PRO STOCK Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, position in order following run: Left Lane: Larry Nance Runs 7.071/196.03 Psn # 1 Right Lane: Gordie Rivera Runs 7.161/193.05 Psn # 2 1:55 PM Here we go with the first round of the factory hot rods. The sun is trying to burn through the thick haze, and it is warming right up. Nance with a good pass right out of the box. Left Lane: Steve Schmidt Runs 7.049/197.06 Psn # 1 Right Lane: Tom Martino Runs 7.054/195.82 Psn # 2 Schmidt making his return after bending one up two weeks ago, and gets right down the track. Left Lane: Scott Geoffrion Runs 7.058/195.95 Psn # 3 Right Lane: Grant Lewis Runs 7.095/195.95 Psn # 5 Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 7.061/196.50 Psn # 5 Right Lane: Jim Yates Runs 7.056/195.22 Psn # 3 Krisher was all over the track on the launch, but is able to reel it in. Yates not getting the run he was looking for here. They are rolling the clean-up trucks in Yates lane after the finish line. 1:59 PM Left Lane: Tim Jost Runs 8.857/110.26 Psn #10 Right Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 7.071/196.16 Psn # 6 2:05 PM We are back. Jost loose on the launch, and then clicks it off. Warren has the speed, but not the et. Left Lane: Arturo Delgado Runs 7.248/194.46 Psn #11 Right Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 7.106/193.92 Psn # 9 Left Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 7.029/196.54 Psn # 1 Right Lane: David Nickens Runs 7.093/194.88 Psn # 9 Kurt jumps right into the number one spot. Left Lane: Troy Coughlin Runs 7.048/195.35 Psn # 2 Right Lane: George Marnell Runs 7.104/195.14 Psn #12 Left Lane: Mike Thomas Runs 7.035/196.50 Psn # 2 Right Lane: Ray Franks Runs 7.050/196.07 Psn # 5 Thomas with a real good pass here, as Franks jumps into the number five spot. Left Lane: Darrell Alderman Runs 7.089/195.56 Psn #13 Right Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 7.066/195.82 Psn #10 Pawuk spins the tires on the launch. Left Lane: Mike Bell Runs 7.046/195.95 Psn # 3 Right Lane: V. Gaines Runs 7.142/195.82 Psn #19 The bump is now Lewis at 7.095, so it is getting down there quick. Left Lane: Mark Osborne Runs 7.031/196.03 Psn # 2 Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Jr Runs 7.071/196.07 Psn #14 Here are a couple of the new rising stars in Pro Stock. Left Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 7.065/194.97 Psn #12 Right Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 7.071/195.73 Psn #17 Johnson was way late on the starting line, so Allen makes the show and then gets bumped on the same run. Left Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 7.066/195.77 Psn #14 The last car of this the first and only round of Pro qualifying today. We end with Kurt Johnson in the number one spot and the circuit's most recent winner Jeg coughlin Jr. in the bump at 7.071.

PRO STOCK Notes for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Order after one round of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: Psn Driver ET Speed 1 Kurt Johnson 7.029 196.54 2 Mike Thomas 7.035 196.50 3 Mike Bell 7.046 195.95 4 Troy Coughlin 7.048 195.35 5 Steve Schmidt 7.049 197.06 6 Ray Franks 7.050 196.07 7 Tom Martino 7.054 195.82 8 Jim Yates 7.056 195.22 9 Scott Geoffrion 7.058 195.95 10 Ron Krisher 7.061 196.50 11 Allen Johnson 7.065 194.97 12 Mark Pawuk 7.066 195.82 13 Larry Morgan 7.066 195.77 14 Warren Johnson 7.071 196.16 15 Jeg Coughlin Jr 7.071 196.07 16 Gordie Rivera 7.071 196.03 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17 Bruce Allen 7.071 195.73 18 Darrell Alderman 7.089 195.56 19 David Nickens 7.093 194.88 20 Grant Lewis 7.095 195.95 21 George Marnell 7.104 195.14 22 Mike Edwards 7.106 193.92 23 V. Gaines 7.142 195.82 24 Larry Nance 7.161 193.05 25 Arturo Delgado 7.248 194.46 26 Tim Jost 8.857 110.26 27 Mark Osborne No Time

