FIRE AND ICE -- Tony Pedregon has nasty fire during Friday’s qualifying which severely scorches his limited edtion "Sabrina" Castrol Syntec ‘99 Mustang body (reportedly worth $70,000). Pedregon shrugs that off and wins the event on Sunday with backup body that he won at Pomona with. The timing of Pedregon’s win could not have been better as his number comes up in pre-race Winston "No Bull Lottery". By staying cool and running fast -- he and crew chief John Medlen collect an additional $100,000 in prize money. Tony runs 322.81 mph for top speed of the meet -- a personal best.

ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES -- John Force’s Castrol Funny Car team has now won every event this season. Tony’s wins in the Castrol Syntec car at Dallas and Pomona book end his boss’s three consecutive wins at Phoenix, Gainesville and Houston in the Castrol GTX Mustang. Their current 1-2 standings in Winston points goes without saying.

CHAMP COMES BACK -- 2-time and defending Winston Champion Gary Scelzi, who had gone winless this season, rebounds big time at Dallas with a dominating win. Test session post the disappointing DNQ O’Reilly Nationals pays dividends as Scelzi and team owner Alan Johnson wallop the field. Scelzi beats Doug Kalitta in sensational final round by miniscule 4.563 to 4.588 margin. Scelzi runs low ET of the event in second round -- 4.529 secs.

1ST TIME WINNER -- Antron Brown nails first career win in Pro Stock Bike riding NFL player Troy Vincent’s Suzuki. Brown wins title when Angelle Seeling wastes quicker 7.369 secs in final with a red light start. Brown, who is current class record holder at 190.70 mph, formally raced motocross.

SPEED DEMON -- Tony Schumacher runs fantastic 327.27 mph at Houston which is second only to his 330.23 mph on sport’s all time fastest run list. 327.27 mph is top speed of meet but was not a national record. Schumacher has scored top speed of the meet at four of five events so far this season driving feared Exide Batteries car. Strong semifinal round finish at Dallas puts him second in Winston points behind Mike Dunn.

CANNON WATCH -- Scotty Cannon has an improved outing at Houston as he runs his career best ET and MPH. Now using the tuning expertise of Dale Pulde, Cannon goes over 300 mph for the first time in his career running 302.11 and 304.25 mph while qualifying 13th. Cannon then takes Oakley sponsored "Nitro Mater" Pontiac to it’s quickest and fastest run yet in round one -- an extremely promising 4.951 secs at 308.85 mph -- but loses to Dean Skuza’s quicker leaving 4.959 secs. Former IHRA Pro Mod champ now looks to be a player.

FEDERAL MOGUL FLYER -- Canadian Todd Paton has terrific national event debut with his now ‘99 Firebird bodied -- Optima Batteries car. Paton family affirms their World championship intentions by winning their second NHRA national event of the season. Co crew chiefs Tony and Barry save their best for last as they unload near flawless looking 5.724 secs at 251.11 mph in final to overcome Texan Todd Simpson who had a great .408 light. Paton’s ET, which was low of the event, is the fastest ever by a Canadian based alcohol racer.

GAP CLOSING -- Bob Glidden’s seemingly insurmountable record of 85 event wins in Pro Stock is now in jeopardy. Warren Johnson’s win at Dallas was the 74th of his career. Johnson had both low ET and Top Speed in the G.M. Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird.