SE: Bradenton Friday summary

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Kicks Off at Bradenton Motorsports Park

BRADENTON, Fla. (February 13, 2009) -- Get those tires spinning because the 2009 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series has made its way to Bradenton Motorsports Park for the season opener. Qualifying and time trials are underway with David Allen of Sewickley, Pa., leading the pack in Comp Eliminator. Local Bradenton favorite and Pro Stock powerhouse Dave Connolly hopes to take his '34 Chevy to Sunday's Comp Eliminator winner's circle out of the No. 7 spot.

Allen grabbed the Comp Eliminator top seed with Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, hot on his heels. Anthony Bertozzi of Ashland, Va., last year's event winner, sits back in the No.10 spot of the competitive field. Super Stock is lead by Nashville, Tenn. resident Jack Huff with Brian Oakes, Williamstown, N.J., looking to advance on his No. 2 position. Randy Wilkes of Zanesville, Ohio, Bradenton's 2008 Super Stock event winner, is trying his luck in the Stock Eliminator class qualifying in the middle of the pack. Bud Rowe from Bridgeton, N.C., wheeled his '94 Camaro to the top qualifying position.

In other qualifying action, Ronnie Davis of Suwanee, Ga., took the No.1 spot in the Top Sportsman class presented by Davis Golf Carts. His '63 Corvette made its way down the track at 6.839 seconds, 201.56 mph, holding Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale, Mass., from the head of the class. The Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales Top Dragster category is lead by Florida resident Don Marks of St Petersburg, piloting his dragster 213.06 mph. to the top spot.

Racing continues Saturday, Feb. 14 with gates opening at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Sportsman, Comp Eliminator and Top Dragster qualifying is at 1 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. General admission pit pass is $20 a day. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at Bradenton Motorsports Park:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) David Allen, Sewickley, Pa., '09 GXP, BB/AM, 6.815 seconds, -0.695 (under index)
2) Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, '05 Grand Am, F/A, 8.027, -0.653
3) Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., '32 Bantam, G/EA, 8.254, -0.626
4) Michael Hardee, Hampstead, N.C., '05 Sunfire, E/SM, 8.474, -0.616
5) Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 roadster, F/EA, 8.006, -0.584
6) Ray Vierheller III, Barberton, Ohio, dragster, D/ED, 7.412, -0.578
7) David Connolly, Bradenton, Fla., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 7.769, -0.571
8) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 6.692, -0.568
9) Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 7.806, -0.534
10) Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., dragster, D/ED, 7.471, -0.519

SUPER STOCK

1) Jack Huff, Nashville, Tenn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.260 seconds, -1.290 (under index)
2) Brian Oakes, Williamstown, N.J., '69 Camaro, SS/CA, 9.082, -1.268
3) Rich South, Pickerington, Ohio, '05 Sunfire, GT/EA, 9.719, -1.231
4) David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., '69 Corvette, SS/AA, 8.844, -1..156
5) Lloyd Wofford, Jonesboro, Ark., '79 Aspen, SS/JA, 10.153, -1.147
6) Mark Nowicki, Gaylord, Mich., '98 Avenger, GT/HA, 10.204, -1.146
7) Byron Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '09 G5, SS/BS, 8.837, -1.113
8) Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.739, -1.111
9) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., '07 Cobalt, GT/AA, 9.290, -1.110
10) Tony Cafaro, Brandon, Fla., '02 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.247, -1.103

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '94 Camaro, C/SA, 10.508 seconds, -1.192 (under index)
2) John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '91 Camaro, K/SA, 11.800, -1.150
3) Nick Folk, Durand, Ill., '99 Camaro, B/SA, 10..412, -1.138
4) Gary Richard, Bayshore, N.Y., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.606, -1.094
5) Tom Stevenson, Flowery Branch, Ga., '69 Nova, G/SA, 11.207, -1..093
6) Thomas Moock, Eagle, Neb., '81 Malibu, M/SA, 12.089, -1.061
7) Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '02 Firebird, A/SA, 10.245, -1.055
8) Randy Harrison, Orlando, Fla., '90 Camaro, K/SA, 11.904, -1.046
9) Dave Lindsay, Ft. Pierce, Fla., '95 Cobra, E/S, 10.932, -1.018
10) Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., '95 Camaro, D/SA, 10.856, -0.994

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Ronnie Davis, Suwanee, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.839 seconds, 201.56 mph
2) Ryan Ondrejko, Roslindale, Mass., '08 GTO, 6.859, 203.29
3) Jerry Barker, Fort Valley, Ga., '06 Cobalt, 6.889, 201.79
4) Dewey Pedrick, Lighthouse Pt., Fla., '63 Corvette, 7.160, 194.04
5) Jeffrey Barker, Warner-Robins, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.167, 190.19
6) Scott Lyons, Douglasville, Ga., '07 GTO, 7.369, 188.95
7) Daniel Morrow, St. Petersburg, Fla., '09 GXP, 7.391, 189.31
8) Mike Thompson, Naples, Fla., '03 Cavalier, 7.437, 183.74
9) Kenny Burgess, Ellenton, Fla., '63 Corvette, 7.447, 181.15
10) Bruce Duncan, Crawfordville, Fla., '95 Camaro, 7.460, 182.88

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Don Marks, St Petersburg, Fla., dragster, 6.314 seconds, 213.06 mph
2) Tom Elliott, Brooks, Ky., dragster, 6.430, 215.36
3) Eddie Careccia, Mars Hill, Fla., dragster, 6.545, 160.02
4) Charles Careccia, Mars Hill, N.C., dragster, 6.757, 200.04
5) Larry Clark, Stuart, Fla., dragster, 6.805, 195.18
6) Ken Zeller, Smithville, Mo., dragster, 6.867, 194.00
7) Ray Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., dragster, 6.883, 194.72
8) Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., dragster, 6.885, 193.09
9) Wayne Hofmann, New Preston, Conn., dragster, 6.963, 192.71
10) Al Miller, Chester, Md., dragster, 6.967, 193.21

-credit: nhra