NHRA RETURNS TO MID-MICHIGAN

        

STANTON, Mich. - After a lengthy year absence, the Mid-Michigan Motorplex has returned to the NHRA member track family bringing back NHRA Championship Drag Racing to the Motorplex. This weekend's Bar's Leaks NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by Auto Value features 250 mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars along with a special Saturday night exhibition match up between Top Fuel racers Shirley Muldowney and Bruce Litton followed by Jet Cars and Wheel Standers.

In today's first round of qualifying it was Ken Perry in Top Alcohol
Dragster and Chuck Cheeseman in Top Alcohol Funny Car on top of their respective categories. 

        Dragster pilot Perry, of Toronto, Ont. CAN, made a 5.600-second, 247.40 mph run to put him ahead of Jeff Wilson who follows in second at 5.606, 253.73. Local favorite Bill Reichert of Owasso, Mich., smoked the tires and will need to improve in tomorrow's final qualifying rounds if he hopes to be in Sundays eliminations. 

        Defending North Central Funny Car Champion Cheesman covered the quarter mile in 5.865 seconds at 246.30. Cheeseman who had two wins and two runner-up finishes last year is hoping to pick up his first win of the season this weekend. Top qualifiers in other classes are Steve Ambrose of Woodhaven, Mich., in Comp; Richard Beshore of Mason, Mich., in Super Stock; and James Paquet of Eaton Rapids, Mich., in Stock.
              
        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Mid-Michigan Motorplex:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1. Ken Perry, Toronto, Ont. CAN, 5.600 seconds, 247.04 mph 
2. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.606, 253.73 
3. Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.766, 244.43 
4. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5.902, 237.65 
5. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.957, 239.61 
6. Dave Hedges Jr., Plainwell, Mich., 6.149, 219.56 
7. Shawn Bowen, Grand Blanc, Mich., 6.328, 184.76 
8. Robert Ginther, Lansing, Mich., 6.605, 222.99 

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

9. Mike Pipgras, Adrian, Mich., 6.609, 183.56 
10. Paul Fishburn, Reusselaer, Ind., 8.800, 94.26 
11. Robert Leverich, Marysville, Mich., 9.905, 101.08 
12. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 14.265, 51.87 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Pontiac, 5.865, 246.30 
 2. Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '01 Pontiac, 5.983, 235.72 
 3. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Pontiac, 6.411, 232.61 
 4. John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill, '97 Camaro, 6.489, 221.56 
 5. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill, '01 Pontiac, 9.401, 82.04 
 6. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge R/T, 10.089, 84.01 

COMPETITION
  1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., J/AA '23-T Ford, 7.975, -0.505
  2. Charlie Westcott Jr, Parma, Mich., F/SM'98 Grand, 9.069, -0.481
  3. Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., C/EA '00 Grand Prix, 8.464, -0.456
  4. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., E/EA '32 Bantam, 8.658, -0.432
  5. Jimmy Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., PS/TA '01 Dakota, 8.000, -0.320
  6.  Steve Johnson, Milwaukee, Wis., F/A '99 Firebird, 8.560, -0.310
  7.  Mike Clarahan, Farmington Hills, Mich., A/AA '32 roadster, 7.122,
-0.288
  8.  Mauri Rose, Warren, Mich., C/D dragster, 7.351, -0.259
  9.  James Winje, Franklin Park, Ill., D/SM '93 dragster, 9.055, -0.245
 10. Douglas Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., B/SR '34 roadster, 8.447, -0.203

SUPER STOCK
1. Richard Beshore, Mason, Mich., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.964, -1.036
2. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/JA '00 Firebird, 10.631, -1.019
3. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., SS/J '84 Firebird, 10.090, -1.010
4. Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., GT/IA '00 Firebird, 10.539, -0.961
5. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., GT/HA '96 Achieva, 10.405, -0.945
6. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., SS/JA '64 Corvette, 10.376, -0.924
7. Charlie Wescott, Parma, Mich., GT/D '98 Grand Am, 9.737, -0.913
8. Chuck Gallagher, Holly, Mich., SS/AM '94 Sunbird, 8.688, -0.862
9. Ray Paquet, Holt, Mich., SS/B '64 Fairlane, 9.378, -0.822
10. Rodney Dorsey, N. Judson, Ind., SS/EM '95 Achieva, 9.688, -0.812

STOCK
1. Jim Paquet, Eaton Rapids, Mich., FT/SA '98 Dakota, 12.503, -1.147
2. M.J. Quinn, Louisville, Ky., I/SA '85 Camaro, 11.515, -1.085
3. Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., R/SA '75 Buick, 13.321, -1.029
4. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., U/SA '84 LaSabre, 14.161, -0.989
5. Jennifer McCormack, Oxford, Mich., CT/SA '94 Dakota, 12.129, -0.921
6. Jason McCormack, Oxford, Mich., B/S '70 Challenger, 10.589, -0.911
7. Al Provoast, Whittemore, Mich., N/SA '79 Buick, 12.410, -0.890
8. Doug Baker, Newark, Ohio, B/SA '68 Mustang, 10.662, -0.888
9. Earl Six, Holt, Mich., CT/SA '95 Dakota, 12.162, -0.888
10. Ben Wenzel Sr., Freeland Mich., D/S '67 Camaro, 10.928, -0.872

Qualifying continues Saturday at 10 a.m.  Gates at Mid-Michigan Motorplex open at 9 a.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car run at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with Top Fuel, Jet Car, and Wheel Stander exhibitions at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Ticket prices $25 on Saturday and $20 Sunday. Children 6-12 are
$5 each day and 5 and under are free. All tickets include a pit pass.

 For more information call the track, (989) 762-5043.