ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Kenny Bernstein kept his perfect record at Old
Bridge Township Raceway Park in tact Sunday, defeating Larry Dixon in an
exciting Top Fuel final at the Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by
Racing Champions.
Bernstein, who has never lost a final round decision at the historic
New Jersey quarter-mile facility during his distinguished career, claimed
his seventh victory at the track and the 63rd of his career. It was
Bernstein's second victory of the season, and an important one as the
legendary driver who is retiring at the end of the season battles with
rival Dixon for the POWERade Top Fuel championship.
Gary Densham, Greg Anderson, and Antron Brown also were winners in
their respective pro categories at the $2 million race, the eighth of 23
events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Bernstein powered his Budweiser King dragster to a 4.600 second run at
321.96 mph to take the win, while Dixon's Miller Lite dragster lost
traction early and recovered to post a 4.818 at 319.90. It was Dixon's
seventh final round appearance of the season.
With the victory, Bernstein cut into Dixon's lead, and now trails by
143 with 15 races to go. But, according to Bernstein, every point counts
in this high-stakes battle. Last season Bernstein edged Dixon for the
series crown at the final race of the season. While Dixon hopes for
payback, Bernstein wants to finish his career with a seventh NHRA
championship trophy.
"It's a big rivalry, that's for sure," said Bernstein, also a
winner here last year. "This was a big win for us. (Larry) has got
off to a good start this season and we need to win some races and try and
keep pace with him. That's the plan from here on out."
The victory was very special for Bernstein, who has never lost a final
round decision at this track during his storied career. Prior to the
semifinals, Bernstein was honored by New Jersey Governor James McGreevey
with a proclamation attesting to his success at the famed track over the
years.
"We love it here, the fans really know their drag racing, and
we've been very fortunate here over the years," said Bernstein, who
defeated Jim Head, Doug Kalitta, and Tony Schumacher to advance to his
fourth final of the season. "We certainly appreciate the Governor
coming out today and taking some time out of his busy schedule. It really
means a lot given how special this place has been to us over the
years."
Densham moved into the series points lead for the first time in his
30-year career with his second Funny Car victory of the season. Densham
posted a 5.046 at 316.38 in his Auto Club of Southern California Ford
Mustang, while Bruce Sarver's White Cap Toyota Celica lost traction at
mid-track and ran 7.310 at 115.29.
"To lead the points is unbelievable, if you told anyone that
they'd say you were lying," said an excited Densham, the category's
former journeyman who has emerged as a leading Funny Car driver since
joining John Force Racing last year. "John Force leads the points.
Tony Pedregon leads the points, but not Gary Densham. I called home and
told my wife and I think they'll wake her up tomorrow sometime.
"It's absolutely great. The team did a super job this weekend.
John (Force) didn't have the best of weekends and Tony (Pedregon) had a
problem in the second round. We just kinda picked up the ball and ran with
it."
Force, who qualified 15th and lost in the first round, fell to second
place overall, two points behind Densham in the standings.
Anderson scored his third career Pro Stock victory and first of the
season, defeating Jeg Coughlin in the final round in a photo finish.
Anderson drove his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to a 6.808
at 201.91, crossing the finish line in front of Coughlin's Jeg's Mail
Order Chevy Cavalier, which posted a 6.812 at 202.33.
Anderson became the eighth different winner in Pro Stock this season in
as many races.
"This class is probably the toughest of them all," said
Anderson. "Every year it seems to get tougher and tougher. It's like
every race you go to there's more cars with a chance of winning. There
were probably 15 cars here this weekend that could run 6.70s and win the
race. That's close racing.
"I'm just pleased that the car is finally coming around. The crew
is fantastic and we're starting to work together and get on the same page.
I think we're going to be tough the rest of the year."
Warren Johnson maintained the points lead in Pro Stock, despite losing
in the opening round to Mark Osborne. Jim Yates, who advanced to the
semifinal, moved to within five points of Johnson's lead. Anderson's
victory moved him to fifth in the standings.
