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PAC: Las Vegas Saturday summary

MANNERS, BATEMAN ARE TOP QUALIFIERS AT LUCAS OIL EVENT AT LVMS LAS VEGAS -- Racers from across North America have come to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to compete in the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of ...

MANNERS, BATEMAN ARE TOP QUALIFIERS AT LUCAS OIL EVENT AT LVMS

LAS VEGAS -- Racers from across North America have come to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to compete in the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The event is the last of the season in the 44-race series and competitors are vying for last-minute points leading to divisional and national championships. By the time qualifying was complete today, Michael Manners of Willis, Texas managed to hold on to his No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Alcohol Dragster while Roger Bateman of Calgary, Alb., moved in to the top spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Only eight cars in each of the two alcohol-fueled categories will be around for eliminations and there were a total of 19 cars in TAD and 23 cars in TAFC trying to make the cut.

Manners did not improve on Friday's pass of 5.263 seconds at 270.27 mph but it was more than enough to hold off the competition. Boulder City's Duane Shields moved from the No. 9 spot to the No. 2 position with a 5.323-second, 271.57 mph pass. Del Cox Jr. of Downey, Calif., did not better his initial qualifying pass and slipped from No. 2 to No. 3 today.

Bateman rocketed from the nineteenth spot to the top of the TAFC field with a 5.579-second, 256.21 mph lap. He pulled ahead of Friday's best qualifier, Steve Harker of Gainesville, Ga., who did not better his Friday run. Harker fell to the second spot while Paso Robles, Calif., racer Doug Gordon moved into the third position, up from No. 8.

In Comp Eliminator, Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alb., stayed in the No. 1 spot while Greg Tucker, Lindsay, Okla., set the pace in Top Sportsman, moving past Greg Lair of Canyon, Texas, who was in the top seat after Friday's qualifying. Top Dragster pilot Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., moved to the top of his field, up from the fourth spot, supplanting Michael Kile of Westlake, La. Sportsman Motorcycle racers got their first hit at the track today and Katie Sullivan, Corning, Calif., rode to the top of the field. In the exhibition Top Fuel Harley class, Phil Schmidt of Orangevale, Calif., is the No. 1 qualifier with a 6.277-second, 218.87 mph pass.

Competitors in Super Stock and Stock Eliminator had their final qualifying runs on Friday and Upland, Calif.'s Frank Grossi was No. 1 in Super Stock and Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., was atop the Stock Eliminator field. Those categories, along with Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street all ran first round of eliminations tonight.

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

Tickets for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout are $19. Children are $5.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located on Speedway Blvd., exit 54 off Interstate 15. For more information call the track, (800) 644-4444, or visit 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 The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.263 seconds, 270.27 mph
2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.323, 271.57
3) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.331, 271.41
4) Kimmelyn Buff Pesz, The Woodlands, Texas, 5.338, 264.86
5) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., 5.356, 269.08
6) Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City, 5.363, 263.98
7) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.364, 261.78
8) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.370, 265.22

Not Qualified
9) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.391, 267.32
10) Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.417, 257.43
11) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 5.417, 249.81
12) Justin Davis, Murrieta, Calif., 5.432, 263.67
13) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.432, 260.01
14) Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.436, 265.69
15) Bobby Mirizio, Riverside, Calif., 5.453, 260.31
16) Kevin Wayman, South Jordan, Utah, 5.511, 257.09
17) Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.602, 240.59
18) Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 6.014, 232.39
19) Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 7.040, 181.25

First round TAD pairings

1) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.263 seconds, 270.27 mph vs. 8) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.370, 265.22

2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.323, 271.57 vs. 7) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.364, 261.78

3) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.331, 271.41 vs. 6) Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City, 5.363, 263.98

4) Kimmelyn Buff Pesz, The Woodlands, Texas, 5.338, 264.86 vs. 5) Shawn Cowie, Richmond, B.C., 5.356, 269.08

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '08 Mustang, 5.579 seconds, 256.21 mph
2) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.602, 256.55
3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.621, 256.50
4) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.634, 257.92
5) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.651, 256.60
6) Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo., '01 Firebird, 5.661, 252.43
7) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.683, 252.24
8) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.719, 252.28

Not Qualified
9) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.756, 246.26
10) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.761, 250.27
11) Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '08 Charger, 5.762, 251.34
12) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.769, 249.21
13) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '02 Firebird, 5.791, 247.29
14) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 5.797, 250.64
15) Paul Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., '02 Firebird, 5.860, 244.69
16) Keeter Ray, Newport Beach, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.865, 246.30
17) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '02 Firebird, 5.883, 245.49
18) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '00 Trans Am, 5.896, 247.84
19) Rian Konno, Rosemead, Calif., '02 Trans Am, 5.997, 239.40
20) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 6.043, 196.50
21) Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 6.109, 241.76
22) Trevor Lebsack, Slave Lake, Alb., '05 Camaro, 6.266, 237.92
23) Mike Drake, Glendora, Calif., '01 Avenger, 8.390, 110.01

First round TAFC pairings

1) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '08 Mustang, 5.579 seconds, 256.21 mph vs. 8) Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.719, 252.28

2) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.602, 256.55 vs. 7) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '08 Mustang, 5.683, 252.24

3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.621, 256.50 vs. 6) Terry Ruckman, Grand Junction, Colo., '01 Firebird, 5.661, 252.43

4) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.634, 257.92 vs. 5) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.651, 256.60

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alb., '23 roadster, AA/AM, 6.068 seconds, -1.062 (under index)
2) Mark Wolfe, Marysville, Wash., '94 Thunderbird, AA/AT, 6.463, -0.687
3) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, C/SMA, 8.335, -0.665
4) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '08 Cobalt, I/AA, 8.286, -0.654
5) Justin Lamb, Henderson, Nev., '08 G5, D/SMA, 8.517, -0.643
6) Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '07 Cobalt, F/AA, 8.137, -0.633
7) Scott Hedlund, Anaheim, Calif., '08 Cobalt, A/SM, 7.948, -0.632
8) Brian Darcy, Newburgh, N.Y., dragster, A/ND, 6.962, -0.628
9) John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '99 Neon, C/AA, 7.533, -0.627
10) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '08 Cobalt, F/AA, 8.148, -0.622

SUPER STOCK

1) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.147 seconds, -1.513 (under index)
2) Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '05 Cavalier, SS/CM, 8.573, -1.467
3) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '91 Calais, GT/MA, 10.912, -1.438
4) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Challenger, SS/FA, 9.642, -1.378
5) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '08 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.840, -1.360
6) Kip Martin, Phoenix, '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.502, -1.338
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/IA, 9.957, -1.313
8) Colin Wigle, Amherstburg, Ont., '05 Mustang, GT/AA, 9.350, -1.310
9) Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Challenger, SS/JA, 10.271, -1.309
10) Byron Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '96 Camaro, SS/IA, 9.999, -1.271

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Bob Mulry, Gilroy, Calif., '74 Firebird, K/SA, 11.671 seconds, -1.599 (under index)
2) Hal Sorensen, Vancouver, Wash., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.309, -1.531
3) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 12.093, -1.387
4) Jim Waldo, Richland, Wash., '02 Firebird, B/S, 10.415, -1.375
5) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.467, -1.373
6) John Shaul, Fultonham, N.Y., '64 Fury, A/SA, 10.243, -1.337
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.129, -1.321
8) Andy Kimball, Henderson, Nev., '66 Fairlane, E/S, 10.933, -1.317
9) Bob Aceves, Coarsegold, Calif., '68 Firebird, E/SA, 10.993, -1.307
10) Harry Doolittle, Wickenberg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, N/SA, 12.383, -1.247

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) Greg Tucker, Lindsay, Okla., '07 GTO, 6.566 seconds, 210.83 mph
2) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '05 Grand Am, 6.754, 206.01
3) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.876, 191.40
4) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '07 GTO, 6.953, 200.56
5) Dave Slatten, Fort Collins, Colo., '05 Grand Am, 6.959, 198.93
6) Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, '07 Cobalt, 6.980, 196.30
7) Ken Tupper, Spokane, Wash., '49 Ford, 7.013, 196.85
8) Rich Takahashi, San Gabriel, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.045, 194.97
9) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.062, 196.22
10) Gary Ross, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.062, 193.82

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., dragster, 6.147 seconds, 233.92 mph
2) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.200, 221.09
3) Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., dragster, 6.219, 218.05
4) Derik Milanesio, Strathmore, Calif., dragster, 6.242, 218.30
5) Lyle Burnham, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.741, 200.98
6) Jenifer White, Conroe, Texas, dragster, 6.750, 199.05
7) Russell Suyenaga, Bellflower, Calif., dragster, 6.769, 201.73
8) Don Steed, Fallbrook, Calif., dragster, 6.813, 202.76
9) Kevin Ford, Amarillo, Texas, dragster, 6.840, 194.24
10) Paul Gladden, Tracy, Calif., dragster, 6.871, 196.02

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

1) Katie Sullivan, Corning, Calif., '87 Ninja, SMC, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) Rick Newport, West Valley, Utah, '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.002
3) Gary Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '06 H-D, SMC, 0.003
4) Tom Lannie, Tucson, Ariz., '94 Suzuki, SMC, 0.004
5) Bill Burkhart, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Suzuki, SMC, 0.005
6) Mitchel Lippen, Cave Creek, Ariz., '02 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.006
7) Pete Miclette, Garberville, Calif., '97 GSXR, SMC, 0.007
8) Andy Lewis, Las Vegas, '97 Suzuki, SMC, 0.011
9) Jay Matthews, Henderson, Nev., '98 GSX-R, SMC, 0.011
10) Nick Kessler, Medford, Ore., '78 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.012

TOP FUEL HARLEY

1) Phil Schmidt, Orangevale, Calif., dragster, 6.277 seconds, 218.87 mph
2) Doug Vancil, Cedar Crest, N.M., dragster, 6.387, 217.88
3) Steve Dorn, Milwaukie, Ore., dragster, 6.409, 215.72
4) Ron Houniet, Maple Ridge, B.C., dragster, 6.415, 213.64
5) Andy Beauchemin, Sherwood Park, Alb., dragster, 6.546, 207.02
6) John Breckenridge, Sultan, Wash., dragster, 6.552, 217.00
7) Damian Cownden, Victoria, B.C., dragster, 6.612, 211.76
8) Michael Romine, Sturgis, Mich., dragster, 6.727, 181.67
9) Griz Robinson, Pueblo, Colo., dragster, 6.870, 185.43
10) Chicago Joe Scatella, Richmond, Calif., dragster, 6.884, 202.12

-credit: nhra

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