Bernstein, Edwards, and Perin win from the Top spot while Worsham and Brown win at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

By NHRA.com

JOLIET, Ill. - Kenny Bernstein scored his third straight NHRA Top Fuel victory at Sunday's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 10th race of the NHRA's 50th anniversary season.

Del Worsham, Mike Edwards, Antron Brown and Scott Perin also won their respective categories at the $2 million race, the 10th of 24 races in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein's fourth victory of the season and 57th of his career came when opponent Gary Scelzi lost traction and Bernstein blasted down the track in 4.546 seconds at 322.81 mph. Scelzi's dragster couldn't catch Bernstein, slowing to 7.197 at 109.25. Even though Scelzi smoked the tires in the final, Bernstein knew there were going to be no freebies on Sunday.

"We had it tough today," said Bernstein, a five-time NHRA Winston champion. "It was a good race for everybody. With conditions like this a lot of cars run very well because you can really get after the program and you probably won't smoke the tires. Every time you went up there today you better have it together because it was going to be tough."

Bernstein took out John Smith, Doug Kalitta, and Doug Herbert before meeting Scelzi in the finals. This is Bernstein's fourth win this season in as many finals but his recent hot streak is not convincing him to put off his announced retirement after the 2002 season.

"I'll give (crew chief) Tim (Richards) every bit of the credit for making it easy for me to make the announcement to go one more year," said Bernstein. "If we weren't winning or having success or even being competitive, I'd probably take a hard look at it (early retirement). It's going to make it easy this way for us to go another year."

Bernstein came into Chicago as the NHRA Winston Top Fuel points leader and extended his lead over Larry Dixon to 80 points.

Worsham won his fifth career NHRA Funny Car event beating John Force with a quicker starting line reaction time, running a 4.811 at 314.39 to Force's 4.805 at 321.19. The margin of victory was .006 of second and Worsham needed every bit of a reaction time advantage for the win.

"He's (John Force) the champ and he's a heck of a competitor," said Worsham, the 1991 NHRA Winston Rookie of the Year. "You saw the race he put up out there. His reaction time in the final was definitely above average. It was just our day today." 

Worsham defeated Bruce Sarver, teammate Frank Pedregon, Jim Epler, and finally Force in the closest Funny Car race of the day. Worsham moved up from seventh to the fourth spot in the NHRA Winston Funny Car point standings. Force's runner-up finish in Chicago extended his NHRA Winston points lead over Ron Capps to 198.

Edwards earned his ninth career Pro Stock victory with a pass of 6.848 at 200.23 while Pontiac driver Jim Yates ran 6.888 at 200.11 and couldn't catch Edwards' Chevrolet Cavalier. Edwards qualified in the top spot and had no complaints about his weekend in Chicago.

"The Young Life Chevrolet Cavalier was flawless this weekend," said Edwards, the 1996 NHRA Winston Rookie of the Year. "We made eight runs and out of all eight of them you might say one was a little off. My hats off to my team."

Edwards faced Darrell Alderman, Larry Morgan, and Warren Johnson before outperforming Yates in the final. Edwards made the jump from tenth to fifth in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock point standings. Yates' runner-up finish pushed him just two points past Mark Pawuk for the lead in the Winston point standings. 

Brown picked up his second win of the season and the eighth of his career in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Brown took the win light over Angelle Savoie, running a 7.180 at 185.64 while Savoie fouled out before he did in an all Suzuki final. 

Brown beat Clarence Markham, Geno Scali and Reggie Showers to earn the final round match-up with the defending Winston champion Savoie. Brown knew with the performance Savoie was demonstrating during qualifying that he needed to leave first. Both Savoie and Brown turned on the red light, but brown took the win because Savoie fouled out before brown did.

"For the final round against Angelle, I had to go back to my old routine," said Brown. "I had nothing to lose and I let the hammer fly. I cut a .392 but she cut a .390. We are just stoked about this win."

Brown stayed in second place in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings, just 37 behind leader Matt Hines.

Perin won his first Pro Stock Truck title after Greg Stanfield fouled at the starting line. Perin covered the distance in 8.117 at 121.65 after Stanfield left early. 