PRO STOCK Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Jim Yates Runs 7.019/195.99 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.056/195.22 Was # 8 Right Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 7.065/196.76 Now #10 Best prior run: 7.061/196.50 Was #10 Sunny skies, and barely a couple hundred feet better adjusted altitude than yesterday at this time. But nobody told Yates, as he parlays a 1.048 60' time to the top qualifying spot. Left Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 7.016/196.85 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.071/196.16 Was #14 Right Lane: Tim Jost Runs 7.140/193.17 Now #23 Best prior run: 8.857/110.26 Was #26 By way of comparison, WJ had a 1.052 in the first 60'. but he made up for it in the back half, running a full mph faster than Yates. Left Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 7.132/192.14 Now #22 Best prior run: 7.106/193.92 Was #22 Right Lane: Arturo Delgado Runs 8.000/100.00 Now #26 Best prior run: 7.248/194.46 Was #26 Left Lane: David Nickens Runs 7.032/195.65 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.093/194.88 Was #19 Right Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 7.029/196.63 Now # 3 Best prior run: 7.029/196.54 Was # 3 Big step up for Nickens, solidly into the show and bumping Gordie Rivera's 7.071. bump is still 7.071, now Jeggie Coughlin. Left Lane: George Marnell Runs 7.077/195.22 Now #19 Best prior run: 7.104/195.14 Was #21 Right Lane: Troy Coughlin Runs 7.029/196.16 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.048/195.35 Was # 7 Marnell struggling uncharacteristically, this weekend. Left Lane: Ray Franks Runs 7.061/196.46 Now # 9 Best prior run: 7.050/196.07 Was # 9 Right Lane: Mike Thomas Runs 7.041/196.12 Now # 6 Best prior run: 7.035/196.50 Was # 6 Thomas' 60' was a couple thousandths quicker than either Yates or WJ, but not enough top end horsepower. Left Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 7.016/196.54 Now # 2 Best prior run: 7.066/195.82 Was #14 Right Lane: Darrell Alderman Runs 7.071/196.29 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.089/195.56 Was #20 Alderman joins the ranks of the other three drivers running 7.071 this weekend, but he takes the last qualifying spot by virtue of his fastest speed. Pawuk gets VERY close to the #1 spot. Left Lane: V. Gaines Runs 7.068/196.07 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.142/195.82 Was #24 Right Lane: Mike Bell Runs 9.341/101.79 Now # 8 Best prior run: 7.046/195.95 Was # 8 Gaines jumps up and unseats the Dodge. Bell clicks it real early. Left Lane: Jeg Coughlin Jr Runs 7.029/196.24 Now # 6 Best prior run: 7.071/196.07 Was #18 Right Lane: Mark Osborne Runs 7.028/196.85 Now # 4 No prior time Osborne was a couple pounds light at the scales yesterday, losing his #1 (at the time) qualifying shot. Jeggie gets back in with his fresh Maskin power, built especially for this weekend. Left Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 7.039/195.73 Now #10 Best prior run: 7.071/195.73 Was #21 Right Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 7.059/195.31 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.065/194.97 Was #16 Johnson fails to get off the bubble, Left Lane: Larry Nance Runs 7.106/193.17 Now #25 Best prior run: 7.161/193.05 Was #26 Right Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 7.037/196.33 Now #10 Best prior run: 7.066/195.77 Was #18 Morgan puts Geoffrion's Dodge on the bubble as he bumps "The Other Dodge". Left Lane: Tom Martino Runs 7.030/196.24 Now # 8 Best prior run: 7.054/195.82 Was #15 Right Lane: Gordie Rivera Runs 7.074/196.07 Now #21 Best prior run: 7.071/196.03 Was #21 Martino moves up just a couple hundredths, but that's enough to put him into the top half of the show. Left Lane: Grant Lewis Runs 7.021/196.63 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.095/195.95 Was #23 Right Lane: Steve Schmidt Runs 7.032/197.23 Now #10 Best prior run: 7.049/197.06 Was #14 Impressive run by Lewis, leaping solidly into the show and bumping Geoffrion's Dodge, up next. Right Lane: Scott Geoffrion Runs 7.048/197.19 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.058/195.95 Was #17 Just one car remains and the clouds roll in just in time, as Geoffrion's Dodge slides back into the field in the last slot and garners top speed of the class, so far. And we just got word that Nickens was light at the scales.

