17th Checker-Schuck's-Kragen Nationals
(Feb. 15-18th) Phoenix, AZ.
Notes| Results
| Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Fuel FC show at Phoenix is a barrier breaker! For the first time in
history all 16 qualifiers run in the four seconds zone and produce a
record-shattering bump spot of 4.961 secs. That eclipses the previous
all-time quickest field set two weeks earlier at Pomona -- 5.013 secs.
Just how tough was class racing? Racers Johnny Gray, Phil Burkhart Jr.,
and Tony Bartone all run sub 5.0 secs but DNQ!
John Force shrugs off his shocking first round loss at Pomona with
a resounding event victory. The win is Force's 93rd but more importantly
the 100th career NHRA title for his legendary crew chief Austin Coil.
Coil had 7 wins as crew chief/car owner of the Chi-Town Hustler which
was driven by Frank Hawley. Force takes an ugly final round win over
Bruce Sarver as his motor deteriorates down track but it still avenges
Sarver's final round defeat of Force's Castrol teamate Tony Pedregon
at Pomona.
Dean Skuza paces the record quick FC show with a career best run at
4.805 secs which is a track record. The quick run comes despite the
team's concerns about down force problems running a Dodge Avenger body.
Ironically that becomes apparent in round one when Skuza smokes his
tires hard and is upset by number 16 qualifier Gary Densham.
Warren Johnson wins razor thin Pro Stock final round beating Brad Jeter
by a scant .001 sec. The win is Johnson's 82 of his career leaving him
only three back of tying Bob Glidden's all time Pro Stock class winning
mark of 85. Pro Stock is paced by Mike Edwards driving Ron Krisher's
#2 car at 6.886 secs -- a track record. Warren's son Kurt has top speed
of the meet for the second event in a row -- 200.74 mph driving Winternationals
winning AC-Delco Chevrolet.
FMD driver David Baca makes headlines again. At Pomona had wheeled
the Strasser & Baca injected nitro car to an unheard of 5.220 secs
-- the quickest time in class history. This time Baca nails the NHRA
speed record with an all time fastest 274.44 mph. He back that up for
an official mark with a 274.21 mph lap. As was the case at Pomona however
he fall short of victory lane losing in round three to Rick Santos.
Santos goes on to win the event beating Mark Hentges in a repeat of
the Winternationals final round.
Mike Dunn unloads the quickest and fastest runs ever NHRA's 90% nitro
rule. He cards a 4.521 secs at an astounding 328.22 mph during qualifying
driving the NY Yankees car for Darrell Gwynn. Dunn smokes his tires
however in round two and loses to rookie sensation Darrell Russell.
Doug Kalitta celebrates the recent birth of his first child (son -
Mitchell James) with a solid win in Top Fuel driving Uncle Connie's
Mac Tools Dragster. Kalitta stops another determined bid by upstart
Darrell Russell who goes to his second final in only his second career
race. Kalitta speeds away while Russell's machine, which is owned by
Joe Amato goes up in smoke.
Rickie Smith makes his debut driving a Hemi-powered Dodge Avenger in
Pro Stock. First time out for long time GM racer in a Mopar produces
a best run of 6.964 secs and 198.82 mph but that misses the 6.940 secs
cut. Look for Smith and his car owner Kenny Koretsky to both be in Dodge
Neons for Gainesville.
For the second race in a row Phil Burkhart Jr. has a fire driving the
Team Geronimo Camaro FC. Phoenix blaze is nastier then Pomona incident
however and the car receives heavy damage during a 4.96 secs qualifying
run on Saturday. Thankfully Burkhart Jr. is not injured -- however the
independent team is likely done until Las Vegas in April.
Abe Loewen is the top finishing Canadian at the C.S.K. Nationals. Loewen
is runner-up in Super Stock driving his SS/DM '98 Grand-Am. Highly rated
Saskatchewan based driver has red-light foul in the final which gives
the win to rival class hitter Dan Fletcher. Loewen had won the Phoenix
event in 1999.
Scotty Cannon runs a career best times at the event taking the Wes
Cerny-tuned Mad Scientist car to a 4.847 secs at 311.92 mph in FC qualifying
(4th). Cannon beats Bob Gilbertson in round one but then loses a tight
decision to Bruce Sarver in round two.
