32ND MATCO TOOLS SUPERNATIONALS
(MAY 17-20, 2001) Englishtown, NJ
Notes| Results|
Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
NHRA E-Town is a record rousing event once again as cool and overcast
conditions make for "mineshaft" racing. Countless racers (Professional and Sportsman) go for the quickest and fastest rides of their careers. Normally aspirated Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike racers especially thrive in the "rare air" which saw atmospheric conditions drop as low as 600 feet below sea level at one point.
Ohio's Mark Pawuk wheels the Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand-Am to an astounding 6.806 secs national record in Pro Stock. Pawuk has a great weekend as he goes to the final round in both Saturday's Holley Pro Stock Duel and Sunday's Matco Tools Supernationals title dash -- but falls short each time. On Saturday Jim Yates collects a cool $50G driving the Peak/Splitfire Pontiac to a winning 6.89/200.41 mph over Pawuk's 6.91/199.88. Sunday's PS title bout sees Richie Stevens take the win driving the Valspar Pontiac. Stevens goes 6.89/200.14 for his 4th career win while "The Cowboy" shakes his tires off the starting line.
Pro Stock Motorcycle racing is simply unreal as the record book takes a beating from all possible angles. Matt Hines emerges victorious when he rides the Vance & Hines Eagle One Suzuki to the fastest speed in history (194.10 mph -- national record) in the final round. That is combined with an ET of 7.119 secs which defeats unheralded rookie GT Tonglet who runs a losing 7.138 secs at 191.59 mph. That match is the quickest side-by-side race in PSB history. The Pro Stock Bike national ET mark is lowered to a stunning 7.103 secs by Antron Brown. Incredibly that all-time quick run for Antron comes in a second round loss (.386 red) to Reggie Showers. The Pro Stock Bike field features a 7.362 secs bump spot -- also a record.
Funny Car racing is also a mind bender. For the sixth time this season class racers establish the all-time quickest field in NHRA history -- this time at 4.950 secs. Class racing includes some huge numbers -- particularly by Del Worsham who ties the quickest run in history (held by Tony Pedregon) at 4.779 secs. Del also drives his CSK-Pontiac Firebird to top speed of the meet at a career best 321.88 mph. In the end however it is the Castrol GTX Mustangs driven by John Force and Tony Pedregon who face off for the title. Pedregon wins it at 4.936 secs 316.23 mph when Force's Mustang goes quiet at half track while leading.
FC class racing is a real treat for the paying public as a number of new look machines are debuted. That list includes the new Chuck Etchells's Sunoco Camaro, Jim Epler's Toys R Us Camaro, and Tony Bartone's new WWF/"Triple H" Pontiac Firebird. Frankie Pedregon has a great new "3A-Racing" paint scheme on his CSK Firebird and runs hard making the semis. There Pedregon has a big explosion in the lights while racing Force when the rear end locks up. Pedregon does an expert job getting the car stopped nose first into the guardwall.
Sportsman racing produces the 32nd lady winner in NHRA national event drag racing history as New Jersey's JeanAnn Zetterberg prevails in Super Comp (8.90). Zetterberg beats Ken Hanley in the final. Racing produces numerous other first time NHRA winners including Ralph Conte (Stock), Dale Koncen (Super Gas 9.90) and Matt Schurman (Super Street 10.90).
Biggest upset in Sportsman racing comes in FMFC when unknowns Eric Lourie and Scott Woodington face off for the title. Both drivers advance through eliminations based largely on good fortune. The class becomes interesting after powerhouses Frank Manzo shakes his tires in round two and Bob Newberry pops his supercharger in the semis. The final sees Lourie win at 6.25 secs 238.05 mph.
Cliff Bozzelli claims his second career win in FMD. Bozzelli, driving his supercharged alcohol entry takes the measure of Art Gallant's injected nitro car in the final winning a great match-up : 5.536 secs 253.61 mph to 5.577 secs 250.92 mph. Gallant, who had qualified on the pole (5.454 secs)had top speed and low ET in the class at 5.420 secs and 257.43 mph.
Top Fuel title goes to Kenny Bernstein in an absolutely dominating performance in the Bud King. Bernstein and crew chief Tim Richards record a long string of 4.5's through qualifying and eliminations and tops that off with low ET of the event in the final round at 4.532 secs (track record). Bernstein had earlier in the event revealed officially that he would be retiring as a driver following the 2002 season. After that Bernstein will remain involved in the sport as a team owner -- with his son Brandon assuming the controls.
Top speed of the meet in Top Fuel comes from Mike Dunn at 325.45 mph in the first home game for the Gwynn & Steinbrenner NY Yankees car. That team, which led the Winston points chase coming into the event, struggles hard throughout qualifying 6th and exiting in round two.
Team Winston debuts their new platinum team colours during the event for Winston World Champions Gary Scelzi and Angelle Savoie. Scelzi, like Dunn, also struggles qualifying only 9th in Top Fuel before blowing his tires off against Bernstein in the second frame. Savoie qualifies second (7.197 secs) but then looks pretty ordinary during eliminations fouling out in the semi final round to GT Tonglet.
