Fri, 29 Oct 2004, 09:19 PM Gunderson and Snyder Qualify Number One

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- After the final rounds of qualifying for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Gainesville Raceway, Floridian Michael Gunderson leads the Top Alcohol Field into tomorrow's elimination rounds, covering the field by more than a tenth of a second with a 5.302-second shot at 273.22 mph in his nitro-fueled entry. Current Southwest Division points leader Guy Kelly is third on the list.

Meanwhile, Mick Snyder came from a lot farther away to take on the Alcohol Funny Car field. The Demotte, Ind., resident is hoping to boost his standing in the NHRA North Central Division standing by scoring a win in the Southeast. The former Jr. Dragster competitor is also currently seventh in the national points an hopes to move up on that roster as well. He will have a walkover in round one because of an odd number of cars in the field, so his No. 1 qualifying effort has already paid off for the young charger. Fellow North Central Division heavy-hitter Chuck Cheeseman is also in the field, hoping to top Snyder.

This is the final of seven Lucas Oil Series events for 2004 in NHRA's Southwest Division. The outcome will help determine not only the Gainesville Raceway event championships but the season championships as well. Also at stake are national titles. Points from Gainesville are a component of the national points chase as are points from the other six NHRA divisions. Thus, at this time of year, each round of racing can become monumental to the front runners in the points standings.

Gates open at Gainesville Raceway at 8 a.m. Saturday. Qualifying and time trials continue for many classes at 9:30 a.m. Final Eliminations begin at 1 p.m., with the first rounds of action in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car scheduled for 4 p.m.

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

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.302 seconds, 273.22 mph
2) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.483, 260.26
3) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.514, 258.24
4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.533, 258.84
5) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.612, 248.41
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.016, 227.67
7) Jeremy Haskett, Wilkesboro, N.C., 6.198, 161.89
8) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 6.603, 184.72
Not Qualified
9) Cherissa Smallwood, Gainesville, Fla., 6.982, 186.68
10) Aaron Borgner, Deland, Fla., 7.241, 192.02

First round TAD pairings
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.302 seconds, 273.22 mph vs.
8) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 6.603, 184.72

2) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.483, 260.26 vs.
7) Jeremy Haskett, Wilkesboro, N.C., 6.198, 161.89

3) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.514, 258.24 vs.
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.016, 227.67

4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.533, 258.84 vs.
5) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.612, 248.41

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., '02 Firebird, 5.790 seconds, 247.25 mph
2) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 5.834, 245.56
3) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, 5.981, 242.52
4) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '02 Firebird, 6.131, 231.12
5) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Avenger, 6.329, 185.83
6) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '01 Corvette, 8.455, 129.38
7) Steve Franke, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Lumina, 9.571, 105.68

First round TAFC pairings
1) Mick Snyder, Demotte, Ind., '02 Firebird, 5.790 seconds, 247.25 mph vs. Bye

2) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 5.834, 245.56 vs.
7) Steve Franke, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Lumina, 9.571, 105.68

3) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, 5.981, 242.52 vs.
6) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '01 Corvette, 8.455, 129.38

4) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '02 Firebird, 6.131, 231.12 vs.
5) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Avenger, 6.329, 185.83

Competition Eliminator
1) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 6.840 seconds, -0.680 (under index)
2) Ian Landies Jr, Chardon, Ohio, '02 Cavalier, F/A, 8.209, -0.571
3) Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '04 Sunfire, E/SMA, 8.720, -0.570
4) Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '03 Cavalier, C/EA, 8.268, -0.562
5) Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga., '04 Cavalier, G/AA, 8.507, -0.553
6) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.907, -0.543
7) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.240, -0.540
8) Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '04 Sunfire, B/SM, 8.237, -0.533
9) Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., dragster, C/D, 7.079, -0.531
10) Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, H/A, 8.937, -0.523

Super Stock
1) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.481 seconds, -1.269 (under index)
2) Johnny Fogle, Norway, S.C., '04 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.268, -1.132
3) Blair Patrick, Jasper, Tenn., '68 Mustang, SS/FA, 9.668, -1.082
4) Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.696, -1.054
5) Richard Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '01 Trans Am, GT/EA, 9.905, -1.045
6) Tony Cafaro, Brandon, Fla., '00 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.341, -1.009
7) Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.647, -1.003
8) Tim Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '88 Cutlass, GT/JA, 10.622, -0.978
9) Phil Collins, Independence, Mo., '67 Coronet, SS/EA, 9.694, -0.956
10) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '02 Cavalier, GT/BA, 9.595, -0.955

Stock Eliminator
1) John McCarthy Jr, Lyndon, Ky., '89 Safari, U/SA, 13.831 seconds, -1.319 (under index)
2) John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '91 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.719, -1.231
3) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, L/SA, 11.782, -1.218
4) Arnold Greene, Matthews, N.C., '69 Camaro, C/S, 10.507, -1.143
5) Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '73 Nova, J/SA, 11.669, -1.081
6) Jeff Warren, Clinton, N.C., '98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.623, -1.077
7) Jeff Velde, Vero Beach, Fla., '68 Shelby, A/SA, 10.228, -1.072
8) Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '95 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.641, -1.059
9) Peter Noriega, Hileah, Fla., '80 Malibu, V/SA, 14.743, -1.057
10) Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.659, -1.041

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Ronnie Davis, Commerce, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.865 seconds, 203.52 mph
2) Billy Bridges, Tallapoosa, Ga., '04 Mustang, 6.909, 200.53
3) Dave Saul, Winter Park, Fla., '96 Firebird, 7.073, 194.00
4) Jack Nunez, Daytona Beach, Fla., '63 Corvette, 7.121, 190.39
5) Chris Ray, Louisville, Ky., '00 Firebird, 7.157, 171.33
6) Jerry Barker, Byron, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.252, 189.43
7) Doc Bilbrey, Willow Springs, N.C., '01 Sonoma, 7.272, 193.29
8) Larry Hutcheson Sr., Christmas, Fla., '02 Cavalier, 7.322, 181.89
9) Mitch Smith, Anderson, Ind., '03 Grand Am, 7.332, 184.95
10) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '04 Cavalier, 7.348, 186.45

Drag News: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 13- ProCharger Joins World Series of Pro Mod as Associate Sponsor
Feb 11- March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip Etched in American Hot Rod History
Feb 05- Famed March Meet Set for Historic 68th Installment March 5-8
Feb 05- Red Line Oil Named Presenting Sponsor of World Series of Pro Mod
Feb 05- $25,000 Wild Card Shootout Added to World Series of Pro Mod
Jan 26- Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson Wheels ‘Shadow 3.0’ to $75,000 U.S. Street Nationals Pro Mod Victory
Jan 25- Side-By-Side 3.50-Second Races Highlight First Round of Pro Mod Eliminations at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 24- Jimmy Taylor Stays No. 1 as U.S. Street Nationals Records First All-3.50-Second 32-Car Pro Mod Field
Jan 23- Jimmy Taylor Edges Out Jason Harris for Thursday Provisional No. 1 Spot at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 22- U.S. Street Nationals Set to Ignite Bradenton as Winter Series, Radial Outlaws Seasons Collide