NHRA NEWS: XPLOD SERIES FINAL QUALIFYING FROM ENGLISHTOWN, N.J.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Brian Hacker (626) 428-0280

 

PERSONETT, GARDELLA, RODRIGUEZ, EGGUM, AND LOOKOFSKY LEAD THE QUALIFIERS
AT NHRA SPORT COMPACT FALLNATIONALS

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - The conditions were just right for the drivers of
the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series to take advantage of the
track at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at the fifth annual NHRA Sport
Compact Fallnationals presented by Toyo Tires.  They had the fans
expecting big things, and they didn't disappoint.

 

Top qualifiers for the event are Stephanie Eggum (Hot Rod), Angel
Rodriguez (Modified), Gary Gardella (Pro FWD), Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda
Tuning All Motor), and Brad Personett (Pro FWD).

 

One driver who had the fans cheering in the stands was Eggum (Elgin,
Ill.) in the Hot Rod category.  She came in with rumors that she would
be the first Hot Rod driver to send her car down the track in
competition in the 7-second range.  It took her until the third round of
qualifying to get her Honda Civic that quick, but Eggum was successful
in her quest when she finished with a time of 7.95 seconds at 179.52
mph.  She was not able to back-up the time within the required 1
percent, but can still accomplish that in Sunday's eliminations.

 

"I was on a mission," Eggum said.  "And, it worked.  It didn't feel that
fast when I was driving.  I was so mad about losing the Moroso final
(Held during the second round of qualifying) with the transmission
breaking at the start that I was listening to my Ipod and ate a whole
thing of Pez candy while I was waiting.  Maybe that should become my new
routine."

 

Rodriguez (Modified), of Dorado, Puerto Rico, took full advantage of the
conditions with his Toyota Starlet.  He shattered the national and track
time record, which was held by fellow Puerto Rican Jorge Lazcano.
Rodriguez took his first top qualifier with a time of 7.32 seconds at
182.30.  Not to be outdone was Justin Humphreys who drove his Lexus to
national and track speed records.  He drove at 187.16 mph.

 

Gardella, who comes locally from Howell, N.J., kept his fans happy with
his No. 1 qualifier in the Pro FWD category.  This is his first top
qualifier of 2006, but his fifth career.  He drove his Dupont/HotHues
Chevy Cobalt to a time of 7.56 seconds at 185.82 mph.

 

"My crew did an awesome job the last two weeks in testing," Gardella
said.  "Mike Whitney and Jon Perry worked so hard to get the car ready.
We've been testing between Englishtown and Atco since the Moroso event.
It is feeling good.  We're pretty happy with how we have finished off
the season.  We couldn't be here without our sponsors.  I want to thank
Hot Hues, Red Bull, and GM for all that they have done."

 

Lookofksy (Simi Valley, Calif.), was the No. 1 qualifier in the Honda
Tuning All Motor category.  His DVS Drag Cartel Civic gained him his
fourth top qualifier of 2006.  He accomplished this with a national
record tying 9.64 seconds at 137.74 mph.

 

Echoing everyone's sentiments for Sunday's eliminations Lookofsky said,
"I hope and pray for a good day weather-wise and everyone's safety."

 

Personett (Elkhart, Ind.) just kept right on rolling through his season
with his tenth consecutive No. 1 qualifier of 2006 in the Pro RWD
category.  He accomplished this feat by driving his Titan Motorsport
Scion tC to track records in time, 6.42 seconds, and speed, 219.33 mph.

 

"It is what it is," Personett said.  "We just keep racing the
racetracks."

 

Eliminations will be held Sunday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
after opening ceremonies which begin at 12:30 p.m.

 

***

ENGLISHOWN, N.J. -- Results Saturday after qualifying for the Fifth
Annual NHRA Sport Compact Fallnationals at Old Bridge Township raceway
park, Tenth of 11 events in the $2.5 million NHRA Xplod Sport Compact
Drag Racing Series.  Qualifying will continue Sunday for final
eliminations.

