Kalitta, Densham, W. Johnson
and Scali Lead Qualifying at
O'Reilly Spring Nationals

By NHRA Communications

BAYTOWN, Texas - Warren Johnson clocked a national record elapsed time to lead the Pro Stock qualifying order Friday at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Doug Kalitta, Gary Densham and Geno Scali also were qualifying leaders at the $1.9 million race, the fifth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Johnson led the quickest Pro Stock field in NHRA history when he clocked a national record elapsed time of 6.720 seconds at 204.66 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac Grand Am to lead the 16-car order. Johnson's son Kurt set the Pro Stock national speed record at 205.57.

"We were a little light on clutch, which is where the speed went, but it ran a great E.T.," said W. Johnson. "We backed up our GM Performance Parts Grand Am just a little bit to be on the safe side. So, we are certainly pleased with that run."

Kalitta, who has qualified No. 1 at the first four events of the season, powered his Mac Tools dragster to the fastest run in NHRA history at 333.91 in 4.486 en route to the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel. If Kalitta remains atop the 16-car Top Fuel field on Saturday, he will equal Gary Beck's record (1983) of claiming the top qualifying spot at the first five races of the season.

"That was really nice," said Kalitta. "You know, with (crew chief) Connie's (Kalitta) legacy out here tuning this car and making the power that it is, it's a great run for us to be able to pull that off."

Densham clocked a track record run of 4.755, 325.69 in his Auto Club Ford Mustang to earn the top qualifying position in Funny Car.

"If the conditions are right tomorrow we at least have to try and throw one run away to get the record," said Densham. "However, we have to concentrate on winning the race on Sunday and amass as many points as we possibly can. We've got to look at it logically"

Scali posted a track record elapsed time of 7.138 at 185.84 on his Trim-Tex Suzuki to pace the Pro Stock Bike category. If he remains atop the Pro Stock Bike list following Saturday's qualifying, he will earn his first career No. 1 qualifying award.

"This is pretty cool," said Scali. "The track was awesome. The first half of the track I was just on a fast lap, then in the back half I got a little into the bumps and I was surprised it ran 7.13. I was really pleased with the run"
Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Results after Friday's qualifying for the 16th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park, the fifth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 4.486 seconds, 333.91 mph; 2. Clay Millican, 4.505, 330.23; 3. Larry Dixon, 4.527, 326.32; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 4.532, 328.70; 5. John Smith, 4.540, 318.77; 6. Doug Herbert, 4.548, 325.69; 7. Tony Schumacher, 4.580, 323.04; 8. Melanie Troxel, 4.595, 311.13; 9. David Grubnic, 4.602, 298.34; 10. Darrell Russell, 4.621, 313.80; 11. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.637, 315.93; 12. Mike Smith, 4.647, 321.04; 13. Bruce Litton, 4.678, 318.99; 14. Scott Weis, 4.695, 306.26; 15. Paul Romine, 4.707, 310.20; 16. Robert Hallock, 4.775, 311.63. 

Funny Car -- 1. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.755, 325.69; 2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.778, 323.89; 3. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.794, 316.23; 4. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.814, 319.29; 5. Dean Skuza, Firebird, 4.816, 313.58; 6. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.821, 315.56; 7. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 4.854, 316.90; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 4.856, 315.05; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.858, 317.19; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.928, 289.69; 11. John Force, Mustang, 5.313, 198.06; 12. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 5.321, 201.43; 13. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 6.205, 147.70; 14. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 6.594, 135.54; 15. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 7.659, 137.05; 16. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 7.855, 105.46. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.720, 205.16; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.726, 205.57; 3. Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.727, 205.41; 4. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.736, 204.17; 5. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.743, 203.74; 6. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.744, 203.98; 7. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.746, 203.65; 8. Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, 6.752, 204.73; 9. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.753, 203.80; 10. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.757, 204.45; 11. Greg Stanfield, Neon R/T, 6.759, 204.42; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.760, 203.86; 13. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.765, 203.49; 14. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.766, 203.25; 15. Terry Adams, Cavalier, 6.768, 203.34; 16. JR Carr, Cavalier, 6.768, 203.34. 

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.138, 185.84; 2. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.155, 187.05; 3. Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.158, 185.89; 4. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.175, 186.18; 5. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.180, 187.99; 6. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.188, 181.52; 7. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.193, 184.90; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.197, 186.69; 9. Sean Conner, Suzuki, 7.226, 185.03; 10. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.235, 183.97; 11. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.237, 185.64; 12. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.247, 185.84; 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.257, 182.97; 14. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.267, 181.57; 15. Gary Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.270, 183.79; 16. Sam Hurwitz, Suzuki, 7.274, 183.57.

NHRA Communications