NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Friday from Atco Raceway

GALLANT, TASCA ON TOP IN ATCO

ATCO, N.J. - In the first rounds of qualifying at Atco Raceway and the Franklin Trailers NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Art Gallant and Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Bob Tasca III took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes.

Gallant, of Boxboro, Mass., and former NHRA Lucas Oil National Champion, outran the field with a pass of 5.446 seconds at 272.89 mph and is followed by John Finke at 5.576 seconds, 275.62 mph. New Jersey racers Richard Bourke and Bruce Horner landed in the number four and eight spots respectively. Bourke of Old Tappon, N.J., clocked in at 5.614 seconds at 233.96 mph while the Bergenfield, N.J., resident Horner had troubles slowing to a 14.336 second lap.

Tasca lead the funny car field with a run of 5.695 seconds at 255.87 mph in his '06 Mustang. The Cranston, R.I. racer is followed by Frank Manzo with a pass of 5.713 seconds, at 252.61 mph. Manzo has already put a lock on the National Championship with 3 weeks to go in the season.

Scott MacKay and Gary Wisecarver are one, two in Comp Elimination with MacKay out of Broomall, Pa., running a 7.324 second lap for the top spot.

Rain halted the remainder of the day's racing activities canceling the second qualifying session for the alcohol and comp eliminator classes. A final qualifying session is schedule for all three classes on Saturday prior to the beginning of eliminations. Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street will continue their time runs and qualifying on Saturday leading up to their eliminations on Sunday.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the Franklin Trailers NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Atco Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.336 seconds, 272.89 mph

2) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.576, 275.62

3) Dan Mercier, Montreal, Quebec, 5.577, 272.34

4) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 5.614, 233.96

5) Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., 6.391, 158.61

6) Wayne Morris, Lincoln University, Pa., 6.829, 216.97

7) Fran Monaghan Jr, Meadowbrook, Pa., 14.305, 50.19

8) Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 14.336, 49.53

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Bob Tasca III, Cranston, R.I., '06 Mustang, 5.645 seconds, 255.87 mph

2) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.713, 252.61

3) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '02 Camaro, 5.830, 252.47

4) Duane Beers, Monroe, N.J., '02 Camaro, 6.010, 241.11

5) Bruce Peterson, Wappinger Falls, N.Y., '03 Corvette, 6.178, 237.30

6) Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '01 Avenger, 6.239, 232.95

7) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '02 Firebird, 6.497, 223.69

8) Fred Tigges, Holbrook, Mass., '97 Camaro, 7.149, 142.09 Not Qualified

9) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '00 Camaro, 7.525, 138.71

10) John Headley, Newportville, Pa., '00 Mustang, 10.016, 83.52

11) Chris Brown, Ivyland, Pa., '06 Stratus, 14.888, 49.06

12) Rob Atchison, London, Ont., '05 Monte Carlo, (no time)

 

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Scott MacKay, Broomall, Pa., dragster, D/ED, 7.324 seconds, -0.676
(under index)

2) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.044, -0.646

3) Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, '05 Grand Am, F/A, 8.059, -0.641

4) Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., '91 Calais, F/SM, 8.794, -0.626

5) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '04 Cavalier, C/SMA, 8.248, -0.622

6) Erich Bollman, Newark, Del., '92 Probe GT, E/A, 7.745, -0.615

7) Bill Griffin Jr., Norwalk, Conn., '04 Grand Am, E/AA, 7.747, -0.613

8) Don Eckel III, Piscataway, N.J., dragster, C/D, 6.964, -0.606

9) Gary Richard, Bayshore, N.Y., '04 Grand Am, G/SMA, 8.817, -0.593

10) Skip Gladstone, Townsend, Del., dragster, F/ED, 8.324, -0.586