Houston Memories: Doubling down in Houston town (1997-2000)
From 1997 through 2000, Houston Raceway Park became one of the few tracks to hold two national events per season, hosting both a spring and a fall event. John Force was the only one to win both events in the same year, winning in Funny Car at the 1999 events.
From 1997 through 2000, Houston Raceway Park became one of the few tracks to hold two national events per season, hosting both a spring and a fall event. John Force was the only one to win both events in the same year, winning in Funny Car at the 1999 events (Pro Stock Motorcycle was never contested at both events in a single season).
Here's a look at the Pro class winner's list for both events in those four seasons:
1997 | |||
Class | Winner | Runner-up | Event |
Top Fuel | Joe Amato | Bob Vandergriff Jr. | Spring |
Gary Scelzi | Larry Dixon | Fall | |
Funny Car | Tony Pedregon | Cruz Pedregon | Spring |
Dean Skuza | Tony Pedregon | Fall | |
Pro Stock | Tom Martino | Bruce Allen | Spring |
Jeg Coughlin Jr. | Mark Osborne | Fall | |
1998 | |||
Class | Winner | Runner-up | Event |
Top Fuel | Cory McClenathan | Dave Grubnic | Spring |
Gary Scelzi | Tony Schumacher | Fall | |
Funny Car | Tony Pedregon | John Force | Spring |
Cruz Pedregon | Whit Bazemore | Fall | |
Pro Stock | Warren Johnson | Mike Thomas | Spring |
Jeg Coughlin Jr. | Tom Martino | Fall | |
1999 | |||
Class | Winner | Runner-up | Event |
Top Fuel | Doug Herbert | Tony Schumacher | Spring |
Larry Dixon | Gary Scelzi | Fall | |
Funny Car | John Force | Tony Pedregon | Spring |
John Force | Jim Epler | Fall | |
Pro Stock | Kurt Johnson | Mike Edwards | Sprimg |
Rickie Smith | Tom Martino | Fall | |
2000 | |||
Class | Winner | Runner-up | Event |
Top Fuel | Larry Dixon | Tony Schumacher | Spring |
Cory McClenathan | Bobby Baldwin | Fall | |
Funny Car | Bob Gilbertson | Jerry Toliver | Spring |
Tony Pedregon | John Force | Fall | |
Pro Stock | Jeg Coughlin Jr. | Jim Yates | Spring |
Warren Johnson | Brad Jeter | Fall |
To purchase tickets to the final NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park, call 281-383-7223 or visit www.HoustonRaceway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult.