NHRA St. Louis: Tonglet and Lastor Win First of Career, Warren Johnson Ties Bob Glidden with 85 Career Victories

By NHRA.com

MADISON, Ill. - Tony Pedregon scored his 13th career NHRA Funny Car victory at Sunday's Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, the 12th race of the NHRA's 50th anniversary season.

Doug Kalitta, Warren Johnson, GT Tonglet and Taylor Lastor also won their respective categories at the $1.9 million race, the 12th of 24 races in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Pedregon's third victory of the season came when he gained the starting line advantage and blasted down the track in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang in 5.006 seconds at 296.31 mph as final round opponent Tommy Johnson's Skoal Racing Chevrolet Camaro couldn't catch Pedregon, finishing at 4.989 at 293.54.

"I didn't realize I had won on a hole shot," Pedregon said. "The important thing is that we are back in the points chase. Someone told me that we are up to third. Now we go to Pomona (Calif.) 20 minutes away from my house. It's tough to enjoy the wins when you have a race the upcoming weekend but maybe I can enjoy this one a little bit longer."

Pedregon had better reaction times in all four of his wins starting with Jim Epler, Tim Wilkerson, Del Worsham, and finally a hole-shot win against Johnson. Pedregon has moved up to third in the NHRA Winston Funny Car points standings after sliding to 11th following the Advance Auto Parts NHRA Southern Nationals in early May. Despite losing in the semi-finals, John Force held his NHRA Winston Funny Car points lead with 1033 points, 271 ahead of second place Worsham.

Kalitta won his eighth career national event as his Mac Tools dragster covered the quarter-mile in 4.772 at 302.82 to defeat Kenny Bernstein who was late on the starting line despite running a quicker 4.756 at 309.13.

"Anytime you go up against Kenny (Bernstein), you have to be on your game," Kalitta said. "It's always nice to get by those guys for sure."

Kalitta picked up his third victory of the season and the first of his career at Gateway International Raceway. The win moved Kalitta ahead of Mike Dunn for the third spot in the NHRA Winston Top Fuel points race. Bernstein still leads the NHRA Winston Top Fuel points, 80 points in front of second place Larry Dixon. 

Johnson earned his 85th career Pro Stock victory with a pass of 6.908 at 200.74, edging out fellow Pontiac Grand Am driver Jim Yates and his pass of 6.930 at 200.62. Johnson's win now ties him with NHRA legend Bob Glidden for the most NHRA national event wins by a Pro Stock competitor. Johnson was surprisingly subdued after matching Glidden's record that was once considered almost unreachable.

"People from the media make more of it than I do," said Johnson, a five-time NHRA Winston champion. "We're are after the championship. Number of wins, so be it. Rob Bruins won the championship in Top Fuel in 1979 without winning a race. It is possible to win a championship without winning races, but that is not the way we want to do it."
Johnson beat John Nobile, Mike Edwards, Brad Jeter, and finally Jim Yates en route to his fourth win in four finals this season. Johnson maintains his strangle hold on the NHRA Winston Pro Stock points standings with 884, 76 ahead of Yates.

Tonglet, a rookie, picked up his first win of his career in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Tonglet's motorcycle was quicker than Shawn Gann's, running a 7.324 at 187.29 to a 7.336 at 178.17 in an all Suzuki final. 

Tonglet credits his first career win to the increased horsepower he has received from Freedom Motorsports. "I have to thank Byron Hines, Matt Hines, Andrew Hines and everyone who has helped us at Freedom Motorsports," said Tonglet. "Vance and Hines, Trac Dynamics especially. That chassis is top of the line because it goes straight down the track."

Tonglet has advanced to one final prior to his victory outside of St. Louis and used wins over Geno Scali, Steve Johnson, Ron Ayers, and Gann to earn it. Tonglet entered the Sears Craftsman Nationals in ninth place in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings, but leaves tied for sixth with Geno Scali. Antron Brown's first round loss opened the door for Angelle Savoie to move into first place with 615 NHRA Winston points, 33 points in front of Brown. 

