Sonoma Friday summary

LUCAS, HUDSON LEAD QUALIFYING

SONOMA, Calif. -- Morgan Lucas jumped off to a quick start at this weekend's Cal-Steam/Kohler NHRA Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series posting a run of 5.295 seconds at 272.06 mph in Top Alcohol Dragster to lead opening day qualifying. Lucas, who also campaigns a top fuel dragster in the NHRA PowerAde Drag Racing Series, is followed by Jim Whiteley at 5.323 seconds, 268.54 mph and Duane Shields in the third spot at 5.348, 272.28.

Lucas is the defending event champion and is looking for his third win of the year having picked up wins in Houston and Memphis, Tenn., while Whiteley has three wins and a runner-up finish to his credit.

Stockton, Calif., racer Don Hudson leads the Top Alcohol Funny Car field with a lap of 5.609 seconds at 255.53 mph in his '02 Camaro. Defending event champion Brian Hough gave Hudson a run for his money clocking in at 5.610 seconds, 257.09 mph for the No. 2 spot. Ron August Jr. of Pleasanton, Calif., is fifth and Bret Williamson of Campbell, Calif., rounds out the eight-car qualified field at 5.713 seconds.

Local funny car racers not yet qualified are Larry Miner of Lodi, Calif., just six-hundredths of a second out at 5.773 seconds and Pete Swayne of Santa Rosa, Calif., with a best run of 8.151 seconds.

Four-time and reigning NHRA Pacific Division Comp Eliminator Champion Dean Carter is No. 1 with a 7.112 second, 163.18 mph pass while Tom Huggins is second out of Santa Paula, Calif., in his '06 GTO.

In the Hughes Performance Top Dragster division, Derik Milanesio of Strathmore, Calif., covered the field running 213.43 mph in 6.443 seconds for the top spot with Chip Rumis out of Ramona, Calif., in second at 6.763, 199.08. Rumis is pulling double duty this weekend, also running in the Top Sportsman class where he is qualified No. 4.

Super Stock runner James Weakland of Morrison, Colo., put his '68 Camaro in the No. 1 spot with a run of 9.494 seconds. Former National Champion Jimmy DeFrank is second and Modesto, Calif., resident Steve Wann sits in the sixth position.

Ryan McClanahan joins the class leaders topping the Stock Eliminator field with a 10.038 second run while Dustin Vagedes is on top in the Harley Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle Series with Jay Matthews in second.

Rounding out the days qualifying was Robert Broquiere in the Sunset RaceCraft Top Sportsman class at 6.937 seconds, 197.86 mph. The Wildomar, Calif., resident is followed by Dan Borg of San Francisco at 7.003 seconds, 200.41 mph and Mike Strickland in third.

-credit: nhra