Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Top Fuel driver Russell in top form at Arizona tests

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 10:06 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

You can count NHRA Top Fueler Darrell Russell among the drivers who wish the 2002 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series were starting this weekend.

Russell, who drives the Bilstein Engine Flush Dragster for team owner Joe Amato, clicked off two blistering runs during a testing session this week at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.

Russell set career bests in both speed and elapsed time during a full day of testing on Monday. In the morning, Russell posted a run of 4.548 seconds at 323.89 mph and then backed up that run with one of 4.541 seconds at 316.45 mph in the afternoon.

The first run set a personal best for top speed and the afternoon run lowered his top elapsed time by three-thousandths of a second. Neither mark is considered official by the NHRA because they came during testing.

Russell's official personal bests in NHRA competition are 4.544 and 322.96.

"What a pair of runs," Russell said. "The most exciting thing is that we had a great run and then we turned right around and repeated it. That's the most encouraging thing of all; everyone pulls one out of the hat on occasion (but) when you can repeat it, then you know you're on to something great."

Dixon posted the best elapsed time for two straight days, with a top run of 4.51 seconds at 307.79 mph on Monday. The day before, Dixon's run of 4.52 at 305.84 in the Miller Lite Dragster also was the top elapsed time of the day.

"I think that the things that we are working on in testing seem to be going very well," Dixon said. "I think that we posted some pretty stout numbers without running it past three-quarter track. It seems like the car is kind of set up soft and it still seems to be running as good as we ran at the end of the season.

"If (crew chief) Dick (LaHaie) stands on the gas, it makes me wonder just how good the car is going to run, but I feel like we will be in pretty good shape for the start of the year."

Because of its strong test at Firebird, the team has cancelled its scheduled test sessions next weekend in Houston.

"I actually clicked it (off) early ... because of darkness," Cannon said. "It could have run a 4.77 or 4.78. It was getting late and it was hard to see so I shut it off right before the lights.

"All in all, the run really felt good from where I was sitting. The Oakley team needed this run because we did go through some troubles earlier and had to iron out a few things and go back to the basics. We accepted the fact the track was not going to hold a low 4.70."

Skuza has driven the Avenger body since the early 1990s but is hoping to gain more downforce with the new Stratus.

In addition to the test and tune, Saturday's card will feature competition in Street Muscle, Street Sport Compacts, a Gambler race and Honda/Acura Trophy Drags. Gates open at 8 a.m., time trials begin at 9 and eliminations are scheduled for noon.

Gates open at 8 a.m. Sunday for the Junior Dragster points race; time trials begin at 9 and eliminations start at noon.