February 15-18, 2007

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Div 4 Baytown Texas, Houston Raceway Park

BAYTOWN, Texas --

Sunday elims

BAYTOWN, Texas --

Despite the cold weather, the season opening NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park is in the books. Morgan Lucas scored the win in Top Alcohol Dragster and Von Smith took the win in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Lucas, who is also piloting a Top Fuel Dragster in NHRA's PowerAde Drag Racing Series, earned the win with a 5.605-second pass at 271.79 mph over defending division champion Spencer Massey of Fort Worth, Texas. Massey broke on the run and did not get a time. In the opening round of eliminations, Lucas powered out a 5.274-second run and in the semis the Brownsburg, Ind., racer ran 5.271 second at 268.54 mph.

Top Alcohol Funny Car winner Smith, a former NHRA Southeast division champion from Oak Ridge, Tenn., grabbed the win over Kennedale, Texas' Kebin Kinsley. In the final round, both cars had trouble but Smith managed to get a 6.296-second, 236.22 mph pass out of it while Kinsley came in at 8.181 seconds and 108.29 mph.

Pasadena, Texas, racer Jerry Emmons made it to the final round both Super Stock and Stock Eliminator. The 34-year-old, the division's reigning Super Stock champion, took the win in Super Stock and was runner-up to Jim Hale, Van Buren, Ark., in Stock Eliminator. Richard Feeman, Pauls Valley, Okla., won in Comp Eliminator while Matt Levatino, La Place, La., got the win in Super Comp. Joining the others in the winner's circle were Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, in Super Gas; Jay Bunce, Moore, Okla., in Super Street; Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., in Top Sportsman; Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, La., in Top Dragster; and Henry Keele, San Antonio, Texas, in Sportsman Motorcycle.

South Central Division racers head to No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, March 2-4.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.355, 263.51 def.
8) Kate Harker, Gainesville, Ga., 5.444, 263.26

2) Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.274, 270.92 def.
7) Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson, Texas, 7.495, 116.40

3) Shawn Langdon, Mira Loma, Calif., 5.360, 270.70 def.
6) James Thompson Jr, Vernon, Texas, 15.082, 71.94

5) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 5.390, 250.60 def.
4) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.588, 243.99

Semifinals
Massey, 5.346, 259.61 def. Pierce, 5.356, 237.50
Lucas, 5.271, 268.54 def. Langdon, 9.208, 91.16

Final
Lucas, 5.605, 271.79 def. Massey, broke

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '02 Camaro, 5.843, 252.90 def.
9) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '06 Monte Carlo, 6.365, 174.53

2) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.879, 202.42 def.
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 19.637, 56.29

3) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.721, 254.28 def.
6) Will Hanna, Richwood Village, Texas, '05 Monte Carlo, 9.554, 96.74

5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.729, 254.66 def.
4) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '05 Monte Carlo, 8.252, 108.39

Semifinals
Smith, 5.760, 253.33 def. Jones, 5.764, 252.24
Kinsley, 12.980, 80.19 def. Harker, broke

Final
Smith, 6.296, 236.22 def. Kinsley, 8.181, 108.29

COMP ELIMINATOR
Richard Freeman, Pauls Valley, Okla., '07 Cobalt, E/AA, 9.417, 92.47 def.
Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '05 Sunfire, E/SMA, foul

SUPER STOCK
Jerry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.443, 132.86 def.
Slate Cummings, Hammond, La., '98 Grand Am, SS/BS, foul

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jim Hale, Van Buren, Ark., '67 Barracuda, G/SA, 11.033, 117.55 def.
Jerry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '69 Chevelle, I/SA, 11.613, 111.51

SUPER COMP
Matt Levatino, La Place, La., dragster, 8.923, 177.84 def.
Tommy Costales, Manvel, Texas, dragster, 8.896, 181.52

SUPER GAS
Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, '63 Corvette, 9.941, 158.07 def.
Chris Arnold, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, '92 Camaro, 9.896, 155.96

SUPER STREET
Jay Bunce, Moore, Okla., '64 Plymouth, 10.925, 127.15 def.
Jay Costales, League City, Texas, '67 corvette, 10.901, 142.29

TOP SPORTSMAN
Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.806, 201.94 def.
Chris Gulitti, Spring, Texas, '96 Trans Am, 7.241, 171.73

TOP DRAGSTER
Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, La., dragster, 7.275, 176.12 def.
Tony Giambrone II, Metairie, La., dragster, 7.967, 164.33

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Henry Keele, San Antonio, Texas, '82 Kawasaki, 9.061, 140.68 def.
David Latino, Donaldsonville, La., '05 Suzuki, 8.082, 157.08

