Kalitta, Force and Coughlin Claim No. 1 Qualifying Positions at Texas Motorplex
Written by Josh Katinger · September 26, 2004
ENNIS, Texas — Pro Stock dominator Greg Anderson moved into position to clinch his second consecutive NHRA POWERade Series world championship by qualifying third Saturday at the O’Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at the Texas Motorplex.
NHRA.com: Saturday Recap
Anderson needs only to win his first round match against rival Kurt Johnson in Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations to secure the $200,000 season-long title. Anderson, who is enjoying one of the most impressive seasons in NHRA Pro Stock history, also could set the NHRA single-season win record at 14 with a race victory.
“Facing Kurt in the first round is perfect,” Anderson said of his former teammate. “We have a lot of history together and I’m sure both of us will be looking forward to it. This is where we clinched our championship last year and I would like nothing more than to do it here this year too, especially since it’s two races earlier than last year.”
Should Anderson beat Johnson in their first round meeting, it would be the earliest that any NHRA driver has clinched a championship title. In 1996 John Force secured his sixth championship in the semifinals at Indianapolis with four races remaining on the schedule.
Doug Kalitta, Force and Jeg Coughlin earned No. 1 qualifying positions at the $1.7 million race, the 19th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Ladders
First-round Pairings for Sunday Eliminations
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 4.536 seconds, 320.36 mph vs. 16. Mitch King, 4.813, 298.47; 2. David Grubnic, 4.540, 326.79 vs. 15. John Smith, 4.756, 300.20; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 4.578, 326.40 vs. 14. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.716, 316.23; 4. Tony Schumacher, 4.582, 324.36 vs. 13. Andrew Cowin, 4.706, 316.38; 5. Cory McClenathan, 4.585, 305.70 vs. 12. Joe Hartley, 4.696, 319.37; 6. Scott Kalitta, 4.589, 324.75 vs. 11. Scott Weis, 4.679, 309.98; 7. Larry Dixon, 4.590, 317.94 vs. 10. David Baca, 4.648, 312.06; 8. Morgan Lucas, 4.619, 318.24 vs. 9. Doug Herbert, 4.631, 316.38.
Funny Car — 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.784, 324.20 vs. 16. Jeff Arend, Chevy Corvette, 4.932, 312.93; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.810, 318.02 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.912, 313.58; 3. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.830, 321.42 vs. 14. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Celica, 4.912, 311.34; 4. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.834, 322.04 vs. 13. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 4.910, 313.44; 5. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.835, 317.72 vs. 12. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.898, 314.02; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.845, 316.38 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Monte Carlo, 4.892, 315.64; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.848, 320.97 vs. 10. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.879, 317.79; 8. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.855, 318.17 vs. 9. Tony Bartone, Pontiac Firebird, 4.859, 312.71.
Pro Stock — 1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.774, 204.35 vs. 16. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.819, 202.73; 2. Steve Johns, Cavalier, 6.780, 204.14 vs. 15. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier, 6.816, 202.61; 3. Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.786, 203.55 vs. 14. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.812, 202.88; 4. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.786, 203.49 vs. 13. Rickie Smith, Cavalier, 6.808, 203.25; 5. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.788, 203.52 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, Cavalier, 6.807, 203.61; 6. Kenny Koretsky, Dodge Stratus, 6.793, 203.31 vs. 11. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.803, 202.85; 7. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.794, 203.65 vs. 10. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.803, 203.25; 8. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.799, 203.83 vs. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.801, 203.77
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