Kurt Johnson |
Warren and Kurt Johnson entered Saturday's final day of qualifying for the 12th annual Autolite Nationals at Sears Point Raceway not qualified for the Pro Stock field, adding an extra sense of drama to the day. Kurt took care of his half of the equation early, blasting to the No. 1 spot after a spoiler adjustment, setting both ends of the track record at 6.898, 199.91.
His father, Winston champ Warren, did not fare as well, shaking his way to a non-qualifying time and entering the final session with his impressive 271-race qualifying streak in most definite jeopardy. He pulled to the starting line late in the final session, his 7.147 best looking up from the 28th spot way up at the No. 16 spot of 6.986 held by V. Gaines. W.J. then calmly motored to a 6.925, to not only qualify No. 2 but also run Sears Point's first 200-mph pass, a 200.77.
Pro Stock results
Bob Vandergriff Jr. |
Bob Vandergriff and Kenny Bernstein held on to the top two spots in Top Fuel with their Friday passes of 4.552 and 4.559, but Winston champ Gary Scelzi threw his hat into the ring with Saturday's best pass, a 4.588, to grab the third spot. Vandergriff will face No. 16 qualified Tim Gibson (4.927) in the first round Sunday.
Top Fuel results
Whit Bazemore and John Force each grabbed an end of the Sears Point Funny Car track record in a side-by-side duel in the first session.
Whit Bazemore |
Bazemore put Chuck Etchells' Kendall Camaro on the pole with a 4.931 while Force grabbed the No. 2 spot with a 4.949 at a track-record speed of 307.86 mph. Bazemore will face No. 16 qualifier Cruz Pedregon (5.252) in Sunday's first round.
Funny Car results
The A/Fuel Dragsters of Rick Henkelman (5.46), John Costanza (5.496), and Melanie Troxel (5.523) grabbed the top three spots in the Federal-Mogul Dragster field and all advanced through Saturday's first round, though it was No. 4 qualifier Dale Carlson who wowed everyone with low e.t. of the round, 5.539.
Federal-Mogul Dragster results
The top three qualifiers in Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- Pat Austin, Steve Gasparrelli, and Bucky Austin - all advanced easily through the first round of eliminations with times in the 5.7-second zone the Austins had the round's two best times, 5.70 for Pat and 5.72 for his uncle Bucky.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car results
John Geyer held on to the top spot in Comp with his B/ED with a fine pass of 7.014, .606 under the index. Rick Braun is second in his B/EA Firebird at (-.586) 7.934 and Fred Gross third with his D/A at (-.582) 7.948.
Comp results
Twenty-three drivers remain in the hunt in Super Stock after two rounds, including perennial West Coast threats Len Schneider, Kyle Seipel, John Schiess, Mark Faul, Bill Blakeney, Frank Grossi, Bob Lambeck, and Stock racer Steve Wann.
Super Stock results
Fourteen Stock drivers remain in contention after the first two rounds of eliminations, including veterans Cal Method, J.R. Leerkamp, Mark Faul, Chuck Norton, Steve Wann, Don Little, Bill Kost, and Chuck Rayburn.
Stock results
Twenty drivers are set for Sunday's third round of Super Comp. Among the notables who survived Saturday's first two rounds are former season champ David Rampy, Mike MacBrair, Sheldon Gecker, John Spar, and Seattle winner Frank Kohutek.
Super Comp results
Gecker is also one of 17 racers still in the hunt for the Super Gas title. Racers joining him in the third round include Ted Seipel, Mike Ferderer, Damon Dabbs, Pete Boethe, and Ed DeStaute
Super Gas results
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