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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series- Friday Results from Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, Md.


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NHRA NORTHEAST DIVISION
CECIL COUNTY DRAGWAY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2004


Gunderson and Manzo leaders at Cecil County Dragway
RISING SUN, Md. - After Friday's rounds qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northeast Shootout presented by Coca Cola, Southeast Division driver Michael Gunderson and defending national champ Frank Manzo are the top qualifiers in their respective categories.  	In Top Alcohol Dragster, Southeast Division invader, Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla., laid down a pass of 5.363 seconds at 265.38 mph to take the top spot in dragster. In the No. 2 spot is former National Champion Arthur Gallant of Boxboro, Mass., with a 5.472-second pass at 235.35 mph. Among those not in the field are Wilmington, Del., drivers Ken Winward and Steven Cantrell. 
	In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Manzo ran 5.833 seconds at 251.63 mph to claim the No. 1 spot in the class. He's narrowly trailed by Schenectady, N.Y., racer Bob Newberry, who qualified with a 5.858 second pass at 251.06 mph. Sitting in the No. 4 position is Darrell Cox Sr., of Whiteford, Md. Chaptico, Md., racer Billy Gibson did not fare as well. He failed to make the final cut today and will not be part of Saturday's final eliminations. 
	Other low qualifiers after Friday's opening rounds of qualifying are Al Ackerman of Saddle Brook, N.J., in Comp Eliminator, Frank Lupo of North East, Md., in Super Stock and Michael Iacono of Wading River, N.Y., in Stock Eliminator.
Saturday's racing action will feature final eliminations for the 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars. Final eliminations in the alcohol categories are scheduled to be run at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., and will be followed by eliminations in Cecil County Dragway's Pro Modified class. Competitors in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street will run one round of eliminations beginning at 3 p.m. 
	Gates at Cecil County Dragway open Saturday at 8 a.m. with qualifying set to continue at 10 a.m. General Admission tickets, including a pit pass, are $18 each day and include a pit pass. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.  For more information please contact Cecil County Dragway at (410) 287-6280 or online at www.CecilCountyDragway.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event being held this weekend at Cecil County Dragway:

 TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.363 seconds, 265.38 mph
2) Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.472, 235.35
3) Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Pa., 5.481, 259.91
4) Karen Benkovich, Fanwood, N.J., 5.554, 252.24
5) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.555, 250.23
6) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 5.562, 255.97
7) Mike Burns, Bisbee, Ariz., 5.567, 242.63
8) Daniel Mercier, St. Timothee, Quebec, 5.593, 247.57
Not Qualified
9) David DeAngelis, Middlesex, N.J., 5.598, 258.07
10) Wayne Morris, Lincoln University, Pa., 5.658, 247.52
11) Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 5.698, 246.44
12) Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., 5.717, 241.50
13) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.858, 215.34
14) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.957, 237.55
15) Donald Gianquitto, Melrose, Mass., 6.284, 238.30
16) Mark Albert, Baldwin, Pa., 9.286, 89.73

First round TAD pairings
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.363 seconds, 265.38 mph vs. 8) Daniel Mercier, St.
Timothee, Quebec, 5.593, 247.57
2) Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.472, 235.35 vs. 7) Mike Burns, Bisbee, Ariz., 5.567, 242.63
3) Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Pa., 5.481, 259.91 vs. 6) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 5.562, 255.97
4) Karen Benkovich, Fanwood, N.J., 5.554, 252.24 vs. 5) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa.,
5.555, 250.23

