Sat, 13 Nov 1999, 12:48 PM Scelzi, Capps, Johnson, Hines Continue to Hold on to Number One

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Panella Jr. sets National ET Record

POMONA, Calif. -- Two-time defending NHRA Winston champion Gary Scelzi powered his Team Winston dragster to the top qualifying position Friday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Ron Capps, Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella continued to be the leaders in their respective pro categories at the $1.7 million race, the final of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Fresno's Scelzi covered the Pomona Raceway quarter-mile in 4.570 seconds at 322.11 mph, edging Winston championship points leader Tony Schumacher for the No. 1 position.

"The car is running great and it went down the track on a string on that run," Scelzi said. "It was a very smooth run. We've got a real race car. A run like that gives you a lot of confidence."

Schumacher, who needs only to qualify to clinch his first Winston championship, recorded a 4.574 with a track record speed of 327.03 mph to anchor the No. 2 position.

Scelzi will lead seven other competitors in search of a $200,000 payday in Saturday's Big Bud Shootout, a special event for Top Fuel. Doug Kalitta is the defending champion of the special bonus event.

Capps, from San Diego, improved on his run from Thursday, covering the quarter-mile distance with a career-best time of 4.853 seconds at 309.34 mph in his Copenhagen Camaro. John Force moved into second in the 16-car order with a 4.923 second effort at 300.46 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

"When it runs that good it's a fun ride," Capps said. "The car made a move at about half-track, and it wanted to go right a little. But it was a good ride."

Capps said the addition of new crew chief Ed 'The Ace' McCulloch has been a good fit for the team.

"It certainly makes Snake (Don Prudhomme, team owner) look like a genius," Capps said. "It's amazing. He really knows how to shake things up."

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., remained quickest in Pro Stock with his category-best 6.908 at 201.07 in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird. "We tried a new engine today that we're trying to bring into our rotation," said Johnson, who posted a 6.968 at 200.23 effort which didn't improve upon Thursday's run. "It makes more power than the engine we ran the 6.90 with yesterday, so it should be faster. It's just a matter of getting the gearing and clutch right to take advantage of the power.

Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., continued to set the pace in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 7.225 at 182.45 on his Eagle One Suzuki. Winston points leader Angelle Seeling, who holds a 14-point advantage over Hines, was third in the qualifying order with a 7.258 at 182.92 on her Team Winston Suzuki.

Panella, from Stockton, earned his fifth No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock Truck, earning the spot with a national record time of 7.491, with a track record speed of 178.92. With the No. 1 effort, Panella moved closer to his first Winston championship, increasing his lead to 61 over closest pursuer Brad Jeter. Fellow Chevy S-10 driver Jeter, the defending truck winner of this event, qualified seventh with a 7.588 at 177.63.

Qualifying continues Saturday with pro sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.



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