Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Alderman’s Neon lights up Pro Stock record

Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 | 10:23 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

The new Dodge Neon R/T wasted no time in making a splash in the NHRA Pro Stock category.

In only its second NHRA event, the 2001 Hemi-powered Neon R/T established a Pro Stock speed record and notched its first victory.

Darrell Alderman broke Warren Johnson's 2-year-old record (202.36 mph) with a 202.42 mph pass in Saturday's third qualifying session and then upped the mark to 202.64 mph in a second-round victory Sunday.

"We had high expectations of the new Dodge Neon prior to its arrival," Alderman said. "I think our old Dodge R/T bodies kind of hid the type of horsepower that (team owner and engine builder) David Nickens had gotten out of the Hemi engines to date.

"The new Neon just seems to cut right through that air. I could tell each run was going to be fast when I shifted from fourth to fifth gear and it just took off."

Alderman advanced to the final, where he faced off against Mopar Parts teammate Mark Osborne. Osborne defeated Alderman in the first all-Dodge Pro Stock final since 1995.

"I think we have a car equal to what General Motors has now," Osborne said. "The new Dodge Neon has really made our program look a lot better. We had shown some nice power numbers early in the season, but the Dodge R/T's were just a little wide and tall.

"We've been under a lot of pressure to do well (and) I think we're on to something good with these new Dodge Neons."

Scelzi qualified No. 1 with a track-record run of 4.512 seconds and then defeated Ron Smith, Doug Herbert, Mike Dunn and Kenny Bernstein on the way to the event title.

"Without a doubt, last weekend's win was one of the biggest of my career," Scelzi said. "We've fought so hard to get that first win this year. Coming off a nine-win season, it makes it tougher to swallow when you go 14 races between wins.

"We needed that win about as badly as we've ever needed a win. We couldn't afford to give up any points to Kenny Bernstein if we have any prayer of running him and (Larry) Dixon down. It's big when you can get every point available and that's what we did by qualifying No. 1 and winning the race."

Scelzi, fourth in points, trails the front-running Bernstein by 211 points going into this weekend's FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

"Now everyone can stop asking me when I am going to win 86," the 58-year-old Johnson said after his milestone victory. "It's nice to get it out of the way, but a win is a win. The rounds are what count; that's what allows you to win championships and that's what we're really out here to do. A win is a win and we are just happy to get it."

The special paint scheme is being used to promote the Columbia Pictures motion picture "Spider-Man," set for release next May.