Sat, Oct 24, 02:46 AM Records Fall During First Day Qualifying

by Ed Dykes Scelzi, Cruz, WJ, and Kopp Lead Fields

ENNIS, Texas - Under clear skies and cool temps, Gary Scelzi, Cruz Pedregon, Warren Johnson and Larry Kopp topped their respective professional categories after the first day of qualifying at the NHRA Revell Nationals.

Scelzi leads Top Fuel qualifying, his 4.538 second elapsed time a new track record and the second quickest run in history. The Fresno, Calif. native was euphoric after the run: "We didn't leave much meat on the plate, there. That was a great ride. It ran 270 at half track, so when Alan gets it to run in the back half tomorrow, look out." The Team Winston dragster lost the engine at the end of the run, running "only" 303.84 miles per hour.

Kenny Bernstein took top speed honors, his Bud King racer covering the quarter-mile in 4.585 seconds at 319.71 miles per hour. Randy Parks is qualified in the sixteenth and final slot, at 4.780 seconds.

Cruz Pedregon's Interstate Batteries Firebird is atop the Funny Car field, where the top nine cars ran quicker than five seconds. The Moorpark, Calif. resident ran 4.839 at 317.90 to reset both ends of the track record. Whit Bazemore follows, and Don Sosenka is the final qualified racer at 5.379 seconds.

Perennial front-runner Warren Johnson leads the Pro Stock pack, his 6.878 second pass just 0.005 seconds off the current national record. Johnson took his GM Goodwrench Firebird to top speed honors, his 201.20 miles per hour blast tieing the national record. Mark Pawuk's Summit Racing Pontiac is just a tic behind Johnson, at 6.897 and 199.07. Mike Edwards ran 6.978 to hold down the final qualified spot.

Point leader Larry Kopp in the top qualifier in Pro Stock Truck, his 7.594 second elapsed time quick enough to set a new national record for the category. Brad Jeter had the fastest speed, at 176.29. Joe Pigford is on bubble, at 7.769 and 172.38.

Qualifying will continue tomorrow, starting at 10am, with final eliminations scheduled for Sunday morning.



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