Wet Weather Stalls Drags

After three rain delays during elimination heats, the final two rounds of the NHRA Northwest Nationals was pushed back to this morning at Seattle International Raceway.

The No. 1 qualifiers in all three pro categories - Bob Vandergriff Jr., Richard Hartman and Jim Yates - reached the semifinals. John Force set an elapsed-time and speed track record for Funny Car of 5.025 seconds, 303.43 mph, during the first two rounds.

Two defending NHRA Winston champions lost in the first round, Scott Kalitta in Top Fuel and Warren Johnson in Pro Stock. All three defending event champions - Ron Capps in Top Fuel, Al Hofmann in Funny Car and Johnson - lost in the first round.