NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Sunday from Pacific Raceways

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION
PACIFIC RACEWAYS
SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2002

WASHINGTON RACERS TAKES SEVEN OF EIGHT

Kent, Wash. - Washington racers won seven of the eight NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series racing categories at Pacific Raceways during today's eliminations.
Second generation racer Joey Severance of Spanaway, Wash., played the role of giant killer this weekend by taking the win in Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.462 second, 249.90 mph run in the final.  Competing in only his second event, the rookie racer held his composure like a veteran, defeating heavily favored Mark Hentges in the final on his way to his first career win.
"I was a little bit nervous in the final, but not too much," said Severance.  "It's a great feeling to be able to win my first event, especially at my home track."
The Top Alcohol Funny Car final was delayed, as Bucky Austin and crew were forced to install a new motor into their vehicle 35 minutes before the final.
"I knew I shook the car hard in the semi-finals," said Austin.  "I thought there would be something wrong."
	After swapping out motors, the Fife, Wash., resident then ran a 5.691 second, 246.75 mph run to defeat Jason Rupert of Anaheim, Calif., in the final.  This is Austin's third win this year.  
	Winners in the other NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories are Brian Hyerstay of Eugene, Ore., in Comp; Rodney Stults of Marysville, Wash., in Super Stock; Eric Waldo of Richland, Wash., in Stock; Cheryl Morris of Olympia, Wash., in Super Comp; John Peterson of Basin City, Wash., in Super Gas; and Jim Ellingson of Colbert, Wash., in Super Street.
	In NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series competition, Al Omond of Sardis, B.C., defeated Leeland King of Shelton, Wash., for the win.  
	Rod Langley of Boise, Idaho, also took the win in Top Comp, and Don Murray of White Rock, B.C., earned the win in Pro Street.  
	Northwest Division competition of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will make its next stop at Mission Raceway Park, in Mission, B.C., on June 22.  This event was originally scheduled for May 3-5, but the conclusion of this event was rescheduled due to rain.  
  
	The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Pacific Raceways:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1)	Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.508 seconds, 256.84 mph def. 8) Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., 8.613, 100.88
2)	Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.520, 259.11 def. 7) Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 6.338, 154.49
3)	Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.573, 255.29 def. 6) Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 5.646, 261.78
4)	Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.404, 249.16 def. 5) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.433, 249.90

Semi-finals
Hentges, 5.451, 260.01 def. Myers, 5.506, 246.30
Severance, 5.428, 263.77 def. Federlin, 5.582, 252.47

Final
Severance, 5.462, 249.90 def. Hentges, 5.551, 252.47

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1)	Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.727 seconds, 253.14 mph vs. BYE 
2)	Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '00 Firebird, 6.412, 165.97 def. 7) Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '02 Firebird, 10.284, 89.70
3)	Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 5.909, 237.75 def. 6) John Knox, Lacey, Wash., '97 Mustang, 6.165, 234.70
4)	Rod Clough, Abbotsford, B.C., '97 Firebird, 5.876, 243.11 def. 5) Forrest LeBlanc, Kent, Wash., '98 Daytona, 6.172, 228.34

Semi-finals
B. Austin, 5.735, 250.37 def. Clough, 5.932, 242.67
Rupert, 5.753, 244.92 def. P. Austin, 5.780, 247.93

Final
B. Austin, 5.691, 246.75 def. Rupert, 5.782, 242.67

COMP ELIMINATOR
Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., '97 Dragster, G/D, 9.327 seconds, 135.32 mph def. Mike Pessemier, Graham, Wash., '99 Dragster, B/D, 6.990, 189.92

SUPER STOCK
Rodney Stults, Marysville, Wash., '64 Chevelle, SS/MA, 11.480, 106.73 def. Steve Polack, Enumclaw, Wash., '92 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.431, 127.85

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Eric Waldo, Richland, Wash., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.868, 115.37 def. Steve Hanby, Salem, Ore., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 12.176, 108.37

SUPER COMP
Cheryl Morris, Olympia, Wash., '00 Mullis, 8.916, 163.55 def. Dustin Hentges, Auburn, Wash., '00 Mullis, 8.935, 168.09

SUPER GAS
John Peterson, Basin City, Wash., '96 Grand Prix, 9.908, 154.42 def. Wayne Linder, Sunnyside, Wash., '97 Don Daris, 9.938, 139.37

SUPER STREET
Jim Ellingson, Colbert, Wash., '73 Maverick, 10.873, 127.85 def. Brad Pattan, Boise, Idaho, '68 Firebird, 10.849, 120.38

NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES
Al Omond, Sardis, B.C., '84 Ninja, 9.805, 128.31 def. Leeland King, '90 Kawasaki, 8.752, 146.10

TOP COMP
Rod Langley, Boise, Idaho, '99 R.E.D., 7.194, 180.16 def. Doug Hemenway, Auburn, Wash., '97 Undercover, 7.604, 176.676

PRO STREET
Don Murray, White Rock, B.C., '56 Corvette, 7.572, 172.08 def. Glen Braid, Surrey, B.C., '66 Pontiac, 8.011, 179.21

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