PAC: Somona Friday summary

WHITELEY STAYS ATOP QUALIFYING FIELD AS SMITH JOINS HIM AND FIELDS ARE SET FOR ELIMINATIONS

SONOMA, Calif. -- Qualifying is complete at Infineon Raceway's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel, setting the fields for Sunday's eliminations. Grand Junction, Colo., racer Jim Whiteley remained in the No. 1 spot in Top Alcohol Dragster while Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., catapulted to the top of the Top Alcohol Funny Car field from the No. 11 position.

Whiteley did not improve on Friday's qualifying effort of 5.311 seconds at 270.97 mph but the run was enough to keep him atop the eight-car eliminations field in Top Alcohol Dragster. No. 2 qualifier Brandon Johnson of Shelton, Wash., also kept his spot in the order despite not bettering his 5.326-second, 270.54 mph effort from Friday. Whiteley will square off against No. 8 qualifier Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., in the opening round of eliminations.

Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Smith put down a 5.640-second, 256.94 mph run to pass Friday's best qualifier, Dennis Taylor of Anaheim, Calif. Taylor's 5.642-second run at 254.52 mph remained his best of the weekend but it was enough to keep him in the No. 2 spot. Last weekend's NHRA national event winner, Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., failed to make the eight-car field and ended up qualified in the No. 10 spot. Smith will face Bret Williams, Campbell, Calif., in the first round of eliminations.

In Comp Eliminator, Jim Cowan's initial qualifying effort was enough to keep him in the top spot as was Brian McClanahan's in Super Stock. In Top Sportsman, Robert Broguier, Wildomar, Calif., was able to stave off the competition and stay in the No. 1 spot and so was Apache Junction, Ariz., Top Dragster racer Jim Luttrell. In Stock Eliminator, Stockton, Calif., racer Steve Wann drove his '74 Dart to the head of the class and in Sportsman Motorcycle, Leeland King, Shelton, Wash., jumped to the top qualifying spot.

Racing continues Sunday at Infineon Raceway. Gates for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel open at 7 a.m. Eliminations start at 8 a.m. and Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round at noon.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel are $20. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information call Infineon Raceway or visit www.InfineonRaceway.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel event at Infineon Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.311 seconds, 270.97 mph
2) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.326, 270.54
3) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.347, 266.79
4) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.351, 266.95
5) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.366, 272.34
6) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.377, 265.38
7) Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., 5.411, 265.12
8) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.468, 264.13

Not Qualified
9) Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.473, 262.23
10) Doug Hegge, Vancouver, Wash., 5.654, 259.26
11) Danny Valadez, San Rafael, Calif., 7.086, 214.35
12) Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 7.862, 195.11

First round TAD pairings
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.311 seconds, 270.97 mph vs. 8) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.468, 264.13

2) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.326, 270.54 vs. 7) Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., 5.411, 265.12

3) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.347, 266.79 vs. 6) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.377, 265.38

4) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.351, 266.95 vs. 5) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.366, 272.34

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.640 seconds, 256.94 mph
2) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '05 Camaro, 5.642, 254.52
3) Larry Miner, Lodi, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.656, 254.57
4) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.664, 254.23
5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.686, 257.83
6) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.711, 254.28
7) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.718, 253.61
8) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.718, 251.16

Not Qualified
9) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.732, 254.62
10) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.733, 256.70
11) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.737, 254.04
12) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.737, 253.75
13) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '02 Trans Am, 5.764, 249.67
14) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., '07 Camaro, 5.784, 248.66
15) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.866, 248.75

First round TAFC pairings
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.640 seconds, 256.94 mph vs. 8) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.718, 251.16

2) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '05 Camaro, 5.642, 254.52 vs. 7) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.718, 253.61

3) Larry Miner, Lodi, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.656, 254.57 vs. 6) Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.711, 254.28

4) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.664, 254.23 vs. 5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.686, 257.83

