McClenathan, Force set up rematch

Sunday, July 9, 2000 | 2:09 a.m.

In last year race, Force powered his Funny Car past McClenathan en route to the $200,000 victory.

"I can't wait to race Force," said McClenathan, who beat Whit Bazemore in the first round Saturday. "If you can take out the king of the hill, everyone will look at you like you're somebody."

The Winston Showdown is the only NHRA-sanctioned event to feature Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars during eliminations.

In other marquee Top Fuel-Funny Car matchups, Gary Scelzi will face Jim Epler, Tony Schumacher will race Tony Pedregon, and 1999 runner-up Bob Vandergriff will face Phil Burkart - one of four reinserted first-round losers.

Ron Krisher, Matt Hines and Bob Panella led their divisions into the final eliminations.

Krisher drove his Eagle One Pontiac Firebird to the front of the 16-car Pro Stock order with a quarter-mile run of 7.004 seconds at a top speed of 196.53 mph.

Hines dropped the track time record to 7.275 with a speed of 184.30 on his Eagle One Suzuki to take top honors in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Panella led eight Pro Stock Truck entries into eliminations as the top qualifier, clocking a track-record 7.637 at 176.56 in his Chevy S-10.