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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Saturday from Houston Raceway Park


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, BAYTOWN, TEXAS
Saturday, March 13, 2004

IT TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED BUT QUALIFYING IS COMPLETE IN HOUSTON RACEWAY
PARK'S NHRA LUCAS OIL EVENT
        BAYTOWN, Texas - Although the racing action was interrupted
occasionally by rain, qualifying went on as planned at the NHRA Lucas Oil
Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park.  After three qualifying
runs in TAD and TAFC, Bill Reichert held his lead in TAD and Jay Payne
grabbed the No. 1 spot in TAFC.
          Reichert, a resident of Owosso, Mich., did not improve on
yesterday's 5.269-second, 273.00 mph run but it was enough to hold on to
No. 1. In TAFC, Claremont, Calif., racer Payne overtook Tate Branch of
Artesia, N.M., for the top position.  Payne ran 5.548 seconds, at 258.47
mph.  The run Branch made on Friday (5.575 seconds, 253.14 mph) was a
career-best for the defending division TAFC champion. 
        In other TAD action, rookie driver Ashley Force, daughter of
perennial Funny Car favorite John Force, qualified No. 2 with a 5.338
second, 269.73 mph pass.  This is Force's first season competing in TAD and
she is under the tutelage of Jerry Darien.  The dragster owned by Darien
and his partner Ken Meadows is generally considered to be the unofficial
training ground for Top Fuel drivers.  Professional NHRA drivers who have
driven for Darien and Meadows include Gary Scelzi, Brandon Bernstein, Frank
Pedregon and Melanie Troxel.
        In qualifying for other classes Cordis Johnson, Springdale, Ark.,
was the top qualifier in Comp Eliminator.  Buz Post of Arlington, Texas,
maintained his No. 1 position in Super Stock while Jimmy Hildalgo of
Donaldsonville, La., overtook Jerry Davis for best qualifying position in
Stock Eliminator.  Top Sportsman competitor Earl Folse of Raceland, Texas,
was took the top spot in that class while in Kerker Motorcycle, Alan Jordan
of Lawton, Okla., was in the No. 1 spot. 
        Racing continues Sunday.  Eliminations in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series begin at 9 a.m.  Gates open at 8 a.m. and Top Alcohol
Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round at noon.
        Tickets are $22 for adults and $10 for kids 6 to 12 years old. 
Children 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.  For more
information, call Houston Raceway Park, (281) 373-RACE.


        The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's
first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.269 seconds, 273.00 mph
2) Ashley Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.338, 269.73
3) Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 5.342, 268.12
4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.383, 260.71
5) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.423, 263.05
6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.478, 268.33
7) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.541, 251.77
8) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.672, 251.95
Not Qualified
9) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.695, 250.51
10) James Copeland II, Red Oak, Texas, 5.696, 251.67
11) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.753, 224.14
12) Glen Woosley, Freeport, Texas, 5.770, 217.67
13) Gary Cooper, Wichita, Kan., 5.936, 199.55
14) Dave Hedges Jr., Plainwell, Mich., 6.274, 197.48
15) Denny Hummel, Clinton Twnshp, Mich., 6.298, 157.72
16) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 6.879, 221.38
17) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 11.515, 68.18
18) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 11.995, 72.94

First round TAD pairings
1) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.269 seconds, 273.00 mph vs. 8) Darryl
Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.672, 251.95
2) Ashley Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.338, 269.73 vs. 7) Lee Callaway,
Channelview, Texas, 5.541, 251.77
3) Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 5.342, 268.12 vs. 6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill,
Kan., 5.478, 268.33
4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.383, 260.71 vs. 5) Karl Brounkowski,
Magnolia, Texas, 5.423, 263.05

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.548 seconds, 258.47 mph
2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.575, 254.62
3) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Firebird, 5.587, 250.69
4) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.692, 251.25
5) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '99 Avenger, 5.858, 245.63
6) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.884, 244.12
7) Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 5.931, 235.19
8) Mike Bell, Ocean View, Hawaii, '00 Firebird, 5.956, 243.99 Not Qualified
9) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., '97 Camaro, 6.151, 193.82
10) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.645, 226.16

