NHRA FMDRS: Hentges, Parker take top honors at Renegade Speedway
28 August 2000
YAKIMA, Wash. - The racing continued under the lights Saturday with
final eliminations at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at
Renegade Raceway. In Federal-Mogul Dragster Mark Hentges of Federal Way,
Wash., added to his already substantial NHRA Northwest Division
Championship points lead with a final-round win. Russ Parker of Salem,
Ore., drove his Dairy Farmers of Oregon Dodge Avenger to his first win of
the 2000 season.
Hentges made his way through the small four dragster field to
capture the title and stretch his point lead to more than 100 over Brandon
Henkleman of San Jose, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev.'s Duane Shields.
Hentges helped his own cause with the first-round defeat of Shields. The
race was close at the finish line but Hentges prevailed with a run of 5.641
seconds at 254.02 mph, covering Shields' pass of 5.706 seconds at 249.10
mph.
The biggest upset of the day came from Kim Parker of Graham, Wash.,
when she defeated Henkelman in the other semifinal when her opponent smoked
the rear tires away from the starting line.
Parker almost was not able to keep her first-round date with
Henkelman after damaging her engine during qualifying, but in a show of
sportsmanship Hentges not only gave her team engine parts but also helped
rebuild the powerplant.
In the final Hentges faced Parker for the victory and won the race
going away with a run of 5.832 seconds at 201.56 mph. "We were happy to
give Kim some help with her car, and she helped us out by beating
Henkelman," said Hentges. "Kim and I talked before the final and I told
her to do what she had to do in the final. Luckily we won and I couldn't
be happier."
It took two engines in two days for Russ Parker to make claim to
his first career Federal-Mogul Funny Car victory. One engine was spent in
Friday's second qualifying session that yielded a No. 5 qualifying berth
for Saturday's eliminations. The second engine went away in the semifinal
win over defending Northwest Division Funny Car Champion Pat Austin of
Tacoma, Wash. Parker claimed the holeshot win over Austin thanks to a
better reaction time, 0.458-second to 0.522-second. (0.400 is perfect.)
Parker didn't look back and took the win light with a run of 6.03 seconds
to Austin's quicker, but losing, 6.00-second lap.
In the final Parker took care of Dan McGlone when the Gladstone, Ore.,
driver blew a burst panel on his car's supercharger, allowing Parker to
claim an easy 6.07-second victory.
"My first Wally (victory trophy) goes to my crew chief and dad, Wayne
Parker," enthused Parker. "This one makes up for my red light [start] in
1997. Now I want to win another!"
The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Renegade Raceway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Semifinals
4) Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 6.935 seconds, 156.90 mph def. 1) Brandon
Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 18.957, 37.85
2) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.641, 254.02 def. Duane Shields, Las
Vegas, Nev., 5.706, 249.10
Final
Hentges, 5.832, 201.56 def. Parker, 6.750, 154.00
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Quarterfinals
1) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '00 Firebird, 6.003 seconds, 208.57 mph def.
8) Matt Goss, Junction City, Ore., '97 Camaro, 7.287, 140.53
2) Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., '99 Camaro, 6.013, 238.41 def. 7) Jett
Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '98 Avenger, 6.338, 186.95
3) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '00 Camaro, 6.011, 240.70 def. 6) Roger
Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '97 Firebird, 6.080, 246.57
4) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Avenger, 6.023, 240.25 def. 4) John
Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '00 Camaro, 10.028, 87.77
Semifinals
Parker, 6.038, 235.47 def. P.Austin, 6.007, 243.83
McGlone, 5.928, 242.19 def. B.Austin, 6.410, 175.74
Final
Parker, 6.070, 238.53 def. McGlone, 6.497, 165.71
COMPETITION
Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., G/D dragster, 9.518 seconds, 136.34 mph def.
Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., C/D dragster, 7.095, 189.11
SUPER STOCK
Terry Anderson, Meridian, Ore., '67 Nova, 10.478, 129.18 def. Gary Rouse,
Bremerton, Wash., SS/LA '64 Chevelle, 11.122, 118.56
STOCK
Stan Hawes, Gresham, Ore., '69 El Camino, 11.950, 110.01 def. Mary Ann
Method, Kennewick, Wash., C/SA '70 Nova, 10.853, 121.42
SUPER COMP
John Preston, Nine Mile Falls, Wash., dragster, 8.911, 159.46 def. Scott
Bacon, Hillsboro, Ore., 8.880, 153.95 (break out)
SUPER GAS
Mark Cavar, Puyallup, Wash., '85 Calais, 9.886, 155.38 def. Marty Peterson,
West Richland, Wash., '27-T Ford, 9.884, 145.72 (break out)
SUPER STREET
Marsha Band, Boise, Idaho, '55 Chevrolet, 10.904, 135.89 def. Kurt Gross,
Oregon City, Ore., '77 Vega, 10.893, 132.50 (break out)
TOP COMP
Dennis Fuller, La Grande, Ore., '97 Mustang, 7.466, 175.06 def. Rod
Langley, Boise, Idaho, dragster, 7.442, 159.32
PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Miles Haner, Seattle, Wash., '81 Suzuki, 8.824, 134.06 def. Leeland King,
Shelton, Wash., '90 Kawasaki, 8.310, 154.90
SUPER PRO
John Schwaller, North Bend, Wash., '70 El Camino, 11.000, 119.33 def.
Lauren Davis, Portland, Ore., '70 Pontiac, 13.142, 103.53
JR. DRAGSTER
Karen Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 8.922, 71.32 def. Nick Henderson,
Tacoma, Wash., 9.531, 67.80