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Melanie Troxel appeared to be comfortable in the cockpit
after her 18 months off; she defeated Doug Herbert after hazing her
tires, almost touching the centerline and popping the supercharger.
Rhonda Hartman-Smith defeated the 73-year-old Golden Greek, Chris Karamesines
in a close one. Darrell Russell pick-ups his first round win of the
season over a red-lighting Yuichi Oyama, but a win is a win to this
team as Amato and new crew chief, Wayne Dupuy high five and hug behind
the starting line. Dupuy now has the opportunity to call the shots on
a well-funded dragster team as the car runs low ET of the round at 4.730.
Bernstein defeated Gary Clapshaw whose engine puke tanks had been stolen
by a spectator the night before. Schumacher defeated Ken Zeal, Cory
Mac defeated Kalitta, and Dixon defeated Scott Weiss.
This race also brought Frank Pedregon back to the wheel
of Jim Dunn's K&N Filters Funny Car, but Frank loses to Gary Densham
in a smoky side-by-side race. Force races Dean Skuza and the Elvis car
runs low ET of the round at 4.919 downing Skuza. Both of Prudhomme's
Camaros head to round two, but not before Jerry Toliver encounters a
freak oil line-induced visit to the wall causing the photogs to scatter.
Both Bazemore and Cannon head back on the trailers of Schumacher Racing
and Del Worsham takes out Tony Pedregon, Worsham is looking as strong
as he did in his Phoenix win. (photo by Zak Hawthorne)
In round two it is clear that the preferred lane is the
left one, since most races have been won from there. Dixon drops a blower
belt in his 4.887 win over Grubnic, KB mixes cylinders and smokes the
tires in his defeat of Rhonda Hartman-Smith. The day is over for Amato
Racing as Russell smokes in his race with the Army car, and Cory McClenathan
serves notice of his Top Fuel return by running 4.769 at 303.78 heading
into the semis against Bernstein with lane choice. (photo by Zak Hawthorne)
Capps went out in the second round thanks to Tim Wilkerson
(above), Tommy Johnson defeats Gary Scelzi's Toyota, and once again
Del Worsham takes out Force as the 100th win celebration party heads
for another Sunday, and Gary Densham puts away John Lawson. (photo by
Tim Marshall)
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