Racers from NHRA's five professional classes got in their first kicks at the Fram Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway outside of Chicago Friday. Rain delayed the second session of Pro qualifying, but the wait proved well worth it as major improvements marked many classes.
Doug Kalitta |
Doug Kalitta grabbed the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel with a 4.543 in the first session, then backed it up with a 4.554 in the day's second session. Winston champ Gary Scelzi jumped to the second spot with a 4.564 at 316.97, edging out Joe Amato's equal run, which came with a slower speed of 312.57 Larry Dixon is fourth at 4.593 and Paul Romine is on the bump at 4.749.
Two-time former Winston champ 9 Scott Kalitta is qualified ninth in his return tot he sport with a 4.622 best.
Top Fuel results
John Force |
Winston Funny Car champ John Force entered the second session a lowly tenth with a 5.101, then blistered his way to a 4.856 and past Whit Bazemore, whose 4.956 earlier in the session had surpassed first session leader Jerry Toliver's 4.970 299.73. Dean Skuza is fourth with a 4.972. bouncing back from his recent DNQ.
Funny Car results
Kurt Johnson leapfrogged past his father, Warren, the first session leader with a 6.955 from the ACDelco Camaro in the day's second session. W.J.'s 6.964 held up for the second spot at a track-record 198.70 mph. W.J. is the Pontiac in the Chevy sandwich with Camaro campaigner Mike Edwards third at 6.985. John Nobile, one of just three Pro Stock driver drivers to qualify at all eight races this season, is on the bump with a 7.032.
Pro Stock results
A similar scenario occurred in Pro Stock Bike where the first session's number-three qualifier, Angelle Seeling, zipped past the first-session leader (Matt Hines) to take the top spot at the day's end.
Seeling improved on her initial 7.398 with a 7.335 to move past Hines' 7.388 and Antron Brown's 7.392.
Joe DeSantis sits in the 16th spot with a 7.708.
Pro Stock Bike results
Bob Panella Jr. was able to hold on to his Pro Stock Truck lead through both sessions, even through some major improvements. Panella bettered his own 7.668 with a 7.650 to stay ahead of Mark Osborne and Jerry Haas, who stepped up to a 7.674.
Jeff Lukovich is on the bump with two sessions remaining with a 7.743.
Pro Stock Truck results
Dave Hirata is the surprise low qualifier in Federal-Mogul Dragster with his Fontana-powered A/Fuel Dragster with a 5.456, just ahead of A/FD veteran Keith Stark's 5.527. Former FMD crew chief Rob Wendland is third at 5.541.
Federal-Mogul Dragster results
Defending event champ John Lawson leads the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field with a 5.705, just ahead of 1999's hottest driver, Todd Paton, who is second at 5.767, and Bob Newberry at 5.770.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car results
Ed Bennett III, who survived a scary moment in eliminations in Atlanta when his wild supercharged AA/A got crossed up, is the No. 1 qualifier in Comp with a 7.136, .564 under his index. Larry Pritchett is second with a (-.551_ 8.219 and Jason Coan third with his F/ED at (-.543) 8.487.
Comp results
Five Super Stock drivers qualified more than a second under their indexes, led b Michael Volkman (GT/IA, -1.086) and followed by Joe Skinner (GT/F, -1.076), Jeff Sexton (SS/AX, -1.056), Mike Beachy (GT/EA, -1.027), and Jerry Silveus (GT/IA, -1.006). Volkman also was among 46 drivers who their classes in today's class eliminations.
Super Stock results
Bill Rink leads four Stock drivers all qualified more than a second under their indexes as he is 1.044-second under the M/SA standard. Bert Morgan (P/SA, -1.016), George Widuch (K/SA, -1.005), and Al Provoast (N/SA, -1.004) are second through fourth.
Stock results
The Super Comp field was cut to 60 following the first round of illuminations. Among the many name drivers still in the hunt are Steve Eckard, Edmond Richardson, Rod Fuller, Steve Cohen, Mike Ferderer, Jeff Cheney, Jim Hughes, David Rampy, Jimmy Lewis, and Sheldon Gecker.
Super Comp results
The Super Gas field also was halved, to 58 survivors, among them Eckard, Hughes, Ferderer, and Lewis as well as former season champs Mike Henderson and John Vineyard and former U.S. nationals champ Marlin Snyder.
Super Gas results
