NHRA NEWS: XPLOD SERIES FINAL QUALIFYING AT ATCO, N.J.

PERSONETT BREAKS 220 MPH BARRIER TO RUN FASTEST PRO RWD SPEED IN NHRA
SPORT COMPACT HISTORY

 

ATCO, N.J. - Brad Personett ran the fastest speed ever in NHRA Xplod
Sport Compact Racing Series history at the Northeast NHRA Sport Compact
Nationals at Atco Raceway.

 

Personett, driving a Scion tC, ran a speed of 220.15 mph in the third
round of qualifying to cement his place as top qualifier.  His time of
6.44 is also the fastest run in the Pro RWD class. He can back up both
the time and speed as national records tomorrow in eliminations.

 

"This feels good," said Personett.  "This track is unbelievable.  They
spent some money and did a nice job of improving it.  It is the best
thing since Vegas.  On the car we just kept everything safe.  We race
the racetrack."

 

Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning All Motor), in his Honda Civic, qualified
No.1 while setting a national record for time at 9.64 seconds.  This is
his second top qualifier of the year.  He ran a speed of 141.34 mph.

 

"We came out of E-town hyped," said Lookofsky.  "This is overwhelming.
We are short a crew person with Johnny Juatma gone, but we brought in
Orly Alcada to help.  Everybody as a team is coming together.  I want to
thank all my sponsors."

 

Other top qualifiers were Marty Ladwig (Pro FWD), Jorge Lazcano
(Modified), and Stephane Beauregard (Hot Rod).

 

Ladwig, who was so dominant in 2005, had his first No.1 qualifier for
2006 driving his Chevy Cobalt.  He ran 7.75 seconds at 185.23 mph in the
second round after not being able to run his car first round. The car
kept stalling on him when he was trying to stage in the first round.

 

"This feels awesome," said Ladwig.  "We worked on the fuel injection and
replaced a lot of parts after the first round.  It then ran like it was
supposed to in the second round.  I am very happy and want to thank my
sponsor Lucas Oil.  I couldn't do it without them since I am running my
own team.  I want to be able to do well."

 

Beauregard had his first No. 1 qualifier in his short NHRA Xplod Sport
Compact Racing Series career.  He qualified with a time of  8.04 seconds
at 174.30 mph.

 

"It feels really good," said Beauregard.  "I am running a five year old
engine.  It is the same one I blew up two weeks ago at Englishtown.  I
was a little worried about (Ron) Lummus, but my time held on."

 

In the Modified class Jorge Lazcano had his second consecutive No. 1
qualifier.  He ran 7.53 seconds at 177.30 mph.

 

The Northeast NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at Atco Raceway continue with
eliminations on Sunday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m.

 

-30-

 

***

 

ATCO, N.J. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday
for the Fifth Annual Northeast NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at Atco
Raceway, the Fourth of 11 events in the $2.5 million NHRA Xplod Sport
Compact Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying,
which ended Saturday.

 

Pro RWD -- 1. Brad Personett, Scion, 6.442, 220.15  vs. 4. Carlos
Montano, Mazda MX6, 7.557, 178.02; 2. Matt Scranton, Solara, 6.585,
214.96  vs. 3. Gary Lee White, Toyota Celica, 6.936, 202.06. 

 

Pro FWD -- 1. Marty Ladwig, Chevy Cobalt, 7.753, 185.23  vs. Bye; 2.
Gary Gardella, Cobalt, 7.835, 181.42  vs. 5. Ron Townsend, Cavalier,
9.082, 178.24; 3. Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda, 7.886, 185.51  vs. 4. Brian
Jimenez, Cobalt, 7.934, 180.89. 

 

Modified -- 1. Jorge Lazcano, Mazda RX7, 7.537, 177.30  vs. Bye; 2. Dee
Karagiannis, RX7, 7.622, 171.99  vs. 7. Jose Mendez, Corolla, 8.660,
154.09; 3. Justin Humphreys, Lexus GS300, 7.674, 177.91  vs. 6. Mike
Lowe, 7.863, 170.47; 4. Jorge Juarbe, Starlet, 7.806, 170.21  vs. 5.
Walberto Neg Torres, RX7, 7.831, 170.00. 

 

Hot Rod -- 1. Stephane Beauregard, Shelby, 8.042, 174.30  vs. 6. Saverio
Leone, Honda Civic, 9.119, 158.04; 2. Ron Lummus, Pontiac, 8.072, 175.57
vs. 5. Stephanie Eggum, Civic, 8.504, 180.21; 3. Mike Crawford, Dodge
SRT-4, 8.312, 168.56  vs. 4. Kenny Tran, Civic, 8.346, 172.81. 

 

All Motor -- 1. Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda Civic, 9.645, 141.34  vs. Bye;
2. Norris Prayoonoto, 9.684, 138.73  vs. 7. Leslie Durst-Armendariz,
Scion tC, 22.685, 30.66; 3. Saul Salceda, Acura Integra, 9.930, 137.19
vs. 6. Thomas Borgia, VW Beetle, 12.274, 109.35; 4. Vince Tiaga, Mazda,
10.206, 131.75  vs. 5. Scott Kelley, Corolla, 10.316, 133.25. 

 

Sport RWD -- 1. Julie Stepan, Subaru, 9.147, 146.62  vs. 2. Mark
Mazurowski, Nissan 240SX, 9.289, 154.19. 

 

Sport FWD -- 1. Mat Keller, Acura Integra, 9.568, 158.17  vs. 5. Mike
Williamson, Honda, 10.723, 129.54; 2. Steve Lockett, Dodge, 9.926,
144.64  vs. 6. Kory Lindsay, Honda Civic, 10.946, 130.94; 3. Joe
Simpson, Civic, 10.231, 140.85  vs. 7. Buddy Dunagan, 11.198, 131.87; 4.
Felix Medina, 10.526, 145.77  vs. 8. Steven Jung, Civic, 11.214, 134.08.


 

Street Stock -- 1. Loan Nguyen, Honda Civic, 11.986, 113.89  vs. 4.
Orlando Trancho, Civic, 12.913, 108.66; 2. Greg Samaroo, 12.421, 113.49
vs. 5. Jay Van Skyver, 13.671, 101.87; 3. Tim Grey, 12.578, 109.22  vs.
Bye.

 

Quick 16 -- 1. Henry Montero, MC, 8.822, 128.46  vs. 9. Jose Ramos Jr,
Toyota, 10.414, 130.05; 2. Carlos Perez, RX7, 9.041, 149.15  vs. 10.
Allan Friedman, EVO, 10.483, 148.05; 3. Jose Roman, Toyota, 9.088,
141.22  vs. 11. Ramon Ayala, Corolla, 10.668, 129.94; 4. Carlos Torres,
Starlet, 9.729, 133.71  vs. 12. Steven Pocara, VW Beetle, 11.173,
117.73; 5. Jose Toro, Sprint, 9.744, 138.48  vs. 13. Erica Nocita,
Cobalt, 11.479, 120.68; 6. Rene Torres, Corolla, 9.998, 138.68  vs. 14.
Mike Gage, Integra, 11.721, 117.61; 7. Juan Mejias, Corolla, 10.064,
133.13  vs. 15. Oscar Cabrera, Starlet, 11.801, 112.97; 8. Salvador
Gonzalez, Toyota Starlet, 10.183, 129.35  vs. Bye.