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presented by Ron Capps interview (Courtesy NHRA.com) Action introduces two new NHRA collectables
"The KISS dragster was such a big hit with fans, I can only imagine what they'll do when they get a look at this Kid Rock machine," said Kalitta, who is currently fifth in the POWERade championship points standings.. "I love rock n' roll music, its all about energy and intensity. A good rock song just gets everyone pumped." The team picked a great time to entertain one of the music industry's biggest names. The group, led by drag racing legend Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta and co-crew chief Jim Oberhofer, have collected the first three low qualifier honors up for grabs this season, proving time and again they have a very fast car. Action Performance Company will offer a limited edition, die-cast replica of the special, one-off paint scheme to commemorate the occasion.
(SpeedZone's Exclusive)..... interview with FC points leader (to March 15th) Ron Capps. (here more)
March 16, 2003 Gainseville, Florida (File Photos)
Pro Stock saw the younger Johnson, Kurt get
his first win of the year March 2, 2003 by Dean Murdoch Firebird Raceway was the scene of the second NHRA National
event of 2003. The desert like conditions make this a perfect spot
for early season drag racing. And the weather did not disappoint!
70 degrees and mostly sunny skies meant the fans were out in droves,
for the taste of nitro. Rookie Brandon Bernstein and seven other Top
Fuel competitors made statements as the top eight qualifiers all ran
in the 4.50’s. Brandon was #2 with a 4.517 right behind Doug
Kalitta’s second #1 qualifier in a row, 4.512. From there, Brandon
proved that his runner-up finish in the “Big Bud” shoot-out
was no fluke for the “prince”, as he made it to the final
and walloped the Miller Light “king” Larry Dixon on a 58/1000ths
hole shot and won with a 4.574 to a closing 4.539. Brandon deep-staged
in the final and I don’t think it was intentional especially
with the new LED’s. I could be wrong, but I bet the general (Tim
Richards) and dad Kenny had a good natured talk to him about deep-staging
with the new lights. I don’t want to know Larry’s reaction
after the race. “Team Force’s” Gary Densham also lost
on a huge hole-shot in the final of Funny Car after being the best
car in eliminations all day. Ron Capps won with a 4.86 to a closing
4.81 by Densham. Capps light is a telepathic 3/1000ths from perfect.
Pro Stock winner was Greg Anderson over Troy Coughlin. Of note, Ron
Krisher one of the slowest leaver’s in Pro Stock last year red
lit for the second race in a row. No TAD or TAFC results because,
well, THEY WERE NOT RUNNING, geesh!!!! Calgary’s Rick Distefano
ran the quickest pass in NHRA Comp. Eliminator history when he ran
6.28 in the first round. Canadian Ray Carlson in Super Street went
to the 1/4’s and Abe Loewen made it to the semis in Super Stock. Other winners include Dean Carter in Comp Eliminator over David Rampy: Larry Zavala defeated Kevin Nicks in Super Stock when Nicks was disq. for deep-staging: Ken Passerby got by Keith Lynch in Stock: Jason Brinks defeated Gerry Nelson in Super Comp: Larry Scarth took out Jerry Denton Jr. in Super Gas and Ron Kelly Jr defeated Doug Young in Super Street. Photos by Rich Carlson
Top Fuel Final saw Bernstein defeat Dixon
Clay Millican
David Baca
Funny car final saw Densham loose on a holeshot.
Gary Scelz iadorned in Oakley/Mopar stealth
Bob Gilbertson
Troy and Greg
J.R. Carr
Best Appearing
Best Engineered
Cool Comp pairing of Distefano and Carter
Keith Lynch
Calgary's Ken Mostowich Super Gas Vette
Super Stock final
Canadian Ray Carlson went rounds in Super Street |
|
March
15, 2003
The
beer Wars in Top Fuel are heating up in NHRA
Drag Racing. Three events so far, and the beer cars (Miller Lite car
and Budweiser car) have the three wins. Brandon Bernstein won his
second of the year to close the gap to less than a round behind season
opening 
winner Larry Dixon.Bernstein walloped first time finalist John Smith
on the starting line at in performance as the "Prince" ran
a 4.59 to the Prestone driver's 4.71. David Baca had his best result
as a TF rookie making it to the semis before bowing out to Smith in
a smoke filled 3rd round match-up. Dixon lost to Bernstein in the
other semi. Of note, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits failed to qualify
after running a best of 4.75 at a very fast 323mph. Large father has
three more events to qualify for the first time in swamp rat 34 in
a decade. Shirley Muldowney did get in, in the 16 hole, but lost on
a holeshot in here first round match-up against Doug Kalitta. My pick
to win the event let me down in the first round, as Clay Millican
was squashed by David Baca. In
Funny Car, Gary Densham redeemed a final round hole shot thrashing
at Phoenix, to defeat Del Worsham, who was making his first final
of the season. Team Shoe drivers, Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore lost
in the semis. #1 qualifier had a long streak of 28 straight elimination
passes in the 4's broken in the second round when he struck the tires
and tripped the lights in 10 seconds.
over
Jeg Coughlin. Kurt had the most consistent and the fastest car of
the weekend as he made no runs slower than 202.56, or an ET of less
than 6.837. Notable was Scott Geoffrion Ford Escort XR, running Ford's
quickest pass ever. A stellar 6.798 at over 202 mph. Scott made it
to the second round before losing to Jeggie. Also of note, the two
Dodge teams had a thumbs up and thumbs down weekend, with Allen Johnson's
two car team (with DA) qualify with the Neons and Allen making it
to the semis, but the other team with Larry Morgan and Gene Wilson
(the only one to run a Stratus) both failing to qualify again. How
quick before Mopar pulls the plug on the second team. While all involved
say the Stratus is as good or better in the wind tunnel the result
with the new body are suspect at best. PS Bike
had a surprise winner in my opinion, as Angelle Savioe got a win in
first first race with here new team. She did it with a consistent
7.20 bike and good fortune as two of here rivals, red lit away better
runs including in the final, as Geno Scali lit the red LED. Biggest
note was Andrew Hines qualifying with the Vtwin Harley. He ran a best
of 7.27 and make it all the way to the semis before the motor back
fired allowing Scali to ride by. Check out the Alcohol, Doorslammer,
and Motorsport Zone for the rest of the weekend highlights. 
