---

NHRA: Summit Finals Saturday from Sears Point

1 October 2000

        SONOMA, Calif.- The individual Pacific Division track champions
faced off today in the annual Race of Champions during the NHRA Pacific
Division Summit Racing Finals. Sacramento Raceway Park was represented in
three of the five finals with Mark Simonian capturing the lone win for
Sacramento. Simonian, running in the Sportsman category, took out Samoa
Dragstrip's John Antongiovanni with a pass of 10.739 seconds at 118.13 mph
to Antongiovanni's 12.530, 107.78.
        "This is great to win the Race of Champions, but I need to keep it
going for tomorrow," voiced Simonian. "Tomorrow is what gets you to Pomona
for the (Summit) national championship. Everyone at the track has been
talking about it all year."
        Ray Shearer gave the Famoso Raceway team something to cheer about
when he out ran Sacramento's Terry Thompson in the Pro class. Shearer's
8.376 at 162.03 mph was enough to run down and over take Thompson who
tripped the lights at 11.805, 123.11. Shearer and his wife Evelyn are
celebrating their 22nd anniversary this weekend and recently became
grandparents to their first grandson Evan Ray.
        Jim Poyser took out local favorite Joe Piazza of Sears Point
Raceway in the Street class with a 14.874 at 92.10 mph in his '84 Corvette,
to Piazza's 12.040 at 104.76.
        "That's the plan, to win tomorrow and go to Pomona," responded
Poyser when asked if he thought he could do it again in Sunday's
eliminations.
Jason Garza won the Motorcycle trophy with a pass of 10.602 seconds, 122.91
mph to Greg Liskey's 9.300 at 140.23 mph. The High School Championship went
to Michael Zimerman from Firebird International Raceway running 12.055
seconds at 106.69 mph to Tim McNamara's 14.702 at 91.29.
        Gates open at 7 a.m. on Sunday for the final day of the Summit
Racing Finals. Eliminations are set for 8 a.m.
-30-


The following are final results from the 'Race of Champions' held during
the NHRA Pacific Division Summit Racing Series Finals at Sears Point
Raceway listing driver, vehicle, track, elapsed time in seconds, and speed
in miles per hour:

PRO
Ray Shearer, '95 dragster, Famoso Raceway, 8.376, 162.03 def. Terry
Thompson, '63 Chevy, Sacramento Raceway Park, 11.805, 123.11

SPORTSMAN
Mark Simonian, '69 Camaro, Sacramento Raceway Park, 10.739, 118.13 def.
John Antongiovanni, '65 Nova, Samoa Dragstrip, 12.530, 107.78

STREET
Jim Poyser, '84 Corvette, Rocky Mountain Raceways, 14.874, 92.10 def. Joe
Piazza, '50 Chevy, Sears Point Raceway, 12.404, 104.76

MOTORCYCLE
Jason Garza, '78 Kawasaki, Samoa Dragstrip, 10.602, 122.91 def. Greg
Liskey, '95 GSXR, Famoso Raceway, 9.300, 140.23

HIGH SCHOOL
Michael Zimmerman, '70 Dart, Firebird International Raceway, 12.055, 106.69
def. Tim McNamara, '87 Camaro, Sacramento Raceway Park, 14.702, 91.29

-30-