NHRA FMDRS: Santos melts the competition at Scramento Raceway Park
22 May 2000
SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Rick Santos of Brentwood, Calif. takes his
third consecutive NHRA Pacific Division event in sweltering conditions all
weekend long, while hometown favorite Larry Miner of Woodbridge, Calif.
takes the top spot in Federal-Mogul Funny Car after failing to qualify for
the event, only to make the field as an alternate after Mert Littlefield of
Garden Grove, Calif., was unable to field his car for the first round of
eliminations.
Santos' event winning pass had him shaking the tires at about the one
hundred foot mark, while Steve Faria of Tipton, Calif. looked to have
dropped some cylinders at about half track.
"The car ran well all weekend long considering the heat," said Santos. "We
had to change engines last night and the Oakwood Homes team really stepped
up to the plate and gave me a consistent car to run today."
Miners' cat-like reflexes caught Gasparrelli sleeping at the lights in the
final round leaving .057 seconds ahead proving to be the deciding factor in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car.
"We had some troubles with the ignition throughout the qualifying
sessions," said Miner. "It's unfortunate that Littlefield couldn't field
his car, but thankfully we managed to be in the right place at the right
time to come to life and run solid today."
The fourth of seven Pacific Divisional races will take place at
Sears Point Raceway on June 30 - July 2, 2000.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Sacramento Raceway Park:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.543 seconds, 251.59 mph def.
8. Matt Seltzer, Brea, Calif., (No Show, Broke)
2. David Baca, Brentwood, Calif., 5.870, 210.20 def.
7. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach. Calif., 6.556, 132.48
6. Steve Faria, Tipton, Calif., 5.757, 244.09 def.
3. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.913, 237.68
4. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.629, 248.29 def.
5. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.674, 247.50
Semifinals
1. Santos, 5.590, 252.73 def.
3. Strasburg, 5.824, 240.45
6. Faria, 5.913, 246.06 def.
2. Baca, 5.905, 233.75
Final Round
1. Santos, 5.588, 249.27 def.
6. Faria, 6.712, 159.03
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 5.941 seconds, 237.48 mph def.
8. Jason Rupert, Placentia, Calif., 6.061, 211.47
7. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 5.885, 239.11 def.
2. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 6.026, 217.96
6. Brett Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 6.009, 241.67 def.
3. Ron August, Danville, Calif., 5.916, 221.81 (foul)
4. Steven Gasparrelli, Covina, Calif., 5.929, 225.29 def.
5. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 6.211, 214.13
Semifinals
4. Gasparrelli, 6.005, 238.48 def.
1. Alexander, 7.211, 135.54
7. Miner, 6.305, 221.06 def.
6. Williamson, 6.561, 235.06
Final Round
7. Miner, 6.016, 233.81 def.
4. Gasparrelli, 6.110, 228.16
COMP ELIMINATOR
Jeff Lane, North Bend, Ore., B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.277, 155.54 def.
Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., C/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.878, 147.34
SUPER STOCK
Doug Lambeck, Irvine Calif., SS/BS '92 Camaro, 9.193, 151.69 def.
Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '00 Pontiac, 9.821, 125.05
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA '70 Plymouth, 10.890,121.90 def.
Don Durham, Vacaville, Calif., G/SA '73 Plymouth, 11.644, 114.66
SUPER ELIMINATOR
Andy Spiegel, Acton, Calif., '00 Worthy, 7.932, 166.51 def.
Kenny Upton, Garden Grove, Calif., '97 Dragster, 7.897, 166.16
SUPER COMP
Mike Gomez, Novato, Calif., '90 Dragster, 8.931, 155.88 def.
John Richardson, Santa Clarita, '99 Dragster, 8.884, 155.71 (B/O)
SUPER GAS
Lon Wilburn, San Bruno, Calif., '80 Monza, 9.901, 137.25 def.
Rick Beckstrom, Novato, Calif., '27 Ford, 9.884, 148.34 (B/O)
SUPER STREET
Kevin McClelland, Rohnert Park, Calif., '57 Chevrolet, 10.923,122.39 def.
Fred Van Ornum, Sacramento, Calif., '56 Healey, 10.895, 127.81(B/O)
ET MOTORCYCLE
Phillip Nasca, Cirtus Heights, Calif., '93 Ninja, 10.289, 114.09 def.
Trace St.Germain, San Jose, Calif., '78 Kawasaki, 9.877, 131.61