NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals, Friday from No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, La.

JEGS CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS KICKS INTO GEAR

            BELL ROSE, La. (March 19, 2010) – In the first rounds of qualifying at No Problem Raceway and the NHRA JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals, New Jersey racer Frank Aragona leads the Comp Eliminator field in his ’01 dragster with Steve Szupka, Willow Springs following in the No. 2 spot.

            More than 400 cars came out this weekend from across the United States with all seven of NHRA’s divisions being represented.  Coming out of the Southeast Division and Montepelier, Vt., is John Benoit who qualified No. 1 in Top Sportsman with a pass of 6.473 seconds at 211.89 mph.  Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., and Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, are second and third at 6.614 and 6.689 seconds respectively.

            Tom Elliott posted the quickest time of the day in Top Dragster at 6.149 seconds, 226.09 mph in qualifying No. 1 and is followed by Michael Kile, Westlake, La., 6.331, 213.87 mph.

Arthur Leong of Richmond, Ga., put his ’95 Dodge on top in Super Stock followed by Rock Hass, White Lake, Mi., in his ’08 Shelby GT Mustang.  In Stock Eliminator, Wade Owens leads the field out of Cape Cirardeau, Mo., in his ’66 Chevelle.  All three racers, along with local runner Jeff Teuton, Houma, La., took home trophies today for winning there respective classes within Stock and Super Stock.

Ronnie Harris topped the Sportsman Motorcycle class presented by Harley Davidson with a perfect 0.000 second reaction time on his ’03 Harley Davidson.

            This weekend’s event actually kicked off on Thursday with the annual Celebrity/Media Drag Race including various local officials from Assumption Parish and local law enforcement agencies.  Sterling Automotive brought out six new Dodge Chargers for the event with Ray Traigle of the Assumption Sheriff’s office driving one to the win over Gene Becnel of Crescent Crown Distributing.

Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at No Problem Raceway at 9 a.m. with Top Sportsman and Top Dragster making their final qualifying runs at 10 a.m. and noon.  The top eight cars in each class will come back for a specialty shootout event in the afternoon.  Comp Eliminator will make runs at 1 and 4 p.m. for their final qualifying.  Also on tap for Saturday is the King of the Bayou race for the super classes and Stock/Super Stock CIC race for those racers.  Mixed in with all the action will be exhibition runs by a pair of Jet Dragsters, along with some Top Fuel Harley Motorcycles and a pair of Pro Stock Motorcycles.  Gates open at 8 a.m. 

            Tickets are $20 each day and kids 10 and under are free.  For more information, call No Problem Raceway, (985) 369-3692 or visit www.noproblemraceway.com.

            The following are Friday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals event at No Problem Raceway:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., dragster, F/ED, 8.013 seconds, -0.777 (under index)

2) Steve Szupka, Willow Groove, Pa., '32 Bantam, G/EA, 8.110, -0.720

3) Scott Cashio, Ventress, La., '07 Cobalt, B/SMA, 7.983, -0.707

4) Keith Hall, Ravenna, Texas, '05 Cavalier, D/SM, 8.289, -0.691

5) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '07 Cobalt, D/SM, 8.311, -0.669

6) Steve Holloway, Lakewood, Colo., '06 GTO, B/AA, 6.982, -0.638

7) Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '08 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.923, -0.637

8) Chase Williams, Carthage, Texas, '07 GTO, C/A, 7.347, -0.623

9) Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., dragster, C/D, 6.820, -0.620

10) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '07 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.942, -0.618

SUPER STOCK

1) Arthur Leong, Richmond Hill, Ga., '95 Neon, SS/GS, 12.692 seconds, -1.158 (under index)

2) Rock Haas, White Lake, Mich., '08 Mustang, SS/DA, 9.087, -1.113

3) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '90 Calais, GT/MA, 10.640, -1.110

4) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '05 Cavalier, GT/CA, 9.323, -1.077

5) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '05 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.425, -1.075

6) Gary Summers, Franklin, Ky., '85 Mustang, SS/N, 10.883, -1.067

7) Lloyd Wofford, Jonesboro, Ark., '78 Volare, SS/JA, 9.957, -1.043

8) Allan Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '66 Nova, SS/KA, 10.210, -1.040

9) Jeff Dona, Gordonville, Mo., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 9.565, -1.035

10) David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., '69 Corvette, SS/AA, 8.672, -1.028

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Wade Owens, Cape Girardeau, Mo., '66 Chevelle, M/SA, 11.726 seconds, -1.124 (under index)

2) Billy Lynn, McRae, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.542, -1.108

3) Steve Szupka, Willow Grove, Pa., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.359, -1.091

4) Dean Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.573, -1.077

5) Dempsey Pendarvis, Gonzales, La., '01 Firebird, A/SA, 9.959, -1.041

6) Robert Holmes, Englewood, Ohio, '77 Firebird, J/SA, 11.409, -1.041

7) Gary Richard, Bay Shore, N.Y., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.383, -1.017

8) David Buckner, New Waverly, Texas, '72 Plymouth, F/SA, 10.844, -1.006

9) Kent LaPorte, Lafayette, La., '91 Camaro, I/SA, 11.301, -0.999

10) Lenny Williams, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., '71 Gran Sport, F/SA, 10.857, -0.993

TOP SPORTSMAN

1) John Benoit, Montpelier, Vt., '68 Camaro, 6.473 seconds, 211.89 mph

2) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '07 GTO, 6.614, 207.34

3) Mike Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, '06 Cobalt, 6.689, 207.66

4) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '06 GTO, 6.738, 208.97

5) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '06 GTO, 6.791, 203.55

6) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 6.818, 200.71

7) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '01 S-10, 6.818, 198.82

8) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '08 GXP, 6.819, 201.16

9) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '68 Camaro, 6.834, 200.59

10) Vince Hoda, Diamondhead, Miss., '00 Firebird, 6.865, 203.06

TOP DRAGSTER

1) Tom Elliott, Brooks, Ky., dragster, 6.149 seconds, 226.09 mph

2) Michael Kile, Westlake, La., dragster, 6.331, 213.87

3) Phil Unruh, McPherson, Kan., dragster, 6.532, 210.21

4) Jenifer White, Conroe, Texas, dragster, 6.617, 203.37

5) Loretta Eckert, Calhoun, La., dragster, 6.618, 204.70

6) John Angelle, Breaux Bridge, La., dragster, 6.628, 203.00

7) Todd Schumert, LaPlace, La., dragster, 6.646, 203.25

8) Robert LeJune, Eunice, La., dragster, 6.666, 206.54

9) William Kruse, Alvin, Texas, dragster, 6.671, 203.58

10) Robert Cool, La Place, La., dragster, 6.678, 199.70

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

1) Ronnie Harris, Metarie, La., '03 Harley, ETMX, 0.000 seconds reaction time

2) Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '85 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.003

3) Ricky Leblanc, Prairieville, La., '80 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.005

4) Mike McCullah, Houston, '00 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.006

5) Raegan Gentili, Crosby, Texas, '83 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.006

6) James Enloe, Prairieville, La., '86 Suzuki, ETMX, 0.006

7) Robert Sanders, Houston, '04 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.007

8) Todd Blanchard, Napoleonville, La., '91 CBR, ETMX, 0.012

9) Tyson Dufrene, Des Allemands, La., '01 Honda, ETMX, 0.015

10) Randal Guitreau, Prairieville, La., '75 Kawasaki, ETMX, 0.021