PAC: Bakersfield Friday summary

Pairings Set for Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Auto Club Famoso Raceway

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series takes over Auto Club Famoso Raceway for a jam packed two day event. The race is the sixth of seven on the division calendar and will feature drivers in eleven categories vying for last-minute points leading to divisional and national championships. Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., and Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo., of the Top Alcohol Funny Car class, both received top qualifying honors.

Whiteley is shooting for his third win of the divisional series and is definitely helping his cause qualifying in the No.1 spot. His pass of 5.333 seconds, 268.17 mph put him just ahead of Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., and his run of 5.399 seconds, 272.06 mph.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car action, Ruckman's run of 5.651 seconds, 256.11 mph was enough to keep him at the top of the field. He has one divisional win so far this season, winning six months ago at Southwestern International Raceway. Hot on Ruckman's heels is Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn., taking his '08 Mustang down the track at 5.700 seconds at 254.16 mph. Smith hopes to hold onto his title, as he was victorious at this event last year.

Other top qualifying times were ran by Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., in Comp Eliminator, Jimmy Defrank, Chatsworth, Calif., in Super Stock, and Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., in Stock Eliminator. Top Sportsman top qualifier was Chip Rumis of Ramona, Calif., Derik Milanesio, Strathmore, Calif., lead the Top Dragster class, and scoring a 0.001-second reaction time to lead Sportsman Motorcycle was Aaron Pine from La Mirada, Calif.

Saturday, September 13 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are slated from 9 a.m. to noon. Eliminations for all classes begin at 1 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car run first round at 3 p.m.

General admission tickets are $20 on Saturday. For more information please contact Auto Club Famoso Raceway, (661) 399-2210.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division event at Auto Club Famoso Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.333 seconds, 268.17 mph
2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.399, 272.06
3) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.401, 265.25
4) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.446, 263.69
5) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.473, 264.78
6) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.525, 264.55
7) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.534, 232.37
8) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.593, 263.31

Not Qualified
9) Kevin Wayman, South Jordan, Utah, 5.615, 255.10
10) Doug Hegge, Vancouver, Wash., 5.830, 256.41
11) Dennis Swearingen, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., 5.871, 202.24
12) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 7.126, 189.03

First round TAD pairings
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.333 seconds, 268.17 mph vs. 8) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.593, 263.31

2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.399, 272.06 vs. 7) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.534, 232.37

3) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.401, 265.25 vs. 6) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.525, 264.55

4) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.446, 263.69 vs. 5) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.473, 264.78

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo.., '01 Firebird, 5.651 seconds, 256.11 mph
2) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn.., '08 Mustang, 5.700, 254.16
3) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.749, 251.32
4) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.769, 248.82
5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.786, 253.02
6) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.793, 252.80
7) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.813, 246.50
8) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 5..849, 242.91

Not Qualified
9) Jeff Carroll, Santa Barbara, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.852, 248.27
10) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.853, 243.50
11) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '08 Monte Carlo, 5.886, 251.53
12) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '04 Firebird, 5.904, 240.57
13) Rian Konno, Rosemead, Calif., '02 Trans Am, 5.913, 245.03
14) Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.933, 246.91
15) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.940, 231.54
16) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., '07 Camaro, 7.597, 126.49
17) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 8.147, 110.01

First round TAFC pairings
1) Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo., '01 Firebird, 5.651 seconds, 256.11 mph vs. 8) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.849, 242.91

2) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.700, 254.16 vs. 7) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.813, 246.50

3) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.749, 251.32 vs. 6) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.793, 252.80

4) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.769, 248.82 vs. 5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.786, 253.02

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '08 Cobalt, I/AA, 8.235 seconds, -0.555 (under index)
2) Pete Adams, Chatsworth, Calif., '07 GTO, C/A, 7.475, -0.505
3) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, B/ND, 7.080, -0.490
4) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Pontiac, C/SMA, 8.370, -0.490
5) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AP, 6.833, -0.457
6) Steve Graham, S. San Francisco, '04 Grand Am, C/A, 7.534, -0.446
7) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '08 Cobalt, C/EA, 8.237, -0.423
8) Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.587, -0.423
9) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '08 GTO, B/A, 7.231, -0.409
10) Scott McClay, Tehachapi, Calif., dragster, C/ED, 7.536, -0.334

SUPER STOCK
1) Jimmy Defrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '08 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.733 seconds, -1.217 (under index)
2) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.188, -1.212
3) Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.746, -1.104
4) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '08 Cobalt, SS/BM, 8.547, -1.103
5) Tony DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.598, -1.102
6) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/IA, 9.910, -1.090
7) Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.769, -1.081
8) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Barracuda, SS/FA, 9.672, -1.078
9) Mike Blackstone, Livermore, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 8.886, -1.064
10) Robert Cruzen, Cleveland, Okla., '02 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.357, -1.043

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., '74 Firebird, K/SA, 11.647 seconds, -1.303 (under index)
2) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 11.951, -1.199
3) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.405, -1.145
4) Leo Glasbrenner, San Dimas, Calif., '68 Firebird, F/SA, 11.075, -1.075
5) Bryan Phillips, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Firebird, E/SA, 10.939, -1.061
6) Joe Faherty, Apple Valley, Calif., '79 Duster, H/SA, 11.397, -1.053
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '74 Dart, E/SA, 10.967, -1.033
8) Harry Doolittle, Wickenberg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, N/SA, 12.269, -1.031
9) John Schiess, '67 Pontiac, D/SA, 10.839, -1.011
10) John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, D/SA, 10.843, -1.007

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '07 Cobalt, 7.036 seconds, 196.33 mph
2) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.067, 197.06
3) Gary Ross, Trabuco, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.101, 195.18
4) Wayne Silvia, Upland, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.191, 191.61
5) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.216, 192.84
6) Brad Wagner, Henderson, Nev., '96 Cutlass, 7.345, 189.15
7) Dean Hall, Guerneville, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.404, 186.91
8) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.449, 186.02
9) Not on File, dragster, 7.462, 182.77
10) Gary Forkner, Temecula, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.496, 184.53

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Derik Milanesio, Strathmore, Calif., dragster, 6.343 seconds, 215.31 mph
2) Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.416, 214.64
3) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.777, 199.15
4) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.790, 200.31
5) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif.., dragster, 6.836, 197.84
6) Will Boxold, Orangevale, Calif., dragster, 6.923, 196.03
7) Jimmy Johnson, Santa Rose, Calif., dragster, 6.926, 192.47
8) Carolyn Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 7.048, 192.38
9) Roy Cracraft, Mesa, Ariz., dragster, 7.050, 190.83
10) Stewart Koch, Mountain View, Calif., dragster, 7.065, 192.22

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Aaron Pine, La Mirada, Calif., '94 GSX-R, ETMX, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '86 GSXR, ETMX, 0.003
3) Don Tankage, Huntington Beach, Calif., '00 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.006
4) Greg Liskey, Salinas, Calif., '98 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.007
5) Scott Hewitt, Bakersfield, Calif., '93 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.009
6) Jay Matthews, Henderson, Nev., '98 GSX-R, ETMX, 0.012
7) Ron Gledhill, Taylorsville, Utah, '07 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.014
8) Tony McVey, North Hills, Calif., '06 H-D, ETMX, 0.016
9) Bill Burkhart, Anaheim, Calif., dragster, ETMX, 0.017
10) Gary Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '06 H-D, ETMX, 0.021

-credit: nhra