Sun, 20 Jan 2002, 03:16 PM CHANDLER - National Time Trials - Sunday Update

By Dave Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - There are a lot more NHRA Stock and Super Stock cars out testing today, along with many Super category vehicles. Gary Scelzi will be the first Pro up to the line today to start the day's testing at 10:55am. The Funny Car has been strong off the line all weekend, but has had problems from quarter to mid-track. I believe they have the record this weekend for timing reflectors (VBG).

The plan is to run most of the Pro cars side-by-side today to speed up the testing.

Funny Car

10:55 am Gary Scelzi brings Alan Johnson's car to the line to start the days activities. The track couldn't hold the power and he is forced to click it after the 60-foot mark. .899/60ft., 2.874/330ft.

12:12 pm John Force in the left lane. He makes a costly pass, as there is a lot of "stuff" off the car at 1100 feet. Good numbers considering: 4.842 at 314.53. .885/60ft., 2.300/330ft., 3.305/252.47-660ft., and 4.133/1000ft.

12:12 pm Al Hofmann in the right lane. He paces Force until after the 330 mark and is up in smoke. .892/60ft., and 2.563/330ft.

12:28 pm Tony Pedregon in the white Castrol FC in the left lane and Gary Densham in the right. The leave together and smoke the tires together. One of them leaves a blower belt on the track. Tony: .899/60ft., 2.145/330ft., and 3.178/224.51-660ft. Gary: .900/60ft., 2.310/330ft., and 3.346/231.12-660ft.

12:32 pm Cruz Pedregon, left lane, another pair that leaves together and shuts off together. .906/60ft., 2.323/330ft., and 3.354/245.09-660ft.

12:32 pm Ron Capps, right lane, has a clean start and clicks it off. .891/60ft., 2.319/330ft., and 3.3345/239.14-660ft.

12:37 pm Whit Bazemore, left lane, leaves hard and is up in smoke before the 330-foot lights. .936/60ft., and 3.630/330ft.

12:37 pm Tommy Johnson Jr., right lane, makes a 1000-foot run for a 4.906 and 277.37. .883/60ft., 2.314/330ft., 3.325/254.14-660ft. and 4.152/1000ft.

12:43 pm Gary Scelzi has more problems and smokes the tires again. .915/60ft.

12:55 pm Scotty Cannon in the beautiful new Oakley "Mad Scientist Division" scheme in the left lane, leaves hard and clicks it before the 330 mark. .898/60ft. and 2.746/330ft.

12:55 pm Jerry Toliver in the WWF "Smack Down" scheme in the right lane, leaves with Scotty and smokes the tires. .902/60ft., 2.604/330ft.

Top Fuel

11:25 am Steve Chrisman is up next to complete his license in Gary Turner's beautiful new TF car. They calmed the combination down and he makes a full pass, but starts to drop cylinders and has a head gasket flash towards the top end. 5.807 ET/183.42MPH .911/60ft., 2.390/330ft., 3.591/201.61-660ft., and 4.687/1000ft.

11:30 am Doug Herbert gets everyone attention with a 1000 foot hit. He jumps away from the start and runs straight and true to a 4.797 and 251.39. .864/60ft., 2.207/330ft., 3.160/263.10-660ft., and 3.980/1000ft.

11:50 am Ken Zeal in Bill Miller's BME TF dragster leaves before the tree and gets no time. Too bad as it was clearly his best run of the weekend.

12:02 pm Yuichi Oyama in the ex-Robert Reehl dragster makes a full pull and runs a great 4.807 at 302.28. He had a little haze off the back of the motor from about the 1000-foot mark and they are taking some time at the end of the track with cleanup. .875/60ft., 2.243/330ft., 3.234/255.15-660ft., and 4.070/1000ft.

12:05 pm Past champion, Tony Schumacher stages the U.S. Army and pulls up the front wheels at the hit. The slicks start to smoke by 1000 feet and he clicks it. .949/60ft.

12:18 pm Darrell Russell and Larry Dixon come to the line, do their burnouts, back up, and start to pull to the line. They are signaled to shut them off, as there is no power to the tree.

12:22 pm The starter says start them up again and they pull immediately to the line. They are away together and Russell takes the initial lead, but has big mechanical problems before mid-track with fire and smoke off the engine. No problems for Dixon, as he runs to 1000 feet with a 4.596 and 224.51. Russell: .823/60ft., 2.145/330ft., and 3.178/224.51-660ft. Dixon: .842/60ft., 3.083/269.67-660ft., and 3.871/1000ft.

12:40 pm Bob Hallock continues his license passes by smoking the tires after the 60-foot lights. .892/60ft., 2.450/330ft.

12:48 pm Kenny Bernstein makes his burn out and was starting up to the line when the track official found "stuff" on the track in the right lane near the lights. He is shut off and takes his dragster back to the pits.

Pro Stock Bike

11:32 am Craig Treble continues to improve on his Matco Tools Suzuki with a great 7.173 and 186.36. 1.108/60ft., 2.979/330ft., 4.570/153.58-660ft., and 5.967/1000ft.

Top Alcohol Funny Car

12:10 pm Norm Hill continues his license process in the Fix Automotive FC. He pulls the front wheels off the line and the funny car starts to move around too much and he shuts it down. .983/60ft. 2.821/330ft.

1:00 pm Pete Swayne in the Goodwin and Swayne EspriTV car closes the session in style with a great 5.787 and 249.16. .968/60ft., 2.533/330ft., 3.813/196.99-660ft., and 4.881/1000ft.

Top Alcohol Dragster

12:00 pm David Baca continues to struggle with a 1.055/60ft. and 2.651/330ft.

That's the last of the cars until about 2:15pm.



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