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NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals, Denver, Colo.
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The
latest results from the thirteenth stop on the 2004 NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series
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By Ken Sklute |
SUNDAY - KALITTA, BURKART, ANDERSON AND GANN EARN WINS AT MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS
(7-18-2004) - Scott Kalitta snapped a winless streak that lasted more than seven years Sunday by earning the Top Fuel victory at the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Phil Burkart (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Shawn Gann (Pro Stock Bike) also earned victories in their respective categories at the $1.8 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event. Kalitta beat Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel final, posting a win for the first time since Topeka 1997. Kalitta drove his Jesse James/Mac Tools dragster to a 4.747-second run at 313.58 mph to beat Schumacher's 4.814 at 305.08 in his U.S. Army dragster. "Consistency was key today and it's something we've been missing all season," Kalitta said. "I knew this crew was capable of getting it done, we just needed it to all fall into place." Kalitta was in the opposite lane two weeks ago in St. Louis when Darrell Russell's dragster lost control and crashed. Russell died from the injuries. "I had a friend riding with me today," Kalitta said as he pulled a photo of Russell out of his pocket. "For what we went through together, running against him in his last race and for the way I was getting to know Darrell and become his friend this year, I can't explain how I feel about this. It does mean a lot to me."
Burkart earned his second win of the season and the third of his
career as he topped the Funny Car class. Burkart used a 5.338 pass
at 289.69 in his Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo. He beat
Larry Morgan's 7.199 at 192.06 in his Team Mopar Dodge Stratus. "We had a couple of difficult rounds to start the day but we survived and were able to learn and improve," Burkart said. "By the time we got to the semis we were cruising. For not having a lot of data (on the new tire released before the weekend) our guys did a tremendous job. "I couldn't be more impressed with this team. They did a heck of a job. For us, it's all about the team. There aren't any individuals; we all work together toward the goal. We earned this win as a team." Anderson continued his domination of the Pro Stock category. He grabbed the win over Larry Morgan for his 10th victory of the season and 26th of his career. Anderson drove his newly sponsored Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am to a 7.194 run at 191.62 to top Morgan's 7.199 at 192.06 in his Team Mopar Dodge Stratus. Anderson, the 2003 POWERade Pro Stock champion, earned a record 12 wins in 23 events last season en route to his first title.
"We're going after wins," Anderson said. "We're going after titles. We're going after history. You don't get a lot of chances (to win as many races) like this so you've got to get after it when you can. I've said several times you don't ever expect to do this in a class like Pro Stock. I don't' even really know why it's happened for us. We're way beyond our dreams." With 10 races left on the schedule and 10 wins already in the books, Anderson will undoubtedly be forced to think about the possibilities of clinching the title early and re-writing his own records from 2003. "I don't spend a lot of time thinking about history in the making or anything like that but it does jump in your head from time to time," Anderson said. "It's still very tough every round. No matter how easy it might look, it's not. I mean, they say I'm dominating and that means I have a hundredth or two on the field. That's nothing. You can lose that at the starting line every race. It's a struggle, but it's so much fun." Gann earned his second victory of the season and the fourth of
his career by beating Craig Treble in the Pro Stock Bike final.
Gann used a 7.654 pass at 174.23 to earn the win on his Mac Tools/Gann
Speed Suzuki over Treble's 7.715 at 172.21 on his Matco Tools Suzuki.
"I told them I'd wait as long as it took for them to get ready," Gann said. "I mean, you can't do nothing about a fire. I heard they were thrashing to get done and I told (NHRA officials) they could put us at the back of the pack if they wanted. He'd do the same for me, I know it. But they got there in time. Then they had trouble at the line and just reached a point where I had to put it all out of my mind and just race." Gann is second in the Pro Stock Bike point standings, behind Andrew Hines. "We made up some ground on Andrew," Gann said. "I got a couple of rounds back. I'd rather take little chunks every week then try and get them all at one time." The next NHRA POWERade series event is the 17th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle, July 23-25.
