NHRA Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV
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TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR - Qualifying Session #1
Chris Chrisman in the "California Gear" car runs 4.708 - 171.03 on a testing pass in preparation for next weekend's SummitRacing.com nationals
(LEFT) With Les Davenport directing him back to the starting line, Jirka Kaplan lined up his "BearsPaw" entry.
(RIGHT) He then proceeded to make a very good opening pass with a 5.767 - 250.32 to give the other racers something to aim for. In the far lane, Toledo, Washington's Dave Germain ran a decent 6.019 - 240.21 in his Monte Carlo.
(LEFT) Vetran SoCal alcohol funny car racer, Mike Drake warmed up the hides before his run.
(RIGHT) When the ambers flashed, Drake, (far lane), laid down a rather lazy 6.249 - 235.47, while newcomer Mike Januik posted much better numbers, 5.875 - 246.03, on the scoreboard. Both were career bests for the Las Vegas resident.
Spray painter Mark "The Woz" Woznichak showed off his artwork with the beautifully coloured Monte Carlo in the burnout and prepping for the run. He launched well, but the engine blew up before the 330' clocks and he failed to register a time.
Laying down a hard burnout, Terry Ruckman in the Colorado-based Ruckman Brothers car duplicated the smoke show on his launch. He quickly shut off to a 12-second pass.
Facing Ruckman in the other lane was California's Bernie Harrington, and he had a much better result, ringing up a 5.883 - 243.68 to take at least a temporary hold on the #3 qualifying position. But with four more pairs of heavy hitters waiting in the lanes, it wasn't likely to stay up near the top of the ladder.
(LEFT) Laying down a massive tire heater in the "Centre Pointe Collision" entry is Long Island, New York's Tony Bartone.
(RIGHT) When the lights went green, Bartone (near lane) headed for the wall and was forced to shut off to an 11-second time, while in the far lane, Annie Whiteley in her "YNot"-sponsored entry went straight down the track and to the top of the field with an excellent 5.652 - 257.53 effort.
Driving an almost blindingly bright chrome paint/wrap entry, second generation funny car racer, Steve Gasparelli showed off in the afternoon sun, but when he launched, the car went barely a car length before the tires lit up, causing him to shut off instantly.
(LEFT) Coming right at you on the burnout is the "Morro Bay Cabinets" Mustang of Doug Gordon as he preps for his run.
(RIGHT) Neither car got down the track in this pair, as Oregon's Brian Hough lit the tires on the launch and coasted to an 11-second time, while Doug Gordon (near lane) jumped up on the tires, shook hard, and headed for the wall enroute to a 13-second clocking.
(LEFT) The final pair of the session did almost side-by-side burnouts, with Shane Westerfield (far lane), leading the way over Jay Payne in the near lane.
(RIGHT) Saving the best for last, both cars got down the track with solid runs, but Westerfield's 5.713 - 254.57 crossed the finish line first, as Payne trailed with a good 5.892 - 249.58 effort. Westerfield jumped into the #2 spot on the ladder, while Payne occupied the #7 rung in the 8-car field. Holding down the bump spot was Dave Germain with his 6.019 pass, while Annie Whiteley took the #1 position with her very strong 5.652 - 257.53 time. With 16 cars in the pits and two more qualifying sessions remaining, there was sure to be some movement and improvement in the field.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER - Qualifying Session #1
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TOP DRAGSTER - Qualifying Session #2
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TOP SPORTSMAN - Qualifying Session #2
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