Brown claimed his first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of the season and
the 10th of his career, defeating Craig Treble. Brown rode his Suzuki to a
7.118 at 192.63, while Treble was a tick off the pace, clocking a 7.155 at
183.92. It was the first time Brown, from nearby Chesterfield, N.J., has
earned a win at the track where he started his career.
"It's awesome to win here at home in front of all my family and
friends," said Brown, "This is one of the most difficult tracks.
In the past I always red-lighted here. It's cool to finally win a race at
this place."
Angelle Savoie, who lost to Brown in the semifinals, remained in the
points lead, 11 in front of runner-up Treble.
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the O'Reilly NHRA
Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX, May 23-26 at Heartland Park
Topeka, Topeka, Kan.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional
categories at the 33rd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by
Racing Champions at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The $2 million race
is the eighth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Kenny Bernstein; 2. Larry Dixon; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Rhonda
Hartman-Smith; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Cory McClenathan; 7. Scott Weis; 8.
John Smith; 9. Doug Herbert; 10. Chris Karamesines; 11. Jim Head; 12. Don
Sosenka; 13. David Grubnic; 14. Mark Kinsella; 15. Darrell Russell; 16.
Andrew Cowin.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang; 2. Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica; 3. Bob
Gilbertson, Pontiac Firebird; 4. Whit Bazemore, Firebird; 5. Tony
Pedregon, Mustang; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird;
8. Johnny Gray, Firebird; 9. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 10. Frank Pedregon,
Firebird; 11. Todd Paton, Chevy Camaro; 12. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro; 13.
John Force, Mustang; 14. Del Worsham, Firebird; 15. Dale Creasy Jr.,
Firebird; 16. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier; 3. Jim Yates,
Pontiac Grand Am; 4. Gene Wilson, Dodge Neon R/T; 5. Allen Johnson, Neon
R/T; 6. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier; 7. Mark Osborne, Grand Am; 8. Mark
Whisnant, Cavalier; 9. Ron Krisher, Cavalier; 10. Warren Johnson, Grand
Am; 11. Richie Stevens, Grand Am; 12. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am; 13. Troy
Coughlin, Cavalier; 14. Mike Edwards, Cavalier; 15. Arturo Delgado, Grand
Am; 16. Larry Morgan, Neon R/T.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 3. Angelle Savoie,
Suzuki; 4. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 5. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 6. John Smith,
Suzuki; 7. Geno Scali, Kawasaki; 8. Thomas Miceli, Suzuki; 9. Matt Hines,
Suzuki; 10. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 12. Joe
DeSantis, Suzuki; 13. Sam Hurwitz, Suzuki; 14. Fred Camarena, Suzuki; 15.
Scott Lewis, Suzuki; 16. Chris Reuter, Suzuki.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Sunday's final results from the 33rd annual Matco
Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions at Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park. The $2 million race is the eighth of 23 in the $50 million
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Kenny Bernstein, 4.600 seconds, 321.96 mph def. Larry
Dixon, 4.818 seconds, 319.90 mph.
Funny Car -- Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 5.046, 316.38 def. Bruce
Sarver, Toyota Celica, 7.310, 115.29.
Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.808, 201.91 def. Jeg
Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.812, 202.33.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.118, 192.63 def. Craig
Treble, Suzuki, 7.155, 183.92.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.308, 266.37 def. Arthur
Gallant, 5.563, 242.63.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Dodge Avenger R/T, 5.549, 259.91
def. Bobby Martin, Avenger, 5.801, 248.20.
Competition Eliminator -- Tim Northrop, Chevy Camaro, 10.004, 96.89
def. Rob Slavinski, Pontiac Grand Prix, foul.
Super Stock -- Sam Biondo, Pontiac Firebird, 10.778, 100.79 def. Steve
Sweitzer, Firebird, broke.
Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 10.911, 119.69 def. Tom
Baird, Camaro, 10.193, 131.43.
Super Comp -- Mike Mitchell, Dragster, 8.955, 155.17 def. Jack Sepanek,
Dragster, 8.899, 157.50.
Super Gas -- Steve Drummond, Ford Mustang, 9.915, 153.37 def. Carl
Juliano, Studebaker, foul.
Super Street -- Donald Sabin, Chevy Malibu, 10.941, 124.61 def. David
Terrizzi, Chevy Nova, 10.909, 132.43.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Final round-by-round results from the 33rd annual
Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions at Old Bridge
Township Raceway Park, the eighth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Cory McClenathan, 4.670, 322.65 def. Mark Kinsella, 5.631,
159.36; Doug Kalitta, 5.031, 280.25 def. David Grubnic, 5.385, 285.29;
John Smith, 4.689, 281.71 def. Andrew Cowin, 11.613, 84.82; Scott Weis,
4.873, 251.20 def. Darrell Russell, 9.889, 90.15; Rhonda Hartman-Smith,
4.724, 298.47 def. Chris Karamesines, 4.833, 304.39; Tony Schumacher,
4.649, 323.43 def. Doug Herbert, 4.717, 308.21; Kenny Bernstein, 4.594,
322.58 def. Jim Head, 5.097, 254.81; Larry Dixon, 4.558, 326.48 def. Don
Sosenka, 5.339, 228.38;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hartman-Smith, 4.624, 312.35 def. Weis, 6.919, 105.50;
Schumacher, 4.700, 315.64 def. Smith, 11.052, 87.44; Bernstein, 4.542,
324.98 def. Kalitta, 4.645, 315.42; Dixon, 4.555, 325.92 def. McClenathan,
5.412, 177.91;
SEMIFINALS -- Dixon, 5.385, 174.03 def. Hartman-Smith, foul; Bernstein,
4.608, 317.49 def. Schumacher, 4.853, 299.86;
FINAL -- Bernstein, 4.600, 321.96 def. Dixon, 4.818, 319.90.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Pontiac Firebird, 4.900, 300.66 def. John
Force, Ford Mustang, 7.414, 113.88; Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.863, 318.24
def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.990, 154.55; Johnny Gray,
Firebird, 6.775, 154.25 def. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T, broke; Tony
Pedregon, Mustang, 4.845, 320.13 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 14.099,
78.41; Gary Densham, Mustang, 5.427, 213.13 def. Todd Paton, Camaro,
5.668, 189.15; Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 5.189, 280.02 def. Frank
Pedregon, Firebird, 5.405, 242.02; Bruce Sarver, Toyota Celica, 5.522,
233.52 def. Del Worsham, Firebird, 10.498, 94.16; Whit Bazemore, Firebird,
4.899, 309.06 def. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.888, 305.22;
QUARTERFINALS -- Sarver, 6.900, 240.98 def. Wilkerson, 6.912, 229.04;
Gilbertson, 4.957, 288.70 def. C. Pedregon, 5.105, 275.90; Bazemore,
4.859, 315.86 def. T. Pedregon, 4.909, 304.67; Densham, 4.839, 309.49 def.
