Championship Drag Racing

PRESTONE ROUTE
66 NATIONALS
CHICAGO (June 1-4)

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Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel

3rd annual

Sunday

Force makes history with 86th; Scelzi finishes wild comeback

History was made today at the third annual Prestone Route 66 Nationals when Funny Car driver John Force drove his Castrol Ford Mustang to his 86th win, making him the most prolific drag racer in the 49-year history of the National Hot Rod Association. Force dominated the entire event, taking the No. 1 qualifying position and blowing by all-comers en route to the historic win.

Team Winston Top Fuel driver Gary Scelzi also made a little history and showed a lot of moxy with his fourth win of the season, coming back from a harrowing wreck Friday to claim his 18th victory.

In the Pro Stock ranks, Ron Krisher carded the first win of his short career by beating nine-time runner-up Troy Coughlin. Antron Brown caulked up a big win in Pro Stock Bike and it was Bob Panella's turn to beat Randy Daniels in Pro Stock Truck.

In one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory, Scelzi crawled out of the twisted wreckage of his ruined Team Winston dragster Friday afternoon, jumped in his back-up car Saturday morning, and wound up winning the event over Larry Dixon. The win, the 18th of his career, tied Scelzi with the legendary Shirley Muldowney for sixth place on the all-time Professional wins list.

Gary Scelzi

"I'm a little in awe that we did win this race," Scelzi said. "After all that happened it's quite a feat. The man upstairs is looking after me. I don't know whether to cry or fall down to be honest.

"I knew this other car was good and since the wreck I was never nervous about getting in the cockpit and stepping on the gas. But the job my team and Alan Johnson did is nothing short of amazing. We're officially back. I extended my points lead and we're still No. 1.

"It's great to win on the same day that Force made history. I know I'll be old, fat and retired before I ever catch (Joe) Amato (who has 50 wins in Top Fuel) let alone Force's 86. Forget about that. I can't believe I've won 18."

Scelzi beat Dixon in a thrilling side-by-side final round with a 4.642-second, 314.57-mph lap in front of Dixon's 4.702, 313.07-mph pass.

On his way to the finals, Scelzi ground out wins over Rhonda Hartman-Smith and Andrew Cowin before squaring off with nemesis Tony Schumacher. In that crowd-pleasing race both drivers had mechanical problems during the run and had to baby their cars to the finish line. Finally, Scelzi got there first, albeit on fire.

Dixon and his Miller Lite team pounded out wins over Dave Grubnic, No. 1 qualifier Cory McClenathan, and Doug Kalitta before staring down points-leader Scelzi in the finals. Top Fuel results

There's no other way to describe the final round of Funny Car other than to say it was the Main Event of the year. Rivals on the track, in the Winston points standings, and in the media, Force and Toliver finally had a national stage to battle on, and with the world watching they didn't disappoint.

Force captured Win No. 86, an all-time NHRA mark, with pure horsepower. He carded a stout 4.842-second lap at 318.09 mph to beat a trailing Toliver, who posted a 4.934 at 312.64 mph.

"This was better than 85, I gotta admit," Force said. "I tripped out at the other end. I couldn't get out of the car fast enough I was so excited. I was young again for a few minutes. It's the most awesome feeling.

"The truth is I'm really proud of this team. Austin Coil, he's from here and this is really his day, he told me before that round to go for it so I did.

"I stepped on the gas and all hell broke loose. I knew if it all held together we'd win the race. I dedicate this win to Austin. We've been together for a long time and he's the man that put me here. He deserves all the praise."

The toughest foe Force encountered on his trip to the finals came from local hero John Lawson of Joliet. He ran a respectable 5.05 against the nine-time champ, which is more than second and third round opponents Tony Pedregon and Ron Capps can say. They both went up in smoke during their runs. Funny Car results

The Pro Stock bracket was going to crown a first-time winner for the second week in a row regardless of which finalist lit the win light. This time it was Ron Krisher who took home the Wally due to his 6.888-second lap at 199.43 mph in front of Troy Coughlin's trailing 6.924 at 197.36 mph.

