FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eliminations at Houston Raceway Park run late into the night

HOUSTON - The final rounds of eliminations at Houston Raceway Park's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event finished sometime around 1 a.m. Sunday. For those in the winner's circle, however, it was well worth the wait.

In Comp Eliminator, Rodger Brogdon won his second divisional event of the season. The Tomball, Texas, resident beat out Mike Trumble of Pasadena, Texas, when Tumble red-lighted. Brogdon won the Lucas Oil event in Dallas. This was Trumble's second consecutive final-round appearance, after having won in Baton Rouge, La.

Pasadena, Texas, resident Terry Emmons won his first Super Stock event of the season. He took the win over Jeff Hefler of Mansfield, Texas.

Defending Stock Eliminator national champion Kevin Helms won his first divisional event of the year. Helms, of Mineola, Texas, was runner-up in Dallas. In Houston he beat Chris Jackson of Eppa, La.

First-time winners in Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street rounded out the field. Justin Allen of Waco, Texas, beat the red-lighting Sammy Esch of Boyle, Miss., in Super Comp, and in Super Gas, Bob Gulitti of Spring, Texas edged out Frank Kohutek. In Super Street, it was David Robinson of Denham Springs, La., beating Ray Todd of Friendswood, Texas, who broke on the launch.

South Central Division competitors will travel to Belle Rose, La., for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at No Problem Raceway, Sept. 13-15. No Problem is a new track and will be hosting its first Lucas Oil event.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park:

COMP ELIMINATOR
Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, 10.543 seconds, 88.12 mph def. 
Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, 8.298, 135.35 (red light)

SUPER STOCK
Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, 10.375, 118.85 def. 
Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, 11.375, 110.12

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, 10.622, 125.25 def. 
Chris Jackson, Eppa, La., 11.746, 106.63

SUPER COMP
Justin Allen, Waco, Texas, 8.896, 168.89 def. 
Sammy Esch, Boyle, Miss., 19.824, 40.15 (red light)

SUPER GAS
Bob Gulitti, Spring, Texas, 9.914, 142.81 def. 
Frank Kohutek, Mesquite, Texas, 9.869, 146.81

SUPER STREET
David Robinson, Denham Springs, La., 12.118, 73.32 def. 
Ray Todd, Friendswood, Texas, broke

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Ben Brown, Irving, Texas, 10.655, 120.91 def. 
William Keele, San Antonio, Texas, 9.490, 134.66

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Branch wins third of season, Copeland makes it two straight

HOUSTON - In the final rounds of competition at Houston Raceway Park's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, defending division Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Tate Branch took his third win of the season, while Top Alcohol Dragster pilot James Copeland made it two wins in a row.

Branch, who was the No. 1 qualifier, beat Jimmy Jones of Cleburne, Texas, in the final. Branch made a 5.927-second, 244.16-mph pass in his TAFC Avenger, while Jones red-lighted in his Camaro. This is the third win of the season for the Artesia, N.M., resident.

Red Oak, Texas' Copeland beat out defending division TAD champion Shelly Howard in the final. Copeland's 5.625-second, 253.99-mph pass was enough to pull ahead of the Tulsa, Okla., resident, who ran 5.655 seconds at 225.94 mph. Copeland won the division's last event at in Baton Rouge, La.

Eliminations in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Sportsman Motorcycle are continuing at Houston Raceway Park. Late results will be available Sunday.

The following are Saturday's final TAD, TAFC results and from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Final Qualifying
1. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.560 seconds, 254.76 mph
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.562, 258.50
3. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.570, 244.83
4. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.633, 252.99
5. Lee Calaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.674, 248.15
6. James Copeland, Red Oak, Texas, 5.677, 251.87
7. James Gascoyne, Sugarland, Texas, 5.917, 218.02      
8. Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.095, 239.91             
Not Qualified
9. Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 6.367, 212.39
10. Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 6.553, 150.77
11. Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 6.783, 215.03
12. Gene Boul, Baytown, Texas, 9.176, 107.20
13. Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 14.518, 40.72
14. David Christy, Carthage, Texas, DQ

Round 1
1) Howard, 5.588, 256.99 def. 8) Bowers, 6.174, 214.20
2) Buff, 6.048, 250.88 def. 7) Gascoyne, 6.200, 205.29
6) Copeland, 5.692, 253.61 def. 3) Hitchman, 5.953, 233.72
5) Callaway, 5.674, 246.66 def. 4) Thompson, 5.856, 251.95

Semifinals
Copeland, 5.601, 255.19 def. Buff, 5.599, 256.45
Howard, 5.570, 255.92 def. Callaway, 5.715, 247.93

Final
Copeland, 5.625, 253.99 def. Howard, 5.655, 225.94


TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
Final Qualifying
1. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 5.884 seconds, 247.79 mph
2. Richard Shaver, San Antonio, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.942, 248.20
3. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.951, 246.53
4. Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Dodge, 6.042, 233.95
5. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '00 Avenger, 6.080, 241.41
6. Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '98 Olds, 6.100, 239.87
7. Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '98 Camaro, 6.255, 230.45
8. Steve Burok, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.418, 219.40
          
