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NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - Friday Results from Atco NJ


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NHRA NORTHEAST DIVISION
ATCO RACEWAY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2004


Accomplished Alcohol drivers Bozzelli and Manzo early leaders at Atco
ATCO, N.J. - NHRA's Northeast Division completed it's first day of qualifying and time trials at the division's final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, taking place this weekend at Atco Raceway. The event, which began today, is scheduled to finish tomorrow with final elimination in all categories, including the 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars. 
	After the first round of qualifying in the Top Alcohol classes, former division champion Cliff Bozzelli and defending national champ Frank Manzo are leading their fields. 
	Bozzelli, who hails from Absecon, N.J., laid down a pass of 5.562 seconds at 259.36 mph to take the top spot in dragster. Qualified second is Fanwood, N.J., resident Karen Benkovich with a 5.615 second pass at 245.63 mph. Rounding out the eight-car field is John Finke of Selkirk, N.Y.
	Manzo, of Morganville, N.J., claimed the No. 1 spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car with a pass of 5.842 seconds at 254.47 mph. Among the other qualifiers in the field are N.J., residents Frank Schuster of Chesterfield, Craig English of Mount Holly and Dan Pomponio of Berlin in the No. 2, 5 and 6 spots respectively. 
	Other top qualifiers at this weekend's event are Tommy Ciccarone Jr., of West Chester, Pa., in Comp Eliminator, Charlie Westcott Sr., of Parma, Mich., in Super Stock and Henry Kunz of Farmingdale, N.Y., in Stock Eliminator. Eliminations in those categories, as well as Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street are scheduled to take place tomorrow beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday's racing action will also feature a final qualifying attempt for the competitors in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at 1:30 p.m., with eliminations to follow at 3:30 p.m. Eliminations in all other categories will start at 9:30 a.m. beginning with Super Street. 
Gates at Atco Raceway open tomorrow at 7 a.m. General Admission tickets are $22. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Military personnel receive a $5 discount with proper I.D. All tickets include a pit pass. For more information please contact Atco Raceway at (856) 768-2167 or visit them on the web at www.AtcoRace.com. 

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event being held this weekend at Atco Raceway:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.562 seconds, 259.36 mph
2) Karen Benkovich, Fanwood, N.J., 5.615, 245.63
3) Paul Sylvester, Townsend, Del., 5.660, 254.33
4) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.675, 246.44
5) Mike Burns, Bisbee, Ariz., 5.788, 242.41
6) Wayne Morris, Lincoln University, Pa., 7.418, 212.56
7) Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 7.527, 120.43
8) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 9.115, 87.31
Not Qualified
9) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 14.320, 83.11
10) Daniel Mercier, St. Timothee, Quebec, 14.342, 50.74
11) Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Pa., 16.024, 46.41
12) Mark Albert, Pittsburg, Pa., 16.593, 40.83
13) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 19.354, 38.07
14) Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., (no time)
15) Ed Fisher, Milford, Conn., (no time)

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '02 Firebird, 5.842 seconds, 254.47 mph
2) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '03 Camaro, 6.087, 238.60
3) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 6.394, 179.95
4) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '04 Firebird, 6.674, 200.23
5) Craig English, Mount Holly, N.J., '98 Mustang, 12.917, 73.24
6) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '00 Camaro, 14.766, 50.77
7) Eric Lourie, Terryville, Conn., '02 Camaro, (no time)

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Tommy Ciccarone Jr., West Chester, Pa., '03 Cavalier, E/SMA, 8.547 seconds, -0.743 (under
index)
2) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.054, -0.726
3) Joe Carnasciale, Cranston, R.I., '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.623, -0.717
4) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '04 Cavalier, E/SMA, 8.576, -0.714
5) Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '04 Sunfire, E/SMA, 8.599, -0.691
6) Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 8.994, -0.676
7) Tim Freeman, Roan Mountain, Tenn., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.107, -0.673
8) Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '02 Cavalier, B/A, 7.094, -0.646
9) Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, B/SM, 8.139, -0.631
10) Bill Griffin Jr., Norwalk, Conn., '92 Camaro, E/AA, 7.834, -0.616

SUPER STOCK
1) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.451 seconds, -1.349 (under index)
2) Joseph Franco III, N. Babylon, N.Y., '85 Camaro, SS/JA, 9.959, -1.341
3) David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., '69 Corvette, SS/CA, 9.010, -1.340
4) Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 9.831, -1.319
5) Angelo Ditocco, Mahopac, N.Y., '02 Firebird, GT/FA, 9.808, -1.292
6) Brian Oakes, Williamstown, N.J., '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.219, -1.281
7) Charlie Wescott Jr., Parma, Mich., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.624, -1.276
8) Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.129, -1.271
9) John Armstrong, Kingston, N.S., '69 Corvette, SS/BA, 8.933, -1.267
10) Jim Pancake, Delaware, Ohio, '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.635, -1.265

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Henry Kunz, Farmingdale, N.Y., '69 Nova, H/SA, 11.074 seconds, -1.376 (under index)
2) William Kennedy, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., '84 Trans Am, K/SA, 11.628, -1.322
3) Joe Cokinos, Elmwood Park, N.J., '96 S-10, J/FI, 12.950, -1.300
4) Cecil Frazier, Canton, Mass., '92 Camaro, E/FIA, 11.320, -1.280
5) Jim Marshall, Scottsville, N.Y., '81 Corvette, G/SA, 11.033, -1.267
6) Barry Parker, Southwick, Mass., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.285, -1.265
7) Fred Thibeault, Annapolis, N.S., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.288, -1.262
8) Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.520, -1.230
9) Don Quinn, Howell, N.J., '78 Nova, J/SA, 11.522, -1.228
10) Rich Aman, Cedar Run, N.J., '86 Camaro, H/S, 11.078, -1.222