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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Friday from Thunder Valley Raceway Park, Noble, Okla.


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
THUNDER VALLEY RACEWAY PARK - NOBLE, OKLA.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2003

RECORD-SETTING DAY AT THUNDER VALLEY RACEWAY

	NOBLE, Okla. - Shelly Howard and Doug Gordon set track records in their respective categories in the first rounds of qualifying at the Thunder Valley Autumn Classic for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Howard, of Tulsa, Okla., broke the track record for Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.426-second, 259.74-mph pass, placing her number one in her class.  The previous record was held by Gene Snow, who ran 5.482 seconds in 2002.  “The track was good, but I was surprised I went that quick,” said Howard.  

Gordon, who traveled from Paso Robles, Calif., to compete in this weekend’s race, also set a new track record in his category.  Gordon scored the number one qualifying run in Top Alcohol Funny Car, when he covered the quarter mile in 5.746 seconds at 250.76, eclipsing the previous record of 5.803 seconds. “Today was great, I came out here to earn some points toward the division championship, so we’ll see how it goes this weekend,” said Gordon.

In other categories, Rodger Brogdon, of Tomball, Texas, was the top qualifier in Competition Eliminator, while Bobby Dennis, of Shorter, Ala., led the field in Super Stock.  Robert Shaw outran the competition to take the top position in Stock Eliminator.

Qualifying rounds for the Kerker King of the Coast motorcycle competition were also run today with Chris LeBouef taking the top spot. Eliminations for the Kerker King of the Coast race are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday.  The race features the top racers from four divisions competing for the title and a $2,000 payout.

	Racing continues Saturday and Sunday.  Gates open at 8 a.m. both days, with final qualifying and time trials scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars qualifying at 2 and 5 p.m.  Eliminations on Sunday begin at 9 a.m.  Admission for spectators is $15 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday.  Children 6-12 are $5, and ages 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, call Thunder Valley Raceway Park at (405) 872-3429, or NHRA at (626) 688-9714.

	The following are Friday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park:

Top Alcohol Dragster
1) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.426 seconds, 259.74 mph
2) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.492, 231.71
3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.524, 255.75
4) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.535, 260.19
5) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.555, 259.51
6) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.591, 257.65
7) James Copeland II, Red Oak, Texas, 5.600, 256.33
8) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.610, 254.95
Not Qualified
9) Bob Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.619, 252.88
10) Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 5.647, 239.04
11) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.648, 239.55
12) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.684, 245.09
13) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.751, 239.80
14) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.967, 243.57
15) Brian Ratliff, Hulbert, Okla., 6.015, 224.55
16) Gary Cooper, Wichita, Kan., 6.108, 180.25
17) Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 6.319, 226.58
18) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 6.340, 183.26

Top Alcohol Funny Car
1) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.746 seconds, 250.76 mph
2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.796, 247.79
3) Robert Lee, Whittier, Calif., '03 Camaro, 5.842, 248.61
4) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.854, 250.13
5) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., '97 Camaro, 6.117, 236.46
6) Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 6.191, 237.27

Competition Eliminator
1) Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, '03 Cavalier, A/SMA, 8.096 seconds, -0.604 (under index)
2) Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '03 Sunfire, A/SMA, 8.127, -0.573
3) Mike Johnson, Springdale, Ark., '03 Cavalier, F/SMA, 9.037, -0.563
4) Buddy Nickens, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.507, -0.513
5) Jeff Miller, Pearland, Texas, '99 Grand Am, C/SMA, 8.494, -0.506
6) Michael Park, Norman, Okla., '03 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.755, -0.485
7) Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '33 Ford, C/SR, 8.788, -0.482
8) Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '02 Cavalier, B/A, 7.304, -0.476
9) Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '01 Camaro, D/AA, 7.889, -0.471
10) Shane Heckel, La Porte, Texas, Dragster, B/D, 6.966, -0.434

Super Stock
1) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.523 seconds, -1.227 (under index)
2) Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '97 Achieva, GT/MA, 11.027, -1.023
3) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.921, -0.979
4) Gary Emmons, Pasedena, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.339, -0.961
5) Shaun LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn., '88 Mustang, GT/A, 9.352, -0.948
6) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.059, -0.941
7) Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., '64 Corvette, SS/KA, 10.611, -0.939
8) Brian Tait, Frazier Park, Calif., '96 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.586, -0.914
9) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '02 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.638, -0.912
10) Gene Bichlmeier, Norkfolk, Neb., '66 Chevy II, SS/K, 10.406, -0.894

Stock Eliminator
1) Robert Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '78 Buick, V/SA, 14.544 seconds, -1.256 (under index)
2) Floyd Russo, Gonzales, La., '01 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.607, -1.093
3) Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., '02 Pontiac, I/FIA, 12.734, -1.016
4) Fred Suiter, Defiance, Mo., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.573, -0.977
5) Austin Ford, Spring, Texas, '67 Shelby, D/SA, 10.891, -0.959
6) Harry Doolittle, Hillsdale, Mich., '01 Firebird, H/FIA, 12.493, -0.957
7) Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., '67 Mustang, E/SA, 11.055, -0.945
8) Gene Mosbek, Elk River, Minn., '64 Savoy, A/SA, 10.382, -0.918
9) Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '73 Firebird, F/SA, 11.257, -0.893
10) Carl Brimer, Arlington, Texas, '97 Camaro, C/FIA, 11.108, -0.892