KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Tony Schumacher claimed his second Top Fuel victory of the season and third of his career, defeating veteran Joe Amato Sunday at the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway.

Tony Pedregon, Mark Pawuk, Angelle Seeling and Randy Daniels also were winners at the $1.9 million race, the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher's Exide Batteries dragster pulled away for the victory when the parachute on Amato's machine deployed early near mid-track. Schumacher covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.648 seconds at 316.15 mph, while Amato's slowing dragster ran 5.165 at 178.10.

Schumacher's march to victory included round wins over Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Cory McClenathan and Kenny Bernstein.

"It's Father's Day and this is a great present for my dad," said Schumacher in a post race tribute to his team owning father Don, a pioneer in the sport of drag racing. "It's an awesome feeling. We really stepped on it that last run. Our car left great and I didn't see Joe during the entire run. We knew he was going to be tough because he had been running 4.62s all day. Dad made a great call for the final and we got by him."

With the victory, Schumacher closed the gap on Gary Scelzi's Winston points lead, cutting the margin to 32 points.

"It's going to be a battle, no question," Schumacher said. "Every single point counts in this deal and we have to earn every one that we can."

Pedregon used a holeshot start to hold off Jerry Toliver for his first Funny Car victory of the season. Pedregon covered the distance in 4.893 at 316.08 in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, defeating Toliver's quicker WWF Racing Pontiac Firebird at the finish, which posted a 4.876 at 310.20.

"I guess being persistent pays off," said Pedregon of his first win in four finals this season. "I owed Toliver that one for beating me earlier in the year at Pomona (Winternationals). I think that final was the first full run down track we made all weekend. Fortunately it came at the right time."

Toliver, who defeated John Force in a rare first round meeting, moved into the Funny Car points lead with the runner-up finish, 11 ahead of his rival.

Pawuk ended a five year winless streak by claiming the Pro Stock victory against fellow Ohio resident Ron Krisher. Pawuk, who earned his last victory in 1995 at Memphis, Tenn., left the starting line first in his Pontiac Firebird and never looked back, clocking a winning 6.980 at 197.33 to Krisher's quicker but losing 6.975 at 197.51.

"This race has been on my wish list for a long time," said Pawuk, who lives near Akron. "I'm glad to finally win here close to home for my family, friends and sponsor, Summit Racing. We're having a great year and I'm certain that this team is on the verge of exploding for even more wins."

With the win, Pawuk earned a guaranteed starting spot in the 16-car Pro Stock order for the second annual Winston Showdown, July 7-9, at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway. Prior to the race he wasn't qualified for the $742,000 NHRA all-star event.

Hometown favorite Jeg Coughlin was upset by Krisher in the semifinals, but managed to increase his Winston points lead to 284 over Warren Johnson.

Seeling claimed her third win of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding her Team Winston Suzuki to the victory over Tony Mullen. Seeling posted a track record time of 7.196 at 182.28 leaving Mullen's Suzuki trailing in the distance with a 7.281 at 183.00.

"I think this is my most emotional win ever," Seeling said. "I was so shocked that the bike went 7.19 in the final. Everyone said that you couldn't run that good under these conditions. Team Winston has been working so hard and I just drove my heart out today."

Seeling, who outran Brian DeLong, Matt Hines and Antron Brown during eliminations, increased her Winston points lead to 79 over second place rider Dave Schultz. Hines, who fouled against Seeling in the second round, dropped to third in the overall standings, 98 points back.

Daniels claimed his fifth Pro Stock Truck victory of the season, defeating rival Bob Panella in a battle between Chevy S-10s. Daniels also used a holeshot to get the win, recording a 7.554 at 178.42 and holding off Panella's quicker truck, which ran 7.546 at 178.00.

Daniels also dedicated his victory to his father and crew chief, Garley.

"He's totally behind the operation and the main reason that I've been able to win so much this season," said Daniels, who defeated Larry Seay, Steve Johns and Brian Self on his way to the final. "I feel so lucky to be able to race with him. I'm sort of getting used to this winning thing."

Despite losing the final round, Panella maintained a 14-point lead over Daniels in the Winston point standings.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event will be the fourth annual Sears Craftsman Nationals, June 22-24 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Joe Amato; 3. Kenny Bernstein; 4. Gary Scelzi; 5. Larry Dixon; 6. Bob Vandergriff; 7. David Grubnic; 8. Cory McClenathan; 9. Doug Herbert; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 11. Doug Kalitta; 12. Chris Karamesines; 13. Bobby Lagana; 14. Bobby Baldwin; 15. Don Lampus; 16. Steve Smith.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang; 2. Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro; 4. Scotty Cannon, Camaro; 5. Bruce Sarver, Firebird; 6. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 7. Ron Capps, Camaro; 8. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger; 9. Whit Bazemore, Camaro; 10. John Force, Mustang; 11. Todd Paton, Camaro; 12. Al Hofmann, Firebird; 13. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 14. Del Worsham, Firebird; 15. Cory Lee, Avenger; 16. John Lawson, Firebird.

