MOHNTON, Pa. - Five-time NHRA Winston champion Joe Amato won his 52nd
career Top Fuel race and second of the year Sunday at 16th annual Keystone
Nationals. Hometown favorite and defending event winner Amato, from Exeter,
Pa., blasted his Dynomax dragster down the track in 4.626 seconds at 310.27
mph to hold off Team Winston driver Gary Scelzi who ran a 4.639 at
312.78.
Amato had never won at Maple Grove Raceway in his storied career and has
now won the last two national events held in his home state. He defeated
Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Andrew Cowin, Bob Vandergriff and Scelzi for the
victory. Amato had eye surgery earlier this summer and immediately won the
next event he competed in Denver for his only other win of the season.
"This track used us up for 14 or 15 years and it must have felt it
owed us something," said Amato. "I knew (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock)
would give me a great car and we were just trying not to beat ourselves. The
team, I just can say enough about how steady they have been all weekend. I
know I had a big cheering section out there. It's also depressing when you
have to go back and tell them you loss because it was your fault. We all try
to do our job, and thank God we did it. This is such a great place and such
a great day. The weather was good and the racing was good. Scelzi is a tough
guy out there and I had to step up with him and do a good job."
Defending NHRA Winston Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher lost in the
second round to Vandergriff. With his runner-up finish Scelzi regains the
Winston points lead for the third time this season. Scelzi leads Schumacher
by eight points with five events remaining.
"The thing that hurt Team Winston more than anything this season was
the stretch of three straight first-round losses," said Scelzi, the
two-time series champ. "However, we have rebounded and we rebounded in
time. We've still got five races left and we've been to two straight finals.
We're cautious, and even if we would have won the race, 28 points would not
be near enough to hold off those other guys."
Bruce Sarver, Kurt Johnson and Matt Hines were also winners in their
respective categories at the $1.9 million race at Maple Grove Raceway, the
18th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Funny
Car driver Sarver, from Bakersfield, Calif., sped down the quarter mile in
his e-moola.com Pontiac Firebird in 4.993 at 303.03 to pass Ron Capps' U.S.
Tobacco Chevrolet Camaro and his run of 5.063 at 293.73 for his first career
victory. Before Capps, Sarver had to get by Cristen Powell, Tommy Johnson
Jr., and Scotty Cannon en route to his first Funny Car final.
"It hasn't sunk in yet, but it's a pretty cool feeling" said
Sarver. "I'm ready to have some fun. Drag racing has been a challenge
and when you make mistakes, this drag racing will humble you instantly, and
I have been humbled a lot. We work hard; we play hard. We have a great
people and I couldn't be happier than where I am at. It's a dream come true.
Sarver drives for team owner Alan Johnson, who is also the crew chief and
owner of the Team Winston Top Fuel team as well.
John Force and Jerry Toliver, one-two in the Winston Funny Car points
standings respectively, were both eliminated in the first round. Due to
Force earning more qualifying points, he extended his lead over Toliver to
226.
Johnson, from Lawrenceville, Ga., covered the distance in his AC Delco
Chevrolet Camaro in 6.885 at 200.14 to defeat his father, Warren, and his GM
Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird's pass of 6.914 at 200.14 for his fourth Pro
Stock victory of the season. He had not won more than three events in one
season. Johnson has now met his father in the finals 12 times, winning
three. He also defeated his father here in 1993.
"Boy you hate to upset your dad," said Johnson. "But if I
would have gone and not done a good job he wouldn't have been proud of me.
When we ran here in '93 it was door handle to door handle. I remember that
night vividly because you could see the flash bulbs coming from the crowd
and I didn't have much experience racing at night and I still have that
memory in the back of my mind. To come here seven years later and race your
dad again, I probably won't have that opportunity seven years from now. I am
just glad we have the resources to get to the final and put ourselves into
that position. It's pretty tough to do."
With the win Johnson climbed back into second place in the points
standings. He now trails the leader, Jeg Coughlin Jr., by 363 points.
