NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Final Qualifying Results from Woodburn Dragstrip

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NORTHWEST DIVISION
WOODBURN DRAGSTRIP
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2003

COFINI & AUSTIN LOW QUALIFIERS IN WOODBURN

WOODBURN, Ore. - Time trials and qualifying concluded at the Wells Fargo Fire & Thunder at Woodburn Dragstrip with Michael Cofini and Bucky Austin leading the fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car.
	Cofini earned his first event win of his career three weeks ago at Mission Raceway Park in B.C. and tomorrow, he will head into eliminations as low qualifier for the first time in his career.
	"After the win earlier this year in Mission and after being low qualifier here this weekend, I feel like I won the lottery two times," exclaimed Cofini.  "Someone has to pinch me, it's like a dream."
	The Spokane, Wash., resident attributes his early success this season to the support he has received from Dave Smith Motorsports and Mopar.  Having earned his first Wally trophy, Cofini will need to set new goals for the rest of the year.
	"My main goal this season was to win my first Wally.  Now that I have done that, I can't believe it," said the Top Alcohol Dragster racer.  "I have to keep looking at it to make sure its still there and that I didn't imagine it.  Anything else I accomplish this season will be just gravy."    
	Cofini made the quickest Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying pass during Saturday's first session, a 5.537-second, 253.52 mph run.  
While Austin of Fife, Wash., posted the quickest Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying pass during Saturday's second session, at 5.974-second, 233.52 mph.  The "Northwest Hitter" knocked off Doug Gordon for the top spot, which Gordon temporarily held on two occasions during qualifying.  
Top qualifiers in other racing categories are Jirka Kaplan of Calgary, Alta., in Comp; Terry Sherrill of Klamath Falls, Ore., in Super Stock; Terry Ryan of Cascade Locks, Ore., in Stock; and Shawn Cowie of Richmond, B.C., in Top Comp.  In NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series competition, Jeff Havens of Yakima, Wash., is the number one qualifier in Sportsman Motorcycle competition.     
Gates open Sunday for the final day of racing at the Wells Fargo Fire & Thunder at 8 a.m. and eliminations begin at 9 a.m.  Round one of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car is scheduled for noon.  Tickets are $25 and children ages six to fourteen are $5.  For more information, call Woodburn Dragstrip at (503) 982-4461.

The following are final qualifying results and first round pairings in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car from the Wells Fargo Fire & Thunder at Woodburn Dragstrip:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1)	Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.537 seconds, 253.52 mph
2)	Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.596, 251.46
3)	Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.599, 249.16
4)	Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 5.691, 245.76
5)	Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.693, 244.03
6)	Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.700, 248.27
7)	Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.713, 248.07
8)	Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.736, 241.87

	Not Qualified
9)	Paul Julien, Mission, B.C., 5.746, 243.11
10)	Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 8.618, 101.45

Round 1
1)	Michael Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 5.537 seconds, 253.52 mph v. 8) Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.736, 241.87
2)	Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.596, 251.46 v. 7) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.713, 248.07
3)	Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.599, 249.16 v. 6) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.700, 248.27
4)	Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 5.691, 245.76 v. 5) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.693, 244.03

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1)	Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.974 seconds, 233.52 mph
2)	Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.036, 240.44
3)	Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.042, 235.84
4)	Henry Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '97 Firebird, 6.052, 236.46
5)	John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alta., '99 Firebird, 6.086, 223.8
6)	Matt Goss, Junction City, Ore., '01 Firebird, 6.096, 229.35
7)	Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., '97 Firebird, 6.098, 240.38
8)	Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 6.106, 234.31

	Not Qualified
9)	Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., '01 Avenger, 6.213, 225.90
10)	John Knox, Tumwater, Wash., '92 Probe, 6.221, 227.79
11)	Robert Hurley, Ledger, Mont., '95 Mustang, 6.784, 205.90

Round 1
1)	Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.974 seconds, 233.52 mph v. 8) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 6.106, 234.31
2)	Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.036, 240.44 v. 7) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., '97 Firebird, 6.098, 240.38
3)	Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.042, 235.84 v. 6) Matt Goss, Junction City, Ore., '01 Firebird, 6.096, 229.35
4)	Henry Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '97 Firebird, 6.052, 236.46 v. 5) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alta., '99 Firebird, 6.086, 223.8

