NHRA LUcas Oil Drag Racing Series-Friday from Auto Club Famoso Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - PACIFIC DIVISION

AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY, BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.

Friday, September 7, 2007

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

 

FIELDS SET FOR SATURDAY ELIMINATIONS AT AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY

 

            BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In the opening day of racing at Auto Club
Famoso Raceway's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by
Budweiser, qualifying was completed, making way for Saturday's elimination
rounds. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., wheeled his Top Alcohol Dragster to
the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.341-second, 268.49 mph pass.  In Top
Alcohol Funny Car, Oak Ridge, Tenn., resident Von Smith grabbed the top spot
with a 5.664-second, 252.45 mph run.

Niver outpaced No. 2 qualifier Jim Whiteley of Grand Junction, Colo., who
5.412 seconds at 265.64 mph.  Niver will square off against eighth place
qualifier Joey Severance of Spanaway, Wash., in the opening round of
eliminations.  There were 14 racers vying for the eight-car elimination
field.

Smith fended off 16 other drivers who were competing for a place in the
eight-car field. But his top qualifying effort was just enough to keep him
ahead of Santa Barbara, Calif., racer Jeff Carroll who made a 5.691-second,
253.37 mph lap.  Smith will take on No. 8 qualifier Russ Parker, Salem,
Ore., in round one of eliminations.

In Comp Eliminator, Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., was the No. 1 qualifier
while Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., lead the Super Stock field.  Tommy
Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., headed up the Stock Eliminator class, Robert
Broguiere, Wlidomar, Calif., was No. 1 in Top Sportsman, Paul Gladden,
Tracy, Calif., set the pace in Top Dragster and La Mirada, Calif., resident
Tom Medlin was the best qualifier in Sportsman Motorcycle.

            Racing continues Saturday at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.  Gates
open at 7 a.m. and final qualifying and time trials are scheduled from 9
a.m. to noon.  Eliminations begin at noon.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Top
Alcohol Funny Car will run first round at 4 p.m.

            Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event
presented by Budweiser at Auto Club Famoso Raceway are $20.  Children 11 and
under are admitted free with a paid adult.  

            Auto Club Famoso Raceway is located at 33559 Famoso Road in
McFarland, approximately 12 miles north of Bakersfield.  For more
information call the track, (661) 399-2210, or visit
www.AutoClubFamosoRaceway.com.

 

            The following are Friday's qualifying results, including first
round pairings for TAD and TAFC, from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
event presented by Budweiser at Auto Club Famoso Raceway:

 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.341 seconds, 268.49 mph

2) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.412, 265.64

3) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.429, 249.79

4) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., 5.432, 265.56

5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.435, 264.47

6) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.469, 262.62

7) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.483, 261.24

8) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.487, 260.41 

Not Qualified

9) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., 5.498, 255.31

10) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.631, 262.54

11) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.648, 232.73

12) Frank Dischbein, Las Vegas, 6.040, 232.19

13) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 8.583, 152.12

14) Johnny Ahten, Sagus, Calif., 10.179, 92.94

 

First round TAD pairings

1) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.341 seconds, 268.49 mph vs. 8) Joey
Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.487, 260.41

2) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.412, 265.64 vs. 7) Cody Perkins,
Bluffdale, Utah, 5.483, 261.24

3) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.429, 249.79 vs. 6) Duane Shields,
Boulder City, Nev., 5.469, 262.62

4) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., 5.432, 265.56 vs. 5) Chris Demke, Sunland,
Calif., 5.435, 264.47

 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '05 Camaro, 5.664 seconds, 252.45 mph

2) Jeff Carroll, Santa Barbara, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 5.691, 253.37

3) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.713, 251.74

4) Sean Bellemeur, Newport Beach, Calif., '04 Camaro, 5.751, 251.95

5) Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.783, 249.23

6) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.809, 254.38

7) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.813, 244.16

8) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '98 Cutlass, 5.817, 248.82 

Not Qualified

9) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.827, 237.40

10) Rian Konno, Rosemead, Calif., '02 Firebird, 5.839, 239.68

11) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.852, 246.10

12) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.869, 243.24

13) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 5.963, 227.33

14) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.975, 243.96

15) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '07 Charger, 6.101, 235.47

16) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '07 Charger, 6.200, 243.50

17) Dale Van Gundy, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Trans Am, 6.215, 213.16

 

First round TAFC pairings

1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '05 Camaro, 5.664 seconds, 252.45 mph vs. 8)
Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '98 Cutlass, 5.817, 248.82

