Event: 20th annual Checker/Schuck's/Kragen Nationals, second of 23 races in the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Site: Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz.

Date: March 7, 2004.

Event winners: TOP FUEL – Brandon Bernstein, FUNNY CAR – Del Worsham, PRO STOCK – Kurt Johnson, COMPETITION – David Rampy, STOCK – Tony Lang, SUPER COMP – Ken Serpan, SUPER GAS – Rod Fuller, SUPER STREET – Ray Carlson.

Headline: RECORDS DON'T PAY OFF FOR CASTROL FORDS

Highlights: Gary Densham pushed the Team Castrol/Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang to track records of 4.773 seconds and 325.77 miles per hour, but he couldn't transform that performance into a victory in the 20th annual Checker/Schuck's/Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Densham, the No. 1 qualifier, was ousted in the second round when a glitch in the clutch timers slowed him to a pedestrian-line 6.022 seconds against former teammate Tony Pedregon.

Rookie Eric Medlen actually was the most productive of the Team Castrol drivers in ust his second professional race. After qualifying fifth in the Castrol SYNTEC Ford Mustang, the 30-year-old former high school rodeo champion posted the quickest time during eliminations at 4.822 seconds and reached the semifinals before he also fell to Pedregon.

John Force, the 12-time NHRA Funny Car Champion and a Phoenix winner seven times in 10 years, was upset in round one by Phil Burkart Jr.

Densham remained second in points while Medlen and Force swapped positions, Medlen moving into a fifth-place tie with Jerry Toliver and Whit Bazemore; Force falling from fifth to ninth.

* * * *

POWERade Series points (unofficial standings after two of 23 races):

FUNNY CAR – 1. Del Worsham, 186; 2. Gary Densham, 151; 3. Gary Scelzi, 129; 4. Tony Pedregon, 125; 5. Tie, Whit Bazemore, Jerry Toliver and Eric Medlen, 111 each; 8. Phil Burkart, 103; 9. John Force, 94; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 89.

TOP FUEL – 1. Tony Schumacher, 194; 2. Doug Kalitta, 192; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 188; 4. David Grubnic, 132; 5. Darrell Russell, 111; 6. Cory McClenathan, 105; 7. David Baca, 105; 8. Larry Dixon, 94; 9. Clay Millican, 89; 10. Scott Kalitta, 67.

PRO STOCK – 1. Greg Anderson, 196; 2. Kurt Johnson, 191; 3. Warren Johnson, 149; 4. Larry Morgan, 148; 5. David Connolly, 146; 6. Jeg Coughlin Jr., 109; 7. Bruce Allen, 88; 8. Tie, Allen Johnson and Mike Edwards, 84 each; 10. Jason Line, 68.

* * * *

TEAM CASTROL Details:

JOHN FORCE, 54, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car
Qualifying position and performance: 3rd at 4.808 seconds, 319.82 mph.
Race results: Lost to Phil Burkart Jr.
Notable: Extended qualifying streak to a record 325 consecutive events.
Quotable: "I almost red-lighted (fouled). I caught it, but then I was late (off the starting line) and Burkart was gone on me. My fault." – JOHN FORCE.

ERIC MEDLEN, 30, Castrol SYNTEC Ford Mustang
Qualifying position and performance: 5th at 4.836 seconds, 316.08 mph.
Race results: Beat Bob Bode, Tommy Johnson Jr.; lost to Tony Pedregon.
Notable: Won first competitive round and posted the event's quickest competitive time at 4.822 seconds.
Quotable: "I feel like I let the guys down and that's what I hate. I had a good race car but I just made a rookie mistake." – ERIC MEDLEN

GARY DENSHAM, 57, Team Castrol/Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang Funny Car
Qualifying position and performance: 1st at 4.773 seconds, 325.77 mph.
Race results: Beat Tony Bartone; lost to Tony Pedregon.
Notable:
Quotable: "The clutch wore a little more than we expected and that caused a couple of levers to activate prematurely. Otherwise, it was going to run another 4.80." – Crew Chief JIMMY PROCK.

