NHRA DIV. 7 LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES UNDER WAY AT THE STRIP

Courtesy Jerrie Foss, NHRA

Qualifying began Thursday, Oct. 30 for the Short Line Express Market Las Vegas Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Div. 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

More than 750 racers from across the country are expected to compete this weekend in what is the last of 45 events in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.  Drivers competing in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street are vying for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships.  Several of the titles on both levels could be decided this weekend. 

The division's Kerker Motorcycle Series featuring Sportsman Motorcycle and the Korbel Super E class will also run in conjunction with the event. Top qualifiers after day-one of racing were Santo Volpe of Drums, Pa., in Comp Eliminator; Bill Chaffin Jr. of Woodland Hills, Calif., in Super Stock; and Gene Buell of Hesparia, Calif., in Stock.

Qualifying and time trials continue Friday but no spectator admission is available.  Racing action will also take place Saturday and Sunday.  Gates open at 7 a.m. both days and racing beings immediately. 

Tickets are $20 both days.  Children 6-12 are $6 both days and kids 5 and under are admitted free.  For more information, call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (702) 644-4444.

The following are qualifying results from the Short Line Express Market Las Vegas Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

COMP ELIMINATOR

1) Santo Volpe, Drums, Calif., '32 roadster, A/SR, 8.037 seconds, -0.743 under index

2) Jirka Kaplan, Calgary, Alb., '23-T Ford, BB/AM, 7.313, -0.697

3) Thomas Schmidt, Linstrom, Minn., '33-T Ford, C/SR, 8.796, -0.634

4) Vinnie Deceglie, Alta Loma, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/A, 6.730, -0.630

5) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '02 Grand Am, B/A, 7.284, -0.626

6) Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '99 Camaro, PSTA, 7.819, -0.611

7) Mike DePalma Jr., Glendale, Ariz., '99 Neon, B/A, 7.305, -0.605

8) Steve Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., '34 Chevy, S/SR, 8.828, -0.602

9) Adam Bowdish, West Linn, Ore., '89 Trans Am, F/SM, 9.041, -0.599

10) Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.645, -0.595

SUPER STOCK

1) Bill Chaffin Jr., Woodland Hills, Calif., '87 GM, SS/DX, 8.217    

seconds, -1.363 under index

2) Harry Holton, Modesto, Calif., '68 Belvedere, SS/AA, 8.911, -1.339

3) Dave Rayburn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 8.949, -1.301

4) John Stock, Sandusky, Ohio, '85 Camaro, GT/IA, 10.501, -1.289

5) Gene McBean, Chardon, Ohio, '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.849, -1.271

6) Steve Sweitzer, Jersey Shore, Pa., '92 Firebird, GT/EA, 10.014, -1.206

7) Robert Cruzen, Cleveland, Okla., '02 S-10, GT/TC, 10.483, -1.197

8) Jim Weakland, Morrison, Colo., '68 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.949, -1.171

9) Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 9.087, -1.163

10) Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.785, -1.155

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1) Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., '70 Challenger, D/SA, 10.881 seconds, -1.269 under index

2) Chris Whitney, Sun Valley, Calif., '67 Fairlane, F/S, 11.134, -1.266

3) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, B/SA, 10.607, -1.233

4) Marka Gallina, Henderson, Nev., '89 Trans Am, E/FIA, 11.714, -1.196

5) Jeff Lee, Anthem, Ariz., '70 AMX, E/S, 11.071, -1.179

6) Don Keen, Palmdale, Calif., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.780, -1.160

7) Neil Smedley, Phoenix, '81 Trans Am, P/SA, 12.946, -1.144

8) Don Wann, Modesto, Calif., '73 Satellite, I/SA, 11.776, -1.134

9) Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., '77 Cutlass, K/SA, 12.147, -1.123

10) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '77 Volare, I/SA, 11.793, -1.117