Saturday LODRS results from Tucson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2002

NICHOLSON, AUSTIN LEAD FIELDS AT SIR

        TUCSON, Ariz. - Darren Nicholson and Bucky Austin are the number
one qualifiers going into Sunday's eliminations for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series at Southwestern International Raceway. Nicholson, of Mission
Viejo, Calif., grabbed the top spot in Top Alcohol Dragster with a run of
5.574-seconds at 254.95 mph. Paul Jones jumped into the number two spot,
covering the quarter mile in 5.691-seconds, 250.18 mph.
        "You can't ask for a better day," said Nicholson. "The car is
running great, the weather is excellent, and everyone's doing their job. We
just need to do what we do best and run our own race and we'll be fine for
eliminations."
        It was all Austin in the Funny Car class as the Washington resident
covered the field by more than a tenth. Doug Gordon follows Austin's
5.853-second pass at 247.34 mph with a 5.968 at 238.55 mph to put him in
the number two position. 
        The number one qualifier in Comp. Eliminator was Wayne Ramay of
Simi Valley, Calif., with a run of 7.298 seconds. Jim Weakland grabbed the
top spot in Super Stock with his '68 Camaro while Las Vegas resident Marka
Gallina held on to number one in Stock with a pass of 11.40 seconds. The
five low qualifiers will share the $2,500 bonus money from Federal-Mogul's
Sealed Power brand.
        Eliminations continue Sunday at 9 a.m.  Gates at Southwestern
International Raceway open at 7 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car
run at 12 noon. For more information call the track, (520) 762-9700.

The following are Sunday's pairings and Saturday's qualifying results from
the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Southwestern International
Raceway

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.574 seconds, 254.95 miles per
hour vs. 8. Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 12.991, 64.44
2. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.651, 239.36 vs. 7. Larry Miersch,
Orange, Calif., 6.452, 206.80
3. Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.677, 252.90 vs. 6. Steve Cantrell,
Wilmington, Del., 6.006, 210.11
4. Chris Demke, Tajunga, Calif., 5.697, 250.18 vs. 5. Mark Niver,
Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.697, 243.41

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '01 Camaro, 5.853, 247.34 vs. Bye
2. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.968, 238.55 vs. 7. Dale
Van Gundy III, Anaheim, Calif., '98 Camaro, 6.416, 210.70
3. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.970, 240.89 vs. 6.
Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.233, 228.54
4. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 5.996, 237.88 vs. 5. Lawren
Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 6.053, 236.55

Not qualified
Pete Rivera, Mesa, Ariz., '97 Firebird - DQ

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, Calif., A/ND '96 dragster, 7.298, -0.712
2. Scott Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., C/SM '95 Camaro, 8.603, -0.637
3. Michael De Palma Jr., Glendale, Ariz., C/A '91 Lumina, 7.715, -0.605
4. Fred Gross, LaCrescenta, Calif., G/A '98 Firebird, 8.914, -0.586
5. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., C/EA '96 Avenger, 8.602, -0.578
6. Steven Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., C/SR '34 Chevy, 9.055, -0.555
7. Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., D/SMA '98 Oldsmobile, 9.096, -0.534
8. Kenneth Justice Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., B/AA '99 Firebird, 7.521, -0.519
9. Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., C/SR '34 Chevrolet, 9.108, -0.502
10. David Beckley, Wildomar, Calif., A/A '63 Corvette, 7.042, -0.498

SUPER STOCK
1. Jim Weakland, Morrison, Colo., SS/GT '68 Camaro, 10.110, 1.140
2. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '01 Grand Am, 9.815, -1.125
3. Don Bevers, Tuscon, Ariz., SS/BM '91 Probe, 9.052, -1.008
4. Abe Loewen, Regina, SK CAN, SS/DM '98 Grand Am, 9.614, -0.966
5. Don Kennedy, Mesa, Ariz., GT/CA '92 Trans Am, 10.158, -0.942
6. Bob Bales, Chino, Calif., GT/AA '92 Firehawk, 9.866, -0.924
7. Toby Torres, El Paso, Texas, SS/CM '88 Mustang, 9.348, -0.922
8. Dave Baumhefner, Boulder, Colo., SS/JA '71 Nova, 10.804, -0.916
9. Gregory Smith, Palmdale, Calif., GT/DA '93 Daytona, 10.285, -0.915
10. Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif., GT/AA '97 Pontiac, 9.904, -0.886

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Marka Gallina, LasVegas, I/SA '89 Trans Am, 11.450, -1.620
2. Carol Yacavone, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '80 Trans Am, 12.872, -1.388
3. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '00 Dakota, 12.240, -1.350
4. Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., P/SA '01 Firebird, 12.919, -1.341
5. Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., I/SA '76 Valare, 11.768, -1.302
6. John Gallina, Las Vegas, G/SA '86 Buick, 11.463, -1.297
7. Robert Mulry, Hollister, Calif., K/SA '74 Firebird, 12.224, -1.206
8. Chuch Norton, Covina, Calif., D/SA '94 Camaro, 11.092, -1.198
9. Bernie Cunningham, Riverside, Calif., E/SA '98 Firebird, 11.279, -1.171
10. Bill O'Connor, Huntington Beach, Calif., HF/SA '80 Horizon, 18.155,
-1.135

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