Mon, 16 Oct 2000, 11:10 AM Strasburg, Parker are Dealt a Royal Flush at Gambler Nationals in Las Vegas

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing

LAS VEGAS -- Mike Strasburg of Lindon, Utah collected his first Federal-Mogul Dragster win of the 2000 season at the Federal-Mogul Gambler Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Russ Parker of Salem, Ore. won his second race of the year and career.

After qualifying No. 3, Strasburg met John Shoemaker of Sacramento, Calif. in round one and put him on the trailer with a pass of 5.571 seconds at 255.92 mph. In the semifinals, Strasburg took on Las Vegas national event Federal-Mogul Dragster champion, Darren Nicholson of Mission Viejo, Calif. Strasburg won this race on the starting line with a reaction time of .425 to Nicholson's .469. Strasburg took the win light with a pass of 5.526 seconds at 256.65 mph to Nicholson's 5.597 seconds at 254.52 mph. The final pitted Strasburg's Cornwell Tools Dragster against Las Vegas resident, Duane Shields and his Short Line Express Dragster. Strasburg again took the big advantage at the start with a reaction time of .415 to Shields' .489. Strasburg didn't look back and took the win light going away with a run of 5.602 seconds at 254.38 mph to Shields' 7-cylinder pass of 5.862 seconds at 233.12 mph.

"I can't believe we made it to the winner's circle with such tough competition," said a delighted Strasburg. "It's been a while since our last win, but it won't be that long again-this feels to good." In Federal-Mogul Funny Car it wasn't in your best interest to be one of the top four qualifiers as each one lost in the first round. Russ Parker qualified his Centennial Batteries/Oregon Dairy Farmers Funny Car in the No. 6 position in a tough all 5-second field. Parker knocked out No. 3 qualifier, Steve Gasparrelli of West Covina, Calif. in round one with a hole shot. Parker's reaction time of .444 was good enough to hold off Gasparelli's reaction time of .527. Parker got the bye to the final after John Patton couldn't make the call after blowing an engine in round one. In the final, Parker took on John Weaver of Hanford, Calif. and again took the advantage off the start and took the win light with a pass of 5.883 seconds at 242.89 mph to Weaver's run of 6.166 seconds at 181.96 mph. "This is a great win because we beat 15 very strong Pacific Division Funny Cars," said Parker. This is my second win and it just gets better each time.

The following are final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
8) Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.755 seconds, 239.36 mph def
1) Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 9.151, 88.78

4) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.545, 257.38 def
5) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.694, 252.0

2) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.563, 255.73 def
7) Bob Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.791, 244.29

3) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.571, 255.92 vs.
6) John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 6.000, 171.18

Semi-Finals
Shields, 5.554, 245.54 def Carlson, 6.449, 162.24
Strasburg, 5.526, 256.65 def Nicholson, 5.597, 254.52

Finals
Strausberg, 5.602, 254.38 def Shields, 5.862, 233.12

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
8) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '00 Camaro, 7.379, 135.09 def
1) Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., '92 Daytona, 9.884, 92.61

5) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.838, 252.85 def
4) Ed Marx, Stockton, Calif., '00 Avenger, 5.801, 246.30

7) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Firebird, 6.109, 195.11 def
2) Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 6.783, 240.08

6) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Avenger, 5.944, 244.21 def
3) Steve Gasparrelli, Covina, Calif., 5.863, 247.38

Semi-Finals
Parker, 5.841, 245.67 def Patton, Broke--Did Not Run
Weaver, 5.908, 249.72 def Littlefield, 6.009, 222.69

Finals
Parker, 5.883, 242.89 def Weaver, 6.166, 181.96

COMP ELIMINATOR
Jimmy Defrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Oldsmobile Cutlass C/EA, 8.521, 158.13 def
Andy Manna Jr., Covina Calif., '90 Pontiac Trans Am D/EA, 8.624, 153.40

SUPER STOCK
Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., '90 Beretta SS/AM, 8.912, 142.55 def
John Scheiss, North Hills, Calif., '91 Calais, 9.864, 130.77

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., '70 Barracuda, 10.838, 121.79 def
Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Barracuda, 10.583, 121.67

SUPER COMP
Michael Miller, Santa Fe, N.M., '98 Dragster, 9.064, 158.13 def
Greg Carillo, Phoenix, Ariz., '99 Dragster, 9.044, 167.34

SUPER GAS
Bob Herr, Sacramento, Calif., '63 Corvette, 10.071, 154.97 def
Ron Freedle, Ontario, Calif., '85 Camaro, 10.050, 140.46

SUPER STREET
Jimmy Band, Boise, Idaho, '57 Chevrolet, 11.167, 136.48 def
Keith Manogue, Phoenix, Ariz., '63 Nova, 15.008, 77.67

PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Jake Geisser, West Valley City, Utah, '85 Suzuki, 8.204, 158.41 def
Rick Newport, West Valley City, Utah, '97 Suzuki, 8.432, 157.61

SUPER ELIMINATOR
Bill Webber, Kingman, Ariz., '00 Dragster, 8.058, 177.74 def
Scott Wells, Glendale, Ariz., 8.146, 175.59

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