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '08 Cobalt, I/AA, 8.127 seconds, -0.663 (under index)
2) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '08 Cobalt, C/EA, 8.054, -0.646
3) Pat Byron, Hoquiam, Wash., dragster, C/D, 6.880, -0.630
4) Mark Wolfe, Marysville, Wash., '94 Thunderbird, AA/AT, 6.461, -0.629
5) J.D. Zink, Chico, Calif., dragster, A/ND, 6.872, -0.628
6) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Pontiac, C/SMA, 8.240, -0.620
7) Rob Harrison, N. Vancouver, B.C., '05 Cavalier, J/A, 7.799, -0.601
8) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, B/ND, 7.032, -0.598
9) Jon Haire, Napa, Calif., dragster, A/ND, 6.927, -0.573
10) Doug Lambeck, Corona Del Mar, Calif., '06 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.467, -0.543

SUPER STOCK
1) Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.585 seconds, -1.265 (under index)
2) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/IA, 9.766, -1.234
3) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Barracuda, SS/FA, 9.583, -1.167
4) Mike Blackstone, Livermore, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 8.796, -1.154
5) Mark Vieira, Turlock, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AH, 8.618, -1.132
6) Jack Bystrom, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '68 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.665, -1.085
7) Brian Zavala, El Monte, Calif., '96 Achieva, GT/FA, 10.035, -1.065
8) Ryan McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '08 Cobalt, SS/AM, 8.242, -1.058
9) Chuck Stubeck, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Roadrunner, SS/FA, 9.713, -1.037
10) Dave Raybourn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.714, -1.036

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '74 Dart, E/SA, 10.847 seconds, -1.153 (under index)
2) John McGann, Phoenix, '70 Nova, D/SA, 10.735, -1.115
3) Hal Sorensen, Vancouver, Wash., '69 Camaro, AA/SA, 9.797, -1.103
4) Andy Kimball, Henderson, Nev., '66 Fairlane, E/S, 10.867, -1.083
5) Wesley Libby, Mead, Wash., '71 Challenger, B/SA, 10.467, -1.083
6) Don Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, I/SA, 11.527, -1.073
7) Andy Durham, Chino, Calif., '70 Camaro, B/SA, 10.493, -1.057
8) Peter Dodge, Redding, Calif., '68 Camaro, B/S, 10.465, -1.035
9) Tom Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '96 Firebird, C/SA, 10.666, -1.034
10) Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Camaro, D/SA, 10.849, -1.001

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '06 GTO, 6.918 seconds, 199.88 mph
2) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.116, 194.27
3) Wayne Silvia, Upland, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.139, 192.88
4) Curt Geise, Auburn, Wash., '08 GTO, 7.222, 191.40
5) Brad Wagner, Henderson, Nev., '96 Cutlass, 7.234, 192.08
6) Val Torres Jr., Valinda, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.234, 191.65
7) Raul Perez, La Mirada, Calif., '01 Grand Am, 7.317, 188.54
8) Dean Hall, Guerneville, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.341, 187.31
9) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.367, 187.39
10) Gary Forkner, Temecula, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.374, 185.79

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., dragster, 6.213 seconds, 222.33 mph
2) Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.360, 215.34
3) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.641, 203.19
4) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.758, 199.23
5) Jimmy Johnson, Santa Rose, Calif., dragster, 6.791, 197.65
6) Tony Jardino, San Dimas, Calif., dragster, 6.800, 195.99
7) Todd Barton, Norwalk, Calif., dragster, 6.826, 196.33
8) Will Boxold, Orangevale, Calif., dragster, 6.840, 197.48
9) Tom Koenen, North Bend, Ore., dragster, 6.876, 196.07
10) Carolyn Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.888, 194.77

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Leeland King, Shelton, Wash., '90 ZX9, 0.010 seconds reaction time
2) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '86 GSXR, 0.012
3) Randy Monte, Petaluma, Calif., '96 Buell, 0.013
4) Jay Matthews, Henderson, Nev., '98 GSX-R, 0.014
5) Don Tankage, Huntington Beach, Calif., '00 Kawasaki, 0.014
6) Ron Gledhill, Taylorsville, Utah, '07 Suzuki, 0.017
7) James Surber, Sherter Cove, Calif., '99 Buell, 0.019
8) Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '95 Katana, 0.020
9) Nick Kessler, Medford, Ore., '78 Kawasaki, 0.028
10) Jordan Miclette, Redway, Calif., '97 Suzuki, 0.033

-credit: nhra