NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Western Conference Finals Friday from Bandimere - National

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA O'REILLY AUTO PARTS JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE WESTERN CONFERENCE
FINALS
BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2006
Contact:  Dana Mariotti, NHRA Field Marketing (626) 428-0289
 
ELIMINATIONS UNDERWAY FOR JR. RACERS AT BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY
                
DENVER, Colo. - The first round of eliminations is complete at the
O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals.
Kids from the Pacific, Northwest, West Central and parts of the South
Central Divisions are all competing for a National Championship Wally
Trophy in individual categories and the team championship.  Driving
half-scale dragsters powered by five-horsepower engines, racers may run
as quick as 7.90 seconds.
Hometown racer, Taylor Strange of Colorado Springs, Colo., and last
year's 11-year old champion defeated Tiffany Burger of Eagle, Id., to
advance to Round 2.  2005 8-9 year-old Champion, Casey Telhle of
Billings, Mont., also advanced to the second round with a time of 8.977
seconds.  
In the 14-year old category, 2005 13 year-old champion, Zach Hord of
Kansas City, Mo., made it to the second round.  Last year's 14 year-old
champion, Matthew Cooper of Owasso, Okla., made a pass of 8.907 seconds
at 63.19 mph defeating Heather Bolton of Lakewood, Colo.
Jenna Pizana of Norco, Calif., defeated last year's champion Jesse
Cantrell of Grapevine, Texas in the 11 year-old category.  Megan Rhodes
of Littleton, Colo., sent home 2005 defending champion, Jimmy Morosan of
Baldwin Park, Calif., making a pass of 8.136 seconds at 79.43 mph.  15
year-old defending champion, Kristie Thompson of Wildomar, Calif., was
also eliminated in the first round.
Racing ended today with a BBQ provided by Bandimere Speedway for all
competitors and their families.  Special awards were given out at this
time as well.  Tiffany Burger from Eagle, Idaho, won Best Appearing Car,
while Matthew Verlingo of Alta Loma, Calif., won for Best Engineered
Car.  Best Appearing Crew went to the crew for Alexis and Rebecca Isbell
from Erda, Utah.
                Racing continues Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m.
starting with Round 2 of eliminations. Gates open at 7:00 a.m.  
Bandimere Speedway is located west of Denver off Hwy C-470 in Morrison.
For more information call the track (303) 697-6001 or visit
BandimereSpeedway.com <http://www.bristoldragway.com/> .
 
-30-
 
 
Dana Mariotti
NHRA Field Marketing
(626) 250-2286 Direct Line
(626) 335-7721 Fax
dmariotti@nhra.com  
 
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