PRO STOCK Notes for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: Psn Driver ET Speed 1 Warren Johnson 7.016 196.85 2 Mark Pawuk 7.016 196.54 3 Jim Yates 7.019 195.99 4 Grant Lewis 7.021 196.63 5 Mark Osborne 7.028 196.85 6 Kurt Johnson 7.029 196.63 7 Jeg Coughlin Jr 7.029 196.24 8 Troy Coughlin 7.029 196.16 9 Tom Martino 7.030 196.24 10 Steve Schmidt 7.032 197.23 11 Mike Thomas 7.035 196.50 12 Larry Morgan 7.037 196.33 13 Bruce Allen 7.039 195.73 14 Mike Bell 7.046 195.95 15 Scott Geoffrion 7.048 197.19 16 Ray Franks 7.050 196.07 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17 Allen Johnson 7.059 195.31 18 Ron Krisher 7.061 196.50 19 V. Gaines 7.068 196.07 20 Darrell Alderman 7.071 196.29 21 Gordie Rivera 7.071 196.03 22 George Marnell 7.077 195.22 23 David Nickens 7.093 194.88 24 Mike Edwards 7.106 193.92 25 Larry Nance 7.106 193.17 26 Tim Jost 7.140 193.17 27 Arturo Delgado 7.248 194.46

PRO STOCK Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 7.014/196.54 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.029/196.63 Was # 6 Right Lane: George Marnell Runs 7.106/196.33 Now #22 Best prior run: 7.077/195.22 Was #22 Marnell has struggled for the last four races, but Mike Cunningham told us that they haven't changed anything on the car and they just can't find the problem. The weather is at least a couple hundredths better than anything we've seen so far this weekend, so look for wholesale changes of the ladder, here. Left Lane: Troy Coughlin Runs 6.982/196.67 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.029/196.16 Was # 8 Right Lane: Ray Franks Runs 7.065/189.63 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.050/196.07 Was #16 Franks starts the session on the bubble, but that will change a ton this morning, a big puff of smoke out of his car, right at the finishline here. Left Lane: Mike Thomas Runs 7.745/136.48 Now #11 Best prior run: 7.035/196.50 Was #11 Right Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 7.022/197.02 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.016/196.54 Was # 4 Thomas was slow right from the start, the car possibly experiencing tire shake, it's hard to tell from our vantage this weekend. Left Lane: Darrell Alderman Runs 7.077/196.29 Now #20 Best prior run: 7.071/196.29 Was #20 Right Lane: V. Gaines Runs 7.083/195.69 Now #19 Best prior run: 7.068/196.07 Was #19 1.059 in 60' for both lanes here, not what either driver was looking for. Left Lane: Mike Bell Runs 7.179/196.50 Now #14 Best prior run: 7.046/195.95 Was #14 Right Lane: Jeg Coughlin Jr Runs 7.021/196.46 Now # 7 Best prior run: 7.029/196.24 Was # 8 Bell must have carried the front wheels over the 60' timing beam, his 1.200 not the norm by any means. Left Lane: Mark Osborne Runs 6.980/197.49 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.028/196.85 Was # 8 Right Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 7.008/197.10 Now # 3 Best prior run: 7.039/195.73 Was #13 Osborne gets a great pass when he needs it most, and jumps into the top spot. Allen just misses the sixes, too. Left Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 7.015/195.77 Now # 5 Best prior run: 7.059/195.31 Was #17 Right Lane: Larry Nance Runs 7.103/195.65 Now #24 Best prior run: 7.106/193.17 Was #25 Johnson takes a great 1.041 60' time and parlays it into a great performance, deep into the top half of the pack. Left Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 7.018/196.07 Now # 9 Best prior run: 7.037/196.33 Was #14 Right Lane: Tom Martino Runs 7.013/196.42 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.030/196.24 Was #11 Martino would have been quicker still if he hadn't had to make a mid-course correction to stay off the centerline at 1000'. Left Lane: Gordie Rivera Runs 7.005/197.06 Now # 3 Best prior run: 7.071/196.03 Was #21 Right Lane: Grant Lewis Runs 7.024/197.23 Now #12 Best prior run: 7.021/196.63 Was #11 Bump is Scott Geoffrion's 7.048, check that, as Rivera makes a Hail Mary to jump eighteen spots into the top of the pack, that makes Bell's 7.046 the bump. Left Lane: Steve Schmidt Runs 6.998/198.19 Now # 4 Best prior run: 7.032/197.23 Was #14 Right Lane: Jim Yates Runs 6.973/196.67 Now # 1 Best prior run: 7.019/195.99 Was #11 Two more big jumps, moving Allen Johnson out of the top half, already. Left Lane: Scott Geoffrion Runs 6.998/197.71 Now # 5 Best prior run: 7.048/197.19 Was #17 Right Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 7.002/197.84 Now # 6 Best prior run: 7.016/196.85 Was #10 Scott won the race to 60', 1.049 to 1.053, and you see thedifference it made on the top end and that bumps Mike Bell. Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 7.005/197.62 Now # 8 Best prior run: 7.061/196.50 Was #19 Right Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 7.003/195.73 Now # 7 Best prior run: 7.106/193.92 Was #25 These guys get the runs they were looking for, and bump Jeg Coughlin and Mike Thomas in the process. Left Lane: Tim Jost Runs 7.114/193.84 Now #26 Best prior run: 7.140/193.17 Was #26 Right Lane: David Nickens Runs 7.020/196.03 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.093/194.88 Was #24 Nickens moves Grant Lewis out of the show, and becomes the new bump spot with just one more car to run this morning. Left Lane: Arturo Delgado Runs 7.075/195.31 Now #24 Best prior run: 7.248/194.46 Was #27 So that's the last of a very quick round, with David Nickens in the #16 spot, Yates on the pole, and Lewis, Thomas, Bell, Jeg Coughlin and lots of others still outside looking in,

