Sept. 19, 2005

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Div 4 Noble Oklahoma

NOBLE, Okla. --
NOBLE, Okla. -- Steve Torrence continued his domination in Top Alcohol Dragster landing his seventh win of the year and controls his own destiny for the national championship.

The Kilgore, Texas, racer qualified No. 1 and outran the field finishing James Thompson in the final with a 5.435 second pass at 259.14 mph. Thompson, who led early, clocked in at 5.535 seconds, 252.24 mph.

Richard McClain scored his first win with a 5.921 second pass at 240.25 mph over Bernie Harrington who recorded his third final round appearance this year. McClain beat division point's leader Jimmy Jones in the semi-finals before meeting up with No. 1 qualifier Harrington.

Local racers Brandon Pierce of Moore, Okla., in Top Alcohol Dragster and Ron Morrison of Oklahoma City, in Top Alcohol Funny Car fell in round one of eliminations. Pierce ran 6.740 seconds at 154.03 in his loss to Aaron Olivarez while Morrison went 6.418 at 227.44 in his loosing effort to Jones.

Shane Heckel, in his second final round of the year, knocked out Todd Patterson for his first win with a 6.895 second lap at 200.08 mph.

Houma, La., racer Joe Teuton Jr., ran his '68 Barracuda to a 9.321 second, 140.60 mph win against Vic Penrod in Super Stock and James Paul put his '73 Duster in the winner's circle taking out Rodney Parks in Stock Eliminator.

In Super Street it was Rustin Mayse taking on Moore, Okla., racer Jeremy Wilson with Mayse taking the win in his '69 Camaro while Heidi Robinson won in Super Comp over Anthony Castillo. Jesse Serna of El Paso, Texas, extended his division points lead beating Jeromy Hefler with a 9.917 second run at 141.53 mph.

Gerald Jordan became the sixth different winner in the South Central Division Sportsman Motorcycle class taking out Bruce Calhoun with a 9.423 second, 142.36 mph run on his Suzuki. Rocky McClain scored his second win in Top Dragster taking out Kevin Ford with a 7.451 second, 178.78 mph pass and Scott Randall rounded out the winner's list with a 7.390 second win in the Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman class at 191.65 mph over Rex Underwood.

The South Central Division racers head to Texas Motorplex for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, October 14-16.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder in the Heartland event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
ROUND 1

4) Aaron Olivarez, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 5.613, 259.81 def.
5) Brandon Pierce, Moore, Okla., 6.740, 154.03

3) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.546, 254.66 def.
6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.669, 254.38

2) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.601, 249.86 def.
7) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.674, 252.31

1) Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, 5.498, 255.46 def.
8) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, 6.256, 238.15

SEMI-FINALS
Thompson, 5.652, 243.24 def. Snow, 5.816, 241.54
Torrence, 5.520, 256.84 def. Olivarez, 5.660, 259.06

FINALS
Torrence, 5.435, 259.14 def. Thompson, 5.535, 252.24

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND 1

2) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.868, 247.18 def.
9) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '97 Camaro, 6.418, 227.44

3) Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '03 Firebird, 16.181, 47.34 def.
6) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., '96 Achieva, foul

1) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.622, 235.23 def.
8) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Avenger, 19.078, 74.58

4) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 6.032, 245.36 def.
5) Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, '04 Firebird, 6.041, 238.03

SEMI-FINALS
McClain, 5.951, 239.74 def. Jones, 7.029, 154.77
Harrington, 5.870, 247.25 def. Williams, 6.018, 244.89

FINALS
McClain, 5.921, 240.25 def. Harrington, 10.645, 74.57

COMP ELIMINATOR
Shane Heckel, LaPorte, Texas, dragster, B/D, 6.895, 200.08 def.
Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '32 Plymouth, B/SR, foul.

SUPER STOCK
Joe Teuton Jr., Houma, La., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 9.321, 140.60 def.
Vic Penrod, Walters, Okla., '95 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.565, 127.28.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
James Paul, Ft. Worth, Texas, '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.508, 109.75 def.
Rodney Parks, Ft. Worth, Texas, '72 Buick Wgn, O/SA, 12.968, 101.12.

SUPER COMP
Heidi Robison, Gardner, Kan., dragster, 8.897, 178.81 def.
Anthony Castillo, Grandview, Wash., dragster, 8.919, 174.82.

SUPER GAS
Jesse Serna, El Paso, Texas, '03 Grand Am, 9.917, 141.53 def.
Jeromy Hefler, Kennedale, Texas, '67 Nova, 9.921, 131.17.

SUPER STREET
Rustin Mayse, Frost, Texas, '69 Camaro, 10.914, 119.68 def.
Jeremy Wilson, Moore, Okla., '80 Corvette, 10.938, 128.42.

MOTORCYCLE
Gerald Jordan, Kyle, Texas, '92 Suzuki, 9.423, 142.36 def.
Bruce Calhoun, Hope, Ark., '84 Kawasaki, 9.406, 140.88.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '02 Cavalier, 7.390, 191.65 def.
Rex G. Underwood, Ft. Worth, Texas, '91 Beretta, 7.995, 163.13.

