Sunday's regularly scheduled action was delayed after NHRA officials determined that the excessively low temperatures made Heartland Park Topeka's quarter-mile track no long of raceable quality. The record cold snap eventually prompted officials to move the final three rounds of professional eliminations as well as the remainder of all sportsman competition until today.

Doug Herbert

Following a dismal streak of seven first-round dismissals Snap-On Tools pilot Herbert celebrated his 32nd birthday a day early by beating Joe Amato in the finals, 4.66 to 7.51. It was Amato's first runner-up finish in six final-round appearances this year. He won the other five finals he participated in.

"Consistency won this race," Herbert said. "The frustration level was creeping pretty high up there with all those first-round losses. This feels great. We went to Rockingham (N.C.) last week to test at an IHRA race and ended up winning the thing. That helped boost our confidence.

"It's going to be great birthday for me and my 4-year-old son, James. His birthday is tomorrow also."

The record-setting Top Fuel chase for the championship has effectively been reduced to seven players at this point. Herbert's resurgence helped lift him from 10th place into the No. 7 position with 1035 points, 129 points behind the top spot held by Tony Schmacher's 1,164 point total. Amato is in second place with 1,150 points followed by Gary Scelzi (1,121 points), Mike Dunn (1,087), Doug Kalitta (1,051) and Kenny Bernstein (1050).

Although not mathematically out of championship contention, eighth-place points earner Cory McClenathan (996), No. 9 challenger Larry Dixon (978), and 10th place points earner Bob Vandergriff (939) would need help to win it all in 1999. Top Fuel results

John Force

John Force returned to his winning ways with a convincing 4.79-second, 316-mph final-round win over Tommy Johnson Jr., who limped through the lights in 5.17 seconds at 239 mph. For Force, who had been eliminated in the first round of the last three races including the Big Bud Shootout, it was his 79th career win, second on NHRA's alltime list.

"I got past the first round," Force said with a smile. "We knew this hot rod was capable of running 4.8s and it took three of them to win this thing. Were destroying parts in a hurry but that's the nature of this game.

"We did some testing at Maple Grove after the last race and it paid off. I credit my crew. I always say that the drivers get all the credit but we don't do (anything) but drive. Those guys deserve the win.

"This is fun with the battles between Ford and Pontiac, Castrol and Kendall; heck even the parts stores are getting involved. It's fun for everyone."

Whit Bazemore gained just one point on Tony Pedregon in his quest for second place. Bazemore earned 78 points before bowing out to Johnson in the semifinals while Pedregon logged 77 points by also reaching the third round, where he lost to his boss. Funny Car results

Mike Edwards

Pro Stock veteran Mike Edwards came from the 16th and final spot in the field to win his first race of the season with a holeshot over Troy Coughlin. Edwards left the lights in .424 seconds against Coughlin's .479 start and ended up needing every bit of the advantage to capture the victory. Edwards crossed in 6.953 seconds at 198.35 mph just ahead of Coughlin's 6.917 seconds at 199.11 mph. It was Coughlin's sixth straight final-round loss in Pro Stock.

"I've been running Pro Stock since 1996 and I've won at least one race every year," Edwards said. "I was starting to worry if I'd get one this year. Thank the Lord, Dewco, and Chevy as well as my wife. She's my strength.

"This is a real nice feeling. We've got plenty to be thankful for. I just wish our group of friends could have stayed to see this but everyone had to leave after the weather delay. I'm sure they'll be celebrating back home."

Edwards began his championship march with a holeshot win over No. 1 qualifier Richie "The Kid" Stevens. He then out-paced Ron Krisher and Jeg Coughlin Jr. to reach the finals. On the other side of the ladder, Kurt Johnson beat his father, Warren, in Round 2 before running into Troy Coughlin in the semis. Troy had already downed Steve Schmidt and Tom Martino. Pro Stock results

Bob Panella Jr.

Bob Panella Jr. had an incredible weekend in Pro Stock Truck, winning his third race of the year and moving into the lead of the Winston championship points standings in the process. And he can be proud of the fact that he earned the win.

In the finals, defending Winston champ Larry Kopp, who had beaten Mike Coughlin, David Spitzer and John Lingerfelter, took a huge lead off the starting line -- .437 seconds to .473 - and wasn't tracked down until the last 100 feet. But Panella's power was just too strong and he won in 7.597 seconds at 177.18 mph against Kopp's 7.655-second pass at 175.18 mph, keeping the defending season champ winless this year.

"The Chevy was cooking all weekend," Panella said. "It's so exciting to win three races in a year and to be in the lead of the points race. It's almost unbelievable.

"I actually liked being behind. I just hope that now I have enough momentum to keep the lead. I hope it doesn't come down to Pomona."

Panella is a perfect 3-0 when he's on the pole. At this race he started on top and beat Chip Ippolito, Kim Smith, and Scott Perin in order before bettering Kopp in the finals. He now leads Mark Osborne by 46 points. Pro Stock Truck results

Melanie Troxel won her second Federal-Mogul Dragster title of the season as the Seattle winner scored a 5.46, 256-mph final-round victory over Calvin Freisen in a battle between a pair of A/Fuel Dragsters. Federal-Mogul Dragster results

Marc White scored his first career national event victory after two previous victories with a 5.74, 251-mph victory over veteran Vern Moats, whose 5.95, 247-mph loss was his eighth in his last nine finals. Federal-Mogul Funny Car results

Larry Pritchett, the No. 1 qualifier in Comp, scored his second victory of the season and successfully defended his win here last year as Doug Engels red-lighted in his D/ED in the final round. Comp results

James Kunkel became the first Super Stock driver to win in the new truck class as he steered his SS/TB Chevy S-10 to a final-round 9.55 on a 9.47 dial-under to defeat Rick Johnson, whose SS/BA entry slowed to a 9.60 on his 9.53 target. Super Stock results

Edmond Richardson scored his third win of the year in Stock, his sixth overall this season, and the 38th of his career to move into sole possession of ninth place on NHRA's all-time win list. Richardson powered his I/SA Camaro to a final-round victory over crowd-favorite Jamie Duke-Kilgore and her manually-shifted A/S machine. Richardson won with an 11.95 on an 11.94 dial to her breakout 10.65 on a 10.73. Stock results

Super Stock and Super Comp hitter Gary Stinnett scored his first win in Super Comp when he defeated Rick Beckstrom in an 8.933 to 8.937 final round decided by just nine-thousandths of a second. Super Comp results

"Hot Rod" Fuller won his second straight Super Gas title and his fourth national event of the year when his .406 light and 9.935 forced Rick Cates to break out with a 9.890 in the final. Super Gas results

E.T. racing legend Ronald Folk, father of three-time 1999 national-event winner Brian Folk, scored his first career win in Super Street when Scott Dahlem fouled by one-thousandth of a second in the final round.