The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NHRA FMDRS Saturday Results, Tucson, Ariz.

12 March 2000


SANTOS, MINER CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

        TUCSON, Ariz. - With the first round of eliminations in
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car category in the books,
Rick Santos of Brentwood, Calif. moves on to the semifinals in the
Federal-Mogul Dragster category, as does Larry Minor of Woodbridge, Calif.
in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category despite a day filled with tire
shake.
        With windy conditions for most of the day at Southwestern
International Raceway, drivers battled with car setup in an attempt to tame
the Tucson quarter mile.  Santos did not take advantage of the final
qualifying session but still came away with the $1000 Winston Top Qualifier
Award.  Santos came out in the first round of eliminations with run of
5.417 seconds at 253.28 mph to post the quickest time of the day and
advance to the second round to meet Kent Nucklos of Albuquerque, N.M.
 
       "We had to fight through a lot of tire shake up to half track but
pedaled our way through it", said Santos.  "We're going to make some
changes to our transmission and if we remain consistent, we can win this
race tomorrow."  
 
       Miner was also able to tame the warm Tucson track in the final
round of qualifying with a run of 5.722 seconds at 250.04 mph to take back
the No. 1 qualifying position and the Winston Top Qualifier Award away from
John Weaver of Hanford, Calif.  Weaver bettered Minor's Friday qualifying
attempt of 5.77 seconds with a run on Saturday of 5.766 seconds at 248.66
mph.

"With the wind conditions greatly improving, the car still shook hard, so
we're going to need to make some clutch adjustments tonight if we want to
stay on top for tomorrow", said Miner.  

Eliminations begin tomorrow in all categories at 9a.m. Gates open at
Southwestern International Raceway at 7:30a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and
Federal-Mogul Funny Car are scheduled to run at noon.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Southwestern International
Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
FIRST ROUND
1) Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.417 seconds, 253.28 mph def. 
8) Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 12.994 seconds, 74.75 mph

2) Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.521, 240.47 def. 
7) Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 5.878, 236.34 

3) Mark Strausburg, Lindon Utah, 5.518, 248.98 def.
6) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 6.306, 210.57

5) Kent Nuckols, Albuquerque, N.M., 5.837, 243.50 def.
4) Gary Ormsby, Granite Bay, Calif., 7.622, 119.89 


SEMIFINALS
1) Santos vs. 5) Nuckols
2) Henkelman vs. 3)Strasburg


FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 5.808 seconds, 251.58 mph def.      
8) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 6.034 seconds, 244.47 mph

2) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 5.770, 249.67 def
7) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., 7.279, 61.97

3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 6.055, 245.45 def. 
6)  Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 6.117, 237.50

5) Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 5.856, 247.11 def.
4) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., 5.857, 250.23 


SEMIFINALS
1) Miner vs. 5) Alexander
2) Weaver vs. 3) Gordon

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., J/A '99 Dragster, 8.236 seconds, 
(0.774 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 Dragster, 8.690, (-0.630)
5) Andy 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, Peria, Ariz., D/A '97 Firebird, 8.365, (-0.495)
9) Ralph VanPaepeghem, Boise, Idaho, A/EA '32 Chevrolet, 7.906,(-0.454)
10)  Daniel Rhoades, Glendale Ariz., F/D '98 Dragster 8.820, (-0.370)


SUPER STOCK
1. Ronald Fruchey, Oxnard, Calif., SS/DX '87 Buick, 8.618 seconds,
(-1.342 under Index) 
2. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM '57 Corvette, 8.733,
   (-1.177)
3. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '00 Grand Am, 9.768, (-1.172)
4. Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif., SS/B '69 Corvette, 9.425, (-1.155)
5. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., GT/EA '87 Firebird, 10.255, (-1.105)
6. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunes, N.M., SS/HA '69 Camaro, 10.208, (-1.102)
7. Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., SS/BS '92 Camaro, 9.276, (-1.094)
8. Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., SS/AM '90 Beretta, 8.836, (-1.074)
9. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., GT/BA '91 Calais, 9.867, (-1.073)
10.  Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/FA '98 Grand Am, 10.439, (-1.171)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '98 Dodge, 12.462 Seconds,     
   (-1.538 under Index)
2. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.525(-1.535)
3. John Gallina, Las Vegas Nev., M/SA '84 Buick, 12.360(-1.280)
4. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.771     
(-1.209)
5. David Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '65 Chevelle, 13.069(-1.191)
6. John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., G/S '66 Nova, 11.541(-1.119)
7. John Irving, Boulder City, Nev., E/SA '71 Dart, 11.350(-1.100)
8. Ross Wilson, Alta Loma, Calif., D/SA '97 Pontiac, 11.221(-1.069)
9. Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., Q/SA '99 Firebird, 13.563(-1.067)
10.  John Mason, Murrieta, Calif., A/SA '69 Camaro, 10.679(1.041)