NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Saturday from Infineon Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION

INFINEON RACEWAY, SONOMA, CALIF.

Saturday, August 5, 2006

Contact: Jerrie Foss, NHRA (626) 278-1956

 

SHIELDS, GASPARRELLI SET THE PACE IN QUALIFYING AT INFINEON RACEWAY

            SONOMA, Calif. - Qualifying is complete at Infineon Raceway's
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel.  After two days
of qualifying, eliminations will kick off Sunday morning.  In Top Alcohol
Dragster, Duane Shields stayed the No. 1 qualifier and Steve Gasparrelli
held on to the top position in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

            Shields, a Boulder City, Nev., resident, did not improve on
Friday's 5.304-second, 268.97 mph qualifying pass but it was enough to keep
him on top.  Friday's No. 2 qualifier, Ashley Force, the 23-year-old
daughter of 13-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, did improve on her
initial qualifying run with a 5.307-second, 270.16 mph effort but it was not
enough to catch Shields.  Shields will square off against No. 8 qualifier
Sean O'Bannon of Alta Loma, Calif., in the opening round of eliminations
Sunday.

            Top Alcohol Funny Car's Gasparrelli, a West Covina, Calif.,
resident, did improve on his first qualifying pass with a 5.587-second run
at 260.21 mph.  Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., also improved his
qualifying efforts but his 5.634-second, 257.68 mph pass was not enough to
eclipse Gasparrelli who will face the eighth-place qualifier, John Patton,
Peoria, Ariz., in the first round of eliminations.

            North Vancouver, B.C., resident Rob Harrison took over the top
position in Comp Eliminator while Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., held
off the competition in Super Stock to stay No. 1.  Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver,
Wash., overtook Don Keen, Palmdale, Calif., to be the best qualifier in
Stock Eliminator, Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C.,  held on to the No. 1 spot in
Top Comp, and John Widman, Garberville, Calif., was the top qualifier in
Sportsman Motorcycle.

Racing continues Sunday at Infineon Raceway.  Gates open at 7 a.m. and
eliminations will start at 8 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol
Funny Car will run first round at noon.

            Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event
presented by Korbel are $20.  Children 12 and under are admitted free.

            Infineon Raceway is located north of San Rafael at the junction
of Highways 37 and 121.  For more information call the track, (707)
938-8448, or visit www.InfineonRaceway.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 presented by Korbel at Infineon Raceway:

 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.304 seconds, 268.97 mph

2) Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 5.307, 270.16

3) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.336, 271.19

4) Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.360, 266.21

5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.374, 267.32

6) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.399, 266.11

7) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.429, 262.79

8) Sean O'Bannon, Fontana, Calif., 5.445, 267.00 

Not Qualified

9) Bob Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.496, 251.77

10) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.514, 258.71

11) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.591, 242.63

12) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., 5.628, 254.42

13) Dennis Swearingen, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.843, 231.04

14) Frank Dischbein, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.917, 223.80

15) Danny Valadez, San Rafael, Calif., 6.074, 239.23

16) Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 6.124, 210.93

 

First round TAD pairings

1) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.304 seconds, 268.97 mph vs. 8) Sean
O'Bannon, Fontana, Calif., 5.445, 267.00

2) Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 5.307, 270.16 vs. 7) Darren Nicholson,
Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.429, 262.79

3) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.336, 271.19 vs. 6) Brandon Johnson, Shelton,
Wash., 5.399, 266.11

4) Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.360, 266.21 vs. 5) Chris Demke,
Sunland, Calif., 5.374, 267.32

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.587 seconds,
260.21 mph

2) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '04 Firebird, 5.634, 257.68

3) John Weaver, Newport Beach, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.643, 255.53

4) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.666, 253.95

5) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.678, 250.41

6) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.698, 250.27

7) Mark Woznichak, Riverside, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.712, 253.04

8) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '00 Trans Am, 5.725, 251.49 

Not Qualified

9) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.752, 255.48

10) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.754, 251.06

11) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.774, 253.80

12) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.777, 248.39

13) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.794, 249.72

14) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 5.946, 241.20

15) Paul Crifasi, Las Vegas, '05 Honda, 5.986, 193.18

 