Not Qualified
9. Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '01 Camaro, DQ

Round 1
1) Branch, 5.926, 245.14 def. 8) Burck, 6.450, 197.36
7) Jones, 5.997, 240.25 def. 2) Shaver, 6.008, 242.10
3) Stidham, 10.874, 92.89 def. 6) Kinsley, broke
4) Brown, 9.681, 93.00 def. 5) Simpson, broke

Semifinals
Branch, 5.891, 244.83 def. Brown, 6.608, 159.61
Jones, 6.051, 239.19 def. Stidham, 6.781, 148.50

Final
Branch, 5.927, 244.16 def. Jones, 9.740, 81.45 (red light)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Qualifying underway in Houston

HOUSTON - After Friday's qualifying at Houston Raceway Park, Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) driver Shelly Howard and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) pilot Richard Shaver took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes.

Howard, of Tulsa, Okla., outran the field with a pass of 5.594 seconds at 255.43 mph. And San Antonio, Texas, resident Shaver made a 5.942-second, 248.20-mph run to take the pole.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Buddy Nickens of Spring, Texas, in Comp Eliminator; Buz Post of Arlington, Texas, in Super Stock; and Jeff Teuton, of Houma, La., in Stock.

Tomorrow, gates at Houston Raceway Park open at 10 a.m. and qualifying continues at 11 a.m. TAD and TAFC have a final run at 2 p.m. Eliminations for all classes begin after that.

General admission tickets, including pit pass, are $25. Children 5-12 are $12. For more information, please call the track, (281) 383-RACE, or visit www.HoustonRaceway.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.560 seconds, 257.76 mph
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.562, 256.50
3. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.570, 244.83
4. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.633, 252.99
5. James Copeland, Red Oak, Texas, 5.677, 251.87
6. Lee Calaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.752, 248.52
7. Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.186, 240.25
8. James Gascoyne, Sugarland, Texas, 6.227, 216.76                      
Not Qualified
9. Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 6.367, 212.39
10. Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 6.553, 150.77
11. Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 6.783, 215.03
12. Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 14.518, 40.72

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1. Richard Shaver, San Antonio, Texas, '99 Camaro, 5.942 seconds, 248.20 mph 
2. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 5.954 seconds, 247.11 mph
3. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.970, 245.00
4. Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Dodge, 6.042, 233.95
5. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '00 Avenger, 6.080, 241.41
6. Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '98 Olds, 6.100, 239.87
7. Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '98 Camaro, 6.255, 230.45
8. Steve Burok, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.418, 219.40 
Not Qualified
Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '01 Camaro, DQ

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Buddy Nickens, Spring, Texas, '01 S-10, B/TA, 8.502 seconds, -0.648     under index
2. Rodger, Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, '02 Cavalier, A/SM, 8.019, -0.601
3. Robert Freeman, Oklahoma City, '02 Cavalier, C/A, 7.493, -0.587
4. Joe Shalkowski, Hawley, Texas, '96 dragster, F/ED, 8.444, -0.546
5. Brian Self, Houston, '01 S-10, PST, 7.596, -0.524
6. Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '99 Camaro, D/AA, 7.912, -0.508
7. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '01 Grand Am, A/SM, 8.120, -0.500
8. Bb Haynes, Pilot Point, Texas, '95 dragster, C/ED, 7.512, -0.498
9. Charlie Watson, Humble, Texas, '96 Lumina, G/A, 8.756, -0.484
10. Bill Gibbs, Lufkin, Texas, '95 Daytona, L/A, 9.466, -0414

SUPER STOCK
1. Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.612 seconds,  -1.088 under index
2. Red LeBlanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/G, 9.732, -1.018
3. Steve Reynolds, Pasadena, Texas, '86 Monte Carlo, 11.043, -1.007
4. Jeff Miller, Pearland, Texas, '98 Grand Am, S/BM, 8.731, -0.969
5. Brent Johnson, Lecompt, La., '91 Calais, GT/JA, 10.717, -0.933
6. Sid Bonnecarrere, Gray, La., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.071, -0.929
7. Shawn LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn., '88 Mustang, GT/A, 9.390, -0.910
8. Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Fireman, SS/JA, 10.396, -0.904
9. Greg Williams, Carthage, Texas, '66 Corvette, SS/C, 9.449, -0.901
10. Larry Stewart, Clinton, Miss., '66 Nova, SS/HA, 10.001, -0.899

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jeff Tueton, Houma, La., '97 Dodge Ram, ET/SA, 11.990 seconds, -1.210   under index
2. Gary Slaton, Liberty Hill, Texas, '84 Camaro, E/SA, 10.945, -1.055
3. Kent LaPorte, New Iberia, La., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 11.980, -1.020
4. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, I/S, 11.507, -0.993
5. Sammy LaPorte, New Iberia, La., '87 Pontiac, N/SA, 12.308, -0.992
6. Steven Hall, Sweeney, Texas, '68 Mustang, B/SA, 10.574, -0.976
7. Patrick Courts, New Iberia, La., '87 Trans Am, D/SA, 12.475, -0.974
8. Jimmy Hildalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '97 Camaro, E/SA, 11.053, -0.947
9. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Pontiac, F/SA, 11.231, -0.919
10. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., '79 Aspen, J/SA, 11.843, -0.907
.872

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Second attempt at Houston Raceway Park

HOUSTON - The Sportsman Challenge at Houston Raceway Park June 21-22 is the NHRA South Central Division's fourth Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event of the season. It will feature more than 400 drivers in eight racing categories including 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Cars (TAFC). Originally scheduled in March as the season-opener, the race was postponed due to bad weather.

