Indianapolis Force Ready for Big Bud Shootout

FORCE SEEKING FIFTH BIG BUD SHOOTOUT AT INDIANAPOLIS VICTORY CLERMONT, Ind. -- For the seventh consecutive year, John Force enters the Big Bud Shootout at Indianapolis as the top seed. On Sept. 6, Force will try to win a record fifth title in the special event for Funny Cars held during the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The winner of the 17th annual Big Bud Shootout at Indianapolis will earn $100,000. Any driver who can win the Shootout and the U.S. Nationals on Sept. 7 will earn a $50,000 bonus from NHRA. Force has hit the jackpot on two ocassions, sweeping both events in 1993 and 1996. A purse of $147,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the Shootout. The Shootout runner-up will earn $15,000, while the two semi-finalists will earn $6,000 each. The four first round finishers will earn $5,000 apiece. Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., qualified No. 1 at three of 21 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series events since mid-September 1997 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. The Big Bud Shootout at Indianapolis showcases the eight best Funny Car qualifiers since last year's Shootout. Drivers accumulated points at the 21 NHRA national events between last year's U.S. Nationals and this year's event, and a $4,000 bonus was awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each race. Several interesting matchups highlight the first round pairings for the Shootout. Arch-rivals Force and Hofmann will face each other, as will brothers Tony and Cruz Pedregon. Big Bud Shootout rounds are scheduled for noon, 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Sept. 6.

1998 BIG BUD SHOOTOUT AT INDIANAPOLIS FINAL STANDINGS 1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang 3,165 2. Ron Capps, San Diego, Copenhagen Chevrolet Camaro 3,020 3. Chuck Etchells, Putnam, Conn., Kendall GT-1 Chevrolet Camaro 2,840 4. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Interstate Batteries Pont. Firebird 2,815 5. Tony Pedregon, Gardena, Calif., Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang 2,775 6. Dean Skuza, Brecksville, Ohio, Matco Tools Dodge Avenger 2,600 7. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Team Winston Chevrolet Camaro 2,595 8. Al Hofmann, Umatilla, Fla., GM Performance Parts Pontiac Firebird 2,520

1998 BIG BUD SHOOTOUT AT INDIANAPOLIS ROUND PAIRINGS FIRST ROUND Force vs. Hofmann Capps vs. Bazemore Etchells vs. Skuza C. Pedregon vs. T. Pedregon SEMI-FINALS Force-Hofmann winner vs. C. Pedregon-T. Pedregon winner Capps-Bazemore winner vs. Etchells-Skuza winner FINAL: (4:45 p.m., Sept. 6)