Powell, 17, Sets Record in First Run

Cristen Powell, 17-year-old high school senior from Portland, Ore., made her National Hot Rod Assn. top-fuel debut Thursday in the Chief Auto Parts Winternationals with an elapsed time of 4.749 seconds at 271.90 mph at the Pomona Raceway.

It was the fastest first run in NHRA history and put her third, behind Joe Amato and Larry Dixon.

Veteran Warren Johnson set a track record of 198.67 mph in his pro stock Pontiac Firebird and at the same time set a Winternationals record of 6.987 seconds. Defending champion Jim Yates ran 6.969 in another Firebird.