NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Preliminary Results from Rene gade Raceways
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION RENEGADE RACEWAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2002 CALGARY WINNERS HEAD TO FINALS Yakima, Wash. - After two rounds of eliminations, both winners in the alcohol classes from last week's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary, Atla., are still in the hunt and will be heading into the finals later tonight. Brandon Johnson of Shelton, Wash., has been able to continue the momentum he built last week in Calgary, Alta., where he earned his second career win and became top qualifier for the first time in his career. The rookie Top Alcohol Dragster pilot has come to Yakima, Wash., to earn low qualifier honors for the second time in as many weeks and is currently getting ready for the final round. After being uncontested in the first round, Johnson posted what is currently low elapsed time and top mph of the event with a 5.604-second, 253.52 mph run to defeat Mitch Myers of Hermiston, Ore., in the semifinals. Johnson will now head to the final to challenge Michael Cofini of Spokane, Wash. Roger Bateman in Top Alcohol Funny Car is also fresh off a win at Race City Motorsport Park. The Calgary, Atla., resident will not have the luxury of home field advantage this time as he will be striving for his second win of the season. Bateman will face Bucky Austin of Fife, Wash., in the final. Austin has three divisional event wins this year, and has already clinched the Top Alcohol Funny Car Northwest Division championship for the 2002 season. A second release summarizing final round results in all racing categories will be posted at the conclusion of tonight's racing action. For more information, call Renegade Raceways at (509) 877-4621 or visit www.renegaderaceway.com. The following are first round and semifinal results in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Renegade Raceways: TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER Round 1 1) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.692 seconds, 244.25 mph def. 8) Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., no show 7) Mike Austin, Phoenix, Ore., 8.467, 137.51 def. 2) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 24.643, 61.10 3) Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.725, 249.30 def. 6) Bill Edwards Jr., Sumas, Wash., 11.573, 66.83 5) Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.921, 227.50 def. 4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 6.307, 161.07 Semi-final Johnson, 5.604, 253.52 def. Myers, 5.749, 236.71 Cofini, 5.775, 244.21 def. Austin, 6.534, 158.35 Final Johnson vs. Cofini TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR Round 1 1) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 6.076 seconds, 240.08 mph def. 8) Forrest LeBlanc, Kent, Wash., '00 Daytona, 7.588, 148.69 2) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., '97 Firebird, 6.009, 243.63 def. 7) John Knox, Lacey, Wash., '97 Mustang, 6.361, 226.81 6) Matt Goss, Junction City, Ore., '00 Firebird, 6.399, 223.58 def. 3) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.065, 231.52 (red light) 4) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '97 Camaro, 6.301, 232.75 def. 5) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alta., '01 Firebird, 6.446, 217.46 Semi-final Austin, 5.991, 243.06 def. Thompson, 7.653, 129.32 Bateman, 6.030, 243.90 def. Goss, 6.761, 171.93 Final Austin vs. Bateman