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Wed, 25 Jun 2003, 06:25 PM

Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals Fact Sheet

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

MADISON, Ill. --

Seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals, the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2003 NHRA POWERade championships.

Sportsman competitors in five categories earn points leading to 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships.

WHERE: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Ill. Located five minutes from downtown St. Louis, the track is on Interstate 55/70 at Exit 4. From St. Louis, take I-70 south to I-55/70 and travel east to Exit 4.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 27-29.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.8 million.

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 27 - Gates open at 9 a.m. Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 5:15 and 8:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 28 -- Gates open at 9 a.m. Sportsman eliminations begin at 10 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 5:15 and 8:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 29 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Sportsman eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies, 3:30 a.m.
FINAL PROFESSIONAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 4:30 p.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 28, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 29, ESPN2 will televise two hours of early round highlights at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 29, ESPN2 will televise two hours of final round coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).

2002 EVENT WINNERS: Kenny Bernstein, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock; Angelle Savoie, Pro Stock Bike.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Four qualifying sessions and four rounds of eliminations of nitro-burning, racing action at night. Defending POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon wants to redeem himself and the Miller Lite team for last year's DNQ at St. Louis, which enabled Kenny Bernstein to get back in the points chase. Defending event winner Kenny Bernstein will be competing in his fourth race back after replacing his son Brandon, who is out for the year due to injuries sustained in a crash at Englishtown, N.J.. John Force and Tony Pedregon, the event's last two Funny Car winners, know they'll be challenged by Del Worsham, Ron Capps, Whit Bazemore and a host of drivers looking to light up the sky in their 6,000 horsepower machines. Pro Stock drivers will have to lay out their strategy to deal with the tricky weather conditions that exist at Gateway, adjusting to an all-night venue and varying temperatures. The veteran father-son duo of Warren and Kurt Johnson along with defending NHRA POWERade champion and last year's winner Jeg Coughlin and current title contender Greg Anderson will need to qualify for the 16-car field before worrying about eliminations in the ultra-competitive category. Chicago native Geno Scali is ready to contend for the 2003 Pro Stock Bike crown, but the two-bike team of Antron Brown and three-time series champ Angelle Savoie have demonstrated their strength this season, as have the two riders on the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rods, Andrew Hines and 2001 event winner GT Tonglet.

FAST FACTS: Force Racing has won three of the six races at Gateway...Current Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi has the most career wins at Gateway (three, TF)....Doug Kalitta is the only current Top Fuel driver to win at Gateway...Three of the four pro winners at Gateway Raceway last year went on to win the POWERade Series championship in their category.

ABOUT THE TRACK: There has been racing on this site since 1967, when Wayne Meinert opened up the original St. Louis International Raceway, an eighth-mile strip. Chris Pook and the Grand Prix of Long Beach bought the facility in 1995 and began a renovation that continues today under the track's current owners, Dover Motorsports Inc. NHRA added Gateway and the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals in June 1997 to the national event calendar, and it remains the midway stop on the NHRA tour.

TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel- 4.563 seconds by Gary Scelzi, June 2001; 323.81 mph by Tony Schumacher, June 1999.
Funny Car-- 4.851 seconds by Bruce Sarver, June. 2001; 315.86 mph by Tony Bartone, June. 2001.
Pro Stock-- 6.848 seconds by Jim Yates, June. 2002; 201.01 mph by Ron Krisher, June. 2002.
Pro Stock Bike - 7.171 seconds by Angelle Savoie, June 2002; 190.14 mph by Shawn Gann, June 2002.

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel-- 4.477 seconds (June 2001, Joliet, Ill.) by Kenny Bernstein; 332.75 mph (April 2002,
Las Vegas) by Larry Dixon
Funny Car-- 4.721 seconds (May 2003, Joliet, Ill.) by John Force; 328.06 mph (June 2003, Joliet,
Ill.) by Gary Scelzi
Pro Stock-- 6.670 seconds (May 2003, Englishtown), 207.18 mph (May 2003, Englishtown) by Greg
Anderson
Pro Stock Bike - 7.049 seconds (May 2002, Englishtown, N.J.) by Angelle Savoie; 194.10 mph (May
2001, Englishtown, N.J.) by Matt Hines

TICKETS: For tickets and ticket information call, (866)-35-SPEED or Ticketmaster. Tickets also available at gatewayraceway.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $30; Youth (12 years and under), $10. Saturday: Adult, $35; Youth (12 years and under), $10; Sunday: Adult, $45; Youth (12 years and under), $15. Child (5 years and under), free with paying adult in general admission and pit areas each day.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $40; Youth (12 years and under), $15. Saturday: Adult, $45 (Pit Side); Youth (12 years and under), $20 (Pit Side). Sunday: Adult, $55 (Pit Side); Youth (12 years and under), $25 (Pit Side).