FONTANA, Calif. – It took a day longer than planned, but the third annual NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N at Auto Club Dragway is in the books.  Racers came from across NHRA's Pacific and Northwest divisions to compete in this national event which features NHRA's sportsman competitors.  It was the last of three JEGS SPORTSnationals events held across the country this year.  The final rounds were highlighted by local racers including La Verne's Dave Moreno who won in Stock Eliminator.

Moreno wheeled his '69 Mustang to the win over Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., who was driving a '69 Chevelle.  Faul, however, did get a win when he took his '98 Grand Am to the winner's circle in Super Stock.  The Super Stock runner-up was Bob Bales of Chino.

In Comp Eliminator, Doug Lambeck of Corona Del Mar, Calif., earned the win over Upland's Ross Wilson.  Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., grabbed the win in Super Comp, beating out Chris Lindsay, Peoria, Ariz.   Rosemead, Calif., racer Ed DeStaute won the Super Gas title over Daniel Beresford of Calimesa, Calif., and in Super Street, Matt Blodgett of Signal Hill, Calif., behind the wheel of his '72 Vega, ousted Harlan Tucker of Miranda, Calif., who was driving a '70 Challenger.  Larry Scarth, Manhattan Beach, Calif., beat Wayne Silvia, another Upland resident, in the Top Sportsman final and the win in Top Dragster went to J.R. Leerkamp, Olympia, Wash., over Tom Yancer of of Chandler, Ariz.  Leerkamp's father, Stanley, won the NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La., in April of this year.

The following are the final results from NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway:

COMP ELIMINATOR
Doug Lambeck, Corona Del Mar, Calif., '06 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.489, 157.19 def.
Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, C/SMA, 8.337, 162.53

SUPER STOCK
Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., '98 Grand Am, GT/EA, 10.365, 123.52 def.
Bob Bales, Chino, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/BA, 9.864, 131.18

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dave Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, C/S, 11.097, 118.16 def.
Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., '69 Chevelle, C/SA, 11.266, 112.07

SUPER COMP
Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., '05 Grand Am, 8.922, 172.87 def.
Chris Lindsay, Peoria, Ariz., dragster, 8.888, 166.17

SUPER GAS
Ed DeStaute, Rosemead, Calif., '62 Corvette, 9.911, 140.99 def.
Daniel Beresford, Calimesa, Calif., '74 Vega, 9.890, 141.76.

SUPER STREET
Matt Blodgett, Signal Hill, Calif., '72 Vega, 10.905, 128.82 def.
Harlan Tucker, Miranda, Calif., '70 Challenger, 10.834, 125.32

TOP SPORTSMAN
Larry Scarth, Manhattan Beach, Calif., '05 Cavalier, 7.825, 174.44 def.
Wayne Silvia, Upland, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.305, 187.83

TOP DRAGSTER
JR Leerkamp, Olympia, Wash., dragster, 7.441, 167.20 def.
Tom Yancer, Chandler, Ariz., dragster, 7.265, 184.95

Sunday

Late start forces delay of game

FONTANA, Calif. – The late rounds of eliminations at the NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N at Auto Club Dragway have been pushed back until Monday.  Eliminations were scheduled to start at 8 a.m. but officials had to contend with a wet track after rain showers on Saturday night so things got rolling about two hours late.  Then rubber peeling up from the racing surfaced caused another lengthy delay while it was repaired by NHRA and track officials.

"It's not the ideal situation for anybody," said NHRA Pacific Division director Mike Rice.  "But there's not a lot that we can do but run as many cars as we can and come back tomorrow to finish up."

The NHRA Jegs Pacific SPORTSnationals features racers in eight categories vying for points leading to national championships and a share of the purse worth nearly $65,000.  More than 400 cars started the event and only eight will be left standing in the winner's circle.

Each class got at least two rounds of eliminations completed.  Racers still in competition will return Monday at 8 a.m. and run through to completion.

Saturday

Cowan, Grossi lead SPORTSnationals qualifiers

FONTANA, Calif. – Qualifying is complete at the NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals present by K&N despite being shortened by a rain shower near the end of the day.  Racing action will pick up at 8 a.m. Sunday with eliminations, as scheduled. 

Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., leads the Comp Eliminator contingent, followed closely by Claremont racer John Edward and Ross Wilson of Upland.  Frank Grossi, another Upland resident, is the No. 1 qualifier in Super Stock and Brian McClanahan of Alta Loma is in second place and Fred Moreno of La Verne is in third.  Riverside racer Don Forester wheeled his '80 Delta 88 to the top spot in Stock Eliminator while Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., heads the Top Sportsman class and Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., is No. 1 in Top Dragster.

The final rounds of the Top Sportsman/Top Dragster Shootout were washed out with the last rounds of qualifying.  Division officials will finish the Shootout in conjunction with eliminations tomorrow.

Tickets for the NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals present by K&N are $20.  Kids 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. 

