NHRA (POMONA) - CHAMPIONSHIP POSSIBILITIES FOR NO. 1 QUALIFIERS AT NHRA SPORT COMPACT WORLD FINALS

All five of the No. 1 qualifiers at the NHRA Sport Compact World Finals are in the running for season-ending NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series world championships.

The top qualifiers that are looking for those championships are Brent Rau (Modified), Marty Ladwig (Pro FWD), Jeremy Lookofsky (Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor), Stephanie Eggum (Hot Rod), and Brad Personett (Pro RWD).

Rau essentially wrapped up his first NHRA season with a world championship when he put his Mitsubishi Eclipse in the top position. He gained his seventh No 1. qualifier with a run of 7.33 seconds at 185.72 mph. In every event he has raced this year he has been the top qualifier.

“This is an awesome end to the season,” said Rau. “I kept the streak alive of being the number one qualifier at every race I have been to this first year of me racing NHRA. I ran very consistent all day with two 7.33’s and a 7.37.”

Ladwig came into the weekend knowing that he would need to do his best at everything. Being only 36 points behind the category points leader, Gary Gardella, he knew that anything he could do to help himself would only be icing on the cake. His qualifying run of 7.20 seconds at 198.03 mph is enough to backup any potential time record which would give him a coveted 20 points. Ladwig also is the beneficiary of a first round bye which will put him in a second round matchup with either Jason Hunt or Bryan Jimenez.

“Our Lucas Oil Cobalt ran great,” said Ladwig. “We did what we needed to do to try and get the maximum points to stay ahead of Jason Hunt. I ran the number to back up a record which would help me to catch Gary Gardella. I want to thank our new sponsor RCC for coming on board.”

Lookofsky helped himself get closer to the opportunity for his second consecutive championship by gaining his fourth No. 1 qualifier of 2007. His DVS Drag Cartel Honda Civic ran to top position with a time of 9.51 seconds at 142.15 mph. He is now only 34 points behind the category leading, Norris Prayoonto.

“I don’t really care about anything until tomorrow night,” said Lookofsky.

Eggum, like Rau, is looking for her first world championship. She had a tough time keeping the Eggum Racing Honda in the top position as her only competition for the championship, Kenny Tran, kept running identical times. Eggum was able to stay at the top thanks to her faster speed. Her fourth top qualifier of the season came with a time of 7.97 seconds at 181.52 mph.

“The number one qualifier was huge,” said Eggum. “It was strategically advantageous to get it here, because I could end up facing Kenny (Tran) in the final like I have all year. If I make it to the final I will win the championship.”

Personett is coasting along in his season. He clinched the championship two weeks ago in Englishtown, N.J. His Titan Motorsports Scion tC is now in test mode for anything he may want to do the rest of this year. He did run to a national record for speed at 217.39 mph. His qualifying time was 6.53 seconds.

“We got to do what we got to do,” said Personett. “We are just trying to get caught back up on this big tire after running the smaller 10.5 tire at the past few events.”

Eliminations will be held Sunday after opening ceremonies which begin at noon.

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POMONA, Calif. -- Results Saturday after qualifying for the seventh Annual NHRA Sport Compact World Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. This is the final of 11 events in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Series. Eliminations will held Sunday.

PRO RWD

1) Brad Personett, Orlando, Fla., '08 Scion, 6.530 seconds, 217.39 mph

2) Abel Ibarra, Riverside, Calif., '04 RX-8, 7.358, 181.18

3) Manny Cruz, Bronx, N.Y., '02 Solara, 10.027, 85.93

PRO FWD

1) Marty Ladwig, San Antonio, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 7.206 seconds, 200.89 mph

2) Gary Gardella, Howell, N.J., '07 Cobalt, 7.227, 198.99

3) Ed Bergenholtz, Tustin, Calif., '07 Mazda, 7.250, 195.56

4) Jason Hunt, Crofton, Md., '07 Cobalt, 7.433, 198.12

5) Bryan Jimenez, Houston, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 7.929, 178.07

