BRISTOL, Tenn. - Cory McClenathan added a bright spot to what has been a frustrating season and in the process gave drag racing's nitro bragging rights back to the Top Fuel contingent by winning Sunday's second annual Winston Showdown.

Troy Coughlin, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also were winners in their respective pro categories at the $742,000 NHRA all-star event at Bristol Dragway.

McClenathan, from Anaheim, Calif., claimed his first all-star event win and first NHRA victory since last season's U.S. Nationals, by defeating Ron Capps for the $200,000 payday in a thrilling side-by-side finish.

"This is huge for us," said McClenathan, who has struggled to a seventh place position in the Winston points standings this season. "When you are used to winning races and contending for championships, a season like we've had this year is hard to stomach. This race has saved our season. It's that big."

McClenathan, who defeated defending Showdown winner John Force, Whit Bazemore, Bob Gilbertson and Gary Scelzi in early elimination rounds, powered his MBNA dragster to a final round run of 4.852 seconds at 291.32 mph, and crossed the finish line just in front of Capps' U.S. Tobacco Chevy Camaro, which covered the same distance with a run of 5.168 at 275.28.

"I really wanted to win this one for the Top Fuel guys -- to get our title back," said McClenathan, who played a big part in the 13-9 victory parade the dragsters enjoyed over the funny cars. "We really had to beat some heavy hitters today. I've won at Indy before and that's special, but this is the best race I've ever had."

Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio, earned $50,000 for his first major event win in Pro Stock, defeating Mark Pawuk in a photo finish. Coughlin recorded a 7.086 at 194.10 in his Jeg's Mail Order Oldsmobile Cutlass, edging Pawuk's Summit Racing Pontiac Firebird at the finish, which posted a slower 7.100 at 194.24.

"This is absolutely fabulous," Coughlin said. "I've been in a lot of final rounds and to finally get a win makes a world of difference. I just went up there, put my game face on and went for it. This is a total confidence-booster for the entire team."

Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines earned his third-straight NHRA all-star victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle, overcoming a holeshot start by Antron Brown in an all Suzuki final. Hines posted a 7.337 at 184.19 en route to the $15,000 win, crossing the finish line just in front of Brown's bike, which ran 7.364 at 178.52.

"The bike performed flawlessly all weekend," said Hines, who beat Connie Cohen, Ron Ayers and Angelle Seeling to advance to the final. "Antron was running good too, and fortunately we were able to hold him off and get the win."

The Pro Stock Truck final featured an all Chevy S-10 battle as Panella, from Stockton, Calif., covered the distance in 7.695 at 175.21 to defeat defending winner Randy Daniels, who clocked a 7.709 at 175.96. "It's a great feeling to win this race," said Panella. "I was able to drive well all day and we had the horsepower to get the job done."

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 22nd annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, July 13-16, at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway. The $742,000 race is NHRA's all-star event.

TOP FUEL-FUNNY CAR: 1. Cory McClenathan, Dragster; 2. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 3. Gary Scelzi, Dragster; 4. Tony Schumacher, Dragster; 5. Bob Vandergriff, Dragster; 6. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 7. Jim Head, Dragster; 8. David Grubnic, Dragster; 9. Paul Romine, Dragster; 10. John Force, Ford Mustang; 11. Tony Pedregon, Mustang; 12. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird; 13. Jim Epller, Camaro; 14. Doug Herbert, Dragster; 15. Del Worsham, Firebird; 16. Phil Burkart, Firebird; 17. Mike Dunn, Dragster; 18. Scotty Cannon, Camaro; 19. Tommy Johnson Jr., Firebird; 20. Larry Dixon, Dragster; 21. Doug Kalitta, Dragster; 22. Kenny Bernstein, Dragster; 23. Whit Bazemore, Camaro; 24. Jerry Toliver, Firebird.

PRO STOCK: 1. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 2. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass; 4. Ron Krisher, Firebird; 5. Greg Anderson, Firebird; 6. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger; 7. Richie Stevens, Firebird; 8. Jim Yates, Firebird; 9. Tom Martino, Firebird; 10. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird; 11. Mark Osborne, Firebird; 12. Warren Johnson, Firebird; 13. Mike Thomas, Firebird; 14. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro; 15. Rickie Smith, Camaro; 16. V. Gaines, Camaro.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Matt Hines, Suzuki; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 3. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki; 4. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 5. David Schultz, Suzuki; 6. Tony Mullen, Suzuki; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 8. Ron Ayers, Suzuki; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 10. Rob Short, Kawasaki; 11. Brian Ayers, Suzuki; 12. Zackia Little, Suzuki; 13. Horace Wright, Suzuki; 14. Connie Cohen, Harley; 15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 16. Will Johnese, Suzuki.

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10; 2. Randy Daniels, S-10; 3. John Coughlin, S-10; 4. Mike Coughlin, S-10; 5. Jeff Gracia, S-10; 6. Steve Johns, S-10; 7. Steven Farr, S-10; 8. Larry Kopp, S-10.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Sunday's final round results for all categories at the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway. The $742,000 race is NHRA's all-star event.

Top Fuel-Funny Car -- Cory McClenathan, Dragster, 4.852, 291.32 def. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 5.168, 275.28.

Pro Stock -- Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.086, 194.10 def. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird, 7.100, 194.24.

Pro Stock Bike -- Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.337, 184.19 def. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.364, 178.52.

Pro Stock Truck -- Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.695, 175.21 def. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.709, 175.96.

