Kalitta, Worsham, Krisher and Scali
Earn Wins at Craftsman Nationals
By NHRA Communications
MADISON, Ill. - Doug Kalitta earned the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.
Del Worsham, Ron Krisher and Geno Scali won their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Kalitta beat first-time finalist Scott Weis to earn his third victory of the season and 14th of his career. Kalitta drove his Mac Tools dragster to a 4.602-second pass at 312.35 mph to beat Weis' 4.805 at 298.27 in the Race Girl dragster. Kalitta is in second place in the standings, 207 points behind leader Larry Dixon, who lost in the second round.
"The team did a great job giving me a competitive car that could adapt with the conditions throughout the day," Kalitta said. "I don't want to watch points, I just want to go rounds and go after the race wins."
Worsham earned his second victory of the season and 13th of his career by taking the Funny Car win over John Force. Worsham went 4.884 at 313.00 in his Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird to beat Force's 4.936 run at 314.09 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
Worsham earned the No. 16 spot in qualifying and beat the No. 10 car in the finals.
"This was a great win for us, especially coming from the No. 16 spot," Worsham said. "But when it comes down to it, all that matters is that we qualified, not where we qualified. The team did an outstanding job and we are always up for racing Force."
Krisher took the Pro Stock victory with a 6.843 pass at 201.64 in his Valvoline Chevy Cavalier for his first win of the season and fifth of his career. Krisher beat Allen Johnson's 6.840 at 201.73 in his Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T.
Scali claimed his second win of the season and third of his career. Scali rode his Craftsman Suzuki to a 7.139 at 187.99 to beat GT Tonglet's 7.177 at 185.46 on his Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. With the win, Scali moved back into the points lead, moving past Angelle Savoie. Scali leads Savoie by 68 points after the seventh of 15 Pro Stock Bike events.
"To come here with the race sponsor on the side of the bike and run as consistent as we did is just pretty cool," Scali said. "With the team we have, it looks like we can be a championship contender. I don't think it is going to be easy, but this could be a dream-come-true season."
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the Mopar NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, July 18-20.
MADISON, Ill. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. The $1.8 million race is the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Scott Weis; 3. Darrell Russell; 4. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 5. Larry Dixon; 6. Doug Herbert; 7. John Smith; 8. Cory McClenathan; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. David Grubnic; 11. Mike Smith; 12. Paul Romine; 13. Jim Head; 14. David Baca; 15. Kenny Bernstein; 16. Melanie Troxel.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang; 3. Tony Pedregon, Mustang; 4. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 5. Dean Skuza, Firebird; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 7. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 8. Frank Pedregon, Firebird; 9. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus; 10. Whit Bazemore, Stratus; 11. Arnie Karp, Firebird; 12. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird; 13. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro; 14. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird; 15. Gary Densham, Mustang; 16. Johnny Gray, Firebird.
PRO STOCK:
1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 3. Taylor Lastor, Cavalier; 4. Greg Stanfield, Dodge Neon; 5. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier; 7. Jim Yates, Grand Am; 8. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier; 9. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 10. Mike Edwards, Grand Am; 11. Larry Morgan, Neon; 12. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 13. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 14. Darrell Alderman, Stratus; 15. Steve Schmidt, Cavalier; 16. Terry Adams, Cavalier.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
1. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 2. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 4. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 5. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 7. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 8. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 9. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki; 10. Fred Collis, Suzuki; 11. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 12. Blaine Hale, Suzuki; 13. John Smith, Kawasaki; 14. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 15. Sean Conner, Suzuki; 16. Tommy Grimes Jr, Suzuki.
MADISON, Ill. -- Sunday's final results from the Seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. The $1.8 million race is the 12th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, 4.602 seconds, 312.35 mph def. Scott Weis, 4.805 seconds, 298.27 mph.
Funny Car -- Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.884, 313.00 def. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.936, 314.09.
Pro Stock -- Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 6.843, 201.64 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.840, 201.73.
Pro Stock Bike -- Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.139, 187.99 def. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.177, 185.46.
Competition Eliminator -- David Rampy, Roadster, 8.200, 116.41 def. Tony Stephenson, Pontiac Grand Am, 12.670, 70.31.
Super Stock -- Jeg Coughlin Jr, Chevy Cavalier, 8.980, 140.49 def. Jeff Dona, Chevy Camaro, 10.163, 128.29.
Stock Eliminator -- James Paul, Plymouth Duster, 11.740, 112.22 def. Kevin Helms, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Sherman Adcock Jr, Dragster, 8.873, 171.25 def. Mark Horton, Dragster, left before the tree.
Super Gas -- Mark Horton, Pontiac Grand Am, no time, no speed was unopposed.