Auto Club Dragway is located on the grounds of Auto Club Speedway at 9300 Cherry Ave.  For more information call the track, (909) 429-5060, or visit www.AutoClubSpeedway/Dragway.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA JEGS SPORTSnationals presented by K&N at Auto Club Dragway:

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Jim Cowan, Dewey, Ariz., '08 Cobalt, I/AA, 8.185 seconds, -0.605 (under index)
2) John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '99 Neon, C/AA, 7.426, -0.594
3) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, C/SMA, 8.311, -0.549
4) Tom Mettler, Bakersfield, Calif., '01 Dakota, PST, 7.461, -0.549
5) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '08 Cobalt, C/EA, 8.117, -0.543
6) Doug Lambeck, Corona Del Mar, Calif., '06 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.468, -0.532
7) Tom Brown, Riverside, Calif., dragster, F/ED, 8.319, -0.511
8) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 6.959, -0.501
9) Mike DePalma, Glendale, Ariz., '08 Cavalier, A/SM, 7.929, -0.501
10) Alan Freese, Salinas, Calif., '00 Firebird, C/AA, 7.539, -0.481

SUPER STOCK
1) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.135 seconds, -1.265 (under index)
2) Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Camaro, SS/GA, 9.702, -1.148
3) Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.727, -1.123
4) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '08 Cobalt, SS/BS, 8.861, -1.089
5) John Schiess, Granada Hills, Calif., '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.621, -1.079
6) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Challenger, SS/EA, 9.580, -1.070
7) Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/FA, 9.684, -1.066
8) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/IA, 9.962, -1.038
9) Mark Viera, Turlock, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AH, 8.728, -1.022
10) Jack Bystrom, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '68 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.729, -1.021

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Don Forester, Riverside, Calif., '80 Delta 88, M/SA, 11.950 seconds, -1.200 (under index)
2) Jimmy DeFrank, Thousand Oaks, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.477, -1.073
3) Peter Dodge, Redding, Calif., '68 Camaro, B/S, 10.447, -1.053
4) Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '96 Corvette, C/SA, 10.647, -1.053
5) Jim Durham, Stonyford, Calif., '72 Duster, F/SA, 11.114, -1.036
6) Andy Durham, Chino, Calif., '70 Camaro, B/SA, 10.518, -1.032
7) Andy Kimball, Henderson, Nev., '66 Fairlane, E/S, 10.935, -1.015
8) Harry Doolittle, Wickenberg, Ariz., '02 Firebird, N/SA, 12.288, -1.012
9) Bryan Phillips, Alta Loma, Calif., '67 Firebird, D/SA, 10.848, -1.002
10) Dean Feiock, Surprise, Ariz., '81 Malibu, L/SA, 12.005, -0.995

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., '06 GTO, 6.944 seconds, 198.06 mph
2) Gary Ross, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.010, 196.07
3) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '07 Cobalt, 7.011, 195.85
4) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '63 Corvette, 7.182, 192.22
5) Wayne Silvia, Upland, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.234, 190.35
6) Brad Wagner, Henderson, Nev., '97 Cutlass, 7.286, 190.43
7) Val Torres Jr., Valinda, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.304, 189.23
8) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.406, 185.33
9) Gary Forkner, Temecula, Calif., '06 GTO, 7.451, 183.57
10) Rich Takahashi, San Gabriel, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.488, 186.10

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.777 seconds, 199.17 mph
2) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.820, 197.97
3) Will Boxold, Orangevale, Calif., dragster, 6.870, 197.02
4) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., dragster, 6.878, 196.24
5) Don Steed, Fallbrook, Calif., dragster, 6.883, 203.55
6) Tom Koenen, North Bend, Ore., dragster, 6.917, 194.18
7) Stewart Koch, Mountain View, Calif., dragster, 7.021, 193.16
8) Ryan Priddy, Chino, Calif., dragster, 7.071, 189.07
9) Roy Cracraft, Mesa, Ariz., dragster, 7.079, 191.59
10) Dave Morgan, Concord, Calif., dragster, 7.083, 191.29

Friday

Opening day of qualifying complete in Fontana

FONTANA, Calif. - The NHRA Jegs SPORTSnationals presented by K&N kicked off today at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway. The three-day event is an NHRA national event designed to highlight sportsman racers. More than 400 of the best drivers in eight categories from the West Coast are on hand vying for points leading to national championships and a share of the purse worth nearly $65,000. It is the last of three NHRA Jegs SPORTSnationals events scheduled across the country this year. Claremont resident John Edwards set the pace in Comp Eliminator while Upland's Frank Grossi leads the Super Stock qualifiers.

Edwards slipped his '99 Neon in just .533 seconds under his 8.02 index. The No. 2 qualifier is Dan Fletcher of Churchville, N.Y. This is veteran racer Fletcher's first season in Comp Eliminator, driving the entry of longtime Pacific division racer Rick Braun, and he is in contention for a national championship.

Grossi is just ahead of Fred Moreno of La Verne in the Super Stock field. Don Forester of Riverside wheeled his '80 Delta 88 to the top of the Stock Eliminator field. He is followed closely by Jimmy DeFrank, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Alta Loma racer Ryan McClanahan. In Top Sportsman, Robert Broguiere, Wildomar, Calif., leads the field in his '06 GTO. Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., is No. 1 in Top Dragster.

Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at Auto Club Dragway. Qualifying and time trials resume at 8 a.m. Saturday. Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman qualify at 10:30 a.m. The Top Sportsman/Top Dragster Shootout starts at 1 p.m. Eliminations start Sunday at 8 a.m.

Tickets for the NHRA Jegs SPORTSnationals presented by K&N are $20 Saturday and $20 Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

Auto Club Dragway is located on the grounds of Auto Club Speedway at 9300 Cherry Ave. For more information call the track, (909) 429-5060, or visit www.AutoClubSpeedway/Dragway.com.

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