2) Jeff Carroll, Santa Barbara, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 5.691, 253.37 vs.
7) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.813, 244.16

3) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.713, 251.74 vs. 6) Doug
Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.809, 254.38

4) Sean Bellemeur, Newport Beach, Calif., '04 Camaro, 5.751, 251.95 vs. 5)
Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.783,

249.23

 

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, B/ND, 7.045 seconds, -0.675
(under index)

2) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '06 GTO, B/A, 7.106, -0.584

3) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '05 Cavalier, I/AA, 8.279, -0.571

4) Joe Mozeris, Phoenix, dragster, C/DA, 7.079, -0.561

5) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AP, 6.800, -0.560

6) J.D. Zink, Chico, Calif., dragster, A/ND, 6.960, -0.540

7) Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Chevy, C/SR, 8.590, -0.530

8) Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.491, -0.519

9) John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '99 Neon, C/AA, 7.527, -0.513

10) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '06 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.512, -0.508

 

SUPER STOCK

1) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.255 seconds, -1.145
(under index)

2) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '07 Cobalt, SS/BM, 8.558, -1.142

3) Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.762, -1.088

4) Justin Lamb, Henderson, Nev., '07 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.978, -1.072

5) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '07 Cobalt, SS/BS, 9.029, -1.021

6) Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.845, -1.005

7) Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., '64 Belvedere, SS/BA, 9.207, -0.993

8) Mike Blackstone, Livermore, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 9.084, -0.966

9) Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., '91 Calais, GT/EA, 9.998, -0.952

10) Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/FA, 9.803, -0.947

 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Tom Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '93 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.848 seconds, -1.152
(under index)

2) Nick Ariotti, Boulder City, Nev., '76 Volare, I/SA, 11.472, -1.128

3) Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., '67 Fairlane, A/S, 10.157, -1.093

4) Harry Doolittle, Wickenburg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, H/FIA, 12.358, -1.092

5) Don Keen, Palmdale, Calif., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.594, -1.056

6) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.101, -1.049

7) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '02 Firebird, A/FIA, 10.283, -1.017

8) John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, D/SA, 10.838, -1.012

9) Leo Glasbrenner, San Dimas, Calif., '68 Firebird, E/SA, 11.004, -0.996

10) Chris Whitney, Sun Valley, Calif., '67 Fairlane, B/S, 10.530, -0.970

 

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.003 seconds, 197.93
mph

2) Larry Azcuenaga, South Jordan, Utah, '03 Grand Am, 7.168, 193.75

3) Dean Hall, Guerneville, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.236, 192.02

4) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '07 Cobalt, 7.242, 191.04

5) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.271, 188.60

6) J Wayne Silvia, Upland, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.318, 187.57

7) Brad Wagner, Henderson, Nev., '97 Cutlass, 7.330, 191.00

8) Ted Carli, Temecula, Calif., '05 Cavilier, 7.384, 190.67

9) Billy Creme, Palmdale, Calif., '56 Belair, 7.440, 187.22

10) Augustine Herrera, La Mirada, Calif., '67 Camaro, 7.448, 187.18

 

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.791 seconds, 199.02 mph

2) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.795, 198.98

3) Del Cox Jr, Downey, Calif., dragster, 6.867, 196.67

4) Adam Burnham, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.930, 195.39

5) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.964, 195.39

6) Les Figueroa, Lake Havasu, Ariz., dragster, 7.004, 195.14

7) Will Boxold, Oragevale, Calif., dragster, 7.040, 194.21

8) John Propp, Granite Bay, Calif., dragster, 7.043, 194.59

9) Chuck Glanz, Myrtle Creek, Ore., dragster, 7.073, 193.96

10) Jim Momjian, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., dragster, 7.080, 191.53

 

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

1) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '86 Suzuki, SMC, 0.003 seconds reaction
time

2) Jay Matthews, Henderson, Nev., '98 Suzuki, SMC, 0.007

3) Ron Gledhill, Taylorsville, Utah, '01 Suzuki, SMC, 0.010

4) Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.015

5) Mike Scott, Bonney Lake, Wash., '06 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.015

6) Katie Sullivan, Corning, Calif., '78 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.016

7) Joe Beasley, Bakersfield, Calif., '82 Suzuki, SMC, 0.026

8) Jordan Miclette, Redway, Calif., '97 Suzuki, SMC, 0.027

9) Austin Chandler, Porterville, Calif., '99 Suzuki, SMC, 0.028

10) Charles Rand, Bakersfield, Calif., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.033

 

 

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