* * * *

NEXT EVENTS: Mac Tools Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla., March 19-21; Summitracing.com Nationals, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2-4; O'Reilly Spring Nationals, Houston, Texas, April 16-18; O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn., April 30-May 2.

####

Force Will Start Third and Medlen Fifth at CSK Nationals

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Gary Densham drove the Automobile Club of Southern California Mustang to a track record time of 4.773 seconds Saturday and claimed the No. 1 qualifying position for Sunday’s 20th annual Checker/Schuck’s/Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

For less than a minute, it appeared that Dodge driver Whit Bazemore might get the top spot after leapfrogging past first day leader John Force with a time of 4.782 seconds. But while Bazemore was in the middle of his TV interview at the end of the track, Densham came blazing by at 323.05 miles per hour to qualify No. 1 for the sixth time in his career.

Force, who after day one was in position to claim the 119th No. 1 of his career, wound up third after his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang lost traction at approximately 100 feet downtrack in the lane opposite Densham.

The third Ford, the Castrol SYNTEC Mustang driven by Eric Medlen, will start fifth on Sunday after improving to 4.836 seconds, third quickest time of the last session.

“It was really going to run some speed,” said Jimmy Prock, Densham’s Crew Chief, “but it spun the tires from 1,000 feet on. It probably would have run 327.”

Runner-up at the season-opening K&N Filters Winternationals last week at Pomona, Calif., Densham actually goes into Sunday’s 2 p.m. (ET) eliminations as the POWERade points leader. He inherited that position after Pomona winner Jerry Toliver failed to make the 16-car lineup.

Densham will oppose 16th qualifier Tony Bartone in Saturday’s first round and, if he advances, he likely will face former teammate Tony Pedregon in round two. Pedregon, who last year won the POWERade championship in the SYNTEC Ford, was the No. 8 qualifier Saturday in a Pontiac. He opposes his brother, Cruz, in another first round race on Sunday.

“No telling how fast this thing will run,” Densham said. “We’ve got a couple things we know are wrong but we’re afraid to change them ‘cause the car is running so good right now. Once we get to a track like Chicago or maybe even Las Vegas, it wouldn’t surprise me if we were to run 330.

“It ran 264 at halftrack today and this track is nothing like Chicago. What can you say. Jimmy Prock is just a wizard. Some of the things he does, the calls he makes. It’s remarkable.”

Medlen, making only his second professional start in a car tuned by his father, John, will oppose Bob Bode in Sunday’s first round. Force, the only Funny Car driver to have won this race more than once, will open against Phil Burkart Jr.

Force, a seven-time winner of the CSK race, was a little surprised that anyone was able to better the 4.808 second time he put up on Friday but he was delighted that the record and the No. 1 spot ultimately wound up in his teammate’s hands.

“Densh saved us,” Force said. “Baze was already counting his money and Densh picked his pocket. When Baze ran .78, I thought, ‘that might be tough to beat.’ My ol’ heap just wouldn’t stick but that’s why we’ve got a three-car team. Densham stepped up for Ford, John Force and Auto Club.

“It wasn’t all bad for me, though. At least I don’t have to race one of my teammates until the final. Of course, the way we ran on the last run, the final looks like it’s a long way away. But (Austin) Coil and Bernie (Fedderly) will figure it out. We’ll be ready tomorrow.”

