Indianapolis: Force leads shootout field

Force leads Budweiser Shootout field from the no. 1 position.

CLERMONT, Ind. - For the 11th consecutive year, NHRA icon John Force enters the Budweiser Shootout at Indianapolis as the top seed. On Sept. 1, Force will try to win a record fifth title in the special event for Funny Cars held during the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The winner of the 20th annual Budweiser Shootout at Indianapolis will earn a $100,000 bonus from Anheuser-Busch. Any driver who can win the Shootout and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will earn a $50,000 'Double-Up' bonus from the NHRA.

A race day purse of $147,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the Budweiser Shootout. The Shootout runner-up will earn $15,000, while the two semifinalists will earn $6,000 each. The four first round finishers will earn $5,000 apiece.

Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., qualified No. 1 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang at seven of 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events that comprise the 2002 Budweiser Shootout.

The Budweiser Shootout at Indianapolis showcases the eight best Funny Car qualifiers since last year's Shootout. Drivers accumulated points at the 23 NHRA national events between last year's Mac tools U.S. Nationals and the 20th annual Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., and a $4,000 bonus was awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each race.

First-time Budweiser Shootout competitor Frank Pedregon earned the lucrative $100,000 bonus last year by when he defeated the eventual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner, Whit Bazemore, in the final round.

Budweiser Shootout rounds are scheduled for 12:30, 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sept. 1.

<pre> 2002 BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT AT INDIANAPOLIS STANDINGS 1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang 3,515 2. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Pontiac Firebird 3,465 3. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang 3,385 4. Scotty Cannon, Lyman, S.C., Oakley Pontiac Firebird 3,060 5. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang 3,055 6. Ron Capps, Vista, Calif., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Camaro 2,775 7. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck's Kragen Pontiac Firebird 2,685 8. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T 2,510

2002 BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT ROUND PAIRINGS

FIRST ROUND Force vs. Skuza Bazemore vs. Worsham Pedregon vs. Capps Cannon vs. Densham

SEMIFINALS Force-Skuza winner vs. Cannon-Densham winner Bazemore-Worsham winner vs. Pedregon-Capps winner

FINAL (4 p.m., Sept. 1)

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