NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-- Friday qualifying at Gainesville Raceway

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - NHRA SOUTHWEST DIVISION

GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

Friday, October 29, 2004



 

GUNDERSON, SNYDER TOP LUCAS SERIES QUALIFIERS 

HEADING INTO ELIMINATIONS AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - After the final rounds of qualifying for the Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series at Gainesville Raceway, Floridian Michael
Gunderson leads the Top Alcohol Field into tomorrow's elimination
rounds, covering the field by more than a tenth of a second with a
5.302-second shot at 273.22 mph in his nitro-fueled entry.  Current
Southwest Division points leader Guy Kelly is third on the list.

Meanwhile, Mick Snyder came from a lot farther away to take on the
Alcohol Funny Car field.  The Demotte, Ind., resident is hoping to boost
his standing in the NHRA North Central Division standing by scoring a
win in the Southeast.  The former Jr. Dragster competitor is also
currently seventh in the national points an hopes to move up on that
roster as well.  He will have a walkover in round one because of an odd
number of cars in the field, so his No. 1 qualifying effort has already
paid off for the young charger.  Fellow North Central Division
heavy-hitter Chuck Cheeseman is also in the field, hoping to top Snyder.

 

This is the final of seven Lucas Oil Series events for 2004 in NHRA's
Southwest Division.  The outcome will help determine not only the
Gainesville Raceway event championships but the season championships as
well.  Also at stake are national titles.  Points from Gainesville are a
component of the national points chase as are points from the other six
NHRA divisions.  Thus, at this time of year, each round of racing can
become monumental to the front runners in the points standings.    

Gates open at Gainesville Raceway at 8 a.m. Saturday. Qualifying and
time trials continue for many classes at 9:30 a.m. Final Eliminations
begin at 1 p.m., with the first rounds of action in Top Alcohol Dragster
and Top Alcohol Funny Car scheduled for 4 p.m.  

 

 

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil
Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at Gainesville Raceway:

 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.302 seconds, 273.22 mph

2) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.483, 260.26

3) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.514, 258.24

4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.533, 258.84

5) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.612, 248.41

6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.016, 227.67

7) Jeremy Haskett, Wilkesboro, N.C., 6.198, 161.89

8) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 6.603, 184.72 

Not Qualified

9) Cherissa Smallwood, Gainesville, Fla., 6.982, 186.68

10) Aaron Borgner, Deland, Fla., 7.241, 192.02

 

First round TAD pairings

1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.302 seconds, 273.22 mph vs. 8)
Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 6.603, 184.72

2) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.483, 260.26 vs. 7) Jeremy Haskett,
Wilkesboro, N.C., 6.198,

161.89

3) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.514, 258.24 vs. 6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay,
Fla., 6.016, 227.67

4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.533, 258.84 vs. 5) Artie Allen,
Jacksonville, Fla., 5.612,

248.41

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., '02 Firebird, 5.790 seconds, 247.25 mph

2) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 5.834, 245.56

3) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, 5.981, 242.52

4) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '02 Firebird, 6.131, 231.12

5) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Avenger, 6.329, 185.83

6) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '01 Corvette, 8.455, 129.38

7) Steve Franke, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Lumina, 9.571, 105.68

 

First round TAFC pairings

1) Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., '02 Firebird, 5.790 seconds, 247.25 mph
vs. Bye

2) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 5.834, 245.56 vs. 7) Steve
Franke, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Lumina, 9.571, 105.68

3) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, 5.981, 242.52 vs. 6) William
Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '01 Corvette, 8.455, 129.38

4) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '02 Firebird, 6.131, 231.12 vs. 5)
Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Avenger, 6.329, 185.83

 

Competition Eliminator

1) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 6.840 seconds,
-0.680 (under index)

2) Ian Landies Jr, Chardon, Ohio, '02 Cavalier, F/A, 8.209, -0.571

3) Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '04 Sunfire, E/SMA, 8.720, -0.570

4) Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '03 Cavalier, C/EA, 8.268, -0.562

5) Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga., '04 Cavalier, G/AA, 8.507, -0.553

6) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.907, -0.543

7) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.240, -0.540

8) Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '04 Sunfire, B/SM, 8.237, -0.533

9) Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., dragster, C/D, 7.079, -0.531

10) Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, H/A, 8.937, -0.523

 

Super Stock

1) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.481 seconds,
-1.269 (under index)

2) Johnny Fogle, Norway, S.C., '04 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.268, -1.132

3) Blair Patrick, Jasper, Tenn., '68 Mustang, SS/FA, 9.668, -1.082

4) Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.696, -1.054

5) Richard Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '01 Trans Am, GT/EA, 9.905, -1.045

6) Tony Cafaro, Brandon, Fla., '00 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.341, -1.009

7) Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.647,
-1.003

8) Tim Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '88 Cutlass, GT/JA, 10.622, -0.978

9) Phil Collins, Independence, Mo., '67 Coronet, SS/EA, 9.694, -0.956

10) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '02 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.595,
-0.955

 

Stock Eliminator

1) John McCarthy Jr, Lyndon, Ky., '89 Safari, U/SA, 13.831 seconds,
-1.319 (under index)

2) John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '91 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.719,
-1.231

3) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, L/SA, 11.782, -1.218

4) Arnold Greene, Matthews, N.C., '69 Camaro, C/S, 10.507, -1.143

5) Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '73 Nova, J/SA, 11.669, -1.081

6) Jeff Warren, Clinton, N.C., '98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.623, -1.077

7) Jeff Velde, Vero Beach, Fla., '68 Shelby, A/SA, 10.228, -1.072

8) Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '95 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.641, -1.059

9) Peter Noriega, Hileah, Fla., '80 Malibu, V/SA, 14.743, -1.057

10) Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.659, -1.041

 

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Ronnie Davis, Commerce, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.865 seconds, 203.52 mph

2) Billy Bridges, Tallapoosa, Ga., '04 Mustang, 6.909, 200.53

3) Dave Saul, Winter Park, Fla., '96 Firebird, 7.073, 194.00

4) Jack Nunez, Daytona Beach, Fla., '63 Corvette, 7.121, 190.39

5) Chris Ray, Louisville, Ky., '00 Firebird, 7.157, 171.33

6) Jerry Barker, Byron, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.252, 189.43

7) Doc Bilbrey, Willow Springs, N.C., '01 Sonoma, 7.272, 193.29

8) Larry Hutcheson Sr., Christmas, Fla., '02 Cavalier, 7.322, 181.89

9) Mitch Smith, Anderson, Ind., '03 Grand Am, 7.332, 184.95

10) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '04 Cavalier, 7.348, 186.45