Gray, 11.309, 82.27;
SEMIFINALS -- Sarver, 4.871, 307.23 def. Gilbertson, 4.961, 299.73;
Densham, 4.813, 322.19 def. Bazemore, 4.988, 296.83;
FINAL -- Densham, 5.046, 316.38 def. Sarver, 7.310, 115.29.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Mark Whisnant, Chevy Cavalier, 6.799, 202.42 def. Mark
Pawuk, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.830, 201.55; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.812,
202.91 def. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.832, 201.73; Gene Wilson, Dodge
Neon R/T, 6.833, 202.61 def. Arturo Delgado, Grand Am, 8.436, 114.94;
Allen Johnson, Neon R/T, 6.858, 202.94 def. Larry Morgan, Neon R/T, 9.626,
95.75; Greg Anderson, Cavalier, 6.790, 202.97 def. Mike Edwards, Cavalier,
foul; Mark Osborne, Grand Am, 6.779, 202.79 def. Warren Johnson, Grand Am,
6.786, 203.77; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.783, 202.58 def. Ron Krisher,
Cavalier, 6.785, 203.40; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.752, 203.43 def. Richie
Stevens, Grand Am, 6.826, 201.79;
QUARTERFINALS -- Anderson, 6.795, 202.39 def. A. Johnson, 6.796,
203.12; J. Coughlin, 6.794, 202.27 def. K. Johnson, 6.817, 203.00; Wilson,
6.776, 203.40 def. Osborne, 8.061, 125.61; Jim Yates, 6.768, 203.71 def.
Whisnant, 10.528, 85.11;
SEMIFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.794, 202.12 def. Wilson, 6.833, 202.45;
Anderson, 6.811, 202.48 def. Jim Yates, 6.794, 202.91;
FINAL -- Anderson, 6.808, 201.91 def. J. Coughlin, 6.812, 202.33.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- John Smith, Suzuki, 7.171, 190.51 def. Steve Johnson,
Suzuki, 7.253, 181.98; Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.178, 187.55 def. Sam
Hurwitz, Suzuki, foul; Thomas Miceli, Suzuki, 7.210, 183.34 def. Matt
Hines, Suzuki, foul; Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.130, 188.17 def. Fred
Camarena, Suzuki, 7.350, 184.62; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.186, 170.62 def.
Scott Lewis, Suzuki, 7.391, 183.97; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.114, 193.24
def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.303, 186.82; Geno Scali, Kawasaki, 7.168,
181.98 def. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, foul; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.137, 188.38
def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.208, 185.38;
QUARTERFINALS -- Showers, 7.207, 186.36 def. Miceli, 7.255, 185.89;
Treble, 7.120, 191.78 def. Scali, foul; Savoie, 7.084, 192.44 def. Smith,
7.198, 185.36; Brown, 7.125, 192.85 def. Gann, foul;
SEMIFINALS -- Treble, 7.145, 191.02 def. Showers, 7.235, 186.56; Brown,
7.138, 183.89 def. Savoie, 7.114, 187.31;
FINAL -- Brown, 7.118, 192.63 def. Treble, 7.155, 183.92.
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional
categories following the 33rd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented
by Racing Champions at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the eighth of 23
events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon, 816; 2. Kenny Bernstein, 673; 3. Cory McClenathan, 539;
4. Tony Schumacher, 520; 5. Doug Kalitta, 436; 6. David Grubnic, 381; 7.
Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 343; 8. Doug Herbert, 340; 9. Darrell Russell, 339;
10. John Smith, 310.
Funny Car
1. Gary Densham, 585; 2. John Force, 583; 3. Whit Bazemore, 521; 4.
Tony Pedregon, 465; 5. Del Worsham, 457; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 413; 7.
Scotty Cannon, 368; 8. Ron Capps, 364; 9. Johnny Gray, 350; 10. Tim
Wilkerson, 321.
Pro Stock
1. Warren Johnson, 555; 2. Jim Yates, 550; 3. Ron Krisher, 445; 4.
Darrell Alderman, 433; 5. Greg Anderson, 429; 6. Jeg Coughlin, 423; 7.
Kurt Johnson, 418; 8. Mike Edwards, 416; 9. George Marnell, 402; 10. Bruce
Allen, 336.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Angelle Savoie, 390; 2. Craig Treble, 379; 3. Antron Brown, 281; 4.
Shawn Gann, 263; 5. Matt Hines, 247; 6. Reggie Showers, 230; 7. Geno
Scali, 211; 8. Mike Berry, 191; 9. Steve Johnson, 189; 10. John Smith,
169.
NHRA Communications