Posted: Monday August 04, 2003 10:18 AM
Updated: Monday August 04, 2003 11:23 AM
SONOMA, Calif. (AP) -- Larry Dixon became the fourth driver in
NHRA history to sweep the three-race Western Swing on Sunday.
Gary Scelzi, Jeg Coughlin and Geno Scali also were winners in
their respective categories at the $1.9 million FRAM-Autolite
Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Dixon powered his Miller Lite dragster to his eighth victory of
the season and 33rd career when he clocked a performance of 4.640
seconds at 319.67 mph. He outdistanced first-time Top Fuel finalist
David Baca, who recorded a run of 4.805 at 298.47.
"It feels unbelievable," Dixon said. "This feels like going
through the Iron Man Triathalon and coming out on the right side. I
give all the credit here to the guys on the team. Those same crew
guys are the ones that log all those miles from Denver to Seattle
to here at Infineon."
Scelzi became the 13th NHRA driver to earn a victory in both Top
Fuel and Funny Car when he drove a Dodge Stratus to his first
career Funny Car victory. Scelzi, a 25-time Top Fuel winner, used a
run of 4.958 at 312.21 to edge Dean Skuza in the final round. Skuza
clocked a pass of 4.966 at 306.74.
Jeg Coughlin raced to his first victory of the season and 32nd
of his career by using a starting-line advantage to defeat Pro
Stock points leader Greg Anderson. Coughlin drove a Chevy Cavalier
to a run of 6.839 at 201.07 to knock off Anderson.
Scali extended his lead in the Pro Stock Bike standings by
beating Andrew Hines. Scali rode a Suzuki to a run of 7.177 at
189.68 to hold off Hines' Harley-Davidson, which recorded a run of
7.264 at 180.48.
NHRA-Fram-Autolite Nationals Results
Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon. 2. David Baca. 3. Kenny Bernstein. 4. Rhonda Hartman-Smith. 5. Tony Schumacher. 6. Doug Kalitta. 7. Scott Weis. 8. Darrell Russell. 9. Paul Romine. 10. Don Lampus. 11. Cory McClenathan. 12. Doug Herbert. 13. Mike Strasburg. 14. John Smith. 15. David Grubnic. 16. Chris Karamesines.
Funny Car -- 1. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus. 2. Dean Skuza, Pontiac Firebird. 3. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird. 4. John Force, Ford Mustang. 5. Keith Jackson, Firebird. 6. Whit Bazemore, Stratus. 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro. 8. Del Worsham, Firebird. 9. Arnie Karp, Firebird. 10. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird. 11. Ron Capps, Camaro. 12. Tony Pedregon, Mustang. 13. Frank Pedregon, Firebird. 14. Scotty Cannon, Firebird. 15. Johnny Gray, Firebird. 16. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier. 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am. 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus R/T. 4. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier. 5. Dave Connolly, Cavalier. 6. Gene Wilson, Stratus R/T. 7. Mike Edwards, Grand Am. 8. Scott Geoffrion, Ford ZX2. 9. Warren Johnson, Grand Am. 10. Larry Morgan, Dodge Neon. 11. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier. 12. Bruce Allen, Grand Am. 13. Greg Stanfield, Neon. 14. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am. 15. J.R. Carr, Cavalier. 16. Ron Krisher, Cavalier.
Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Geno Scali, Suzuki. 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson. 3. Michael Phillips, Suzuki. 4. Craig Treble, Suzuki. 5. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki. 6. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson. 7. Antron Brown, Suzuki. 8. Blaine Hale, Suzuki. 9. Fred Collis, Suzuki. 10. Reggie Showers, Suzuki. 11. Mike Berry, Suzuki. 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki. 13. Sean Conner, Suzuki. 14. Fred Camarena, Suzuki. 15. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki. 16. Shawn Gann, Suzuki.
Driver Standings
Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 1,462. 2. Doug Kalitta, 1,152. 3. Darrell Russell, 880. 4. Cory McClenathan, 778. 5. Tony Schumacher, 773. 6. David Baca, 731. 7. John Smith, 685. 8. Doug Herbert, 682. 9. Brandon Bernstein, 629. 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 620.
Funny Car -- 1. Tony Pedregon, 1,210. 2. Whit Bazemore, 1,166. 3. John Force, 1,011. 4. Del Worsham, 944. 5. Gary Densham, 836. 6. Ron Capps, 830. 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 780. 8. Gary Scelzi, 718. 9. Cruz Pedregon, 706. 10. Johnny Gray, 689.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, 1,337. 2. Kurt Johnson, 1,198. 3. Jeg Coughlin, 982. 4. Warren Johnson, 978. 5. Allen Johnson, 707. 6. Ron Krisher, 671. 7. Mike Edwards, 649. 8. Scott Geoffrion, 638. 9. Bruce Allen, 579. 10. Greg Stanfield, 540.
Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Geno Scali, 784. 2. Angelle Savoie, 596. 3. Shawn Gann, 567. 4. Craig Treble, 503. 5. Antron Brown, 500. 6. Reggie Showers, 482. 7 (tie). Mike Berry and Andrew Hines, 455. 9. Fred Collis, 451. 10. Karen Stoffer, 436.