Perin's weekend was much more than he was expecting. "We never expected to win here," said Perin. "We never expected to be the number one qualifier. We were shooting for the top half of the field and try to make something out of it, and we did it."

Perin's round wins came at the expense of Scott Tidwell, Taylor Lastor, Todd Patterson, and finally Stanfield. Perin's win pushed him to fifth place in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Truck point standings while Stanfield moved into the top spot with 625 points.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 37th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals, June 14-17 at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.

JOLIET, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the Fourth annual Lucas Oil Products NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 10th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL: 
1. Kenny Bernstein; 2. Gary Scelzi; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Doug Herbert; 5. Mike Dunn; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Darrell Russell; 8. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 9. David Grubnic; 10. Chris Karamesines; 11. Luigi Novelli; 12. Joe Hartley; 13. Tony Schumacher; 14. John Smith; 15. Bobby Baldwin; 16. Jim Cavalieri. 

FUNNY CAR: 
1. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang; 3. Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro; 4. Whit Bazemore, Firebird; 5. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 7. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 8. John Lawson, Firebird; 9. Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T; 10. Ron Capps, Camaro; 11. Gary Densham, Mustang; 12. Bruce Sarver, Firebird; 13. Jerry Toliver, Firebird; 14. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 15. Tony Pedregon, Mustang; 16. Tony Bartone, Firebird. 

PRO STOCK: 
1. Mike Edwards, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am; 3. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 4. George Marnell, Grand Am; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier; 6. V. Gaines, Cavalier; 7. Larry Morgan, Dodge R/T; 8. Mark Osborne, R/T; 9. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier; 10. Darrell Alderman, R/T; 11. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 12. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am; 13. Richie Stevens, Grand Am; 14. Brad Jeter, Grand Am; 15. Tom Martino, Grand Am; 16. Ron Krisher, Cavalier. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
1. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 2. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki; 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 4. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 5. Matt Hines, Suzuki; 6. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 7. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 9. GT Tonglet, Suzuki; 10. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 11. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 12. Brian DeLong, Suzuki; 13. Ron Ayers, Suzuki; 14. Rob Short, Kawasaki; 15. Clarence Markham, Suzuki; 16. Neil Jacobs, Kawasaki. 

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 
1. Scott Perin, Chevy S-10; 2. Greg Stanfield, S-10; 3. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota; 4. Victor Cagnazzi, S-10; 5. Bob Panella Jr, S-10; 6. Jeff Gracia, GMC Sonoma; 7. Don Smith, S-10; 8. Taylor Lastor, S-10; 9. Randy Daniels, S-10; 10. Randy Daniels, S-10; 11. Mark Whisnant, S-10; 12. Jeff Naiser, S-10; 13. Bart Price, S-10; 14. Brian Self, S-10; 15. Scott Tidwell, S-10; 16. John Coughlin, S-10. 

JOLIET, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the Fourth annual Lucas Oil Products NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 10th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Kenny Bernstein, 4.546 seconds, 322.81 mph def. Gary Scelzi, 7.197 seconds, 109.25 mph. 

Funny Car -- Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.811, 314.39 def. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.805, 321.19. 

Pro Stock -- Mike Edwards, Chevy Cavalier, 6.848, 200.23 def. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.888, 200.11. 

Pro Stock Bike -- Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.180, 185.64 def. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, foul. 

Pro Stock Truck -- Scott Perin, Chevy S-10, 8.117, 121.65 def. Greg Stanfield, S-10, foul. 

Federal-Mogul Dragster -- Brandon Bernstein, 5.395, 259.51 def. Mike Strasburg, 6.473, 161.69. 

Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Dodge Avenger, 5.743, 249.21 def. Cy Chesterman, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.874, 206.54. 

Comp Eliminator -- Robert Bailey, Dragster, 6.779, 195.51 def. Charlie Westcott, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.951, 152.62. 

Super Stock -- Lynn Ellison, Chevy Camaro, 10.243, 123.93 def. Bill Rowe, Chevy Nova, 9.954, 128.04. 

Stock -- Jerry Bennett, Dodge Aspen, 11.647, 105.89 def. Bill Kissinger, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 12.452, 104.69. 

Super Comp -- Greg Tucker, 8.927, 173.56 def. Charles Siegler, foul. 

