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NHRA: Eaton Earns Pro Stock Truck Victory Saturday

5 October 1998

TOPEKA, KANSAS --- In eliminations completed Saturday, Craig Eaton defeated John Lingenfelter for his second Pro Stock Truck victory of the season. Eaton, from Glendale, Ariz., ran 7.747 seconds at 172.24 mph in his ATSCO Dodge Dakota to defeat Lingenfelter, who posted a slower 7.808 at 172.54 in his Summit Racing Chevrolet S-10.

With the runner-up finish Lingenfelter moved to within 47 points of Winston points leader Larry Kopp, who failed to qualify.

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event will be the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone, Oct. 8-11 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

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Round-by-round eliminations Saturday for Pro Stock Truck, the ninth of 12 events in the $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

FIRST ROUND: 

Brad Jeter, Greenville, S.C., Chevrolet S-10, 7.923, 169.49
def. Mike Mahon, London, Ont., Ford Ranger, 8.320, 167.56; 

Jerry Haas, Fenton, Mo., S-10, 7.766,172.44 def. Roy Hill, 
Sophia, N.C., Ranger, 7.947, 169.77;

Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., Dodge Dakota, 7.730, 173.11 def. 
Bill Henderson, Evergreen, Colo., Dakota, 8.477, 116.21;

Todd Patterson,Augusta, Kan., Dakota, 7.790, 172.24 def. 
Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., S-10, 7.812, 172.94;

John Lingenfelter, Decatur, Ind., S-10, 7.737, 174.3 
def. Dave McConnell, McMurray, Pa., S-10, 7.817,171.59;

David Nickens, Houston, Dakota, 7.783, 173.04 def. 
Mike Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, S-10,7.838, 172.21;

Bob Panella Jr, Stockton, Calif., S-10, 7.775, 173.37 def.
Tim Freeman, Roan Mountain, Tenn., S-10, 7.830, 173.31; 

Grant Lewis, Jesup, Ga., S-10, 7.789, 173.64 def. 
Joe Pigford, Houston, S-10, 7.802, 172.05.

QUARTERFINALS: 

Jeter, 7.850, 170.39 def. Pigford, 7.889, 171.98;

Lingenfelter, 7.742 174.48 def. Patterson, 9.248, 105.68; 

Panella Jr, 7.773, 172.74 def. Haas, 7.854,172.91;

Eaton 7.746, 172.91 def. Nickens, 9.357, 104.10.

SEMIFINAL:

Lingenfelter, 7.760, 174.31 def. Jeter, 7.924, 170.39; 

Eaton,7.735, 172.57 def. Panella Jr. 7.829, 171.82.

FINAL:

Eaton, 7.747, 172.24 def. Lingenfelter, 7.808, 172.54. 

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Rain forced NHRA officials to postpone Sunday's eliminations for the 10th annual Parts America Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. The $1.8 million race, the 18th of 22 events in the $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series, will be completed Saturday, Oct. 17.

A test and tune session will be available on Friday, Oct. 16 for those NHRA teams who are qualified for the event. Tickets are available for Friday's racing for $13. A $3 discount coupon will be available for Friday's racing at Parts America auto parts stores. Children 15 and under will be admitted free on Friday only.

Qualifying leaders in their respective categories include Gary Scelzi in Top Fuel, Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car and Mark Osborne in Pro Stock.

Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Oct. 17. All tickets purchased for Sunday will be honored on the make-up date.