Bernstein, Densham, Johnson and
Savoie Earn Wins at Gatornationals
By NHRA Communications
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Rookie Brandon Bernstein won for
the second time in just three races, capturing the Top Fuel title Sunday
at the Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Gary Densham, Kurt Johnson and Angelle Savoie also won
in their respective categories at the $2 million race, the third of 23
events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Bernstein beat first-time finalist John Smith down the
quarter-mile track for the win. Bernstein turned in a 4.594-second pass
at 326.67 mph in his Budweiser dragster to beat Smith's 4.718 pass at
315.90 in his Prestone dragster. This is the second consecutive victory
for Bernstein, who won in Phoenix three weeks ago.
"(Crew chief) Tim Richards and the guys are just
amazing," Bernstein said. "They gave me a car that ran
4.5-second passes all weekend long in Phoenix and we were running 4.5s
all weekend long here. It's so fun to drive the car when you go straight
down Broadway every time. I'm just so fortunate to be driving this
Budweiser dragster. I've got to pinch myself."
Bernstein had to get past points leader Larry Dixon to
move into the finals. Bernstein went 4.537 at 323.04 to beat Dixon's
4.577 at 322.00. Dixon and the Miller Lite team won the season opener in
Pomona, Calif., in February and finished in the runner-up position to
Bernstein in Phoenix. Dixon maintains a 17-point lead after the
Gatornationals.
"Winning the first one was amazing,"
Bernstein said. "Now, winning back-to-back races is almost too much
to think about. The big round today was obviously the one against Dixon.
He's the champion so he's the guy we're after. To beat a team of that
caliber two times now says a lot. Another beer battle is on, plus we
closed on them in the points a little bit."
Densham moved into the points lead with a victory over
Del Worsham in the Funny Car final. Densham's 4.876 at 320.85 in his
Auto Club Ford Mustang beat Worsham's 4.906 at 315.67 in his Checker
Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird. It was the fifth career win for
Densham.
Densham was on the outside of the 16-car qualifying
field after the first two of four sessions this weekend.
"At this race we were struggling mightily Friday
and went home not in the show," Densham said. "I was up all
night looking out the window worrying that the last two sessions were
going to be rained out. Then we got a chance to run and (crew chief)
Jimmy Prock got a hold of this thing and we ran well. Then today we're
right back to being the best car on the property."
Densham's teammate and owner John Force lost in the
first round for the second time this season. Force has recorded just one
round victory and is having his worst start to a season since 1989.
"This is one of those races, one of the
originals, that you just have to win," Densham said. "We've
had a John Force Racing Mustang in every final this year and our boss
may be struggling in his car but he is still the biggest motivator you
could ever be around."
Johnson earned his first victory of the season with a
win over Jeg Coughlin in the Pro Stock final. Johnson went 6.825 at
202.65 in his ACDelco Chevy Cavalier to beat Coughlin's 6.840 at 201.29
in his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier.
It was the 24th career victory for Johnson, son of
six-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson.
"I would like to win all of the races, but that
is just not realistic," Johnson said. "But I have to say that
winning Gainesville is special. I have been coming to this track for 27
years. The first time my dad raced here he was the runner-up. I have
never won here before and this is something special."
Johnson was one of 45 cars to make qualifying attempts
for Sunday's eliminations. He came into the event tied for sixth place
with three other cars. He sits in the No. 2 spot after the victory.
"This category is just crazy," Johnson said.
"This whole deal is giving me ulcers because the category is just
so close. You have to make the right calls at the right times and
sometimes you even have to gamble."
Savoie took the Pro Stock Bike win by beating Geno
Scali in the first of 15 national events for the two-wheel category.
Savoie turned in a 7.240 pass at 182.33 on her Team 23 Suzuki to beat
Scali's 7.233 at 181.19 on his Trim-Tex Suzuki.
Savoie qualified in the No. 1 spot for the 32nd time
en route to her 29th career victory. Savoie is now racing with teammate
Antron Brown - a deal they put together shortly before the season
started.
"I can't believe it," Savoie said. "I
couldn't believe we were No. 1 in qualifying and I couldn't even sleep
last night. I called Antron three weeks ago and I asked him what he
thought we would be able to do in Gainesville and he told me we would be
able to qualify in the top eight and that we would be able to compete
for a win by the third race of the season.
"Antron and (crew chief) Mark Peiser are great. I
didn't know Antron knew so much about the bikes until this weekend. Mark
is so calm and they both really helped me. It feels like my first win
all over again."
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the
SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, April 3-6.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final finish order (1-16) for
professional categories at the 34th annual MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals
at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 23 events in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Brandon Bernstein; 2. John Smith; 3. Larry Dixon;
4. David Baca; 5. Cory McClenathan; 6. Jim Head; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8.
Doug Herbert; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 11. Bruce
Litton; 12. Tony Schumacher; 13. Shirley Muldowney; 14. Darrell Russell;
15. Paul Romine; 16. Andrew Cowin.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang; 2. Del Worsham, Pontiac
Firebird; 3. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus; 4. Whit Bazemore, Stratus; 5.
Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro; 6. Johnny Gray, Firebird; 7. Dean Skuza,
Firebird; 8. Tony Pedregon, Mustang; 9. Scotty Cannon, Firebird; 10. Bob
Gilbertson, Firebird; 11. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird; 12. John Force,
Mustang; 13. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro; 14. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird; 15.
Tim Wilkerson, Firebird; 16. Frank Pedregon, Firebird.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier; 2. Jeg Coughlin,
Cavalier; 3. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge
Neon R/T; 5. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 6. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier; 7.
Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort; 8. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 9. Jim Yates,
Grand Am; 10. Mike Edwards, Grand Am; 11. V. Gaines, Cavalier; 12. Mark
Pawuk, Grand Am; 13. Terry Adams, Cavalier; 14. Ron Krisher, Cavalier;
15. Tom Martino, Grand Am; 16. Darrell Alderman, Neon R/T.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
1. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki; 2. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 3.
Mike Berry, Suzuki; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 5. Antron Brown,
Suzuki; 6. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 7. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 8. Fred
Camarena, Suzuki; 9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 10. John Smith, Kawasaki;
11. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki; 12. Reggie Showers, Suzuki; 13. Chris Bostick,
Suzuki; 14. Fred Collis, Suzuki; 15. Chris Reuter, Suzuki; 16. Brian
Schultz, Suzuki.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Saturday's final results from the
34th annual MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The
race is the third of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series:
Top Fuel -- Brandon Bernstein, 4.594 seconds, 326.67
mph def. John Smith, 4.718 seconds, 315.90 mph.
Funny Car -- Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.876, 320.85
def. Del Worsham, Pontiac Firebird, 4.906, 315.67.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.825,
202.65 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.840, 201.29.
Pro Stock Bike -- Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.240,
182.33 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, foul.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Tony Bartone, 5.351, 268.41
def. Bill Reichert, 5.524, 268.97.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Camaro,
5.643, 253.66 def. Jeff Craig, Dodge R/T, 5.768, 250.69.
Competition Eliminator -- Charlie Westcott Jr, Pontiac
Grand Am, 8.978, 140.55 def. Douglas Harris, Chevy S-10, 7.785, 171.52.
Super Stock -- Monty Bogan Jr., Chevy Camaro, 9.163,
145.93 def. Peter Biondo, Pontiac Firebird, 10.265, 129.29.
Stock Eliminator -- David Walther, Chevy Camaro,
11.254, 112.50 def. Lee Zane, Buick Apollo, 11.906, 104.90.
Super Comp -- Corky Markwart, Chevy Cavalier, 8.914,
166.82 def. Thomas Stalba Jr, Dragster, 8.893, 164.02.
Super Gas -- Bryan Robinson, Chevy Corvette, 9.867,
164.11 def. Steve Matusek, Ford Mustang, 9.853, 166.05.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from
the 34th annual MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway,
the third of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series -
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- John Smith, 4.613, 296.34 def. Rhonda
Hartman-Smith, 4.788, 285.26; Cory McClenathan, 4.629, 317.12 def.
Darrell Russell, 10.653, 67.13; Jim Head, 4.650, 304.98 def. Tony
Schumacher, 5.445, 171.49; David Baca, 4.591, 304.77 def. Clay Millican,
4.644, 317.90; Brandon Bernstein, 4.578, 321.08 def. Andrew Cowin,
broke; Doug Herbert, 8.113, 96.29 def. Paul Romine, foul; Larry Dixon,
4.552, 326.56 def. Bruce Litton, 4.816, 265.56; Doug Kalitta, 4.548,
323.62 def. Shirley Muldowney, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Baca, 4.627, 317.12 def. Herbert,
7.490, 108.51; Bernstein, 4.594, 324.55 def. McClenathan, 4.631, 313.80;
Dixon, 4.545, 321.54 def. Head, 5.845, 151.13; J. Smith, 5.016, 279.67
def. Kalitta, 6.214, 152.43;
SEMIFINALS -- J. Smith, 5.121, 270.27 def. Baca,
5.373, 216.39; Bernstein, 4.537, 323.04 def. Dixon, 4.577, 322.00;
FINAL -- Bernstein, 4.594, 326.67 def. J. Smith,
4.718, 315.90.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Johnny Gray, Pontiac Firebird, 5.020,
296.93 def. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 14.545, 81.46; Ron Capps, Chevy
Camaro, 5.288, 211.61 def. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 6.396, 135.62; Tony
Pedregon, Ford Mustang, 4.866, 310.45 def. Scotty Cannon, Firebird,
4.923, 316.01; Dean Skuza, Firebird, 4.866, 310.98 def. Dale Creasy Jr.,
Firebird, 4.973, 303.33; Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.827, 324.32
def. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 5.203, 218.07; Gary Densham, Mustang,
4.886, 320.85 def. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 4.948, 310.45; Gary Scelzi,
Stratus, 4.905, 313.91 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.973, 296.54; Del
Worsham, Firebird, 4.934, 308.11 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 5.007,
286.07;
QUARTERFINALS -- Densham, 4.848, 322.34 def. Capps,
4.945, 310.77; Scelzi, 4.924, 313.58 def. Skuza, 6.379, 141.84;
Bazemore, 4.880, 319.82 def. Gray, 5.567, 181.08; Worsham, 5.010, 291.16
def. T. Pedregon, 10.529, 75.95;
SEMIFINALS -- Worsham, 4.997, 306.33 def. Bazemore,
5.315, 255.97; Densham, 4.870, 321.19 def. Scelzi, 4.933, 308.95;
FINAL -- Densham, 4.876, 320.85 def. Worsham, 4.906,
315.67.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.843,
201.70 def. Darrell Alderman, Neon R/T, 11.598, 74.38; Warren Johnson,
Pontiac Grand Am, 6.828, 201.65 def. Tom Martino, Grand Am, foul; Mark
Whisnant, Chevy Cavalier, 6.851, 200.17 def. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.845,
201.61; Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, 6.818, 201.92 def. Mark Pawuk,
Grand Am, 6.846, 201.43; Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.815, 201.74 def.
