NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Saturday from Maple Grove
Raceway, Reading, Pa.
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHEAST DIVISION
MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2004
CANTRELL, MANZO PICK UP WINS AT SEASON OPENER
READING, Pa. - Steve Cantrell and Frank Manzo took home wins at
this weekend's NHRA Northeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
season opener.
Cantrell took out 2002 National Champion Art Gallant in the final
of Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.450 second pass at 258.27 mph to
Gallant's 5.434, 257.87. Cantrell took the early lead off the line and
held on to beat the quicker Gallant.
Manzo, defending and nine-time national champion, clocked in at
5.599 seconds at 258.17 mph in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final against
Jim Sickles. Sickles left first but his 5.700 second, 251.77 mph pass
was not enough to hold Manzo.
The alcohol classes had a full day of action as they ran final
qualifying this morning with Ken Perry and Bob Newberry leading their
fields into afternoon eliminations. Perry fell to Cantrell in the
semi-finals of Top Alcohol Dragster while Newberry went down to Sickles
also in semi-final action.
In Comp. Eliminator, Ian Landies Jr. qualified number one with an 8.077
second pass, 0.723 seconds under the index. Landies is followed by
Saddle Brook, N.J., resident Al Ackerman running an 8.076, 0.694 under.
John Armstrong qualified on top in Super Stock and Bruce Noland leads in
Stock. Armstrong drove his '69 Camaro to a 9.020 seconds pass. Noland
went 11.453 seconds in his '72 Camaro.
Racing continues Sunday with eliminations at 9 a.m. Gates open at 8
a.m. For more information, call 610-856-7200.
The following are Saturday's round by round results for Top Alcohol
Dragster and Funny Car and final qualifying for Comp. Eliminator, Super
Stock, and Stock at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Maple
Grove Raceway:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
ROUND ONE
1) Ken Perry, Toronto, Ont., 5.487, 245.76 def. 8) Karen Benkovich,
Fanwood, N.J., 5.587, 252.14
6) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.478, 259.56 def. 9) Mike Kosky,
Cuddy, Pa., broke
2) Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.442, 250.97 def. 7) David
DeAngelis, Middlesex, N.J., foul
4) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 17.324, 69.65 def. 5) Richard
Bourke, Norwood, N.J., broke
SEMI-FINALS
Cantrell, 5.458, 255.58 def. Perry, 5.446, 261.83
Gallant, 5.485, 258.71 def. McPhillips, 5.552, 259.11
FINALS
Cantrell, 5.450, 258.27 def. Gallant, 5.434, 257.87
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE
2) Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., '01 Avenger, 5.602, 256.75 def. 7) Billy
Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '05 Firebird, 9.773, 98.18
1) Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '03 Camaro, 5.730, 253.90 def. 8)
Jeff McCulloch, Roseneath, Ont., '98 Camaro, broke
3) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '02 Firebird, 5.858, 253.90 def. 10)
Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '99 Camaro, 5.940, 243.28
4) Jim Sickles, Caledonia, N.Y., '02 Avenger, 5.724, 250.92 def. 5)
Craig English, Mount Holly, N.J., '98 Mustang, foul
SEMI-FINALS
Sickles, 5.709, 251.39 def. Newberry, 7.057, 127.63
Manzo, 5.606, 255.68 def. Gill, 5.598, 256.50
FINALS
Manzo, 5.599, 258.17 def. Sickles, 5.700, 251.77
Comp. Eliminator
1) Ian Landies Jr, Chardon, Ohio, '02 Cavalier, F/A, 8.077 seconds,
-0.723 (under index)
2) Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., dragster, F/D, 8.076, -0.694
3) Frank Aragona Jr., Franklin Square, N.Y., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 8.359,
-0.681
4) Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., '91 Calais, H/SM, 9.099, -0.681
5) Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., '32 Bantam, D/EA, 8.346, -0.664
6) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '04 Cavalier, C/SMA, 8.285, -0.645
7) Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 9.052, -0.618
8) Billy Griffin, Norwalk, Conn., '92 Camaro, E/AA, 7.887, -0.613
9) Jeff Liuzzo, Carbondale, Pa., dragster, C/ED, 7.352, -0.608
10) Allyn Armstrong, Kingston, N.S., '72 GT, L/A, 9.143, -0.607
Super Stock
1) John Armstrong, Kingston, N.S., '69 Camaro, SS/BA, 9.020 seconds,
-1.180 (under index)
2) Anthony Cretella, Newington, Conn., '86 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.242, -1.158
3) Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 10.003, -1.147
4) Leon Miranian, Davidsonville, Md., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.504, -1.146
5) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.757, -1.143
6) Steve Sweitzer, Jersey Shore, Pa., '92 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.810, -1.140
7) Jeff Roell, Poughquag, N.Y., '93 Mustang, GT/FA, 9.974, -1.126
8) Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.774, -1.126
9) Vito Savino, Brewster, N.Y., '95 Grand Am, GT/GA, 10.081, -1.119
10) Gary Ewing, Bel Air, Md., '69 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.896, -1.104
Stock Eliminator
1) Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., '72 Camaro, J/SA, 11.453 seconds, -1.297
(under index)
2) Jim Marshall, Scottsville, N.Y., '80 Corvette, H/SA, 11.166, -1.284
3) Tom Baird, Blue Point, N.Y., '69 Camaro, B/S, 10.234, -1.266
4) Cecil Frazier, Canton, Mass., '92 Camaro, E/FIA, 11.352, -1.248
5) Fred Thibeault, Annapolis, N.S., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.318, -1.232
6) Jim Powers, Manville, N.J., '85 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.724, -1.226
7) Mike Farrell, E Nassau, N.Y., '71 Duster, E/SA, 10.775, -1.225
8) Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.526, -1.224
9) Fred McWilliams, Augusta, N.J., '82 Escort, DF/S, 16.544, -1.206
10) Evan Smith, Matawan, N.J., '93 Mustang, E/FI, 11.307, -1.193
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