Sun, 10 Nov 2002, 07:45 PM Top Fuel Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 38th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Yuichi Oyama        4.864 266.27  Q    4 Cory McClenathan    4.615 320.28
   (K Bernstein ) 0.532  4.676 318.24  E1   (J Smith     ) 0.497  9.179  91.75
   (D Kalitta   ) 0.521  4.910 285.41  E2   (R Hartman-Sm) 0.503  4.636 317.72
   (D Herbert   ) 0.536  4.807 304.19  E3   (A Cowin     ) 0.487  4.670 309.42
                  0.549  4.739 305.36  E4 *****WINNER***** 0.505  4.756 302.01

Oyama-san becomes the first Japanese driver to make to the finals of an NHRA National Event in Top Fuel. Of course Kenji Okazaki won in a Funny Car in 1997 at Englishtown, NJ, when he defeated Chuck Etchells. Cory Mac has never won this event and has been to three other finals this season without a win. The long drought is over for Cory Mac. Oyama didn't roll over for Cory has he actually was quicker than McClenathan on the track but Cory left on him. Congratulations to both drivers on a great performance during a ve4ry difficult weekend.