FIRST ROUND TAFC PAIRINGS
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.548 seconds, 258.47 mph vs.
8) Mike Bell, Ocean View, Hawaii, '00 Firebird, 5.956, 243.99
2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.575, 254.62 vs. 7) Eddie
McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 5.931, 235.19
3) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '03 Firebird, 5.587, 250.69 vs.
6) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.884, 244.12
4) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.692, 251.25 vs. 5) Steve
Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '99 Avenger, 5.858, 245.63

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Cordis Johnson, Springdale, Ark., '03 Cavalier, H/SMA, 9.121 seconds,
-0.729 (under index)
2) Michael Johnson, Springdale, ArK., '03 Cavalier, F/SMA, 8.802, -0.708
3) Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, '04 Cavalier, D/SM, 8.569, -0.671
4) Thomas Patterson, Houston, Texas, '41 Willys, AA/PM, 6.229, -0.671
5) Brian Self, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, PST, 7.455, -0.645
6) Greg Williams, Carthage, Texas, '02 Cavalier, C/SMA, 8.367, -0.633
7) Colt Mikel, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.401, -0.619
8) Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '01 S-10, PSTA, 7.674, -0.596
9) Charlie Watson, Humble, Texas, '98 Lumina, H/A, 8.872, -0.588
10) Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, Herndon, K/AA, 8.054, -0.586

SUPER STOCK
1) Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '02 Grand Am, SS/AM, 8.223 seconds, -1.327
(under index)
2) Randy Hopkins, Cable, Wis., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.720, -1.280
3) Ron Taylor, Lincoln, Neb., '57 Chevy, SS/MA, 10.938, -1.212
4) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.792, -1.208
5) John Clegg III, Victoria, Texas, '73 Firebird, SS/AM, 8.389, -1.161
6) Shaun LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn., '88 Mustang, GT/A, 9.150, -1.150
7) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '02 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.407, -1.143
8) Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.178, -1.122
9) J.W. Hames, Madison, Miss., '89 Daytona, GT/JA, 10.488, -1.112
10) Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., '91 Calais, GT/IA, 10.391, -1.109

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '97 Camaro, C/FIA, 10.682 seconds,
-1.318 (under index)
2) Jerry Davis, Santa Fe, Texas, '72 Duster, F/SA, 10.902, -1.248
3) R.J. Sledge, Boerne, Texas, '67 Fairlane, E/SA, 10.803, -1.197
4) Floyd Russo, Gonzales, La., '01 Firebird, A/FIA, 10.127, -1.173
5) Verne Buchanan, Conway, Ark., '73 Mustang, H/SA, 11.289, -1.161
6) Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '69 Camaro, A/S, 10.091, -1.159
7) Patrick Courts Sr., New Iberia, La., '87 Firebird, H/FIA, 12.297, -1.153
8) Jim Hale, Van Buren, Ark., '70 Challenger, B/SA, 10.401, -1.149
9) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '70 Challenger, A/SA, 10.162, -1.138
10) Gary Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '98 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.897, -1.103

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Earle Folse, Raceland, La., '86 Cutlass, 6.833 seconds, 200.65 mph
2) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '02 Grand Am, 6.907, 199.91
3) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '03 Firebird, 7.130, 193.57
4) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '00 S-10, 7.320, 184.72
5) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '00 Firebird, 7.384, 184.88
6) Craig Hughes, Portales, N.M., '79 Charger, 7.435, 184.75
7) Michelle Wilson, Azle, Texas, '89 Camaro, 7.454, 180.12
8) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '00 Firebird, 7.460, 183.54
9) Larry J. Smith, Ridgeland, Miss., '94 Cutlass, 7.522, 182.18
10) Ed Ridenhour, Fort Worth, Texas, '00 Firebird, 7.638, 181.23

KERKER MOTORCYCLE
1) Alan Jordan, Lawton, Okla., '86 Suzuki, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2) John M. Paterson, Pearland, Texas, '85 Suzuki, 0.001
3) Eddie Glaze, Houston, '90 Suzuki, 0.003
4) Lisa Bennett, Plano, Texas, '84 Suzuki, 0.003
5) Gerald Jordan, Kyle, Texas, '92 Suzuki, 0.003
6) Ben Brown, Irving, La., '83 Suzuki, 0.004
7) Eric Cook, Houston, '85 Suzuki, 0.005
8) Shane Eperjesi, Lake Dallas, Texas, '88 Suzuki, 0.006
9) Darwin Hughes, The Colony, Texas, '90 Suzuki, 0.007
10) Chris LeBouef, Lafayette, La., '85 Suzuki, 0.009