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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Saturday Qualifying Results from Nebraska Motorplex

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
NEBRASKA MOTORPLEX
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2003

SUMMER SIZZLE LIGHTS UP NIGHT SKY

SCRIBNER, Neb. - David Wells and Cy Chesterman will head into eliminations tomorrow as number one qualifiers in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car as time trials and qualifying concluded at Nebraska Motorplex's Budweiser Summer Sizzle.  
Wells of Lemars, Iowa, made a 5.684-second, 250.76 mph pass during the first session to place him atop of his class.  This was the quickest run of the event until Wells bettered his own time with a 5.613-second, 251.60 mph run during Saturday's third and final qualifying session.
"This is an awful tough track to race and it's all about who negotiates the track the best," said the driver of the Plain Vanilla Blue Bunny Top Alcohol Dragster.  "Hopefully, we can do well tomorrow."
  Sioux City, Iowa, resident Chesterman posted the quickest time in Top Alcohol Funny Car during Saturday's final session with a 5.840-second, 245.70 mph pass.  The Coca-Cola Top Alcohol Funny Car ran low elapsed time during the second and third sessions.    
Both Wells and Chesterman were West Central Division champions in their respective classes in 2001 and are looking to add another championship to their racing resume.  Each racer is currently in second place in the division, but can possibly take the points lead this weekend.
"We're trying to gain some points and get back in the lead," said Wells.  "With Bradshaw out, we should be able to gain ground on him in the points standings." 
Parity has been the theme of these two classes that headline NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition in the West Central Division.  After three events, the winner's circle has hosted three different winners in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car.  
	A racer's ability to obtain the number one qualifier position has been a key indicator for success in these classes.  The number one qualifier at each event thus far has gone on to win the event.
	Top qualifiers in other racing categories are Mike Park of Pauls Valley, Okla., in Comp; Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala., in Super Stock; and Gary Gokey of Denver in Stock.  
Tom Gilligan of Fremont, Neb., will also have a number one seat for Sunday's competition in Sportsman Motorcycle racing of the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series.  
Gates open for the final day of racing at the Budweiser Summer Sizzle at 7 a.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.  The first round of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car is scheduled for noon.  Tickets are $20 for Sunday and children 12 and under will be admitted for free with the accompany of a paid adult.  Nebraska Motorplex will also allow free admittance to all military personnel with valid identification.  
For more information, contact Nebraska Motorplex at (402) 466-1759.

The following are final qualifying results from the Budweiser Summer Sizzle at Nebraska Motorplex:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1)	David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.613 seconds, 251.60 mph
2)	Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.641, 251.39
3)	Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.718, 245.49
4)	William Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.726, 248.82
5)	Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.735, 249.65
6)	Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa, 5.802, 240.89
7)	Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.837, 244.76
8)	James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, 5.847, 246.84

	Not Qualified
9)	Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.881, 241.61
10)	Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.928, 240.38
11)	Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.987, 246.57
12)	Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 8.793, 100.49

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1)	Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Pontiac, 5.840 seconds, 245.70 mph
2)	Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Camaro, 5.951, 221.34
3)	Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 6.042, 235.04
4)	Thomas Frickenschmidt, Lockwood, Mo., '00 Pontiac, 6.121, 235.60
5)	Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 6.182, 230.41
6)	Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Pontiac, 6.282, 228.31
7)	Kurt Prososki, Bellevue, Neb., '96 Daytona, 6.283, 223.38
8)	Shawn Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '02 Camaro, 6.388, 226.52

	Not Qualified
9)	Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 6.392, 216.39
10)	Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.498, 195.95
11)	Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Cutlass, 6.514, 192.80
12)	Joe Percoco, Conifer, Colo., '98 Camaro, 6.851, 195.18

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1)	Mike Park, Pauls Valley, Okla., '03 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.800 seconds, -0.500 under index
2)	Cordis Johnson, Springdale, Ark., '03 Cavalier, F/SMA, 9.139, -0.461
3)	Buddy Nickens, Spring, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.568, -0.452
4)	David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.543, -0.447
5)	Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., Spitzer, D/ED, 7.582, -0.428
6)	Robert Freeman, Oklahoma City, Okla., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 8.181, -0.419
7)	Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '33 Ford, C/SR, 8.893, -0.377
8)	William Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Wis., '99 Firebird, C/EA, 8.481, -0.359
9)	Brian Self, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, B/T, 8.371, -0.339
10)	Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '95 Camaro, E/SM, 9.005, -0.335

SUPER STOCK
1)	Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.617 seconds, -1.133 under index
2)	Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.934, -1.116
3)	Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.496, -1.054
4)	Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84  Cougar, GT/EA, 9.996, -0.954
5)	Ted Romero, Denver, '98 Grand Am, GT/IA, 10.550, -0.950
6)	Larry Schmidt, Grand Island, Neb., '55 Bel Air, SS/PA, 12.074, -0.876
7)	Jerry Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., '88 Cutlass, SS/NA, 11.582, -0.868
8)	Tyler Cassil, Belton, Mo., '66 Nova, SS/K, 10.440, -0.860
9)	Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb., '66 Chevy, SS/K, 10.511, -0.789
10)	Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.633, -0.767

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)	Gary Gokey, Denver, '86 Omni, BF/S, 13.710 seconds, -1.440 under index
2)	Keith Lynch, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/SA, 10.527, -1.023
3)	John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., '66 Nova, G/S, 11.278, -0.922
4)	Aaron Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., '69 Nova, B/SA, 10.637, -0.913
5)	Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.079, -0.871
6)	Johnny Diekema, Wilton, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/S, 10.640, -0.860
7)	Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kan., '85 Camaro, E/FI, 11.674, -0.826
8)	Tim Mosbek, Andover, Minn., '72 Demon, H/SA, 11.630, -0.820
9)	Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '73 Firebird, F/SA, 11.336, -0.814
10)	Stuart Goertzen, Buhler, Kan., '67 Cougar, E/S, 11.164, -0.786

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1)	Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, +0.000-second reaction time
2)	Craig Vogt, Mead, Neb., '73 Kawasaki, +0.000
3)	Brian Johnson, Ramsey, Min., '03 Suzuki, +0.001
4)	Jeff Lanoue, Zimmerman, Minn., '00 Kawasaki, +0.002
5)	Ken Niesen, Brooklyn Park, Minn., '82 Suzuki, +0.007
6)	Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '86 Suzuki, +0.009
7)	Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., '78 Kawasaki, +0.013
8)	J.P. Smith, Topeka, Kan., '86 Yamaha, +0.013
9)	Donnie Durenberger, Dayton, Minn., '93 Suzuki, +0.015
10)	Tracy Helmhold, Morrison, Colo., '98 Kawasaki, +0.019

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