NHRA Final Results from Numidia Raceway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHEAST DIVISION NUMIDIA RACEWAY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2002 GIBSON WINS FIRST, MANZO NINTH STRAIGHT IN DIVISION Numidia, Pa. - Racing action at the RBS Trailer Sales Thrills in the Hills NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Numidia Raceway concluded with Billy Gibson and Frank Manzo taking home wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. "There were some gremlins in the car earlier this year, but it just all came together today," said Gibson. The Chaptico, Md., resident takes home his first event win of the season after running a 5.835 second, 246.37 mph run in the final to defeat Bruce Horner of Bergenfield, N.J. This is Gibson's second career event win. "My crew deserves all the credit, they did it all," said Gibson. "I'm just along for the ride." Northeast divisional events have witnessed only one winner in Top Alcohol Funny Car this year, as Manzo is now five for five in the division. With the win, the Morganville, N.J., resident is ranked number one in the national point standings. The Top Alcohol Funny Car racer is vying for his eighth national and eleventh divisional championship. "We're definitely going to Englishtown to test some new parts and also gear up for Indy," said Manzo. "If we can also get the win there, the extra points will be of great help as well." Winners in other categories are Don Stratton Jr. of Beloit, Ohio, in Comp; Bob Letellier of Biddeford, Maine, in Super Stock; Lee Zane of Pittsgrove, N.J., in Stock; Frank Richichi of Staten Island, N.Y., in Super Comp; Steve Drummond of Laurel, Del., in Super Gas; and James Antonette of Valley Stream, N.Y., in Super Street. Northeast Division competition of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series makes its next stop at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., August 9-11. The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Numidia Raceway: TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER First Round 8) Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 6.052 seconds, 241.35 mph def. 1) Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Pa., 5.824, 248.55 2) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.789, 247.25 def. 7) Bruce Insinger, Dushore, Pa., 9.254, 91.69 3) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., 5.851, 246.44 def. 6) Doug Foley, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., 5.850, 244.36 5) Fran Monaghan, Meadowbrook, Pa., 5.870, 244.23 def. 4) Donald Gianquitto, Melrose, Mass., did not run Semi-finals Horner, 5.920, 241.22 def Monaghan, 5.932, 238.91 Gibson, 5.736, 254.16 def. Bozzelli, 5.756, 246.77 Final Gibson, 5.835, 246.37 def. Horner, 5.922, 243.90 TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR First Round 1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '01 Avenger, 6.009 seconds, 245.36 mph def. 8) Darrel Cox Sr., Whiteford, Md., '00 Firebird, 9.260, 95.21 2) Michael Ferro, Stanford, Conn., '98 Avenger, 6.201, 233.46 def. 7) Craig English, Mount Holly, N.J., '98 Mustang, 6.228, 229.00 3) Bruce Mullins, Fredericksburg, Va., '98 Mustang, 6.089, 231.48 def. 6) Scott Woodington, Delran, N.J., '98 Achieva, 6.253, 235.72 4) Paul Lee, Gaithersburg, Md., '01 Corvette, 6.141, 228.83 def. 5) Bruce Peterson Jr., Nappingers Falls, N.Y., '02 Corvette, 6.229, 227.44 Semi-finals Manzo, 5.969, 245.43 def. Lee, 6.168, 230.35 Mullins, 6.454, 194.09 def. Ferro, 7.155, 143.24 Final Manzo, 5.978, 246.23 def. Mullins, 6.690, 164.26 COMP ELIMINATOR Don Stratton Jr., Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.257 seconds, 149.13 mph def. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Pa., '96 Cutlass, F/A, 8.421, 160.65 SUPER STOCK Bob Letellier, Biddeford, Maine, '94 Trans Am, SS/JA, 11.254, 106.77 def. Dennis Steward, Dover, Pa., '91 Daytona, GT/EA, 10.136, 130.03 STOCK ELIMINATOR Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '73 Apollo, J/SA, 12.468, 100.77 def. Phillip Panaritis, Montreal, Que., '70 Challenger, A/SA, 11.011, 122.13 SUPER COMP Frank Richichi, Staten Island, N.Y., '00 Carpenter, 8.875, 162.86 def. Todd Hickey, Polk, Ohio, '01 Worthy, 9.002, 145.53 SUPER GAS Steve Drummond, Laurel, Del., '68 Mustang, no time def. Ken Bowers, Islip, N.Y., '88 Thunderbird, broke SUPER STREET James Antonette, Valley Stream, N.Y., '67 Camaro, 10.885, 123.22 def. Don Garbinski, Philadelphia, Pa., '71 Challenger, 10.883, 126.20 -- 30 --