7th Sears Craftsman Nationals
June 27-29th, 2003 Madison, IL
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
NHRA’s Sears Craftsman Nationals is run off mostly at night to circumvent much of the heat that has historically plagued the event. Doug Kalitta wins his third event of the 2003 season defeating first-time finalist Scott Weis in the final round. Kalitta powered his Mac Tools dragster to the finish line in 4.602-seconds at 312.35 mph to outrun Weis' Race Girl dragster, which recorded a performance of 4.805 at 298.27. It was Kalitta’s 14th career and his second at St. Louis (2001).
Kenny Bernstein runs well at the corporate home for his sponsor Budweiser and he is the No. 1 qualifier for the first time in 2003 but the 66th time in his career. “King Kenny” runs 4.596 run at 323.12 to pace the 16-car field after qualifying but is upset by #16 qualifier Rhonda Hartman-Smith in round one. Hartman-Smith advances to the semi finals before losing out to Scott Weis.
Del Worsham, earns his second win of the year in his Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird winning from the bump spot. Worsham seals his 13th career victory at 4.884 secs and 313.00, and keeps John Force winless in the final round. Force cards a losing 4.936 secs at 314.09 mph. Worsham’s win moves him up one spot to third in NHRA POWERade FC points.
Gary Densham earns the pole FC qualifying position for the second time this season and fifth time of his career. He drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a run of 4.858 at a track record speed of 316.97 to take the top spot.
Ron Krisher, from Warren, Ohio, scored his first victory of the season and fifth of his career by beating Allen Johnson in the final round. Krisher drove his Valvoline Chevy Cavalier to a run of 6.843 secs at 201.64 to beat Johnson's 6.840 at 201.73 in his Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T. Krisher's victory was his first in more than a calendar year -- his last win came at Las Vegas in April 2002.
Warren Johnson carved out the No. 1 qualifying position for the third time this season and 130th time of his career. WJ wheeled his GM Performance Parts Pontiac Grand Am to a track record time run of 6.808 at 202.12 for the No. 1 spot.
Geno Scali, from Chicago, scored his second victory of the season and third of his career when he beat GT Tonglet to the stripe in the final round. Scali rode his Craftsman-sponsored Suzuki to a run of 7.139 at 187.99 to beat Tonglet's 7.177 at 185.46 on his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
Tonglet's final round appearance marked a first for the Harley-Davidson drag bike program. His racing teammate, Andrew Hines notched top speed of the meet at 191.97 mph which is also a first for the brand in NHRA Pro Stock Bike class racing.
The AMS Pro Mod cars are run off at St. Louis with the win going to the nitrous-injected Chevy Camaro driven by New York’s Mike Castellana. Castellana, driver of the sport’s quickest nitrous Pro Mod, ran a winning 6.251 secs at 221.92 mph in the final while opponent Thomas Patterson got loose and crossed the centreline.
St. Louis-area racer Tim McAmis paces the PM field driving his supercharged ‘63 Corvette to 6.231 secs and 227.04 mph that holds up for both low ET and top speed.
The Sears Craftsman Nationals marked the last event for supercharged PM cars running at 29% supercharger overdrive. The class configuration was mandated to 25% overdrive effective July 1st in an effort to balance blown versus nitrous cars. That is ironic given Castellana’s event victory.
Doug Herbert and Cruz Pedregon run special edition “Hulk” paint schemes at the Sears Craftsman event. Pedregon has his best qualifying showing of the season driving the Advance Auto Parts car to 4th at 4.898 secs however he spins the tires in round one and loses out to Tim Wilkerson. Herbert takes his Snap-On Tools “Hulk” car to the 7th position after qualifying but loses out to eventual winner Doug Kalitta in round two.
Alabama’s David Rampy wins his milestone 50th career title when he scores in Competition eliminator. Rampy’s A/EA runs down the ‘98 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Tony Stephenson in the final round. Rampy is the most winning traditional Sportsman driver in history (excluding TAFC racers Pat Austin and Frank Manzo).
Ohio’s Mark Horton nearly doubles up at St. Louis. Horton wins in Super Gas (9.90) driving his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am but leaves before the tree is activated in the Super Comp (8.90) final which hands the win to Sherman Adcock Jr.
Defending World Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin Jr drives in both Pro Stock and Super Stock at the event. Jeg looses out in round two of PS but counters that with a big win in Super Stock. Coughlin runs his SS/CM Chevy Cavalier past Jeff Dona’s Camaro in the final round.
