NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Saturday from Texas Motorplex

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION

TEXAS MOTORPLEX, ENNIS, TEXAS

Saturday, October 15, 2005


TORRENCE, GASPARRELLI LEAD QUALIFYING AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX'S NHRA LUCAS OIL
DRAG RACING SERIES EVENT

            ENNIS, Texas - Qualifying and time trials are complete at the
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex.  Drivers in
11 categories are vying for valuable late-season points leading to
divisional and national championships.  Top Alcohol Dragster rookie Steve
Torrence and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Gasparrelli retained their
No. 1 positions through two qualifying rounds today.

Torrence, a 22-year-old out of Kilgore, Texas, did not improve on his
initial 5.332-second, 264.80 mph pass but the numbers were enough to keep in
on top of the eight-car qualifying field.  Torrence has already clinched
both the national and divisional Top Alcohol Dragster championships on the
strength of four wins on the divisional level and four NHRA national event
victories.  No. 2 qualifier Brandon Pierce of Glendora, Calif., scored his
career-best qualifying spot with a 5.351-second run at 260.21 mph.

            Gasparrelli also managed to keep on top of the funny car field
without improving on Friday's 5.679-second, 257.14 mph run.  The West
Covina, Calif., driver currently has an outside chance of earning his first
national championship. 

            Drivers in three other classes also remain in the No. 1
qualifying spots.  Super Stock driver Bob Dennis of Shorter, Ala., Bert
Prejean of St. Amant, La., in Top Sportsman and Tom Gilligan of Freemont,
Neb., in Sportsman Motorcycle.  Veteran drag racer Amy Faulk of Memphis,
Tenn., overtook the top spot in Stock Eliminator and Jack Hesling of Sasche,
Texas, set the pace in Top Dragster.

            Comp Eliminator driver Bill Gibbs, 75, of Lufkin, Texas, was
involved in an on-track accident during qualifying when his '95 Daytona L/A
went out of control.  According to South Central Division Director Craig
Hutchinson, he was transported from the track to a local hospital where he
was stabilized and then transferred to a hospital in Dallas. 

Racing continues Sunday at the Texas Motorplex.  Gates open at 8 a.m. and
eliminations start at 9 a.m.  top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car
run first round of eliminations at noon.  

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 6 to 15 years old.  Kids 5
and under are admitted free with a paid adult.  

Texas Motorplex is located on Highway 287, two miles west of Ennis between
Interstates 35 and 45.  For more information call The Texas Motorplex, (972)
878-2641, or visit www.TexasMotorplex.com.

 

 

            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 the Texas Motorplex:

 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, 5.332 seconds, 264.80 mph

2) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 5.351, 260.21

3) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.369, 266.53

4) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.400, 257.38

5) Ashley Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.407, 260.51

6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.415, 264.44

7) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.570, 254.81

8) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 5.764, 242.84

 

First round TAD pairings

1) Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, 5.332 seconds, 264.80 mph vs. 8) Carl
Magee, Victoria, Texas, 5.764, 242.84

2) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 5.351, 260.21 vs. 7) David Brounkowski,
Cypress, Texas, 5.570,

254.81

3) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.369, 266.53 vs. 6) Lee Callaway,
Channelview, Texas, 5.415,

264.44

4) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.400, 257.38 vs. 5) Ashley Force, Yorba
Linda, Calif., 5.407,

260.51

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '00 Firebird, 5.679 seconds,
257.14 mph

2) Steve Harker, Brisbane, Australia, '99 Avenger, 5.704, 254.42

3) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.738, 252.33

4) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '96 Achieva, 5.755, 253.95

5) Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '03 Firebird, 5.756, 251.58

6) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.765, 250.74

7) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.858, 238.26

8) Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, '04 Firebird, 5.976, 220.12 

Not Qualified

9) Will Hanna, Richwood, Texas, '01 Avenger, 6.105, 240.72

10) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.143, 231.20

11) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '02 Camaro, 6.324, 159.25

 

First round TAFC pairings

1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '00 Firebird, 5.679 seconds,
257.14 mph vs. 8) Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, '04 Firebird, 5.976,
220.12

2) Steve Harker, Brisbane, Australia, '99 Avenger, 5.704, 254.42 vs. 7)
Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.858, 238.26

3) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.738, 252.33 vs. 6) Jay Payne,
Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.765, 250.74

4) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '96 Achieva, 5.755, 253.95 vs. 5)
Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '03 Firebird, 5.756, 251.58

 

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Brandon Pesz, The Woodlands, Texas, '53 Corvette, AA/PM, 6.179 seconds,
-0.681 (under index)

