Kalitta, Pedregon, Johnson and Savoie
Race to Victories in Houston
By NHRA Communications
BAYTOWN, Texas - Doug Kalitta capped off a dominant weekend by capturing his 12th career NHRA victory Sunday at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Angelle Savoie also were winners of their respective categories at the $1.9 million race, the fifth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Kalitta earned his first win of 2003 when he powered his Mac Tools dragster to a pass of 4.580 seconds at 323.43 mph to take the win over Cory McClenathan's NY Yankees/Berryman dragster, which lost traction and slowed to a pass of 6.832, 123.27.
"It was sure nice to get into the final," said Kalitta. "The guys have been working on that thing to get the Sunday setup. To run a 4.58 in the heat of the day was a good run for us. It was a good day out here."
Kalitta, who clocked the fastest pass in NHRA history at 333.91 during qualifying, earned the drag racing grand slam this weekend by qualifying No. 1, recording low elapsed time, top speed of the event and winning the race.
Kalitta knocked off Scott Weis, Melanie Troxel and Brandon Bernstein, before besting McClenathan for the victory. With the win, Kalitta moved into third place in the POWERade point standings and trails points leader Larry Dixon by 69 points.
Pedregon raced to his third victory of the season by narrowly defeating Del Worsham in the Funny Car final. Pedregon clocked a run of 4.963, 313.07 in his Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang to hold off Worsham's 4.969, 302.96 in his Checker, Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird.
"I didn't know if I won, if I lost because I didn't see the winner's light at the top end," said Pedregon. "Normally when you get out of the car all the cameras are on you and if you know you won you can make a little noise and celebrate. I thought 'will somebody please tell me something?' It definitely was good news."
Pedregon, who won for the second consecutive week, defeated Tim Wilkerson, John Force and Whit Bazemore, before topping Worsham in the final.
Pedregon's 22nd career victory ties him with older brother Cruz for fourth on the all-time Funny Car win list. The victory increases his points lead to 63 over teammate Gary Densham.
Johnson, who set the NHRA national speed record at 205.57 mph in qualifying, drove to his second win of 2003 and 25th of his career when he edged Scott Geoffrion at the finish line. The drivers had nearly identical reaction times, but Johnson used the extra horsepower in his ACDelco Chevy Cavalier to clock a pass of 6.780, 204.79 to inch out the victory ahead of Geoffrion's Nitro Fish Ford Escort ZX2, which recorded a run of 6.795, 204.14. It marked the first time that a Ford had advanced to the Pro Stock final since May 1995.
"The way he's (Geoffrion) been running with the new body we knew he'd be a pain," said Johnson. "It was a tough race. We actually didn't look good in qualifying. We didn't get down the first run, then made a fabulous run on Friday night running the big speed. I do my best thinking in the morning and I came up with a combination that was flawless all day, just as smooth as could be."
Johnson, who advanced to his third straight final round, beat Terry Adams, Ron Krisher and Jim Yates, prior to his victory over Geoffrion.
With the victory, Johnson now leads the Pro Stock points standings for the first time since 2001. He leads Greg Anderson by 18 points.
Angelle Savoie remains undefeated in 2003. The three-time consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion rode to her 30th career victory and second of the season by knocking off rival Craig Treble in the final round. Savoie blasted her Team 23 Suzuki to a run of 7.138, 188.89 to hold off Treble's Matco Tools Suzuki and its pass of 7.146, 188.20.
"I feel so lucky and so blessed," said Savoie. "It doesn't look like it, but our team really is struggling through it. We do need a sponsor really bad and we need to finish our dyno room for this brand new engine program. Even though, the whole Team 23 program is looking very strong."
Savoie, who defeated Steve Johnson, No. 1 qualifier Geno Scali, Karen Stoffer and Treble, recorded low elapsed time of the event (7.132) in the semifinals.
The victory extends her points lead to 77 over Scali and 78 ahead of Treble.
