Sun, 5 Nov 2006, 11:01 AM Shields and Harker Lead Qualifiers at NHRA Lucas Oil Series Event

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing Photo copyright 2006 Bob Johnson Photography At The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS --

Duane Shields

Qualifying is complete at the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event is the last of 43 in the series and is the last chance for racers from across the country to earn divisional points toward divisional and national titles. Local favorite Duane Shields is the No. 1 qualifier in Top Alcohol Dragster and Steve Harker leads the Top Alcohol Funny Car pack. There were 24 Top Alcohol Dragsters and 26 Top Alcohol Funny Cars vying for eight qualifying spots in each category.

Shields, a Boulder City, Nev., resident, came into the final qualifying session of the race on the outside looking in at the eight-car field. However, his 5.349-seconds, 261.67 mph pass catapulted him to the top of the field. No. 2 qualifier, Sean O'Bannon of Alta Loma, Calif., also made a huge jump, going from the fourteenth spot with a 5.368-second pass at 267.53 mph.

Steve Harker

A resident of Gainesville, Ga., Harker leads the Top Alcohol Funny Car field with his 5.646-second, 254.18 mph pass. Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., is the second place qualifier with a 5.655-second, 254.18 mph effort.

Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., set the pace in Comp Eliminator, Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., stayed in the top spot in Super Stock, as did Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., in Stock Eliminator. In Top Comp, Gary Groves, Provo, Utah, remained the No. 1 quaifier, and Mike Mitzel, Billings, Mont., also held on to the top spot in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson.

Racing continues Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gates open at 8 a.m. and eliminations continue at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round of eliminations at noon.

Tickets for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout are $20 for adults and $6 for children 6 to 12 years old. Kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (800) 644-4444, or visit http://www.lvms.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.349 seconds, 261.67 mph
2) Sean O'Bannon, Alta Loma, Calif., 5.368, 267.53
3) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.371, 266.53
4) Garrett Bateman, Cameron Park, Calif., 5.381, 262.08
5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.426, 265.90
6) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.434, 256.55
7) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.443, 260.76
8) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.461, 253.04 

Not Qualified
9)  Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 5.468, 264.49
10) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.474, 260.97
11) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.475, 254.90
12) Kate Harker, Gainesville, Ga., 5.495, 256.99
13) Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.585, 260.51
14) Frank Dischbein, Las Vegas, 5.597, 256.26
15) Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City, Utah, 5.602, 255.00
16) Dick Garlets, Lowell, Ind., 5.689, 241.45
17) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., 5.808, 249.86
18) Darryl Hitchman, Celeste, Texas, 5.845, 251.95
19) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.850, 227.42
20) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.284, 193.65
21) Dave Heitzman, Grand Rapids, Ohio, 6.787, 251.02
22) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 6.839, 209.30
23) Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 6.886, 202.73
24) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 7.318, 132.05
 
First round TAD pairings
1) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.349 seconds, 261.67 mph vs. 
8) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.461, 253.04

2) Sean O'Bannon, Alta Loma, Calif., 5.368, 267.53 vs. 
7) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.443, 260.76

3) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.371, 266.53 vs. 
6) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.434, 256.55

4) Garrett Bateman, Cameron Park, Calif., 5.381, 262.08 vs. 
5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.426, 265.90

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.646 seconds, 254.18 mph
2) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '02 Firebird, 5.655, 254.18
3) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.668, 251.86
4) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '02 Camaro, 5.676, 252.43
5) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.683, 256.75
6) Larry Miner, Lodi, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.690, 251.30
7) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.694, 254.76
8) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.710, 250.27 

Not Qualified
9)  Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '02 Camaro, 5.714, 251.25
10) John Weaver, Newport Beach, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.742, 249.86
11) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.752, 252.19
12) David Ray, Plaistow, N.H., '01 Avenger, 5.786, 247.70
13) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.790, 242.02
14) Jeff Carroll, Santa Barbara, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.821, 249.72
15) Ken Kraus, Great Falls, Mont., '02 Camaro, 5.840, 249.26
16) Mark Woznichak, Riverside, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.844, 248.93
17) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.849, 246.66
18) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '02 Firebird, 5.869, 247.61
19) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.891, 243.15
20) Ross Stickler, Gilbert, Ariz., '03 Corvette, 5.903, 244.25
21) Paul Crifasi, Las Vegas, '95 Integra Type R, 5.939, 241.41
22) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 5.967, 244.29
23) Dale Van Gundy, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Firebird, 5.999, 239.65
24) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 6.136, 229.70
25) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 6.246, 208.01
26) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 7.634, 138.78
 