COMP ELIMINATOR
1)	Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alta., '23 T-roadster, BB/AM, 7.408 seconds, -0.632 under index
2)	Steve Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., '34 Roadster, C/SR, 8.724, -0.546
3)	Gary Anderson, Graham, Wash., '97 Firebird, F/A, 8.314, -0.526
4)	Tom Tucker, Bend, Ore., '98 Lumina, G/A, 8.675, -0.505
5)	Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., '03 Pontiac, D/SMA, 8.867, -0.483
6)	Ed Schuck Jr., San Ramon, Calif., '00 Sarmento, C/ED, 7.493, -0.467
7)	Dennis Myers, Prosser, Wash., '98 Dakota, G/AA, 8.765, -0.455
8)	Mark Stewart, Medford, Ore., '98 Oldsmobile, D/SMA, 8.913, -0.437
9)	Richard Dingle, Olympia, Wash., '90 Swindahl, C/ED, 7.523, -0.437
10)	Adam Bowdish, West Linn, Ore., '89 Trans Am, D/SM, 8.811, -0.429

SUPER STOCK
1)	Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '03 Cavalier, SS/AM, 8.434 seconds, -1.116 under index
2)	Bob Mazzolini, Riverside, Calif., '00 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.432, -1.068
3)	Jeffrey Lane, North Bend, Wash., '02 Grand Am, SS/CM, 8.910, -1.040
4)	Brian Tair, Frazier Park, Calif., '99 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.466, -1.034
5)	Tony De Frank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/GA, 10.208, -0.992
6)	Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., '02 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.989, -0.961
7)	Steven Wann, Modesto, Calif., '97 Dakota, GT/TB, 9.929, -0.921
8)	Dave Raybourn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.084, -0.916
9)	Kevin Cour, Hackettstown, N.J., '92 Ciera, GT/EA, 10.056, -0.894
10)	Mike Booker, Davenport, Wash., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 9.123, -0.877

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)	Terry Ryan, Cascade Locks, Ore., '90 Caravan, EF/SA, 14.715 seconds, -1.185 under index
2)	Don Elgin, Seattle, Wash., '74 Grand, N/SA, 12.132, -1.168
3)	Steven Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, C/SA, 10.584, -1.116
4)	Joe Sorensen, Woodburn, Ore., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.191, -1.109
5)	Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., '77 Cutlass, K/SA, 11.856, -1.094
6)	Janis Leatherman, Moses Lake, Wash., '71 Nova, I/SA, 11.573, -1.027
7)	Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '85 Camaro, K/SA, 11.990, -0.960
8)	Bill Bushmaker, Auburn, Wash., '77 Roadrunner, J/SA, 11.795, -0.955
9)	Calvin Queahpama, Warm Springs, Ore., '65 Chevrolet, T/SA, 13.751, -0.949
10)	Chuck Porter, Neville, Sask., '66 Impala, Q/SA, 13.152, -0.948

TOP COMP
1)	Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., '01 Dragster, 6.709 seconds, 202.70 mph
2)	Nick Drzayich, Auburn, Wash., '98 Firebird, 7.111, 194.21
3)	David Kimrey, Puyallup, Wash., '01 Framework, 7.131, 189.11
4)	Rod Langley, Boise, Idaho, '99 Soran, 7.163, 186.02
5)	J.R. Leerkamp, Gilbert, Ariz., '01 Mullis, 7.288, 184.91
6)	Ralph Wisher, Columbia Falls, Mont., '96 Yancer, 7.344, 183.15
7)	Tam Malicki, Vancouver, Wash., '00 Dragster, 7.375, 181.45
8)	Tim Ketlinski, Boise, Idaho, '66 Nova, 7.441, 184.01
9)	Ken Nelson, Hayden, Idaho, '01 Dragster, 7.446, 183.48
10)	Mike Weiss, Port Orchard, Wash., '00 Dragster, 7.472, 180.86

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1)	Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '94 Suzuki, +0.000 second reaction time
2)	Mike Scott, Sumner, Wash., '00 Kawasaki, +0.001
3)	Joe Collette, Boise, Idaho, '96 Kawasaki, +0.002
4)	Wayne Stebing, Marysville, Wash., '78 Kawasaki, +0.002
5)	Jerry Stinson, Medford, Ore., '84 Ninja, +0.003
6)	Steve Miller, Yakima, Wash., '89 Suzuki, +0.004
7)	Nick Kroske, Bend, Ore., '89 Suzuki, +0.004
8)	Phillip Nasca, Citrus Heights, Calif., '93 Ninja, +0.005
9)	Al Omond, Sardis, B.C., '84 Ninja, +0.007
10)	Dan Tipsword, Aumsville, Ore.,  '78 Kawasaki, +0.010

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