* * * *

CHANDLER, Ariz. – First round pairings for Sunday’s 20th annual Checker/Schuck’s/Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, second of 23 races in the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

FUNNY CAR – 1. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Automobile Club of Southern California Ford, Mustang, 4.773, 325.77 mph, vs. 16. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., Pontiac Firebird, 4.996, 296.96 mph; 2. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Dodge Stratus, 4.782, 322.34 mph, vs. 15. Keith Jackson, Lakewood, Colo., Pontiac Firebird, 4.978, 293.35 mph; 3. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 4.8808, 319.82 mph, vs. 14. Phil Burkart Jr., Yorkville, N.Y., Pontiac Firebird, 4.968, 281.19 mph; 4 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 4.823, 311.99 mph, vs. 13. Bob Gilbertson, Charlotte, N.C., Pontiac Firebird, 4.938, 310.48 mph; 5. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol SYNTEC Ford Mustang, 4.836, 316.08 mph, vs. 12. Bob Bode, Barrington, Ill., Pontiac Firebird, 4.934, 299.20 mph; 6. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Dodge Stratus, 4.843, 319.60 mph, vs. 11. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calilf., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 4.908, 306.26 mph; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Pontiac Firebird, 4.861, 312.28 mph, vs. 10 Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 4.904, 314.24 mph; 8 . Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 4.881, 310.27 mph, vs. 9. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 4.900, 311.99 mph.

TOP FUEL – 1. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 4.486, 324.15 mph, vs. 16. Glenn Mikres, Peoria, Ariz., 8.457, 97.45 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 4.511, 325.06 mph, vs. 15. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 6.567, 126.54 mph; 3. Darrell Russell, Hockley, Texas, 4.513, 326.08 mph, vs. 14. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., 4.912, 220.73 mph; 4. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.553, 325.06 mph, vs. 13. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, 4.649, 266.42 mph; 5. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., 4.553, 323.43 mph, vs. 12. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Williamston, S.C., 4.634, 311.41 mph; 6. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.553, 320.81 mph, vs. 11. John Smith, Williamston, S.C., 4.632, 306.53 mph; 7. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., 4.563, 320.05 mph, vs. 10. David Baca, Pittsburg, Calif., 4.627, 310.77 mph; 8. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.602, 325.14 mph, vs. 9. Doug Herbert, Lincolnton, N.C., 4.621, 305.29 mph.

PRO STOCK – 1. Greg Anderson, Monroesville, N.C., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.746, 204.23 mph, vs. 16. Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.828, 201.91 mph;
2. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.784, 202.30 mph, vs. 15. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.827, 202.36 mph; 3. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.792, 203.00 mph, vs. 14. Jim Yates, Occoquan, Va., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.826, 201.94 mph; 4. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.797, 203.86 mph, vs. 13. Jerry Haas, Fenton, Mo., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.825, 203.52 mph; 5. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.803, 204.35 mph, vs. 12. J.R. Carr, Pasco, Wash., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.821, 203.06 mph; 6. David Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.806, 202.64 mph, vs. 11. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Dodge Stratus, 6.818, 202.85 mph; 7. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Dodge Stratus, 6.809, 203.03 mph, vs. 10. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.816, 203.12 mph; 8. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.810, 203.52 mph, vs. 9. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Stratus, 6.813, 203.54 mph.

####

Densham Breaks Firebird Raceway Speed Record at 325.77 Miles Per Hour

CHANDLER, Ariz. – John Force, the only Funny Car driver to have won the Checker/Schuck’s/Kragen Nationals on more than one occasion, took the first step toward claiming that title for the eighth time Friday when he drove his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang into the provisional No. 1 position with a time of 4.808 seconds at 319.82 miles per hour.

That was .001 of a second quicker than the time posted at Firebird International Raceway by Whit Bazemore in one of the Schumacher Racing Dodges and, with warmer weather expected Saturday, it likely will be good enough to earn the 109-time tour winner his 119th career No. 1 qualifying away; his second in as many races this year.

“I didn’t know (we were quickest),” Force said. “Somebody said we ran a 4.82. I didn’t know until I got back to the pits that we were No. 1. My crew never tells me anything.

“That’s going to be hard to anybody to beat (on Saturday). With the sun off the track and the temperatures down, (Friday night’s conditions) were the best we’re going to have.”

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, Force is assured of extending to 325 the number of consecutive NHRA national events for which he has qualified a Castrol-backed Funny Car. The last time he didn’t make a starting field was Oct. 31, 1987.

