Kalitta, Burkart, Anderson & Gann Earn Wins at Bandimere
Written by Josh Katinger · July 18, 2004
MORRISON, Colo. - Scott Kalitta snapped a winless streak that lasted more than seven years Sunday by earning the Top Fuel victory at the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
NHRA.com: Sunday Recap
Phil Burkart (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Shawn Gann (Pro Stock Bike) also earned victories in their respective categories at the $1.8 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.
Kalitta beat Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel final, posting a win for the first time since Topeka 1997. Kalitta drove his Jesse James/Mac Tools dragster to a 4.747-second run at 313.58 mph to beat Schumacher’s 4.814 at 305.08 in his U.S. Army dragster.
“Consistency was key today and it’s something we’ve been missing all season,” Kalitta said. “I knew this crew was capable of getting it done, we just needed it to all fall into place.”
Kalitta was in the opposite lane two weeks ago in St. Louis when Darrell Russell’s dragster lost control and crashed. Russell died from the injuries.
“I had a friend riding with me today,” Kalitta said as he pulled a photo of Russell out of his pocket. “For what we went through together, running against him in his last race and for the way I was getting to know Darrell and become his friend this year, I can’t explain how I feel about this. It does mean a lot to me.”
LADDERS
Top Fuel
Funny Car
Pro Stock
Pro Stock Bike
Final finish order (1-16)…
TOP FUEL:
1. Scott Kalitta; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Brandon Bernstein; 4. Rhonda Hartman-Smith; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Larry Dixon; 7. David Grubnic; 8. Doug Herbert; 9. Bob Vandergriff; 10. Rob Passey; 11. Mitch King; 12. Mike Strasburg; 13. John Smith; 14. Scott Weis; 15. Don Sosenka; 16. Cory McClenathan.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Phil Burkart, Pontiac Firebird; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo; 4. Robert Schwab, Firebird; 5. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang; 6. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Camaro; 7. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 8. John Force, Mustang; 9. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo; 11. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus; 12. Gary Scelzi, Stratus; 13. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Celica; 14. Jeff Arend, Firebird; 15. Tony Bartone, Camaro; 16. Gary Densham, Mustang.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am; 2. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus; 3. Jason Line, Grand Am; 4.
Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier; 5. V. Gaines, Stratus; 6. Bruce Allen, Grand Am; 7. Warren Johnson, Grand Am; 8. Ron Krisher, Cavalier; 9. Dave Connolly, Cavalier; 10. Kenny Koretsky, Stratus; 11. Steve Johns, Cavalier; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier; 13. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier; 14. JR Carr, Cavalier; 15. Jim Yates, Grand Am; 16. Mike Edwards, Grand Am.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
1. Shawn Gann, Suzuki; 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 3. Antron Brown, Suzuki; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 5. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 7. Geno Scali, Suzuki; 8. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 10. Michael Phillips, Suzuki; 11. Blaine Hale, Suzuki; 12. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 13. Fred Camarena, Suzuki; 14. Redell Harris, Suzuki; 15. Kurt Matte, Suzuki; 16. Josh Helvie, Kawasaki.
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