Fri, 8 Nov 2002, 10:07 PM Rain Wipes Out Friday Racing at AAA NHRA Finals

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2002 Auto Imagery, Inc.

POMONA, Calif. Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to cancel Friday's qualifying at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

Keeping Dry

Qualifying will resume Saturday as previously scheduled, with rounds set for 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Budweiser Shootout rounds are set for 12:15 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations will start Sunday at 11 a.m. (ESPN, 5-7 p.m. and ESPN2, 7-8 p.m.).

"With the weather forecast I am confident that we will get in some racing," said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations. "Our priority is to run the pro sessions tomorrow to satisfy our spectators and our television audience."

Qualifying leaders from Thursday's racing include Darrell Russell in Top Fuel, John Force in Funny Car, Warren Johnson in Pro Stock and Shawn Gann in Pro Stock Bike.

Kenny Bernstein is the top seed in the Budweiser Shootout, a lucrative bonus event for the quickest Top Fuel drivers from the last season. Bernstein will try for his third victory (1991 and 1993) in the special event, while defending winner Larry Dixon (1995 and 2001) is also going for his third $100,000 prize.