LAS VEGAS -- Doug Kalitta led the Top Fuel field Friday in
the SummitRacing.com Nationals, covering a quarter mile in 4.496
seconds at a top speed of 329.34 mph.
Gary Scelzi and Warren Johnson also topped their divisions in
the $1.8 million event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Scelzi led the Funny Cars with a 4.797-second run at 325.06 mph,
and Johnson topped the Pro Stock field at 6.824 and 201.46.
Scelzi pulled double-duty at The Strip, driving an Alcohol Funny Car in the sportsman ranks, where he is currently qualified No. 2 with one qualifying session remaining Saturday.
"I'm tired," Scelzi said. "This is too much work for a little fat Italian like me. I'm having a blast though. It's exciting. I haven't been in an Alcohol Funny Car in a long time and it showed, especially in Round 1. My wife said my burnouts were pathetic, so I'll try to work on that tomorrow.
"I'm used to 8,000 horsepower where you barely touch the pedal to do a burnout. The alcohol car only makes 3,000 horsepower so you really have to stand on it to get them spinning."
Here are Friday's results (qualifying continues Saturday; eliminations Sunday):
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 4.496 seconds, 329.34 mph; 2. Larry Dixon,
4.504, 330.39; 3. Morgan Lucas, 4.548, 325.69; 4. Rod Fuller,
4.557, 325.14; 5. Doug Herbert, 4.563, 326.16; 6. Cory McClenathan,
4.569, 326.16; 7. Jack Beckman, 4.610, 310.13; 8. Ben Marshall,
4.619, 319.29; 9. Scott Kalitta, 4.632, 301.74; 10. Scott Weis,
4.634, 298.67; 11. David Baca, 4.662, 300.40; 12. Brandon
Bernstein, 4.736, 296.57; 13. Mike Strasburg, 4.775, 286.25; 14.
Scott Palmer, 4.814, 278.92; 15. Mitch King, 5.004, 236.26; 16.
John Smith, 5.129, 207.72.
Funny Car
1. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.797, 325.06; 2. John Force,
Ford Mustang, 4.809, 325.53; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Monte Carlo,
4.809, 315.49; 4. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.813, 318.92; 5.
Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.813, 317.87; 6. Bob Gilbertson,
Monte Carlo, 4.833, 320.66; 7. Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo, 4.885,
319.67; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.907, 303.16; 9. Robert
Hight, Mustang, 4.945, 315.93; 10. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo,
4.957, 307.65; 11. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.958, 291.76; 12.
Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica, 5.008, 277.20; 13. Dale Pulde, Pontiac
Firebird, 5.175, 285.47; 14. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 5.219,
223.54; 15. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 5.226, 214.14; 16. Jack Wyatt,
Chevy Camaro, 5.597, 210.34.
Pro Stock
1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.824, 201.46; 2. Larry
Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.838, 200.92; 3. Ron Krisher, Chevy
Cavalier, 6.849, 201.22; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.854, 201.58;
5. Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.854, 200.17; 6. Kenny Koretsky,
Stratus, 6.857, 200.95; 7. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.859, 201.49;
8. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.865, 200.71; 9. V. Gaines, Stratus,
6.868, 201.22; 10. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.869, 200.11; 11. Greg
Stanfield, Cavalier, 6.870, 201.10; 12. Richie Stevens, Stratus,
6.874, 201.28; 13. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.880, 200.92; 14. Kurt
Johnson, Cavalier, 6.884, 201.10; 15. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.886,
200.32; 16. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.896, 200.50.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.