 |
|
|
| Scott Geoffrion, driving Hurley Blakeney's
new Mustang, failed to qualify for the Pro Stock field. The car
did pick up Best Appearing Car honors, however. (Zak Hawthorne photo) |
Gene Wilson led the Mopar way by driving his Neon R/T
into the fourth slot with a 6.799 @ 202.24 mph. Six out of eight Mopar
Pro Stocks qualified for this race, three with factory backing. This
became the largest contingent of Mopars in an NHRA Pro Stock field since
the days of Dick Landy, Charlie Allen, and Ronnie Sox.
In the nitro ranks, Top Fuel was led by Larry Dixon in
the Miller Lite Dragster running 4.608/317.94, Kenny Bernstein at 4.610,
and Doug Kalitta at 4.615. David Grubnic qualified as he has for all
races this year, but announced that Montana Express owner John Mitchell
would retire the racing operation after this race, due to lack of sponsorship.
Funny Car was still led by John Force at 4.864/309.20
followed closely by Del Worsham at 4.886. Both cars ran side by side
during qualifying and put on a fine show every time they met.
|
|
| Nitro veterans Dave Uyehara and Frank Bradley
chat in the staging lanes. (Zak Hawthorne photo) |
When Sunday eliminations arrived the sky was clear and
the sun was going to be hot. Round by round Ron Capps was showing that
the Skoal team had recovered from their recent first round losses. Dean
Skuza in the MOPAR Packed Dodge has figured something out over the past
three races, as he made it to the semis at Seattle and at Sonoma.
Despite their fine qualifying performances, both high
horsepower cars of Kenny Bernstein and Larry Dixon smoked the tires
in the second round to the amazement of their disbelieving crew chiefs.
Cory McClenathan had a spectacular 1000-foot engine explosion to end
his day in the second round in a ball of flames.
|
|
