NHRA- Southwestern Int'l Raceway Preview
11 March 2000
NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
Southwestern International Raceway, Tucson Ariz.
Friday, March 10, 2000
Santos looks to make it three consecutive wins in 2000 after setting track
record at Southwestern International Raceway
TUCSON, Ariz. - Five-time Federal-Mogul Dragster world champion
Rick Santos of Brentwood, Calif. took the top qualifying spot in
Federal-Mogul Dragster category at the inaugural Southwestern International
Raceway Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event in picture perfect racing
conditions. Also, Current national record holder for speed in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Larry Miner of Woodbridge, Calif. follows up his
win at Pomona Raceway with the number one qualifying position at SIR.
Santos' second pass of the day was one of the top five quickest times set
in a Federal-Mogul Dragster. Santos' first run of the day was still one
tenth of a second quicker than the rest of the field, with Mike Strasburg
of Lindon, Utah coming closest with a run of 5.547 seconds at 248.80 mph.
"After the first run I knew that there was more in the car", said Santos,
"We played with the transmission ratio and it seemed to pay off." "This is
now one of my favorite tracks… I'll tell you Sunday if this is my favorite
track."
Miner secured the top spot in Federal-Mogul Funny Car with his second pass
of the day running a lap of 5.722 seconds at 250.04 mph. This bettered his
first qualifying attempt of the day,5.887 seconds at 247.75 mph.
"We're very pleased with our [qualifying] attempts today, since it was our
first two attempts at this track", said a jubilant Miner. "This is a great
track, and we'll definitely look forward to competing here more often".
Qualifying resumes in all categories on Saturday. Gates open at
Southwestern Int'l Raceway at 7:30 a.m. and competition begins at 8 a.m.
Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars run at noon and 6 p.m.
The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Southwestern International
Raceway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.359 seconds, 258.07 mph
2. Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.602, 249.49
3. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.547, 248.80
4. Kent Nuckols, Albuquerque, N.M., 5.841, 241.28
5. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.947, 214.79
6. Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 5.904, 235.15
7. Gary Ormsby, Granite Bay, Calif., 5.947, 232.25
8. Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 6.217, 224.28
(Alternates)
9. Charlie Marcum, Bellflower, Calif., 6.963, 189.76
10. Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 8.808, 101.10
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 5.722 seconds, 250.04 mph
2. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.791, 247.88
3. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '99 Firebird, 5.791, 247.33
4. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '98 Pontiac, 5.808, 244.74
5. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Dodge, 5.973, 241.58
6. Bret Wiliamson, Campbell, Calif., '00 Corvette, 5.980, 239.65
7. James Bartoli, Duarte, Calif., '97 Oldsmobile, 6.074, 216.41
8. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '98 Firebird, 6.220, 233.04
(Alternates)
9. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '97 Cutlass, 6.251, 226.54
10. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Camaro, 6.646, 155.19
COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., J/A '99 Frameworks, 8.346 seconds(0.664
seconds under Index))
2. Larry Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., A/SM '92 Camaro, 8.745(-0.645)
3. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., C/EA '96 Avenger, 8.501(-0.639)
4. Tommy Brown, Westminster, Calif., F/ED '88 Weddle, 8.700(-0.620)
5. Anda Manna, Covina, Calif., C/SR '33 Ford, 9.010(-0.610)
6. Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., C/SR '34 Chevrolet, 9.038(-0.582)
7. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., D/A '96 Firebird, 8.289-0.571)
8. Steven Wilmoth, Peroria, Ariz., D/A '97 Firebird, 8.365(-0.495)
9. Ralph VanPaepeghem, Boise, Idaho, A/EA '32 Chevy, 7.906(-.0454)
10. Daniel Rhoades, Glendale, Ariz., F/D '98 Frameworks, 8.843(-0.347)
11. Clarence Thomas, Las Vegas, Nev., B/A '97 Oldsmobile, 8.474(+0.384)
SUPER STOCK
1. Terry Sherrill, Klammoth Falls, Ore., '57 Corvette, 8.733 Seconds,
(1.177 seconds under Index)
2. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '00 Grand Am, 9.786(-1.154)
3. Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif., '69 Corvette, 9.470(-1.110)
4. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunes, N.M., '69 Camaro, 10.208(-1.102)
5. Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '98 Achiva, 9.201(-1.069)
6. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., '91 Calais, 9.874(-1.066)
7. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Grand Am, 10.446(-1.064)
8. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., '87 Firebird, 10.302((-1.058)
9. Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., '90 Beretta, 8.897(-1.013)
10. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Camaro, 10.626(-0.994)
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '98 Dodge, 12.533 Seconds,
(-0.467 under Index)
2. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.595(-1.467)
3. John Gallina, Las Vegas Nev., M/SA '84 Buick, 12.423(-1.217)
4. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.878(-1.102)
5. John Irving, Boulder City, Nev., E/SA '71 Dart, 11.350(-1.100)
6. David Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '65 Chevelle, 13.170(-1.090)
7. John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., G/S '66 Nova, 11.577(-1.083)
8. Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., Q/SA '99 Firebird, 13.563(-1.067)
9. Ross Wilson, Alta Loma, Calif., D/SA '97 Pontiac, 11.227(-1.063)
10. Bob Pott, Cornville, Ariz., M/S '88 Mustang, 12.614(-1.026)