Fri, 19 Oct 2007, 09:38 PM Litton Narrows Points Margins

by Larry Sullivan Photo copyright 2007 Roger Richards Berner, Gilbertson, King and Atchison Lead Qualifiers

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. --

Bruce Litton

Bruce Litton's Top Fuel Dragster didn't quite make the full distance on his first qualifying run at the IHRA World Finals presented by The U.S. Air Force at Rockingham Dragway Friday evening, but his engine lasted just long enough to make him the provisional No. 1 qualifier and earn five bonus points as "The Last Man Standing" for Top Fuel. Current Top Fuel points leader T.J. Zizzo could only manage a fourth-place in the first of three qualifying sessions for the IHRA finale, reducing his margin in the championship chase to just 21 points.

In other eliminators, Pete Berner earned the "Quarter-Max Pro Stock Challenge" bonus points to increase his slim lead over Robert Patrick's in the season-long points Pro Stock battle to 14 points; while Bob Gilbertson, Mitch King and Rob Atchison earned both the No.1 spot and the bonus points in Nitro Funny Car, Pro Modified and Alcohol Funny Car, respectively.

Litton coasted across the finish line with a 4.736 second, 251.44 mph run that put him atop the Top Fuel qualifying list, with teammate Jeff O'Neill second at 4.841 and 301.33, Scotty Cannon third at 4.856 and 282.78h, and Zizzo fourth with a tire-shaking 5.161 at 250.92 mph. Litton's bonus puts him one round and one point behind Zizzo with two qualifying runs remaining. Cannon is still mathematically in the chase, but he is 91 points behind Zizzo and Zizzo has not stopped earning points.

Chip King

Patrick took the top spot in Pro Stock with a 6.354 second, 213.91 mph effort, with Berner and Brian Gahm close behind at 6.372 and 6.377, respectively Three drivers are still in the chase for the Pro Stock championship, Berner less than one round behind Patrick, with Frank Gugliotta still in the running, 46 points behind Patrick and qualified seventh at 6.431.

Atchison extended his championship lead over Mark Thomas to 32 points by taking the five-point "Last Man Standing" bonus for Friday night, as well as qualifying first with a 5.823 at 239.14. Terry Munroe is third in the points, but is not yet qualified after breaking before he could make a run, and Thomas is qualified seventh, barely in the field. Neal Parker, Laurie Cannister, and Paul Noakes round out the top four in the category after the first round.

Bob Gilbertson

Scott Cannon almost clinched the Pro Modified championship when he claimed a 41-point bonus to take a 75-point lead over Mike Janis for the season, but Cannon sits 16th after the first round, while Janis is solidly qualified third with a 6.127 at 235.64 mph. Chip King is finishing the season with strong performance and the provisional No. 1 qualifier, but is out of championship contention despite a session-best 6.081 second, 230.06 mph run, with Jim Halsey second at 6.121 and 228.42.

Gilbertson carded a strong 4.927 at 302.14 mph to take the provisional pole position for this event, with newcomer Cory Lee right on his heels at 4.931 and 305.22. Jack Wyatt and Jeff Diehl round out the tup four after the first round. Dale Creasy Jr. clinched the Nitro Funny Car championship two races ago and found himself fifth after the first round of qualifying.

Two more rounds of qualifying, at 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, will set the field for Sunday's eliminations.