MADISON, Ill. -- Final round-by-round results from the Seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- John Smith, 5.038, 278.29 def. Paul Romine, 5.230, 239.27; Doug Herbert, 4.954, 293.73 def. David Baca, 5.410, 219.08; Darrell Russell, 4.857, 307.09 def. David Grubnic, 4.919, 293.60; Scott Weis, 4.897, 255.82 def. Jim Head, 5.277, 272.50; Cory McClenathan, 4.870, 286.50 def. Mike Smith, 5.226, 202.39; Larry Dixon, 4.681, 320.89 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.802, 300.00; Doug Kalitta, 4.790, 299.80 def. Melanie Troxel, 19.505, 33.73; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.933, 294.24 def. Kenny Bernstein, 6.239, 133.94;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hartman-Smith, 5.289, 270.75 def. J. Smith, 5.624, 253.71; Weis, 5.055, 222.18 def. McClenathan, 6.281, 177.30; Kalitta, 4.684, 311.20 def. Herbert, 4.781, 305.77; Russell, 4.712, 314.24 def. Dixon, 4.738, 311.70;
SEMIFINALS -- Weis, 4.744, 309.06 def. Hartman-Smith, 4.888, 303.91; Kalitta, 4.748, 301.54 def. Russell, foul;
FINAL -- Kalitta, 4.602, 312.35 def. Weis, 4.805, 298.27.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.380, 264.96 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.743, 224.06; Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 5.820, 253.33 def. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 7.657, 127.82; John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.128, 300.20 def. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 5.192, 286.50; Dean Skuza, Firebird, 8.248, 104.17 def. Arnie Karp, Firebird, foul; Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 5.093, 296.89 def. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 6.096, 171.75; Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.361, 269.89 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 5.482, 236.13; Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.086, 300.13 def. Gary Densham, Mustang, 7.382, 119.49; Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.078, 297.35 def. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 5.220, 271.30;
QUARTERFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 5.008, 312.50 def. F. Pedregon, 10.989, 84.63; Force, 5.071, 297.81 def. Skuza, 5.069, 300.26; Worsham, 5.011, 304.12 def. Cannon, 7.948, 102.90; Capps, 4.981, 303.57 def. Wilkerson, 5.380, 251.86;
SEMIFINALS -- Force, 4.948, 312.42 def. T. Pedregon, 5.008, 301.20; Worsham, 5.007, 308.99 def. Capps, 5.133, 249.07;
FINAL -- Worsham, 4.884, 313.00 def. Force, 4.936, 314.09.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.895, 200.56 def. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.906, 200.50; Taylor Lastor, Chevy Cavalier, 6.912, 200.59 def. Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, 7.068, 180.19; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.893, 200.65 def. Steve Schmidt, Cavalier, 6.912, 201.01; Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.918, 200.32 def. Larry Morgan, Dodge Neon, 6.895, 200.38; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.877, 200.89 def. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.890, 199.88; Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.895, 200.56 def. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.906, 200.50; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.869, 202.09 def. Darrell Alderman, Stratus, 6.909, 200.80; Greg Stanfield, Neon, 6.917, 200.32 def. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.845, 202.06; Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.931, 200.62 def. Terry Adams, Cavalier, 6.983, 198.50;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.889, 199.94 def. Yates, 6.892, 200.83; Krisher, 6.872, 201.34 def. J. Coughlin, 6.869, 200.74; A. Johnson, 6.873, 201.28 def. K. Johnson, 7.526, 144.35; Lastor, 6.866, 201.49 def. Anderson, foul;
SEMIFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.847, 201.22 def. Stanfield, 6.876, 201.07; Krisher, 6.847, 201.19 def. Lastor, foul;
FINAL -- Krisher, 6.843, 201.64 def. A. Johnson, 6.840, 201.73.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.274, 180.91 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.323, 155.13; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.274, 179.16 def. John Smith, Kawasaki, 7.301, 183.37; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.181, 182.80 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.272, 181.30; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.261, 183.42 def. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.169, 183.24; GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.183, 184.88 def. Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.208, 184.50; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.167, 181.25 def. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 7.299, 183.74; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.168, 182.72 def. Tommy Grimes Jr, Suzuki, 7.436, 180.67; Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.203, 183.67 def. Sean Conner, Suzuki, 7.355, 182.30;
QUARTERFINALS -- GT. Tonglet, 7.192, 183.27 def. Johnson, foul; Scali, 7.174, 185.89 def. Berry, 7.232, 182.48; Gann, 7.201, 181.67 def. Brown, 7.314, 181.32; Stoffer, 7.186, 184.57 def. Showers, 26.188, 21.40;
SEMIFINALS -- GT. Tonglet, 7.235, 177.65 def. Gann, 7.222, 186.07; Scali, 7.153, 186.77 def. Stoffer, 7.214, 184.19;
FINAL -- Scali, 7.139, 187.99 def. GT. Tonglet, 7.177, 185.46. PRO STOCK BIKE:
MADISON, Ill. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon, 1,109; 2. Doug Kalitta, 902; 3. Darrell Russell, 720; 4. Cory McClenathan, 657; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 629; 6. Tony Schumacher, 593; 7. John Smith, 590; 8. Doug Herbert, 586; 9. David Baca, 540; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 482.
Funny Car
1. Tony Pedregon, 1,106; 2. Whit Bazemore, 963; 3. Del Worsham, 801; 4. Gary Densham, 762; 5. Ron Capps, 734; 6. John Force, 703; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 619; 8. Johnny Gray, 551; 9. Frank Pedregon, 525; 10. Gary Scelzi, 515.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,063; 2. Kurt Johnson, 993; 3. Warren Johnson, 759; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 717; 5. Ron Krisher, 573; 6. Allen Johnson, 548; 7. Scott Geoffrion, 542; 8. Bruce Allen, 505; 9. Mike Edwards, 488; 10. Darrell Alderman, 464.
Pro Stock Bike
1. Geno Scali, 596; 2. Angelle Savoie, 528; 3. Shawn Gann, 475; 4. Antron Brown, 417; 5. Reggie Showers, 414; 6. Craig Treble, 394; 7. Fred Collis, 363; 8. Karen Stoffer, 330; 9. Mike Berry, 327; 10. GT Tonglet, 304.
NHRA Communications
