NHRA Maple Grove Qualifying and Results

Track Records Fall as Scelzi, Densham, Yates, and Savoie
Climb to No. 1 after Friday Qualifying at the
Pep Boys NHRA Nationals presented by Greased Lightning

By NHRA.com

NOTE: We did not receive second day qualifying or final results from NHRA.com. Here are the first day qualifying results. Click HERE to visit the NHRA.com site for full results of the weekend's record-breaking event at Maple Grove. bp

MOHNTON, Pa.. - Autumn conditions gave way to numerous track records at the 17th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals presented by Greased Lightning as Gary Scelzi thrilled the capacity crowd Friday with a quarter-mile run of 4.544 seconds at 320.40 mph in Top Fuel. Mike Dunn's first qualifying attempt established the Top Fuel track speed record at Maple Grove Raceway at 326.40 mph.

Gary Densham, Jim Yates and Angelle Savoie also led their respective divisions at the $1.9 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing event outside of Reading, Pa. The Pep Boys NHRA Nationals was originally scheduled to run at Maple Grove Raceway Sept. 13-16. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the NHRA postponed the event until this weekend. 

Scelzi has five top qualifying positions to his credit already in 2001 and if his elapsed time can hold through Saturday, it will be his sixth of the season and 34 for his career. Despite Team Winston reaching the winner's circle only once this season, Scelzi is confident he and crew chief, Alan Johnson, are poised to finish the season strong. 

"We have been watching a lot of videos of our car at home," said Scelzi, the defending Winston Top Fuel champion. "We've been watching the ultra slow motion of the ESPN show and watching exactly what the tires are doing. Whatever he (Johnson) is doing, I don't know if it is cured, but I feel a whole lot better." 

Densham set the Funny Car track record for elapsed time during the second qualifying session, posting a 4.833 at 307.79. If Densham's Auto Club Ford Mustang can hold on to the top spot through Saturday, it will be his second pole of his career. 

NHRA officials scheduled two-day sessions for Friday anticipating cooler temperatures for this weekend. Anticipating the weather to cool off on Saturday, Densham expects the NHRA national records to fall. 

"We always want to go faster," said Densham. "If it (the track) will hold a 4.83 today with the sun out, can you image how fast it will be when it gets to be 58 or 60 degrees? It will be a mineshaft, because the track itself has already proved to be quite good. You get a little cloud cover and little coolness on it and you are going to see national event record numbers again "

Yates topped the Pro Stock division with a run of 6.832 at 201.07 in his Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Grand Am. Yates' first round pass established the track record for elapsed time. 
Savoie's Suzuki led the Pro Stock Motorcycle field with a pass of 7.208 at 188.36. 

MOHNTON, Pa. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 17th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals presented by Greased Lightning at Maple Grove Raceway, 21st of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, 4.544 seconds, 320.13 mph; 2. Mike Dunn, 4.570, 326.40; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.570, 317.94; 4. Kenny Bernstein, 4.586, 315.93; 5. Andrew Cowin, 4.589, 318.84; 6. Doug Kalitta, 4.602, 310.34; 7. Doug Herbert, 4.662, 310.63; 8. Scott Weis, 4.665, 307.37; 9. Darrell Russell, 4.676, 310.84; 10. Tony Schumacher, 4.689, 308.00; 11. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.776, 244.43; 12. Jim Cavalieri, 4.944, 245.32; 13. Steve Smith, 5.067, 274.33; 14. Bobby Lagana Jr, 5.930, 182.77; 15. Brady Kalivoda, 9.932, 89.39. 

Funny Car -- 1. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.833, 307.79; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 4.843, 311.05; 3. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac Firebird, 4.855, 315.42; 4. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.866, 305.91; 5. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.887, 303.84; 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.893, 308.78; 7. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.896, 305.01; 8. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.906, 312.13; 9. Chuck Etchells, Camaro, 4.915, 302.48; 10. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 4.924, 293.03; 11. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 4.927, 304.94; 12. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger, 4.944, 304.74; 13. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.972, 304.25; 14. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.022, 292.39; 15. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 5.036, 275.90; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 5.055, 294.56. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.832, 201.07; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.838, 201.76; 3. Mark Osborne, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.842, 202.21; 4. George Marnell, Grand Am, 6.849, 200.59; 5. Tom Hammonds, Cavalier, 6.853, 200.95; 6. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.853, 200.77; 7. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.858, 201.82; 8. Hurley Blakeney, Ford Mustang, 6.861, 201.25; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.863, 200.26; 10. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.866, 201.91; 11. Brad Jeter, Grand Am, 6.866, 200.77; 12. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.866, 200.14; 13. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.871, 201.13; 14. Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 6.872, 201.43; 15. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.877, 199.79; 16. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 6.888, 200.89. 

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.208, 188.36; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.251, 180.14; 3. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.260, 184.35; 4. GT Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.265, 188.75; 5. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.278, 182.48; 6. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.290, 188.60; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.301, 186.46; 8. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.310, 181.06; 9. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.321, 187.76; 10. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.346, 185.61; 11. Thomas Miceli, Suzuki, 7.361, 184.07; 12. Bill Vose, Suzuki, 7.366, 179.56; 13. Greg Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.369, 186.15; 14. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.387, 181.35; 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.387, 175.14; 16. Sam Hurwitz, Suzuki, 7.391, 186.30. 

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