 

PRO RWD

1) Brad Personett, Elkhart, Ind., '04 Toyota, 6.428 seconds, 219.33 mph

2) Matt Scranton, Land O' Lakes, Fla., '06 Solara, 6.574, 216.17

3) Gary Lee White, New Market, Ala., '05 Celica, 6.588, 212.33

4) Jose LeDuc, Patterson, N.J., '75 RX-3, 7.842, 176.47

5) Boris Rojas, Orlando, Fla., dragster, 9.365, 148.30

6) Manny Cruz, Bronx, N.Y., '02 Cougar, 12.743, 82.52

 

PRO FWD

1) Gary Gardella, Howell, N.J., '06 Cobalt, 7.565 seconds, 186.15 mph

2) Marty Ladwig, San Antonio, Texas, '06 Cobalt, 7.636, 186.59

3) Brian Jimenez, Houston, Texas, '06 Cobalt, 7.721, 183.34

4) Christian Rado, Temple, Pa., '06 tC, 7.895, 173.54

5) Ed Bergenholtz, Santa Ana, Calif., '06 Mazda, 7.902, 184.98

6) Ron Townsend, Torrance, Calif., '05 Cavalier, 8.366, 182.38

 

MODIFIED (PENDING TECH)

1) Angel Rodriguez, Dorado, P.R., '94 Starlet, 7.324 seconds, 182.82 mph

2) Justin Humphreys, Monrovia, Md., '03 GS300, 7.359, 187.16

3) Jorge Juarbe, Garabo, P.R., '82 Starlet, 7.382, 179.97

4) Jorge Lazcano, San Juan, P.R., '85 RX7, 7.430, 179.04

5) Paul Efantis, Ijamsville, Md., '03 Solara, 7.431, 181.98

6) Miguel Manero, Cidia, P.R., '82 Starlet, 7.448, 179.71

7) Rafael Fuent Miranda, Corozal, P.R., '82 Starlet, 7.451, 179.83

8) Jose Torres, San Juan, P.R., '84 Starlet, 7.463, 178.28

9) Gabriel Garcia, , P.R., '84 Starlet, 7.640, 174.57

10) Dee Karagiannis, Glenwood, Md., dragster, 7.674, 165.78

 

HOT ROD

1) Stephanie Eggum, Elgin, Ill., '00 Civic, 7.957 seconds, 179.52 mph

2) Ron Lummus, Anaheim, Calif., '04 Pontiac, 8.149, 177.53

3) Mike Crawford, Eden, N.C., '04 SRT-4, 8.163, 183.00

4) Stephane Beauregard, Granby, , '87 Shelby, 8.277, 168.91

5) Kenny Tran, Garland, Texas, '06 tC, 8.998, 150.03

6) Saverio Leone, Jamison, Pa., '00 Civic, 9.089, 161.09

7) Joe Demaree, Whitestown, Ind., '92 Civic, 9.309, 154.23

8) Stephen Merman, North Wales, Pa., '93 Civic, 9.532, 157.08

 

ALL MOTOR

1) Jeremy Lookofsky, Simi Valley, Calif., '00 Civic, 9.647 seconds,
137.74 mph

2) Norris Prayoonoto, Springfield, Va., '04 Honda, 9.655, 140.02

3) Leslie Durst-Armendariz, Long Beach, Calif., '06 tC, 10.110, 139.86

4) Scott Kelley, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '06 Corolla, 10.133, 136.14

5) Vince Tiaga, Glendora, Calif., '05 Mazda, 10.565, 131.50

6) Thomas Borgia, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., '67 Beetle, 11.100, 121.25

7) Saul Salceda, Gardena, Calif., '00 Integra, 12.626, 40.41

 

SUZUKI PRO STREET BIKE SHOOTOUT

1) Phil Stoll, Chicago, Ill., '06 Hayabusa, 7.353 seconds, 197.10 mph

2) Barry Henson, Nicholasville, Ky., '06 Hayabusa, 7.376, 198.96

3) Mike Slowe, Bensalem, Pa., '06 Suzuki, 7.377, 201.13

4) Kent Stotz, Schalmburg, Ill., '03 Honda, 7.408, 199.88

5) Tom Miceli, Manalapan, N.J., '01 Suzuki, 7.447, 197.91

6) Tim Oneil, Kent, Ohio, '01 Hayabusa, 7.457, 198.47

7) Sam Boles, El Dorado, Ark., dragster, 7.599, 191.59

8) Glenn Stickels, Machesne Park, Ill., '01 Hayabusa, 7.830, 190.51

9) Ed Zeigler, Middletown, N.Y., '00 Hayabusa, 8.330, 177.72

10) Del Flores, Paramus, N.J., '04 Hayabusa, 8.336, 164.95

 

-30-

 

 
Brian Hacker
NHRA, Media Relations Manager
O - 626-250-2424
C - 626-428-0280