PC: Series Sonoma Friday summary

FORCE SISTERS QUALIFY ONE AND TWO

SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2009) -- Racing kicked off today for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 event presented by Korbel at Infineon Raceway with the Force sisters Courtney and Brittany both of Yorba Linda, Calif., qualified one and two in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Courtney is coming off her first NHRA national event win two weeks ago at Pacific Raceways near Seattle taking the No. 1 spot in opening day qualifying with a lap of 5.315 seconds at 264. 44 mph. Sister and teammate Brittany is right on her heels running 5.340 at 261.67 and looking for a little revenge as Courtney got the best of Brittany in their semi-final match up at Pacific Raceways.

Crew Chief Jerry Darien turns the wrenches for both Force teams and has them nearly a tenth of a second ahead of former NHRA Pacific Division Champion Chris Demke and the rest of the dragster field. Demke, Sunland, Calif., is third with a 5.434 second, 260.61 mph run.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car is was veteran racer Jay Payne steering his '07 Mustang to the No. 1 spot in 5.651 seconds at 256.36 mph. The Claremont, Calif., resident is followed by relatively new comer Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., running 5.672, 255.82 mph. O'Bannon and Payne are numbers three and four in the national point's standings respectively coming in to this weekend's event.

Another Claremont, Calif., racer opened the event on top as John Edwards leads the Comp Eliminator contingent over Mike DePalma out of Glendale, Ariz.

The division's Hughes Performance Top Dragster class is led by Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., at 6.095 seconds, 220.48 mph followed by Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif. Defending Division Top Sportsman Champion Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., joined today's top qualifiers holding off the rest of the field with a 6.911 second, 197.13 mph run down the quarter mile. Ted Carli, Temecula, Calif., is second at 6.982, 197.39.

In Super Stock it was Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., leading the field in his '69 Barracuda followed by Mike Blackstone of Livermore, Calif. Wann, who competes in two categories, just missed the top spot in Stock Eliminator sitting in the No. 2 position behind Chino, Calif., racer Leo Glasbrenner and his '68 Firebird. Leeland King, Shelton, Wash., qualified No. 1 in the Sportsman Motorcycle class presented by Harley Davidson.

Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at Infineon Raceway. Gates open at 7 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Racing begins at 8 a.m. both days. On tap for Saturday is final qualifying for Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car with rounds at noon and 4 p.m.

Tickets are $20 each day. Children 12 and under are free as is parking. Infineon Raceway is located north of San Rafael, at the junctions of Highways 37 and 121. For more information, call the track (800) 870-RACE or visit www.InfineonRaceway.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Korbel at Infineon Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.315 seconds, 264.44 mph
2) Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.340, 261.67
3) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.434, 260.61
4) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.474, 261.32
5) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.525, 250.37
6) Dennis Swearingen, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., 5.647, 250.00
7) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 5.657, 217.00
8) Art Trautman, Wadell, Ariz., 5.915, 239.31

Not Qualified
9) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.937, 251.30

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.651 seconds, 256.36 mph
2) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.672, 255.82
3) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.692, 247.34
4) Steve Gasparrelli, W. Covina, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.705, 253.52
5) John Lombardo Jr., Brea, Calif., '05 Camaro, 5.708, 252.95
6) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.711, 251.72
7) Keeter Ray, Newport Beach, Calif., '09 Mustang, 5.743, 246.84
8) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.763, 234.57

Not Qualified
9) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '03 Camaro, 5.963, 237.25
10) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 6.030, 239.44
11) Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.115, 246.26
12) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 7.211, 133.61
13) Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 8.003, 113.68
14) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 9.830, 121.34

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '99 Neon, C/AA, 7.348 seconds, -0.642 (under index)
2) Mike DePalma, Glendale, Ariz., '00 S-10, C/T, 8.278, -0.622
3) Brian Moscini, Redwood City, Calif., '05 Grand Am, C/AA, 7.387, -0.603
4) Brandon Huhtala, Puyallup, Wash., '97 Cutlass, C/A, 7.381, -0.599
5) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AP, 6.671, -0.589
6) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 6.891, -0.569
7) Shane Gray, Artesia, N.M., '06 Stratus, B/A, 7.026, -0.534
8) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, C/SMA, 8.295, -0.525
9) J.D. Zink, Chico, Calif., dragster, A/ND, 6.941, -0.519
10) Tom Brown, Riverside, Calif., dragster, F/ED, 8.312, -0.518

