NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Friday Qualifying from Mission Raceway Park
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION MISSION RACEWAY PARK FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2003 MISSION, B.C. - Time trials and qualifying kicked off at the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals with Brandon Johnson and Bucky Austin leading their fields after Friday's Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying session. Although this event is the second of seven races in Northwest Division competition of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, this is the first event for competitors in both Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car to earn points this season. Being the initial event for these two classes, the pressure should be intensified as competitors look to start their seasons on a winning note. "I think you're going to have to run in the 5.50s to even have a chance to qualify for Sunday's eliminations this weekend," said Paul Julien, driver of the Julien Motorsports Top Alcohol Dragster. "There's seven cars here that have the potential of making 5.40 type runs." The Mission, B.C., resident is currently qualified seventh after Friday's session with a 5.814 second, 230.94 mph run. There are two more qualifying sessions Saturday before Sunday's eliminations, which features an eight-car field. "We have lots of work to do but I do believe we can be competitive this weekend," said Julien. "This car is capable running in the 5.50s." Despite a shaky pass by Austin during Friday's qualifying session, the Fife, Wash., resident posted a 5.934-second, 204.17 mph pass to take the spot after day one of qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Austin was the runner-up at this event last year, losing to the Abbottsford, B.C., based Grotek Top Alcohol Funny Car team in the final. "There's no room to relax, there's six awfully good cars here," said John Evanchuk, driver for the Grotek car. "You set the bar for how well you do on Sunday, by how good your performance was on Friday and Saturday." Top qualifiers in other categories are Jirka Kaplan of Calgary, Alta., in Comp; John Gallina of Henderson, Nev., in Super Stock; Mike Loge of Antioch, Calif., in Stock; and Nick Drzayich of Auburn, Wash., in Top Comp. In NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series action, Mike Scott of Sumner, Wash., is the top qualifier in Sportsman Motorcycle competition. Held in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, qualifying is based on reaction time. Gates open at Mission Raceway Park Saturday at 7 a.m. and day two of time trials and qualifying begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 4 p.m. For more information, call Mission Raceway Park at (604) 826-6315. The following are Friday's qualifying results from the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals at Mission Raceway Park: TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER 1) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.453 seconds, 258.10 mph 2) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, 5.507, 263.15 3) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.553, 251.39 4) Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.603, 251.95 5) Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 5.634, 248.48 6) Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 5.801, 253.80 7) Paul Julien, Mission, B.C., 5.814, 230.94 8) Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.891, 241.15 Not Qualified 9) Bob Meek, Calgary, Alta., 5.918, 228.31 10) Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., 5.933, 220.69 11) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 6.099, 170.45 12) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 9.598, 81.69 TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 1) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.934 seconds, 204.17 mph 2) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., '97 Firebird, 5.938, 246.57 3) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '97 Firebird, 5.951, 243.37 4) Kevin Therres, Humboldt, Sask., '97 Lumina, 5.988, 213.67 5) Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '01 Avenger, 6.055, 230.59 6) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alta., '99 Firebird, 6.259, 234.74 COMP ELIMINATOR 1) Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alta., '23 T-Ford, AA/AM, 6.496 seconds, -0.714 under index 2) Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., '02 Cavalier, B/EA, 7.871, -0.659 3) Mark Stewart, Medford, Ore., '98 Oldsmobile, E/SMA, 8.798, -0.622 4) Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.767, -0.573 5) Doug Lambeck, Corona Del Mar, Calif., '03 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.783, -0.567 6) Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., '87 Trans Am, E/SM, 8.790, -0.550 7) Rick Dingle, Olympia, Wash., Dragster-Chevy, C/ED, 7.460, -0.550 8) Rick Distefano, Calgary, Atla., '53 Corvette, AA/PM, 6.354, -0.546 9) Adam Bowdish, West Linn, Ore., '89 Trans Am, D/SM, 8.696, -0.544 10) Steve Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., '34 Chevy, C/SR, 8.737, -0.533 SUPER STOCK 1) John Gallina, Henderson, Nev., '87 Grand National, SS/DX, 7.989 seconds, -1.511 under index 2) Michael Ogburn, Mission Viejo, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.732, -1.268 3) Dave Raybourn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.803, -1.197 4) Bob Mazzolini, Grants Pass, Ore., '00 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.332, -1.168 5) Steven Wann, Modesto, Calif., '97 Dakota, GT/TA, 9.697, -1.153 6) Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.876, -1.124 7) Allyn Lee, Red Deer Alta., '68 Barracuda, SS/A, 8.845, -1.105 8) Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., '02 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.035, -1.065 9) Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alta., '96 Camaro, GT/DA, 9.774, -1.026 10) Jared Jordon, Modesto, Calif., '65 Belvedere, SS/BA, 9.176, -1.024 STOCK ELIMINATOR 1) Mike Loge, Antioch, Calif., '72 Duster, H/SA, 11.116 seconds, -1.334 under index 2) Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., '77 Cutlass, K/SA, 11.669, -1.281 3) Brad Plourd, Covington, Wash., '96 Corvette, B/FIA, 10.450, -1.250 4) Steven Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, C/SA, 10.461, -1.239 5) Jim Waldo, Richland, Wash., '02 Firebird, B/FI, 10.468, -1.182 6) Calvin Queahpama, Warm Springs, Ore., '65 Impala, T/SA, 13.606, -1.094 7) Bill Bushmaker, Auburn, Wash., '76 Roadrunner, J/SA, 11.670, -1.080 8) Janis Leatherman Moses Lake, Wash., '71 Nova, I/SA, 11.593, -1.007 9) Wesley Libby, Spokane, Wash., '71 Challenger, B/SA, 10.550, -1.000 10) Don Elgin, Des Moines, Wash., '74 Grand Am, N/SA, 12.334, -0.996 -- 30 --