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NHRA Summit Racing Series, Saturday from Firebird Int'l Raceway, Chandler, Ariz.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA Pacific Division Summit Racing Series Finals
Firebird Int'l Raceway, Chandler, Ariz.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Contact: Eric Lotz, NHRA, (626) 688-8646


CANNAVO, KADAR LEAD WINNERS; ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
            CHANDLER, Ariz. (Oct. 3, 2009) -  Carl Cannavo was all but perfect in taking the win in the NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Race of Champions today at Firebird Int'l Raceway in Super Pro.  Cannavo, North Las Vegas, Nev.,  running for The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, saved his best race for the final, and needed it against Chuck Hawk Jr. who was near perfect himself.  Cannavo ran right on his dial-in at 7.870, 174.64 mph along with a 0.002 second reaction time against Hawk, Tucson, Ariz., (Southwestern Int'l Raceway) who had a great 0.004 reaction time himself and ran just three-thousandths off his dial.
            In Pro it was Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., out running Don Morris.  Kadar, running on the Speedworld Dragstrip team, was involved in a run for the NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship a few years ago and will be looking for an NHRA Summit Series National Championship next month in Pomona with the win today.  Kadar drove his '67 GTO to an 11.136 second pass at 110.88 mph to Morris' 11.991, 112.87 out of Roseville, Calif., and Sacramento Raceway.
Joining Cannavo and Kadar was Robert Grangrade in the Sportsman class winning over Mitchell Gately.  Grangrade, also of Speedworld Dragstrip, put his '67 Mustang in the winner's circle beating Gately, Petaluma, Calif., (Infineon Raceway) and his '64 Nova.
            Augustine Herrera, La Mirada, Calif., (Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway) was late off the starting line in his final round but was near perfect on the rest of his run in beating Kahea Woods, N. Las Vegas, Nev., in the Motorcycle class.  Herrera ran 8.693 on an 8.69 dial in at 149.71 mph.
Herrera, along with Cannavo, Kadar, and Grangrade will all advance to the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., and go head to head with the winner's from NHRA other six divisions for the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship.
            In the High School category it was a pair of teammates from Auto Club Dragway with Daniel Sweitzer, Menifee, Calif., taking the win over Emiley Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., with a 12.733 second pass at 104.48 mph.  Swanson gave it up on the line when she left early by 0.002 seconds on a red light giving the win to Sweitzer.
Gates at Firebird Int'l Raceway open at 7 a.m. on Sunday with racing beginning at 8 a.m. for final elimination rounds and the crowning of the Pacific Division Summit Racing Series event winners in all five classes.  The track is located at 20000 S. Maricopa Road. Take I-10 to Maricopa Road, exit #162.   For more information call the track, (602) 268-0200.

The following are Saturday's final results from the 2009 NHRA Summit Racing Series Pacific Division Race of Champions:

SUPER PRO
Carl Cannavo, No Las Vegas, Nev., '06 Yancer, The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7.870, 174.64 def. Chuck Hawk Jr, Tucson, Ariz., '96 Delarm, Southwestern International Raceway, 7.383, 179.56.

PRO
Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., '67 Gto, Speedworld Dragstrip, 11.136, 110.88  def. Don Morris, Roseville, Calif., Sacramento Raceway, '73 Camaro, 11.991, 112.87.

SPORTSMAN
Robert Grangrade, Phoenix, Ariz., '67 Mustang, Speedworld Dragstrip, 13.004, 89.09  def. Mitchell Gately, Petaluma, Calif., '64 Nova, Infineon  Raceway, 12.165, 109.55.

MOTORCYCLE
Augustine Herrera, La Mirada, Calif., '05 Hayabusa, Auto Club Dragway @ Auto Club Speedway, 8.693, 149.71  def. Kahea Woods, No Las Vegas, Nev., '95 Gsxr 1100, The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 9.049, 144.78.

HIGH SCHOOL
Daniel Sweitzer, Menifee, Calif., '89 Mustang, Auto Club Dragway @ Auto Club Speedway, 12.733, 104.48  def. Emiley Swanson, Yucaipa, Calif., '71 El Camino, Auto Club Dragway @ Auto Club
Speedway, foul.

ROC TEAM POINTS
33        Auto Club Dragway @ Auto Club Speedway
29        Speedworld Dragstrip
21        Infineon  Raceway
18        The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway
15        Barona 1/8th Mile Dragstrip
15        Southwestern International Raceway
14        Sacramento Raceway
13        Albuquerque  Dragway
11        Firebird International Raceway
9          Toyota Speedway @ Irwindale
8          Auto Club  Famoso Raceway
6          Top Gun Raceway
1          Samoa  Dragstrip

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