February 15-18, 2007

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Bradenton Fl. (Race #1 of 6 Lucas Oil Division Two events)

BRADENTON, Fla. --

Final eliminations

BRADENTON, Fla. --

John Finke
It was a day later than scheduled but the season opener of the NHRA Southeast division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which kicked off Friday at Bradenton Motorsports Park, is complete. Several hours of unexpected track repairs on Sunday forced NHRA and track officials to finish up eliminations today. In the end, Top Alcohol Dragster pilot John Finke and Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Marty Nothstein were upset winners and Bradenton resident Stanley Albritton Jr. scored the win ion Top Dragster.
Finke, a Selkirk, N.Y., resident, faced reigning division champion Aaron Olivarez in the final. Finke outran the Sandy, Utah, racer with a 5.423-second, 269.05 mph pass to Olivarez's 5.439-second, 258.47 mph effort.

Marty Nothstein
Nothstein, Orefield, Pa., took on Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif., in the final round. Nothstein made a 5.627-second, 256.92 mph pass to take the win over Payne's 9.705-second, 90.71 mph run. For Nothstein, an Olympic Gold Medal cyclist, this marked his first trip to a drag racing winner's circle.

Veteran racer Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., earned the win in Comp Eliminator over Pam Miskovosky, Quakertown, Pa. Super Stock racer Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., beat defending national champion Peter Biondo, Queens, N.Y., in the final, and Mickey Whaley, Kinston, N.C., beat Brenda Grubbs, Plant City, Fla., in Stock Eliminator. Elyria, Ohio's Dave Connolly, who also competes in the Pro Stock category in NHRA's PowerAde Drag Racing Series, scored the victory in Super Comp, beating out Scot LaMar, Hawthorne, Fla. In Super Gas, Tom Stalba, Williamstown, N.J., took the stripe from David Tatum III of Palmetto, Ga. Vinny Laudicina, Boca Raton, Fla., won in Super Street, beating Billy Italio of Knoxville, Tenn., and another Knoxville racer, Billy Vaughn, went to the winner's circle in the Top Sportsman class, beating Robert Sellers of Daytona Beach, Fla. Albritton got his win when he beat Kurt Damron Jr. of Fruitland Park, Fla., in the final round.

NHRA Southeast Division racers head to Gainesville, Fla., for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, February 23-25.

The following are Monday's results for from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bradenton Motorsports Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1 (From Sunday)
1) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.526 seconds, 259.36 mph def.
9) Lindsey Wood, McAlpin, Fla., 25.744, 20.51

2) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.845, 261.85 def.
7) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 7.040, 152.15

6) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.565, 236.90 def.
3) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 14.037, 52.14

4) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 5.480, 264.08 def.
5) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 28.700, 17.89

Semifinals
Olivarez, 5.246, 269.94 def. Evans, 5.423, 264.78
Finke, 5.260, 271.73 def. Allen, 5.816, 241.93

Final
Finke, 5.423, 269.05 def. Olivarez, 5.439, 258.47

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1 (From Sunday)
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.547 seconds, 261.62 mph def.
8) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '02 Corvette, no show

2) Bob Newberry, Morriston, Fla., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.927, 248.61 def.
7) Bill Naves, Salisbury, N.C., '99 Avenger, 12.771, 63.83

3) Marty Nothstein, Orefield, Pa., '07 Charger, 5.645, 256.84 def.
6) John Sullivan, Montgomery, Ala., '04 Firebird, no show

5) Charles Gambino, Daytona Bch, Fla., '00 Corvette, 6.528, 224.77 def.
4) Mike Bell, Fulton, Mo., '05 Monte Carlo, 6.643, 203.11

Semifinals
Payne, 5.512, 259.66 def. Gambino, no show
Nothstein, 5.833, 198.85 def. Newberry, 19.951, 43.95

Final
Nothstein, 5.627, 256.92 def. Payne, 9.705, 90.71

COMP ELIMINATOR
Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '05 Sunfire, B/SM, 8.138, 146.15 def.
Pam Miskovosky, Quakertown, Pa., Fritz, C/DA, 7.091, 187.77

SUPER STOCK
Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland, Va., '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 9.246, 148.00 def.
Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y.,'07 Cobalt, SS/CM, 8.928, 146.93

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Mickey Whaley, Kinston, N.C., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.414, 121.72 def.
Brenda Grubbs, Plant City, Fla., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.475, 125.31

