NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Preliminary Results from Paci fic Raceways

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION
PACIFIC RACEWAYS
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2002

LOCAL FAVORITES ON TOP AFTER DAY ONE OF QUALIFYING IN NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES ACTION

Kent, Wash. - After the opening day of time trials and qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Pacific Raceways, Mark Hentges in Top Alcohol Dragster and Pat Austin in Top Alcohol Funny Car are leading their fields.	
Hentges' 5.537 second, 251.91 mph pass put him atop of his class after one round of qualifying.  The Federal Way, Wash., resident had five divisional and three national event wins last year on route to a second straight Northwest Division championship and second place finish in the national point standings.  
This year, he has been to three final rounds in four events, but has yet to visit the winner's circle.  Two of the losses in the finals were to Steve Federlin of Oregon City, Ore., who is currently fourth.  
"It's a little tricky out there," said Federlin.  "But we made a good solid run, we're in the show, and we should be ready to play tomorrow."
Austin, of Tacoma, Wash., is qualified number one after a 5.894 second, 243.24 mph pass, while Bill Stewart of Marysville, Wash., is the top qualifier in Super Stock.  Final qualifying results for Comp and Stock will be posted as soon as they are available.
	Joe Collette, of Boise, Idaho, is atop of the Sportsman Motorcycle class after day one of NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series qualifying.  This racing series is held in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in NHRA's South Central, West Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions.  Qualifying is based on reaction time.  
Gates open tomorrow at Pacific Raceways at 7 a.m., with final qualifying and time trials to begin at 9 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster will make two qualifying runs at noon and 3 p.m., and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  General admission with pit pass is $20, children 6-14 are $5, and children 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.  For more information please call Pacific Raceways at (253) 639-5927.

	The following are Friday's preliminary qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Pacific Raceways.  Final qualifying results will be posted as soon as they are available:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1)	Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.537 seconds, 251.91 mph
2)	Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.605, 248.61
3)	Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.634, 246.08
4)	Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.643, 249.07
5)	William Edwards Jr., Sumas, Wash., 5.739, 233.36
6)	Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.783, 227.61
7)	Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.955, 205.10
8)	Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 6.201, 168.75

Not Qualified
9)	Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 6.214, 163.57
10)	Jason Howell, Tacoma, Wash., 8.228, 106.20
11)	Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., DQ

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1)	Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '00 Firebird, 5.894 seconds, 243.24 mph
2)	Rod Clough, Abbotsford, B.C., '97 Firebird, 6.143, 227.77
3)	Forrest LeBlanc, Kent, Wash., '98 Daytona, 6.157, 228.96
4)	Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '02 Firebird, 6.163, 232.15
5)	Randy Parker, Graham, Wash., '99 Avenger, 6.519, 168.45
6)	Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.892, 146.38
7)	Jon Rice, Pocatello, Idaho, '98 Camaro, 7.168, 203.52

SUPER STOCK
1)	Bill Stewart, Marysville, Wash., '74 Barracuda, SS/LA, 10.777 seconds, -0.973 under index
2)	Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., '92 Ciera, GT/DA, 9.985, -0.815
3)	Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alta., '96 Camaro, GT/EA, 10.147, -0.803
4)	Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '02 Grand Am, SS/CM, 9.122, -0.778
5)	Art Congdon, Calgary, Alta., '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.955, -0.745
6)	Jim Johnston, Ladner, B.C., '55 Chevy, SS/OA, 11.894, -0.706
7)	Alan Falcone, Normandy Park, Wash., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/CA, 10.022, -0.678
8)	Steve Polack, Enumclaw, Wash., '92 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.424, -0.676
9)	Rod Stults, Marysville, Wash., '64 Chevelle, SS/MA, 11.483, -0.667
10)	Jim Caughlin, Woodburn, Ore., '78 Pinto, SS/CC, 12.593, -0.657

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