6) Christian Rado, Reading, Pa., '07 tC, 8.758, 179.80

7) Jerrold Rhodes, Santa Clarita, Calif., '91 CRX, 12.022, 133.29

MODIFIED

1) Brent Rau, St Francis, Minn., '99 Eclipse, 7.336 seconds, 187.31 mph

2) Ken Scheepers, Flower Mound, Texas, '05 RX8, 8.275, 164.17

3) Tom Shambaugh, Chandler, Ariz., '04 Cavalier, 15.938, 44.84

HOT ROD

1) Stephanie Eggum, Elgin, Ill., '00 Civic, 7.973 seconds, 181.52 mph

2) Kenny Tran, Garland, Texas, '06 tC, 7.973, 173.74

3) Chuck Seitsinger, Oklahoma City, Okla., '92 Civic, 8.445, 179.88

4) Jason Ames, Torrance, Calif., '95 Civic, 9.072, 157.39

5) Tony Garcia Jr, Orange, Calif., '88 CRX, 9.472, 162.08

6) Eric Del Rosario, Northridge, Calif., '00 Integra, 10.003, 104.87

HONDA TUNING MAGAZINE ALL MOTOR

1) Jeremy Lookofsky, Simi Valley, Calif., '06 Civic SI, 9.518 seconds, 142.82 mph

2) Leslie Durst-Armendariz, Long Beach, Calif., '06 tC, 9.558, 141.83

3) Norris Prayoonoto, Springfield, Va., '04 Insight, 9.649, 13795.00

4) Saul Salceda, Gardena, Calif., '00 Integra, 9.794, 133.07

5) Scott Kelley, Anaheim, Calif., '07 Corolla, 9.870, 135.32

6) Bisi Ezerioha, Hacienda Heights, Calif., '06 Insight, 9.923, 137.46

7) Roger Crawford, Fullerton, Calif., '8 Ghia, 10.030, 132.82

8) Doug Parks, Fullerton, Calif., '07 3, 10.358, 126.73

9) Ryan Warner, West Jordan, Utah, '98 Dodge, 10.526, 130.03

10) Chad Barber, Modesto, Calif., '92 Civic, 10.601, 123.42

SPORT RWD

1) Ali Afshar, Castate, Calif., '04 Subaru, 9.544 seconds, 145.63 mph

2) Ari Yallon, Garland, Texas, '93 RX7, 10.097, 141.79

3) Nick Diblasi, Lake Forest, Calif., '04 WRX, 12.744, 105.02

URBANRACER.COM SPORT FWD

1) Felix Medina, Ridgefield, '92 Civic, 9.397 seconds, 158.06 mph

2) Tony Palo, Roulett, Texas, '00 Acura, 9.444, 160.40

3) Kevin Van Natten, Belford, N.J., '04 SRT-4, 9.680, 152.43

4) Kyle Herrera, Kaysville, Utah, '99 Civic, 9.684, 154.56

5) Cortney Green, Taylorsville, Utah, '95 Civic, 9.694, 153.16

6) Steven Conley, Hooper, Utah, '94 Civic, 9.867, 151.68

7) Anthony Dinallo, North Hollywood, Calif., '94 Civic, 10.035, 154.99

8) Jason Lopes, Liverpool, N.Y., '05 Scion, 10.109, 141.89

9) Julio Alvarez, Montclair, Calif., '96 Integra, 10.153, 146.38

10) Jasen Penman, West Jordan, Utah, '93 Honda, 10.171, 156.05

BFGOODRICH TIRES STREET STOCK

1) Loan Nguyen, Burke, Va., '99 Civic, 12.162 seconds, 115.95 mph

2) Frank Silouangkhoth, Syracuse, Utah, '94 Civic, 12.268, 113.84

3) Jermey Nicolodemos, West Jordan, Utah, '98 Neon, 12.634, 113.22

4) Jerry Nguyen, San Jose, Calif., '96 Civic, 13.305, 109.35

5) Edwin Argueta, Arleta, Calif., dragster, 13.410, 104.37

6) Mike Chace, Reno, Nev., '94 Del Sol, 14.915, 92.49

QUICK 16

1) Hector Urias, El Monte, Calif., '56 VW, 9.604 seconds, 140.83 mph

2) Santos Renovales, Hawthorne, Calif., '69 Sprinter, 10.110, 125.52

3) Shawn Bergerson, Murrietta, Calif., '56 VW, 10.129, 126.72

4) Bee Agahzadeh, San Bernardino, Calif., '92 Civic, 10.215, 151.85

5) David Stark, Rialto, Calif., '57 VW, 10.513, 121.86

6) Mark Protheno, Whittier, Calif., '57 VW, 10.601, 126.96

7) Erica Nocita, Monrovia, Calif., '05 Cobalt, 10.648, 136.02

8) Jason Whitfield, Upland, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 10.739, 135.73

9) Karl Martin, Riverton, Utah, '93 RX7, 10.743, 129.70

10) Bok Mounlachack, Queen Creek, Ariz., '92 Civic, 10.972, 117.36