LODRS NHRA Saturday Results from Chicago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY, JOLIET, ILL.
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2002

MICHAEL, HODGE PICK UP WINS; THACKER ATTEMPTS DOUBLE

        JOLIET, Ill. -Racing resumed today for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway after a two-month delay. The event,
originally scheduled for late April, was postponed do to rain and
re-scheduled for this weekend. 
        Craig Michael did not seem to mind the wait picking up his first
career win as he took home the famed NHRA Wally trophy in Super Stock.
Michael out ran Brad Zaskowski with a run of 10.631 seconds at 122.30 mph. 
        In Stock Eliminator it was Larry Hodge heading to the winner's
circle with his win over Keith Lynch. Brian Folk, who picked up a national
event victory last month in St. Louis, took the Super Comp honors over
Shannon Mingee and Bob Zimmerman beat Keith McPherson in Super Gas.
        In Super Street, Wayne Christopher joined Michael as a first time
winner taking out Robert Richardson with a run of 10.913 at 120.24 mph.
        Three other NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series classes wrapped up
their qualifying for the event and will run eliminations on Sunday.
        Keith Stark sits in the number one spot of the Top Alcohol Dragster
class with a 5.307-second pass at 273.94 mph. The Danville, Ill., resident
is followed by Russ Lindert with a 5.346, 260.21. 
        Robinson, Ill. Resident, Marty Thacker is qualified number three in
the dragster class with a qualifying run back in April prior to the event
being rescheduled for this weekend. Already being safe in the field,
Thacker elected to compete in the NHRA Southeast Division Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series event in Bristol, Tenn., yesterday and today. Thacker took
the win over John Haley in Bristol today and will now make the trip back to
Chicago to compete in tomorrow's eliminations.
        Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Marc White leads the field with a
5.648-second pass at 253.42 mph and is followed by Kim Fritts of Greenup,
Ill., in second with a lap of 5.870 at 244.12 mph.
        Coming off a July 4th win in Indianapolis, Steve Ambrose qualified
number one in Comp Eliminator and is followed by Bo Butner in second.
Ambrose defeated Butner in the final at Indianapolis.
        Eliminations continue on Saturday at 8 a.m. with Top Alcohol
Dragster and Funny Car scheduled for noon. Gates at Route 66 Raceway open
at 7 a.m.       
        Tickets, including pit pass, for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event are $10 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 Saturday's final elimination results and final
qualifying from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Route 66
Raceway:

FINALS
SUPER STOCK
Craig Michael, Coshocton, Ohio, '66 Belvedere SS/EA, 10.631, 122.30 def.
Brad Zaskowski, Grand Raids, Mich., '87 Camaro GT/I, 10.505, 127.44

STOCK
Larry Hodge, LaPlace, Ill., '75 Skylark M/SA, 12.577, 104.15 def. Keith
Lynch, Mount Ayr, Ill., '69 Camaro H/SA, 12.114, 108.30

SUPER COMP
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., '99 dragster, 8.920, 157.39 def. Shannon Mingee,
St. Joe, Ill., '01 dragster, 8.880, 155.63

SUPER GAS
Robert Zimmerman, Fon du Lac, Wis., '92 Cavalier, 9.905, 140.24 def. Keith
McPherson, Leonard, Mich., '63 Corvette, 11.226, 102.39

SUPER STREET
Wayne Christopher, Milan, Ill., '84 Monte Carlo, 10.913, 120.24 def. Robert
Richardson, Fort Wayne, Ind., '68 Camaro, 10.911, 138.58

Pairings and Final Qualifying
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Parings
1. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.307 seconds, 273.94 mph 8. Ken Perry,
        Gormley, ONT CAN, 5.602, 244.92
2. Russ Lindert, Maneno, Ill., 5.346, 260.21 7. Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio,
5.588,
        234.17
3. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.386, 264.70 6. David Wells, Lemars,
Iowa,
        5.534, 259.51
4. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.519, 260.21 5. Jeff Wilson, Winfield,
Mo.,
        5.530, 257.48

Qualifying Order
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. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.530, 257.48
6. David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.534, 259.51
7. Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 5.588, 234.17
8. Ken Perry, Gormley, ONT CAN, 5.602, 244.92

Not Qualified
9. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.681, 251.25
10. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.703, 258.57
11. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 5.705, 252.33
12. Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.769, 230.13
13. Timothy Bowgren, Valparaiso, Ind., 5.774, 231.20 
14. Todd Datweiler, Herscher, Ill., 5.840, 232.59
15. T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake, Ill., 5.901, 236.71
16. Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.184, 219.58
17. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, 9.240, 93.14

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
Pairings
1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 5.648 seconds, 
   253.42 mph 8. Ray Drew, Union Grove, Wis., '98 Mustang, 6.083, 231.08
2. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.870, 244.12 7. Dave Kovar
        Frankfort, Ill., '00 Pontiac, 6.045, 215.03
3. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 5.930, 242.93 6. Bobby
Martin,
        Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.043, 241.80
4. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 5.938, 244.21 5. Chuck Cheeseman,
        Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 5.949, 245.94

Qualifying Order
1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 5.648 seconds, 
   253.42 mph
2. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.870, 244.12
3. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 5.930, 242.93
4. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 5.938, 244.21
5. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 5.949, 245.94
6. Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.043, 241.80
7. Dave Kovar, Frankfort, Ill., '00 Pontiac, 6.045, 215.03
8. Ray Drew, Union Grove, Wis., '98 Mustang, 6.083, 231.08

Not Qualified
9. Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '01 Firebird, 6.198, 199.32
10. John Reikas, Glendale Hts., Ill., '98 Camaro, 6.203, 231.52
11. Wayne Butler, Manito, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.283, 220.80

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhave, Mich., '23 Ford, J/AA, 7.818 seconds, 
   -0.662 under index
2. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '23 T roadster, A/EA, 7.412, -0.618
3. Bill Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., '92 Camaro, F/SM, 9.008, -0.542
4. Mike Clarahan, Farmington Hills, Mich., '32 Austin, A/AA, 6.878, 
   -0.532
5. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass, C/AA, 7.591, -0.509
6. Douglas Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., '00 dragster, B/ED, 7.004, 
   -0.506
7. Brian Antony, Northfield, Minn., '00 Avenger, C/A, 7.593, -0.487
8. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '63 Corvette B/A, 7.321, -0.479
9. Bill Riemenapp, LaCross, Wis., '97 Firebird C/EA, 8.442, -0.478
10. Norman Saibene, Canton, Ohio, '90 dragster F/ED, 8.569, -0.421

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