NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Saturday from No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, La.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
NO PROBLEM RACEWAY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2003
 
RACING KICKS OFF AT NO PROBLEM RACEWAY
 
        BELLE ROSE, La. - Racing got underway today with nearly 500 cars at No Problem Raceway for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 
        John Haley of St. Louis Park, Minn., is on top of the Top Alcohol Dragster field after the first round of qualifying with a pass of 5.457 seconds at 257.38 mph. Haley is followed by Jason Cannon as the Middleburg, Fla., resident covered the quarter-mile in 5.528 seconds at 256.60 mph. Shelly Howard is third with last year's event winner Lee Callaway in fourth.
        In the Top Alcohol Funny Car class, it was defending NHRA South Central Division Champion Tate Branch grabbing the top spot with a run of 5.900 seconds at 245.85 mph. Last year's event winner Jackie Stidham is second at 5.903, 240.55 mph while Ron Morrison is third at 5.907 seconds, 230.61.
        Two separate rain showers bumped the start of qualifying till late afternoon as racing finally got under way at 5:30 p.m. With racers getting just one qualifying run today, NHRA officials hope to give the Top Alcohol Dragsters a second qualifying run on Sunday morning before starting eliminations. 
        Gates at No Problem Raceway open at 8 a.m. For more information call the track, (985) 369-3692