Prudhomme’s Team Sets Sights on Force

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme grew up in Van Nuys and made his name in funny cars. He calls Pomona Raceway his backyard, and though the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis is the big cheese among drag racing events, the Snake still attaches a lot of value to the 42nd K&N; Filters Winternationals.

The owner of a three-car team won 10 races last season and would like nothing more than to begin his 40th year in drag racing with a season-opening victory today in the Powerade NHRA Drag Racing Series.

“It’s always more important to win in your backyard,” Prudhomme said Saturday as his funny car drivers, Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr., ended the day in the No. 5 and 16 qualifying positions. “I first raced here in 1963, and won the Winternationals in ’65 [in Top Fuel].

“In my mind, it’s one of the biggest races--if not the biggest--on the circuit.”

And Prudhomme wants to win. Badly.

“Trust me,” Prudhomme said, “[John] Force can be beat.” But Force was in the driver’s seat after Saturday’s third and fourth rounds of qualifying. Force, from Yorba Linda, retained the No. 1 qualifying position--his 107th--with his first-round elapsed time of 4.749 seconds (296.57 mph on qualifying run). His team took three of the top four spots.

Bellflower’s Gary Densham was No. 3 at 4.783 (326.87 mph), setting a national speed record that is measured in the last 66 feet of the track. Tony Pedregon of Chino Hills was No. 4 at 4.792 (303.57 mph).

“Obviously, it’s one of the proudest days of my life. I’ve never held a funny car record,” Densham said.

“To get the speed record back for Team Force, now we have the ET record [Force’s 4.731 last season] and speed record. As many good cars as we have out here this weekend, both those can fall.”

Whit Bazemore, who held the previous speed record at 325.45, prevented a Force Racing sweep by qualifying second with a 4.762, the day’s quickest elapsed time at 324.05 mph. Capps ran 4.814 (314.68 mph).

“They built a hell of a team around them, and they’re not ready to lay down for anybody,” Prudhomme said of Force Racing.

Prudhomme, 58, has spent 40 years in racing, 32 as a driver. He won 49 races as a driver, including four consecutive Winternationals from 1975-78 in a funny car.

Capps won this event in 1998 for Prudhomme.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

NHRA Winternationals

Today’s first-round elimination pairings at Pomoma Raceway:

TOP FUEL

Andrew Cowin, 4.490 seconds, 324.98 mph., vs. 16. John Smith, 4.842, 252.80.

2. Larry Dixon, 4.509, 326.87, vs. 15. Darrell Russell, 4.836, 244.60. 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.533, 330.88, vs. 14. Wyatt Radke, 4.830, 303.50. 4. Kenny Bernstein, 4.583, 326.16, vs. 13. David Grubnic, 4.768, 303.57. 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.593, 322.58, vs. 12. Scott Weis, 4.730, 313.88. 6. Clay Millican, 4.594, 319.29, vs. 11. Yuichi Oyama, 4.688, 307.86. 7. Don Lampus, 4.604, 307.30, vs. 10. Doug Herbert, 4.653, 316.97. 8. Cory McClenathan, 4.639, 322.73, vs. 9. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.648, 305.70.

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FUNNY CAR

John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.749, 322.27, vs. 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.042, 296.37. 2. Whit Bazemore, Pontiac Firebird, 4.762, 324.05, vs. 15. Johnny Gray, Firebird, 5.016, 302.55. 3. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.783, 326.87, vs. 14. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 4.971, 302.28. 4. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.792, 322.65, vs. 13. Gary Scelzi, Toyota Celica, 4.934, 306.40. 5. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.814, 314.68, vs. 12. Bob Bode, Dodge Avenger, 4.931, 300.73. 6. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.817, 318.09, vs. 11. John Lawson, Firebird, 4.907, 296.50. 7. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 4.860, 313.51, vs. 10. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 4.901, 297.42. 8. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T, 4.865, 290.94, vs. 9. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.883, 317.87.

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PRO STOCK

1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 6.815, 202.94, vs. 16. George Marnell, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.859, 201.34. 2. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.825, 202.42, vs. 15. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.855, 201.19. 3. Mark Osborne, Dodge Neon R/T, 6.828, 201.97, vs. 14. Larry Morgan, Neon R/T, 6.852, 202.30. 4. Tom Hammonds, Cavalier, 6.829, 202.03, vs. 13. Allen Johnson, Neon R/T, 6.851, 201.16. 5. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.832, 201.73, vs. 12. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.851, 202.12. 6. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 6.833, 202.88, vs. 11. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 6.849, 201.97. 7. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.840, 202.82, vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Cavalier, 6.847, 202.85. 8. Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 6.842, 201.97, vs. 9. Darrell Alderman, Neon R/T, 6.844, 201.79.