WHITELEY WINS AGAIN
MORRISON, Colo. (June 20, 2011) – In his 4th consecutive Top Alcohol Dragster event win at the Grease Monkey Thunder on the Mountain at Bandimere Speedway, Jim Whitely also scored his 5th consecutive number one qualifier for that West Central division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., faced James Stevens, Gothenburg, Neb., in the finals. Steven’s best run of the weekend, 5.700 seconds at 254.33 mph came in the finals when Whiteley claimed his victory at 5.527 seconds at 258.81 mph.
2010 Super Comp National Champion, Gary Stinnett, earned his second West Central division victory this year on Sunday. Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., met Mike Cooper, Brighton, Colo., in the finals where he had a 9.497 second pass at 174.37 mph to take the win.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, the 2010 runner-up, Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., made it to the Winner’s Circle for his first West Central divisional event win this year. Bateman defeated Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, who had made three appearances in the finals this year, including a win at SRCA Dragstrip.
Another SRCA Dragstrip winner, Clint Neff, Arvada, Colo., made it to the final round over the weekend. Neff, the West Central division 2010 Comp Eliminator champion, faced Lou Ficco, Jr., Wheat Ridge, Colo., for the last run down the strip where Ficco earned the win. One more Wheat Ridge resident, Michael Otis, made it to the finals at Bandimere Speedway and won in Super Street. Otis raced down the strip against Max Tafoya, Albuquerque, N.M., where he ran 11.539 seconds at 128.86 mph against Tafoya’s 11.492 seconds at 115.60 mph. `
In Super Stock, Todd Morse, Littleton, Colo., drove his ’88 Mustang to a win over Ron Parness, Conifer, Colo., and his ’67 Chevy II. Morse had a winning run for 11.028 seconds at 118.15 mph against Parness’ 10.571 second run at 123.44 mph.
With a perfect reaction time, Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., took home a win in the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson. Voss ran a 9.787 second pass at 133.07 mph and defeated Joe Herron, Fremont, Neb., on his ’09 Kawasaki.
Colorado drivers took home the win in the remaining class. Stock Eliminator saw Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., defeat Randy Johnson, Axtell, Neb., in the finals. Johnson drove his ’67 Mustang to a 12.367 second victory at 117.22 mph. Shawn Kennedy, Highlands Ranch, Colo., took home the win in Top Sportsman in his ’49 Plymouth against Ashton Premer, Pierce, Neb., with a run for 8.280 seconds at 156.41 mph. Littleton, Colo. Drivers Kevin Moore and Karla Rhodes each brought home a victory in Super Gas and Top Dragster, respectively. Moore out ran Chuck Rose, S. Sioux City, Neb., and Rhodes defeated Steve Johnson from Arvada, Colorado in the final round.
West Central Division racers head to Cordova Raceway Park for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, August 12-13.
The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division Grease Monkey Thunder on the Mountain:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
3) James Stevens, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.714, 254.57 def. 2) Christine Chambless, Scott City, Kan., broke
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.503, 259.31 def. 4) Eugene Tumbarello, Denver, Colo., 5.839, 236.67
Final
Whiteley, 5.527, 258.81 def. Stevens, 5.700, 254.33
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., '10 Mustang, 5.890, 242.45 was unopposed
2) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '04 Camaro, 5.963, 236.55 def. 7) Steve Griboski, Aurora, Colo., '02 Firebird, 6.552, 211.30
3) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '10 Monte Carlo, 6.034, 240.00 def. 6) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '05 Camaro, 6.257, 230.49
4) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '10 Mustang, 6.010, 240.89 def. 5) Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, '05 Firebird, 6.038, 235.89
Semifinals
Williams, 5.962, 236.17 def. Hool, 5.970, 241.02
Bateman, 5.902, 242.67 def. Moats, 5.922, 242.36
Final
Bateman, timing problem def. Williams, no show
COMP ELIMINATOR
Lou Ficco Jr., Wheat Ridge, Colo., '09 GXP, B/AP, 13.325, 65.36 def. Clint Neff, Arvada, Colo., '23 roadster, K/A, foul
SUPER STOCK
Todd Morse, Littleton, Colo., '88 Mustang, GT/FA, 11.028, 118.15 def. Ron Parness, Conifer, Colo., '67 Chevy II, SS/GA, 10.571, 123.44
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., '67 Mustang, C/SA, 12.367, 117.22 def. Randy Johnson, Axtell, Neb., '78 Volare, J/SA, foul
SUPER COMP
Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., dragster, 9.497, 174.37 def. Mike Cooper, Brighton, Colo., dragster, foul
SUPER GAS
Kevin Moore, Littleton, Colo., '34 Chevrolet, 10.518, 158.11 def. Chuck Rose, S. Sioux City, Neb., '71 Challenger, 10.489, 143.19
SUPER STREET
Michael Otis, Wheat Ridge, Colo., '64 Nova, 11.539, 128.86 def. Max Tafoya, Albuquerque, N.M., '66 Nova, 11.492, 115.60
TOP SPORTSMAN
Shawn Kennedy, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '49 Plymouth, 8.280, 156.41 def. Ashton Premer, Pierce, Neb., '04 Escort, 7.692, 180.12
TOP DRAGSTER
Karla Rhodes, Littleton, Colo., dragster, 7.361, 178.85 def. Steve Johnson, Arvada, Colo., dragster, 6.929, 192.80
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '09 Kawasaki, 9.787, 133.07 def. Joe Herron, Fremont, Neb., '81 Suzuki, foul
SUPER COMP SHOOTOUT
Jeremy Demers, Carroll, Iowa, dragster, 9.535, 168.45 def. Adam Chioda, Erie, Colo., dragster, 9.540, 163.73
SUPER GAS SHOOTOUT
Shane Heupel, Castle Rock, Colo., '70 Camaro, 10.497, 137.43 def. Mitch Mustard, Arvada, Colo., '63 Corvette, 10.479, 148.46
SUPER STREET SHOOTOUT
Jeremy Lehrke, Omaha, Neb., '75 Vega, 11.577, 117.31 def. Lori Vang, Parker, Colo., '67 Chevelle, 11.620, 122.21
