St. Louis Friday Recap

MADISON IL - SUMMIT FastNews - Courtesy of NHRA Communications - Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. joined the assault on Gateway International Raceway's record book Friday, posting his first career No. 1 qualifying effort at the third annual NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals. Johnson, from Ottumwa, Iowa, drove his Interstate Batteries Pontiac Firebird to a track record elapsed time of 4.897 seconds at 302.01 mph to pace the 16-car Funny Car order. It is the second start for former Top Fuel racer Johnson, who replaced Cruz Pedregon in the Joe Gibbs-owned machine. Johnson's run bumped category points leader John Force from the top spot. Force ran 4.916 at a track record speed of 310.70 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Gary Scelzi, Kurt Johnson, Matt Hines and Bob Panella were also leaders in their respective pro categories at the $1.6 million race, the 11th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., scored his third No. 1 qualifying position of the year, driving his Team Winston dragster to a 4.573 at 317.49. Joe Amato, No. 2 qualifier in Top Fuel, set a track speed record with his top speed of 317.57. Johnson, from Lawrenceville, Ga., claimed his third No. 1 qualifying effort of the season in Pro Stock with a track-record run of 6.932 at 198.20 in his AC Delco Chevrolet Camaro. Hines, from Trinidad, Colo., earned his third top qualifying effort of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, posting a track record run of 7.292 at 187.65 on his Eagle One Suzuki. Stockton, Calif.'s Panella earned his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock Truck, with a track record 7.633 at 176.12 in his Panella Trucking Chevrolet S-10. Final pro eliminations begin Saturday at 4 p.m. Results provided by the FastNews Network, courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment ** http://www.summitracing.com/ **