NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Friday from Southwestern International Raceway

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION
SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
March 24, 2006


	TUCSON, Ariz. - In the first rounds of qualifying at
Southwestern International Raceway, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Mark
Niver and Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot John Weaver took the No. 1
qualifying positions in their classes. 
	Niver is based out of Phoenix and recorded a 5.469 second pass
at 246.53 mph to lead the field. Niver is followed by Pacific Division
Champion and defending event champion Chris Demke with a run of 5.642 at
255.77 mph.
	Weaver, driving the Meer Capitol Partners Camaro bodied funny
car, laid down a lap of 5.860 seconds at 243.90 mph. The Newport Beach,
Calif., resident, looking for his second win of the year, is followed by
Doug Gordon in the No. 2 spot and John Patton in third. Weaver won the
NHRA Lucas Oil Series Pacific Division Opener earlier this month in
Phoenix.
	Gordon ran 5.885 at 244.16 mph while Patton clocked in at 5.903
seconds, 244.83 mph.
Lou Ficco Jr. is on top in Comp Eliminator with a run of 7.296 seconds,
0.702 seconds under the index with Lucas Oil racer Dean Carter in second
at 7.081 seconds, 0.669 under.
In the Team Super Stores Top Comp class, George Clark of Phoenix is No.
1 running 6.844 seconds at 193.40. Tucson runner Tom Koenen landed in
the No. 8 spot with a 7.301 at 181.06 mph.
In the NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson Leo
Shaver out of Las Vegas grabbed the No. 1 spot with a 0.014 reaction
time.
Joining the rest of the top qualifiers were Jim Weakland in Super Stock
and Scott Burton of Golden, Colo., in Stock.
	Racing continues Saturday at 8 a.m.  Gates open at 7 a.m.
Tickets are $20 Saturday and $20 on Sunday.  For more information, call
Southwestern International Raceway, 520-762-9700.

	The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by Budweiser at Southwestern
International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.469 seconds, 246.53 mph
2) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.624, 255.77
3) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.628, 254.04
4) Sean O'Bannon, Alta Loma, Calif., 5.662, 240.98
5) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.909, 199.73
6) Larry Miersch, Huntington Bch, Calif., 5.937, 234.61
7) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 6.382, 162.00
8) Jeff Isbell, Erda, Utah, 6.661, 151.43

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) John Weaver, Newport Beach, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.860 seconds, 243.90
mph
2) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.885, 244.16
3) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Firebird, 5.903, 244.83
4) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.930,
240.00
5) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.952, 242.28
6) Ross Stickler, Gilbert, Ariz., '04 Corvette, 6.123, 235.39
7) Charles McLaws, Winslow, Ariz., '02 Firebird, 6.810, 203.34

Competition Eliminator
1) Lou Ficco Jr., Wheat Ridge, Colo., '04 Cavalier, B/AA, 7.296 seconds,
-0.704 (under index)
2) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 7.081, -0.669
3) Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/A, 6.723,
-0.667
4) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '06 GTO, B/A, 7.296, -0.664
5) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AA, 6.975, -0.645
6) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '04 Cavalier, D/EA, 8.613, -0.627
7) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '05 Pontiac, D/SMA, 8.737, -0.613
8) Ken Justice Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., '99 Firebird, B/AA, 7.390, -0.610
9) Jeff Lion, Fresno, Calif., '04 Cavalier, F/A, 8.393, -0.587
10) Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Chevy, C/SR, 8.913, -0.577

Super Stock
1) Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/GA, 9.787 seconds,
-1.463 (under index)
2) James Weakland, Morrison, Colo., '68 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.798, -1.452
3) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '00 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.629, -1.301
4) Kip Martin, Phoenix, '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.694, -1.286
5) Don Bevers, Tucson, Ariz., '91 Probe, SS/BM, 8.800, -1.260
6) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 10.020, -1.230
7) Mike Blackstone, Castro Valley, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 9.200,
-1.220
8) Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '04 Cavalier, SS/AM, 8.598,
-1.202
9) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.593, -1.197
10) Ron Parness, Conifer, Colo., '67 Chevy II, SS/HA, 10.128, -1.182

Stock Eliminator
1) Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '71 Firebird, D/SA, 10.798 seconds,
-1.492 (under index)
2) Tony Hernandez, Denver, '65 Corvette, I/S, 11.509, -1.461
3) Charlie Smith, Modesto, Calif., '69 Dart, C/SA, 10.749, -1.391
4) Bob Pott, Cornville, Ariz., '88 Mustang, F/FI, 11.999, -1.331
5) Wesley Libby, Spokane, Wash., '71 Challenger, A/SA, 10.390, -1.330
6) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '02 Firebird, A/FIA, 10.426,
-1.294
7) Joe Faherty, Apple Valley, Calif., '79 Duster, H/SA, 11.628, -1.282
8) Richie Pauley, Saugus, Calif., '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.868, -1.272
9) Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.459, -1.261
10) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 12.391, -1.249

TOP COMP
1) George Clark, Phoenix, dragster, 6.844 seconds, 193.40 mph
2) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., dragster, 6.898, 195.25
3) Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., dragster, 6.997, 193.52
4) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.999, 192.99
5) Joe Roubicek, West Lake Village, Calif., dragster, 7.016, 190.92
6) Todd Hoerner, Deer Park, Wash., '04 Grand Am, 7.026, 197.31
7) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 7.031, 191.59
8) Tom Koenen, Tucson, Ariz., dragster, 7.301, 181.06
9) Greg Hindman, Boring, Ore., '92 Grand Prix, 7.306, 189.31
10) John Propp, Granite Bay, Calif., dragster, 7.326, 183.05

Motorcycle
1) Leo Shaver, Las Vegas, '87 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.014 seconds reaction time
2) John Widman, Garberville, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.027
3) Ken Van Buren, New River, Ariz., '84 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.030
4) Craig Wood, Tucson, Ariz., '97 Suzuki, SMC, 0.032
5) Wayne Cox, Eureka, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.033
6) Randy Langer, La Mirada, Calif., '85 Suzuki, SMC, 0.034
7) Sean Conner, Boulder City, Nev., '98 Koenig, SMC, 0.042
8) Pete Miclette, Garberville, Calif., '96 Suzuki, SMC, 0.042
9) Tom Patterson, Tucson, Ariz., '94 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.045
10) Greg Liskey, Salinas, Calif., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.048