SUPER STOCK
1) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/HA, 9.722 seconds, -1.178 (under index)
2) Mike Blackstone, Livermore, Calif., '90 Calais, SS/BS, 8.789, -1.161
3) Mark Viera, Turlock, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AH, 8.614, -1.136
4) Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., '09 G5, GT/AA, 9.278, -1.122
5) Mike Graham, Tempe, Ariz., '00 Cobra, GT/EA, 9.859, -1.091
6) Wayne Taylor, Chino, Calif., '99 Sebring, GT/HA, 10.299, -1.051
7) Chuck Stubeck, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Roadrunner, SS/FA, 9.700, -1.050
8) Bob Bales, Chino, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/CA, 9.679, -1.021
9) Dave Raybourn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.771, -0.979
10) Bob Mazzolini, Riverside, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AH, 8.787, -0.963

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Leo Glasbrenner, Chino, Calif., '68 Firebird, E/SA, 10.799 seconds, -1.201 (under index)
2) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '73 Dart, F/SA, 10.985, -1.165
3) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, K/SA, 11.795, -1.155
4) Bob Aceves, Coarsegold, Calif., '68 Firebird, D/SA, 10.742, -1.108
5) Wesley Libby, Mead, Wash., '71 Challenger, A/SA, 10.237, -1.063
6) Jeff Jerome, Los Angeles, '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.241, -1.059
7) Larry Belden, Long Beach, Calif., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.258, -1.042
8) Tom Gaynor, Vancouver, Wash., '96 Firebird, D/SA, 10.810, -1.040
9) Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., '67 Camaro, D/SA, 10.824, -1.026
10) Doug Baker, Newark, Ohio, '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.681, -1.019

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '68 Camaro, 6.911 seconds, 197.13 mph
2) Ted Carli, Temecula, Calif., '09 Cobalt, 6.982, 197.39
3) Brad Wagner, Henderson, Nev., '97 Cutlass, 7.086, 196.13
4) Raul Perez, La Mirada, Calif., '01 Grand Am, 7.215, 190.08
5) Jeffrey Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.253, 188.89
6) Curt Geise, Auburn, Wash., '08 GTO, 7.285, 189.84
7) Gary Forkner, Temecula, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.311, 186.07
8) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.342, 187.63
9) Dave Zewe, Hesperia, Calif., '94 Lumina, 7.350, 186.95
10) Larry Scarth, Manhatten Beach, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.359, 183.62

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.095 seconds, 220.48 mph
2) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.550, 204.60
3) Lyle Burnham, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.583, 203.58
4) Robert McMahan, Livermore, Calif., dragster, 6.776, 195.96
5) Tom Yancer, Chandler, Ariz., dragster, 6.806, 194.63
6) Jimmy Johnson, Santa Rose, Calif., dragster, 6.810, 197.19
7) Will Boxold, Orangevale, Calif., dragster, 6.873, 193.43
8) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.887, 193.85
9) Carolyn Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.897, 194.32
10) Stewart Koch, Mountain View, Calif., dragster, 6.939, 193.65

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Leeland King, Shelton, Wash., '90 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.008 seconds reaction time
2) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '86 GSXR, SMC, 0.026
3) Wayne Cox, Eureka, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.031
4) Doug Schumann, Hesperia, Calif., '06 Hyabusa, SMC, 0.035
5) Jeffery St. Germain, San Jose, Calif., '78 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.036
6) Michael Vattioni, Visalia, Calif., '06 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.036
7) Jeff Havens, Yakima, Wash., '95 Katana, SMC, 0.038
8) Pete Miclette, Garberville, Calif., '97 GSXR, SMC, 0.044
9) Katie Sullivan, Corning, Calif., '87 Ninja, SMC, 0.045
10) Jordan Miclette, Redway, Calif., '98 Suzuki, SMC, 0.047

-credit: nhra