Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals
Phoenix, Ariz
(Feb. 15-18)
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17th annual |
| Saturday |
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surface yields superior numbers |
The improvements made to the racing surface of Firebird International Raceway have proven to be so effective that the most uttered phrase during the 17th annual running of the Checker-Schuck's-Kragen Nationals presented by Pennzoil has been, "Are you sure we're in Phoenix?"
The concrete launching pad of this historic track was lengthened to 660 feet and the improved traction has produced numerous career best numbers across the nitro ranks. The most notable beneficiaries were the Funny Car drivers, who continued to lower the record for the quickest field ever assembled.
Taking full advantage was Funny Car pro Dean Skuza, who ran the quickest Funny Car lap under the 90-perecent nitro fuel rule to take the second Funny Car pole of his career. Skuza's incredible lap of 4.805 at 308.57 mph took the top spot while Gary Densham's 4.961 at 302 mph set the field.
As expected, Top Fuel driver Mike Dunn's 4.52-second lap at 328 mph from Friday afternoon, one of the best laps ever, remained untouched today, handing him his 12th pole. Also, Mike Edwards held on to the Pro Stock pole, the first of his career, with a 6.88 at 199 mph.
That championship feeling that comes with being a N.Y. Yankee appears to have settled in Dunn's camp for good. His 4.521 at 328.22 mph from Friday afternoon definitely put him in a league of his own. The elapsed time is the second quickest of all time under the 90-percent nitro rule and his top speed is the second fastest ever.
 Mike Dunn
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"It was a different ballgame today out there," Dunn said. "We didn't improve but it seems like everyone else did. We tried some different things to try and step it up a little but they didn't quite work out so we'll put the car back like it was yesterday and get ready to race.
"Since we have a single in Round 1, our strategy has changed. Normally, we'd tune to get down the track with a 4.60 or so to make sure we get the win but now we'll just go for it and find out what this track can do from the start."
The only other player seemingly ready to battle Dunn is Larry Dixon, who cruised through a 4.538 at 320.58 mph in Round 4 to put his Miller Lite machine in the runner-up spot on the ladder. Snap-on pro Doug Herbert stayed third with a 4.589 at 316.90 mph and defending event champ Tony Schumacher wound up fourth with a 4.591 at 313.88 mph in the U.S. Army dragster.
Dunn not only pockets a big check from Budweiser for earning the Top Fuel pole, he also gets a free pass to the quarterfinals. Since there are only 16 Top Fuel cars in attendance, privateer Craig Smith waited until the final round to attempt a qualifying pass. But the move backfired when his engine fireballed and destroyed his car's back right tire. The mishap caused Smith to hit the retaining wall, which immediately disqualified him. Smith was uninjured. Top Fuel results
It was Mopar Mania in the Funny Car class after Skuza knocked six-hundredths of a second off his previous career-best to lead the flopper delegation with a stunning 4.805 at 308.57 mph.
 Dean Skuza
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"This is turning into a great weekend for Dodge," Skuza said. "Daytona pole, NASCAR truck pole, and now here. Someone over at Dodge Motorsports must know what they're doing.
"I actually shut it off early. It's like driving a new car with this (John Stewart) tune-up. I really don't have a good feeling for it yet. It's so cool to be the quickest under the 90 percent rule and it's not like our tongues are hanging out at the other end. We've got more.
"There is such a buzz in the Funny Car pits. It's like a bunch of kids at Christmas time. Every pit is excited. We wanted this to be tight like a Pro Stock field and we got it. I mean (Tony) Bartone ran a 4.99 and he's going home. That's hardcore baby."
After stumbling Friday, 10-time champ John Force came to life Saturday, running a pair of low 4.8-second laps to take the No. 2 position in the field with a 4.823 at 313.15 mph in his Castrol Ford. Yesterday's leader Whit Bazemore of Team Matco improved to a 4.835 at 313.58 mph, a personal-best time, but still slipped two spots.
Oakley's Scotty Cannon (4.847 at 311.92 mph) and e-moola.com's Bruce Sarver (4.848 at 311.34 mph) followed in fourth and fifth place. Like Skuza and Bazemore, Cannon and Sarver recorded career-best elapsed times during today's action. Funny Car results
For the first time in his career, Young Life Pro Stock driver Edwards will start race day from the No. 1 position. Edwards posted a 6.886 at 199.88 mph in the opening session Friday morning and held on through the remaining three rounds to take the top honor. Of note, Edwards and teammate Ron Krisher are still competing in old Pontiac Firebirds as they wait delivery of their 2001 Chevrolet Cavaliers.
 Mike Edwards
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"This is pretty impressive," Edwards said. "It's even surprising to me and Ron to be honest with you. Once everyone gets a handle on these new cars it might be a different story but right now our Firebirds are on top and we couldn't be happier.
"I'm the happiest guy in the world. We're No. 1, I get to race tomorrow, and we're showing these kids from Young Life a great time. It's a big achievement to be No. 1. Everyone should get to have this feeling at least once. And the way our cars are running we might win some races this year also."
The Johnson family, Kurt and Warren, finished the qualifying rounds in the second and third positions, respectively. K.J. ran a 6.890 at 200.74 mph in the final session, while father Warren used his 6.892 at 200.29 mph from Friday to earn his spot. Krisher was next at 6.896 and 199.76 mph in his Eagle One Firebird.
Edwards will open Sunday's action against final qualifier John Nobile, who piloted his Nobile Trucking Olds Cutlass through a 6.940 at 198.41 mph in the final session to sneak into the field.
Surprisingly, Troy Coughlin, Allen Johnson, "Tricky Rickie" Smith, and Tom Martino all failed to make the field. Pro Stock results
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