NHRA: World Champ shows Firebird why he's number 1
16 April 2000
BOISE, Idaho - A collective groan rippled through the Firebird
Raceway pit area when the Oakwood Homes tractor-trailer unit of reigning
Federal-Mogul Dragster World Champion Rick Santos pulled into the garage
area.
Santos of Brentwood (near San Francisco), Calif., has been all but
unbeatable for almost three years as his three consecutive World titles
attest. His most recent incredible win-loss streak was stopped last
weekend at 33-0 when a supercharger burst panel failed in the semifinals at
Las Vegas Speedway, handing Santos his first loss since August 1999.
So when Santos unleashed a 5.576-second run Friday afternoon, good for the
provisional pole position at the Auto Parts 'N Stuff Ignitor, no one was
too surprised, only the driver himself.
"For the first run of the weekend it wasn't that bad, better than I thought
it would be," said Santos, who will receive two more qualifying runs
Saturday. "I'm not sure how much quicker we can go; that run was right on
the edge. Although the car ran straight it was [spinning] the rear tires
all the way downtrack, so we're going to have to be careful we don't get
crazy and throw away a run."
The provisional pole sitter in Federal-Mogul Funny Car has a little more to
worry about other than not getting too aggressive with the engine's tune
up. Salem, Ore.'s Russ Parker snatched the provisional No. 1 qualifying
position with a 5.980-second run then ran off the end of the track when the
car's parachutes didn't open.
"This is a new car and the [parachute release] lever is located in a
slightly different place to my old car," explained Parker. "When I reached
for the lever I knocked it backward instead of forward and I knew right
then I was in trouble."
With the Funny Car traveling at more than 230 mph Parker reached across his
body to release the lever with his left hand, couldn't, and decided to take
the ride into the field at the end of the track.
"The damage isn't too bad," said Parker, surveying his battered Dodge
Avenger body back in the pit area. "It's tore the lip off the front and we
won't be able to fix that until we get back home. Fortunately, we've got
last year's [Pontiac Firebird] body in the trailer and we'll be ready to
roll Saturday."
The 30th annual Ignitor, the first event of the 2000 NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Northwest Division Series continues Saturday with
the Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars receiving two more qualifying
laps, at 12 noon and 4:00 p.m.
The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Firebird Raceway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.576 seconds, 248.89 miles per hour
2. Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.828, 241.15
3. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 6.807, 142.69
4. Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 8.389, 103.16
5. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 8.515, 100.95
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Avenger, 5.980 seconds, 233.40 miles per
hour
2. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '00 Camaro, 6.103, 232.37
3. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., '99 Camaro, 6.219, 201.56
4. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '97 Firebird, 6.565, 223.04
5. Kerry Moreira, Richfield, Idaho, '92 Cutlass, 8.282, 114.25
6. Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., '99 Camaro, 16.637, 52.12
COMPETITION
1. Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., G/D dragster, 9.706 seconds (0.594-second
under Index)
2. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., B/SM '92 Camaro, 9.021 (-0.579)
3. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., C/EA '96 Avenger, 8.579 (-0.531)
4. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., B/SM '87 Trans Am, 9.105 (-0.495)
5. Ralph Van Paepeghem, Boise, Idaho, A/EA '32 Bantam, 7.853 (-0.477)
6. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.637 (-0.343)
7. Harvey From, Regina, Sask., J/A '23-T Ford, 8.725 (-0.245)
8. Mike Cherry, Hermiston, Ore., E/A '81 Monza, 9.005 (-0.105)
9. Mike Pessemier, Graham, Wash., B/D dragster, 8.247 (0.587)
10. Larry Joslin, Pocatello, Idaho, C/SM '82 Camaro, 16.932 (6.962)
SUPER STOCK
1. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., GT/TD '98 Dakota, 10.986 seconds (1.154
seconds under Index)
2. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., SS/HA '69 Camaro, 10.120 (-1.140)
3. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., GT/EA '87 Firebird, 10.170 (-1.140)
4. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., GT/BA '91 Calais, 9.836 (-1.064)
5. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM '57 Corvette, 8.822 (1.048)
6. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA '68 Dart, 9.387 (-0.943)
7. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA '89 Camaro, 10.634 (-0.936)
8. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alb., GT/DA '94 Camaro, 10.239 (-0.921)
9. Don Thomas, Spruce Grove, Alb., GT/DA '89 Camaro, 10.322 (-0.838)
10. Tom Nolan, Lacombe, Alb., SS/HA '67 Camaro, 10.424 (-0.836)
Others include:
20. Gale Sasser, Meridian, Idaho, SS/HA '66 Chevrolet II, 10.550 (-0.710)
21. Dan Barton, Courd Alene, Idaho, GT/AA '81 Cutlass, 10.068 (-0.682)
26. Terry Anderson, Meridian, Idaho, SS/H '67 Nova, 10.820 (-0.290)
STOCK
1. Calvin Queahpama, Portland, Ore., T/SA '65 Chevrolet, 13.955 seconds
(1.335 seconds under Index)
2. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '70 Challenger, 10.684
(-1.246)
3. Marka Gallina, Las Vegas, Nev., L/SA '84 Regal, 12.188 (-1.242)
4. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., A/SA '69 Camaro, 10.470 (-1.210)
5. Joe Aluise, Laurel, Md., A/SA '63 Belvedere, 10.487 (-1.193)
6. Adam Bowdish, Lake Oswego, Ore., P/SA '66 Chevrolet, 13.028 (-1.182)
7. Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., A/S '67 Fairlane, 10.450 (-1.170)
8. Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., E/SA '97 Camaro, 11.246 (-1.154)
9. Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, S.D., M/S '88 Mustang, 12.497 (-1.093)
10. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, D/S '71 Mustang, 11.100 (-1.090)
Others include:
24. Jackie Alley, Eagle, Idaho, F/SA '69 Camaro, 11.752 (-0.798)
37. Steve Larsen, Pocatello, Idaho, F/SA '72 Cutlass, 12.087 (-0.463)
40. Al Steinmetz, Chubbuck, Idaho, F/SA '72 Oldsmobile, 12.228 (-0.322)
42. Gary McCoy, Eagle, Idaho, F/S '70 Plymouth, 12.232 (-0.268)
45. Carl Downard, Boise, Idaho, I/S '75 Corvette, 12.764 (-0.156)
48. Terry Hembree, Ammon, Idaho, F/SA '69 Camaro, 13.044 (0.494)
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