Final qualifying
The second and final day of qualifying at Houston Raceway Park's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event is complete. Defending division Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Spencer Massey held on to his No. 1 qualifying spot while in Top Alcohol Funny Car Von Smith took over the top spot.
Massey, the 24-year-old racer out of Fort Worth, Texas, improved on his opening day elapsed time by nearly two-tenths of a second. His effort today, 5.274 seconds at 267.06 mph, was more than enough to put him ahead of No. 2 qualifier Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., who ran 5.371 seconds at 264.55 mph. Lucas is competing in two NHRA classes this year. He is campaigning his Top Alcohol Dragster in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and a Top Fuel Dragster in NHRA's PowerAde Drag Racing Series. Division newcomer and class rookie, Kate Harker of Gainesville, Ga., is piloting the dragster owned by racing legend Tom Conway. In her debut, Harker qualified in the No. 8 spot. The 23-year-old Harker is the daughter of Top Alcohol Funny Car competitor Steve Harker.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying, the elder Harker failed to improve on Friday's run and dropped from the No. 1 qualifying spot to No. 3. Smith, a former Southeast division champion from Oak Ridge, Tenn., ran 5.673 seconds at 254.09 mph to take over the top spot. No. 2 qualifier in the class was Kebin Kinsley of Kennedale, Texas, who made a 5.753-second, 242.19 mph pass.

In other qualifying classes, Lee Sharp, Louisville, Tenn., stayed in the top position in Comp Eliminator, as did Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., in Super Stock, and Thomas Moock, Eagle, Neb., in Stock Eliminator. In Top Sportsman, Earl Folse, Raceland, La., was the top qualifier and Douglas Barnhart, Katy, Texas, outpaced the field in Top Dragster. Shane Eperjesi qualified No. 1 in the Sportsman Motorcycle class.

Racing continues Sunday at Houston Raceway Park. Gates open at 8 a.m. and eliminations start at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round at noon.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event are $22 for adults and $12 for children 6 to 12 years old. Kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

Houston Raceway Park is located at 2525 FM 565 South in Baytown. For more information call Houston Raceway Park, (281) 383-RACE, or visit http://www.HoustonRaceway.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 Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.274 seconds, 267.06 mph
2) Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.371, 264.55
3) Shawn Langdon, Mira Loma, Calif., 5.420, 264.75
4) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.434, 255.34
5) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 5.463, 240.34
6) James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, 5.488, 258.02
7) Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson, Texas, 5.666, 235.19
8) Kate Harker, Gainesville, Ga., 5.837, 233.20

Not Qualified
9) Chris Holley, Freeport, Texas, 6.055, 218.55
10) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 7.114, 195.19
11) Darryl Hitchman, Greenville, Texas, 9.492, 93.61

First round TAD pairings
1) Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.274 seconds, 267.06 mph vs.
8) Kate Harker, Gainesville, Ga., 5.837, 233.20

2) Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.371, 264.55 vs.
7) Darvin Martinets, Lake Jackson, Texas, 5.666, 235.19

3) Shawn Langdon, Mira Loma, Calif., 5.420, 264.75 vs.
6) James Thompson Jr, Vernon, Texas, 5.488, 258.02

4) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 5.434, 255.34 vs.
5) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 5.463, 240.34

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '02 Camaro, 5.673 seconds, 254.09 mph
2) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.753, 242.19
3) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.769, 232.47
4) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.854, 236.88
5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.954, 249.76
6) Will Hanna, Richwood Village, Texas, '05 Monte Carlo, 6.154, 244.47
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 6.384, 222.91
8) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.647, 229.00

Not Qualified
9) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '06 Monte Carlo, (no time)

First round TAFC pairings
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '02 Camaro, 5.673 seconds, 254.09 mph vs.
8) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.647, 229.00

2) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.753, 242.19 vs.
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 6.384, 222.91

3) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.769, 232.47 vs.
6) Will Hanna, Richwood Village, Texas, '05 Monte Carlo, 6.154, 244.47

4) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.854, 236.88 vs.
5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.954, 249.76