PRO STOCK Notes for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: Psn Driver ET Speed 1 Jim Yates 6.973 196.67 2 Mark Osborne 6.980 197.49 3 Troy Coughlin 6.982 196.67 4 Steve Schmidt 6.998 198.19 5 Scott Geoffrion 6.998 197.71 6 Warren Johnson 7.002 197.84 7 Mike Edwards 7.003 195.73 8 Ron Krisher 7.005 197.62 9 Gordie Rivera 7.005 197.06 10 Bruce Allen 7.008 197.10 11 Tom Martino 7.013 196.42 12 Kurt Johnson 7.014 196.54 13 Allen Johnson 7.015 195.77 14 Mark Pawuk 7.016 196.54 15 Larry Morgan 7.018 196.07 16 David Nickens 7.020 196.03 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17 Grant Lewis 7.021 196.63 18 Jeg Coughlin Jr 7.021 196.46 19 Mike Thomas 7.035 196.50 20 Mike Bell 7.046 195.95 21 Ray Franks 7.050 196.07 22 V. Gaines 7.068 196.07 23 Darrell Alderman 7.071 196.29 24 Arturo Delgado 7.075 195.31 25 George Marnell 7.077 195.22 26 Larry Nance 7.103 195.65 27 Tim Jost 7.114 193.84

