PAC: Las Vegas Friday summary

MANNERS, HARKER LEAD QUALIFIERS AT LVMS'S LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES EVENT

LAS VEGAS -- In the first rounds of qualifying at the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, there are 19 Top Alcohol Dragsters and 21 Top Alcohol Funny Cars vying for a spot in their eight-car eliminations fields. Michael Manners of Willis, Texas, set the pace in TAD and Steve Harker of Gainesville, Ga., leads the TAFC class.

Manners blistered the quarter-mile with a 5.263-second, 270.27 mph pass to put him in the top spot. The No. 2 qualifier, Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., ran 5.331 seconds at 271.41 mph to put him just ahead of third-place qualifier Kimmelyn Pesz, The Woodlands, Texas, who ran 5.338 seconds at 264.86 mph. Boulder City's Duane Shields is currently on the outside looking in as the No. 9 qualifier.

Harker's 5.602-second, 256.55 mph lap was enough to put him ahead of Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., who ran 5.564 seconds at 257.92 mph, and Grand Junction, Colo., racer Terry Ruckman who made a 5.661-second, 252.43 mph run.

Jirka Kaplan of Calgary, Alb., leads the Comp Eliminator contingent while Upland, Calif., resident Frank Grossi is No. 1 in Super Stock. Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., wheeled his '74 Firebird to the top of the Stock Eliminator field, Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, is atop the Top Sportsman class and Michael Kile, Westlake, La., heads up the Top Dragster category.

Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gates open at 8 a.m. both days. Qualifying and time trials resume at 8 a.m. Saturday and eliminations start on Sunday.

Tickets for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout are $19 Saturday and $19 Sunday. Children are $5 each day.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located on Speedway Blvd., exit 54 off Interstate 15. For more information call the track, (800) 644-4444, or visit www.LVMS.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.263 seconds, 270.27 mph
2) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.331, 271.41
3) Kimmelyn Buff Pesz, The Woodlands, Texas, 5.338, 264.86
4) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., 5.358, 269.08
5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.385, 264.34
6) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.405, 267.32
7) Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., 5.432, 263.67
8) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.432, 260.01

Not Qualified
9) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.432, 255.43
10) Bobby Mirizio, Riverside, Calif., 5.453, 260.31
11) Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.469, 257.43
12) Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City, 5.505, 262.90
13) Kevin Wayman, South Jordan, Utah, 5.511, 257.09
14) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 5.572, 249.81
15) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.783, 233.12
16) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 6.109, 216.41
17) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 7.040, 158.22
18) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 10.643, 122.05
19) Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., (no time)

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.602 seconds, 256.55 mph
2) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.634, 257.92
3) Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo., '01 Firebird, 5.661, 252.43
4) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.663, 253.47
5) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.707, 252.24
6) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.769, 249.21
7) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.783, 251.34
8) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.806, 253.75

Not Qualified
9) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.814, 250.27
10) Hank Coolidge, Sunbrst, Mont., '02 Firebird, 5.831, 247.29
11) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 5.888, 249.49
12) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '02 Trans Am, 5.896, 247.84
13) Rian Konno, Rosemead, Calif., '02 Trans Am, 5.997, 239.40
14) Paul Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., '02 Firebird, 6.212, 243.28
15) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.272, 196.50
16) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 6.656, 149.20
17) Trevor Lebsack, Slave Lake, Alb., '05 Camaro, 10.170, 93.14
18) Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 10.352, 68.36
19) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '08 Mustang, 11.139, 65.10
20) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 16.775, 65.51
21) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, (no time)

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alb., '23 roadster, AA/AM, 6.127 seconds, -1.003 (under index)
2) Mark Wolfe, Marysville, Wash., '94 Thunderbird, AA/AT, 6.463, -0.687
3) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '08 Cobalt, I/AA, 8.286, -0.654
4) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, C/SMA, 8.357, -0.643
5) Justin Lamb, Henderson, Nev., '08 G5, D/SMA, 8.517, -0.643
6) Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '07 Cobalt, F/AA, 8.137, -0.633
7) John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '99 Neon, C/AA, 7.533, -0.627
8) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '08 Cobalt, F/AA, 8.148, -0.622
9) Scott Hedlund, Anaheim, Calif., '08 Cobalt, A/SM, 7.959, -0.621
10) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, B/ND, 7.082, -0.618

SUPER STOCK

1) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.147 seconds, -1.513 (under index)
2) Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '05 Cavalier, SS/CM, 8.573, -1.467
3) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '91 Calais, GT/MA, 10.912, -1.438
4) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Challenger, SS/FA, 9.642, -1.378
5) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '08 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.840, -1.360
6) Kip Martin, Phoenix, '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.502, -1.338
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/IA, 9.957, -1.313
8) Colin Wigle, Amherstburg, Ont., '05 Mustang, GT/AA, 9.350, -1.310
9) Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Challenger, SS/JA, 10.271, -1.309
10) Byron Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '96 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.999, -1.271

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., '74 Firebird, K/SA, 11.671 seconds, -1.599 (under index)
2) Hal Sorensen, Vancouver, Wash., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.309, -1.531
3) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 12.093, -1.387
4) Jim Waldo, Richland, Wash., '02 Firebird, B/S, 10.415, -1.375
5) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.467, -1.373
6) John Shaul, Fultonham, N.Y., '64 Fury, A/SA, 10.243, -1.337
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.129, -1.321
8) Andy Kimball, Henderson, Nev., '66 Fairlane, E/S, 10.933, -1.317
9) Bob Aceves, Coarsegold, Calif., '68 Firebird, E/SA, 10.993, -1.307
10) Harry Doolittle, Wickenberg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, N/SA, 12.383, -1.247

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '05 Grand Am, 6.754 seconds, 206.01 mph
2) Greg Tucker, Lindsay, Okla., '07 GTO, 6.831, 204.32
3) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.876, 191.40
4) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '07 GTO, 6.953, 200.56
5) Dave Slatten, Fort Collins, Colo., '05 Grand Am, 6.959, 198.93
6) Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 6.980, 196.30
7) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.062, 196.22
8) Gary Ross, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.062, 193.82
9) Ken Tupper, Spokane, Wash., '49 Ford, 7.071, 196.85
10) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '57 Chevy, 7.078, 195.90

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.200 seconds, 221.09 mph
2) Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.266, 216.69
3) Derik Milanesio, Strathmore, Calif., dragster, 6.328, 216.00
4) Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., dragster, 6.341, 227.00
5) Jenifer White, Conroe, Texas, dragster, 6.750, 198.50
6) Lyle Burnham, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.751, 199.14
7) Don Steed, Fallbrook, Calif., dragster, 6.813, 202.76
8) Russell Suyenaga, Bellflower, Calif., dragster, 6.825, 199.32
9) Kevin Ford, Amarillo, Texas, dragster, 6.840, 194.10
10) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.871, 195.79

-credit: nhra