NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Saturday from Las Vegas Motor Speedway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, LAS VEGAS
Saturday, November 01, 2003

LOCAL FAVORITE SHIELDS GRABS THE NO. 1 SPOT IN TAD QUALIFYING
        LAS VEGAS - Eliminations began today for many of the 900-plus
racers competing in the Short Line Express Market Las Vegas Gambler
Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a round of the NHRA
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.  However, drivers in the Top Alcohol Dragster
(TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) classes had two final qualifying
runs today and will begin eliminations tomorrow.  There were a total of 23
TAD racers and 18 TAFC drivers vying for the eight elimination slots in
each class.
        In TAD, Las Vegas resident Duane Shields maintained the No. 1
qualifying position.  Friday, he made a 5.374-second, 270.00 mph pass that
was enough to stand through today's runs.  
        TAFC pilot Steve Gasparrelli, who had not been qualified after
Friday's session, moved into the No. 3 position on his second qualifying
run.  And, on his final pass, the West Covina, Calif., racer moved to the
top of the ladder with a 5.618-second, 255.68 mph effort. 
        Because of the high number of participants, racers in Comp
Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street all
ran their first round of eliminations today.  Racers in the division's
Kerker Motorcycle Series, featuring the Sportsman Motorcycle class, and the
Korbel Super E class also started eliminations today.
        Racers in this weekend's event are competing for valuable points
leading to divisional and national championships.  Three of the national
titles could be clinched here when eliminations are done.  In Comp
Eliminator, Santo Volpe is trying to catch Doug Engles and in Stock,
defending champion Kevin Helms is trying to hold off Jeff Hefler, also a
former national champion.  In Super Gas, Greg Carillo needs a final round
appearance in order to stay in the chase.  Currently, Bryan Robinson is
leading the Super Gas points.
        Racing continues Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 
Gates open at 7 a.m. and racing begins immediately.  Tickets are $20 for
adults and $6 for children 6 to 12.  Kids 5 and under are admitted free. 
For more information, call The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (702)
644-4444.


        The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's
first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the Short Line Express Market Las
Vegas Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, 5.374 seconds, 270.00 mph  
2) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.375, 263.77
3) Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., 5.397, 264.80 
4) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.412, 264.29 
5) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.447, 258.86
6) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.471, 257.07 
7) Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.495, 258.27 
8) John Haley, Wayzata, Minn., 5.498, 260.66 
Not Qualified
9) David Wilson, London, Great Britain, 5.518, 259.16 
10) Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, Ore., 5.525, 243.81
11) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.530, 228.61
12) Scott Murray, Winnipeg, Mann., 5.532, 256.06
13) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.535, 254.62
14) Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., 5.541, 234.33
15) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.542, 260.46
16) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.599, 258.27
17) Randy Johnson, Whittier, Calif., 5.685, 244.16
18) Randy Eakins, Bradbury CA, 5.709, 250.46
19) Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., 6.132, 239.95
20) Dennis Swearingen, Santa Clara, Calif., 6.289, 162.14
21) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 6.775, 132.58
22) Marshall Topping, Costa Mesa, Calif., 8.292, 102.14
23) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., DQ

FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS
1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, 5.374 seconds, 270.00 mph vs. 8) John Haley,
Wayzata, Minn., 5.498, 260.66 
2) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.375, 263.77 vs. 7) Robert Perkins,
Bluffdale, Utah, 5.495, 258.27 
3) Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., 5.397, 264.80 vs. 6) Steve Federlin,
Oregon City, Ore., 5.471, 257.07 
4) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.412, 264.29 vs. 5) Joey Severance,
Spanaway, Wash., 5.447, 258.86

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Pontiac, 5.618 seconds,
255.68 mph
2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Trans Am, 5.648, 254.52 
3) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 5.668, 244.65 
4) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.681, 254.57
5) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.706, 251.06 
6) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.709, 250.27
7) Brett Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.723, 248.34
8) Robert Lee, Whittier, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.733, 250.97 
Not Qualified
9) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 5.733, 245.40
10) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '98 Firebird, 5.789, 246.89
11) Ed Marx, Discovery Bay, Calif., '98 Avenger, 5.794, 249.07
12) Ron August Jr., Pleasonton, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.810, 237.42
13) Greg Hunter, Rock Springs, Wyo., '98 Mustang, 6.043, 238.85 
14) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '01 Dodge, 6.059, 237.60
15) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.068, 177.25
16) Jeff Carroll, Santa Barbara, Calif., '97 Firebird, 9.576, 107.74
17) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 13.200, 52.19
18) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '98 Cutlass, DQ

FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS
1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Pontiac, 5.618 seconds,
255.68 mph vs. 8) Robert Lee, Whittier, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.733, 250.97
2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Trans Am, 5.648, 254.52 vs. 7)
Brett Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.723, 248.34
3) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 5.668, 244.65 vs. 6) Dennis
Taylor, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.709, 250.27
4) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.681, 254.57 vs. 5) Mark
Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.706, 251.06 


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