Seattle post race notes

Contact: NHRA Communications (626) 914-4761

POST-RACE NOTES: NORTHWEST NATIONALS, AUG. 1-3, SEATTLE TOP FUEL *Cory McClenathan became just the second Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to sweep the annual "Western swing" of three races. McClenathan won the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals on July 20 at Denver, the Autolite Nationals on July 27 at Sonoma, Calif., and this event in the McDonald's Dragster. Joe Amato was the first driver to achieve the sweep, in 1991. *Cory McClenathan has won three consecutive NHRA national events for the first time in his career, which started in 1991. *Eddie Hill won two rounds at this event, doubling his previous win total of this season in the Pennzoil Dragster. Hill, from Wichita Falls, Texas, had a 1-11 record during eliminations entering this event. FUNNY CAR *Whit Bazemore became the winningest Funny Car driver this season with his third victory in the Team Winston Ford Mustang. Bazemore, from Indianapolis, was winless before this season. *John Force's winless streak extended to 12 races in the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, his longest drought in one season since 1989. Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., won the first two races of this season. *Ron Capps qualified No. 1 for the first time in his career. Capps, from San Diego, raced in Top Fuel in 1995 and 1996 before moving to Funny Car this season to drive the Copenhagen Chevrolet Camaro owned by Don "The Snake" Prudhomme. PRO STOCK *Jim Yates fell just a foot short of becoming the first Pro Stock driver to sweep the annual "Western swing" of three races. Mike Edwards beat Yates by a foot in the final. Yates won the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals on July 20 in Denver and the Autolite Nationals on July 27 at Sonoma, Calif., in the McDonald's Pontiac Firebird. *Jim Yates built his lead over Warren Johnson to 128 points in the NHRA Winston point standings, his largest advantage of the season. -30- 8/4/97-SW5-119