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14th Prolong Northwest Nationals
Kent, WA (July 27-29th)

Notes | Results | Photos

NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:

David Nickens and Mopar factory team injects some much needed brand parity into NHRA’s Pro Stock category after a resounding performance. Mark Osborne, who replaced Scott Geoffrion as team driver in 2001, wins the event defeating teamate Darrell Alderman in a fantastic final round pairing: 6.893 secs to 6.894 secs. Osborne runs low ET of the meet at 6.811 secs which is the third quickest run in NHRA class history. Darrell Alderman nails down top speed of the event with a national record setting 202.64-mph blast. All of this comes in only second event for new Hemi-powered Dodge Neons. It is the first time that a Hemi-powered car has won in NHRA Pro Stock in 22 years. As you can imagine GM infested class competitors got their crying towels out immediately and are already lobbying NHRA for some type of restriction to the Mopar mini-missiles. Dragracecanada.com says -- after being down for so long -- way to go Mopar!

Pro Stock racing steals the show overall at Seattle as the normally aspirated cars once again thrive in the cool and overcast Northwest conditions. Bump spot is a wild 6.895 secs. Bruce Allen qualifies on the pole 6.821 secs but is ultimately taken out by Alderman in the semi-final round. PS qualifying sees popular independent racer Allen Johnson whack the wall on the top end after his parachutes do not deploy properly. Damage forces Johnson to withdraw from competition.

Gary Scelzi wins in Top Fuel at Seattle. Surprisingly it is only the first win of the season for the defending NHRA Winston World Champion. Scelzi paces the field with a 4.512 secs qualifier (track record) which is his quickest run of the season. Scelzi runs three more 4.5’s during eliminations including a 4.556 secs in the final round to take out Kenny Bernstein. Bernstein’s runner-up finish adds to his overall points lead. “King Kenny” also notches top speed of the event at 322.65 mph.

Top Fuel class racing sees a couple drivers make their 2001 season debuts including rookie Brady Kalivoda and veteran Gordie Bonin. Kalivoda is driving for John Smith in the Fram Autolite car and Bonin is behind the wheel of a car owned by Ray Salter. Only 16 Top Fuel cars are entered at Seattle (bump is a “Super Gasish” 9.912) so both Kalivoda and Bonin get in but are quickly eliminated in round one.

Big numbers pop up in FMD class with the injected nitro-burners of Brandon Henkelman and David Baca producing the quick and fast times. California’s Henkelman runs a super quick 5.238 secs (low ET) and Baca goes 273.66 mph for top speed. The winner is another injected nitro car -- driven by Brandon Bernstein and owned by Jerry Darien. Bernstein beats Duane Shields in the final, which is his third NHRA national event of the year. Bernstein’s event victory includes a wild semi-final round which sees him win over Baca despite the fact his car loses a front wheel at quarter track. Bernstein keeps the car straight and under power to a 5.733 secs at 219.36 mph.

After coming close on a number of occasions this season Whit Bazemore finally breaks through in Funny Car winning for the first time for team owner Don Schumacher. Bazemore out duels Ron Capps in the final round winning a come-from-behind 5.049 secs to 5.086 secs decision. Bazemore’s victory includes a big win over nemesis John Force in the semi-final round. Force sets low ET in qualifying (4.827 secs) and Dean Skuza runs high mph at 313.29 mph -- both SIR track records.