NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Sunday from S.R.C.A. Dragstrip

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
S.R.C.A. DRAGSTRIP
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2003
 
NHRA CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT GREAT BEND
 
        GREAT BEND, Kan. - For the first time in nearly 50 years, NHRA crowned nine champions at S.R.C.A. Dragstrip for this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' "Back to the Bend" event. Taking home top honors were Robert Perkins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Jackie Stidham in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
        Perkins recorded the first win of his career with a run of 5.759 seconds at 244.52 mph over number one qualifier Ed Schmeeckle running a 6.221, 226.28.
        "This is unbelievable. To come to Great Bend with all the NHRA history and take home the win is just incredible" said Perkins. "After our crash in Topeka last year we thought we were done, but thanks to some great people and great sponsors, we were able to get back to where we are now."
        Stidham from Chickasha, Okla., took his victory with on a holeshot, running a 6.089 at 234.94 mph to Cy Chesterman's quicker 6.078 at 236.75. Stidham's .053 second reaction time was the difference as he took a two-hundredths of a second lead right off the starting line.
        "We've had some engine problems earlier this year but I think we've figured things out" commented Stidham. "We still have a few events left this year. Hopefully we can finish up the year with some more wins."
        Wamego, Kan., racer Larry Piper took the win in Super Comp with a run of 9.049 seconds at 159.70 mph over Jon Freeborn with a 9.065, 167.28. Jason Novacek of Wichita, Kan., advanced to the final round in Super Stock before falling to Ricky Ray who put his '98 Firebird in the winner's circle with a pass of 9.448, 143.89.
        Winner's in other categories were Dean Carter in Comp. Eliminator; Jeffery Johnson in Stock; Clark Mundt in Super Gas; and Pata Winsler on Super Street.
        The NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series ran in conjunction with this weekend's event with Delbert Ready of Houston, Texas, taking the win over Tracy Helmhold of Morrison, Colo. 
        The West Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series makes its next stop at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, September 5-7.
 
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at S.R.C.A. Dragstrip:
 
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
ROUND ONE
3) Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.692, 245.27 def. 4) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.784, 243.37;
5) Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.021, 216.69 def. 2) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.786, 245.23;
1) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.953, 242.71 def. 6) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.977, 206.42;
 
SEMI-FINALS
Schmeeckle, 5.858, 242.76 was unopposed;
Perkins, 5.779, 236.75 def. Bowers, 5.876, 219.79;
 
FINALS
Perkins, 5.759, 244.52 def. Schmeeckle, 6.221, 226.28.
 
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE
2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.012, 239.65 def. 7) Thomas
Frickenschmidt, Lockwood, Mo., Pontiac Firebird, 6.271, 201.37;
3) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, Firebird, 6.068, 210.31 def. 6) Shawn Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., Chevy Camaro, 8.271, 114.98;
5) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, Firebird, 6.169, 236.63 def. 4) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, Camaro, 6.194, 231.08;
1) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., Camaro, 6.048, 235.56 def. 8) Ben Harper, Arroyo Grande, Calif., Firebird, 6.259, 231.24;
 
SEMI-FINALS
Chesterman, 6.062, 237.71 def. Moats, 6.012, 238.93;
Stidham, 6.059, 233.24 def. Williams, 6.130, 236.30;
 
FINALS
Stidham, 6.089, 234.94 def. Chesterman, 6.078, 236.75.
 
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., Dragster, A/ND, 7.231, 183.37 def. Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., Dragster, D/ED, 7.733, 170.88.
 
SUPER STOCK
Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., '98 Firebird, SS/BS, 9.448, 143.89 def. Jason Novacek, Wichita, Kan., '99 S-10, SS/TB, 10.022, 132.45.
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jeffrey Johnson, Aurora, Colo., '71 Mustang, D/SA, 11.352, 117.36 def. Jay Tittle, Rapid City, S.D., '67 Fairlane, E/S, 11.486, 105.03.
 
SUPER COMP
Larry Piper, Wamego, Kan., Dragster, 9.049, 159.70 def. John Freeborn, Lynnville, Iowa, Dragster, 9.065, 167.28.
 
SUPER GAS
Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, '63 Corvette, 10.144, 149.50 def. Justin Allen, Waco, Texas, '92 Firebird, 10.029, 149.95.
 
SUPER STREET
Pat Winsler, Belton, Mo., '68 Camaro, 11.068, 117.16 def. Frank Nichols Jr., Grand Island, Neb., '68 Camaro, 11.077, 134.40.
 
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Delbert Ready, Houston, '82 Kawasaki, 9.826, 134.69 def. Tracy Helmhold, Morrison, Colo., '98 Kawasaki, 10.139, 125.78.