NHRA (LAS VEGAS) - DRIVERS BATTLE HEAT AT LAS VEGAS

The heat was high both on the track and in the air for the qualifying rounds at the Las Vegas NHRA Sport Compact Nationals in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series.

The top qualifiers for the event are Gary White (Pro RWD), Jason Hunt (Pro FWD), Stephanie Eggum (Hot Rod), Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor) and Brent Rau (Modified).

White earned his second No. 1 qualifier of 2007 in his Scion tC with a time of 6.77 seconds at 209.10 mph. This is White’s first event in the car.

“This feels real good,” said White. “This was my first full pass in the car. We tested, but were never able to make a full track pass. It is definitely a step up. I’m sitting up and sitting tight. I felt like I was doing a wheelie all the way down.”

Hunt gained his second No. 1 qualifier of 2007 and his seventh career top position when he ran 7.55 seconds at 193.02 mph.

“The weekend is not over,” said Hunt. “I have a gremlin in the car the same as at Atco. We had to swap the motor out between rounds. It is all thanks to great teamwork and a great crew. I hope to survive the weekend and take tomorrow round by round. It’s Vegas, it’s hot and the luck is good. We’ll see what happens.”

Eggum, in her Eggum Racing Honda Civic, had to overcome the heat from the first round to take the No. 1 position in the second round of qualifying. She topped her season long rival Kenny Tran when she ran 8.17 seconds at 172.96 mph.

“It’s hot,” said Eggum. “It was a great recovery to come back and take the top spot from the last spot. The first round was a bust. Physically I was about to pass out. The car was set up for a fast track. We took a lot of power out for the second round. At the top of third gear I almost crossed the centerline.”

Prayoonto was able to get his first top qualifier award of 2007 when he came out in the first round and ran 9.96 seconds at 137.57 mph in his Clutchmasters Honda Insight. This is his fifth career top qualifier award.

“I actually didn’t realize it at first,” said Prayoonto. “Number one qualifier means nothing until you win it.”

Rau was able to grab his third consecutive No. 1 qualifier of 2007. He powered to the top position with a time of 7.44 seconds at 179.42 mph.

Eliminations will be held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after opening ceremonies which begin at 6:25 p.m.

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LAS VEGAS -- Results Friday after qualifying for the fifth annual Las Vegas NHRA Sport Compact Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, sixth of 11 events in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series.

PRO RWD

1) Gary Lee White, New Market, Ala., ’05 Scion, 6.778 seconds, 209.10 mph

2) Brad Personett, Elkhart, Ind., '08 Scion, 6.821, 208.30

PRO FWD

1) Jason Hunt, Crofton, Md., '07 Cobalt, 7.556 seconds, 193.02 mph

2) Gary Gardella, Howell, N.J., '07 Cobalt, 7.587, 183.19

3) Marty Ladwig, San Antonio, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 7.746, 195.59

4) Ed Bergenholtz, Tustin, Calif., '07 Mazda, 7.871, 187.94

5) Christian Rado, Temple, Pa., '06 tC, 7.920, 182.85

6) Bryan Jimenez, Houston, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 8.104, 177.11