Super Gas -- Bryan Robinson, Chevy Corvette, 9.954, 143.90 def. Scott Fitzgibbon, Dodge Daytona, 9.917, 155.06. 

JOLIET, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the Fourth annual Lucas Oil Products NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 10th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 
ROUND ONE -- Doug Kalitta, 4.648, 314.61 def. David Grubnic, 4.647, 313.73; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 6.513, 185.54 def. Tony Schumacher, 7.552, 213.77; Mike Dunn, 4.581, 326.24 def. Joe Hartley, 5.840, 149.91; Darrell Russell, 4.586, 321.19 def. Jim Cavalieri, 10.962, 85.38; Kenny Bernstein, 4.567, 319.37 def. John Smith, 8.197, 113.92; Gary Scelzi, 4.542, 325.92 def. Luigi Novelli, 5.042, 264.29; Doug Herbert, 4.561, 320.51 def. Chris Karamesines, foul; Larry Dixon, 4.527, 322.34 def. Bobby Baldwin, 9.467, 90.24; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 4.565, 319.52 def. Russell, 4.708, 310.48; Bernstein, 4.491, 324.83 def. Kalitta, 4.611, 312.71; Scelzi, 4.520, 325.22 def. Dunn, 4.606, 322.65; Dixon, 4.566, 322.19 def. Hartman-Smith, 5.039, 208.17; 

SEMIFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.503, 318.02 def. Dixon, 4.533, 322.11; Bernstein, 4.533, 323.81 def. Herbert, 4.599, 316.82; 

FINAL -- Bernstein, 4.546, 322.81 def. Scelzi, 7.197, 109.25. 

FUNNY CAR: 
ROUND ONE -- Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro, 4.903, 305.36 def. Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T, 4.941, 251.30; Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 4.813, 313.73 def. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 23.641, 32.63; John Force, Mustang, 4.853, 316.82 def. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 11.389, 86.22; Whit Bazemore, Firebird, 4.928, 309.20 def. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.050, 245.40; Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.783, 319.60 def. Gary Densham, Mustang, 6.392, 144.35; Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.804, 320.51 def. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 9.765, 89.70; Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.830, 316.08 def. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 11.988, 77.93; John Lawson, Firebird, 4.918, 311.92 def. Tony Bartone, Firebird, broke; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Force, 4.773, 319.82 def. Lawson, 9.766, 92.54; Bazemore, 4.835, 314.31 def. Cannon, 7.108, 124.12; Worsham, 4.851, 313.22 def. F. Pedregon, 5.140, 237.42; Epler, 5.355, 204.51 def. Wilkerson, 5.709, 167.28; 

SEMIFINALS -- Worsham, 4.837, 315.56 def. Epler, 4.848, 310.48; Force, 4.771, 317.57 def. Bazemore, 4.888, 312.64; 
FINAL -- Worsham, 4.811, 314.39 def. Force, 4.805, 321.19. 

PRO STOCK: 
ROUND ONE -- Larry Morgan, Dodge R/T, 6.891, 199.17 def. Bruce Allen, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.866, 198.50; V. Gaines, Chevy Cavalier, 6.848, 200.35 def. Brad Jeter, Grand Am, foul; George Marnell, Grand Am, 6.876, 199.61 def. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 6.911, 198.96; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.866, 201.01 def. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.849, 200.41; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.883, 199.46 def. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.871, 199.64; Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 6.819, 200.80 def. Darrell Alderman, R/T, 6.864, 200.50; Mark Osborne, R/T, 6.881, 200.62 def. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, foul; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.839, 200.71 def. Richie Stevens, Grand Am, 6.882, 199.35; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Marnell, 6.849, 200.47 def. Osborne, 6.922, 199.70; W. Johnson, 6.833, 200.89 def. J. Coughlin, 6.865, 200.05; Yates, 6.825, 200.56 def. Gaines, 6.877, 200.11; Edwards, 6.829, 200.08 def. Morgan, 6.903, 199.23; 

