Friday results from Chicago, Route 66 Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY, JOLIET, ILL.
Friday, April 26, 2002

GLENDALE HEIGHTS RESIDENT WHITE LEADS QUALIFYING AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
        JOLIET, Ill. - In the first rounds of qualifying at the Route 66
Season Opener, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, local
favorite Marc White is in the No. 1 spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC)
and Keith Stark is in the top spot in Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD).
        White, who resides in Glendale Heights, Ill., ran more than
three-tenths of a second quicker than the second qualifier.  That may not
seem like a lot but in a sport where times are measured to the thousandth
of a second, it is significant.  White's 5.648-second, 253.42-mph effort
may carry him into eliminations Sunday, especially if the predicted rain
shortens qualifying.
        Meanwhile, TAD pilot Stark's 273.94-mph run is the fifth all-time
fastest pass in the class.  But it was the Danville, Ill., resident's time,
5.307 seconds, which gave him the top qualifying position.
Top qualifiers in other classes are Steve Ambrose of Woodhaven, Mich., in
Comp Eliminator; Bo Butner of Floyds Knobs, Ind., in Super Stock; and Jerry
Stealy of East Moline, Ill., in Stock.
        Qualifying at the Route 66 Season Opener continues Saturday.  Gates
at Route 66 Raceway open at 8 a.m. and racing begins immediately.  TAD and
TAFC are schedule to make two qualifying runs; at 1 p.m. and at 4 p.m.  A
Jet Car exhibition is planned at 5 p.m.
        Route 66 Raceway will host its High School Pit Crew Competition on
Saturday as well.  It is scheduled at noon and 2 p.m.
        Tickets, including pit pass, for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event are $18 Saturday and $20 Sunday.  Children 12 and under are
admitted free with a paid adult.  For more information call the track,
(815) 727-RACE, or visit the web site, www.Route66Raceway.com.

        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.307 seconds, 273.94 mph
2. Russ Lindert, Maneno, Ill., 5.346, 260.21
3. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.386, 264.70
4. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.519, 260.21
5. David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.534, 259.51
6. Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 5.588, 234.17
7. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.703, 258.57
8. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 5.705, 257.33                                  

NOT QUALIFIED
9. Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.762, 240.51
10. Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.769, 230.13
11. Shawn Bowen, Grand Blanc, Mich., 5.822, 246.35
12. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.837, 246.75
13. Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 6.058, 218.72
14. Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., 6.288, 243.02
15. Ben Marshall, New Carlisle, Ohio, 6.354, 217.67
16. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 10.473, 79.66
17. T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake, Ill., 12.479, 95.29
18. Dave Hedges Jr., Plainwell, Mich., 12.823, 90.27
19. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Disqualified
20. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., Disqualified  

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 5.648 seconds, 
   253.42 mph
2. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 5.985, 245.81
3. Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.043, 241.80
4. Dave Kovar, Frankfort, Ill., '00 Pontiac, 6.045, 215.03
5. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 6.069, 241.76
6. Ray Drew, Union Grove, Wis., '98 Mustang, 6.083, 231.08
7. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, '98 Firebird, 6.110, 216.20
8. John Reikas, Glendale Hts., Ill., '98 Camaro, 6.264, 221.60
NOT QUALIFIED
9. Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Ont., Can., '96 Firebird, 6.398, 222.80
10. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.657, 101.03
11. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 28.00, 0.00

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhave, Mich., '23 Ford, J/AA, 7.818 seconds, 
   -0.662 under index
2. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '01 Firebird, D/AA, 7.763, -0.657
3. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '23 T roadster, A/EA, 7.412, -0.618
4. Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.782, -0.568
5. Bill Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., '92 Camaro, F/SM, 9.008, -0.542
6. Mike Clarahan, Farmington Hills, Mich., '32 Austin, A/AA, 6.878, 
   -0.532
7. Joe Swearengin, Overland Pk., Kan., '97 Olds, D/EA, 8.491. -0.529
8. Douglas Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., '00 dragster, B/ED, 7.004, 
   -0.506
9. Brian Antony, Northfield, Minn., '00 Avenger, C/A, 7.593, -0.497
10. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, H/SM, 9.297, -0.483

SUPER STOCK
1. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '96 Achieva, SS/BM, 8.420 seconds, 
   -1.280 under index
2. Michael Manns, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.295, -1.205
3. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '99 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.633, -1.167
4. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.413, -1.137
5. Teresa Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '96 Achieva, SS/DM, 9.009, -1.111
6. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.003, -1.097
7. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., '64 Corvette, SS/JA, 10.212, -1.088
8. Rodney Dorsey, North Judson, Ind., '96 Achieva, SS/EM, 9.450, -1.050
9. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., '96 Achieva, GT/HA, 10.312, -1.038
10. Brad Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., '87 Camaro, GT/I, 10.213, 
   -1.037

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Stealy, East Moline, Ill., '86 Camaro, I/SA, 11.113 seconds, 
   -1.487 under index
2. Donald Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.469, -1.481
3. Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., '75 Buick, R/SA, 13.036, -1.314
4. Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '85 Camaro, K/SA, 11.650, -1.300
5. Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, S.D., '88 Mustang, M/S, 11.883, -1.267
6. Robert Downing, Britton, Mich., '83 Malibu Wagon, O/SA, 12.194, 
   -1.256
7. Sam Hamod, Hobart, Ind., '84 Trans Am, J/SA, 11.569, -1.181
8. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., '84 Buick, U/SA, 13.972, -1.178
9. Ben Wenzel Sr., Freeland, Mich., '67 Camaro, E/S, 10.779, -1.171
10. Chris Hill, Warren, Mich., '86 S-10, HT/SA, 13.281, -1.169 

--30--