NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Friday from Southern
Oregon Dragway in Medford, Ore.
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION
SOUTHERN OREGON DRAGWAY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2003
JOHNSON, GASPARRELLI ON TOP IN MEDFORD
MEDFORD, Ore. - In the final rounds of qualifying at Southern Oregon Dragway, Brandon Johnson in Top Alcohol Dragster and Steve Gasparrelli in Top Alcohol Funny Car are leading the fields.
Dragster pilot Johnson, of Shelton, Wash., made a 5.459-second, 259.88 mph run in the final qualifying session to put him ahead of his competitors. Johnson, looking for his first win of the season, is followed by Mark Hentges who currently leads the NHRA Northwest division points battle with wins earlier this season in Kent, Wash., and Mission B.C., CAN.
Medford, Ore., resident Mike Austin had a best run of 5.779 at 241.88 mph but falls short of the eight-car field with a bump spot of 5.668. Austin finished tenth in qualifying.
Gasparrelli clocked in at 5.691 seconds, 251.77 mph and is followed by Clint Thompson of Klamath Falls, Ore., with a pass of 5.851 seconds at 246.19 mph.
Gasparrelli picked up a win earlier this year at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., to go along with two runner-up finishes while Thompson hopes for some home field advantage and his first win of the season.
Fellow Klamath Falls, Ore., resident Terry Sherill is second in Super Stock behind number one qualifier Steve Wann and Jerry Stinson of Medford, Ore. sits on top of the Sportsman Motorcycle class for the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series.
Other number one qualifiers are Dean Carter of Glendale, Ariz., in Comp; Joe Sorensen of Woodburn, Ore., in Stock; and Tom Tucker of Bend, Ore., in Top Comp.
Qualifying continues Saturday at 10 a.m. with eliminations scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Gates at Southern Oregon Dragway open at 8 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car run first round at 4 p.m. For more information call the track, (541) 826-3477
The following are Friday's qualifying results and first round pairings from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northwest Division Snap-On Tools Valley Thunder at Southern Oregon Dragway:
Top Alcohol Dragster
1) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.459 seconds, 256.86 mph
2) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.497, 252.98
3) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.502, 259.88
4) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.512, 252.98
5) Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.534, 247.02
6) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.546, 255.74
7) Mike Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.562, 254.31
8) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.603, 266.50
Not Qualified
9) Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., 5.603, 252.77
10) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.655, 251.43
11) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.779, 241.88
12) Dennis Swearingen, Santa Clara, Calif., 27.528, 20.37
First round TAD pairings
1) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.459 seconds, 256.86 mph vs. 8) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.603, 266.50
2) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.497, 252.98 vs. 7) Mike Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.562, 254.31
3) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.502, 259.88 vs. 6) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.546, 255.74
4) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.512, 252.98 vs. 5) Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.534, 247.02
Top Alcohol Funny Car
1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Firebird, 5.691 seconds, 251.77 mph
2) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 5.783, 247.02
3) Robert Lee, Whittier, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.831, 233.00
4) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.852, 241.83
5) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alb., '99 Firebird, 5.860, 243.50
6) Ed Marx, Bakersfield, Calif., '03 RT, 5.882, 245.51
7) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '97 Firebird, 5.884, 243.04
8) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.888, 239.56
Not Qualified
9) John Knox, Tumwater, Wash., '92 Probe, 6.024, 233.08
10) Shawn Nault, Anchorage, Alaska, '00 Firebird, 6.260, 227.39
11) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.392, 166.59
12) Matt Goss, Junction City, Ore., '01 Firebird, 6.408, 216.49
13) Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '99 Firebird, 6.535, 168.46
14) Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '01 Avenger, (no time)
First round TAFC pairings
1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Firebird, 5.691 seconds, 251.77 mph vs. 8) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.888, 239.56
2) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 5.783, 247.02 vs. 7) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '97 Firebird, 5.884, 243.04
3) Robert Lee, Whittier, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.831, 233.00 vs. 6) Ed Marx, Bakersfield, Calif., '03 RT, 5.882, 245.51
4) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.852, 241.83 vs. 5) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alb., '99 Firebird, 5.860, 243.50
Competition Eliminator
1) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., ET RaceCar, A/ND, 7.082 seconds, -0.618 (under index)
2) Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., Fritz, B/D, 6.819, -0.581
3) Gary Anderson, Graham, Wash., '99 Firebird, G/A, 8.603, -0.547
4) Vinnie Deceglie, Alta Loma, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/A, 6.737, -0.493
5) Tom Tucker, Bend, Ore., '98 Lumina, G/A, 8.674, -0.476
6) Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., Sarmento, B/ED, 7.041, -0.469
7) Joe Mozeris, Phoenix, Ariz., Frameworks, B/ED, 7.043, -0.467
8) Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '03 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.833, -0.467
9) Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.874, -0.466
10) Maureen Jondahl, Battle Ground, Wash., '92 Firebird, H/AA, 9.063, -0.437
Super Stock
1) Steven Wann, Modesto, Calif., '97 Dakota, GT/TA, 9.803 seconds, -1.047 (under index)
2) Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Cavalier, SS/AM, 8.555, -0.995
3) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '03 Grand Am, SS/CM, 9.021, -0.929
4) Guy Czarniak, Redding, Calif., '69 Camaro, SS/BA, 9.359, -0.841
5) Bill Blakeney, Bell, Calif., '68 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.154, -0.746
6) Art Congdon, Calgary, Alb., '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.966, -0.734
7) Tim Smith, Rocklin, Calif., '87 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.970, -0.730
8) Alan Falcone, Normandy Park, Wash., '91 Calais, GT/BA, 9.831, -0.719
9) Bill Stewart, Marysville, Wash., '74 Cuda, SS/LA, 11.041, -0.709
10) Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif., '97 Firebird, GT/AA, 9.720, -0.680
Stock Eliminator
1) Joe Sorensen, Woodburn, Ore., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.147 seconds, -1.153 (under index)
2) Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., '70 Challenger, D/SA, 10.767, -1.083
3) Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., '77 Cutlass, K/SA, 11.900, -1.050
4) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '77 Volare, I/SA, 11.596, -1.004
5) John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, D/SA, 10.877, -0.973
6) Brad Plourd, Covington, Wash., '96 Corvette, B/FIA, 10.806, -0.894
7) Rod Greene, Moreno Valley, Calif., '72 Demon, G/S, 11.341, -0.859
8) Bryan Phillips, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '67 Firebird, E/SA, 11.145, -0.855
9) Gary Hodges, Salem, Ore., '65 Corvette, J/SA, 11.962, -0.788
10) Richard Pauley, Saugus, Calif., '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.918, -0.782
Top Comp
1) Tom Tucker, Bend, Ore., Williams, 6.685 seconds, 193.04 mph
2) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., Victory, 6.725, 202.66
3) Brian Barling, White Rock, B.C., Illngswrth, 7.274, 185.90
4) Wes Garvin III, Kennewick, Wash., '23 Roadster, 7.464, 176.34
5) Frank Tamez, Yakima, Wash., '63 Corvette, 7.505, 182.87
6) John Freer, Sacramento, Calif., Davis, 7.510, 173.21
7) Tom Malicki, Vancouver, Wash., Yancer, 7.511, 178.73
8) Eddie Wells, Eugene, Ore., Mullis, 7.539, 178.62
9) Marvin Mueller, Lake Stevens, Wash., Dragster, 7.541, 176.51
10) Doug Hemenway, Auburn, Wash., Undercover, 7.559, 177.21
Sportsman Motorcycle
1) Jerry Stinson, Medford, Ore., '84 Ninja, KMC, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '96 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.004
3) Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '94 Suzuki, KMC, 0.005
4) Steve Miller, Yakima, Wash., '89 Suzuki, KMC, 0.008
5) Scott Pollacheck, Medford, Ore., '76 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.012
6) Dan Patridge, Kennewick, Wash., '90 Suzuki, KMC, 0.014
7) Jim Sibley, Edmonds, Wash., '90 Suzuki, KMC, 0.019
8) Mark Kosler, Keizer, Ore., '84 Suzuki, KMC, 0.030
9) Greg Liskey, Salinas, Calif., '95 Suzuki, KMC, 0.031
10) Dan Tipsword, Aumsville, Ore., '82 Suzuki, KMC, -0.023
