NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Friday Qualifying Results from Nebraska Motorplex

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
NEBRASKA MOTORPLEX
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2003

LUCAS OIL COMPETITION BLAZES INTO NEBRASKA

SCRIBNER, Neb. - West Central Division competition of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series blazed into Nebraska Motorplex as the first day racing kicked off at the Budweiser Summer Sizzle.  
"We have a record number of race cars participating here this weekend and its been a great event thus far," said Greg Sanford of Nebraska Motorplex.  "I believe there's over 500 competitors and we still have more pulling in as we speak."
After day one of qualifying, Mike Park of Pauls Valley, Okla., is the number one qualifier in Competition Eliminator with an 8.844-second run down the quarter-mile track, -0.456 second under his class index.  Two-time Southeast Division champion Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala., is leading his field in Super Stock, while Gary Gokey is atop of his field in Stock Eliminator.  
In Sportsman Motorcycle competition of the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series, local racer Tom Gilligan of Fremont, Neb., is the number one qualifier after posting a perfect reaction.  This racing series is run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series and qualifying is based on a driver's reaction time to the starting line system.  
	Saturday's racing action will also feature Outlaw Pro Stocks, Jet Cars, and three sessions of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying.
	"I am looking forward to racing tomorrow at Nebraska Motorplex and putting on a good show for the fans in attendance," said Top Alcohol Dragster racer Alan Bradshaw.  "This is also a very important event in terms of the hunt for the national and divisional championship so competition should be intense."   
	The Odessa, Texas, resident is currently leading the national points standings in his respective class and will be looking to build upon his lead this weekend.
Gates open Saturday at Nebraska Motorplex at 7 a.m. and day two of time trials and qualifying begins at 8 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying is scheduled for 12, 4 and 8 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.  For more information, call Nebraska Motorplex at (402) 466-1759.  

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the Budweiser Summer Sizzle at Nebraska Motorplex:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1)	Mike Park, Pauls Valley, Okla., '03 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.844 seconds, -0.456 under index
2)	Buddy Nickens, Spring, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.636, -0.384
3)	David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.615, -0.375
4)	Cordis Johnson, Springdale, Ark., '03 Cavalier, F/SMA, 9.237, -0.363
5)	William Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Wis., '99 Firebird, C/EA, 8.513, -0.327
6)	Brian Self, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, B/T, 8.387, -0.323
7)	Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '95 Camaro, E/SM, 9.085, -0.255
8)	Lou Ficco Jr., Wheatridge, Colo., '63 Corvette, D/AA, 8.120, -0.240
9)	Robert Freeman, Oklahoma City, Okla., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 8.412, -0.188
10)	Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., Spitzer, B/D, 7.292, -0.108

SUPER STOCK
1)	Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.658 seconds, -1.092 under index
2)	Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.537, -1.013
3)	Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.168, -0.882
4)	Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84  Cougar, GT/EA, 10.081, -0.869
5)	Ted Romero, Denver, '98 Grand Am, GT/IA, 10.636, -0.864
6)	Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb., '66 Chevy, SS/K, 10.511, -0.789
7)	Larry Schmidt, Grand Island, Neb., '55 Bel Air, SS/PA, 12.196, -0.754
8)	Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., '98 Firebird, SS/BS, 9.298, -0.752
9)	Thomas Meyer, Pierce, Neb., '66 Chevy, SS/LA, 11.045, -0.705
10)	Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.708, -0.692

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)	Gary Gokey, Denver, '86 Omni, BF/S, 13.789 seconds, -1.361 under index
2)	Keith Lynch, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/SA, 10.527, -1.023
3)	John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., '66 Nova, G/S, 11.278, -0.922
4)	Aaron Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., '69 Nova, B/SA, 10.675, -0.875
5)	Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.102, -0.848
6)	Johnny Diekema, Wilton, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/S, 10.676, -0.824
7)	Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '73 Firebird, F/SA, 11.336, -0.814
8)	Chuck Porter, Neville, Sask., '66 Impala, Q/SA, 13.325, -0.775
9)	Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '73 Apollo, K/SA, 12.178, -0.772
10)	Bob Ruther, Yutan, Neb., '85 Camaro, J/S, 11.881, -0.769

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1)	Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, +0.000-second reaction time
2)	Brian Johnson, Ramsey, Min., '03 Suzuki, +0.001
3)	Jeff Lanoue, Zimmerman, Minn., '00 Kawasaki, +0.002
4)	Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '86 Suzuki, +0.009
5)	Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., '78 Kawasaki, +0.013
6)	Tracy Helmhold, Morrison, Colo., '98 Kawasaki, +0.024
7)	Joe Herron, Fremont, Neb., '81 Suzuki, +0.030
8)	J.P. Smith, Topeka, Kan., '86 Yamaha, +0.072
9)	Robert Cooper, Omaha, Neb., '81 Suzuki, +0.135
10)	Stan Johnson, Sioux Falls, S.D. '78 Kawasaki, -0.083