MODIFIED

1) Brent Rau, St Francis, Minn., '99 Eclipse, 7.446 seconds, 179.42 mph

2) Paul Efantis, Ijamsville, Md., '03 Solara, 7.704, 181.42

3) Ken Scheepers, Flower Mound, Texas, '05 RX8, 7.824, 148.79

4) Tom Shambaugh, Chandler, Ariz., '04 Cavalier, 10.266, 150.92

5) Dee Karagiannis, Glenwood, Md., '07 Mazda, 19.714, 59.35

HOT ROD

1) Stephanie Eggum, Elgin, Ill., '00 Civic, 8.177 seconds, 172.96 mph

2) Kenny Tran, Garland, Texas, '06 tC, 8.281, 173.90

3) Chuck Seitsinger, Oklahoma City, Okla., '92 Civic, 8.923, 165.72

4) Tony Garcia Jr, Orange, Calif., '88 CRX, 9.754, 146.30

5) Jason Ames, Torrance, Calif., '95 Civic, 9.858, 153.89

6) Steven Tan, Henderson, Nev., '88 CRX, 19.966, 50.29

7) Eric Del Rosario, Northridge, Calif., '00 Integra, 22.923, 28.28

HONDA TUNING MAGAZINE ALL MOTOR

1) Norris Prayoonoto, Springfield, Va., '04 Insight, 9.969 seconds, 137.57 mph

2) Jeremy Lookofsky, Simi Valley, Calif., '06 Civic SI, 9.987, 136.63

3) Scott Kelley, Anaheim, Calif., '07 Corolla, 10.252, 131.83

4) Leslie Durst-Armendariz, Long Beach, Calif., '06 tC, 10.315, 130.85

5) Saul Salceda, Gardena, Calif., '00 Integra, 10.444, 126.70

6) Julie Stepan, Grand Praire, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 10.852, 120.41

7) Doug Parks, Fullerton, Calif., '07 3, 10.867, 124.14

8) Chad Barber, San Jose, Calif., '98 Integra, 10.870, 118.49

9) Nalani Whatley, Whittier, Calif., '90 CRX, 10.897, 121.98

10) Ron Lummus, Anaheim, Calif., '03 CRX, 11.334, 128.53

SPORT RWD

1) Ali Afshar, Castate, Calif., '04 Subaru, 9.774 seconds, 139.54 mph

2) Myrt Frazier, Shiprock, N.M., '90 Talon, 13.413, 116.71

URBANRACER.COM SPORT FWD

1) Cortney Green, Taylorsville, Utah, '95 Civic, 9.854 seconds, 141.47 mph

2) Kevin Van Natten, Belford, N.J., '04 SRT-4, 10.017, 142.61

3) Arturbo Ortiz, Garland, Texas, '00 Integra, 10.084, 152.33

4) Tyler Hara, Monterey Park, Calif., '98 Civic, 10.204, 144.55

5) Jonathan Reynolds, Phoenix, Ariz., '01 Integra, 10.265, 142.52

6) Steven Conley, Hooper, Utah, '94 Civic, 10.278, 143.78

7) Kyle Herrera, Kaysville, Utah, '99 Civic, 10.354, 143.57

8) Jasen Penman, West Jordan, Utah, '93 Honda, 10.360, 151.29

9) Jason Lopes, Liverpool, N.Y., '05 tC, 10.462, 144.44

10) Cody Anderson, West Jordan, Utah, '98 Civic, 10.481, 136.11

BFGOODRICH TIRES STREET STOCK

1) Loan Nguyen, Burke, Va., '99 Civic, 12.882 seconds, 109.61 mph

2) Frank Silovangkhoth, , , dragster, 12.892, 107.55

3) Not on File, , , dragster, 13.763, 103.98

4) Jeremy Nicolodemos, West Jordan, Utah, '98 Dodge, 14.973, 92.67

5) Chris Dye, Colorado Springs, Colo., '02 Acura, 15.492, 87.52

QUICK 16

1) Jason Whitfield, Upland, Calif., '07 Cobalt, 10.426 seconds, 142.15 mph

2) Pete Selders, Monrovia, Calif., '67 VW, 10.528, 126.87

3) Erica Nocita, Monrovia, Calif., '05 Cobalt, 10.876, 134.83

4) Charles Perry, Cibolo, Texas, '96 Honda, 10.943, 127.26

5) Paulden Hepler, Desert Hot Springs, Calif., '98 Civic, 11.105, 126.97

6) Larry Kelley, Yorba Linda, Calif., '56 Beetle, 11.218, 120.50

7) Karl Martin, Riverton, Utah, '93 RX7, 11.283, 123.86

8) Mark Peoihero, Whittier, Calif., '66 VW, 11.449, 111.42

9) Milton Roller, Lake Elsinore, Calif., '93 Honda, 11.882, 137.01

10) Chris Bowes, Lakewood, Colo., '92 Civic, 12.290, 116.11