NHRA FMDRS: Hentges blasts to top of field; Sets track record
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
April 15, 2001BOISE, Idaho - Mark Hentges and Bucky Austin are on top of their fields as Lithia Ford Chrysler and NAPA Auto Parts present the 31st Annual Ignitor Nittro Opener at Firebird Raceway. Hentges drove his Federal-Mogul Dragster to the pole position with a pass of 5.468 seconds at 253.02 mph breaking the track record of 5.550 set by Rick Santos at last year's event.
Hentges dropped a value in yesterday's qualifying attempt destroying his motor which sent the team scrambling to repair the car for today's final qualifying. "We're real happy with this morning's pass." voiced Hentges. "We had major problems yesturday, but the whole team worked hard and we're back where we want to be for eliminations." Santos follows in the number two spot with a mark of 5.520 at 225.05 mph followed by Brian Hough in third with a 5.550, 248.20. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, it was Austin who leads the field by more than two tenths of a second setting a track elapsed time record with a pass of 5.861 seconds at 241.87 mph. The old record, held by Steve Sommer at 5.880, was set back in May 1999. Austin is looking for his third win of the season to go along with his wins earlier this year at Pomona Raceway and last week in Las Vegas. John Hyland and Larry Minor follow in the second and third qualifying spots posting runs of 6.074, 229.35 and 6.097 at 239.36 respectively. On his final qualifying attempt, Randy Parker got turned around at about the 300-foot mark and headed for the retaining wall. Parker, of Puyallup, Wash., immediately got out of the gas and was able to straighten the car out and keep it off the wall avoiding what could have been a horrendous crash. Racing resumes on Sunday at 9 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car scheduled for round one at noon. Gates open at 8 a.m.
The following are first round pairing's and final qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Firebird Raceway:
FEDERAL-MOUGL DRAGSTER 1. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.468 seconds, 253.02 mph vs. bye 2. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.520, 225.05 vs. 5. Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., 5.728, 253.16 3. Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore. 5.550, 248.20 vs. 4. Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.728, 253.16 4. FEDERAL-MOUGL FUNNY CAR 1. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '00 Camaro, 5.861 seconds, 241.87 miles per hour vs. 8. Kerry Moreira, Richfield, Idaho, '96 Firebird, 9.962, 83.08 2. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '00 Camaro, 6.074, 229.35 vs. 7. Jon Rice, Pocatello, Idaho, '98 Camaro, 7.114, 202.06 3. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 6.097, 239.36 vs. 6. Kevin Therres, Humbolt, SK CAN, '97 Lumina, 6.812, 151.79 4. Roger Bateman, Calgary, AB CAN, '97 Firebird, 6.134, 235.41 vs. 5. Randy Parker, Payallup, Wash., '99 Avenger, 6.152, 226.64
COMPETITION 1. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., '92 Camaro, B/SA, 8.884 seconds, -0.766 under the index 2. Adam Bowdish, Lake Oswego, Ore., '89 Firebird, C/SM, 9.155, -0.725 3. Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., '00 dragster, G/D, 9.617, -0.693 4. Jeff Lane, Northbend, Wash, '34 roadster, B/SR, 8.299, -0.681 5. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C. CAN, '87 Trans Am, B/SM, 8.973, -0.677 6. Tom Tucker, Bend, Ore., '96 Lumina, F/A, 8.835, -0.615 7. Mike Pessemier, Graham, Wash., '99 dragster, B/D, 7.177, -0.573 8. Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., '00 dragster, C/D, 7.262, -0.558 9. Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Sunbeam, D/A, 8.253, -0.557 10. Al Bresh, Stonewall Manitoba, CAN, '92 Camaro, F/SM, 9.553, -0.467
SUPER STOCK 1. Michael Ogburn, Mission Viejo, Calif., '68 Cuda, SS/AA, 9.005, -1.325 2. Rod Stults, Marysville, Wash., '64 Chevelle, SS/MA, 11.331, -1.219 3. Dave Rayburn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.136, -1.194 4. Tony Hewes, Reno, Nev. '69 Ford, SS/GA, 10.020, -1.190 5. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/IA, 10.206, -1.164 6. Allyn Lee, Red Deer, AB CAN, '68 Barracuda, SS/A, 9.122, -1.158 7. Abe Loewen, Regina, SK CAN, '98 Pontiac, SS/DM, 9.400, -1.140 8. Curtis Dean, Denver, Colo., '90 Cavalier, SS/AM, 8.732, -1.138 9. Harry Holton, Modesto, Calif., '65 Belvedere, SS/BA, 9.422, -1.118 10. John Gallina, Henderson, Nev., '87 Regal, SS/DX, 8.722, -1.098
STOCK 1. Joe Aluise Jr., Laurel, Md., '63 Belvedere, A/SA, 10.266, -1.414 2. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 Plymouth, C/SA, 10.688, -1.402 3. Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., '97 Camaro, F/SA, 11.150, -1.400 4. Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., '67 Fairlane, A/S, 10.229, -1.391 5. Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '96 Firebird, E/SA, 11.021, -1.379 6. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., '81 Dodge, ET/SA, 12.419, -1.371 7. Calvin Queahpama, Portland, Ore., '65 Chevrolet, T/SA, 13.890, -1.300 8. Mary Method, Kennewick, Wash., '70 Nova, B/SA, 10.605, -1.325 9. Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, S.D., '88 Mustang, N/S, 12.392, -1.298 10. Gene Mosbek, Elk River, Minn., '64 Savoy, A/SA, 10.403, -1.277
TOP COMP 1. Don Harter, E. Wenatchee, Wash., '23 roadster, 7.346, 190.51 2. Rod Langley, Boise, Idaho, '99 dragster, 7.399, 181.56 3. Jeff Devey, Twin Falls, Idaho, '97 roadster, 7.463, 182.74 4. Dennis Fuller, La Grande, Ore., '97 Mustang, 7.472, 184.19 5. Nick Drzayich, Auburn, Wash., '99 Firebird, 7.610, 181.45 6. Bob Miller, LaVerne, Calif., '95 dragster, 7.709, 178.60 7. Greg Pessemier, Tacoma, Wash., '96 dragster, 7.720, 173.53 8. Mark Barnhart, Emmit Idaho, '94 Soran, 7.752, 172.71 9. Bob Israelson, Lynwood, Wash., '69 Camaro, 7.753, 167.34 10. Chub Tucker, Okotoks, AB CAN, '27 roadster, 7.767, 173.74
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