SEMIFINALS -- Edwards, 6.827, 200.62 def. W. Johnson, 6.848, 200.83; Yates, 6.844, 200.32 def. Marnell, 6.875, 199.82; 
FINAL -- Edwards, 6.848, 200.23 def. Yates, 6.888, 200.11. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
ROUND ONE -- Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.237, 177.00 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.400, 175.75; Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.226, 185.31 def. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.424, 177.77; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.204, 185.03 def. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.441, 178.35; Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.140, 186.12 def. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.407, 182.67; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.187, 183.49 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.395, 180.38; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.170, 186.23 def. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.454, 179.40; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.324, 175.75 def. GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.223, 184.85; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.229, 184.02 def. Neil Jacobs, Kawasaki, 7.497, 161.15; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Treble, 7.228, 184.95 def. Johnson, broke; Showers, 7.307, 180.36 def. Hines, 7.281, 182.53; Brown, 7.194, 185.38 def. Scali, 7.293, 183.32; Savoie, 7.161, 183.74 def. Gann, 7.317, 177.16; 

SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 7.163, 184.30 def. Showers, 7.276, 183.74; Savoie, 7.148, 184.17 def. Treble, 7.254, 184.77; 
FINAL -- Brown, 7.180, 185.64 def. Savoie, foul. 

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 
ROUND ONE -- Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.502, 179.44 def. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.480, 180.02; Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.430, 181.72 def. Jeff Naiser, S-10, 7.511, 179.11; Victor Cagnazzi, S-10, 7.461, 179.78 def. Brian Self, S-10, 7.515, 178.71; Jeff Gracia, GMC Sonoma, 7.431, 181.59 def. Bart Price, S-10, foul; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.432, 181.89 def. Ruben Celedon, S-10, 7.560, 178.80; Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.440, 180.77 def. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.482, 180.07; Scott Perin, S-10, 7.447, 180.67 def. Scott Tidwell, S-10, 7.527, 178.66; Don Smith, S-10, 7.460, 180.50 def. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.534, 178.92; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Cagnazzi, 7.477, 179.56 def. Smith, 7.495, 178.95; Perin, 7.479, 180.52 def. Lastor, 9.713, 96.12; Patterson, 7.471, 180.57 def. Gracia, 7.469, 180.79; Stanfield, 7.427, 181.37 def. Panella Jr, 7.453, 181.37; 

SEMIFINALS -- Perin, 7.449, 180.48 def. Patterson, 7.447, 180.94; Stanfield, 10.828, 82.55 def. Cagnazzi, foul; 
FINAL -- Perin, 8.117, 121.65 def. Stanfield, foul. 

JOLIET, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Fourth annual Lucas Oil Products NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the 10th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 
1. Kenny Bernstein, 877; 2. Larry Dixon, 797; 3. Mike Dunn, 762; 4. Doug Kalitta, 695; 5. Gary Scelzi, 633; 6. Darrell Russell, 616; 7. Tony Schumacher, 513; 8. Doug Herbert, 481; 9. David Grubnic, 403; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 399.

FUNNY CAR: 
1. John Force, 843; 2. Ron Capps, 645; 3. Bruce Sarver, 617; 4. Del Worsham, 596; 5. Whit Bazemore, 591; 6. Frank Pedregon, 556; 7. Tony Pedregon, 539; 8. Gary Densham, 471; 9. Dean Skuza, 457; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., 453.

PRO STOCK: 
1. Jim Yates, 663; 2. Mark Pawuk, 661; 3. Warren Johnson, 651; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 583; 5. Mike Edwards, 522; 6. Kurt Johnson, 515; 7. Ron Krisher, 509; 8. Mark Osborne, 494; 9. Bruce Allen, 474; 10. Richie Stevens, 437.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
1. Matt Hines, 484; 2. Antron Brown, 447; 3. Angelle Savoie, 421; 4. Craig Treble, 354; 5. Reggie Showers, 305; 6. Geno Scali, 291; 7. GT Tonglet, 236; 8. Shawn Gann, 223; 9. Steve Johnson, 221; 10. Joe DeSantis, 182.

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 
1. Greg Stanfield, 625; 2. Bob Panella Jr, 600; 3. Randy Daniels, 590; 4. Jeff Gracia, 504; 5. Scott Perin, 397; 6. Don Smith, 381; 7. Todd Patterson, 311; 8. Jeff Naiser, 242; 9. Mike Coughlin, 239; 10. Victor Cagnazzi, 237.

NHRA.com