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the third annual Mac Tools Thunder Valley Nationals, April 25-27 at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 16th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fifth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Cory McClenathan; 3. Doug Herbert; 4. Brandon Bernstein; 5. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 6. Clay Millican; 7. Melanie Troxel; 8. Larry Dixon; 9. David Baca; 10. Tony Schumacher; 11. John Smith; 12. David Grubnic; 13. Darrell Russell; 14. Scott Weis; 15. Bruce Litton; 16. Mike Smith.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang; 2. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird; 3. Gary Densham, Mustang; 4. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird; 6. Dean Skuza, Firebird; 7. John Force, Mustang; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro; 9. Ron Capps, Camaro; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 11. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 12. Gary Scelzi, Stratus; 13. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 14. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird; 15. Johnny Gray, Firebird; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort; 3. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am; 4. Mike Edwards, Grand Am; 5. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 6. Ron Krisher, Cavalier; 7. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Neon R/T; 8. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 9. Greg Anderson, Grand Am; 10. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier; 11. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 12. Greg Stanfield, Neon R/T; 13. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am; 14. JR Carr, Cavalier; 15. V. Gaines, Cavalier; 16. Terry Adams, Cavalier.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
1. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki; 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 4. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 5. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 6. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 7. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 8. Fred Collis, Suzuki; 9. Sean Conner, Suzuki; 10. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 12. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 13. Fred Camarena, Suzuki; 14. John Smith, Kawasaki; 15. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 16. Chris Reuter, Suzuki.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the 16th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fifth of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.580 seconds, 323.43 mph def. Cory McClenathan, 6.832 seconds, 123.27 mph.
Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.963, 313.07 def. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.969, 302.96.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.780, 204.79 def. Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, 6.795, 204.14.
Pro Stock Bike -- Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.138, 188.89 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.146, 188.20.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.481, 223.25 def. Alan Bradshaw, 10.140, 84.65.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Camaro, 5.572, 257.04 def. Frank Manzo, Pontiac Firebird, foul.
Competition Eliminator -- Mike Trumble, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.387, 157.65 def. Brian Self, Chevy S-10, 8.083, 167.12.
Super Stock -- Kevin Helms, Chevy Camaro, 10.470, 122.38 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Camaro, 10.207, 130.02.
Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 11.828, 88.09 def. Jeff Hefler, Pontiac Firebird, foul.
Super Comp -- Roger Warren, Dragster, 8.891, 173.72 def. Lonnie Grim, Dragster, 8.878, 172.67.
Super Gas -- Tommy Phillips, Chevy Corvette, 9.898, 145.81 def. Jeff Franklin, American Motors AMX, 9.889, 145.27.
Super Street -- Delbert Hemby, Chevy Vega, 10.950, 123.23 def. Melvin Harris, Chevy Vega Wagon, 11.426, 124.44.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from 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 -
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Melanie Troxel, 4.741, 302.08 def. David Grubnic, 4.923, 291.57; Cory McClenathan, 4.670, 308.50 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.788, 255.48; Doug Herbert, 4.710, 303.64 def. Darrell Russell, 5.333, 187.81; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.815, 295.59 def. John Smith, 4.814, 295.01; Brandon Bernstein, 4.652, 311.85 def. Mike Smith, 10.519, 70.58; Larry Dixon, 4.523, 325.92 def. David Baca, 4.657, 314.53; Clay Millican, 4.581, 320.89 def. Bruce Litton, 6.015, 152.28; Doug Kalitta, 4.563, 323.19 def. Scott Weis, 5.375, 183.77;
QUARTERFINALS -- Bernstein, 4.585, 319.07 def. Hartman-Smith, 4.686, 300.73; McClenathan, 4.738, 292.71 def. Millican, 4.860, 276.41; Kalitta, 4.651, 314.39 def. Troxel, 8.622, 130.23; Herbert, 5.135, 275.11 def. Dixon, 10.762, 85.16;
SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 4.654, 315.34 def. Bernstein, 10.195, 78.05; McClenathan, 4.842, 233.72 def. Herbert, 5.436, 197.74;
FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.580, 323.43 def. McClenathan, 6.832, 123.27.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.017, 292.90 def. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 6.112, 149.71; Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.920, 310.48 def. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 5.052, 284.75; Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.983, 301.94 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, foul; Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 5.098, 283.85 def. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 5.596, 174.73; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.933, 309.91 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 4.993, 287.17; Dean Skuza, Firebird, 5.070, 287.78 def. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 7.774, 108.73; Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.991, 303.98 def. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.958, 306.95; Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 6.488, 173.92 def. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 9.002, 89.79;
QUARTERFINALS -- Densham, 4.928, 311.27 def. Johnson Jr., broke; Worsham, 4.924, 309.34 def. Skuza, 6.529, 139.85; T. Pedregon, 5.269, 296.24 def. Force, 10.434, 92.25; Bazemore, 5.057, 297.02 def. C. Pedregon, 5.148, 279.85;
SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 5.019, 304.39 def. Bazemore, 5.088, 289.07; Worsham, 4.940, 303.78 def. Densham, 5.063, 293.66;
FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 4.963, 313.07 def. Worsham, 4.969, 302.96.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, 6.864, 201.91 def. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.849, 201.79; Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 6.808, 202.52 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.832, 202.27; Darrell Alderman, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.817, 203.06 def. Greg Stanfield, Neon R/T, 6.836, 202.79; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.798, 204.32 def. Terry Adams, Cavalier, 11.484, 72.97; Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.809, 202.06 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.808, 203.09; Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.813, 202.52 def. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.887, 201.13; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.813, 203.06 def. JR Carr, Cavalier, 6.854, 202.06; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.831, 201.91 def. Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.784, 204.23;
QUARTERFINALS -- Yates, 6.911, 201.49 def. Alderman, 6.965, 201.28; Geoffrion, 6.816, 202.45 def. W. Johnson, 6.802, 203.40; Edwards, 6.884, 200.92 def. Allen, 11.129, 79.62; K. Johnson, 6.790, 204.42 def. Krisher, 6.847, 202.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Geoffrion, 6.829, 203.52 def. Edwards, 6.891, 200.32; K. Johnson, 6.789, 204.70 def. Yates, 6.845, 202.39;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.780, 204.79 def. Geoffrion, 6.795, 204.14.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
ROUND ONE -- Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.196, 186.36 def. Sean Conner, Suzuki, 7.221, 184.45; Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.144, 187.11 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.255, 182.16; Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.216, 185.38 def. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.345, 176.97; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.258, 185.72 def. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.461, 179.23; Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.230, 184.22 def. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, foul; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.162, 186.48 def. John Smith, Kawasaki, 7.375, 178.28; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.199, 187.08 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, foul; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.157, 187.44 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stoffer, 7.236, 182.35 def. Collis, foul; Brown, 7.212, 187.11 def. Gann, 7.212, 182.45; Treble, 7.174, 187.13 def. Showers, 7.228, 186.61; Savoie, 7.175, 187.81 def. Scali, 7.214, 187.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Savoie, 7.132, 184.85 def. Stoffer, 7.245, 183.97; Treble, 7.166, 187.70 def. Brown, 7.337, 157.26;
FINAL -- Savoie, 7.138, 188.89 def. Treble, 7.146, 188.20.
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following 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 -
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon, 459; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 419; 3. Doug Kalitta, 390; 4. Cory McClenathan, 300; 5. Doug Herbert, 267; 6. John Smith, 264; 7. David Baca, 243; 8. Tony Schumacher, 231; 9. Clay Millican, 223; 10. Melanie Troxel, 208.
Funny Car
1. Tony Pedregon, 464; 2. Gary Densham, 401; 3. Whit Bazemore, 381; 4. Del Worsham, 329; 5. Ron Capps, 320; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 262; 7. Johnny Gray, 249; 8. Frank Pedregon, 222; 9. John Force, 207; 10. Dean Skuza, 205.
Pro Stock
1. Kurt Johnson, 437; 2. Greg Anderson, 419; 3. Warren Johnson, 360; 4. Allen Johnson, 263; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 261; 6. Bruce Allen, 256; 7. Scott Geoffrion, 246; 8. Darrell Alderman, 225; 9. Ron Krisher, 221; 10. V. Gaines, 182.
Pro Stock Bike
1. Angelle Savoie, 231; 2. Geno Scali, 154; 3. Craig Treble, 153; 4. Antron Brown, 128; 5. Shawn Gann, 111; 6. Mike Berry, 105; 7. Andrew Hines, 103; 8. Fred Collis, 87; 9. Reggie Showers, 86; 10. (tie) Fred Camarena, 85; Karen Stoffer, 85.
NHRA Communications
