Wed, Mar 17, 08:17 AM Santos Now Two for Three

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing

WITTMAN, Ariz -- Defending Federal-Mogul Dragster world champion Rick Santos of San Leandro, Calif., and Campbell, Calif.'s Bret Williamson were the winners at Speedworld Motorplex Sunday, host to the first round of the 1999 NHRA Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

Santos defeated Larry Miersch of Fallbrook, Calif., for the Federal-Mogul Dragster title with a 5.60-second run, enough to cover Miersch's 5.79-second pass, and his second NHRA event win in three races. Santos, driving the Oakwood Homes dragster, won the season-opening AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona Raceway, Calif., in February.

The last time Williamson visited an NHRA winner's circle was in 1995 -- at Fuji International Speedway in Japan.

"I was convinced this car didn't know how to win, at least in this country," said a delighted Williamson. "We've always run good in qualifying -- we're always in with a chance for the Winston Low Qualifier bonus money -- but when it comes time to win races we always would have something goofy happen."

The trip to victory lane wasn't all plain sailing. As final-round opponent Doug Gordon slowed with problems Williamson's Pontiac Funny Car exploded the supercharger as it crossed the finish line.

"It doesn't matter," said Williamson of the engine damage. "What matters is we won. The car will be fixed by the time we get to the next race."

Final results Sunday from Speedworld Motorplex, the first of six events in the 1999 NHRA Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER -- Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.605, 244.17 def. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 5.79, 234.67.

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR -- Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '92 Trans Am, 5.887, 223.97 def. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '99 Firebird, 11.002, 72.62.

COMPETITION -- Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., D/EA '90 Pontiac, 8.589, 154.39 def. Jeff Gillette, Benica, Calif., B/EDragster, 7.150, 188.48.

SUPER STOCK -- Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA '90 Chevrolet, 10.500, 127.00 def. Bub Pickens, Tempe, Ariz., '87 Camaro, 15.775, 77.72 (foul start).

STOCK -- Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif., '68 Camaro, 11.663, 112.87 def. Brian Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Oldsmobile, 12.918, 102.38 (foul start).

SUPER COMP -- Jim Hughes, Phoenix, Ariz., dragster, 9.095, 150.12 def. Robert Brush, Edgewood, N.M., dragster, 8.978, 148.58 (break out).

SUPER GAS -- Jim Shofner, Phoenix, Ariz., '96 Camaro, 10.016, 144.62 def. Lawrence Brink, Brighton, Colo., '27-T Ford, 9.982, 145.95 (break out).

SUPER STREET -- Dave Sullivan, Sacramento, Calif., '70 Plymouth, 10.986, 1119.04 def. Keith Mangrove, Glendale, Ariz., '63 Nova, 10.983, 130.17 (break out).

SUPER ELIMINATOR -- Larry Winter, Garden Grove, Calif., dragster, 8.003, 159.79 def. Bill Webber, Golden Valley, Ariz., dragster, 7.971, 188.95 (break out).

PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE -- Sean Conner, Boulder City, Nev., '98 Kawasaki, 9.184, 127.67 def. Rick Newport, West Valley, Utah, '97 Kawasaki, 11.367, 127.97.



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Apr 09- POMONA 1 - Thursday Schedule
Apr 08- Hood Scoops Set to Return to NHRA Pro Stock Category in 2027
Apr 07- PowerEdge Returns as Presenting Sponsor of DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway
Apr 07- GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award Returns for 2026 Season
Apr 06- POMONA 1 - Funny Car Preview
Apr 02- Revchem Composites Plays Critical Role in Ron Capps Motorsports' Continued Success
Apr 01- Second Wave of NHRA 75th Anniversary Commemorative Tickets Include Wealth of Legends
Mar 30- CHARLOTTE - Event Preview
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Super Gas Round 5 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - HEMI Chootout Round 3 Eliminations