NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Final results from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2002 BRANCH & HENTGES EARN WINS IN FINAL DIVISIONAL EVENT Las Vegas - Nearly a thousand competitors attended the Las Vegas Gambler Shootout presented by Short Line Express Market in what was the largest and final NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event of the year. Every competitor racing down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend felt the pressure, as this event provided the last opportunity of the year for drivers to earn divisional points. These points are used to calculate both divisional and national championships. "This race felt tougher than a national event with all the quality racers here this weekend," said Top Alcohol Funny Car event winner, Tate Branch. Branch had no easy path to the winner's circle as two of his three round wins required the Artesia, N.M., resident to defeat 2001 division champions. In the semifinals, Branch defeated West Central Division champion Cy Chesterman and Steve Gasparrelli of the Pacific Division in the final. "I had never beaten Gasparrelli before," said Branch. "I guess this was payback for Noble where I lost to him in the final after I had mechanical problems." Top Alcohol Dragster featured a competition between number one and two qualifiers as Morgan Lucas and Mark Hentges waged battle in the final. Although Lucas had been dominant throughout qualifying and eliminations, his dragster fell short against Hentges, giving him the win. "I just wanted to take it one round at a time and try to run consistent," said Hentges. "I just tried to stick to my game plan" Winners in other categories were Michael De Palma Jr., of Glendale, Ariz., in Comp; John Ancona of Covina, Calif., in Super Stock; Frank Kohutek of Mesquite, Texas, in Super Comp; Todd Stewart of Turlock, Calif., in Super Gas; Roger Benne of Scribner, Neb., in Super Street; Patrick Maher of Aurora, Colo., in Super Eliminator; and Kenny Teer of Torrance, Calif., in Top Comp. Sean Conner also earned the win in NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series competition. Kevin Helms of Mineola, Texas, almost found the winner's circle twice this weekend. The 2001 Stock Eliminator National Champion was runner-up to Ancona in Super Stock and earned the event win in Stock by defeating Tom Roberts of Mira Loma, Calif. Initial reports have stated that with the win, Helms will repeat as national champion in the category. This claim is currently being reviewed by NHRA. The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER Round 1 1) Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., 5.370, 264.23 def. 8) Alan Bradshaw, 5.473, 257.73 2) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.472, 252.19 def. 7) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.595, 254.95 6) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.618, 253.18 def. 3) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.627, 254.04 4) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.538, 253.33 def. 5) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, 6.300, 158.78 Semifinals Lucas, 5.401, 265.17 def. Bozzelli, 5.497, 255.87 Hentges, 5.486, 257.97 def. Demke, 5.682, 248.98 Final Mark Hentges, 5.490, 258.47 def. Morgan Lucas, 9.605, 90.82 TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR Round 1 8) Ed Marx, Discovery Bay, Calif., '95 Avenger, 5.836, 249.39 def. 1) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.850, 250.88 2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 5.678, 250.60 def. 7) Bret Williamson, Cambell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 17.108, 55.68 3) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 5.776, 244.34 def. 6) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.832, 246.53 4) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '02 Firebird, 5.770, 245.27 def. 5) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 9.611, 95.67 Semifinals Branch, 5.747, 249.26 def. Chesterman, 5.776, 245.40 Gasparrelli, 5.748, 248.71 def. Marx, 6.466, 170.51 Final Branch, 5.741, 249.67 def. Gasparrelli, 5.750, 249.95 COMP ELIMINATOR Michael De Palma Jr., Glendale, Ariz., '92 Lumina, C/A, 8.141 seconds, 124.52 mph def. Don Stratton Jr., Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 9.101, 106.87 SUPER STOCK John Ancona, Covina, Calif., '82 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.935, 119.01 def. Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '68 Camaro, SS/IA, 10.579, 122.83 STOCK ELIMINATOR Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '69 Camaro, B/S, 10.780, 121.46 def. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Aspen, J/SA, 11.911, 109.73 SUPER COMP Frank Kohutek, Mesquite, Texas, '02 Cameron, 9.026, 166.44 def. Vince Roberts, Mesquite, Texas, '00 Undercover, 9.031, 158.30 SUPER GAS Todd Stewart, Turlock, Calif., '00 Corvette, 10.075, 138.13 def. Gerald Turczyn Jr., Phoenix, Ariz., '88 Beretta, 10.057, 144.38 SUPER STREET Roger Benne, Scribner, Neb., '70 Pontiac, 11.115, 124.16 def. Dennis Paz, Stockton, Calif., '41 Willys, 11.131, 125.17 SUPER ELIMINATOR Patrick Maher, Aurora, Colo., '00 Fritz, 8.032, 172.96 def. Chuck Swift, Henderson, Nev., '96 Frameworks, 8.034, 167.57 TOP COMP Kenny Teer, Torrance, Calif., '00 Cameron, 7.976, 158.02 def. Rick Smyth, North Bend, Ore., '96 Undercover, 7.935, 160.12 NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES Sean Conner, Boulder City, Nev., '98 Koenig, 8.396, 151.61 def. Jerry Stinson, Medford, Ore., '84 Ninja, 9.345, 139.82