Competition Eliminator
1) Lee Sharp, Louisville, Tenn., '03 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.332 seconds, -0.758 (under index)
2) Chase Williams, Carthage, Texas, '05 Grand Am, F/SM, 8.668, -0.752
3) Sean Dodd, Double Oak, Texas, '05 Cobalt, B/AA, 6.990, -0.740
4) Clark Smiley, Denver City, Texas, '05 Cavalier, G/SM, 8.751, -0.739
5) Shane Heckel, La Porte, Texas, dragster, B/D, 6.574, -0.716
6) Steve Kent, Lottie, La., '02 Cavalier, G/SM, 8.780, -0.710
7) Mark Kirkman, Monmouth, Ill., '05 Grand Am, B/AA, 7.031, -0.699
8) Richard Freeman, Pauls Valley, Okla., '07 Cobalt, E/AA, 7.669, -0.691
9) Ernest Watson Sr., Humble, Texas, '05 Cavalier, C/SM, 8.172, -0.688
10) Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '05 Sunfire, E/SMA, 8.452, -0.678

Super Stock
1) Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., '66 Chevy II, SS/K, 9.898 seconds, -1.402 (under index)
2) Shaun LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn., '88 Mustang, GT/A, 9.027, -1.273
3) Todd Frantz, Louisville, Ky., '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.502, -1.198
4) Irvin Johns, Charlestown, Ind., '02 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.631, -1.169
5) Richard Dick Lux, San Antonio, Texas, '64 Comet, SS/M, 10.746, -1.154
6) Red LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.498, -1.152
7) Jerry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.556, -1.144
8) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '07 Cobalt, GT/AA, 9.260, -1.140
9) Gary Emmons, Friendswood, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.192, -1.108
10) Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '56 Nomad, SS/NA, 11.363, -1.087

Stock Eliminator
1) Thomas Moock, Eagle, Neb., '81 Malibu, M/SA, 11.787 seconds, -1.363 (under index)
2) Patrick Courts Sr., New Iberia, La., '87 Trans Am, H/FIA, 12.098, -1.352
3) Bill McClister, Shoreacres, Texas, '72 Mustang, E/SA, 10.683, -1.317
4) Fred Henson, Madisonville, Texas, '70 Challenger, A/SA, 9.985, -1.315
5) Kevin Helms, Lindale, Texas, '69 Camaro, B/S, 10.200, -1.300
6) Austin Ford, Spring, Texas, '67 Shelby, D/SA, 10.576, -1.274
7) Sammy LaPorte, New Iberia, La., '87 Firebird, G/FIA, 11.903, -1.247
8) Terry Landry, Baton Rouge, La., '98 Camaro, C/FIA, 10.753, -1.247
9) Britt Cummings, Hammond, La., '98 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.496, -1.204
10) Kent LaPorte, New Iberia, La., '91 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.747, -1.203

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Earl Folse, Raceland, La., '68 Camaro, 6.594 seconds, 209.33 mph
2) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '04 Grand Am, 6.632, 210.05
3) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.656, 205.26
4) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.790, 200.38
5) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '06 GTO, 6.812, 201.97
6) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '07 Cobalt, 6.861, 201.04
7) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '02 Cavalier, 6.992, 196.67
8) Todd Drummond, Kiln, Miss., '04 Monte Carlo, 7.010, 195.93
9) Steve Benoit, Lafayette, La., '03 Chevy, 7.058, 198.58
10) Phillip Muse, Tomball, Texas, '68 Camaro, 7.110, 184.35

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Douglas Barnhart, Katy, Texas, dragster, 6.748 seconds, 195.42 mph
2) John Garner, Houston, dragster, 6.773, 194.13
3) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.776, 205.01
4) Chris LeBouef, Lafayette, La., dragster, 6.841, 200.95
5) Robert Cool, LaPlace, La., dragster, 6.841, 195.11
6) Mark Jones, Marrero, La., dragster, 6.926, 194.83
7) Chris Bermond, Bay St. Louis, Miss., dragster, 6.958, 198.09
8) Brandon Chauvin, Gonzales, La., dragster, 6.993, 193.07
9) Mark Hambelton, Sachse, Texas, dragster, 7.014, 188.83
10) Peter Vicari, Morrero, La., dragster, 7.026, 188.17

Sportsman Motorcycle
1) Shane Eperjesi, Lake Dallas, Texas, '83 Suzuki, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) Michael Matthews, LaGrange, Texas, '84 Suzuki, 0.001
3) James Kay, Porter, Texas, '92 Suzuki, 0.002
4) Henry Keele, San Antonio, Texas, '82 Kawasaki, 0.002
5) J.J. Hughes, The Colony, Texas, '00 Suzuki, 0.003
6) Bruce Calhoun, Hope, Ark., '84 Ninja, 0.004
7) Lee Paterson, Livingston, Texas, '85 Suzuki, 0.004
8) Alex Barwettler, Maplewood, Minn., '78 Kawasaki, 0.004
9) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '03 Kawasaki, 0.004
10) Peter Pollet, Paulina, La., '88 Harley, 0.006