NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES--Sears Point
Raceway--Final Results
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES--PACIFIC DIVISION
SEARS POINT RACEWAY
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2001
BERNSTEIN, GASPERRELLI CLAIM SEARS POINT RACEWAY WINS
SONOMA, Calif. -NHRA's Pacific Division concluded its fifth
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event of the 2001 season at Sears Point
Raceway under hot but clear skies. Current Pacific Division points leaders
Brandon Bernstein of Lake Forest, Calif., and Steve Gasparrelli of West
Covina, Calif. both claimed victories in Federal-Mogul Dragster and
Federal-Mogul Funny Car, respectively.
In Federal-Mogul Dragster, rookie driver Brandon Bernstein, son of
Top Fuel dragster legend Kenny Bernstein, drove his Jerry Darien tuned,
Budweiser dragster to the win in a fantastic battle with Scottsdale, Ariz.,
driver Mark Niver.
Bernstein's weekend began with a win over Larry Meirsh, Fallbrook Calif.,
after Meirsch's tires went up in smoke right from the start. Bernstein
subsequently ran a 5.553 second pass at 253.79 mph. In the second round and
semifinals, Bernstein used a pair of .444 reaction times to take out Kevin
Brown, Clearfield, Utah and Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., setting him for
his final round face off against Niver. In the final, Bernstein once again
used a great reaction time, a .446 to Niver's .529, to claim his second
NHRA Pacific Division win and hoist himself further ahead in Pacific
Division points.
"After such a disappointing loss in St. Louis last week I felt like
I had to win this race. It's our second divisional this year, which should
really help us. Jerry (Darien) did a great job this weekend, I'm glad I
also did mine," said Brandon.
In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Gasparrelli collected his third Pacific
Division win, beating out defending Northwest Division Federal-Mogul Funny
Car Champion Pat Austin of Tacoma, Wash. After taking out John Patton of
Peoria, Ariz., Doug Gordon of Paso Robles, Calif., and Jason Rupert of
Placentia, Calif., Gasparrelli would face Austin who seemed unbeatable all
day. But it wasn't to be for the former four-time Federal-Mogul Funny Car
National Champion, Austin who shortly after his launch smoked the tires,
giving the win to Gasparrelli. "I tried to stay in it as long as I could,"
said Austin, "but, I think we just had too much car for the track."
With three wins and two runner-ups for the year, Gasparrelli is
well on his way to winning his first divisional title and fulfilling his
goal for the year, which is to win the Pacific Division title and finish in
the top five in Federal-Mogul Funny Car National Championship points.
"We are so thrilled to win today. Pat (Austin) beat us in Phoenix this year
and I guess you can say we owed him one," joked Gasparrelli.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Sears Point Raceway:
FEDERAL MOGUL DRAGSTER
Second Round
1) Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest , Calif., 5.757 seconds, 255.11 mph
def.
9) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 5.869, 227.69
4) Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.570, 256.25 def.
5) Brandon Henkleman, San Jose, Calif., 7.516, 119.28
2) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz, 5.643, 254.54
7) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.963, 244.85
3) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.628, 249.53
6) Dave Baca, Brentwood, Calif., 8.163, 112.60
Semifinals
Niver, 5.739, 249.59 def. Nicholson, 6.128, 193.20
Bernstein, 5.820, 235.68 def. Jones, 9.290, 87.85
Final
Bernstein, 6.002, 247.90 (.446 reaction time) def. Niver, 6.035, 233.44
(.529 r/t)
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Second Round
1) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., 5.903 seconds, 247.26 mph def.
6) Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., 5.784, 238.61
5) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., 5.957, 244.73 def.
1) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 6.146, 190.74
10) Jason Rupert, Placentia, Calif., 6.118, 232.86 def.
9) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 6.148, 236.79
Semifinals
Gasparrelli, 6.026, 242.31 def. Rupert, 6.195, 232.67
P. Austin, 5.968, 243.31 def. BYE
Final
Gaspearrelli, 5.971, 247.90 (.491 reaction time) def. P. Austin, 6.818,
155.99 (.466 r/t)
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., '96 Grand Prix, E/AA, 8.863 seconds, 126.09
mph def Brain Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore. '97 Dragster, G/D, 14.559, 52.00 (red
light-foul)
SUPER STOCK
Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Camaro, GT/HA, 10.518 seconds, 124.53
mph def. Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash. '98 Grand Am, GT/IA, 11.082, 111.54
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Ken Passerby, Chandler, Ariz, '71 Nova, I/SA, 12.072 seconds, 100.10 mph
def. Darrin Grossi, Soulbyville, Calif., B/SA, '70 Cuda, 10.824, 107.65
SUPER COMP
Michael Hiatt, Fallon, Nev., '96 Dragster, 8.941 seconds, 147.73 mph def.
Deanna LeForbes, Riverside, Calif., 8.998, 162.14
SUPER GAS
Johnny Gilbert, Hesperia, Calif., '91 Daytona, 9.904 seconds, 142.20 mph
def. Janice Hogan, Orangevale, Calif., 9.838, 153.92
SUPER STREET
Kurt Gross, Oregon City, Ore., '77 Vega, 10.926 seconds, 127.98 mph def.
Dave Whooley, Fallon City, Nev., '82 Camaro, 10.947, 133.80
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Ramond Clemons, Antelope, Calif., '87 Suzuki GSXR, 9.477 seconds, 131.77
mph def. John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '94 Kawasaki Ninja, 9.091,
142.21
SUPER ELIMINATOR
Michael Nann, Novato, Calif., '01 Dragster, 14.935 seconds, 82.16 mph def.
Tim Height, Richmond, Calif., '90 Dragster (no show-broke)
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