Topeka Top Fuel

>From the Prodigy Auto Racing BB

Friday-Session 1 - Top Fuel               -Left lane first- 
1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme             
                                                            
Number    Driver               R/T           E.T.   Speed   
T/F  303  PAT DAKIN           0.523          4.856  295.85* 
T/F  703  TIM GIBSON          0.533          7.791  110.10  
   Tim started to slow down just past half track.           
   .                                                        
T/F   10  EDDIE HILL          0.498         21.080   28.56  
T/F    6  JOE AMATO           0.470          4.616  314.46  
   Eddie shut it off almost immediately. Joe makes a very   
   strong pass.                                             
T/F  747  RHONDA HARTMAN      0.550          4.859  298.70* 
T/F   12  BOB VANDERGRIFF     0.533          4.898  276.07  
   Bob was mixing up cylinders at about 900'.               
   .                                                        
T/F    7  MIKE DUNN           0.473          8.891   87.42  
T/F    2  SCOTT KALITTA       0.482          4.785  292.01  
   Mike smokes'em at about 100 feet out.                    
   .                                                        
T/F    4  LARRY DIXON         0.653          5.047  239.29  
T/F    8  SHELLY ANDERSON     0.506          4.727  302.11  
   Larry shook the tires a little on the launch. Shelly     
   was dropping cylinders from 1000' on.                    
T/F  888  JIM HEAD            0.514          4.749  306.43  
T/F  356  TONY SCHUMACHER     0.467          4.785  293.82  
   A good side-by-side drag race.                           
   .                                                        
T/F    3  CORY McCLENATHAN    0.574          4.651  314.46  
T/F    5  GARY SCELZI         0.531          4.632  310.88  
   Another good side-by-side run.                           
   .                                                        
T/F    1  KENNY BERNSTEIN     0.473          6.218  130.05  
T/F   17  BRUCE SARVER        0.527          4.776  306.12  
   Kenny started to lift at half track, had to set it       
   down.                                                    

Friday-Session 2 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 2 SCOTT KALITTA 0.489 9.603 80.01 T/F 7 MIKE DUNN 0.488 4.697 302.82 Scott was up in smoke at about 200'. A nice pass for Mike. T/F 8 SHELLY ANDERSON 0.522 9.953 83.63 T/F 4 LARRY DIXON 0.490 9.764 87.32 Both cars were up in smoke at about 200'. . T/F 356 TONY SCHUMACHER 0.495 10.669 88.47 T/F 888 JIM HEAD 0.480 9.836 80.32 A repeat of the last pair. . T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.530 11.122 73.33 T/F 3 CORY McCLENATHAN 0.663 4.663 315.67 Gary smokes'em at about 200'. Cory has a strong run. . T/F 17 BRUCE SARVER 0.509 4.691 312.28 T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.350 4.709 317.12 That was a very nice side-by-side drag race. . T/F 703 TIM GIBSON 0.734 7.058 121.78* T/F 10 EDDIE HILL 0.577 8.593 81.16 Both cars lose traction at about 400'. . T/F 12 BOB VANDERGRIFF 0.603 4.716 301.20* single Bob had the candles lit all the way down. .

Saturday-Session 1 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 4 LARRY DIXON 0.518 4.860 298.01 T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.489 4.639 312.71 No apparent problems for Larry. A strong pass for Gary. . T/F 888 JIM HEAD 0.515 4.722 303.54* T/F 17 BRUCE SARVER 0.590 4.962 249.16 Bruce lost power at the top end of the track. . T/F 3 CORY McCLENATHAN 0.548 4.662 311.85* T/F 703 TIM GIBSON 0.503 7.314 112.10 Tim got off the throttle at half track. . T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.506 4.884 281.77 T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.510 4.649 305.60 Kenny hazed the tires at about 200'. . T/F 303 PAT DAKIN 0.521 4.734 301.30* T/F 12 BOB VANDERGRIFF 0.516 12.464 64.21 Bob pulled the front end up about three feet, came down pretty hard. T/F 10 EDDIE HILL 0.523 4.734 598.80 T/F 2 SCOTT KALITTA 0.511 4.729 305.60 A smooth run for both cars. . T/F 7 MIKE DUNN 0.531 4.657 307.27* T/F 8 SHELLY ANDERSON 0.575 4.876 293.35 Shelly hazed the tires a little, around half track. . single T/F 356 TONY SCHUMACHER 0.494 4.734 289.01 Tony was losing cylinders at the finish. .