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '03 Firebird, 5.833 seconds, 251.63 mph
2) Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '03 Camaro, 5.858, 251.06
3) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 6.075, 217.04
4) Darrel Cox Sr., Whiteford, Md., '01 Firebird, 6.082, 229.86
5) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '03 Camaro, 6.137, 235.56
6) Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va., '02 Avenger, 6.148, 217.28
7) Jeff McCulloch, Roseneath, Ont., '98 Camaro, 6.187, 214.69
8) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '99 Camaro, 6.208, 234.53
Not Qualified
9) David Ray, Plaistow, N.H., '02 Avenger, 6.274, 208.84
10) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '04 Firebird, 6.782, 156.57
11) Bruce Mullins, Fredericksburg, Va., '02 Avenger, (no time)
12) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Corvette, (no time)

First round TAFC pairings
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '03 Firebird, 5.833 seconds, 251.63 mph vs. 8) Dan Pomponio,
Berlin, N.J., '99 Camaro, 6.208, 234.53
2) Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '03 Camaro, 5.858, 251.06 vs. 7) Jeff McCulloch, Roseneath,
Ont., '98 Camaro, 6.187, 214.69
3) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 6.075, 217.04 vs. 6) Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va.,
'02 Avenger, 6.148, 217.28
4) Darrel Cox Sr., Whiteford, Md., '01 Firebird, 6.082, 229.86 vs. 5) Frank Schuster,
Chesterfield, N.J., '03 Camaro, 6.137, 235.56

Competition Eliminator
1) Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., dragster, F/D, 8.145 seconds, -0.625 (under index)
2) Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 9.080, -0.590
3) Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., '91 Calais, H/SM, 9.215, -0.565
4) Michael Hanratty, Cromwell, Conn., '32 Bantam, A/AA, 6.939, -0.471
5) Bob Wise, York, Pa., '00 Firebird, B/AA, 7.350, -0.450
6) George Supinski Jr., Freehold, N.J., '02 S-10, B/T, 8.281, -0.429
7) Joe Carnasciale, Cranston, R.I., '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.913, -0.427
8) Jonathan Aloisio, W Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, A/SM, 8.118, -0.422
9) Pat Malloy, Buchanan, Va., dragster, A/ND, 7.243, -0.407
10) Scott MacKay, Broomall, Pa., dragster, D/ED, 7.602, -0.398

Super Stock
1) Frank Lupo, North East, Md., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.424 seconds, -1.126 (under index)
2) Byron Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '90 Camaro, GT/GA, 10.078, -1.122
3) Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 10.035, -1.115
4) Joseph Franco III, N. Babylon, N.Y., '85 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.196, -1.104
5) Angelo Ditocco, Mahopac, N.Y., '02 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.007, -1.093
6) Bob Cupp, Alexandria, Va., '65 Chevelle, SS/KA, 10.477, -1.073
7) Gary Ewing, Bel Air, Md., '69 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.948, -1.052
8) Richard Oakes, Woolwich Twp, N.J., '92 Camaro, SS/GM, 9.651, -1.049
9) Leon Miranian, Davidsonville, Md., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.605, -1.045
10) Anthony Cretella, Newington, Conn., '86 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.362, -1.038

Stock Eliminator
1) Michael Iacono, Wading River, N.Y., '69 Torino, D/SA, 10.044 seconds, -1.806 (under index)
2) Cecil Frazier, Canton, Mass., '91 Camaro, G/FIA, 11.837, -1.313
3) Tex Miller, Fayetteville, Pa., '72 Mustang, F/SA, 10.937, -1.213
4) Ray Golonka, Colonia, N.J., '77 Cadillac, Q/SA, 12.894, -1.206
5) Tim Abbazia, Greenwich, Conn., '62 Corvette, E/S, 10.755, -1.195
6) Ken Kopecky, Edison, N.J., '71 Demon, F/SA, 10.971, -1.179
7) Bill Nees Jr, Millmont, Pa., '70 Nova, V/SA, 14.624, -1.176
8) Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '73 Apollo, K/SA, 11.799, -1.151
9) John Ruth, Baltimore, Md., '77 Omega, R/SA, 13.201, -1.149
10) Jim Klacik, Aliquippa, Pa., '88 Mustang, G/FIA, 12.012, -1.138