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MISSION, B.C. –- Mission Raceway Park will host the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, May 7-9. The race is the second of seven in Northwest division competition where drivers in eight categories, including 260 mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), will compete for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships and a share of the $561,000 champions’ purse. It is the first race in division competition where Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars will run. The division’s Top Comp and Sportsman Motorcycle categories will also run in conjunction with the race. Defending division Top Alcohol Funny Car Bucky Austin is expected to be in Mission. The Fife, Wash., resident is a local favorite who won here a year ago. In fact, that win started a string of five straight victories, which gave Austin a commanding lead in the points, and he took the crown by nearly 200 points over second-place finisher Roger Bateman. Austin won both divisional events held at Mission Raceway and at Woodburn Dragstrip in Woodburn, Ore. He also took the win at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. Look for Austin to face challenges this season from Bateman, a former division champion from Calgary, Alta., and from John Weaver. Weaver is a former Pacific division champion who now resides in Orting, Wash. Joey Severance earned the Top Alcohol Dragster crown in 2003, winning in two out four final-round appearances. The Spanaway, Wash., racer was runner-up at both divisional events held at Woodburn Dragstrip and won at Southern Oregon Dragway in Medford, Ore. He also won at an out-of-division event at Sacramento Raceway Park in Sacramento, Calif. Severance will be trying to defend his title against another former division champion, Mark Hentges of Federal Way, Wash. Hentges and Severance were tied in points at the end of 2003 but Severance won the title on the tie-breaker. Hentges won at Pacific Raceways and at the second event held at Mission Raceway. He also scored at an out-of-division race in Denver. Oregon City, Ore., Top Alcohol Dragster racer Steve Federlin should give Severance a run for his money this season. Federlin has teamed up with Jack O’Bannon, who owned the dragster that Rick Santos piloted to five consecutive national championships. Jody Lang has and early season points lead in both Super Stock and Stock. Lang, from Puyallup, Wash., has competed in out-of-division races in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz. In Super Stock he is well ahead of Mark Faul of Tacoma, Wash., and in Stock he is leading Wesley Libby of Mead, Wash. Gates at Mission Raceway Park open at 7 a.m. each day. Qualifying and time trials will start at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. TAD and TAFC will have one qualifying session on Friday at 3 p.m. and two on Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 9 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run first round at noon. General admission tickets for the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals are $10 Friday, $20 Saturday and $20 Sunday. Pit passes are included with Friday’s ticket and are $5 Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Mission Raceway Park is located 10 miles north of Sumas, Wash., on Highway 11. For more information call the track, (604) 826-6315, or visit www.MissionRaceway.com. Northwest division racers’ next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event is at Woodburn Dragstrip, June 11-13. That race is the first of two scheduled at the Oregon track this season. NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES FACT SHEET WHAT: Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the second of seven in Northwest Division competition. The division’s Top Comp Kerker Motorcycle classes, will also run in conjunction with the event. WHERE: Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C. Track is located 10 miles north of Sumas, Wash., on Highway 11. WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 7-9, 2004 SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals: FRIDAY, May 7 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 3 p.m. SATURDAY, May 8 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at noon and 4 p.m. SUNDAY, May 9 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations begin at 9 a.m. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at noon. TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $10 Friday (includes pit pass), $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday. A pit pass is $5 Saturday and $5 Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information please call Mission Raceway, (604) 826-6315. PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $148,310, part of the 46-race, $6.5 million series. 2003 EVENT WINNERS: Mike Cofini, Top Alcohol Dragster; Bucky Austin, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Jeff Lane, Comp Eliminator; Sean Cour, Super Stock; Mike Lewis, Stock Eliminator; Anthony Castillo, Super Comp; Mike Ferderer, Super Gas; Tom Manfred, Super Street
BONUS PROGRAMS: SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul’s Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1,000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional events.) JEG’S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA’s seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg’s High Performance. The 2004 Jeg’s Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2004 Jeg’s Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only. The winning division’s team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event. This year, event sponsor, Jeg’s High Performance, has offered a “double up” bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class who go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled. NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES: Run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA’s Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $8,800 champions’ purse posted by Kerker will be paid to first, second and third place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles. The top four riders from each division in the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series will be invited to compete in the NHRA Kerker King of the Coast competition. In 2004, the All-Star invitational will be run in November during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. The rider who is crowned the Kerker King of the Coast will earn $2,000. The runner-up in the 16-bike field will receive $1,000. Currently, Sportsman Motorcycles are run in NHRA’s South Central, West Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions.
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