Lastor won his first career Pro Stock Truck title holding off fellow Chevy S-10 driver Randy Daniels for the victory. Lastor covered the distance in 7.520 at 179.95, edging Daniels, who posted a run of 7.524 at 180.48.

Lastor qualified 12th and had to work his way to the winners circle the hard way. "We didn't have lane choice for one round," said Lastor, a former Pro Stock competitor in 1998. "We managed to get a hole shot. The truck ran awesome and the guys had a really good handle on everything they were doing. We outran Randy Daniels in the final, which was nice."

Lastor failed to qualify for the first four NHRA Winston Drag Racing events of the season. The win at Gateway International Raceway pushed him from 12th to eighth in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Truck points. Bob Panella still leads the NHRA Winston points standings with 773.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the Inaugural Pep Boys 50th Anniversary Nationals, July 5-7 at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, Calif.

MADISON, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the fifth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 12th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL: 
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Kenny Bernstein; 3. Darrell Russell; 4. Tony Schumacher; 5. David Grubnic; 6. Scott Weis; 7. Bobby Lagana Jr; 8. Larry Dixon; 9. Paul Romine; 10. Luigi Novelli; 11. John Smith; 12. Gary Scelzi; 13. Doug Herbert; 14. Mike Dunn; 15. Bruce Litton; 16. Joe Hartley. 

FUNNY CAR: 
1. Tony Pedregon, '01 Ford Mustang; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro; 3. John Force, Mustang; 4. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird; 5. Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T; 6. Bruce Sarver, Firebird; 7. Johnny Gray, Firebird; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 9. Al Hofmann, Firebird; 10. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 11. Whit Bazemore, Firebird; 12. Tony Bartone, Firebird; 13. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 14. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 15. Jim Epler, Camaro; 16. Jerry Toliver, Firebird. 

PRO STOCK: 
1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am; 2. Jim Yates, Grand Am; 3. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Firebird; 4. Brad Jeter, Grand Am; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier; 6. Mike Edwards, Cavalier; 7. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am; 8. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 9. Ron Krisher, Cavalier; 10. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier; 11. V. Gaines, Cavalier; 12. George Marnell, Grand Am; 13. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier; 14. John Nobile, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 15. Mark Osborne, Dodge R/T; 16. Tom Martino, Grand Am. 

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

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

MADISON, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the Fifth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. The $1.6 million race is the 12th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.772 seconds, 302.82 mph def. Kenny Bernstein, 4.756 seconds, 309.13 mph. 

Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.006, 296.31 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 4.989, 293.54. 

Pro Stock -- Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.908, 200.74 def. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.930, 200.62. 

Pro Stock Bike -- GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.324, 187.29 def. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.336, 178.17. 

Pro Stock Truck -- Taylor Lastor, Chevy S-10, 7.520, 179.95 def. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.524, 180.48. 

Federal-Mogul Dragster -- Jay Meyer, 5.491, 254.81 def. Keith Stark, 8.117, 112.49. 

Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Marc White, Pontiac Firebird, 5.786, 250.04 def. Kim Fritts, Firebird, 5.860, 231.71. 

Comp Eliminator -- David Rampy, Dragster, 6.919, 190.92 def. Santo Volpe, Chevy Corvette, 6.942, 200.50. 

Super Stock -- Ricky Ray, Pontiac Firebird, 9.223, 147.01 def. Joe LoCicero, Chevy Camaro, foul. 

Stock -- Kevin Helms, Chevy Camaro, 10.598, 115.00 def. Daryl Bureski, Oldsmobile, 11.606, 112.78. 

Super Comp -- Vince Nannini, Dragster, 8.901, 161.98 def. Shannon Mingee, Dragster, 8.890, 159.91. 

Super Gas -- Todd Heins, Chevy Beretta, 9.888, 153.33 def. Jimmy Lewis, Roadster, 9.873, 153.40. 

