NHRA NEWS: XPLOD SERIES QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM DENVER

PERSONETT, HUNT, EFANTIS, BEAUREGARD, AND LOOKOFSKY QUALIFY NO. 1 AT
MILE HIGH EVENT

 

MORRISON, Colo. - The NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series enjoyed a
beautiful day in the Denver area at the Mountain Madness NHRA Sport
Compact Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

 

Top qualifiers going into Sunday's eliminations are Brad Personett (Pro
RWD), Jason Hunt (Pro FWD), Paul Efantis (Modified), Stephane Beauregard
(Hot Rod), and Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning All Motor).

 

Personett, driving his Titan Motorsports Scion tC, set track records
while cementing his sixth No. 1 spot in 2006.  He drove to a time of
6.68 seconds at 213.43 mph.

 

Before qualifications Personett said that he would get the running at
213, which ended up being his qualifying speed.  In reference to that
Personett said, "You just know what you got in the car.  I felt that was
the speed we'd get.  We need to make some fine adjustments to make
things right due to the altitude."

 

Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning All Motor), qualified No.1 for the third
straight event in his DVS Drag Cartel Civic.  He drove to a time of
10.32 seconds with a speed of 131.18 mph.

 

"We take it as it comes," said Lookofsky.  "Our car is on fire right
now.  The team is just taking it one pass and one race at a time."

 

The Pro FWD No. 1 qualifier, Jason Hunt was able to drive his Chevy
Cobalt to his fourth career and second of the year top qualifier
position.  His car went 7.58 seconds at 192.25 mph.

 

"I'm just glad to come out and do well for our sponsors," said Hunt.
"It feels great to get the No. 1 position.  We got out here early to get
the car ready.  I've got people helping me that make me look good."

 

In the Modified class Paul Efantis, who has participated on a limited
basis on the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series, drove his Toyota
Solara to the top position with a time of 7.96 seconds at 170.30 mph.

 

"It feels great," said Efantis.  "Unfortunately we missed two races, so
we will try to make up point in the final five events.  We have a new
sponsor for the event that we want to thank, The Little Dooey Barbeque &
Blues in Concord, N.C.  The altitude isn't too much of problem for us
because we have been here before, so we know how to run."

 

Beauregard gained his second No. 1 qualifier in his short NHRA Xplod
Sport Compact Racing Series career.  Beauregard from Granby, Quebec,
Canada drove his Dodge Shelby to a time of 8.46 seconds at 162.67 mph.

 

"I didn't change anything on the car from the previous races," said
Beauregard.  The altitude does make the car react slowly.  I am
confident for tomorrow.  We are taking motor apart to make sure
everything is okay."

 

The Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at Bandimere Speedway
continues with opening ceremonies on Sunday, May 21 at 1:30 p.m., and
eliminations at 2:00 p.m.

 

-30-

 

***

 

MORRISON, Colo. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations
Sunday for the Third Annual Mountain Madness NHRA Sport Compact
Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the Sixth 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, Toyota, 6.684, 213.43  vs. Bye; 2. Gary
Lee White, Toyota Celica, 6.891, 203.22  vs. 3. Matt Scranton, Solara,
6.908, 206.76. 

 

Pro FWD -- 1. Jason Hunt, Cobalt, 7.587, 193.52  vs. 6. Ron Townsend,
Cavalier, 8.259, 183.42; 2. Gary Gardella, Chevy Cobalt, 7.970, 179.95
vs. 5. Ed Bergenholtz, Mazda, 8.196, 178.35; 3. Marty Ladwig, Cobalt,
8.051, 183.89  vs. 4. Brian Jimenez, Cobalt, 8.132, 173.41. 

 

Modified -- 1. Paul Efantis, Toyota Solara, 7.962, 170.30  vs. 8. Justin
Humphreys, Lexus GS300, 17.696, 45.98; 2. Mike Lowe, Mazda, 8.065,
169.64  vs. 7. Tom Shambaugh, Chevy Cavalier, 15.348, 91.66; 3. Dee
Karagiannis, Mazda RX7, 8.100, 166.56  vs. 6. Steve Topletz, Celica,
11.510, 86.08; 4. Dee Karagiannis, RX7, 8.244, 162.04  vs. 5. Ken
Scheepers, Mazda RX8, 8.371, 160.37. 

 

Hot Rod -- 1. Stephane Beauregard, Shelby, 8.468, 162.67  vs. Bye; 2.
Mike Crawford, Dodge SRT-4, 8.518, 165.60  vs. 7. Joe Housley, Honda
Civic, 11.758, 128.95; 3. Ron Lummus, Pontiac, 8.553, 168.16  vs. 6.
Kenny Tran, Civic, 10.930, 165.03; 4. Chuck Seitsinger, Civic, 8.589,
166.70  vs. 5. Stephanie Eggum, Civic, 8.714, 160.50. 

 

Honda Tuning All Motor -- 1. Jeremy Lookofsky, Honda Civic, 10.321,
131.18  vs. Bye; 2. Norris Prayoonto, Insight, 10.471, 117.62  vs. 5.
Vince Tiaga, Mazda, 11.382, 120.94; 3. Saul Salceda, Acura Integra,
10.685, 125.73  vs. 4. Scott Kelley, Corolla, 11.221, 122.20. 

 

Sport RWD -- 1. Cody Phillips, Supra, 9.776, 149.53  vs. 5. Mark
Weadick, EVO, 12.156, 114.48; 2. Ryan Woon, Supra, 9.835, 156.30  vs. 6.
Shane Weckesser, Talon, 12.222, 110.15; 3. Michael Bergren, RX7, 11.673,
118.14  vs. 7. Seth Biggi, Eclipse, 13.132, 112.92; 4. Erik Westland,
Talon, 12.126, 116.36  vs. 8. Dan Schechter, Mazda RX7, 21.119, no
speed. 

 

 

Urbanracer.com Sport FWD -- 1. Tony Palo, Acura, 10.053, 135.65  vs. 6.
Kyle Herrera, Civic, 10.568, 138.93; 2. Jasen Penman, Honda, 10.081,
156.72  vs. 7. Chris Lucarelli, Civic, 10.713, 137.08; 3. Arturbo Ortiz,
Integra, 10.120, 143.25  vs. 8. Steve Oaks, Prelude, 11.008, 137.01; 4.
Cortney Green, Civic, 10.405, 143.02  vs. 9. Cody Anderson, Honda,
11.106, 125.53; 5. Sam Park, Honda Civic, 10.447, 136.83  vs. 10. John
Gill, Honda Acura, 11.754, 130.72. 

 

 

BFGoodrich Tires Street Stock -- 1. Loan Nguyen, Honda Civic, 12.932,
106.02  vs. 3. Josh Howard, 14.430, 95.34; 2. Chris Dye, Acura, 14.154,
98.99  vs. 4. Mark Bremer, 14.881, 90.67.