The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

DRAGS: San Leandro Resident Santos Sets Pace in Qualifying at Sears Point

4 July 1999


        SONOMA, Calif. - Defending Federal-Mogul Dragster and Sears Point
Raceway Champion, Rick Santos of San Leandro, Calif. claimed the No. 1
qualifying position at the slick and windy Sears Point Raceway in
Saturday's first round of qualifying.  John Weaver of Hanford, Calif. took
the No. 1 qualifying position in Federal-Mogul Dragster after blowing his
engine in Friday's qualifying attempt.
        Santos returned to championship form on Saturday after breaking a
rear end and transmission in Friday's qualifying attempt.  Friday night
Santos returned to his home in San Leandro to get parts and rebuild the
rear end of his damaged Oakwood Homes Federal-Mogul Dragster.  Santos made
the necessary repairs in time to record the quickest Federal-Mogul Dragster
effort of the day with a run of 5.488 seconds at 247.58 mph. 
        "I just wanted to get it down the track this afternoon," said a
smiling Santos.  "The car shook a little at the start and I thought the
worst.  The shaking stopped at about quarter track and the car was smooth
through finish line."
        Weaver also had major car problems in Friday's qualifying attempt
only to come back on Saturday and post the quickest time in a Federal-Mogul
Dragster.  Weaver threw four rods in Friday's qualifying attempt and had to
replace the engine before today's qualifying attempt.  Weaver took to the
track and posted a run of 5.794 seconds at 245.99 mph.
        "The car did just what we asked it to today," said Weaver.  "Last
night the crew and I put our spare motor in and tried to tune it down to
what the track could hold.  I think we guessed right."
        The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Sears Point Raceway
continues tomorrow with eliminations beginning at 8:15 a.m.  Final round of
qualifying for Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars will be
at 10 a.m. with first round of eliminations at 12 noon.

The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER (after 2 rounds)
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.488 seconds, 247.58 mph
2. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.537, 254.40
3. Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.575, 249.92
4. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.676, 248.34
5. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.698, 241.68
6. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.736, 243.01
7. Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Kansas, 5.831, 210.86
8. Brad Hansen, Bellingham, Wash., 6.071, 229.26

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR (after 2 rounds)
1. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 5.794seconds, 245.99mph
2. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., '98 Ford, 5.862, 241.16
3. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif.,  '99 Dodge,  5.939, 235.93
4. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.955, 235.72
5. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '97 Pontiac, 5.959, 237.34 
6. Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Pontiac, 5.973, 238.51
7. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 5.993, 242.17
8. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 6.003, 235.26

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., '98 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.492 seconds
(0.548-seconds under Index)
2. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., '97 Pontiac, F/A, 8.595 (-0.545)
3. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif, '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 8.791 (-0.539)
4. Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '97 Dragster, B/ED, 7.088 (-0.532)
5. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., '97 Pontiac, C/EA,  8.310 (-0.500)
6. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., '95 Pontiac, D/A, 8.030 (-0.500)
7. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., '96 Pontiac, C/EA, 8.318 (-0.492)
8. Larry Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., '88 Chevrolet, E/SM, 8.503 (-0.487)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, GT/HA, 10.360 seconds
(0.990-seconds under Index)
2. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/GA, 10.210, (-0.990)
3. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., '64 Mercury, SS/MA, 11.186, (-0.964)
4. Terry Sherrill, Klamuth Falls, Ore., '57 Chevrolet, SS/AM,  8.642
(-0.908)
5. Fred Moreno, LaVerne, Calif., '69 Ford, SS/GA, 9.948, (-0.902)
6. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.673 (-0.877)
7. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '96 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.699 (-0.851)
8. Tim Smith, Rocklin, Calif., '87 Chevrolet, GT/CA, 9.854 (-0.846)
9. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/FA, 10.272, (-0.816)
10. Tony Hewes, Reno, Nev., '96 Ford, SS/GA, 10.028, (-0.822)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '98 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.051 seconds
(1.449-seconds under Index)
2. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Dodge, J/SA, 11.734 (-1.016)
3. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif, '71 Dodge, C/SA, 10.689 (-1.011)
4. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., '81 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.760 (-0.990)
5. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, '71 Ford, D/S, 10.819 (-0.981)
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 Plymouth, C/SA, 10.735 (-0.965)
7. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., '71 Chrysler, B/SA, 10.591 (-0.959)
8. Dwayne Scheitlin, Madera, Calif., '71 Chrysler, B/SA, 10.613 (-0.937)
9. Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Chevrolet, D/SA, 10.933 (-0.917)
10. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., '71 Dodge, F/SA, 11.253 (-0.897)

                         --30--

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.