MADISON, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the Fifth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, the 12th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 
ROUND ONE -- Doug Kalitta, 4.714, 302.14 def. Paul Romine, 4.814, 268.17; Tony Schumacher, 5.919, 266.11 def. Bruce Litton, 7.445, 125.16; David Grubnic, 4.799, 306.40 def. Doug Herbert, 5.401, 198.09; Darrell Russell, 4.738, 304.94 def. John Smith, 4.922, 258.81; Kenny Bernstein, 4.659, 316.15 def. Joe Hartley, 11.328, 82.26; Scott Weis, 4.831, 305.56 def. Gary Scelzi, 5.273, 262.79; Bobby Lagana Jr, 4.867, 309.63 def. Mike Dunn, 5.453, 259.01; Larry Dixon, 4.640, 313.73 def. Luigi Novelli, 4.853, 274.55; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Russell, 4.717, 307.51 def. Lagana Jr, 5.328, 202.58; Kalitta, 4.712, 303.57 def. Weis, 4.905, 291.89; Bernstein, 4.727, 308.35 def. Grubnic, 4.770, 299.60; Schumacher, 5.884, 278.69 def. Dixon, 6.133, 255.48; 

SEMIFINALS -- Bernstein, 4.798, 300.53 def. Schumacher, 6.568, 154.26; Kalitta, 4.765, 301.27 def. Russell, 6.118, 145.88; 

FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.772, 302.82 def. Bernstein, 4.756, 309.13. 

FUNNY CAR: 
ROUND ONE -- Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T, 5.197, 272.78 def. Scotty Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.940, 195.08; Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.909, 231.16 def. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 14.111, 71.33; Johnny Gray, Firebird, 4.959, 299.33 def. Tony Bartone, Firebird, 5.369, 215.51; Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.046, 300.80 def. Jim Epler, Chevy Camaro, 13.963, 53.00; John Force, Mustang, 4.962, 307.51 def. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.108, 253.33; Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.968, 305.36 def. Whit Bazemore, Firebird, 5.234, 260.46; Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.951, 298.07 def. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.012, 295.01; Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 4.952, 302.75 def. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 9.621, 108.12; 

QUARTERFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 5.069, 298.54 def. Wilkerson, 6.873, 166.25; Worsham, 5.279, 267.85 def. Gray, 6.088, 199.17; Johnson Jr., 4.997, 296.37 def. Sarver, 5.056, 299.20; Force, 4.985, 296.44 def. Skuza, 5.033, 299.53; 

SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 5.858, 216.86 def. Worsham, 6.184, 224.21; Johnson Jr., 4.998, 293.98 def. Force, 5.030, 291.32; 

FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 5.006, 296.31 def. Johnson Jr., 4.989, 293.54. 

PRO STOCK: 
ROUND ONE -- Mike Edwards, Chevy Cavalier, 6.931, 199.29 def. Mark Osborne, Dodge R/T, 6.998, 199.88; Greg Anderson, Pontiac Firebird, 6.894, 200.35 def. George Marnell, Pontiac Grand Am, foul; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.903, 200.47 def. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.936, 199.82; Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.981, 198.82 def. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 8.044, 129.12; Brad Jeter, Grand Am, 6.948, 199.79 def. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.873, 200.65; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.934, 200.71 def. John Nobile, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.945, 199.70; Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.933, 200.05 def. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.924, 200.20; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.934, 199.76 def. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.907, 200.53; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Jeter, 6.953, 199.32 def. Pawuk, 6.984, 198.64; W. Johnson, 6.890, 200.65 def. Edwards, 6.955, 199.49; Yates, 6.917, 200.47 def. J. Coughlin, 6.948, 199.85; Anderson, 7.165, 193.99 def. Allen, 13.494, 63.38; 

SEMIFINALS -- Yates, 6.939, 199.82 def. Anderson, 6.953, 199.37; W. Johnson, 6.945, 200.68 def. Jeter, 6.973, 199.20; 