Three-time series champ Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., won his 26th career
Pro Stock Motorcycle event atop his Eagle One Suzuki when he made a pass of
7.184 at 182.58 to outrun Team Winston Suzuki rider Angelle Seeling and her
run of 7.244 at 178.57. During qualifying, Seeling lowered the track record
for elapsed time to 7.156.
Hines rode past Hector Arana, Steve Johnson, and Geno Scali before
defeating Seeling in the final. There are two events left in the season for
the competitors in the two-wheel category and Seeling currently holds a
138-point lead over Hines.
"(Seeling) bike was definitely running quick this weekend and she
definitely put a shot out there in qualifying," said Hines. "We
had a bracket bike this weekend and we took the six-speed out of the bike
because we blew it up at the last race. We decided to come here with a five
speed because that is what we used last year and we knew we could go fast.
Right now we are going to try and win the last two races and do some testing
for next year. The championship is Angelle's to lose. She really didn't lose
that many points this weekend. I was hoping she would go out in the first
round but that didn't happen."
The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series continues with the 12th annual
Advance Auto Parts Nationals, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, at Heartland Park Topeka.
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at
the 16th annual Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The $1.7 million
race is the 18th of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing
Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Joe Amato; 2. Gary Scelzi; 3. Bob Vandergriff; 4. Doug Herbert; 5. Tony
Schumacher; 6. Andrew Cowin; 7. Kenny Bernstein; 8. Melanie Troxel; 9.
Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 10. Larry Dixon; 11. Luigi Novelli; 12. Bobby Lagana;
13. Cory McClenathan; 14. Doug Kalitta; 15. David Grubnic; 16. Rit Pustari.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Bruce Sarver, '00 Pontiac Firebird; 2. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 3. Scotty
Cannon, Camaro; 4. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang; 5. Frank Pedregon, Firebird;
6. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Firebird; 8. Scott Weis,
Chevy Corvette; 9. Cristen Powell, Camaro; 10. Dean Skuza, Dodge Avenger;
11. John Force, Mustang; 12. Gary Densham, Firebird; 13. Del Worsham,
Firebird; 14. Al Hofmann, Firebird; 15. Jerry Toliver, Firebird; 16. Jim
Epler, Camaro.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro; 2. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Jeg
Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass; 4. Rickie Smith, Camaro; 5. Darrell Alderman,
Dodge Avenger; 6. Jim Yates, Firebird; 7. Ron Krisher, Firebird; 8. Larry
Morgan, Avenger; 9. Richie Stevens, Firebird; 10. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass;
11. George Marnell, Firebird; 12. Mark Pawuk, Firebird; 13. Mike Thomas,
Firebird; 14. Allen Johnson, Avenger; 15. Scott Geoffrion, Avenger; 16.
Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Matt Hines, Suzuki; 2. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki; 3. Tony Mullen, Suzuki;
4. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 5. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 6. John Smith, Suzuki; 7.
Blaine Hale, Kawasaki; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 9. Greg Underdahl, Suzuki;
10. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 11. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 12. Rob Short, Kawasaki;
13. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 14. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 15. Craig Treble,
Suzuki; 16. Hector Arana, Suzuki.
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Sunday's final results from the 16th annual Keystone
Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The $1.6-million race is the 18th of 23
events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Joe Amato, 4.626 seconds, 310.27 mph def. Gary Scelzi, 4.639
seconds, 312.78 mph.
Funny Car -- Bruce Sarver, Pontiac Firebird, 4.993, 303.03 def. Ron Capps,
Chevy Camaro, 5.063, 293.73.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.885, 200.14 def. Warren Johnson,
Pontiac Firebird, 6.914, 200.14.
Pro Stock Bike -- Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.184, 182.58 def. Angelle Seeling,
Suzuki, 7.244, 178.57.
Federal-Mogul Dragster -- Jeanie Booz, 5.666, 251.49 def. Jeff Wilson,
9.197, 87.67.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Dodge Avenger, 5.586, 257.48 def.