Federal-Mogul Dragster -- Jay Meyer, Uyehara, 5.577, 250.13 def. Dave Hirata, McKinney, 6.347, 212.86.

Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Dodge Avenger, 5.869, 250.69 def. Bruce Mullins, Mustang, foul.

Comp Eliminator -- Larry Pritchett, Grand Am, 8.267, 164.65 def. David Rampy, Bantam, 7.632, 174.05.

Super Stock -- Herbert Null, Camaro, 9.872, 134.98 def. Dennis Steward, Daytona, foul.

Stock -- Bill Howell, Mustang, 11.111, 120.34 def. Wayne Shaw, Malibu Wgn, 12.610, 100.57.

Super Comp -- Dan Northrop, S&W, 9.008, 150.20 def. Edmond Richardson, Worthy, 8.977, 158.30.

Super Gas -- Jim Fordyce, Monza, 10.019, 140.49 def. Ed Richardson, Corvette, 10.025, 140.97.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Sunday's round-by-round elimination results for professional categories at the second annual Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway. The $742,000 race is NHRA's all-star event.

TOP FUEL-FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Bob Vandergriff, Dragster, 4.919, 294.18 def. Phil Burkart, Chevy Camaro, 11.353, 92.87; Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 5.265, 272.34 def. Doug Herbert, Dragster, 7.773, 104.96; Tony Schumacher, Dragster, 4.747, 300.80 def. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.974, 182.48; Cory McClenathan, Dragster, 4.724, 300.06 def. John Force, Mustang, 5.186, 276.01; Gary Scelzi, Dragster, 4.714, 300.53 def. Jim Epler, Camaro, 7.578, 112.77; Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.940, 297.75 def. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 7.095, 127.33; David Grubnic, Dragster, 4.751, 304.67 def. Del Worsham, Firebird, 10.659, 65.56; Jim Head, Dragster, 4.756, 302.21 def. Paul Romine, Dragster, 4.833, 294.88;

QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.756, 301.33 def. Head, 5.228, 273.39; McClenathan, 4.702, 301.13 def. Gilbertson, 5.346, 227.08; Capps, 5.065, 286.13 def. Vandergriff, 4.865, 295.08; Scelzi, 4.724, 306.60 def. David. Grubnic, 8.950, 83.40;

SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 5.050, 288.64 def. Schumacher, 7.165, 112.75; McClenathan, 4.763, 300.73 def. Scelzi, 4.829, 273.11;

FINAL -- McClenathan, 4.852, 291.32 def. Capps, 5.168, 275.28.

PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.096, 193.71 def. Mark Osborne, Pontiac Firebird, 7.090, 194.27; Greg Anderson, Firebird, 7.081, 195.17 def. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.052, 195.22; Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 7.065, 195.00 def. Kenny Koretsky, Firebird, 7.089, 194.16; Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.104, 193.60 def. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.099, 195.36; Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.065, 194.63 def. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 7.156, 193.27; Jim Yates, Firebird, 7.130, 192.77 def. Kurt Johnson, Camaro, 7.152, 195.31; Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.070, 194.52 def. Mike Thomas, Firebird, y7.145, 193.43; Ron Krisher, Firebird, 7.023, 196.27 def. V. Gaines, Camaro, 13.987, 59.74;

QUARTERFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 7.065, 194.32 def. Anderson, 7.090, 195.22; T. Coughlin, 7.075, 194.24 def. Stevens, 7.115, 193.52; Pawuk, 7.074, 194.86 def. Yates, 7.125, 193.82; Krisher, 7.040, 196.16 def. A. Johnson, 7.091, 193.90;

SEMIFINALS -- Pawuk, 7.098, 194.18 def. J. Coughlin, 7.090, 193.99; T. Coughlin, 7.096, 193.74 def. Krisher, 8.555, 112.73;

FINAL -- T. Coughlin, 7.086, 194.10 def. Pawuk, 7.100, 194.24.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: ROUND ONE -- Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.535, 178.10 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.478, 174.68; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.450, 179.90 def. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.555, 172.59; Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.433, 179.49 def. Zackia Little, Suzuki, 7.762, 174.73; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.291, 183.77 def. Connie Cohen, Harley, 8.428, 153.35; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.365, 187.11 def. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, broke; Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.378, 178.90 def. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.645, 174.32; David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.440, 183.89 def. Will Johnese, Suzuki, broke; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.397, 184.75 def. Horace Wright, Suzuki, 7.974, 165.90;

QUARTERFINALS -- Scali, 7.415, 179.35 def. Mullen, 7.436, 178.99; Seeling, 7.365, 180.72 def. Schultz, 7.420, 179.95; Brown, 7.403, 184.22 def. Treble, 7.477, 175.18; Hines, 7.308, 183.37 def. R. Ayers, 7.528, 177.14;

SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 7.383, 181.76 def. Scali, 7.497, 176.67; Hines, 7.327, 184.02 def. Seeling, 7.412, 179.40;

FINAL -- Hines, 7.337, 184.19 def. Brown, 7.364, 178.52.

PRO STOCK TRUCK: QUARTERFINALS -- Mike Coughlin, Chevy S-10, 7.703, 174.80 def. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.732, 174.89; Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.703, 175.89 def. Steven Farr, S-10, 7.739, 174.44; John Coughlin, S-10, 7.728, 174.91 def. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.737, 174.62; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.659, 176.12 def. Larry Kopp, S-10, 7.772, 173.87;

SEMIFINALS -- Daniels, 7.718, 175.57 def. J. Coughlin, 7.721, 174.84; Panella Jr, 7.730, 175.84 def. M. Coughlin, 7.729, 174.91;