Red River Saturday summary

Massey & Payne strive for Victory

Gilliam, La. --Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Spencer Massey and Top Alcohol Funny car driver Jay Payne lead qualifying for this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Red River Raceway.

Massey of Fort Worth, Texas, topped the field with a qualifying run of 5.451 seconds at 266.42 mph, good enough to edge out Kate Harker of Gainesville , Ga., In Top Alcohol Payne took the top spot with a time of 5.769 seconds at 252.52 mph. Ro Yale of Houston, Texas, will certainly have his hands full when he shoots off against Payne who won this event last year in the first round tomorrow.

Craig Bourgeois who hails from Metarie, La, narrowly missed taking top honors in Competition Eliminator to Rodger Brogdon of Tomball , Texas , who took his '02 Cavalier to a 8.423 second run. In Super Stock Houma, La, resident James Caro had the day's best time of 8.649 seconds.

In Stock Eliminator Kent LaPorte (No.2), Patrick Courts (No.3) and Sam Pourciau (No.4) all La., residents fell just a bit short of David Buckner from New Waverly, Texas., Buckner wheeled his '72 Duster to the pole with a time of 10.832 seconds.

Keith Raftery who calls Lake Charles, La. , Home took the best time in Top Sportsman. All the while his La. , counterpart Michael Kile of Westlake took the honors in Top Dragster. Shane Eperjesi of Lake Dallas, Texas, and Chris LeBouef from Lafayette , La. , had perfect reaction times in Sportsman Motorcycle.

Racing continues Sunday at 9 a.m. Gates open at 8.a.m. Tickets are $20 for adults; children 6-12 are $5 and kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information, call Red River Raceway at (318) 296-4500 or visit www.redriverraceway.net

-credit: nhra