Fri, 12 Nov 1999, 11:13 AM Amato, Capps, Johnson, Hines, and Panella Lead Qualifying

Courtesy of NHRA Communications After Day One at NHRA Finals

POMONA, Calif. -- Joe Amato led Top Fuel qualifying Thursday at the 35th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Ron Capps, Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $1.7 million race, the final of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Amato, from Exeter, Pa., covered the Pomona Raceway quarter-mile in 4.610 seconds at 316.90 mph to lead the 16-car field, while Winston championship points leader Tony Schumacher qualified ninth with a 4.712 at 300.13. Schumacher needs only to qualify for Sunday's eliminations to clinch his first NHRA Winston championship.

"If you can't win a Winston championship, you have to focus on doing the next best thing," Amato said. "This weekend we're focused on winning the race and the Big Bud Shootout. There's a lot of money out there to be won this weekend. On the first qualifying pass we just wanted to come out and run a conservative pass and get in the show."

Capps, from San Diego, was quickest in Funny Car, running 4.868 at 309.34 in his Ed McCulloch-tuned Copenhagen Chevy Camaro. "The run was good," Capps said. "It quivered the tires just a little, then I pedaled it and it took off. Really, it was an easy ride."

Johnson, from Buford, Ga., led the 16-car Pro Stock order with a 6.908 at a track record speed of 201.07 in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird.

"The conditions were good for us," said Johnson, who has already clinched his fifth Winston championship. "It was dry, which produces a lot of speed in a Pro Stock car. We made some substantial chassis changes to make the car more compatible with all the race tracks."

Trinidad, Colo.'s Hines paced Pro Stock Motorcycle with a track record time of 7.225 at 182.45 on his Eagle One Suzuki. Panella, from Stockton, Calif., drove his Chevy S-10 to the top spot in Pro Stock Truck, covering the distance with a track record run of 7.515 at 178.61.

Qualifying continues Friday at 1:45 p.m.