SUPER COMP
Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, dragster, 10.388, 99.03 def.
Scot La Mar, Hawthorne, Fla., dragster, 8.911, 180.21

SUPER GAS
Tom Stalba, Williamstown, N.J., '63 Corvette, 9.927, 156.30 def.
David Tatum III, Palmetto, Ga., '05 Corvette, 9.923, 164.20

SUPER STREET
Vinny Laudicina, Boca Raton, Fla., '83 Camaro, 10.961, 124.48 def.
Billy Italio, Knoxville, Tenn., '64 Nova, 10.893, 131.02

TOP SPORTSMAN
Billy Vaughn, Knoxville, Tenn., '01 S-10, 7.200, 178.60 def.
Robert Sellers, Daytona Beach, Fla.,'06 Avenger, 7.124, 187.50

TOP DRAGSTER
Stanley Albritton Jr., Bradenton, Fla., dragster, 7.383, 174.58 def.
Kurt Damron Jr., Fruitland Park, Fla., dragster, 7.061, 176.60

Final qualifying
Qualifying is complete at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The division's defending champions in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, Aaron Olivarez and Jay Payne, respectively, took the No. 1 qualifying spots in their classes. Racers in eight other categories are vying for the first win of the season in NHRA's Southeast division.
Sandy, Utah's Olivarez outran the field with a 5.262-second, 270.51 mph run. The second-place qualifier, John Finke of Selkirk, N.Y., ran 5.317 seconds at 274.72 mph. Olivarez is also the defending event champion.

Payne, a resident of Claremont, Calif., took the top spot by a much slimmer margin than Olivarez, outpacing No. 2 qualifier Bob Newberry, Morrison, Fla., 5.592 seconds (258.39 mph) to 5.593 seconds (259.81 mph). Olympic Gold Medal cyclist Marty Nothstein of Orefield, Pa., was the third-place qualifier with a 5.714-second, 256.19 mph run.

Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., remained the best qualifier in Comp Eliminator, as did Shorter, Ala., racer Bob Dennis in Super Stock. Top qualifiers in other classes were Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., in Stock Eliminator; Ronnie Davis, Suwanee, Ga., in Top Sportsman; and Eddie Careccia, Mars Hill, Fla., in Top Dragster.

Racing continues Sunday at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Gates open at 8 a.m. and eliminations will start at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round at 1 p.m.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event are $20. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

Bradenton Motorsports Park is located on SR 64, nine miles east of I-75 exit 220. For more information call the track, (941) 748-1320, or visit http://http://www.BradentonMotorsports.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bradenton Motorsports Parks:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.262 seconds, 270.51 mph
2) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.317, 274.72
3) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.519, 257.36
4) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 5.532, 251.81
5) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.591, 256.04
6) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.621, 257.21
7) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.274, 210.62
8) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 6.767, 174.55

Not Qualified
9) Lindsey Wood, McAlpin, Fla., 13.114, 63.75

First round TAD pairings
1) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.262 seconds, 270.51 mph vs.
8) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 6.767, 174.55

2) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.317, 274.72 vs.
7) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.274, 210.62

3) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.519, 257.36 vs.
6) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.621, 257.21

4) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 5.532, 251.81 vs.
5) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.591, 256.04

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.592 seconds, 258.39 mph
2) Bob Newberry, Morriston, Fla., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.593, 259.81
3) Marty Nothstein, Orefield, Pa., '07 Charger, 5.714, 256.19
4) Mike Bell, Fulton, Mo., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.866, 242.52
5) Charles Gambino, Daytona Bch, Fla., '00 Corvette, 6.132, 231.66
6) John Sullivan, Montgomery, Ala., '04 Firebird, 6.430, 231.00
7) Bill Naves, Salisbury, N.C., '99 Avenger, 7.421, 188.71
8) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '02 Corvette, 15.365, 50.30

First round TAFC pairings
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.592 seconds, 258.39 mph vs.
8) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '02 Corvette, 15.365, 50.30

2) Bob Newberry, Morriston, Fla., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.593, 259.81 vs.
7) Bill Naves, Salisbury, N.C., '99 Avenger, 7.421, 188.71

3) Marty Nothstein, Orefield, Pa., '07 Charger, 5.714, 256.19 vs.
6) John Sullivan, Montgomery, Ala., '04 Firebird, 6.430, 231.00

4) Mike Bell, Fulton, Mo., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.866, 242.52 vs.
5) Charles Gambino, Daytona Bch, Fla., '00 Corvette, 6.132, 231.66