Terry Adams, Cavalier, foul; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.808, 203.48 def.
Mike Edwards, Grand Am, foul; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.816, 202.88
def. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, foul; Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.840, 200.13
def. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.836, 201.38;
QUARTERFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.862, 201.74 def. Allen,
6.902, 200.89; Anderson, 6.834, 202.33 def. W. Johnson, 6.857, 201.43;
J. Coughlin, 6.839, 201.38 def. Geoffrion, 6.891, 201.11; K. Johnson,
6.838, 202.56 def. Whisnant, 6.868, 200.40;
SEMIFINALS -- J. Coughlin, 6.850, 200.66 def. A.
Johnson, 6.873, 202.02; K. Johnson, 6.823, 202.83 def. Anderson, 6.824,
202.61;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.825, 202.65 def. J. Coughlin,
6.840, 201.29.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
ROUND ONE -- Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.389, 176.64 def.
Brian Schultz, Suzuki, 7.685, 148.76; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson,
7.368, 175.26 def. Fred Collis, Suzuki, 7.339, 181.48; Antron Brown,
Suzuki, 7.278, 181.05 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, foul; Angelle Savoie,
Suzuki, 7.251, 184.38 def. John Smith, Kawasaki, 7.298, 184.53; Craig
Treble, Suzuki, 7.255, 180.39 def. Chris Reuter, Suzuki, 7.353, 182.88;
Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.204, 185.41 def. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.318,
183.37; Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.236, 185.07 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki,
7.284, 178.74; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.247, 186.79 def. Joe DeSantis,
Suzuki, 7.316, 178.39;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hines, 7.404, 176.29 def. Treble,
foul; Savoie, 7.250, 181.34 def. Camarena, 7.345, 179.10; Berry, 7.269,
180.43 def. Brown, foul; Scali, 7.297, 185.29 def. Gann, 7.298, 184.12;
SEMIFINALS -- Scali, 7.278, 179.92 def. Hines, 7.835,
128.90; Savoie, 7.270, 180.79 def. Berry, foul;
FINAL -- Savoie, 7.240, 182.33 def. Scali, foul.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA
professional categories following the 34th annual MAC Tools NHRA
Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third of 23 events in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon, 286; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 269; 3.
John Smith, 198; 4. Cory McClenathan, 177; 5. Doug Kalitta, 174; 6. Clay
Millican, 166; 7. Tony Schumacher, 164; 8. Doug Herbert, 140; 9. David
Baca, 136; 10. Jim Head, 135.
Funny Car
1. Gary Densham, 246; 2. Ron Capps, 235; 3. Tony
Pedregon, 232; 4. Whit Bazemore, 206; 5. Johnny Gray, 182; 6. Del
Worsham, 179; 7. Gary Scelzi, 159; 8. Frank Pedregon, 137; 9. Tommy
Johnson Jr., 136; 10. Bob Gilbertson, 134.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 265; 2. Kurt Johnson, 223; 3. Warren
Johnson, 207; 4. Allen Johnson, 199; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 198; 6. Bruce
Allen, 168; 7. Darrell Alderman, 140; 8. Troy Coughlin, 135; 9. Mark
Pawuk, 119; 10. V. Gaines, 118.
Pro Stock Bike
1. Angelle Savoie, 118; 2. Geno Scali, 96; 3. Mike
Berry, 74; 4. Andrew Hines, 72; 5. Craig Treble, 57; 6. Antron Brown,
55; 7. Shawn Gann, 54; 8. Fred Camarena, 53; 9. Fred Collis, 33; 10.
(tie) Michael Phillips, 32; Brian Schultz, 32; Reggie Showers, 32; Chris
Bostick, 32.
NHRA Communications