Sunday's final results from the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The $1.8 million race is the 13th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel -- Scott Kalitta, 4.747 seconds, 313.58 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 4.814 seconds, 305.08 mph. Funny Car -- Phil Burkart, Pontiac Firebird, 5.338, 289.69 def. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.715, 225.67. Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.194, 191.62 def. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 7.199, 192.06. Pro Stock Bike -- Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.654, 174.23 def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.715, 172.21. Competition Eliminator -- Dean Carter, Dragster, 7.379, 173.78 def. Bill Kent, Dragster, 7.502, 180.09. Super Stock -- James Kunkel, Olds Achieva, 10.420, 99.71 def. Darren Wall, Olds Calais, 11.812, 98.06. Super Comp -- Randy Dahlberg, Dragster, 9.475, 159.97 def. Michael Miller, Dragster, 9.480, 158.37. Super Gas -- Aaron Tatum, Olds Cutlass, 10.530, 126.59 def. P.J. Walter, Ford Mustang, 10.547, 135.29.
Final round-by-round results from the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series - TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Doug Kalitta, 4.992, 287.35 def. Scott Weis, 6.390, 163.79; Tony Schumacher, 5.834, 240.29 def. John Smith, 6.172, 206.26; Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.934, 290.57 def. Cory McClenathan, broke; Scott Kalitta, 4.884, 299.40 def. Bob Vandergriff, 5.082, 280.08; Doug Herbert, 5.062, 297.29 def. Mike Strasburg, 6.141, 159.93; David Grubnic, 4.906, 288.27 def. Rob Passey, 5.345, 235.23; Brandon Bernstein, 4.874, 301.13 def. Don Sosenka, 8.251, 91.20; Larry Dixon, 5.320, 265.06 def. Mitch King, 6.113, 177.30; QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.975, 290.01 def. Dixon, 4.981, 283.49; Hartman-Smith, 5.087, 265.48 def. Grubnic, 5.070, 277.37; S. Kalitta, 4.875, 300.53 def. Herbert, 5.934, 162.65; Bernstein, 4.885, 295.21 def. D. Kalitta, 4.979, 285.71; SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 4.939, 298.67 def. Hartman-Smith, 5.121, 283.67; S. Kalitta, 4.805, 308.43 def. Bernstein, 4.792, 299.93; FINAL -- S. Kalitta, 4.747, 313.58 def. Schumacher, 4.814, 305.08.
ROUND ONE -- Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.313, 260.56 def. Tony Bartone, Chevy Camaro, 9.511, 78.90; Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 6.702, 161.29 def. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, broke; Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.473, 258.96 def. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 6.693, 143.14; Robert Schwab, Pontiac Firebird, 5.665, 222.07 def. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 6.017, 261.62; John Force, Mustang, 5.166, 270.05 def. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Celica, 8.086, 98.63; Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 5.136, 295.14 def. Jeff Arend, Firebird, 8.743, 101.26; Phil Burkart, Firebird, 5.352, 273.72 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 5.789, 188.04; Eric Medlen, Mustang, 5.211, 272.34 def. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 5.690, 209.23; QUARTERFINALS -- C. Pedregon, 5.799, 250.92 def. Gilbertson, 6.168, 236.84; Johnson Jr., 5.323, 276.86 def. Force, 8.654, 103.78; Schwab, 5.465, 239.31 def. Medlen, 6.156, 183.69; Burkart, 5.723, 258.96 def. T. Pedregon, 6.702, 160.50; SEMIFINALS -- C. Pedregon, 5.542, 272.56 def. Schwab, 5.399, 272.45; Burkart, 5.180, 296.70 def. Johnson Jr., 5.295, 292.46; FINAL -- Burkart, 5.338, 289.69 def. C. Pedregon, 5.715, 225.67.