Ron Krisher

The race marked the first final round of Krisher's three-year career. Coughlin, however, had previously been to eight finals, including one in Gainesville, Fla., earlier this year, but has yet to net a win.

"I couldn't believe it when I hit high gear, looked over, and there was no Troy," Krisher said. "I knew once I got to high gear I couldn't be caught. I got deflated in that rain delay and had to pump myself up for the finals but it was worth the wait.

"This was our objective, to be more than a competitive team. We made all our off-season moves to win races. My hats off to Mike Edwards, Jimmy Roberts, and the rest of the boys for giving me the car and the horsepower to win. It's been one helluva trip since our wreck in Pomona in February. Back then I was on my roof, now I'm on top of the world."

Starting from the top qualifying position, Eagle One's Krisher was tough to beat all day. He ran a pair of 6.86's in wins over Robert Patrick and Allen Johnson, and a 6.87 against points leader Jeg Coughlin. No. 2 qualifier Troy Coughlin beat Jim Yates, Tom Martino on a hole-shot, and Kurt Johnson to get to the finals.

Starting from the top qualifying position, Eagle One's Krisher was tough to beat all day. He ran a pair of 6.86's in wins over Robert Patrick and Allen Johnson, and a 6.87 against points leader Jeg Coughlin. No. 2 qualifier Troy Coughlin beat Jim Yates, Tom Martino on a hole-shot, and Kurt Johnson to get to the finals. Pro Stock results

Pro Stock Bike riders Antron Brown and Craig Treble both reached the finals for the first time this year. In the end it was Brown racking up his first win of the new millennium after a super-quick 7.217 at 181.32 mph ahead of Treble's posted 7.264 at 182.21 mph

Antron Brown

"It feels good to be back in the winner's circle," Brown said. "We have had some problems early in the season but we overcame them together and now we got our first win of the year. (Crew chief) Mark Peiser did a great job today. This bike was killer and it needed to be because we had a bunch of tough races.

"We're closer to the points lead now then we were when we got our first win last year so I'm ready to go after the championship. Team 23 is a force to be reckoned with."

Brown had an impressive run just reaching the finals. He rode his Team 23 Suzuki past Rob Short in the opening session and then knocked off points leader Angelle Seeling in Round 2 and three-time champ Matt Hines in the semis. Treble, meanwhile, got a free pass by a broken Clarence Markham before recording a hole-shot win over Tony Mullen and outrunning Dave Schultz.

The wildest ride of the year came in Round 1 when C.J. Smith struck a seagull during his pass. The impact killed the bird and fractured Smith's windshield, glanced off his helmet and shoulder, and covered him with debris. Pro Stock Bike results

Surprise, surprise; it was Bob Panella and Randy Daniels in the finals of Pro Stock Truck. These two drivers, who seem to be waging a personal war against one another, met in the finals for the second time this weekend. But unlike yesterday's Holley Dominator Duel that had Daniels getting the better of Panella, the tables were turned and Panella took the miniscule win.

Bob Panella

The final numbers had Panella crossing in 7.530 at 177.42 mph and Daniels close behind at 7.535 and 178.87 mph.

"I hope we started something with this win," Panella said. "I came on strong here last year and went on to win the championship. I hope we do the same thing this year only in a more dominant way.

"This is a great way to start the summer. I should have beat Randy yesterday too then it would have been the perfect weekend."

Panella drove his Panella Trucking Chevy S-10 past Jeff Naiser, John Coughlin, and Greg Stanfield to reach the finals. Bailey Trucking pro Daniels sent John Lingenfelter, Steve Johns, and Mike Coughlin packing before squaring off with Panella.

One of the more interesting Truck races of the day took place in the quarterfinals when good friends Greg Stanfield and Brian "Lump" Self burned down the starting tree for over a minute and a half. "I told him ahead of time he better have ice in his radiator because I wasn't going in first," Lump said. Eventually, Stanfield did go in first and he won the race by .014 of a second. Pro Stock Truck results