LODRS Sunday Results from Pomona Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
POMONA RACEWAY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2002

LUCAS, RUPERT DOUBLE UP FOR LUCAS OIL TEAM

POMONA, Calif. - Morgan Lucas and Jason Rupert made it an all Lucas Oil
winners' circle as they both took home wins from this weekend's Budweiser
Summer Nights of Fire presented by Big-O Tires at Pomona Raceway.
        Lucas picked up his second win in as many weeks in Top Alcohol
Dragster with a 5.633-second pass at 257.65 mph in defeating Darren
Nicholson. Nicholson ran 5.60's all weekend but suffered problems in the
finals and slowed to a 6.882 at 139.81 mph.
        "I've wanted to get these two boys in the winner's circle together
for a long time," said Forrest Lucas, Morgan's father. "We've sponsored
Jason for 8 years and he and Morgan have become great friends.
        "The last three weekends have been unbelievable," express Morgan.
"The team has worked so hard. It's just incredible."
        Lucas recorded runs of 5.659 and 5.745 seconds on his way to the
finals.
        Rupert qualified number two in Top Alcohol Funny Car and ran 5.90's
in taking out Pacific Division Champion Steve Garsparrelli in round one and
Ed Marx in round two before facing Mert Littlefield in the final. Rupert
took the early lead but lost traction and could see Littlefield slipping by
before crossing the centerline disqualifying himself and giving the win to
Rupert.
        "I saw Mert go by but knew he was having problems and I wasn't
giving up," said Rupert. "Then I saw him hit the cones (timing cones) and
couldn't believe it was happening. We finally got the win we've been
working so hard for."
        With a little over 100 cars left in competition and a 6 p.m. noise
curfew, race officials were forced to postpone the remainder of
eliminations for the remaining classes in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series. Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super
Street, Super Eliminator and the Kerker Motorcycle series will finish their
eliminations in Las Vegas on Thursday, October 31. Eliminations will run in
conjunction with a test and tune the day prior to the start of the final
event in the NHRA Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway. A schedule for the postponement is expected to be
released in the next week.

        The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event at Pomona Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.617, 253.95 def. 8. Matt
Seltzer, Brea, Calif., 6.806, 146.77
2. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., 5.659, 251.11 def. 7. Gary Anderson,
Anaheim, Calif., 6.065, 23.52
3. Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 5.812, 244.56 def. 6. Larry Miersch,
Orange, Calif., 7.745, 123.89
4. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.702, 242.19 def. 5. Chris Demke,
Tujunga, Calif., no time recorded

Semi Finals
Nicholson, 5.664, 250.83 def. Niver, 5.939, 234.31 
Lucas, 5.745, 250.41 def. Meredyk, 6.079, 226.47

Finals
Lucas, 5.633, 257.65 def. Nicholson 6.882 139.81

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.914, 243.63 def. 8.
Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 6.385, 197.23
2. Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.955, 239.04 def. 7.
Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '00 Firebird, 6.020, 240.44
3. Ed Marx, Discovefry Bay, Calif., '95 Avenger, 5.999, 241.87 def. 6. Mark
Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 10.878, 76.07
4. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Camaro, 5.965, 228.77 def.
5. Bret Williamson, Cambell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 6.004, 239.48

Semi Finals
Littlefield, 5.957, 234.55 def. Miner, 6.062, 239.17
Rupert, 5.955, 239.04 def. Marx, 11.908, 54.63

Finals
Rupert, 7.487, 145.67 def. Miner, 6.790, 148.24 DQ-crossed center line

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