PRO STOCK Results for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Jeg Coughlin Jr Runs 7.013/196.54 Now #11 Best prior run: 7.021/196.46 Was #18 Right Lane: Darrell Alderman Runs 7.098/195.35 Now #23 Best prior run: 7.071/196.29 Was #23 Coughlin's had clutch problems all weekend, looks like they got th'em straightened out here. Left Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 7.023/196.20 Now #10 Best prior run: 7.008/197.10 Was #10 Right Lane: Mike Bell Runs 7.057/196.03 Now #20 Best prior run: 7.046/195.95 Was #20 Left Lane: Larry Nance Runs 7.073/195.39 Now #24 Best prior run: 7.103/195.65 Was #26 Right Lane: Mark Osborne Runs 7.159/120.75 Now # 2 Best prior run: 6.980/197.49 Was # 2 Nance makes a valiant try, but comes up short. Left Lane: Tom Martino Runs 7.024/195.27 Now #12 Best prior run: 7.013/196.42 Was #12 Right Lane: Allen Johnson Runs 7.056/194.67 Now #14 Best prior run: 7.015/195.77 Was #14 Martino again has handling problems, the car drifting left at halftrack. Left Lane: Grant Lewis Runs 7.023/196.42 Now #18 Best prior run: 7.021/196.63 Was #18 Right Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 7.083/195.48 Now #16 Best prior run: 7.018/196.07 Was #16 Teammates, here. Both full-figured, too. Morgan gets a little tire shake at the start. Left Lane: Jim Yates Runs 7.006/195.86 Now # 1 Best prior run: 6.973/196.67 Was # 1 Right Lane: Gordie Rivera Runs 7.054/195.95 Now # 9 Best prior run: 7.005/197.06 Was # 9 Left Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 7.010/197.19 Now # 6 Best prior run: 7.002/197.84 Was # 6 Right Lane: Steve Schmidt Runs 7.008/197.67 Now # 4 Best prior run: 6.998/198.19 Was # 4 Schmidt says he made a terrible run this morning, but it was still good enough for fourth; he "blew thru" the clutch in second gear. Left Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 7.033/194.34 Now # 7 Best prior run: 7.003/195.73 Was # 7 Right Lane: Scott Geoffrion Runs 7.024/196.80 Now # 5 Best prior run: 6.998/197.71 Was # 5 Edwards has the best 60' of the day, a 1.030. Left Lane: David Nickens Runs 7.022/195.31 Now #17 Best prior run: 7.020/196.03 Was #17 Right Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 7.044/197.23 Now # 8 Best prior run: 7.005/197.62 Was # 8 Nickens comes up short, again. He's rumored to be talking with the Mopar folks to run one of their Pro Stock Trucks in '98. Left Lane: George Marnell Runs 7.023/196.03 Now #19 Best prior run: 7.077/195.22 Was #26 Right Lane: Tim Jost Runs 7.126/193.59 Now #27 Best prior run: 7.114/193.84 Was #27 Jost running the Tacate Beer colors this weekend, and the Texas Bikini Girls are here with him. No joy for Marnell. Left Lane: Ray Franks Runs 7.482/180.65 Now #22 Best prior run: 7.050/196.07 Was #22 Right Lane: Arturo Delgado Runs 7.080/194.93 Now #26 Best prior run: 7.075/195.31 Was #26 Left Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 7.019/196.54 Now #15 Best prior run: 7.016/196.54 Was #15 Right Lane: Kurt Johnson Runs 6.999/196.80 Now # 6 Best prior run: 7.014/196.54 Was #13 There's the "six" we were looking for, Johnson moving to the top half of the show. Left Lane: V. Gaines Runs 7.078/195.43 Now #23 Best prior run: 7.068/196.07 Was #23 Right Lane: Troy Coughlin Runs 7.004/196.12 Now # 3 Best prior run: 6.982/196.67 Was # 3 Right Lane: Mike Thomas Runs 7.506/145.25 Now #20 Best prior run: 7.035/196.50 Was #20 The final Pro Stock qualifying run of the weekend; Thomas was plenty quick in the first half, then had to lift when he got very close to the centerline.

PRO STOCK Notes for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: Psn Driver ET Speed 1 Jim Yates 6.973 196.67 2 Mark Osborne 6.980 197.49 3 Troy Coughlin 6.982 196.67 4 Steve Schmidt 6.998 198.19 5 Scott Geoffrion 6.998 197.71 6 Kurt Johnson 6.999 196.80 7 Warren Johnson 7.002 197.84 8 Mike Edwards 7.003 195.73 9 Ron Krisher 7.005 197.62 10 Gordie Rivera 7.005 197.06 11 Bruce Allen 7.008 197.10 12 Jeg Coughlin Jr 7.013 196.54 13 Tom Martino 7.013 196.42 14 Allen Johnson 7.015 195.77 15 Mark Pawuk 7.016 196.54 16 Larry Morgan 7.018 196.07 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17 David Nickens 7.020 196.03 18 Grant Lewis 7.021 196.63 19 George Marnell 7.023 196.03 20 Mike Thomas 7.035 196.50 21 Mike Bell 7.046 195.95 22 Ray Franks 7.050 196.07 23 V. Gaines 7.068 196.07 24 Darrell Alderman 7.071 196.29 25 Larry Nance 7.073 195.39 26 Arturo Delgado 7.075 195.31 27 Tim Jost 7.114 193.84