TOP DRAGSTER
Rocky McClain, Ft. Worth, Texas, dragster, 7.451, 178.78 def.
Kevin Ford, Amarillo, Texas, dragster, 7.247, 186.99.

Thunder in the Heartland, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Thunder Valley Raceway Park, is slated for September 16-18. Drivers in eight categories from NHRA's South Central Division will race for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman Series and the Top Dragster and Sportsman Motorcycle classes will also run in conjunction with the event.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, current points leader Jimmy Jones has been to the final round in the last four events. The Cleburne, Texas, racer has stacked up wins at three of those races including the last one, at Cherokee County Motorsports Park in Rusk, Texas, where he beat Jackie Stidham of Chickasha, Okla., in the final. Stidham, the reigning division champ, is in second place in the point standings, 57 ticks back. The two veteran racers also squared off in the final round at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn., in June with Stidham taking the win. If Jones can hang on to the points lead he will earn his first division title. For Stidham, the 2004 crown was his sixth.

Former division Top Alcohol Funny Car titlist Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M., may also want a say in where the championship goes. Branch opened the season with a win at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, and was runner-up to Jones at the next race, at Texas Motorplex in Dallas. However, the three-time champ suffered a fire that destroyed his car at the race at Red River Raceway in Gilliam, La. He had been sidelined since the incident but returned to action recently and will be looking to pick up where he left off in division competition.

Only eight points separate first place from third place in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. Steve Torrence, a rookie in the class, is leading, just one point ahead of Lee Callaway. Racing legend Gene Snow is in third place. Torrence, a Kilgore, Texas, resident, has two wins and a runner-up finish in four races this season. In his Top Alcohol Dragster debut, at Red River Raceway in Gilliam, La., he was runner-up to Snow, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas. At the next race, at Memphis Motorsports Park, it was a repeat match-up in the final round but Torrence scored the win. At the division's next event, at Cherokee County Motorsports Park, Torrance took on Channelview, Texas' Callaway in the final and earned his second win. Callaway picked up a win in August at an out-of-division race in Cecil, Ga.

In Super Stock, Jerry and Gary Emmons, brothers from Pasadena, Texas, are battling it out for first place. Jerry is in the lead by nine points. They have faced off in the final round twice and Jerry has won both times. Jerry and Gary along with their brother Terry, also a racer, are triplets. They compete along side their older brother Harvey III. Gary and Harvey each have four division championships and Terry has one. If Jerry hangs on to the points lead, he will earn his first division crown.

Gates at Thunder Valley Raceway open at 8 a.m. each day and qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will have one qualifying session on Friday, at 8 p.m., and two on Saturday, at 3 and 7 p.m. Eliminations start at 9 a.m. Sunday. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run first round of eliminations at noon.

Friday's tickets are $15 and include general admission and a pit pass. Saturday tickets are $5 for the Spectator Grandstand or $15 for general admission and a pit pass. Sunday tickets are $10 for the Spectator Grandstand or $20 for general admission and a pit pass. Children 6 to 12 are admitted free to the Spectator Grandstand and a pit pass is $5 each day.

Thunder Valley Raceway Park is located off Highway 77 South, south of Highway 9E. From I-35 take exit 108A (Hwy. 9E) east to Highway 77 and go south. Follow the signs to the track. For more information call the track, (405) 872-3429, or visit www.okthunder.com.

NHRA South Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will close out the 2005 season at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, October 14-16.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES FACT SHEET

WHAT: Thunder in the Heartland at Thunder Valley Raceway Park, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the sixth of seven in South Central Division competition. The division's Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman Series, Top Dragster category and Sportsman Motorcycle class will also be run in conjunction with the event.

WHERE: Thunder Valley Raceway Park, Noble, Okla. Track is located off Highway 77 South, south of Highway 9E. From I-35 take exit 108A (Hwy. 9E) east to Highway 77 and go south. Follow the signs to the track.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, September 16-18, 2005

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 17 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 3 and 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 18 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations begin at 9 a.m. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at noon.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS - Friday, $15 (General Admission and Pit Pass); Saturday, $5 (Spectator Grandstand), $15 (General Admission and Pit Pass); Sunday, $10 (Spectator Grandstand), $20 (General Admission and Pit Pass). Children 6 to 12 are free to the Spectator Grandstand and a Pit Pass is $5 each day. Kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Thunder Valley Raceway Park, (405) 872-3429.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $147,890, as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $560,000.

2004 EVENT WINNERS: Gene Snow, Top Alcohol Dragster; Steve Gasparrelli, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Rodger Brogdon, Comp Eliminator; James Kunkel, Super Stock; Tommy Phillips, Stock Eliminator; Ray Connolly, Super Comp; Vernon Rowland, Super Gas; Frank Nichols Jr., Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2006 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2006 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

SUNSET RACING ENGINES TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Top Sportsman class are vying for division championships. The top points finisher will earn a year-end bonus of $1,000 and the runner-up will get $500. Top Sportsman racers may run the seven South Central Division Lucas Oil events as well as three Lucas Oil Series races in either the Southeast or North Central Divisions.