Let's see now. We would include in the guaranteed "big" (as in home
run every time) moneymakers in NHRA national event competition the U.S.
Nationals, the two Pomonas, the Englishtown bash, and the Gatornationals.
So, it is not a good situation when one of these is rained out and postponed
as were the 2001 Gators. The new race date is April 21, and if you want
to get an idea of how much the wet smack smarts, just multiply the overhead
times two. Ouch.
TOP FUEL JUST A TAD OFF
Going into this edition of the Gatornationals, the track record was
a stout 4.510 by Mike Dunn set all the way back in 1999. That mark wasn't
even teased this year. Gary Scelzi utilized Alan Johnson horsepower
in the Team Winston car to run a decent (by 90-percent standards) 4.576.
Two other drivers made it into the 4.5s, they being Larry Dixon Jr.
in Don Prudhomme's Miller car and Dunn with the Steinbrenner/Gwynn Yankees
dragster. The speed mark was reset, though. Tony Schumacher's 325.77
from 1999 was bumped up by Dunn's Ken Veney-twisted pinstriper to a
326.79.
SKUZA LIGHTS UP THE OVERCAST
Dean Skuza's Mopar Dodge made an 11th hour 4.881/310.34 to slip into
the third slot in Funny Car.
|