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '05 Sunfire, B/SM, 8.036 seconds, -0.704 (under index)
2) Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga., '05 Cavalier, F/AA, 8.017, -0.693
3) Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., '06 Pontiac, F/AA, 8.026, -0.684
4) Joe Castaldo, Center Moriches, N.Y., '07 Cobalt, B/AA, 7.075, -0.655
5) Pat Ross, Avon Lake, Ohio, '05 Grand Am, F/A, 8.039, -0.651
6) Rick Hord, Kissimmee, Fla., '63 Corvette, BB/A, 7.535, -0.615
7) Pam Miskovosky, Quakertown, Pa., dragster, C/DA, 7.099, -0.571
8) Bert Dawson, E. Liverpool, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, F/AA, 8.144, -0.566
9) Jenny Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., dragster, E/ED, 8.364, -0.546
10) Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '03 Cavalier, C/EA, 8.254, -0.496

SUPER STOCK
1) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/MA, 10.659 seconds, -1.391 (under index)
2) Brian Oakes, Williamstown, N.J., '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.123, -1.377
3) Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '05 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.049, -1.351
4) David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., '69 Corvette, SS/BA, 8.868, -1.332
5) David Jackson, Columbus, N.C., '92 Firebird, GT/FA, 9.784, -1.316
6) Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., '07 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.771, -1.279
7) Bob Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.792, -1.258
8) Rick Brewer, Jacksonville, Fla., '67 Corvette, SS/IA, 9.744, -1.256
9) Mark Nowicki, Gaylord, Mich., '98 Avenger, GT/GA, 9.974, -1.226
10) Grant Lewis, Jesup, Ga., '67 Camaro, SS/DM, 8.976, -1.224

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.283 seconds, -1.267 (under index)
2) Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '95 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.464, -1.236
3) Jimbo Fields, Gallatin, Tenn., '86 Camaro, G/SA, 11.079, -1.221
4) Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '83 Malibu, K/SA, 11.732, -1.218
5) Victor Guilmino III, Martinsburg, W.V., '71 Mustang, D/SA, 10.652, -1.198
6) Ralph Porpora, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., '69 Camaro, A/S, 10.063, -1.187
7) Jim Wahl, Deltona, Fla., '91 Spirit, BF/S, 13.765, -1.185
8) Edmond Richardson, Greenbrier, Tenn., '02 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.521, -1.179
9) David Lindsay, Ft. Pierce, Fla., '95 Cobra, C/FI, 10.777, -1.173
10) Peter Noriega, Hileah, Fla., '80 Malibu, M/SA, 11.986, -1.164

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Ronnie Davis, Suwanee, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.580 seconds, 212.76 mph
2) Dewey Pedrick, Lighthouse Pt., Fla., '63 Corvette, 6.728, 207.56
3) Jerry Barker, Fort Valley, Ga., '07 Cobalt, 6.864, 203.98
4) Jack Nunez, New Smyrna, Fla., '63 Corvette, 6.895, 189.47
5) Mike Gardener, Haymarket, Wash., '04 Grand Am, 6.904, 202.20
6) Daniel Morrow, Bradenton, Fla., '06 GTO, 6.932, 200.53
7) Ben Donhoff, Melbourne, Fla., '93 Daytona, 6.978, 214.23
8) Rick Davis, Parrish, Fla., '02 Firebird, 6.991, 190.23
9) Jason Wood, Live Oak, Fla., '68 Camaro, 7.073, 194.38
10) Scott Davis, Pompano Beach, Fla., '97 Cutlass, 7.095, 195.77

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Eddie Careccia, Mars Hill, Fla., dragster, 6.213 seconds, 215.98 mph
2) Matt Gilmore, Altamonte Springs, Fla., '32 Bantam, 6.272, 225.56
3) Henry Outhouse, Apopka, Fla., dragster, 6.668, 203.02
4) Jeffy Duke Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., '00 Boz, 6.686, 199.68
5) Charlie Cullotto, Palm City, Fla., dragster, 6.787, 196.76
6) Bill Empke, W. Palm Beach, Fla., dragster, 6.855, 197.62
7) Ken Wells, Orlando, Fla., dragster, 6.900, 192.34
8) Dan Seidel, Port St. Lucie, Fla., dragster, 6.911, 194.63
9) Kurt Damron Jr., Fruitland Park, Fla., dragster, 6.938, 191.48
10) Jeff Keen, Palmetto, Fla., dragster, 7.040, 187.46