Sonoma: Goodyear Racing final summary

Records Fall During Nhra Race At Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2004) -- Goodyear-equipped cars won four classes at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the best total among tiremakers in the event.

John Force set a track speed record for the Funny Car class during eliminations when he reached 322.42 mph in the semifinal round. It was the third straight event in which Goodyear's D2300 rear drive tire for the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes has been part of a track record for one of those classes.

Tim Wilkerson beat Force in the Funny Car final when Force triggered the red light at the starting line by leaving too early, Doug Kalitta beat David Grubnic in Top Fuel, Greg Anderson won for the 12th time this year in Pro Stock and Morgan Lucas won an all-Goodyear final against Duane Shields in Top Alcohol Dragster.

"I think the new tire is fine," Wilkerson said of the D2300. "(Goodyear's sales and marketing manager for drag racing) Carolyn (Ashbee) and those folks seem receptive to listening to us and as long as they keep doing that -- I think we're going to be in a good partnership forever, myself."

Wilkerson's win came after he qualified third. Force was the top qualifier and seemed destined to add to his NHRA-record career victory total. Instead Force left the starting line early and Wilkerson went down the track to victory.

Sunday's rounds of elimination were held under several different weather conditions: Cloudy and cool for the first round, sunny and warm in the afternoon, then cool and windy for the finals.

Anderson's victory in Pro Stock left him one win away from the NHRA single-season record with eight races remaining in 2004. The record is held by Force.

Anderson narrowly beat Dave Connolly in the final round.

Kalitta's Top Fuel win was his third of the season and the fourth of his career at Infineon. He was the top qualifier as well.

Lucas' victory was the tip of the iceberg for Goodyear in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. Shields was the top qualifier and had the low elapsed time of the event for the class, 5.235 seconds. Ashley Force, the Goodyear-shod daughter of John, had the best speed of the weekend, 275.00 mph. Three of the four semi-finalists in TAD raced on Goodyear tires.

Cars equipped with Goodyear tires reached the final round in two other sportsman classes, Stock Eliminator, where Peter Biondo was a finalist, and Super Comp, where Gary Forkner finished second.

The next race on the NHRA POWERade schedule is the Aug. 12-15 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minn.

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