Force had to share the first day spotlight with teammate Gary Densham, who broke a Firebird speed record by pushing the Automobile Club of Southern California Mustang through the finish line clocks at a speed of 325.77 mph.

Densham’s 4.815 second time was good enough for the No. 3 spot. Each driver will have two more opportunities to improve his position and performance on Saturday. Final eliminations will begin at 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, rookie Eric Medlen continued to impress at the controls of the car that won the 2003 NHRA POWERade Championship.

The one-time high school rodeo champion spurred the Castrol SYNTEC Mustang through the quarter mile timers in 4.84 seconds at 312.93 mph, good enough for the No. 5 position.

* * * *

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Professional qualifiers after the first two of four preliminary sessions leading to Sunday’s 20th annual Checker/Schuck’s/Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway:

FUNNY CAR – 1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 4.8808, 319.82 mph; 2. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Dodge Stratus, 4.809, 322.11 mph; 3. Gary Densham, Bellflower, Calif., Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, 4.815, 325.77 mph; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 4.823, 311.99 mph; 5. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol SYNTEC Ford Mustang, 4.846, 312.93 mph; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Pontiac Firebird, 4.861, 312.28 mph; 7. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Dodge Stratus, 4.878, 319.60 mph; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 4.900, 311.99 mph;
9. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Pontiac Firebird, 4.904, 314.24 mph; 10. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calilf., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 4.908, 306.26 mph; 11. Bob Bode, Barrington, Ill., Pontiac Firebird, 4.934, 299.20 mph; 12. Bob Gilbertson, Charlotte, N.C., Pontiac Firebird, 4.938, 310.48 mph; 13. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 4.950, 3111.63 mph; 14. Phil Burkart Jr., Yorkville, N.Y., Pontiac Firebird, 4.968, 281.19 mph; 15. Keith Jackson, Lakewood, Colo., Pontiac Firebird, 4.978, 293.35 mph; 16. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., Pontiac Firebird, 4.996, 296.96 mph.

TOP FUEL – 1. David Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., 4.486, 324.15 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 4.511, 325.06 mph; 3. Darrell Russell, Hockley, Texas, 4.513, 326.08 mph; 4. Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., 4.553, 325.06 mph; 5. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., 4.553, 323.43 mph; 6. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 4.553, 320.81 mph; 7. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., 4.563, 320.05 mph; 8. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., 4.602, 317.42 mph; 9. Doug Herbert, Lincolnton, N.C., 4.621, 305.29 mph; 10. David Baca, Pittsburg, Calif., 4.627, 310.77 mph; 11. John Smith, Williamston, S.C., 4.632, 306.53 mph; 12. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Williamston, S.C., 4.634, 311.41 mph; 13. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, 4.649, 266.42 mph; 14. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., 4.912, 220.73 mph; 15. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 11.690, 83.02 mph.

PRO STOCK – 1. Greg Anderson, Monroesville, N.C., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.746, 204.23 mph; 2. Bruce Allen, Arlington, Texas, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.784, 202.30 mph; 3. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.792, 203.00 mph; 4. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.797, 203.86 mph; 5. David Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.806, 202.64 mph; 6. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Dodge Stratus, 6.809, 203.03 mph; 7. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Dodge Stratus, 6.813, 203.54 mph; 8. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.816, 203.12 mph; 9. Darrell Alderman, Morehead, Ky., Dodge Stratus, 6.818, 202.85 mph;
10. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.820, 203.52 mph; 11. Jerry Haas, Fenton, Mo., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.825, 203.52 mph; 12. Jim Yates, Occoquan, Va., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.826, 201.94 mph; 13. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Pontiac Grand Am, 6.827, 202.36 mph; 14. J.R. Carr, Pasco, Wash., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.835, 202.15 mph; 15. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.836, 203.71 mph; 16. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier, 6.851, 201.94 mph.