ROUND ONE -- Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 7.230, 191.92 def. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, foul; Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 7.218, 191.43 def. JR Carr, Cavalier, 7.265, 190.59; V. Gaines, Stratus, 7.227, 191.70 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.242, 191.10; Bruce Allen, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.210, 191.24 def. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 7.275, 190.30; Jason Line, Grand Am, 7.221, 191.67 def. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 7.282, 190.08; Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 7.224, 191.21 def. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus, 7.232, 191.02; Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 7.205, 191.70 def. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, 7.255, 190.97; Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 7.244, 190.97 def. Steve Johns, Cavalier, 7.233, 191.73; QUARTERFINALS -- K. Johnson, 7.246, 191.19 def. Gaines, 7.221, 191.97; Morgan, 7.223, 191.73 def. W. Johnson, 7.242, 191.02; Line, 7.206, 191.46 def. Allen, 7.230, 191.00; Anderson, 7.193, 192.30 def. Krisher, 7.247, 191.40; SEMIFINALS -- Morgan, 7.203, 191.95 def. K. Johnson, 7.217, 191.48; Anderson, 7.184, 192.03 def. Line, 7.189, 191.76; FINAL -- Anderson, 7.194, 191.62 def. Morgan, 7.199, 192.06.
ROUND ONE -- Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.712, 174.05 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, foul; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.646, 180.04 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, foul; Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.643, 176.01 def. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, foul; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.607, 177.00 def. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.717, 173.36; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.539, 185.08 def. Redell Harris, Suzuki, foul; Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.642, 173.54 def. Josh Helvie, Kawasaki, foul; GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.640, 178.47 def. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.769, 172.96; Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.572, 179.83 def. Kurt Matte, Suzuki, 7.918, 172.87; QUARTERFINALS -- Brown, 7.627, 179.25 def. Stoffer, foul; Gann, 7.627, 179.95 def. Tonglet, foul; Treble, 7.596, 177.53 def. Savoie, 7.583, 177.14; Hines, 7.603, 177.95 def. Scali, 7.681, 171.88; SEMIFINALS -- Gann, 7.673, 171.53 def. Brown, foul; Treble, 7.946, 138.20 def. Hines, foul; FINAL -- Gann, 7.654, 174.23 def. Treble, 7.715, 172.21. SATURDAY - BERNSTEIN, BAZEMORE, ANDERSON AND HINES EARN NO. 1 QUALIFYING SPOTS AT THE MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
(7-17-2004) - Greg Anderson decided to debut a new race car this weekend and the results mirror the rest of the season. Anderson paced the Pro Stock category Saturday, earning the No. 1 qualifying spot at the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel), Whit Bazemore (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Bike) also earned the No. 1 qualifying position in their respective categories at the $1.8 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event. Anderson has earned the No. 1 qualifier 10 times this season and 27 times in his career. He has posted nine victories in 10 final rounds after the first 12 events this season. Anderson decided to bring a new race car to Denver. The results are the No. 1 spot with a run of 7.159 seconds at 192.47 mph in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am. After the first two qualifying sessions were rained out on Friday, Anderson started to question the idea of bringing a new car to the track.
"People must think I am nuts to bring out a new car when the old one won nine races already," Anderson said. "But I thought we should try it and see what happened. (Teammate) Jason Line has the old car and if this one doesn't work out, we know where the old car is and we can repo it if we have to." Anderson's run was good enough to set the track record for time. Anderson has set 10 track records this season. "The rain changes everything," Anderson said. Everyone gets nervous when it gets down to two sessions. The Friday night sessions were always good to us and it's a setback when we don't have that entire day. "I feel very confident. When I get into that car, I know it's going to be fast. If I do my job as a driver, we can win races." Bernstein earned the fourth top qualifying award of the season and sixth of his career when he drove his Budweiser dragster to a 4.677 run at 308.43 in Top Fuel. Bernstein has been the top qualifier at three of the last four events. All rofessional Top Fuel and Funny Car teams were given new tire specs to run for the first time this weekend. The change was made in hopes of improving the safety on the track.
"We knew we'd all truggle this weekend with the new tire and the tire pressure, but I don't think any of us expected to have to go into race day with just two runs under our belt," Bernstein said. "Fortunately, we're all in the same boat. It really will be a bit of a crapshoot tomorrow and on top of everything else, it's supposed to be hot and sunny, so we'll be guessing that much more." Bazemore led Funny Car and set the track E.T. record with a 4.842 pass at 312.50 in his Matco Tools Dodge tratus R/T. Bazemore has been the No. 1 qualifier 27 times in his career, three times this season. "It's a very tricky race track, especially now," Bazemore said. "It always has been. It's very challenging. The altitude always presents a problem with making horsepower and making downforce and now with shortened qualifying sessions and a new tire made it more challenging."
