million race is the 14th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Darrell Russell, 4.657 seconds, 308.00 mph def. Kenny Bernstein, 5.788 seconds, 159.12 mph.

Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.049, 293.22 def. Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica, 6.827, 130.15.

Pro Stock -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.831, 201.52 def. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, 9.309, 96.20.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Mitch Myers, 5.410, 255.39 def. Mark Hentges, 5.433, 261.32.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Mert Littlefield, Chevy Camaro, 5.758, 245.45 def. John Patton, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.768, 247.11.

Competition Eliminator -- Doug Engels, Dragster, 7.419, 174.30 def. Jeff Lane, Chevy, 8.107, 160.42.

Super Stock -- Doug Broaddus, Camaro, 9.594, 135.24 def. Art Congdon, Calais, 9.924, 132.17.

Stock Eliminator -- Bernie Cunningham, Firebird, 11.108, 117.60 def. Don Little, Barracuda, 10.451, 125.60.

Super Comp -- Shawn Langdon, Dragster, 8.893, 164.59 def. Mark Faul, Dragster, 8.875, 158.02.

Super Gas -- Davey Adams, Mercedes, 9.903, 146.61 def. Ed De Staute, Vega, foul.

Super Street -- Steve Lowe, Camaro, 10.988, 125.56 def. Steven Radunovich, Chevy II, 10.965, 128.26.

KENT, Wash. -- Final round-by-round results from 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:

ROUND ONE -- Brady Kalivoda, 6.935, 190.06 def. Ken Zeal, 7.092, 120.53; Doug Herbert, 4.789, 309.63 def. Tony Schumacher, 10.994, 94.73; Cory McClenathan, 4.687, 310.34 def. John Smith, 4.813, 275.17; Darrell Russell, 4.676, 311.34 def. Don Sosenka, 5.773, 169.85; Kenny Bernstein, 4.650, 311.92 def. Ron Smith, 8.320, 102.14; Andrew Cowin, 4.704, 308.64 def. David Grubnic, 4.747, 313.22; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 5.640, 261.78 def. Doug Kalitta, 6.870, 140.43; Larry Dixon, 4.586, 322.04 def. Scott Weis, 8.584, 86.77;

QUARTERFINALS -- Cowin, 4.674, 319.22 def. Hartman-Smith, 12.772, 85.64; Russell, 4.625, 308.21 def. Herbert, 4.715, 307.58; Bernstein, 5.602, 249.39 def. Kalivoda, broke; Dixon, 4.586, 321.73 def. McClenathan, foul;

SEMIFINALS -- Bernstein, 4.607, 314.90 def. Cowin, 4.630, 318.77; Russell, 4.614, 315.34 def. Dixon, 4.629, 321.35;
FINAL -- Russell, 4.657, 308.00 def. Bernstein, 5.788, 159.12.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T, 4.962, 303.50 def. John Force, Ford Mustang, 7.152, 117.93; Cruz Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.015, 304.94 def. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 5.217, 274.78; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.981, 290.88 def. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 7.446, 131.23; Whit Bazemore, Firebird, 4.982, 296.18 def. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.175, 280.43; Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica, 4.993, 285.83 def. Todd Paton, Chevy Camaro, 5.197, 276.97; Gary Densham, Mustang, 5.173, 282.84 def. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 6.120, 226.24; Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.028, 311.13 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 7.719, 105.27; Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 4.993, 303.03 def. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.094, 289.94;

QUARTERFINALS -- Skuza, 5.009, 300.73 def. C. Pedregon, 6.373, 139.60; Bazemore, 5.105, 265.74 def. Worsham, 5.335, 294.56; Sarver, 4.897, 311.70 def. Densham, 4.955, 312.86; T. Pedregon, 4.900, 307.86 def. Creasy Jr., 6.191, 161.11;

SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.911, 303.50 def. Skuza, 5.062, 296.44; Sarver, 4.897, 309.63 def. Bazemore, 13.272, 69.71;

FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 5.049, 293.22 def. Sarver, 6.827, 130.15.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.857, 200.65 def. Larry Morgan, Neon R/T, 6.888, 199.91; Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.848, 200.56 def. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 17.918, 37.02; Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, 6.853, 200.95 def. Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 35.800, 37.25; Larry Nance, Cutlass, 7.485, 144.35 def. Gene Wilson, Neon R/T, foul; Robert Patrick, Mustang, 6.931, 199.67 def. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.906, 200.05; JR Carr, Pontiac Firebird, 6.949, 198.88 def. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 13.854, 61.07; Greg Anderson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.799, 202.27 def. George Marnell, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.847, 201.04; Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.841, 201.94 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Neon R/T, 16.256, 36.65;

QUARTERFINALS -- Ji. Yates, 6.803, 201.91 def. Carr, 8.066, 123.51; Whisnant, 6.859, 201.52 def. Nance, 6.852, 200.47; Krisher, 6.809, 201.76 def. Patrick, 6.872, 200.65; J. Coughlin, 6.811, 201.88 def. Anderson, 6.806, 202.42;

SEMIFINALS -- Whisnant, 6.871, 201.73 def. Krisher, 6.838, 201.64; J. Coughlin, 6.824, 201.52 def. Ji. Yates, 6.817, 201.64;

FINAL -- J. Coughlin, 6.831, 201.52 def. Whisnant, 9.309, 96.20.

KENT, Wash. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following 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. Larry Dixon, 1,262; 2. Kenny Bernstein, 1,165; 3. Cory McClenathan, 888; 4. Tony Schumacher, 846; 5. Darrell Russell, 842; 6. Doug Kalitta, 708; 7. Doug Herbert, 701; 8. David Grubnic, 596; 9. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 595; 10. Andrew Cowin, 587.

Funny Car

1. John Force, 968; 2. Tony Pedregon, 934; 3. Gary Densham, 927; 4. Del Worsham, 875; 5. Whit Bazemore, 807; 6. Scotty Cannon, 743; 7. Ron Capps, 674; 8. Johnny Gray, 629; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., 601; 10. Dean Skuza, 595.

Pro Stock

1. Jim Yates, 904; 2. Greg Anderson, 828; 3. Warren Johnson, 822; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 797; 5. Ron Krisher, 715; 6. Darrell Alderman, 680; 7. George Marnell, 657; 8. Mike Edwards, 644; 9. Bruce Allen, 633; 10. Mark Whisnant, 587.

NHRA Communications