####

14. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Chevrolet Cavalier,
15. Fernando Quadra, Leon, Mexico, Chevrolet Cavalier,
16. Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Pontiac Grand Am,

Shaun Carlson, Ontario, Calif., Dodge Stratus
Mike Corvo Jr., Park Ridge, Ill., Dodge Neon
Kenny Koretsky, Richboro, Pa., Dodge Stratus
Troy Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, Chevrolet Cavalier
George Marnell, Las Vegas, Nev., Pontiac Grand Am
Mark Whisnant, Stockbridge, Ga., Chevrolet Cavalier
Steve Johns, Mountville, Pa., Chevrolet Cavalier
Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., Dodge Neon
Barry Grant, Dahlonega, Ga., Chevrolet Cavalier
Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis, Chevrolet Cavalier
Ben Watson, Concord, Calif., Chevrolet Cavalier

Indeed, Force wasn't even in the Top 10 after the season's first four races
before rallying to salvage third place.

"Nobody's going to dominate this series like we did (in the past)," Force said. "Just look at what happened at Pomona (in last week's K&N Winternationals). (Jerry) Toliver goes out and finds some money (Schick razors) and wins with a Toyota.

"So that's another player. We already had the Dodges (Whit Bazemore and Gary Scelzi), Prudhomme's two cars (with drivers Tommy Johnson Jr. and defending CSK champion Ron Capps), the Worsham family (with cars for Del Worsham, Phil Burkart and Cory Lee) and the Pedregon brothers (Tony and Cruz) plus Tim Wilkerson. There's no room for mistakes."

Force's 2003 mistakes were to some extent a product of the system.

NHRA's decision to change the conventional light bulbs in its Christmas Tree
starting apparatus to brighter and more durable LED bulbs proved his undoing. The new lights indeed were brighter – too bright, as it turned out. At least for Force.

"I had to re-educate myself," Force said. "I had it in my head that I couldn't red light, but I did. So I had to adust. Now I know that on good tracks I have to be careful and not get too aggressive (at the start). It's just an adjustment, that's all.

"(Austin) Coil and Bernie (Fedderly) fixed the race car; I fixed the driver."

BY THE NUMBERS....
3 Number occupied in 2003 point standings.
10 Consecutive series titles (1993-2002)
12 Series Championships
109 NHRA POWERade tour victories
324 Consecutive series starts
839 Competitive rounds won

RACE AT A GLANCE....
*John has won seven of the last 10 races at Firebird International Raceway (1994-97, 1999-2001).
*John was the first Funny Car driver to break the 4.80 second barrier at Firebird (4.797 in 2002).

* * * *

DID YOU KNOW:
John earned the 118th No. 1 qualifying award of his career last week as the quickest qualifier at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona, Calif....John was named the favorite to win the 2004 POWERade Championship in a poll of motor sports writers conducted by the Ontario (Calif.) Daily Report....at the Winternationals, John extended to 324 the record number of consecutive events for which he has qualified a Castrol GTX Funny Car. The last time he missed a 16-car starting field, ironically, was Halloween, 1987, when he failed to qualify for the season-ending World Finals, a misstep that cost him second place in points behind Kenny Bernstein. He ultimately finished fourth.

"You just have to drive it until it shakes hard enough to where it's smoking the
tires and then get out of it," he said. "It seems like the farther out there it gets, the time it takes from shaking until it's loose is way shorter."

Despite his lack of seat time, Medlen already has impressed many veteran
observers including his own father.

"All I can say is the kid can drive," beamed the elder Medlen, whose credits
include tour victories in both Top Fuel and Funny Car and stints with some of the sport's top teams including those owned by Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme.

"He came back after the very first run (in testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway) after he shut it off at haltrack," the Crew Chief recalled, "and I asked him, 'why'd you shut it off?' 'I think it dropped a cylinder,' he said. I told him I didn't think so, but he said it sounded funny and it made a move like it dropped a cylinder.

"Mind you, he had only been in one of these cars half a dozen times or so. So, I came back, looked at the data and, sure enough, it dropped a cylinder."

