NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Sunday from Southwestern International Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2003
 
THREE IN A ROW FOR GORDON; FIRST IN 20 YEARS FOR NIVER
 
            TUCSON, Ariz. - Mark Niver took out 19-year old Morgan Lucas in the final of Top Alcohol Dragster for his second win in NHRA competition. Niver's first win can nearly 20 years ago at OCIR (Orange County International Raceway). Niver made passes of 5.538 seconds and 5.551 before taking the win over Lucas with a 5.566 at 246.66 mph to Lucas' 5.589 at 257.19.
        "It's been a long time since we've won. We do things a little different than other teams, and when you do you things different, you don't win very much. We've got the whole family with us to night. They go to all the races with us," said Niver.
        Niver's team is different in that they build most all of the parts that make up his car including many of the engine parts, the body, and the frame.
        It hasn't been quite as long between wins for Doug Gordon who picked up his third win of the season in Top Alcohol Funny Car to keep his perfect season going. Gordon's 5.828-second pass at 246.21 mph took out defending Division Champion Steve Gasparrelli who crossed the finish line at 6.112 at 181.42.
        "The cooler temperatures helped us out in the finals," explained Gordon. "It provides for more horsepower and helped keep us from spinning the tires which we did in the first two rounds. The final was our best run of the day for us."
        Joe Mozeris grabbed the win in Comp. Eliminator over Wayne Ramay with a 7.144 second pass at 183.59 mph. Ramay also set a record earlier in the day running an adjusted elapsed time of 6.91 seconds breaking the old record of 6.97 seconds.
        Winners in other categories are Tibor Kadar of Peoria, Ariz., in Super Stock; Jim Meador of Yorba Linda, Calif., in Stock; Greg Boutte of Stockton, Calif., in Super Comp; Mark Horton of Millbury, Ohio in Super Gas; Gary Thompson of Santa Rosa, Calif., in Super Street; and Tom Payton of Tucson, Ariz., in Pro ET.
        In the Kerker Motorcycle Series, it was Santiago Rodrigueez Jr. picking up the win over John Widmann while George Prather took home the win in the Korbel Super Eliminator class.
        The Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series makes its next stop at Sacramento Raceway, April 25-27.
 
        The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Southwestern International Raceway:
   
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
ROUND ONE
1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.826, 254.66 def. 8) Fred Notzka, Ventura, Calif., 8.459,
101.35
2) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.658, 254.66 def. 7) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore.,
5.779, 245.09
5) Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., 5.572, 253.85 def. 4) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.665,
251.44
3) Mark Niver, Scottsville, Ariz., 5.538, 248.80 def. 6) Howard Haight, Corona, Calif., 5.741,
236.75
 
SEMI-FINALS
Lucas, 5.625, 254.23 def. Shields, 5.685, 254.14
Niver, 5.551, 237.92 def. Nicholson, 5.617, 254.33
 
FINALS
Niver, 5.566, 246.66 def. Lucas, 5.589, 257.19
 
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE
1) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 5.948, 235.10 def. 8) John Evanchuk,
Edmonton, Alb., Pontiac Firebird, 6.088, 233.56
2) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., Firebird, 5.800, 248.57 def. 7) Lawren Jones,
Albuquerque, N.M., Camaro, 5.954, 235.23
3) Ed Marx, Discovery Bay, Calif., Dodge Avenger, 5.830, 246.39 def. 6) Brett Williamson,
Campbell, Calif., Chevy Corvette, 5.991, 236.46
4) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., Pontiac Trans Am, 5.977, 239.70 def. 5) Mert Littlefield, Garden
Grove, Calif., Camaro, 6.004, 232.95
 
SEMI-FINALS
Gordon, 5.965, 244.43 def. Patton, 5.996, 237.21
Gasparrelli, 5.814, 246.12 def. Marx, 5.820, 246.26
 
FINALS
Gordon, 5.828, 246.21 def. Gasparrelli, 6.112, 181.42
 
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Joe Mozeris, Phoenix, Dragster, B/ED, 7.144, 183.59 def. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, Calif., Dragster, A/ND, 9.011, 103.82.
 
SUPER STOCK
Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., '92 Firebird, GT/HA, 11.154, 120.36 def. Ted Romero, Denver, '98 Grand Am, GT/JA, 10.782, 124.41.
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Camaro, D/SA, 11.186, 116.49 def. Al Corda, Elk Mound, Wis., '01 Firebird, A/FIA, 10.556, 116.09.
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Camaro, D/SA, 11.186, 116.49 def. Al Corda, Elk Mound, Wis., '01 Firebird, A/FIA, 10.556, 116.09.
 
SUPER COMP
Greg Boutte, Stockton, Calif., Dragster, 9.129, 155.15 def. Gary Williams, Hemet, Calif., Dragster, 9.119, 151.39.
 
SUPER GAS
Mark Horton, Milbury, Ohio, '02 Firebird, 10.197, 151.44 def. Michael Miller, Santa Fe, N.M., '27 Ford T, 10.160, 141.67.
 
SUPER STREET
Gary Thompson, Santa Rosa, Calif., '86 Corvette, 11.197, 126.59 def. Greg Sadeau, San Diego, '67 Camaro, foul.
 
SUPER ELIMINATOR
George Prather, Sacramento, Calif., '98 dragster, 8.170, 157.72 def. Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 8.226, 155.72
 
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Santiago Rodriguez Jr., San Juan Capistrano, '02 Kawasaki, 9.032, 141.62 def. John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '98 Kawasaki, 8.887, 118.48
 
PRO E.T.
Tom Payton, Tucson, Ariz., '57 Corvette, 11.246, 119.58 def. Chuck Hawk Jr., Tucson, Ariz., '96 dragster, 8.161, 152.83