2) Colt Mikel, Houston, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.270, -0.680

3) Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., '02 Cavalier, E/SM, 8.668, -0.642

4) Bo Butner III, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '04 Cavalier, D/SM, 8.565, -0.635

5) Scott Cashio, Ventress, La., '02 Cavalier, G/SMA, 8.852, -0.628

6) Kevin Self, Caddo, Okla., '32 Bantam, F/EA, 8.332, -0.618

7) Tony Stephenson, Willow Sprg, N.C., '02 Cavalier, B/EA, 7.824, -0.606

8) Mike Smith, Sandyville, W.V., '02 Neon, G/AA, 8.424, -0.586

9) Keith Hall, Ravenna, Texas, '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.734, -0.576

10) Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '02 Cavalier, B/A, 7.169, -0.571

 

SUPER STOCK

1) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.485 seconds, -1.265
(under index)

2) J. Adger Smith, Texarkana, Alaska, '86 Camaro, SS/DS, 9.940, -1.260

3) Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '04 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.352, -1.198

4) John Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '04 Cavalier, SS/CM, 8.755, -1.195

5) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.672, -1.178

6) Eddie Smith, Sandyville, W.V., '68 Barracuda, SS/BA, 9.026, -1.174

7) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.676, -1.124

8) Korey Mawhee, Frisco, Texas, '95 Achieva, GT/DA, 9.733, -1.067

9) Gary Emmons, Friendswood, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.236, -1.064

10) Tony Cowell, Weatherford, Texas, '81 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.541, -1.059

 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., '01 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.735 seconds, -1.265
(under index)

2) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '70 Challenger, A/SA, 10.061, -1.239

3) Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '73 Apollo, K/SA, 11.852, -1.098

4) Martin Burke, Leonard, Texas, '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.456, -1.094

5) Tony Wood, Tulsa, Okla., '80 Malibu, M/SA, 12.057, -1.093

6) Thomas Moock, Eagle, Neb., '97 Malibu, M/SA, 12.086, -1.064

7) Don Cossey, Memphis, Tenn., '72 Duster, H/SA, 11.412, -1.038

8) Steven Hall, Sweeney, Texas, '67 Mustang, C/SA, 10.662, -1.038

9) James Paul, Ft. Worth, Texas, '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.273, -1.027

10) Gary Emmons, Friendswood, Texas, '98 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.984, -1.016

 

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '00 Firebird, 6.790 seconds, 208.10 mph

2) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '04 Grand Am, 6.953, 198.99

3) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.982, 198.06

4) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '04 Cavalier, 6.993, 199.49

5) Glenn Barrilleaux, Oakwood, Texas, '04 Cavalier, 7.053, 197.48

6) J. Lee Didier II, Fort Smith, Ark., '04 Cavalier, 7.109, 195.11

7) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '02 Cavalier, 7.150, 195.28

8) Don Peden, Edinburg, Ill., '04 Cavalier, 7.173, 192.38

9) Phillip Muse, Tomball, Texas, '97 Firebird, 7.194, 191.57

10) Kyle Cannon, W. Helena, Ark., '03 Cavalier, 7.211, 190.19

 

Motorcycle

1) Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.000 seconds reaction
time

2) Benji Gibson, Euless, Texas, '05 Hayabusa, ETMX, 0.002

3) Lee Peterson, Livingston, Texas, '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003

4) Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003

5) Michael Nash, Texarkana, Texas, dragster, ETMX, 0.006

6) Mark Rendeluk, Mustang, Okla., '99 MCU, ETMX, 0.007

7) J. J. Hughes, Colony, Texas, '00 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.008

8) Rob Bennett, Plano, Texas, '84 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.008

9) Mike McCullah, Houston, '01 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.009

10) Bruce Calhoun, Hope, Ark., '84 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.010

 

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Jack Heslink, Sasche, Texas, dragster, 6.240 seconds, 219.65 mph

2) Ryan Kuykendall, St Louis, dragster, 6.701, 201.22

3) John Garner, Houston, Texas, dragster, 6.801, 197.42

4) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, dragster, 6.874, 197.80

5) Larry Eidson, Mineral Wells, Texas, dragster, 6.898, 192.44

6) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.970, 193.21

7) Kevin Ford, Amarillo, Texas, dragster, 7.050, 190.51

8) Loretta Eckert, Calhoun, La., dragster, 7.153, 188.75

9) Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, La., dragster, 7.255, 185.54

10) Rick Wickline, Tolar, Texas, dragster, 7.258, 182.62