SC: Houston Saturday summary

Massey and Harker Motor Into Sunday

BAYTOWN, TX. -- Mother Nature was not all that kind to the racers out in Baytown today however; numerous minor rain delays would not stop NHRA and track officials from completing qualifying. Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Spencer Massey, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver Steve Harker, from Gainesville, Ga., continued their Friday success taking the top qualifying spots.

Massey's pass of 5.271 seconds at 278.06 mph relegated his nearest competitor Aaron Tatum, from Oklahoma City, to the No. 2 position. Baytown, Texas resident Lee Callaway holds the No. 2 qualifying spot in the Top Alcohol Funny Car field running his '07 Mustang to a time of 5.693 seconds.

In Top Dragster action the pole position battle came down to three Texas residents. Douglas Barnhart, of Katy, Texas, would take the No. 3 position, Joseph Collier, from Clyde, Texas, the No. 2 position and topping the list was Willis, Texas, resident Michael Manners. Manners hit a top speed of 222.91 mph. leaving him the class best time of 6.046 seconds. Manners is doing double duty this weekend racing in both the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes, where he holds the No. 1 and No. 4 qualifying spots respectively.

Adam Hickey, of Hammond, La., topped the charts in the Comp Eliminator class leaving the Lucas Oil Divisional Champion Craig Bourgeois, from Metarie, La. in the second spot. Coming from the No. 5 qualifying rank on Friday, Gilbert Johnson, from Lecompte, La., set the bar in the Super Stock category in his '91 Calais. In the Stock Eliminator class Kent LaPorte, who hails from Lafayette, La., would sit atop the qualifying sheet for the second day in a row, driving his '91 Camaro to a time of 11.519 seconds.

Houston resident Robert Sanders fell one step short of the top spot in the Sportsman Motorcycle class due to the performance of James Enloe, from Prairieville, La., atop his '86 Suzuki. Last but not least Earl Folse, of Raceland, La., took the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Sportsman racing his '68 Camaro to a class best time of 6.435 seconds.

Racing continues Sunday at Houston Raceway Park. Gates open at 8 a.m. with racing set to begin at 9 a.m. Tickets are $20; children 6 to 12 years old are $5 each day and kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Houston Raceway Park, (281) 383-RACE or log onto www.HoustonRaceway.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.271 seconds, 278.06 mph
2) Aaron Tatum, Oklahoma City, 5.326, 272.12
3) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.341, 259.81
4) Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson, Texas, 5.346, 267.00
5) Darryl Hitchman, Celeste, Texas, 5.382, 255.15
6) Travis Nicholson, Collinsville, Okla., 5.403, 267.16
7) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.430, 262.08
8) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., 5.435, 264.65
Not Qualified
9) Todd Odom, Dallas, 5.613, 260.31
10) Malcolm Wahle, Claremore, Okla., 5.631, 249.72
11) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 5.651, 270.81
12) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 6.138, 238.01
13) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 6.175, 218.09
14) Chris Holley, Freeport, Texas, 11.376, 101.25

First round TAD pairings
1) Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.271 seconds, 278.06 mph vs. 8) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., 5.435, 264.65

2) Aaron Tatum, Oklahoma City, 5.326, 272.12 vs. 7) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.430, 262.08

3) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.341, 259.81 vs. 6) Travis Nicholson, Collinsville, Okla., 5.403, 267.16

4) Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson, Texas, 5.346, 267.00 vs. 5) Darryl Hitchman, Celeste, Texas, 5.382, 255.15

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.540 seconds, 259.56 mph
2) Lee Callaway, Baytown, Texas, '07 Mustang, 5.693, 253.85
3) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.712, 255.63
4) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.747, 251.39
5) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '03 Camaro, 5.771, 249.03
6) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.921, 241.45
7) Nancy Matter, Austin, Texas, '02 Camaro, 6.019, 246.26
8) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '06 Monte Carlo, 6.077, 207.98
Not Qualified
9) Ro Yale, Houston, '96 Avenger, 6.621, 185.41

First round TAFC pairings
1) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.540 seconds, 259.56 mph vs. 8) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '06 Monte Carlo, 6.077, 207.98

2) Lee Callaway, Baytown, Texas, '07 Mustang, 5.693, 253.85 vs. 7) Nancy Matter, Austin, Texas, '02 Camaro, 6.019, 246.26

3) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.712, 255.63 vs. 6) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.921, 241.45

4) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.747, 251.39 vs. 5) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '03 Camaro, 5.771, 249.03