He may still be in school, but the rookie is proving to be a very fast learner.

BY THE NUMBERS....
1 Number of races as a pro driver
8 Years as a crewman at John Force Racing
4.783 Qualifying time at last week's season opener, good enough for the No. 2 spot behind only Force's 4.746.

RACE AT A GLANCE....
*The Castrol SYNTEC Ford is the track record holder at Firebird Raceway at 4.789 seconds, 322.11 miles per hour.
*As the supercharger technician on John Force's Castrol GTX High Mileage™ Ford Mustang, Medlen won four times at Firebird (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001).

* * * *

DID YOU KNOW?
Before his father called him in 1996 offering him a job at John Force Racing, Eric was contemplating a professional rodeo career as team roping partner to 1975 World Champion Jerold Camarillo....Eric studied mechanical engineering for three years at Terra Technical University in Fremont, Ohio....Eric paid his own way to Frank Hawley's Driving School using money gleaned from the sale of three racing go-karts and a "chopper" motorcycle he built for himself at a cost of $30,000.

Indeed, Prock has become one of the most respected Crew Chiefs in the Funny Car division since joining John Force Racing in 2001.

Funny Car Crew Chief was to have been a temporary position for Prock, who actually was hired to oversee the still non-existent John Force Racing Top Fuel dragster.

Known for his ability to build huge quantities of horsepower, power that delivered 21 NHRA Top Fuel victories to drivers Joe Amato and Cory McClenathan, Prock this year has been testing a variety of "power applications," drag racing-speak for clutch combinations.

"It doesn't make any difference how much power you make if you can't get it to the ground," Prock said. "That was our problem in testing. What we have now is pretty close to what we had then. The difference is that it seems to be working. Basically, we're trying to work two or three years ahead."

Of course, if such future technology pays dividends in the present, who are Prock and Densham to complain?

"Hey, I'm just along for the ride," Densham said. "Based on what happened at Pomona, who knows how quick and fast these cars will go before the season's out. All I know is that this is one fast hot rod and that makes it a whole lot of fun just to show up for work every day."

BY THE NUMBERS....
5 Finishing position in 2003 standings
6 Career NHRA POWERade tour victories
16 Final round appearances
32 Years driving pro Funny Car
244 Races run before winning for the first time (in September, 2001, at Memphis, Tenn.)

RACE AT A GLANCE....
*Gary was runner-up at last year's CSK Nationals, losing in the final round to Ron Capps.
*The 2001 CSK Nationals was the last race in which Gary drove his own Funny Car. He reached the semifinals before losing to Bruce Sarver.

* * * *

DID YOU KNOW?
On behalf of the Auto Club, Gary addresses more than 60 student groups each year, stressing safe driving and education and explaining the career opportunities available in the automotive field....when he's not driving his own car, Gary is schooling son Steven who is licensed in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class....for 27 years, Gary taught auto shop at Gahr High School in Cerritos, Calif. He ran his own Funny Car team with a crew comprised of students.

TEAM CASTROL Track Fax

Event: 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals, first of 23 races in the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Site: Pomona Raceway at the LA County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.

Date: Feb. 29, 2004

Event winners: TOP FUEL – Tony Schumacher, FUNNY CAR – Jerry Toliver, PRO STOCK – Greg Anderson, TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Mitch Myers, TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Dennis Taylor, COMPETITION – Dean Carter, SUPER STOCK – Abe Loewen, STOCK – Toby Lang, SUPER GAS – Bob Harris Jr.

Headline: DENSHAM LEADS TEAM CASTROL FORDS IN SEASON OPENER

Highlights: Veteran Gary Densham drove the Team Castrol/Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang to the final round of the season-opening 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals but couldn't close the deal at the Los Angeles County Fairplex.

Although Densham forged a solid .061 second starting line advantage in his final round duel with the Toyota of Jerry Toliver, his Ford ultimately was victimized by tire shake that slowed it to 4.955 after it had sped to times of 4.763, 4.757 and 4.775 seconds in a dominating performance in the first three rounds.

