The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NHRA: Team Mopar Top Fueler Looks to End Streak

20 August 1998

CENTER LINE, MI., - All good things come to those who wait. Well for Team Mopar Top Fuel driver Mike Dunn, the waiting game is over. Winless since the 1996 Pennzoil Nationals in Memphis, Tn., the 41-race drought makes the NHRA Champion Auto Stores Nationals the perfect time to reach the winner's circle.

This Season: In 1998, Team Mopar Top Fuel driver Mike Dunn has been the model of consistency. Qualifying #1 twice (Pomona & Atlanta), reaching the semifinals six times (Gainesville, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Madison & Seattle) along with setting career bests in E/T and MPH, Dunn and the Mopar dragster is a win waiting to happen. The 1995 Champion Auto Stores Nationals Top Fuel Champion, Dunn dazzled the crowd last season with a wheel-standing run in which he recovered near half-track saving the car and producing minimal damage.

They said it: Mike Dunn
"It is going to be awful tough for us to win the Winston Championship. We needed to cut the points lead in half on the West Coast swing and we weren't able to do so. Were not mathematically out of the race yet, but we have our work cut out for us. I felt our Mopar dragster had a great chance to win the race in Seattle. We just haven't been able to get to a final round and that is a bit frustrating."

"Brainerd is a track that we have won on before. We came here last year and put a show on for the crowd with that huge wheel-stand on Saturday morning. We ended up getting beat in the 1st round of elimination's after a tire-smoking run."

"Heading into Brainerd this season we could really use a win. We are going to experiment a little with our combination and really run the car hard. It will be our last race with this dragster. We plan on debuting our new car in Indy for the U.S. Nationals."

Inside the numbers with: Scott Geoffrion

  • Currently 5th with 795 points
  • Career PS wins: 9
  • Last win: Pennzoil Nationals
  • Career best E/T: 4.59
  • Career beat MPH: 318.53
  • 1998 #1 Qualifier: 2 (Gainesville & Atlanta)

Who's Who:
Owner: Darrell Gwynn
Manager: Jerry Gwynn
Crew Chief: Ken Veney

FAST FACTS:

WHAT: Champion Auto Stores Nationals, 14th of 22 events on the 1998 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

WHEN: Aug. 20-23, 1998

WHERE: Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Mn..

SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are: Friday: qualifying sessions are at 2 and 6 p.m. (CDT). Saturday: Professional qualifying continues at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. (CDT). Sunday: Final eliminations began at 11 a.m. All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT).

Television:
ESPN2 will televise two hours of final round coverage and race highlights Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. (CDT). ESPN2 will also show two hours of live first round coverage Aug. 23 at 10:30 a.m. (CDT).