Reigning Driver Of The Year Anderson Sets Both Ends Of Pacific Raceways Track Record
Written by Josh Katinger · July 23, 2005
Dixon, Medlen also overnight qualifying leaders at 18th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals
KENT, Wash. — Two-time defending POWERade Series Pro Stock world wchampion Greg Anderson set both ends of the Pacific Raceways track record in early during the first day of qualifying for the 18th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Friday.
NHRA.com: Friday Recap
ESPN.com: Point leaders can’t rest on laurels
TheNewsTribune.com: A little jawing between buds
Anderson’s Summit Racing Pontiac GTO was the quickest car following the first day of qualifying, crossing the finish line in a track record time of 6.672 seconds at a track record speed of 206.70 mph to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position. The final two rounds of qualifying at the $1.4 million race, the 14th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, will be held Saturday.
Track records fell in both of the other professional categories with Larry Dixon and Eric Medlen earning the provisional No. 1 qualifying positions in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively.
Rain early in the day pushed the schedule back into the evening which led to nearly perfect weather conditions as the air temperature cooled under partly cloudy skies.
“Conditions were optimum and we were absolutely licking our chops to get on the track,” said Anderson, who has won two races in a row here at Pacific Raceways. “When you know you’ve got a chance to run 6.60s at 205, 206 mph, it’s very exciting. If not for the humidity, we would have run world record numbers. That was a great run but by no means was it a perfect run. There’s more in there.”
Anderson, who lost the points lead a week ago in Denver to Warren Johnson after a second-round loss to Dave Connolly, is looking like a heavy favorite to leapfrog Johnson once again.
Ladders
Friday Qualifying Results
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon, 4.541 seconds, 326.40 mph
2. David Baca, 4.549, 322.34
3. Tony Schumacher, 4.551, 326.16
4. Doug Kalitta, 4.552, 322.34
5. Scott Kalitta, 4.556, 316.15
6. David Grubnic, 4.566, 326.08
7. Morgan Lucas, 4.621, 314.68
8. Jack Beckman, 4.643, 320.97
9. Doug Herbert, 4.649, 312.50
10. Cory McClenathan, 4.656, 321.19
11. Melanie Troxel, 4.662, 307.44
12. Brandon Bernstein, 4.732, 315.71
13. Scott Weis, 4.766, 296.05
14. Mitch King, 4.926, 275.00
15. John Smith, 5.112, 203.43
16. Bobby Lagana Jr., 10.664, 87.97
Funny Car
1. Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.735, 323.12
2. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.776, 325.85
3. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.776, 322.65
4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.777, 324.05
5. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 4.782, 324.83
6. John Force, Mustang, 4.793, 306.74
7. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.806, 318.62
8. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.812, 319.75
9. Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.823, 313.22
10. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 4.841, 320.51
11. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.858, 314.17
12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.876, 310.91
13. Frank Pedregon, Stratus, 4.889, 308.21
14. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.999, 312.57
15. Terry Haddock, Pontiac Firebird, 5.050, 307.79
16. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 5.095, 230.96
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.672, 206.70
2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.688, 206.42
3. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.691, 205.82
4. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.695, 206.07
5. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Cavalier, 6.705, 205.79
6. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.705, 204.98
7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.707, 205.13
8. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.709, 206.10
9. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.723, 204.79
10. Mike Thomas, Stratus, 6.732, 205.38
11. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.745, 204.88
12. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.750, 204.73
13. Ben Watson, Cavalier, 6.766, 202.94
14. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.769, 205.01
15. Bob Panella, Cobalt, 6.787, 203.58
16. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.792, 203.37
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