Allen Johnson brought a ray of sunshine to a cloudy conclusion to the 5th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by Trak Auto at Virginia Motorsports Park and possibly a new dawn to Mopar fans around the world when he drove his Amoco Dodge Avenger to his first career victory in Pro Stock.
Allen Johnson |
Johnson, who destroyed his car in a high-speed tumble in March at the Mac Tools Gatornationals, defeated Richie Stevens in the final round of the rain-delayed event, which was postponed Sunday afternoon after one round of eliminations had been completed.
On Monday, Johnson, who had beaten Winternationals champ Troy Coughlin in round one, got past George Marnell, who rolled the beams and fouled, and low qualifier and national record holder Kurt Johnson, who got loose and had to shut off in the semi's. In the other semifinal, Stevens had defeated John Nobile, who had pulled off a stunning first-round upset of four-time event champ Warren Johnson.
In the final, Johnson cut the normally quicker Stevens at the Tree, .433 to .452, and emerged the champ by .009-second, 6.970 to 6.960.
Johnson's victory came at an event marred by a Mopar controversy when the three other top Dodge entries of Darrell Alderman, Scott Geoffrion, and Larry Morgan were not allowed to compete with their generic engine blocks. NHRA had issued a rules statement in January giving Mopar teams until this event to run a pure Mopar block, as required by NHRA rules, but those teams apparently could not meet the deadline that Johnson could.
The win was the first for a Mopar since the 1997 Western Auto Nationals in Topeka, which Geoffrion won two weeks after Alderman won his last title, at the 1997 Mopar Parts Nationals in Englishtown, N.J.
"Words can't describe how I feel," said an emotional Johnson, an independent team owner not officially associated with Team Mopar. "I wanted to win this race for my dad (Roy Johnson, also team crew chief). This has been his dream. I'm just glad I was able to do it for him."
Pro Stock results
Johnson was joined in the Professional class winner's circle by Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), who won his first race of the season; John Force (Funny Car), who won his fourth in six events; and Brad Jeter (Pro Stock Truck), who also won his first of the year.
Cory McClenathan |
McClenathan continued his past successes at this event. Cory Mac, who defeated Joe Amato in last year's title round for one of his six NHRA victories in '98 and who had beaten beat Blaine Johnson in the inaugural race in 1995 and was runner-up to Gary Scelzi in 1997, took an easy 4.68-second final-round ride when Larry Dixon smoked the tires.
"It's a mental thing mostly," said McClenathan, of his success in Virginia. "You always feel good about going to a race track where you've won before. We felt confident all weekend and I think that showed today.
"The NHRA Safety Safari did a great job getting the track back in shape after the rain delay," McClenathan said. "We had some great side-by-side racing today and that's what the fans love."
The victory for McClenathan, like Johnson, turned around a Gatornationals misfortune. At that event, a huge engine explosion pitched the engine out of McClenathan's MBNA dragster and caused him to crash into the guardwall.
Top Fuel results
John Force |
Force's victory was his fourth in six races and continued the Team Castrol sweep engineered thus far by he and teammate Tony Pedregon. A sixth straight Castrol victory was made a certainty when both drivers made it to the final round, where Force prevailed, 4.94 to 5.04.
"It's fun when you can go out and put two cars in the final, it takes some of the pressure off," said Force, who defeated an all-star cast to advance to the final that included Scotty Cannon, Whit Bazemore and Cruz Pedregon. "We're glad to get another win for Ford. This is what it's all about. As hard as my team works they deserve it. Someone asked me what it takes to beat us. I told them that they would have to hire my crew chiefs and my team, because they work their butts off."
Funny Car results
Winston Finals champ Jeter got a free ride to the winner's circle when Bob Panella Jr. fouled in the all-Chevy S-10 Pro Stock Truck final round. Jeter would have been tough, running 7.55 to Panella's 7.61.
"It feels good to know that I can win again," Jeter said. "We came here with a plan to get the driver back in the program and that's what we did. We really needed this victory, it gives us confidence for the rest of the season."
Pro Stock Truck results
In Federal-Mogul Dragster, veteran Art Gallant, appearing in just his second career final, one his first title with a 5.65 when Bruce Insigner was not able to make the call for the final round.
Federal-Mogul Dragster results
The Federal-Mogul Funny Car title went to perennial season champ Frank Manzo over longtime rival Bob Newberry, 5.674 to a tire-shaking 5.951 in a repeat of last year's final round, which Manzo also won.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car results
The Comp eliminator title will stay in Virginia as Allen Stanfield, of Houghtaling, won his first career title, defeating John Frech's F/D in the final on a big holeshot, (-.518) 9.262 to (-.556) 8.254.
Comp results
Peter Biondo, the 1996 Winston Super Stock champ, showed that skill in winning the title in Virginia, but got an easy run in the final when Angelo DiTocco, the defending event champ, red-lighted with a .489 reaction time.
Super Stock results
Barry Parker scored his first career win in Stock, outrunning Joe DeMarzo in a heads-up H/SA match, 11.478 to 11.576.
Stock results
In Super Comp, Scotty Richardson showed why he owns four season championships. The cagey vet cut Donny Urban loose at the top end, allowing him to break out by .006-second with an 8.894 while Richardson nipped the throttle to stay safe and win with an 8.96.
Super Comp results
"Super Chick" Musacchio won the Super Gas final on red-light by James Corbett, but showed his would have been a tough challenge when he recorded a perfect 9.990 on his winning pass.
Super Gas results
After both Super Street finalists cut .503 lights, Jimmy Hodges got the win with a near-perfect 10.906 as Keith Mayers ran too quick and broke out with a 10.889
Super Street results
For information about the event sponsor, visit the
Pennzoil home page.
For information about the presenting sponsor, visit the
Trak Auto home page.
