Lucas Oil Northstar Nationals
Aug. 14-17th, 2003 Brainerd, MN.
Notes |
Results
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Gary Densham wins in FC eliminator driving John Force’s AAA Auto Club of California Mustang to it’s second win of the season. Densham wins a close match over Tim Wilkerson’s L.R.S. Pontiac Firebird in the final round at 5.009 secs 298.01 mph to 5.042 secs 297.29 mph.
After three consecutive first round exits at the three most recent NHRA events, points leader Tony Pedregon has a more respectable semi final round finish at Brainerd. Driving the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, Pedregon builds his points lead slightly over #2 man Whit Bazemore, who loses out in round two to Tony’s brother Frank Pedregon.
Gary Scelzi earns the pole in FC for the second time in the last three events. He takes the Oakley “Time Bomb” Dodge Stratus to a 4.940 secs at 311.99 mph which holds up for low ET and top speed of the meet. Scelzi’s is however dealt out by Tony Pedregon in round 2.
Antron Brown gives the U.S. Army it’s first ever taste of victory in the Pro Stock Bike class when he wins over Minnesota’s John Smith in the final round. It is Brown’s 11th career victory and the solidifies his current 4th place standing in POWERade PSB points. Smith’s runner-up finish comes in his first race back since crashing at Englishtown last May.
Brown’s Army racing PSB teamate Angelle Savoie raced in her 100th national event during the weekend action. Savoie’s recent slump continued however as he was defeated by a Steve Johnson holeshot in round one of competition. That further jeopardized Savoie’s bid for a potential 3rd NHRA Championship in PSB this season. Angelle had suffered first round loses at the consecutive and previous events in St. Louis, Denver, and Sonoma. Angelle sits third in points behind Geno Scali and Shawn Gann.
Reggie Showers is the low qualifier in Pro Stock Bike riding his Suzuki to a 7.231 secs. That is the first time in Showers’ career that he has qualified low. Andrew Hines, riding the Vance & Hines Harley Davidson V-Rod, set top speed of the meet at 186.95 mph.
Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools team wins in Top Fuel denying the U.S. Army a second potential event victory in the final round. The championship bout is a dandy as both Kalitta and opponent Tony Schumacher record identical 4.698 secs elapsed time. Kalitta’s slightly better starting line RT (.044 to .057) proves to be the difference. Despite the win Kalitta is still well back in 2nd of points leader Larry Dixon who finished in the semi final round.
Phil Burkart is entered in FC eliminator at Brainerd driving the Artisan Entertainment “Terminator 2” Pontiac Firebird. Burkart is subbing for Arnie Karp who fell and damaged his knee in an accident prior to the event. Burkart’s first event in the car sees him get in the show on the bump at 5.144 secs and lose a close tire-smoking battle to Gary Scelzi in round one.
Greg Anderson stretches out his points lead atop the Pro Stock standings as the circuit now turns for Indy. Anderson, driving Ken Black’s Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand-Am, defeats his closest points rival, the ACDelco Chevy of Kurt Johnson, in a tell tale final round. Anderson won a 6.917 secs to 6.930 secs decision to build his overall lead to 158 points. Runner-up Johnson had reset the BIR track speed record to 201.01 mph during qualifying.
Alan Bradshaw wins again in TAD driving the “Back Attack” injected fuel burner. Bradshaw is handed an easy final round victory by his opponent David Wells who leaves before the tree is activated. Bradshaw’s win moves him into very serious national championship points contention. His victory comes from the pole after running a 5.375 secs qualifier. Runner-up David Wells notches top speed for the class at 262.54 mph. Only 13 cars are entered for TAD class eliminations.
Jay Payne wins for the 25th time in his career in national event competition when he drives the Valvoline-sponsored Chevy Camaro to a TAFC win. Payne’s win too comes from the pole after he sets the pace at 5.706 secs at 252.99 in qualifying. Payne defeated the Pontiac Firebird driven by Kirk Williams in the final round. Williams was also the runner-up in TAFC at this event last year.