Saturday-Session 2 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.467 4.653 305.81* T/F 3 CORY McCLENATHAN 0.557 4.799 268.97 Cory lost power at the finish. . T/F 12 BOB VANDERGRIFF 0.524 4.828 285.53 T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.492 4.802 301.10 Bob had some body panels fly off the car at the finish. He was clutching his arm when he got out of the car. T/F 2 SCOTT KALITTA 0.532 4.749 285.71 T/F 10 EDDIE HILL 0.500 4.762 300.40 Scott dropped a cylinder at about 800'. . T/F 8 SHELLY ANDERSON 0.529 9.431 75.87 T/F 7 MIKE DUNN 0.554 4.677 308.64 Shelly was up in smoke at about 200'. . T/F 356 TONY SCHUMACHER 0.462 4.922 256.11 T/F 4 LARRY DIXON 0.508 4.796 306.12 Tony's engine let go in the traps. . T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.471 9.650 76.90 T/F 888 JIM HEAD 0.494 4.733 299.70 Gary got off the throttle about 100 feet out. . T/F 703 TIM GIBSON 0.526 6.991 118.71* single Tim shut it off at about 500'. .

Top Fuel Qualifying List After Session 2, Saturday 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Pos Name Number E.T. Speed When 1 JOE AMATO T/F 6 4.616 314.46 Fri1 2 GARY SCELZI T/F 5 4.632 310.88 Fri1 3 CORY McCLENATHAN T/F 3 4.651 314.46 Fri1 4 MIKE DUNN T/F 7 4.657 307.27 Sat1 5 BRUCE SARVER T/F 17 4.691 312.28 Fri2 6 KENNY BERNSTEIN T/F 1 4.709 317.12 Fri2 7 BOB VANDERGRIFF T/F 12 4.716 301.20 Fri2 8 JIM HEAD T/F 888 4.722 303.54 Sat1 9 SHELLY ANDERSON T/F 8 4.727 302.11 Fri1 10 SCOTT KALITTA T/F 2 4.729 305.60 Sat1 11 PAT DAKIN T/F 303 4.734 301.30 Sat1 12 EDDIE HILL T/F 10 4.734 300.40 Sat1 13 TONY SCHUMACHER T/F 356 4.734 289.01 Sat1 14 LARRY DIXON T/F 4 4.796 306.12 Sat2 15 RHONDA HARTMAN T/F 747 4.859 298.70 Fri1 16 TIM GIBSON T/F 703 6.991 118.71 Sat2

Sunday-Round 1 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 8 SHELLY ANDERSON 0.550 4.767 299.10W T/F 888 JIM HEAD 0.477 4.874 279.24 Jim got loose at half track, went thru the traps with the motor smoking. Shelly's motor let go at the finish. T/F 12 BOB VANDERGRIFF 0.492 4.732 299.70W T/F 2 SCOTT KALITTA 0.483 8.225 88.53 Scott was up in smoke at about 200'. . T/F 10 EDDIE HILL 0.559 4.837 301.50 T/F 17 BRUCE SARVER 0.520 4.757 308.53W Eddie pulled the front end up a little on the launch. Overall, a pretty good drag race. T/F 4 LARRY DIXON 0.477 4.682 316.34W T/F 3 CORY McCLENATHAN 0.531 10.152 70.29 Cory was up in smoke at the 60' mark. Larry lays down his career best mph on a very smooth pass. T/F 747 RHONDA HARTMAN 0.506 4.776 297.42 T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.479 4.739 312.17W Gary had a split-second loss of traction at about 300', but recovered immediately. T/F 703 TIM GIBSON No show T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.529 4.662 313.58W Tim rolled through the beams and red lighted. A very nice pass for Joe. T/F 356 TONY SCHUMACHER 0.477 4.943 264.62W T/F 7 MIKE DUNN 0.504 4.935 237.34 Mike's engine let go at 1000'. He lost 13 mph from his half track speed going through the traps. T/F 303 PAT DAKIN 0.486 8.875 88.38 T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.491 4.741 309.70W Pat was up in smoke at about 200'. Kenny dropped a cylinder at the finish.

Sunday-Round 2 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 356 TONY SCHUMACHER 0.495 8.269 102.81 T/F 17 BRUCE SARVER 0.496 4.711 310.34W Tony put up a cloud of smoke big enough to kill every mosquito between here and Emporia. T/F 4 LARRY DIXON 0.495 4.706 313.26 T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.480 4.678 314.02W Larry started skating around at the top-end of the track. T/F 12 BOB VANDERGRIFF 0.500 4.914 273.72 T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.462 4.728 302.31W There was a lot of engine smoke coming out of Bob's engine at about 1000'. T/F 8 SHELLY ANDERSON 0.546 4.702 307.58 T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.499 4.680 300.60W A good side-by-side drag race. .

Sunday-Round 3 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 17 BRUCE SARVER 0.524 5.397 180.38 T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.496 4.641 314.02W Bruce was up in smoke at about 400'. Joe puts down another 4.6 pass. He's running very consistant. T/F 5 GARY SCELZI 0.467 4.717 308.95 T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.488 4.680 309.17W A good drag race, MOV .016 .

Sunday-Round 4 - Top Fuel -Left lane first- 1997 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals by Bob Orme Number Driver R/T E.T. Speed T/F 1 KENNY BERNSTEIN 0.479 4.656 317.34W T/F 6 JOE AMATO 0.504 4.644 309.81 That was a heck of a race! Kenny's holeshot MOV was .013