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NHRA: Sitko, Bateman repeat in Calgary

15 August 2000


        CALGARY, Alb. - Capping an intense week of drag racing action in
the Alberta province, Steve Sitko and Roger Bateman claimed their second
victories in five days.
        Both Sitko and Bateman won their respective categories,
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car, at Edmonton Wednesday,
then traveled South to Calgary's impressive Race City Speedway for the NHRA
Canadian National Open.
        Once in Calgary Sitko set low elapsed time in each round of
eliminations before gunning down Serge Dion in the final round in a close
6.26-second to 6.33-second duel.
        For several seasons Bateman, along with partner Bob Reynolds, have
run amok in the Alberta Funny Car wars, however, there is every indication
that the Calgary duo's reign may be facing its first serious challenge. 
Although Bateman again was the class of the field, downing John Evanchuk in
the final with a 5.97-second, 240-mph lap, the opposition is closing in.
        Evanchuk recorded a 6.08 during qualifying Saturday; Kevin Therres'
Eat More candy Lumina hit a 6.19, also during time trials; and Ken Kraus
recorded back-to-back 6.16s during eliminations Sunday.
        Heavy rain clouds that had surrounded the race track all day
finally emptied their contents late Sunday afternoon, forcing NHRA and
track officials to reluctantly call a halt to the day's activities, leaving
many final rounds undecided.

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        The following are the final qualifying and elimination results from
the NHRA Canadian National Open event at Race City Speedway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Qualifying
1. Steve Sitko, Edmonton, Alb., 6.135 seconds, 226.24 mph
2. Bob Haffner, Mission, BC, 6.207, 223.60
3. Serge Dion, Edmonton, Alb., 6.320, 217.97
4. Mike Cofini, Spokane, Wash., 6.669, 207.66
5. Leo Grocock, Mission, BC, 6.734, 138.41
6. Bill Edwards Jr., Sumas, Wash., 6.758, 198.15
7. Greg Tacke, Great Falls, Mont., 6.984, 194.38
8. Don Clease, Mission, BC, 7.339, 177.61

Quarterfinals
1) Sitko, 6.404, 186.91 def. 8) Clease, 7.351, 184.80
2) Haffner, 6.482, 167.59 def. 7) Tacke, 6.948, 197.45
3) Dion, no time recorded, no speed recorded, def. 6) Edwards, 6.466,
207.27
4) Cofini, ntr, nsr, def. 5) Grocock, ntr, nsr

Semifinals
Sitko, 6.206, 218.92 def. Cofini, 6.721, 203.75
Dion, 16.290, 61.20 def. Haffner, broke

Final
Sitko, 6.268, 224.94 def. Dion, 6.332, 220.04

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Qualifying
1. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '97 Firebird, 6.055 seconds, 241.48 mph
2. John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alb., '97 Cutlass, 6.085, 233.58
3. Kevin Therres, Humbolt, Sask., '97 Lumina, 6.195, 226.01
4. Ken Kraus, Great Falls, Mont., '96 Corvette, 6.208, 227.61
5. John Knox, Lacey, Wash., '92 Probe, 6.732, 216.50
6. Dany Fillion, Sherwood Park, Alb., '95 Probe, 6.791, 203.57
7. Bob Hurley, Ledger, Mont., '95 Mustang, 6.795, 206.99
8. Rory Christianson, Stettler, Alb., '93 Daytona, 7.319, 191.40

Quarterfinals
1) Bateman, 6.172, 235.47 def. 8) Christianson, 13.981, 56.34
2) Evanchuk, 6.170, 231.60 def. 7) Hurley, 6.575, 211.36
3) Therres, 6.353, 219.19 def. 6) Fillion, 7.087, 194.38
4) Kraus, 6.167, 215.67 def. 5) Knox, 12.909, 61.90

Semifinals
Bateman, 5.989, 241.22 def. Kraus, 6.163, 225.62
Evanchuk, 6.204, 232.07 def. Therres, 7.135, 145.18

Final
Bateman, 5.977, 240.06 def. Evanchuk, 6.142, 232.97

SUPER STOCK/STOCK
Qualifying
1. Randy Hutchings, Calgary, Alb., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.650 (1.500 seconds
under Index)
2. J.R. Reitmeier, Lumsden, Sask., H/SA '69 Camaro, 12.016 (-0.984)
3. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alb., GT/DA '96 Camaro, 10.365 (-0.915)
4. Charlene Gullet, Calgary, Alb., K/SA '80 Malibu, 12.611 (-0.909)
5. Art Congdon, Calgary, Alb., GT/CA '91 Calais, 10.347 (-0.833)
6. Norman Lapointe, Edmonton, Alb., N/SA '68 Malibu, 13.061 (-0.829)
7. Burke Taylor, Edmonton, Alb., C/SA '69 Chevrolet, 11.496 (-0.724)
8. James Quan, Sherwood Park, Alb., B/SA '68 Mustang, 11.353 (-0.707)
9. James Nichol, Regina, Sask., SS/CM '83 Firebird, 9.795 (-0.545)
10. Darrel Sneath, Stony Plain, Alb.,B/SA '69 Mustang, 11.558 (-0.502)

Final round not contested: rain

SUPER COMP
Bryon Ziegler, Olds, Alb., dragster, 9.230 def. Steve Adams, Spruce Grove,
Alb., dragster, 9.177 (break out)

SUPER GAS
Final round not contested: rain

SUPER STREET
Final round not contested: rain

TOP COMP
Terry Cameron, Calmar, Alb., dragster, 7.579 def. Mark Campbell, Spruce
Grove, Alb., dragster, 8.147

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