Hines has earned six career No. 1 qualifying honors - all coming this season on the Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson. Hines went 7.509 at 185.66 to set both ends of the track record. "The bike has always run well up here," Hines said. "We made a few changes after the first round and it woke up the bike for the second pass. At least we can go into tomorrow with two good passes under our belts." Final eliminations are set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday. First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. Top Fuel -- 1. Brandon Bernstein, 4.677 seconds, 308.43 mph vs. 16. Don Sosenka, 5.547, 218.83; 2. Larry Dixon, 4.729, 300.00 vs. 15. Mitch King, 5.261, 214.04; 3. David Grubnic, 4.747, 295.14 vs. 14. Rob Passey, 5.257, 256.02; 4. Doug Herbert, 4.757, 288.09 vs. 13. Mike Strasburg, 5.057, 280.72; 5. Scott Kalitta, 4.764, 305.42 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 5.015, 250.92; 6. Cory McClenathan, 4.776, 303.98 vs. 11. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 5.001, 247.16; 7. John Smith, 4.776, 297.94 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 4.917, 298.40; 8. Doug Kalitta, 4.779, 308.07 vs. 9. Scott Weis, 4.908, 296.05. Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus, 4.842, 312.50 vs. 16. Robert Schwab, Pontiac Firebird, 5.359, 270.86; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.932, 306.81 vs. 15. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 5.123, 280.72; 3. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.939, 310.84 vs. 14. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Celica, 5.090, 314.31; 4. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.942, 308.07 vs. 13. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Camaro, 5.060, 302.01; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.946, 309.56 vs. 12. Tony Bartone, Camaro, 5.055, 301.87; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.954, 308.71 vs. 11. Jeff Arend, Firebird, 5.038, 300.46; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.963, 306.19 vs. 10. Phil Burkart, Firebird, 5.027, 297.55; 8. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.974, 318.24 vs. 9. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 5.026, 310.05. Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.159, 192.60 vs. 16. Mark Whisnant, Chevy Cavalier, 7.224, 191.13; 2. Steve Johns, Cavalier, 7.170, 193.40 vs. 15. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 7.218, 191.62; 3. Kenny Koretsky, Dodge Stratus, 7.179, 191.46 vs. 14. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 7.215, 192.22; 4. Jason Line, Grand Am, 7.182, 191.89 vs. 13. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 7.214, 190.83; 5. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 7.187, 192.03 vs. 12. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 7.212, 191.13; 6. V. Gaines, Stratus, 7.189, 192.22 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.209, 191.87; 7. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 7.190, 191.70 vs. 10. JR Carr, Cavalier, 7.206, 191.05; 8. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 7.193, 192.19 vs. 9. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 7.198, 191.92. Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.509, 185.66 vs. 16. Redell Harris, Suzuki, 7.748, 172.54; 2. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.537, 176.53 vs. 15. Josh Helvie, Kawasaki, 7.709, 174.68; 3. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson, 7.551, 181.37 vs. 14. Fred Camarena, Suzuki, 7.679, 174.62; 4. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki, 7.560, 176.70 vs. 13. Kurt Matte, Suzuki, 7.678, 175.59; 5. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.567, 177.42 vs. 12. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.665, 172.87; 6. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.590, 175.64 vs. 11. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 7.665, 174.89; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.595, 172.92 vs. 10. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.660, 175.16; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.596, 171.77 vs. 9. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.606, 180.79.
FRIDAY - RAIN FORCES POSTPONEMENT FOR MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS AT BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY
(7-16-2004) - Due to inclement weather NHRA was forced to cancel Friday's professional qualifying sessions for the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Qualifying will continue with two sessions at 10:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Final eliminations will start at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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