First round TAFC pairings

1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.587 seconds,
260.21 mph vs. 8) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '00 Trans Am, 5.725, 251.49

2) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '04 Firebird, 5.634, 257.68 vs. 7) Mark
Woznichak, Riverside, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.712, 253.04

3) John Weaver, Newport Beach, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.643, 255.53 vs. 6) Doug
Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.698, 250.27

4) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.666, 253.95 vs. 5) Dennis
Taylor, Anaheim, Calif.,

'02 Camaro, 5.678, 250.41

 

Competition Eliminator

1) Rob Harrison, N. Vancouver, B.C., '04 Cavalier, J/A, 7.832 seconds,
-0.658 (under index)

2) David Beckley, Wildomar, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/AA, 6.709, -0.651

3) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '06 GTO, B/A, 7.059, -0.641

4) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 6.899, -0.631

5) Jon Haire, Napa, Calif., dragster, A/ND, 6.900, -0.630

6) Dave Barcelon, Bremerton, Wash., '06 Cobalt, G/A, 8.429, -0.621

7) Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.452, -0.618

8) Vinnie Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/A, 6.580,
-0.610

9) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '05 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.484, -0.606

10) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '04 Cavalier, D/EA, 8.376, -0.604

 

Super Stock

1) Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.615 seconds,
-1.235 (under index)

2) Dominic Camera, Tustin, Calif., '87 Camaro, GT/EA, 9.765, -1.185

3) Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., '64 Belvedere, SS/BA, 9.043, -1.157

4) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '06 Cobolt, GT/AA, 9.270, -1.130

5) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '00 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.386, -1.114

6) Richard Salcido, Whittier, Calif., '95 Achieva, GT/CA, 9.588, -1.112

7) Sam Tufano, Los Gatos, Calif., '97 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.615, -1.085

8) Mike Blackstone, Livermore, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 8.988, -1.062

9) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.341, -1.059

10) Wayne Taylor, Chino, Calif., '89 LeBaron, GT/HA, 10.340, -1.010

 

Stock Eliminator

1) Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.295 seconds, -1.305
(under index)

2) Don Keen, Palmdale, Calif., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.445, -1.205

3) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 11.981, -1.169

4) John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, C/SA, 10.594, -1.106

5) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, B/SA, 10.452, -1.098

6) John Irving, Boulder City, Nev., '71 Dart, F/SA, 11.058, -1.092

7) Charlie Smith, Modesto, Calif., '69 Dart, C/SA, 10.609, -1.091

8) Rick Kagawa, Huntington Beach, Calif., '70 Chevelle, B/SA, 10.473, -1.077

9) Carl Battis, Huntington Beach, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.487, -1.063

10) Staci Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '00 Dakota, E/FIA, 11.542, -1.058

 

TOP COMP

1) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., dragster, 6.731 seconds, 206.80 mph

2) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.739, 200.14

3) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.747, 200.00

4) Jimmy Johnson, Santa Rosa, Calif., dragster, 6.799, 201.58

5) Joe Roubicek, West Lake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.824, 196.99

6) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., dragster, 6.993, 192.36

7) Tom Koenen, North Bend, Ore., dragster, 7.041, 191.13

8) Justin Lamb, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 7.070, 188.46

9) John Propp, Granite Bay, Calif., dragster, 7.089, 189.10

10) Tom Yancer, Chandler, Ariz., dragster, 7.097, 188.52

 

Sportsman Motorcycle

1) John Widman, Garberville, Calif., '93 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.000 seconds
reaction time

2) Wayne Cox, Eureka, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.001

3) Mike Scott, Bonney Lake, Wash., '06 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.002

4) Joseph Smith, Tucson, Ariz., '84 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.002

5) Trace St.Germain, San Jose, Calif., '02 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.011

6) Dave Phillips, Las Vegas, '77 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.011

7) Stephen Star, Rohnert Park, Calif., '02 Suzuki, SMC, 0.012

8) Craig Holsey, Orangevale, Calif., '03 Suzuki, SMC, 0.014

9) Greg Liskey, Salinas, Calif., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.018

10) James Surber, Sherter Cove, Calif., '06 Destroyer, SMC, 0.025

 

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