Tony Bartone, Chevy Camaro, 5.589, 257.83.
Comp Eliminator -- Jerry Arnold, Dragster, 8.926, 114.63 def. Stephen Szupka,
Dragster, foul.
Super Stock -- Norman Hall, Pontiac Firebird, 10.300, 127.45 def. Anthony
Bertozzi, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.454, 138.14.
Stock -- Tom Dauber, Chevy II, 11.784, 110.97 def. David LeBrun, Chevy
Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Mitch Smith, Dragster, 8.920, 162.10 def. Michael Sullivan,
Dragster, 8.887, 160.96.
Super Gas -- Brian Folk, Chevrolet Cavalier, 9.919, 146.34 def. George
Stack, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 9.895, 154.97.
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Final round-by-round results from the 16th annual Keystone
Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 18th of 23 events in the $45-million
NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Bob Vandergriff, 4.726, 262.44 def. Cory McClenathan, 11.376,
83.34; Doug Herbert, 5.074, 251.67 def. David Grubnic, 13.349, 55.95; Andrew
Cowin, 4.788, 303.98 def. Doug Kalitta, foul; Tony Schumacher, 6.473, 188.78
def. Bobby Lagana, 8.793, 90.37; Gary Scelzi, 4.615, 315.86 def. Rit Pustari,
broke; Melanie Troxel, 4.910, 232.71 def. Luigi Novelli, 5.890, 163.39; Joe
Amato, 4.697, 291.82 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.804, 289.01; Kenny
Bernstein, 4.693, 305.15 def. Larry Dixon, 4.811, 284.33;
QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 7.455, 131.47 def. Troxel, broke; Amato, 4.729,
293.98 def. Cowin, 4.743, 288.70; Vandergriff, 4.683, 302.28 def.
Schumacher, 4.657, 309.98; Scelzi, 4.687, 304.46 def. Bernstein, 10.956,
82.73;
SEMIFINALS -- Scelzi, 4.634, 308.57 def. Herbert, 5.463, 172.47; Amato,
4.665, 311.56 def. Vandergriff, 4.708, 303.30;
FINAL -- Amato, 4.626, 310.27 def. Scelzi, 4.639, 312.78.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Scott Weis, Chevy Corvette, 5.037, 286.25 def. Dean Skuza,
Dodge Avenger, 5.047, 250.23; Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.151,
264.49 def. Gary Densham, Firebird, 5.210, 227.69; Tommy Johnson Jr.,
Firebird, 5.036, 289.69 def. John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.133, 271.57; Bob
Gilbertson, Chevy Camaro, 5.090, 285.11 def. Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.211,
235.43; Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.044, 246.71 def. Al Hofmann, Firebird,
6.035, 154.33; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.010, 291.70 def. Jerry Toliver,
Firebird, DQ Centerline; Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.715, 230.45 def. Jim Epler,
Camaro, 6.870, 116.42; Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.051, 287.35 def. Cristen
Powell, Camaro, 5.026, 277.26;
QUARTERFINALS -- Cannon, 5.004, 291.01 def. Gilbertson, 5.138, 292.14;
Sarver, 5.013, 288.52 def. Johnson Jr., 5.157, 275.00; T. Pedregon, 4.993,
286.68 def. Weis, foul; Capps, 5.050, 290.13 def. F. Pedregon, 5.057,
292.14;
SEMIFINALS -- Sarver, 4.961, 302.28 def. Cannon, 4.978, 286.13; Capps,
5.025, 293.09 def. T. Pedregon, 5.015, 297.48;
FINAL -- Sarver, 4.993, 303.03 def. Capps, 5.063, 293.73.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.881, 200.23 def. Mark Pawuk,
Pontiac Firebird, 6.913, 198.29; Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.886,
198.64 def. Mike Thomas, Firebird, 6.939, 199.61; Jim Yates, Firebird,
6.888, 199.32 def. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 6.908, 199.20; Larry Morgan,
Dodge Avenger, 6.948, 199.05 def. George Marnell, Firebird, 6.908, 198.64;
Rickie Smith, Camaro, 6.911, 198.67 def. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 6.894,
198.17; Warren Johnson, Firebird, 6.920, 199.35 def. Robert Patrick, Ford
Mustang, 7.480, 145.03; Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 6.887, 199.05 def. Allen
Johnson, Avenger, 6.942, 197.57; Ron Krisher, Firebird, 6.898, 200.26 def.