PRO STOCK:

1. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird; 2. Ron Krisher, Firebird; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro; 6. Warren Johnson, Firebird; 7. Richie Stevens, Firebird; 8. Danny Coffman, Firebird; 9. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass; 10. Bruce Allen, Firebird; 11. Mike Thomas, Firebird; 12. Mark Osborne, Firebird; 13. Rickie Smith, Camaro; 14. Brad Jeter, Firebird; 15. Jim Yates, Firebird; 16. Tom Martino, Firebird.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki; 2. Tony Mullen, Suzuki; 3. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 4. David Schultz, Suzuki; 5. Matt Hines, Suzuki; 6. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 7. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 9. Rob Short, Kawasaki; 10. Clarence Markham, Suzuki; 11. Ron Ayers, Suzuki; 12. Brian DeLong, Suzuki; 13. Brian Ayers, Suzuki; 14. Hector Arana, Suzuki; 15. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 16. Reggie Showers, Suzuki.

PRO STOCK TRUCK:

1. Randy Daniels, Chevy S-10; 2. Bob Panella Jr, S-10; 3. Brian Self, S-10; 4. Steven Farr, S-10; 5. Mike Coughlin, S-10; 6. John Coughlin, S-10; 7. Steve Johns, S-10; 8. Jeff Gracia, S-10; 9. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma; 10. Larry Seay, S-10; 11. Greg Stanfield, S-10; 12. Mark Whisnant, S-10; 13. Ruben Celedon, S-10; 14. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota; 15. Rick Jones, Sonoma; 16. Taylor Lastor, S-10.

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio -- Sunday's final results from the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.648 seconds, 316.15 mph def. Joe Amato, 5.165 seconds, 178.10 mph.

Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.893, 316.08 def. Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebired, 4.876, 301.20.

Pro Stock -- Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.980, 197.33 def. Ron Krisher, Pontiac Firebird, 6.975, 197.51.

Pro Stock Bike -- Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.196, 182.28 def. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.281, 183.00.

Pro Stock Truck -- Randy Daniels, Chevy S-10, 7.554, 178.42 def. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.546, 178.00.

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio -- Final round-by-round results from the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway, the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- David Grubnic, 4.745, 304.94 def. Doug Herbert, 4.768, 309.34; Kenny Bernstein, 4.870, 297.09 def. Don Lampus, 11.974, 59.52; Larry Dixon, 4.733, 298.47 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.050, 204.79; Bob Vandergriff, 4.652, 310.84 def. Bobby Lagana, 5.480, 186.51; Gary Scelzi, 4.661, 297.16 def. Chris Karamesines, 5.371, 270.97; Cory McClenathan, 4.628, 313.22 def. Steve Smith, broke; Joe Amato, 4.665, 315.56 def. Bobby Baldwin, 9.138, 90.24; Tony Schumacher, 4.679, 315.19 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.857, 278.23;

QUARTERFINALS -- Amato, 4.622, 315.19 def. Dixon, 4.679, 313.66; Schumacher, 4.702, 315.56 def. McClenathan, 5.551, 163.43; Bernstein, 4.701, 315.05 def. Vandergriff, 4.741, 300.20; Scelzi, 4.599, 315.27 def. Grubnic, 4.764, 300.33;

SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.696, 314.61 def. Bernstein, 4.758, 256.26; Amato, 4.626, 309.20 def. Scelzi, 7.309, 125.08;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 4.648, 316.15 def. Amato, 5.165, 178.10.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebird, 4.941, 304.80 def. John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.016, 303.23; Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.916, 304.12 def. John Lawson, Firebird, 10.426, 83.18; Jim Epler, Camaro, 5.003, 307.30 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 5.771, 181.50; Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.970, 309.42 def. Whit Bazemore, Camaro, 4.956, 306.95; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.984, 314.53 def. Cory Lee, Avenger, 7.980, 113.53; Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 4.915, 311.13 def. Todd Paton, Camaro, 5.039, 287.11; Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.127, 258.57 def. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.432, 185.79; Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.093, 296.44 def. Del Worsham, Firebird, 6.677, 134.52;

QUARTERFINALS -- Cannon, 4.975, 304.74 def. Capps, 7.057, 119.98; Toliver, 4.923, 304.60 def. Sarver, 4.951, 302.89; T. Pedregon, 5.253, 256.94 def. Skuza, 10.885, 86.61; Epler, 4.971, 294.75 def. F. Pedregon, 5.013, 302.89;

SEMIFINALS -- Toliver, 4.848, 309.42 def. Cannon, 15.054, 69.65; T. Pedregon, 5.081, 314.31 def. Epler, 5.939, 163.16;

FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 4.893, 316.08 def. Toliver, 4.876, 301.20.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird, 7.005, 195.85 def. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 7.008, 195.70; Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.980, 196.36 def. Jim Yates, Firebird, foul; Danny Coffman, Firebird, 7.054, 194.94 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.620, 139.13; Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 14.403, 56.94 def. Tom Martino, Firebird, foul; Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.036, 193.93 def. Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.007, 194.63; Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.966, 197.39 def. Brad Jeter, Firebird, 8.424, 110.83; Jeg Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.959, 196.82 def. Mark Osborne, Firebird, 7.040, 194.44; Ron Krisher, Firebird, 6.905, 197.83 def. Mike Thomas, Firebird, 7.020, 195.68;

QUARTERFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.985, 196.16 def. Stevens, 7.023, 193.88; Pawuk, 6.957, 196.99 def. W. Johnson, 6.975, 197.19; J. Coughlin, 6.949, 197.33 def. Coffman, foul; Krisher, 6.926, 198.38 def. K. Johnson, 6.942, 197.42;

SEMIFINALS -- Pawuk, 6.956, 197.62 def. A. Johnson, 6.971, 196.22; Krisher, 6.916, 197.94 def. J. Coughlin, 6.952, 198.00;

FINAL -- Pawuk, 6.980, 197.33 def. Krisher, 6.975, 197.51.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.436, 176.95 def. Hector Arana, Suzuki, 8.100, 179.54; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.322, 181.67 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 12.562, 47.18; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.360, 166.99 def. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.496, 176.24; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.352, 177.88 def. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.477, 179.68; Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.285, 175.82 def. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.508, 176.60; David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.344, 179.92 def. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.625, 174.12; Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.318, 182.11 def. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.495, 175.64; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.449, 178.68 def. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, broke;

QUARTERFINALS -- Schultz, 7.312, 176.86 def. Scali, 7.436, 175.11; Brown, 7.339, 169.17 def. Treble, broke; Mullen, 7.334, 181.79 def. Gann, 7.417, 178.05; Seeling, 7.246, 178.87 def. Hines, foul;

SEMIFINALS -- Mullen, 7.319, 182.33 def. Schultz, 7.452, 179.61; Seeling, 7.235, 181.18 def. Brown, 7.333, 182.75;

FINAL -- Seeling, 7.196, 182.28 def. Mullen, 7.281, 183.00.

PRO STOCK TRUCK:

ROUND ONE -- Jeff Gracia, Chevy S-10, 7.629, 176.10 def. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.612, 174.68; Steve Johns, S-10, 7.692, 176.19 def. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.718, 172.32; Brian Self, S-10, 7.611, 175.87 def. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.632, 176.42; John Coughlin, S-10, 7.609, 176.14 def. Rick Jones, Sonoma, 7.869, 169.27; Steven Farr, S-10, 7.634, 176.28 def. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.668, 175.94; Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.599, 176.33 def. Ruben Celedon, S-10, 7.684, 175.07; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.558, 177.32 def. Taylor Lastor, S-10, 11.723, 73.94; Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.566, 177.91 def. Larry Seay, S-10, 7.619, 175.57;

QUARTERFINALS -- Farr, 7.617, 176.44 def. J. Coughlin, 7.607, 176.07; Self, 7.598, 176.65 def. M. Coughlin, 7.575, 176.79; Daniels, 7.538, 178.54 def. Johns, 7.618, 176.97; Panella Jr, 7.567, 177.11 def. Gracia, 7.642, 176.58;

SEMIFINALS -- Panella Jr, 7.554, 177.67 def. Farr, 7.642, 176.58; Daniels, 7.565, 178.24 def. Self, 7.613, 176.49;

FINAL -- Daniels, 7.554, 178.42 def. Panella Jr, 7.546, 178.00.

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - NHRA Winston point standings (top 10) for professional categories following the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway, the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

1. Gary Scelzi, 876; 2. Tony Schumacher, 844; 3. Larry Dixon, 792; 4. Kenny Bernstein, 676; 5. Joe Amato, 651; 6. Doug Kalitta, 519; 7. Cory McClenathan, 501; 8. Doug Herbert, 410; 9. David Grubnic, 380; 10. Don Lampus, 377.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Jerry Toliver, 837; 2. John Force, 826; 3. Ron Capps, 731; 4. Tony Pedregon, 723; 5. Jim Epler, 555; 6. Scotty Cannon, 459; 7. Dean Skuza, 446; 8. Del Worsham, 415; 9. Whit Bazemore, 404; 10. Frank Pedregon, 400.

PRO STOCK:

1. Jeg Coughlin, 937; 2. Warren Johnson, 653; 3. Ron Krisher, 645; 4. Troy Coughlin, 583; 5. Mark Pawuk, 580; 6. Kurt Johnson, 526; 7. Jim Yates, 522; 8. Richie Stevens, 505; 9. Bruce Allen, 468; 10. Tom Martino, 452.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Angelle Seeling, 577; 2. David Schultz, 498; 3. Matt Hines, 479; 4. Tony Mullen, 454; 5. Antron Brown, 409; 6. Craig Treble, 362; 7. Geno Scali, 280; 8. Shawn Gann, 192; 9. (tie) Ron Ayers, 189; Blaine Hale, 189; Brian Ayers, 189.

PRO STOCK TRUCK:

1. Bob Panella Jr, 802; 2. Randy Daniels, 788; 3. Greg Stanfield, 514; 4. John Coughlin, 425; 5. Steve Johns, 409; 6. Brian Self, 398; 7. Rick Jones, 382; 8. Mike Coughlin, 343; 9. Jeff Gracia, 339; 10. John Lingenfelter, 320.