Sat, Nov 14, 08:02 PM POMONA - Big Bud Shootout Final, Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan First-time Shootout Winner

POMONA, Calif. - Results of final, round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 14th annual Big Bud Shootout at Pomona:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Doug Kalitta        7.000  26.25  Q   5 Eddie Hill          5.000  27.60
   (J Amato     ) 0.522  4.615 315.78 E1   (M Dunn      ) 0.541  4.600 315.12
   (C McClenatha) 0.462  4.576 320.85 E2   (G Scelzi    ) 0.505 No Time      
 *****WINNER***** 0.439  4.599 313.26 E3                  0.485  4.620 307.06

4:55 PM and right on schedule the two engines fire - this is Eddie Hill's eleventh Shootout/Classic, Kalitta's first.

It was a good race, but Kalitta nailed Hill to the tree and then widened the margin, winning by a car length. Neither car faltered at all on the run, both clean and dry as they went through the finish line traps.

Kalitta earns $100,000 for the win and has a shot at a $50,000 bonus if he can also win the Winston Finals tomorrow, which would make it a $200,000 weekend for the strong candidate for Rookie of the Year.