Kalitta, Force and Johnson Clinch Drag Racing Titles for the Season

ENNIS, Tex. —  Scott Kalitta, John Force and Warren Johnson clinched Winston championships Sunday at the Chief Auto Parts Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Only Kalitta managed to cap the championship with a victory in the $1,368,550 event, the 18th stop in the 19-race NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Yorba Linda’s Force lost to Chuck Etchells in the Funny Car finals, and Johnson exited in the semifinals as his son, Kurt, picked up the Pro Stock victory.

Kalitta claimed his sixth Top Fuel victory of the season en route to his second consecutive Winston title. The Chelsea, Mich., driver covered the quarter-mile in 4.710 seconds at 306.64 m.p.h. to end Blaine Johnson’s bid for his first professional victory.

Etchells, of Putnam, Conn., scored his second victory over Force in the last three events. Despite the setback, Force clinched his record fifth Funny Car championship in six years. He has six victories this season and 48 in his career.

Kurt Johnson of Sugar Hill, Ga., kept the Pro Stock title in the family with a victory over Bob Patrick, who ousted Johnson’s dad, Warren, in the semifinals.