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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Friday Qualifying Results from Bandimere Speedway


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003

LODRS RUMBLES INTO BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY

MORRISON, Colo. - Racers from across the country rumbled into Morrison, Colo., as "Thunder on the Mountain" kicked off at Bandimere Speedway.  
After day one of time trials and qualifying, Mark Hentges of Federal Way, Wash., and Kirk Williams of Glenwood, Iowa, are leading their respective fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. 
Hentges is a two-time division champion in the Northwest Division and is currently the number one qualifier in Top Alcohol Dragster after a 5.686-second, 248.16 mph run.  Qualified number two is Alan Bradshaw of Odessa, Texas, who is the defending West Central Division Champion.
"We won this event last year and also earned a win here in 2001.  With the success we've had here, we'd be crazy not to be here," said the driver for the Back Attack Racing Team.  
Bradshaw's team was forced to scramble in order to be ready for this event, as the team decided to switch from an injected nitro engine to a blown alcohol for this weekend's event.  The practicing chiropractor felt that this decision would give the team the best possible chance to help repeat as event winner at the track.  
"When you go to the mountain, the blowers reign," said Bradshaw.  "We felt that going back to the blown alcohol engine and using a proven combination this weekend would give us the best chance for success."
Williams is the number one qualifier in Top Alcohol Funny Car after making a 5.930-second, 243.28 mph run during Friday's qualifying session.  The 2002 West Central Division Champion was runner-up at this event last year, losing to Cy Chesterman who is qualified number two.  
Top qualifiers in other racing classes are Clint Sallee of Glendive, Mont., in Comp; Tyler Cassil of Belton, Mo., in Super Stock; and Bobby De Armond of Gallup, N.M., in Stock.  
In NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series competition, Tracy Helmhold of Morrison, Colo., is the number one qualifier in Sportsman Motorcycle competition after posting a .000-second reaction time.  Run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, qualifying for the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series is based on reaction time.
Gates open Saturday at Bandimere Speedway at 8:30 a.m. and day two of time trials and qualifying begins at 9 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying is scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and children ages six to twelve are $6.  
For more information, call Bandimere Speedway at (303) 697-6001.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from Thunder on the Mountain at Bandimere Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1)	Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.686 seconds, 248.16 mph
2)	Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.734, 248.11
3)	Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.736, 248.02
4)	Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.739, 245.94
5)	David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.773, 250.27
6)	James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, 5.801, 244.47
7)	Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.839, 245.63
8)	Mike Austin, Phoenix, Ore., 5.941, 237.59

	Not Qualified
9)	Bruce Bowler, Denver, 6.217, 220.91

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1)	Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 5.930 seconds, 243.28 mph
2)	Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Trans Am, 6.015, 240.34
3)	Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Camaro, 6.169, 234.09
4)	Henry Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '97 Firebird, 6.256, 233.56
5)	Shawn Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 6.294, 231.48
6)	Steve Griboski, Aurora, Colo., '98 Camaro, 6.364, 224.47

COMP ELIMINATOR
1)	Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., Fritz-Dodge, B/D, 7.230 seconds, -0.640 under index
2)	Dean Howerton, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., C/D, 7.470, -0.620
3)	Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, Frameworks-Chevy, C/D, 7.516, -0.574
4)	David Kramer, Sterling, Colo., Fritz-Pontiac, A/ED, 7.l97, -0.553
5)	Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 T-Ford, A/AA, 7.353, -0.527
6)	Brad Klein, Amarillo, Texas, '03 Cavalier, B/A, 7.771, -0.519
7)	Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Alpine, F/A, 8.886, -0.514
8)	Steve Kalkowski, Ogallala, Neb., '00 Firebird, B/A, 7.800, -0.490
9)	Paul Anderson, Erie, Colo., Fritz-Chevy, C/ED, 7.976, -0.484
10)	Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '95 Camaro, 9.484, -0.446

SUPER STOCK
1)	Tyler Cassil, Belton, Mo., '66 Nova, SS/K, 10.886 seconds, -1.294 under index
2)	James Weakland, Morrison, Colo., '68 Camaro, SS/GA, 10.423, -1.277
3)	Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., '85 Firebird, GT/EA, 10.562, -1.248
4)	Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.570, -1.180
5)	Gene Bichlmeier, Norkfolk, Neb., '66 Chevy II, SS/K, 11.037, -1.143
6)	Ted Romero, Denver, Colo., '98 Grand Am, GT/IA, 11.282, -1.118
7)	Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84 Cougar, GT/EA, 10.717, -1.093
8)	Ronald Parness, Conifer, Colo., '67 Chevy II, SS/IA, 10.827, -1.033
9)	Thomas Meyer, Pierce, Neb., '66 Chevy II, SS/LA, 11.638, -1.032
10)	Jim Beuthel, Aurora, Colo., '91 Cutlass, GT/CA, 10.530, -1.010

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)	Bobby De Armond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.958 seconds, -1.222 under index
2)	Keith Lynch, Mt Ayr, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/SA, 11.233, -1.217
3)	Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '73 Firebird, F/SA, 11.923, -1.177
4)	Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., '67 Mustang, E/SA, 11.777, -1.163
5)	Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.819, -1.141
6)	Fred Rector, Durango, Colo., '72 Nova, H/S, 12.152, -1.108
7)	Gene Mosbek, Elk River, Minn., '64 Savoy, A/SA, 11.130, -1.050
8)	Dustin Lindsey, Evergreen, Colo., '64 Savoy, A/SA, 11.145, -1.035
9)	Sarah Norsworthy, Santa Clara, Calif., '81 D-150, ET/SA, 13.151, -1.029
10)	John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., '66 Nova, G/S, 12.123, -1.027

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1)	Tracy Helmhold, Morrison, Colo., '94 Kawasaki, 0.000-second reaction time
2)	Donnie Durenberger, Dayton, Minn., '93 Suzuki, 0.002
3)	Doug Bartleson, Golden, Colo., '78 Kawasaki, 0.005
4)	Lisa Bennett, Plano, Texas, '84 Suzuki, 0.005
5)	Robert Cooper, Plattsmouth, Neb., '81 Suzuki, 0.005
6)	Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, 0.005
7)	Chris Oravecz, Canal Winchester, Ohio, '81 Suzuki, 0.006
8)	Leonard Fox, Aurora, Colo., '84 Kawasaki, 0.007
9)	Brian Johnson, Ramsey, Minn., '03 Suzuki, 0.008
10)	Rudy Fife, Arvada, Colo., '79 Kawasaki, 0.011