Scott Geoffrion, Avenger, 6.962, 198.06;
QUARTERFINALS -- Smith, 6.923, 198.26 def. Morgan, 11.291, 73.40; W.
Johnson, 6.914, 199.40 def. Yates, 6.920, 199.05; J. Coughlin, 6.901, 198.64
def. Alderman, 6.909, 198.67; K. Johnson, 6.892, 200.05 def. Krisher, 6.920,
199.85;
SEMIFINALS -- W. Johnson, 6.885, 200.47 def. J. Coughlin, 6.906, 198.52; K.
Johnson, 6.878, 200.41 def. Smith, 6.918, 198.55;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.885, 200.14 def. W. Johnson, 6.914, 200.14.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.350, 179.04 def. Rob Short, Kawasaki,
7.410, 173.23; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.676, 162.29 def. Craig Treble,
Suzuki, broke; Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.218, 179.49 def. Reggie Showers,
Suzuki, 7.370, 179.37; Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.164, 183.02 def. Hector Arana,
Suzuki, broke; John Smith, Suzuki, 7.298, 178.33 def. Shawn Gann, Suzuki,
7.359, 176.63; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.210, 183.07 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki,
7.410, 175.16; Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.274, 179.49 def. Greg Underdahl,
Suzuki, foul; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 8.022, 122.36 def. Michael Phillips,
Suzuki, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Scali, 7.349, 180.86 def. Smith, 7.314, 180.02; Seeling,
7.238, 183.54 def. Hale, 7.382, 170.56; Mullen, 7.289, 181.67 def. Brown,
7.266, 179.52; Hines, 7.185, 182.33 def. Johnson, 7.394, 185.21;
SEMIFINALS -- Seeling, 7.204, 179.78 def. Mullen, foul; Hines, 7.190, 182.53
def. Scali, 7.291, 181.76;
FINAL -- Hines, 7.184, 182.58 def. Seeling, 7.244, 178.57.
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories
following the 16th annual Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the
18th of 23 events in the $45-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
1. Gary Scelzi, 1,430; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1,422; 3. Larry Dixon, 1,294; 4.
Joe Amato, 1,173; 5. Kenny Bernstein, 1,120; 6. Doug Kalitta, 1,097; 7. Cory
McClenathan, 880; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 778; 9. Doug Herbert, 765; 10. Don
Lampus, 675.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force, 1,473; 2. Jerry Toliver, 1,247; 3. Ron Capps, 1,168; 4. Tony
Pedregon, 1,112; 5. Jim Epler, 1,038; 6. Scotty Cannon, 871; 7. (tie) Del
Worsham, 833; Dean Skuza, 833; 9. Whit Bazemore, 820; 10. Bruce Sarver, 786.
PRO STOCK:
1. Jeg Coughlin, 1,592; 2. Kurt Johnson, 1,229; 3. Ron Krisher, 1,196; 4.
Warren Johnson, 1,112; 5. (tie) Troy Coughlin, 926; Mark Pawuk, 926; 7.
Richie Stevens, 870; 8. Jim Yates, 838; 9. Tom Martino, 704; 10. Darrell
Alderman, 686.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Angelle Seeling, 1,140; 2. Matt Hines, 1,002; 3. Tony Mullen, 881; 4.
Antron Brown, 842; 5. David Schultz, 711; 6. Geno Scali, 664; 7. Craig
Treble, 663; 8. Shawn Gann, 467; 9. Blaine Hale, 401; 10. Reggie Showers,
375.
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