Oildown Update

NHRA 'Oildown' Update Following six of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series

Top Fuel oildowns:

David Grubnic - 4 (four during qualifying for $2,000 total) 1- Phoenix; 1-Houston1; 2-Richmond

Doug Herbert - 3 (one in qualifying and two in eliminations for $2,500 total and 20 points) 2- Phoenix (20 pts); 1- Houston1

Doug Kalitta - 3 (two in qualifying and one in eliminations for $2,000 total and 10 points) 2- Pomona1; 1- Gainesville (10 pts)

Cory McClenathan - 3 (two in qualifying and one in eliminations for $2,000 total and 10 points) 1- Pomona1; 1- Gainesville; 1-Richmond (10 pts)

Bob Vandergriff - 3 (one in qualifying and two in eliminations for $2,500 total and 20 points) 2- Phoenix (10 pts); 1- Richmond (10 pts)

Bobby Baldwin - 2 (two in qualifying for $1,000 total) 2- Las Vegas

Rhonda Hartman-Smith - 2 (two in qualifying for $1,000 total) 1- Pomona1; 1- Las Vegas

Mike Smith - 2 (one in qualifying and one in eliminations for $1,500 total and 10 points) 2- Houston1 (10 pts)

Melanie Troxel - 2 (one in qualifying and one in eliminations for $1,500 total and 10 points) 1- Pomona1; 1- Las Vegas (10 pts)

Larry Dixon - 1 (one in eliminations for $1,000 total and 10 points) 1- Las Vegas (10 pts)

Joe Hartley - 1 (one in eliminations for $1,000 total and 10 points) 1- Houston1 (10 pts)

Robert Reehl - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Phoenix

Ron Smith - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Phoenix

Steve Smith - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Gainesville

Total Top Fuel fines after six events = $19,500, 100 championship points

Funny Car oildowns:

Ron Capps - 3 (two in qualifying and one in eliminations for $2,000 total and 10 points) 2- Phoenix (10 pts); 1- Las Vegas

Tony Pedregon - 3 (two in qualifying and one in eliminatons for $2,000 total and 10 points) 1- Pomona1; 1- Phoenix (10 pts); 1- Houston1

Johnny Gray - 2 (one in qualifying and one in eliminations for $1,500 total and 10 points) 1- Pomona1; 1- Phoenix (10 pts)

Terry Haddock - 2 (two in qualifying for $1,000 total) 1- Phoenix; 1- Richmond

Todd Paton - 2 (two in qualifying for $1,000 total) 1- Las Vegas; 1- Houston1

Dean Skuza - 2 (one in qualifying and one in eliminations for $1,500 and 10 points) 1- Las Vegas (10 pts); 1- Houston1

Dale Creasy Jr. - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Las Vegas

Gary Densham - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Phoenix

Jim Epler - 1 (one in eliminations for $1,000 total and 10 points) 1- Houston1 (10 pts)

John Force - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Phoenix

Bob Gilbertson - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Gainesville

Larry Huff - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Pomona1

Mitch McDowell - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Las Vegas

Freddie Neely - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Gainesville

Cruz Pedregon - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Las Vegas

Frank Pedregon - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Pomona1

Wyatt Radke - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Pomona1

Bruce Sarver - 1 (one in qualifying for $500 total) 1- Houston1

Total Funny Car fines after six events = $15,500, 50 championship points

Total fines issued = $35,000, 150 championship points

First driver to receive oildown penalty: Rhonda Hartman-Smith (TF), $500 fine during qualifying at NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.

Top Fuel driver with the most oil violation fines through six events: David Grubnic, Monana Express dragster, 4 oildowns ($2,000).

Funny Car driver(s) with most oil violation fines through six events: (tie) Ron Capps, U.S. Tobacco Camaro, 3 oildowns ($2,000/10 points) and Tony Pedregon, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, 3 oildowns ($2,000/10 points).

Most points lost to oildown violations: Top Fuel drivers Doug Herbert and Bob Vandergriff (-20 points each).

Most fines paid due to oildown violations: Top Fuel drivers Doug Herbert and Bob Vandergriff ($2,500 total).

18 Funny Car drivers have received fines for oiling the race surface.

14 Top Fuel drivers have received fines for oiling the race surface.

Five Funny Car drivers have lost points.

Eight Top Fuel drivers have lost points.

Season oil clean-up time for first six races: Top Fuel clean-up time - 4 hours, 28 minutes Funny Car clean-up time - 3 hours, 53 minutes Total clean-up time - 8 hours, 21 minutes

Most oil downs in one race: 14 at Phoenix

Least oil downs in one race: 5 at Gainesville, Fla. and Richmond, Va.

Least amount of downtime: 24 minutes total at Gainesville, Fla.

Most downtime: 2 hours, 21 minutes, at Phoenix

Longest individual oildown cleanup: 37 minutes (Johnny Gray (FC) at Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.)

Quickest finish: 5 hours, 20 minutes (11 a.m. start, 4:20 p.m. finish), Gainesville, Fla.

Longest event: 6 hours, 15 minutes (11 a.m. start, 5:15 finish), Richmond, Va.**

** A timing system malfuction added approximately 30 additional minutes of downtime to this event.