PRO STOCK Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Mike Edwards 0.450 7.063 195.10 (L) Ron Krisher 0.432 7.094 194.55 Bright sunshine here today, so we don't expect the quickest times of the weekend here this morning. Krisher uses up a lot of his lane here, and that didn't help him today. (W) Warren Johnson 0.461 7.041 196.63 (L) Gordie Rivera 0.463 7.819 134.87 Rivera gets way out of shape, could have been big trouble for a driver with less time behind the wheel. He clicks it at 800' and WJ gets another round win. (W) Jeg Coughlin Jr 0.405 7.068 196.12 (L) Scott Geoffrion 0.463 7.059 196.24 Scott wasn't all that late, but Jeg is psychic here and gets the light he needed to overcome the Dodge's performance. The margin was only 0.049 seconds. (W) Kurt Johnson 0.432 7.015 196.89 (L) Bruce Allen 0.458 8.239 121.19 Kurt is losing two key crewmen after today's race, but he wins here, Allen getting very loose like so many of the previous right lane racers. (W) Tom Martino 0.446 7.124 193.63 (L) Steve Schmidt 0.460 11.232 100.27 Martino dodges a bullet here, Schmidt clicking it early then Tom getting very close to the centerline at 800'. (W) Troy Coughlin 0.473 7.061 196.33 (L) Allen Johnson 0.440 7.111 193.38 Johnson takes a ride past the finishline, the back end of the car getting loose when the parachutes were very late. The chutes pulled the car straight, fortunately. (W) Mark Osborne 0.479 7.045 196.42 (L) Mark Pawuk 4.690 7.028 196.12 Osborne cards the second best ET of the round here. (W) Larry Morgan 0.444 7.045 195.73 (L) Jim Yates 0.472 7.023 195.22 Here's the upset of the day, Morgan stealing the Winston Champ's thunder at this final event of '97. The margin was only 0.006 seconds, just 18 inches at the finishline. That's all...

PRO STOCK Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Tom Martino 0.455 7.035 195.48 (L) Jeg Coughlin Jr 0.421 7.101 192.71 Hot, sunny, and slick... that's the conditions these Hot Rods are facing here this afternoon. Coughlin again gets a big headstart, but he shook the tires and lost any chance of repeating his Houston victory. Margin was 0.032 secs, 9 feet. (W) Larry Morgan 0.834 7.027 195.69 (L) Mike Edwards (Broke) Edwards leaves before the tree was activated, so Morgan advances yet again. (W) Warren Johnson 0.455 7.006 197.54 (L) Mark Pawuk 0.459 7.050 196.33 Pawuk has lane choice here, putting WJ in the less-desirable right side, but Warren pulls one out, winning by 0.048 secs or about 14 feet. (W) Kurt Johnson 0.448 7.001 196.76 (L) Troy Coughlin 0.527 7.011 196.12 Johnson's headstart kept this one from being even close. And that's all, we're down to the final four.

PRO STOCK Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Results of round 3 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Tom Martino 0.535 7.065 194.97 (L) Larry Morgan (Broke) Morgan moved into the top 10 in Winston points with his in last round, so everything else is just gravy. Well, it looks like there's not gonna be anything else, Morgan breaks just off the line and slowly coasts to a stop at about 200' out. They haven't had any mechanical problems all day, and now this. This win moves Martino into sixth in points, too. (W) Kurt Johnson 0.422 7.026 196.76 (L) Warren Johnson 0.442 7.008 196.85 Father against son, here, and father has had the upper hand all year long. Somehow Warren always seems to rise to the occasion when he runs Kurt, but not today, as Kurt wins on a holeshot, the margin just 0.002 seconds, or about 7 inches. Should be a great final round matchup!

PRO STOCK Results for Final Round

POMONA, CALIF - RIS - Results of final round eliminations in Pro Stock at the 33rd annual Winston Finals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Kurt Johnson 0.451 6.980 197.10 (L) Tom Martino 0.410 7.039 195.99 This would be a great win for either of these drivers, neither of whom had the season that they wanted. Martino locked up the $10,000 Slick 50 award for the most holeshot wins, so whatever happens here he'll take some real $$$ home. Kurt's crew chief Kevin Horst has won the $1000 check for crew chief of the race, so hats off to Kevin in his farewell performance with the team. And true to form, Martino gets the holeshot but Johnson has the best tuneup, and that was all the difference. The margin was 0.018 seconds, about 5 feet. Congrats!