Tue, 17 Sep 2013, 14:34 PM Bateman, Gasparrelli Take Wins at Woodburn

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

WOODBURN, Ore. -- Garrett Bateman and Steve Gasparrelli took home wins this past weekend for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Region event at Woodburn Dragstrip.

Bateman, Albany, Ore., grabbed his first win of the year in Top Alcohol Dragster taking out local favorite Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., in round 1, fellow Oregonian Jeff Ashwell in the semifinals and then former Pacific Division Champion Chris Demke in the final. Bateman ran quicker in each round posting runs of 5.588, 5.545 and a final run of 5.454 to Demke, Tujunga, Calif., who slowed to a 5.639 second lap in the final.

West Covina, Calif., racer Gasparrelli qualified No. 1 in Top Alcohol Funny Car as he and Brian Hough (No. 2 qualifier) worked their way through eliminations for a 1-2 final round match up. Both drivers made their quickest pass of the weekend with Gasparrelli crossing the finish line first with a 5.656 second lap at 255.53 mph to Hough's 5.676, 256.41. The win extends Gasparrelli's point lead in the NHRA West Region Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

West Region racers head to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for their next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Region event, Oct. 31-Nov. 3.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Region event at Woodburn Dragstrip:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round 1
5) Garrett Bateman, Albany, Ore., 5.588, 256.99 def. 4) Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., 6.118,
161.23
8) Jeff Ashwell, Keizer, Ore., 12.780, 55.85 def. 1) Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., broke
6) Megan McKernan, Sierra Madre, Calif., 5.570, 267.69 def. 3) Ray Martin, Anchorage, Alaska, broke
2) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.380, 264.08 def. 7) Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., 5.703, 252.24

Semifinals
Bateman, 5.545, 260.49 def. Ashwell, broke
Demke, 5.346, 264.16 def. McKernan, broke

Final
Bateman, 5.454, 261.17 def. Demke, 5.639, 241.87

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Round 1
1) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.734, 255.60 def. 8) Russ Parker,
Salem, Ore., '02 Camaro, broke
4) John Evanchuk, Edmonton, Alb., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.768, 241.54 def. 5) Jirka Kaplan, Calgary,
Alb., '09 Mustang, 5.752, 248.89
3) Sean Bellemeur, Anaheim, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.701, 255.02 def. 6) Clint Thompson, Klamath
Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.076, 233.28
2) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '10 Mustang, 5.920, 210.42 def. 7) Randy Parker, Puyallup,
Wash., '04 Mustang, 5.987, 234.00

Semifinals
Gasparrelli, 5.668, 256.26 def. Evanchuk, 5.669, 253.80
Hough, 5.692, 256.77 def. Bellemeur, 5.825, 255.82

Final
Gasparrelli, 5.656, 255.53 def. Hough, 5.676, 256.41