Columbus: Friday summary

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Whit Bazemore posted the only four-second Funny Car run to lead Friday's qualifying for the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at historic National Trail Raceway. NHRA officials were forced to cancel the evening qualifying session after a heavy thunderstorm moved into the area. Racing will resume as scheduled Saturday, with the first pro qualifying session scheduled for 11 a.m. Gary Scelzi, Jeg Coughlin, Antron Brown and Bob Panella were also qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $1.9 million race, the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Bazemore clocked a 4.993 second time at 297.55 mph in the Chuck Etchells-owned Kendall Chevy Camaro to pace the 16-car Funny Car order. "It's exciting to come out and be the low qualifier after the first round," said Bazemore, who'll try to hold his position and earn his first No. 1 qualifying effort of the season tomorrow. "We're just going to concentrate on making sure we're on top when qualifying's done." Scelzi was quickest in Top Fuel, running 4.651 at 313.73 in his Team Winston dragster. "We're going to try and go quicker and faster tomorrow," said Scelzi, winner of the last three events. "Alan (Johnson, crew chief) has some different things that he wants to try with the car. We achieved our mission today, and that was to get solidly in the field. Now we can start working on our raceday setup." Hometown favorite Coughlin led the Pro Stock order, covering the distance in 7.016 at 196.16 in an Oldsmobile Cutlass. Brown topped the field in Pro Stock Motorcycle, posting a 7.302 at 183.29 on a Suzuki. Panella set a track record for time to lead Pro Stock Truck, driving his Chevy S-10 to a 7.610 at 176.79. Fellow Chevy S-10 driver Randy Daniels was second with a track speed record of 177.67.

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Friday's qualifying results for the 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations for the 11th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Top Fuel -- 1. Gary Scelzi, 4.651 seconds, 313.73 mph; 2. Joe Amato, 4.681, 309.98; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.699, 311.63; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 4.828, 299.53; 5. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.890, 303.09; 6. Doug Herbert, 4.986, 243.77; 7. Doug Kalitta, 5.107, 205.76; 8. Chris Karamesines, 6.035, 207.53; 9. David Grubnic, 9.195, 89.01; 10. Kenny Bernstein, 9.467, 93.34; 11. Larry Dixon, 9.751, 90.67; 12. Joe Hartley, 9.870, 84.96; 13. Don Lampus, 10.631, 88.53; 14. Cory McClenathan, 10.832, 82.48; 15. Bobby Lagana, 27.012, 38.51.

Funny Car -- 1. Whit Bazemore, Chevy Camaro, 4.993, 297.55; 2. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 5.019, 288.09; 3. Frank Pedregon, Pontiac Firebird, 5.032, 298.80; 4. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.048, 304.32; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 5.104, 274.61; 6. Gary Densham, Dodge Avenger, 5.119, 278.29; 7. Del Worsham, Firebird, 5.147, 289.94; 8. Todd Paton, Camaro, 5.151, 283.55; 9. John Force, Ford Mustang, 5.158, 284.93; 10. Dale Creasy Jr., Firebird, 5.281, 283.91; 11. John Lawson, Firebird, 5.418, 281.01; 12. Cory Lee, Avenger, 5.618, 271.08; 13. Jerry Toliver, Pontiac Firebired, 5.780, 170.34; 14. Ron Capps, Camaro, 5.992, 153.00; 15. Cristen Powell, Firebird, 6.101, 143.29; 16. Scott Weis, Chevy Corvette, 6.969, 131.77.

Pro Stock -- 1. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.016, 196.16; 2. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 7.028, 195.65; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.031, 195.82; 4. Brad Jeter, Pontiac Firebird, 7.032, 196.19; 5. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.036, 194.69; 6. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.041, 195.65; 7. Mike Thomas, Firebird, 7.043, 195.53; 8. Mark Pawuk, Firebird, 7.044, 195.53; 9. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.053, 195.48; 10. Ron Krisher, Firebird, 7.055, 196.22; 11. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 7.063, 195.51; 12. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.065, 195.03; 13. Hurley Blakeney, Ford Probe, 7.069, 194.88; 14. Mike Trumble, Firebird, 7.085, 195.17; 15. Darrell Alderman, Avenger, 7.090, 193.90; 16. George Marnell, Firebird, 7.093, 195.14.

Pro Stock Bike -- 1. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.302, 183.29; 2. David Schultz, Suzuki, 7.320, 182.40; 3. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.328, 184.75; 4. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.332, 183.00; 5. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki, 7.458, 178.73; 6. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.494, 177.58; 7. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.496, 173.99; 8. Tony Mullen, Suzuki, 7.512, 179.73; 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.519, 179.28; 10. Reggie Showers, Suzuki, 7.523, 177.88; 11. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.547, 176.12; 12. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.549, 166.29; 13. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.595, 175.84; 14. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.610, 174.30; 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.614, 172.83; 16. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.641, 176.49.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.610, 176.79; 2. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.617, 177.67; 3. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.654, 176.37; 4. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.654, 176.37; 5. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.655, 176.79; 6. Steve Johns, S-10, 7.663, 176.74; 7. Rick Jones, GMC Sonoma, 7.668, 175.64; 8. Brian Self, S-10, 7.668, 175.32; 9. Larry Seay, S-10, 7.672, 175.16; 10. Todd Patterson, Dodge Dakota, 7.676, 175.39; 11. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.687, 175.66; 12. Larry Perkins, S-10, 7.687, 175.23; 13. John Lingenfelter, Sonoma, 7.689, 175.11; 14. David Spitzer, Sonoma, 7.694, 175.37; 15. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.697, 175.23; 16. Steven Farr, S-10, 7.705, 175.87.