Titles in all categories are still up for grabs although Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) driver Darryl Hitchman is starting to pull away from the pack as is Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) pilot Tate Branch.

Hitchman, of Hanford, Calif., has two runner-up finishes, at Texas Motorplex in Dallas, and at State Capitol Dragway in Baton Rouge, La. He has a 50-point lead over Channelview, Texas, resident Lee Calaway. However, just one point behind Calaway are Karl Brounkowski and James Copeland. Brounkowski of Magnolia, Texas, beat Hitchman in the final at Dallas and Copeland, from Red Oak, Texas, beat him in Baton Rouge.

Defending division TAD champion Shelly Howard has yet to hit her stride. The registered nurse from Tulsa, Okla., lost in the first round at Memphis Motorsports Park in Tennessee, and failed to make the eight-car fields in Dallas or Baton Rouge. But the Howard Racing Team is strong and it is unlikely they will continue on their current path. On the other hand, if they don't make a move soon, they may have a hard time catching up.

Branch, who hails from Artesia, N.M., posted wins at the first two division events this season, beating out-of-division competitors in Memphis and at the Texas Motorplex. If Branch can maintain the consistency he's shown this season, he could reclaim the TAFC division title.

However, defending division champion Jackie Stidham of Chicasha, Okla., has won two events as well. There was a question earlier in the season about whether Stidham would run this year but with two wins in two events, Stidham has answered that question. Stidham started 2002 with an out-of-division win at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas, and then beat Branch in the final at State Capitol Dragway.

Finally, it's hard to count out Ponder, Texas, resident Todd Simpson. If he remains true to form he will give the Branch and Stidham teams a run for the money. Simpson, who is also a former division champion, finished second in the point standings last year to Stidham.

Gates at Houston Raceway open at 10 a.m. both days. Qualifying and time trials begin at 11 a.m. Friday. TAD and TAFC will have qualifying sessions at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, qualifying and time trials continue at 11 a.m. TAD and TAFC will make a final qualifying pass at 2 p.m. and begin eliminations at 5 p.m.

Adult tickets, including pit pass, are $20 Friday and $25 Saturday. A two-day pass is $45. Children, ages 5-12, are $10 Friday and $12 Saturday. Kids under 5 are admitted free with a paid adult.

The event is part of a 45-race, $6.5 million series contested across the country. Drivers are competing for a part of a $561,000 champions' purse. They will earn points leading to national and division titles as well as a berth on the team that will represent the South Central division at the Jeg's Allstar event at the NHRA National at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago in September.

The track is located at 2525 FM 565 South. It is east of the Houston Metro area, south of Interstate 10 and east of Highway 146. For more information call (281) 383-RACE or visit the web site at www.HoustonRacewayPark.com. NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: Houston Raceway Park Sportsman Challenge, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include: Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the fourth of six in South Central Division competition.

WHERE: Houston Raceway Park, Houston. Track is located at 2525 FM 565 South. It is east of the Houston metro area, south of Interstate 10 and east of Hwy. 146.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, June 21-22, 2002

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:
FRIDAY, June 21 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 11 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying is at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 22 -- Gates open at 10 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Final qualifying for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car is at 2 p.m. and eliminations begin at 5 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $20 Friday, $25 Saturday. A two-day pass is $45. Children, 5-12, are $10 Friday, $12 Saturday. Children under 4 are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Houston Raceway Park, (281) 383-RACE or visit www.HoustonRaceway.com.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will compete for cash and contingency awards of $156,450, part of the 45-race, $6.5 million series.

2001 EVENT WINNERS: Troy Buff, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jackie Stidham, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Scott Benham, Comp Eliminator; Larry Stewart, Super Stock; Jeff Swanson, Stock Eliminator; Shannon Brinkley, Super Comp; Larry Nelson, Super Gas; Cobb Ware, Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $220,500 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 45 Lucas Oil events and the 23 NHRA national events: $1,250 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $400 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $200 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 16 of 23 national events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2002 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2002 Jeg's Allstars, held in conjunction with the NHRA Nationals in Chicago, Sept. 26-29, 2002. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES: Run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA's Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $7,400 champions' purse posted by Kerker will be paid to first, second and third place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.

The top four riders from each division in the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series will be invited to compete in the NHRA Kerker King of the Coast competition. In 2002, the All-Star invitational will be run during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in November. The rider who is crowned the Kerker King of the Coast will earn $1,000. The runner-up in the 16-bike field will receive $500.

Currently, Sportsman Motorcycles are run in NHRA's South Central, West Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions.

FEATURES: More than 400 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.