Monday, September 12, 2011

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Champion Raceway, Medford, Ore.

SEVERANCE AND HOUGH WIN BIG AT CHAMPION RACEWAY

MEDFORD, Ore. – Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., won his third Northwest division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Top Alcohol Dragster this past weekend at Champion Raceway. Severance, who also won last month at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, met Ray Martin, Anchorage, Ala., in the final round. Although Martin had a quicker ET and speed, 5.527 seconds at 258.22 mph, Severance got off the line quicker and was able to claim the victory with a final pass of 5.550 seconds, 245.14 mph.

Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., also experience good fortune in threes. His win at Champion Raceway over the weekend in Top Alcohol Funny Car was his third straight Lucas Oil Series event win at the track in three years. Hough also is currently third in Northwest division points.



In Comp Eliminator, Randy Jones held off Dale Giroux in the final round to earn the trip to the Winner’s Circle. Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., raced his ’01 S-10 against Giroux, Canyon Creek, Alb., and his ’04 Cavalier to earn his 4th place position in Northwest division points.

Currently second place in national point standings and first in division for Super Stock, Jackie Alley had a win over the weekend to help her get there, her second divisional win of the season. The Eagle, Idaho, resident drove a ’69 Camaro against the ’68 Camaro that had Tom Armanino, San Mateo, Calif., behind the wheel. Off to a good start, Alley’s reaction time set her off faster than Amanino and helped secure her winning pass of 9.848 seconds at 128.15 mph.

Other California drivers dominated several classes over the weekend as well. In Stock Eliminator, Mike Loge, Antioch, Calif., came out strong and defeated Jim Devine, Yakima, Wash., in the finals. Kyle Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo, Calif., took home the win in Super Comp over Mike Shannon, Kelowna, B.C. Rizzoli’s pass of 8.927 seconds at 156.94 mph earned him his second consecutive Northwest divisional win this year. Valinda, Calif., driver Val Torres, met Medford, Ore., driver Steve Apted in the finals. Both driving Corvettes, Torres outran the ’67 version with his ’63 during his final run of 9.926 seconds at 163.45 mph. In Sportsman Motorcycle, Garberville, Calif., rider John Widmann, took home the win to cap off California winners.

Also taking homes wins over the weekend were a pair of Washington drivers and an Oregon resident. Josh Dalrymple, Sunnyside, Wash., raced his ’67 Camaro against Travis Ringguth, Grand Praire, Alb., in the Super Street finals. Dalrymple ended up victorious with a 10.962 second run with a top speed of 143.37 mph. In Top Sportsman, Randy Johnson, Snohomish, Wash., defeated Mike Williams, Tilley, Alb., with a run of 7.716 seconds at 169.57 mph. Springfield, Ore., resident Mike Hilsendager, won in Top Dragster to bring home the final win of local drivers.

Northwest Division racers now head for Woodburn, Ore., and Woodburn Dragstrip for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for the rain delayed event, September 16.

The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northwest Division Northwest Championships at Champion Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Round 1

1) Joey Severance, Woodburn, Ore., 5.684, 243.24 def. 6) Ashley Bart, Calgary, Alb., 6.602, 124.50

2) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., 5.601, 252.00 def. 5) James Butler, Prescott, Ariz., 5.992, 196.73

3) Ray Martin, Anchorage, Alaska, 5.539, 237.71 def. 4) Kenny Buzdas, Yuba City, Calif., 5.692, 251.81

Semifinals

Severance, 5.513, 256.89 was unopposed

Martin, 5.540, 255.10 def. Austin, broke

Final

Severance, 5.550, 245.14 def. Martin, 5.527, 258.22

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Round 1

3) Jeff Ashwell, Keizer, Ore., '09 Mustang, 6.012, 237.38 def. 4) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '04 Camaro, 6.352, 230.61

1) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '11 Mustang, 5.875, 243.46 was unopposed

5) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '11 Monte Carlo, 5.958, 240.04 def. 2) Steve Gasparrelli, W. Covina, Calif., '11 Monte Carlo, 6.211, 187.18

Semifinals

Hough, 5.902, 242.98 def. Ashwell, 6.055, 236.13

Thompson, broke was unopposed

Final

Hough, broke was unopposed

COMP ELIMINATOR

Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '01 S-10, C/TA, 8.661, 154.05 def. Dale Giroux, Canyon Creek, Alb., '04 Cavalier, B/AA, 7.265, 192.60

SUPER STOCK

Jackie Alley, Eagle, Idaho, '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.848, 128.15 def. Tom Armanino, San Mateo, Calif., '68 Camaro, SS/IA, 10.299, 128.19

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Mike Loge, Antioch, Calif., '79 Volare, H/SA, 11.978, 110.61 def. Jim Devine, Yakima, Wash., '72 Duster, G/S, 11.811, 102.73

SUPER COMP

Kyle Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo, Calif., dragster, 8.927, 156.94 def. Mike Shannon, Kelowna, B.C., dragster, 8.918, 169.38

SUPER GAS

Val Torres, Valinda, Calif., '63 Corvette, 9.926, 163.45 def. Steve Apted, Medford, Ore., '67 Corvette, 9.931, 164.77

SUPER STREET

Josh Dalrymple, Sunnyside, Wash., '67 Camaro, 10.962, 143.37 def. Travis Ringguth, Grand Praire, Alb., '86 Camaro, 10.891, 137.64

TOP SPORTSMAN

Randy Johnson, Snohomish, Wash., '04 Cavalier, 7.716, 169.57 def. Mike Williams, Tilley, Alb., '03 Corvette, 7.758, 167.32

TOP DRAGSTER

Mike Hilsendager, Springfield, Ore., dragster, 7.713, 170.49 def. Paul Nero, Eugene, Ore., dragster, 7.344, 182.08

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '98 Kawasaki, 8.688, 152.49 def. Miles Hauer, Seattle, Wash., '04 Suzuki, broke