McClenathan, Wilkerson, Anderson and Tonglet
Lead Qualifying at Denver

By NHRA Communications

Tim Wilkerson was the early qualifying leader in Funny Car at Bandimere.
Photo by Lee Craker

MORRISON, Colo. - Cory McClenathan drove to the top position to lead Top Fuel qualifying Friday at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson and GT Tonglet also led their respective categories following qualifying at the $1.8 million race, the 13th of 23 events in the $50 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The second session of Top Fuel qualifying was cancelled due to severe weather in the Denver area.

McClenathan drove his NY Yankees/Berryman dragster to a pass of 4.818 seconds at 308.50 mph during Friday's first and only session of Top Fuel qualifying. If McClenathan remains in the No. 1 spot, it would be his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 28th of his career.

Wilkerson looks to earn his second top qualifying position of the season as he blasted his Levi, Ray & Shoup Pontiac Firebird to the top of the leader board in Funny Car with a run of 5.007 at 297.16. Wilkerson earned the No. 1 qualifying position at the season-opening K&N Filters Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. 

Anderson powered his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am to a track record run of 7.216 at 191.38 to pace the 16-car Pro Stock field. If Anderson's mark holds on Saturday, it will be his seventh No. 1 spot of the season.

"I really thought I could run a 7.21 or 7.22," said Anderson. "We ran those numbers in testing, so, we're right on schedule. The 60-foot times are more important here in Denver because the cars just don't have the power to make it up down track at the high altitude." 

Tonglet, who looks to qualify a Harley-Davidson in the No. 1 position for the first time in NHRA history, led Pro Stock Bike qualifying when he rode his Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod to a track record elapsed time of 7.534 at 175.96.

"The first run this afternoon wasn't great," said Tonglet. "We got both bikes down in the second session and I ran a 7.53 and (teammate) Andrew (Hines) ran a 7.54. That's as close as you can get. Being No. 1 and 2 is a great feeling."

Professional qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m.

MORRISON, Colo. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 24th annual Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, 13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 4.818 seconds, 308.50 mph; 2. Kenny Bernstein, 4.821, 306.46; 3. Doug Kalitta, 4.821, 299.13; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.879, 302.14; 5. Darrell Russell, 4.912, 292.27; 6. David Baca, 4.975, 298.60; 7. Tony Schumacher, 4.998, 286.13; 8. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 5.050, 273.72; 9. Mike Strasburg, 5.070, 294.18; 10. Paul Romine, 5.161, 225.37; 11. Doug Herbert, 5.362, 210.57; 12. John Smith, 20.209, 73.82. 

Funny Car -- 1. Tim Wilkerson, Pontiac Firebird, 5.007, 297.16; 2. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 5.061, 300.00; 3. Dean Skuza, Firebird, 5.078, 299.20; 4. Tony Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 5.108, 282.01; 5. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 5.138, 290.69; 6. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 5.139, 284.21; 7. Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.147, 292.14; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 5.156, 289.32; 9. John Force, Mustang, 5.159, 290.38; 10. Terry Haddock, Chevy Camaro, 5.167, 287.78; 11. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 5.179, 288.46; 12. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.187, 280.60; 13. Gary Densham, Mustang, 5.190, 240.77; 14. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.196, 293.35; 15. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 5.200, 238.05; 16. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 5.221, 282.24. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.216, 191.38; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 7.230, 190.38; 3. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 7.236, 190.11; 4. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 7.238, 190.08; 5. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 7.256, 189.71; 6. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.259, 190.27; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.259, 189.98; 8. George Marnell, Grand Am, 7.260, 189.87; 9. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 7.265, 190.67; 10. Greg Stanfield, Dodge Neon, 7.266, 189.90; 11. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 7.266, 189.07; 12. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 7.267, 190.48; 13. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus R/T, 7.269, 189.68; 14. Darrell Alderman, Stratus R/T, 7.279, 189.92; 15. Taylor Lastor, Cavalier, 7.285, 190.11; 16. Barry Grant, Cavalier, 7.296, 189.44. 

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.534, 175.96; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.543, 177.02; 3. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.578, 175.57; 4. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.588, 175.80; 5. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.590, 175.91; 6. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.628, 175.68; 7. Sean Conner, Suzuki, 7.635, 173.74; 8. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.658, 175.68; 9. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.658, 174.64; 10. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.663, 173.92; 11. Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.667, 173.63; 12. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.674, 174.89; 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.674, 173.14; 14. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.683, 173.38; 15. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 7.689, 176.95; 16. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.732, 172.87. 

NHRA Communications