Mon, 15 Nov 2004, 02:49 PM 40th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

POMONA, Calif.-- Special awards from the 40th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals

Budweiser Shootout award ($4,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel) – Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster, 4.4472 seconds, 332.02 mph.

Skoal Showdown award ($4,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car) – John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang, 4.698 seconds, 329.18 mph.

NHRA King Demon Crown award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) – Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am, 6.705 seconds, 205.94 mph

Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle award ($1,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Bike) – Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., G-Squared S&S Buell V-Twin Pro Stock Bike, 7.024 seconds, 188.38 mph.

Motel 6 “Who Got the Light” award ($1,000 to the individual Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock driver who earns a round win in eliminations by the narrowest margin.) – Ron Krisher defeated Fernando Cuadra by .0072-of-a-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

Strange Engineering “Perfectly Strange” performance award ($250 bonus to the first racer in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street who wins an elimination round by running dead-on their dial-in or index) – Bill Smith, Super Comp; and Dwight Strickland, Super Gas.

Hedman Hedders Best Engineered Vehicle ($1,000 to the best engineered vehicle) – EC Sigmon Inc. Air & Heating Competition Eliminator entry. Driver: Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif.

Best Appearing Car – Zantrec-3 Top Fuel dragster entry. Driver: Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont.

Best Appearing Crew – Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am Pro Stock entry. Driver: Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C.