NHRA FMDRS: Santos, Alexander are the early leaders in Sacramento
20 May 2000
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rick Santos of Brentwood, Calif. set the pace
as well as a track speed record in the Federal-Mogul Dragster category
while John Weaver of Hanford, Calif. also set a track speed record in
Ferderal-Mogul Funny Car. Despite the hot conditions throughout the day,
as conditions cooled, Santos clipped the quarter mile stretch in 5.519
seconds at 259.46 mph, while Weaver has the speed record, but is in the
second spot behind Rob Alexander with a time of 5.801 at 252.59 mph behind
Alexander's top time of 5.772 seconds at 252.59 mph.
"The launch was good but as we came off the pad, the tires shook
hard and I had to short shift high gear," said Santos. "The car came
through real well in the top end, but it's a whole new game tomorrow with
qualifying in the heat."
Rod Alexander rebounded today with the top spot in Federal-Mogul
Funny Car after being the number one qualifier in Bakersfield a couple of
weeks age, only to red light in the first round of eliminations ending his
weekend.
"We were really bummed over what happened in Bakersfield, but what
the team did today really shows what they're made of," said Alexander. "We
set up the car to run soft initially, but after watching the dragster guys
run, we changed the set-up in the staging lanes. It paid off 'cause the
tires shook only a tiny bit at about the two hundred foot mark and the
Jackson-Cowdrey Oldsmobile ran solid the rest of the way down."
Reigning Pro Stock Truck Champion Bob Panella Jr. and teammate Jeff
Gracia, were out today testing for the Castrol Nationals event scheduled
for next week in Dallas. Panella topped Gracia with a time of 7.66 seconds
at 177.21 mph. While Gracia posted a time of 7.669 seconds at 177.88 mph.
Panella and Gracia are scheduled to test throughout the weekend running
after Comp. Eliminator daily.
Qualifying resumes in all categories on Saturday. Gates to
Sacramento Raceway Park open at 8 a.m. and competition begins 10 a.m.
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Cars are scheduled to run at 3 p.m. and 6
p.m. with the first round of elimination's scheduled for 9 p.m. in both
categories.
The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sacramento Raceway Park:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.519 seconds, 259.46 mph *
2. David Baca, Brentwood, Calif., 5.640, 247.83
3. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.713, 245.27
4. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.792, 245.34
5. Matt Seltzer, Brea, Calif., 6.499, 218.90
6. Brad Hansen, Custer, Wash., 8.330, 101.29
7. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 8.583, 96.78
8. Brandon Henkelmen, Santa Jose, Calif., 11.890, 63.16
9. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 15.860, 48.34
10. Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 19.353, 72.22
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 5.772 seconds, 248.82 mph.
2. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 5.801, 252.59 *
3. Ron August, Danville, Calif., 5.900, 242.38
4. Steven Gasparrelli, Covina, Calif., 5.922, 235.85
5. Jason Rupert, Placentia, Calif., 5.997, 217.08
6. Brett Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 6.015, 243.24
7. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 6.076, 246.09
8. Ed Marx, San Rafael, Calif., 6.135, 239.72
9. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 6.210, 179.56
10. Don Hudson, Stocton, Calif., 6.330, 205.71
11. Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., 6.570, 223.31
12. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., 8.623, 104.39
13. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 8.757, 84.89
14. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., 125.34, 62.35
15. James Bartoli, Duarte, Calif., 14.730, 55.48
COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Chevrolet, 8.805 seconds,
(0.555 seconds under Index)
2. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Ore., '34 Chevrolet, 8.235,(-0.525)
3. Jeff Lion, Fresno, Calif., '93 Lumina, 8.656,(-0.514)
4. Craig Schuck, Eugene, Ore., '95 Dragster, 7.531,(-0.479)
5. John Chamberlin, Napa, Calif., '88 Dragster, 7.006,(-0.474)
6. Ed Schuck Jr., Eugene, Ore. '00 Dragster, 7.541,(-0.469)
7. Larry Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., '95 Camaro, 8.601,(-0.459)
8. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '96 Avenger, 160.85,(-0.451)
9. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., '96 Pontiac, 160.92,(-0.448)
10. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., '96 Firebird, 166.26,(-0.447)
SUPER STOCK
1. Don Studley, Orange Calif., GT/TD '99 Dakota, 10.373 seconds,
(1.377 seconds under Index)
2. Steve Wann, Modesto Calif. GT/TD '98 Dakota, 10.605,(-1.145)
3. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., SS/MA '64 Comet, 11.125,(-1.025)
4. Doug Lambeck, Irvine Calif., SS/BS '92 Camaro, 9.017,(-0.983)
5. Ron Fruchey, Oxnard, Calif., SS/DX '87 Grand Nat., 8.660,(-0,940)
6. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/FA '98 Grand Am, 10.189,(-0.911)
7. Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., SS/DA '70 Barracuda, 9.635,(-0.865)
8. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA '89 Camaro, 10.337,(-0.863)
9. Richard Salcido, Whittier, Calif., GT/HA '95 Achieva,10.490,(-0.860)
10. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA '87 Cavalier, 9.845,(-0.855)
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.207 seconds,
(1.343 seconds under Index)
11. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '98 Dakota, 12.178,(-1.322)
12. Scott Hilton, Sun Valley, Calif., E/S '67 Mustang, 10.775,(-1.175)
13. Dave Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '65 Chevelle, 12.708,(-1.042)
14. Don Little, Westley, Calif., A/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.285,(-1.015)
15. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, D/S '71 Mustang, 10.786, (-1.014)
16. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '70 Dodge,10.547,(-1.003)
17. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA '70 GTX, 10.703,(-0.997)
18. Darrin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., '70 Barracuda, 10.565,(-0.985)
19. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., J/SA '76 Aspen, 11.776,(-0.974)
* Track Speed Record