As for John Force, the 12-time NHRA Funny Car Champion, he deserved a better fate after qualifying No. 1 (4.747 seconds) for the 118th time in his storied career and pushing his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang to times of 4.843 and 4.789 seconds in the first two rounds.

The latter time would have won any other match in the second round – except the one against Densham. Despite the early exit, Force left the Fairplex in much better position than he did a year ago. He will go to Phoenix for this week's CSK Nationals in fifth place in NHRA POWERade points.

Rookie Eric Medlen, a sensation during qualifying and the No. 2 starter at 4.783, also succumbed to tire shake problems in a first round duel with Toliver.

* * * *

POWERade Series points (unofficial standings after one of 23 races):

FUNNY CAR – 1. Jerry Toliver, 101; 2. Gary Densham, 93; 3. Gary Scelzi, 75; 4. Del Worsham, 74; 5. John Force, 58; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 56; 7. Whit Bazemore, 54; 8. Cory Lee, 53; 9. Eric Medlen, 37; 10. Tie, Phil Burkart, Tony Pedregon, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Bob Bode, 32 each.

TOP FUEL – 1. Tony Schumacher, 117; 2. Doug Kalitta, 98; 3. Tie, David Grubnic and Brandon Bernstein, 74 each; 5. Clay Millican, 56; 6. Darrell Russell, 55; 7. Tie, David Baca and Larry Dixon, 53 each;9. Tie, Doug Herbert, Scott Kalitta, Cory McClenathan and Scott Palmer, 32 each.

PRO STOCK – 1. Greg Anderson, 118; 2. Warren Johnson, 94; 3. Kurt Johnson, 77; 4. Larry Morgan, 75; 5. Tie, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Mike Edwards, 53 each; 7. David Connolly, 52; 8. Shaun Carlson, 51; 9. Jason Line, 36; 10. J.R. Carr, 34.

* * * *

TEAM CASTROL Details:

JOHN FORCE, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car
Qualifying position and performance: No. 1 at 4.746 seconds, 324.36 mph.
Race results: Beat Cruz Pedregon; lost to Gary Densham.
Notable: Extended qualifying streak to 324 consecutive events and earned his 118th No. 1 qualifier award.
Quotable: "We've got three good hot rods and they're just going to get better. I felt bad for Gary because he's always wanted to win this race, but he'll be in the hunt at Phoenix – and so will Eric and I will be, too. I'm excited." – JOHN FORCE.

ERIC MEDLEN, Castrol SYNTEC Ford Mustang Funny Car
Qualifying position and performance: No. 2 at 4.783 seconds, 320.58 mph.
Race results: Lost to Jerry Toliver.
Notable: Led the qualifying after three of four sessions and posted career best quarter mile numbers in his professional debut.
Quotable: "It shook really hard at the start. I thought I could drive through it. I pedaled it (feathered the throttle) it but by the time it started to recover, Toliver came by me and I knew it was over. I have a lot to learn, but it's fun. I can't wait for Phoenix."
– ERIC MEDLEN.

GARY DENSHAM, Team Castrol/Auto Club of Southern California Ford Funny Car:
Qualifying position and performance: No. 8 at 4.847, 321.42 mph.
Race results: Beat Phil Burkart Jr., John Force, Gary Scelzi; lost to Jerry Toliver.
Notable: Was quickest in each of the first two rounds while reaching the final round for the 16th time in his career.
Quotable: "This one really hurt. This is my home track and this was the best chance I had to win here in 36 races. But at least we know we've got a fast hot rod. (Crew Chief) Jimmy (Prock) made a lot of changes after qualifying and they paid off." – GARY DENSHAM.

* * * *

Next events: CSK Nationals, Phoenix, Ariz., March 5-7; Mac Tools Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla., March 19-21; Summitracing.com Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., April 2-4; O'Reilly Spring Nationals, Houston, Texas, April 16-18.

####