Sonoma: Scott Geoffrion eliminatons summary

Geoffrion reaches quarterfinals at Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif., Aug. 3, 2003 - Scott Geoffrion recorded his first round win in the NHRA's western swing - races at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma in successive weekends - only to lose to Kurt Johnson in the quarterfinals of the Fram/Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway Sunday.

Geoffrion's Nitro Fish Ford ZX2 sent Mark Whisnant home early with a first-round 6.874-second, 201.91-mph run to Whisnant's foul start.

"The wheels were spinning from fourth gear to the finish line," Geoffrion said. "It wasn't a good run."

He had too much wheel spin against Johnson, too, and it cost him. Johnson won with a 6.829 at 202.58 to a 6.880 at 202.09.

"Eric (Luzinski, crew chief of the Hurley Blakeney-owned Ford) will get things figured out," Geoffrion noted. "One good thing is we will be taking all three of our motors to builder Bob Panella's shop in Stockton (Calif.) on Monday. We've never had all three there at the same time so we'll be able to dyno them to find out what kind of horsepower they're making and then we can figure a gear package for each motor. That will really help us."

Geoffrion left the track in eighth place with 638 points, but he's within striking distance of sixth. Seventh-place Mike Edwards has 649 and Ron Krisher is sixth with 671.

The Nitro Fish team's next outing comes at Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 15-17.

Qualified: No. 5, 6.788 seconds at 203.98 mph

First round: Geoffrion, 6.874 at 201.91 def. Mark Whisnant, foul; Quarterfinals: Kurt Johnson, 6.829 at 202.58 def. Geoffrion, 6.880 at 202.09

Pro Winners: Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; Gary Scelzi, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock

Pro Stock Top 10: 1, Greg Anderson, 1337; 2, Kurt Johnson, 1298; 3, Jeg Coughlin Jr., 982; 4, Warren Johnson, 978; 5, Allen Johnson, 707; 6, Ron Krisher, 671; 7, Mike Edwards, 669; 8, Scott Geoffrion, 638; 9, Bruce Allen, 579; 10, Greg Stanfield, 540