(Right) Warren Johnson scored
win No. 97 with a stunning final-
round Pro Stock victory against
Jeg Coughlin Jr., who minutes
earlier had won in Top Dragster
(left) and was seeking a rare
double win.
night and went back to our old combination “Rodger [Brogdon] bought me a new engine, and B/SA ’02 Firebird on Kevin Cradduck’s foul. Bob
from two [or] three years ago, and it worked.” that’s big. On the first couple of runs, I didn’t get a Fuller scored his fourth win by defeating Tommy
Hight’s Automobile Club of Southern California handle on it. Craig Treble sent me a clutch, but I Phillips in the Super Comp final, and Super Gas
Mustang zipped past Dale Creasy Jr., boss Force, wasn’t going to use it, but after I made a couple honors went to Jerry Duke in a double-breakout
and Ron Capps with an improving string of 4.23, runs in qualifying, I decided to put it in. After a final-round battle with Scott Vandewalker. IHRA
4.16, and 4.15 passes to reach the final, the 27th couple of passes, I got it tuned. hitter Marco Abruzzi defeated Rich Smith in the
of his career. “LE’s motorcycle is my old bike. That’s the one Top Sportsman final for his first NHRA event win.
After a day of upsets, the Pro Stock Motorcycle that Eddie Murphy rode. I told him, ‘I can’t let you Von Smith raced to victory over a tough field in
final pitted Phillips against first-time finalist LE beat me on my old piece.’ That kid didn’t cut me the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag
Tonglet. Phillips collected win No. 4, using a 6.92 any slack. He’s a good rider, and he’s gonna be Racing Series. Smith got around No. 1 qualifier
to drive around Tonglet’s clutch .001 reaction time tough. Now that the Suzuki guys have bigger Danny Rowe in the second round en route to the
and 7.00 in the first all-Suzuki final since the engines, it’s going to be real competitive this year. final, in which he outpowered Dennis Radford,
2006 Reading event. Phillips wheeled The Racers It’s not just going to be the V-Rods and the Buells. 5.93, 243.81 to 6.08, 233.44, for his first win in
Edge Suzuki to his 10th final and second of the Now, we can all make a statement.” the series. ND
year — he finished third in the NHRA Four-Wide In NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action,
Nationals final and so did not receive runner-up defending event champ Jeff Taylor went back to Class coverage, more photos on page 24
status — by racing past David Hope and former back to collect win No. 41 in Super Stock,
world champs Matt Smith and Krawiec.
“It is my best performance,” said Phillips.
defeating Jimbo Fields in the final, and Bobby