Sunday LODRS results from SIR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2002

NICHOLSON, AUSTIN TAKE WINS AT SIR

        TUCSON, Ariz. - Darren Nicholson and Bucky Austin both took home
wins at this weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Southwestern
International Raceway. Nicholson qualified his Top Alcohol Dragster number
one and covered the field throughout eliminations for the win. Nicholson
took out Paul Jones in the final with a pass of 5.661 seconds at 250.41 mph
to Jones' 5.993 at 230.72 mph.
        "We ran great all weekend," said Nicholson. "The track was great
and we really wanted to step it up and see what we could do in the final,
but more importantly, we needed this win. No reason to do something
foolish, and possibly smoke the tires. We'll take this win into Vegas next
week and hopefully keep things going."
        In Top Alcohol Funny it was Austin who beat Mert Littlefield to the
strip in the final round with a run of 5.897 seconds at 245.18 mph to
Littlefield's 6.017, 237.92. Austin posted a 5.964 in a bye run in round
one and took out John Patton in round two with a 5.929 to Patton's 6.013.
Winners in other categories are Michael De Palma Jr. of Glendale, Ariz., in
Comp; Abe Loewen of Regina, SK CAN, in Super Stock; Toby Lang of Auburn,
Wash., in Stock; Jerry Denton Jr., of Chandler, Ariz., in Super Comp; David
Coapstick of Ontario, Calif., in Super Gas; Dale Taros of Long Beach,
Calif., in Super Street; Darryl Mitchell Jr. of Thousand Oaks, Calif., in
Super Eliminator and Tom Patterson of Tucson, Ariz., in Motorcycle.
The NHRA Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series makes its next stop
at Sacramento Raceway, May 31-June 2.

The following are final round results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event at Southwestern International Raceway.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.707 seconds, 249.35 miles per
hour def. 8. Tony Meredyk, no show
2. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.829, 231.32 def. 7. Larry Miersch,
Orange, Calif., broke
3. Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.632, 253.47 def. 6. Steve Cantrell,
Wilmington, Del., 5.774, 241.54
5. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.751, 245.58 def. 4. Chris Demke,
Tajunga, Calif., 8.169, 112.93

Semi Finals
Nicholson, 5.649, 249.86 def. Niver, 5.896, 237.42
Jones, 6.015, 223.69 def. Hudson, 17.553, 39.81

Final
Nicholson 5.661, 250.41 def. Jones, 5.993, 230.72

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '01 Camaro, 5.964, 246.53 def. bye
2. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '01 Camaro, 6.102, 241.71 def. 7. Dale
Van Gundy III, Anaheim, Calif., '98 Camaro, 6.141, 230.61
3. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.977, 234.17 def.
6. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.028, 238.81
4. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 5.940, 241.71 def. 5. Lawren
Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 9.044, 91.64

Semi Finals
Austin, 5.929, 245.94 def. Patton, 6.013, 238.64
Littlefield, 6.003, 237.75 def. Gordon, 6.114, 238.38

Final
Austin, 5.897, 245.18 def. Littlefield, 6.017, 237.92

COMP ELIMINATOR
Michael De Palma Jr., Glendale, Ariz., C/A '91 Lunina, broke the beam def.
Steven Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., C/SR '34 Chevy, no show

SUPER STOCK
Abe Loewen, Regina, SK CAN, SS/DM '98 Grand Am, 9.800, 137.09 def. Frank
Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '01 Grand Am, 9.972, 133.75

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Toby Lang, Auburn, Wash., F/SA '69 Chevelle, 12.222, 107.42 def. Darren
Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA "00 Dakota, 12.307, 106.46

SUPER COMP
Jerry Denton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., '00 dragster, 9.166, 159.55 def. Jenna
Lucy, Fontana, Calif., '96 dragster, 9.136, 150.80

SUPER GAS
Dave Coapstick, Ontario, Calif., '27 Ford, 10.192, 130.57 def. Robert
Button, Mesa, Ariz., '87 Firebird, 10.246, 134.31

SUPER STREET
Keith Manague, Phoenix, Ariz., '63 Nova, 11.238, 129.06 def. Dale Taros,
Long Beach, Calif., '72 240 Z, 11.224, 124.75

SUPER ELIMINATOR
Darryl Mitchell Jr., Thousand Oaks, Calif., '00 dragster, 8.139, 168.98
def. Scott Wells, Glendale, Ariz., '01 dragster, 8.090, 179.73

MOTORCYCLE
Tom Patterson, Tucson, Ariz., '81 Kawasaki, 10.096, 129.43 def. John
Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '92 Ninja, 9.370, 129.14

QUICK 32
Chuck Hawk, Tucson, Ariz., dragster, 8.119, 163.87 def. Penny Dabbs,
Garland, Texas, '00 dragster, 7.963, 168.62, red light

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