Craftsman 75th Anniversary Nationals
(Sep. 26-29th, 2002) Joliet, IL
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Already legendary Route 66 Raceway track surface serves up an awesome and very fast racing program in both Pro and Sportsman categories. Top Fuel (4.763 secs), Funny Car (4.929 secs) and Pro Stock (6.842 secs) are the quickest bump spots of the 2002 season so far.
Top Alcohol Dragster show is a mind bender both in participation and in performance. No less then 36 cars show for the eliminator and all time quickest bump spot in class history is established at 5.464 secs. The previous quick mark had been 5.52 secs at this year’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. TAD is paced by Gary Ormsby Jr who runs his injected nitro car to the second quickest time in class history at 5.172 secs but in the end it is two alcohol burning supercharged cars that meet for the final round. Steve Federlin wins for the second time this year when his opponent Canadian Ken Perry goes .319 red. Perry’s national event final round was his first.
Doug Kalitta moves up to 4th in POWERade Top Fuel points standings following his 2nd win in the last three NHRA races. Kalitta is dynamite throughout the event driving Uncle Connie’s Mac Tools dragster running a string of 4.5s to make victory lane. Low ET of the event goes to the Snap-On Tools car of Doug Herbert to runs a career best 4.518 secs to pace the program. Kalitta edges out Herbert in terrific semi-final match – 4.662 secs to 4.673 secs.
Top Fuel class racing includes some inspirational qualifying efforts by a number of independent racers, including Jim Cavalieri, Joe Hartley, Mitch King and Luigi Novelli who all make the program with career best runs.
FC racing sees “white hot” Tony Pedregon win again driving for team owner John Force and sponsor Castrol Syntec. Tony takes out a tire-smoking Ron Capps in the final round and with that moves to within a scant 18 points of overall POWERade points leader John Force. That sets up an interesting final three NHRA events this season a.k.a. – can Tony unseat his boss for the World Championship? Tony rockets to a 4.765 secs in qualifying, which is low ET. Defending event champion Whit Bazemore runs to top speed at 325.14 mph but is ousted in a huge round one upset by Bob Bode.
Pro Stock racing features a rarity with Mopar products taking the top three qualifying slots. 2001 IHRA Pro Stock World Champion Gene Wilson earns his first ever NHRA pole at 6.819 secs (low ET) followed by Allen Johnson (6.821 secs) and Greg Stanfield (6.821 secs). Fast times all come in much cooler Friday night and Sunday’s much hotter conditions seem to affect the Hemi-powered Dodges more then their GM counterparts. Only Gene Wilson survives to the second round. The PS final is all Chevy with Jeg Coughlin Jr. seemingly on track again towards a potential world championship title. Jeg clips Ron Krisher for the event championship – 6.875 secs to 6.896 secs for his 6th win of the season and a 65 points lead over Jim Yates.
Craftsman 75th Anniversary Nationals includes the annual Sportsman All-Stars event now sponsored by Jegs Mail Order. Fierce competition including the best Sportsman racers from all seven of NHRA geographical divisions is run off on Saturday. NHRA Division Four wins the overall points championship with it’s 1100 points total edging out NHRA Divisions two and three which both have 900 points. Individual winners include Marty Thacker (TAD), Mike Trumble (Comp), Terry Emmons (Super Stock), Larry Hodge (Stock), Dick VanderMeer (Super Comp), Frank Kohutek (Super Gas) and Frank Nichols Jr. (Super Street).
California’s Jay Payne doubles up at the Joliet weekend in TAFC. He wins the Jegs All-Stars race on Saturday when he defeats Von Smith in the final round and then wins the Craftsman 75th Anniversary Nationals crown on Sunday also over Von Smith. Payne’s very successful event also includes a tell tale two head-to-head wins over World Champion Frank Manzo.