FINAL -- W. Johnson, 6.908, 200.74 def. Yates, 6.930, 200.62. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
ROUND ONE -- Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.331, 182.82 def. Peggy Llewellyn, Suzuki, 7.363, 184.25; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.302, 182.18 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.362, 184.90; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.281, 183.97 def. Sam Hurwitz, Suzuki, 7.549, 179.33; Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.219, 179.09 def. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.437, 177.77; Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.349, 183.49 def. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.257, 188.83; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.391, 180.62 def. Rob Short, Kawasaki, foul; GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.293, 179.66 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.249, 182.62; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.277, 180.26 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.450, 179.54; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Ayers, 7.330, 183.44 def. Showers, 7.335, 181.20; Tonglet, 7.336, 186.59 def. Johnson, 7.369, 182.08; Gann, 7.497, 158.39 def. Treble, 11.316, 71.72; Savoie, 7.207, 186.28 def. Hines, 7.370, 183.67; 

SEMIFINALS -- Tonglet, 7.292, 182.53 def. Ayers, 7.355, 182.55; Gann, 7.347, 182.23 def. Savoie, 8.234, 115.27; 

FINAL -- Tonglet, 7.324, 187.29 def. Gann, 7.336, 178.17. 

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 

ROUND ONE -- Scott Perin, Chevy S-10, 7.546, 180.57 def. Jeff Gracia, GMC Sonoma, 7.556, 180.57; Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.527, 179.59 def. Jeff Naiser, S-10, 7.580, 179.11; Victor Cagnazzi, S-10, 7.571, 178.59 def. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.580, 178.80; John Lingenfelter, Sonoma, 7.524, 179.18 def. Don Smith, S-10, 7.538, 179.80; Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.497, 181.23 def. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.533, 179.33; Taylor Lastor, S-10, 7.536, 179.90 def. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.582, 180.24; Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.548, 180.09 def. Bart Price, S-10, 7.633, 177.65; Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.526, 180.02 def. Vinny Barone, S-10, 7.575, 179.16; 

QUARTERFINALS -- Daniels, 7.530, 179.61 def. Cagnazzi, 10.852, 82.42; Patterson, 7.517, 180.09 def. Perin, 7.559, 180.62; Stanfield, 7.534, 180.12 def. Lingenfelter, 7.562, 178.59; Lastor, 7.539, 179.76 def. Panella Jr, 7.533, 180.89; 

SEMIFINALS -- Daniels, 7.532, 179.76 def. Stanfield, 7.550, 179.85; Lastor, 7.554, 179.25 def. Patterson, 7.547, 180.26; 

FINAL -- Lastor, 7.520, 179.95 def. Daniels, 7.524, 180.48. 

MADISON, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Fifth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, the 12th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 
1. Kenny Bernstein, 1,051; 2. Larry Dixon, 971; 3. Doug Kalitta, 862; 4. Mike Dunn, 848; 5. Darrell Russell, 786; 6. Gary Scelzi, 747; 7. Tony Schumacher, 638; 8. Doug Herbert, 567; 9. David Grubnic, 490; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 441.

FUNNY CAR: 
1. John Force, 1,033; 2. Del Worsham, 762; 3. Tony Pedregon, 727; 4. Bruce Sarver, 726; 5. Ron Capps, 686; 6. Whit Bazemore, 679; 7. Frank Pedregon, 624; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., 602; 9. Dean Skuza, 569; 10. Gary Densham, 513.

PRO STOCK: 
1. Warren Johnson, 884; 2. Jim Yates, 808; 3. Mark Pawuk, 749; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 707; 5. Mark Osborne, 620; 6. Mike Edwards, 605; 7. Kurt Johnson, 582; 8. Ron Krisher, 581; 9. Bruce Allen, 563; 10. Brad Jeter, 501.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
1. Angelle Savoie, 615; 2. Antron Brown, 582; 3. Matt Hines, 574; 4. Craig Treble, 486; 5. Reggie Showers, 390; 6. (tie) Geno Scali, 380; GT Tonglet, 380; 8. Shawn Gann, 369; 9. Steve Johnson, 327; 10. Joe DeSantis, 268.

PRO STOCK TRUCK: 
1. Bob Panella Jr, 773; 2. Greg Stanfield, 732; 3. Randy Daniels, 716; 4. Jeff Gracia, 593; 5. Scott Perin, 481; 6. Todd Patterson, 461; 7. Don Smith, 452; 8. Taylor Lastor, 365; 9. Jeff Naiser, 349; 10. Victor Cagnazzi, 348.

-- NHRA.com