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Adam Hickey, Hammond, La., '06 Cobalt, C/SMA, 8.168 seconds, -0.692 (under index)
2) Craig Bourgeois, Metarie, La., dragster, B/ND, 7.028, -0.642
3) Shane Heckel, Baytown, Texas, dragster, B/D, 6.646, -0.614
4) Clark Smiley, Denver City, Texas, '04 Cavalier, B/SM, 8.070, -0.610
5) Raymond Martin, Mt Belvieu, Texas, '32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.778, -0.602
6) Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '05 Sunfire, E/SM, 8.565, -0.595
7) Joey Tanksley, Grnwell Sprgs, La., dragster, C/D, 6.951, -0.589
8) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '07 Cobalt, E/SM, 8.577, -0.583
9) Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '07 Cobalt, B/A, 7.082, -0.568
10) Stephen Rosen, Harahan, La., dragster, G/ED, 8.098, -0.562

SUPER STOCK
1) Gilbert Johnson, Lecompte, La., '91 Calais, GT/JA, 10.414 seconds, -1.186 (under index)
2) Slate Cummings, Hammond, La., '04 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.872, -1.178
3) Byron Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '07 G5, SS/BS, 8.908, -1.142
4) Tony Cowell, Weatherford, Texas, '81 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.491, -1.109
5) Jonathan Womack, Houston, '05 Cavalier, SS/BS, 8.954, -1.096
6) Chris Chaney, Claremore, Okla., '02 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.615, -1.085
7) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '05 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.334, -1.066
8) Jerry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '05 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.648, -1.052
9) Johnny Covington, Center, Texas, '98 Grand Am, GT/DA, 9.766, -1.034
10) Bill Gibbs, Lufkin, Texas, '69 Dart, SS/HA, 9.901, -0.999

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Kent LaPorte, Lafayette, La., '91 Camaro, J/SA, 11.519 seconds, -1.231 (under index)
2) S.E. Buchanan, Hot Springs, Ark., '67 Barracuda, G/SA, 11.123, -1.177
3) Patrick Courts, New Iberia, La., '87 Trans Am, N/SA, 12.127, -1.173
4) John Duzac, Covington, La., '67 Camaro, D/S, 10.654, -1.146
5) Kevin Scott, Rowlett, Texas, '90 Trans Am, K/SA, 11.816, -1.134
6) R.J. Sledge, Boerne, Texas, '67 Fairlane, F/SA, 11.029, -1.121
7) Sam Pourciau, Walker, La., '00 Z28, B/SA, 10.440, -1.110
8) Butch Marlow, Canton, Texas, '69 Camaro, H/SA, 11.350, -1.100
9) Bill McClister, Shoreacres, Texas, '72 Mustang, E/SA, 10.921, -1.079
10) Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., '02 Firebird, B/SA, 10.472, -1.078

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE PRESENTED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON
1) James Enloe, Prairieville, La., '86 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2) Robert Sanders, Houston, '04 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.000
3) Eddie Glaze, Houston, '90 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.000
4) Kevin Cook, Houston, '06 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.001
5) James Kay, Porter, Texas, '92 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.001
6) Lee Paterson, Livingston, Texas, '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.001
7) Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003
8) Doug Hawkins, Sugarland, Texas, '00 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.004
9) Randal Guitreau, Prairieville, La., '75 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.004
10) Kevin Krott, Waxahachie, Texas, '05 Hayabusa, ETMX, 0.004

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.435 seconds, 218.37 mph
2) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '06 GTO, 6.470, 213.13
3) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, '58 Corvette, 6.521, 216.58
4) Glen Barrilleaux, Oakwood, Texas, '06 GTO, 6.650, 214.79
5) Greg Tucker, Lindsay, Okla., '06 GTO, 6.660, 212.76
6) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '06 GTO, 6.665, 208.39
7) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '04 Grand Am, 6.735, 209.14
8) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '57 Chevy, 6.789, 203.95
9) Keith Haney, Broken Arrow, Okla., '06 GTO, 6.796, 205.69
10) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.909, 196.62

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, dragster, 6.046 seconds, 222.91 mph
2) Joseph Collier, Clyde, Texas, dragster, 6.089, 225.37
3) Douglas Barnhart, Katy, Texas, dragster, 6.189, 221.38
4) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.312, 217.39
5) Joe Holzer, Houston, dragster, 6.553, 203.65
6) Don Aydelott, Vernon, Texas, dragster, 6.592, 207.59
7) Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, Texas, dragster, 6.679, 204.85
8) Todd Schumert, LaPlace, La., dragster, 6.743, 201.70
9) Pete Vicari, Crown Pt, La., dragster, 6.759, 198.52
10) Scott Williamson, DeRidder, La., dragster, 6.768, 199.91

-credit: nhra