First round TAFC pairings
1) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga.,` '05 Monte Carlo, 5.646 seconds, 254.18 mph vs. 
8) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.710, 250.27

2) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '02 Firebird, 5.655, 254.18 vs. 
7) Ron August Jr, Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.694, 254.76

3) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.668, 251.86 vs. 
6) Larry Miner, Lodi, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.690, 251.30

4) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '02 Camaro, 5.676, 252.43 vs. 
5) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.683, 256.75

COMP ELIMINATOR
1)  Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '04 Cavalier, D/EA, 8.350 seconds, -0.730 (under index)
2)  David Beckley, Wildomar, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/AA, 6.787, -0.703
3)  Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '05 Cavalier, AA/SM, 7.080, -0.700
4)  Jacklyn Gebhardt, Jacksonville, Ill., dragster, A/ED, 6.661, -0.699
5)  Jeff Taylor, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '05 Grand Am, E/SM, 8.686, -0.684
6)  Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '04 Cavalier, F/SM, 8.900, -0.680
7)  Lee Sharp, Maryville, Tenn., '04 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.573, -0.677
8)  Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.540, -0.670
9)  Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AA, 6.820, -0.670
10) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 8.079, -0.661

SUPER STOCK
1)  Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., '06 Cobalt, SS/CM, 8.824 seconds, -1.376 (under index)
2)  Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.784, -1.336
3)  Mark Nowicki, Gaylord, Mich., '98 Avenger, GT/GA, 10.174, -1.306
4)  Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.365, -1.295
5)  Dominic Camera, Tustin, Calif., '83 Camaro, GT/EA, 9.948, -1.272
6)  Tom Albritton, West Jordan, Utah, '90 Trans Am, SS/DM, 9.180, -1.270
7)  Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Barracuda, SS/FA, 9.757, -1.263
8)  Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/GA, 9.866, -1.254
9)  Jon Percy, Pocatello, Idaho, '64 Savoy, SS/AA, 9.001, -1.249
10) Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Challenger, SS/JA, 10.335, -1.245
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)  Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., '70 Challenger, C/SA, 10.596 seconds, -1.394 (under index)
2)  Harry Doolittle, Wickenburg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, H/FIA, 12.411, -1.369
3)  Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 12.177, -1.303
4)  Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, B/SA, 10.550, -1.290
5)  Bill Howell, Aiken, S.C., '90 Caravan, CF/S, 14.550, -1.280
6)  Don Keen, Palmdale, Calif., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.682, -1.258
7)  Charlie Smith, Modesto, Calif., '69 Dart, C/SA, 10.733, -1.257
8)  Rod Greene, Dunlap, Tenn., '72 Demon, G/S, 11.254, -1.246
9)  John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, D/SA, 10.906, -1.244
10) Kristin Ariotti, Boulder City, Nev., '99 Dakota, F/FIA, 12.027, -1.243
 
TOP COMP
1)  Gary Groves, Provo, Utah, dragster, 6.569 seconds, 190.08 mph
2)  Clif Bakx, Kleefeld, Manit., dragster, 6.630, 203.25
3)  Steve Holloway, Lakewood, Colo., '06 GTO, 6.704, 206.73
4)  Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., dragster, 6.737, 198.29
5)  Todd Hoerner, Deer Park, Wash., '06 GTO, 6.810, 202.91
6)  Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.820, 196.19
7)  Greg Tucker, Lindsay, Okla., '06 GTO, 6.821, 207.72
8)  Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., dragster, 6.830, 200.62
9)  Gary Mason, Dewington, Alb., '66 Corvette, 6.881, 210.47
10) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.916, 194.24
 
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1)  Mike Mitzel, Billings, Mont., '00 Suzuki, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2)  Doug Rathbun, Oak Harbor, Wash., '74 Kawasaki, 0.000
3)  Leo Shaver, Las Vegas, '87 Kawasaki, 0.001
4)  Mike Scott, Bonney Lake, Wash., '06 Kawasaki, 0.002
5)  John Widman, Garberville, Calif., '93 Kawasaki, 0.003
6)  Don Tanklage, Huntington Beach, Calif., '06 Kawasaki, 0.005
7)  Brett Hordemann, Spokane, Wash., '95 Kawasaki, 0.005
8)  Tom Patterson, Tucson, Ariz., '94 Kawasaki, 0.007
9)  Buff Kobs, Coeur D'lene, Idaho, '95 Kawasaki, 0.008
10) Andy Lewis, Las Vegas, '84 Suzuki, 0.008

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