NE: Atco Friday summary

Northeast Division's Final Lucas Oil Series Event at Atco Raceway

ATCO, N.J. -- Friday's qualifying results are in from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series hosted at Atco Raceway. This event is the last of seven in Northeast division competition, in which drivers are looking to add to their divisional and national point totals. Claiming their territory by taking top qualifying positions were New Jersey natives Michele Costa of Freehold, in Comp Eliminator and Russ Linke of Old Bridge, in Super Stock.

Costa piloted his dragster to a 8.948-second, -0.692 under index pass to take the top spot in Comp Eliminator. Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, looks to improve on his No.2 qualifying position, as both racers are vying for their first Northeast divisional win of the season. In the Super Stock field, Linke hopes to stay ahead of the class by posting a 9.954-second run with Joseph Franco III, N. Babylon, N.Y. hot on his heels.

Other top qualifiers include Stock Eliminator competitor Gene Monahan, Brockton, Mass., driving his '90 Formula to the line at 11.377 seconds. Top Sportsman's John Prime, Thomastown, Conn., ran 6.746 seconds, 202.76 mph. to keep a healthy distance from the rest of the pack. Top Dragster came in with a competitive field in which Warren Heaps, Ashland, Mass., was able to reach the top with his pass of 6.639 seconds at 203.52 mph.

Racing continues Saturday, October 4. Gates open at 7 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator each have a final qualifying session, starting at 11:30 a.m. They each will run one round of eliminations beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 5, gates open at 7 a.m. with eliminations continuing at 9:30 a.m.

General Admission with Pit Pass: $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday, and a two-day ticket is $35. Children 6 to 11 years old are $1 each day, kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Atco Raceway, (856) 768-2167 or visit www.AtcoRace.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northeast Division LODRS 1-7 presented by PC Richard & Son, GMC and Pontiac:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 8.948 seconds, -0.692 (under index)
2) Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, '05 Grand Am, F/A, 7.996, -0.684
3) Joe Carnasciale, Cranston, R.I., '92 Camaro, I/SM, 9.005, -0.665
4) Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., '33 Roadster, B/SR, 7.786, -0.644
5) Doug Doll Jr., Lititz, Pa., dragster, F/ED, 8.187, -0.643
6) Frank Affronti, Ontario, N.Y., '04 Cavalier, E/A, 7.729, -0.631
7) Lee Zane, Perry Hall, Md., '32 Bantam, L/AA, 8.925, -0.625
8) Charlie Greco, Berwyn, Pa., '06 GTO, D/AA, 7.638, -0.612
9) Russell Joly, Louisa, Va., '07 Cobalt, F/AA, 8.029, -0.611
10) Stephen Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., dragster, F/ED, 8.229, -0.601

SUPER STOCK

1) Russ Linke, Old Bridge, N.J., '73 Corvette, SS/JA, 9.954 seconds, -1.346 (under index)
2) Joseph Franco III, N. Babylon, N.Y., '85 Camaro, GT/HA, 10.031, -1.319
3) Gary Ewing, Bel Air, Md., '69 Camaro, SS/JA, 9.987, -1.313
4) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., '07 Cobalt, GT/AA, 9.098, -1.302
5) Jeff Lawrence, Qougue, N.Y., '88 Mustang, GT/AA, 9.135, -1.265
6) Joe Garbarine, Neptune, N.J., '98 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.104, -1.246
7) George Vignogna, N Salem, N.Y., '97 Sebring, SS/AS, 8.656, -1.244
8) Rich Oakes, Woolwich Twp, N.J., '92 Camaro, SS/BX, 9.608, -1.242
9) Dave Ficacci, E Hanover, N.J., '05 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.469, -1..231
10) David Barton, Robesonia, Pa., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.520, -1.230

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Gene Monahan, Brockton, Mass., '90 Formula, J/SA, 11.377 seconds, -1.373 (under index)
2) Dennis Chapman, Toms River, N.J., '88 Shadow, BF/S, 13.605, -1.345
3) Cecil Frazier, Canton, Mass., '91 Camaro, I/SA, 11.265, -1.335
4) Henry Kunz, Farmingdale, N.Y., '69 Nova, G/SA, 10.999, -1.301
5) Dustan Lowell, Kensington, N.H., '72 Duster, F/SA, 10.854, -1.296
6) Steve Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.461, -1.289
7) Briane Philbrick, Vineland, Ont., '76 Monza, Q/SA, 12.822, -1.278
8) Leo Niedermeier Jr, Monroe, Conn., '74 Camaro, K/SA, 11.689, -1.261
9) John Gray, Hudson, Mass., '72 Nova, G/SA, 11.044, -1.256
10) Evan Smith, Linden, N.J., '93 Cobra, H/S, 11.046, -1.254

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) John Prime, Thomastown, Conn., '68 Camaro, 6.746 seconds, 202.76 mph
2) Dennis Gaboriault, Millbury, Mass., '07 Mustang, 6.771, 204.45
3) Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale, Mass., '02 Cavalier, 6.819, 205.44
4) Not on File, dragster, 6.837, 205.35
5) Joe Dunne, Wolcott, Conn., '04 Grand Am, 6.864, 202.21
6) Jeff Brooks, Fredericksburg, Va., '51 Henry J, 6.955, 197.48
7) Frank Maiolo, Mt. Vernon, N.Y., '07 GTO, 7.134, 193.27
8) Mark Parente, Englishtown, N.J., '05 GrandAm, 7.189, 192.19
9) Michael Kaufman, Woodcliff Lake, N.J., '67 Corvette, 7.238, 191.84
10) Robert Tagliareni, Oakland, N.J., '63 Corvette, 7.271, 191.57

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Warren Heaps, Ashland, Mass., dragster, 6.639 seconds, 203.52 mph
2) Michael Galofaro, Lincoln Park, N.J., dragster, 6.713, 202.27
3) Joe DeCuara, Nesconcest, N.Y., dragster, 6.850, 200.32
4) Wayne Hofmann, New Preston, Conn., dragster, 6.885, 196.04
5) Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale, Mass., dragster, 6.904, 199.17
6) Bob Wolkwitz, Darien, Conn., dragster, 6.917, 192.93
7) Ed Alessi Jr, Bethpage, N.Y., dragster, 6.930, 192.58
8) Gary Koebbe, Fairfield, Conn., dragster, 6.934, 194.58
9) Malinda Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., dragster, 6.951, 192.25
10) Mike Sullivan, W Peabody, Mass., dragster, 6.983, 192.33

-credit: nhra