FONTANA, Calif. – Winners were crowned Monday at the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters at Auto Club Dragway, where four-time NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. advanced to the final in Super Comp and Super Gas. In Super Comp, Coughlin faced off against Tom McBride and ran 9.03, 160.46 to defeat McBride’s 9.05, 167.07.  

Former Pacific Division champion Thomas Bayer met Coughlin in the Super Gas final. Bayer secured the win and the trip to the winner's circle when Coughlin red-lighted at the start. Local Bayer, a resident of Fontana, had advanced to the semifinals in Super Comp. 

In Super Street, Greg Ventura, another familiar face at Auto Club Dragway, faced Ryan Herem. Ventura posted a 10.93, 129.75 to defeat Herem’s 10.89, 134.82. Earlier in the day, Ventura had advanced to the Super Gas semifinals, where he lost to Bayer. 

Jeffrey Jerome earned his first win at a national or divisional event when he defeated Mark Faul in Stock. Jerome drove his ’73 Duster to a winning run of 11.19, 111.82. In Top Dragster, Paul Snell took the win when Kenny Upton red-lighted at the start. The win is Snell’s first national triumph after scoring two divisional wins. Snell had a near-perfect reaction time of .005-second and ran 6.76, 199.88 for a 20-thousandths package in the final round.

Due to rain Sunday morning, the remaining classes were unable to be finished during the weekend. Drivers in Super Stock, Top Sportsman, and Sportsman Motorcycle will complete their competition in Bakersfield at Auto Club Famoso Raceway this weekend. Comp drivers will wrap up their outing at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona later this year.  

Many of the Pacific Division racers will head to Auto Club Famoso Raceway for the next NHRA Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, May 20-22.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters at Auto Club Dragway:

STOCK
Jeff Jerome, Los Angeles, '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.192, 111.82  def.
Mark Faul, Tacoma, Wash., '69 Chevelle, F/SA, 11.471, 105.67

SUPER COMP
Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, dragster, 9.034, 160.46  def.
Tom McBride, Lakeside, Calif., dragster, 9.052, 167.07

SUPER GAS
Thomas Bayer, Fontana, Calif., '62 Corvette, 9.830, 155.19  def.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, '11 Corvette, 9.892, 167.99

SUPER STREET
Greg Ventura, Garden Grove, Calif., '66 Nova, 10.930, 129.75  def.
Ryan Herem, Quartz Hill, Calif., '69 Camaro, 10.893, 134.82

TOP DRAGSTER
Paul Snell, Sandy, Utah, dragster, 6.767, 199.88  def.
Kenny Upton, Garden Grove, Calif., dragster, foul

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Sunday

Racing pushed to Monday

FONTANA, Calif. – Racing came to a halt as the sun set on Auto Club Dragway for the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters. Rain Sunday morning pushed the start of eliminations to the afternoon, and officials had to stop competition due to darkness about 7:30 p.m. with just more than 80 racers left in competition. 

Five of the nine classes will return Monday for their final elimination rounds beginning at 10 a.m. Classes returning Monday are Top Dragster, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Top Sportsman, Super Stock, and Sportsman Motorcycle will finish their eliminations next weekend at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Auto Club Famoso Raceway north of Bakersfield. Comp will finish at the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona.

In Saturday afternoon action, a pair of local racers made their way to the winner’s circle, scoring in their shootout events. Bobby Dye Jr., of Ontario, Calif., held off Stewart Koch with a 7.41, 167.63 in the Top Dragster class, and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., racer Brockman Roberts won the Sportsman Motorcycle Shootout. Roberts went 136.03 mph in 9.72 seconds on his ’06 Harley-Davidson in beating Dave Miller.

Dave Zewe defeated Jeffery Gillette in the Top Sportsman Shootout, Chad Loge ran down Dustin Braun in his ’70 Plymouth for the Stock/Super Stock Shootout honor, and four-time NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. won in Super Gas for his first win at Auto Club Dragway. Other Saturday winners were Jim Glenn against Thomas Bayer in Super Comp and Greg Ventura in Super Street with his ’66 Nova.

Loge and Ventura will be back tomorrow, advancing through their early rounds of eliminations, as will Coughlin, who is still in competition in Super Comp and Super Gas.

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Saturday
Fields set for SPORTSnationals
FONTANA, Calif. (May 14, 2011) – Day two of the NHRA JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters is complete, and the fields are set for Sunday’s eliminations in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Nearly 400 racers made final qualifying and time runs today mixed in with Stock/Super Stock class racing eliminations.

In Comp, Brian Fitzpatrick and Mike DePalma switched spots on the qualifying ladder, with Fitzpatrick jumping ahead of DePalma for the No. 1 spot with a lap of 6.28 seconds. DePalma held on to the No. 2 spot, and former NHRA national champion Dan Fletcher moved into the third spot in his ’09 Cobalt.

Stephanie Crifasi and Russell Suyenaga did the same in the Hughes Top Dragster class as Crifasi moved to the top of the list with a 6.55, 204.45 pass. Suyenaga is second, and Chip Rumis remained in third going into tomorrow’s eliminations. 

Ron Weems qualified in the No. 1 spot in Top Sportsman, covering the quarter-mile in 6.82 seconds at 203.06 mph in his ’07 GTO. Rumis is also running in Top Sportsman and is qualified second. Joe Roubieck is third.

Frank Grossi jumped to the top of the field in Super Stock, followed by Eric Bell in his ’70 Dodge and Fred Moreno in a ’69 Mustang in the second and third spots, respectively. In Stock, Andrew Durham took the No. 1 slot, running 9.63 in his ’11 Challenger. Robert Pond is second.

Rounding out the low qualifiers today was John Widmann in the Sportsman Motorcycle class presented by Harley-Davidson; he is followed by Brockman Roberts on an ’06 Harley-Davidson.

Among the class winners today were Staci Smith in her ’94 Daytona and Wayne Taylor in Super Stock, and Christopher Whitney in a ’67 Fairlane and Jimmy DeFrank in a ’69 Camaro led the Stock class winners. Racing continues Sunday at Auto Club Dragway. Gates open at 7 a.m., ande round one of eliminations is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.  

Tickets are $20 for adults, and children 12 and younger are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information, call Auto Club Dragway, 909-429-5060, or log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com.

Following are Saturday’s final qualifying results for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals event at Auto Club Dragway:

COMP
1) Brian Fitzpatrick, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., dragster, H/D, 6.280 seconds, -0.690 (under index)
2) Mike DePalma, Glendale, Ariz., '91 Trans Am, I/SM, 8.991, -0.659
3) Dan Fletcher, Churchville, N.Y., '09 Cobalt, B/EA, 7.741, -0.579
4) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '07 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.398, -0.572
5) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AA, 6.568, -0.542
6) Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., '10 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.967, -0.513
7) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 6.907, -0.513
8) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, B/SMA, 8.123, -0.507
9) Matt Hartford, Phoenix, dragster, A/DA, 6.670, -0.460
10) Tom Brown, Riverside, Calif., dragster, F/ED, 8.280, -0.440

SUPER STOCK
1) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunflower, GT/AA, 9.125 seconds, -0.975 (under index)
2) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Challenger, SS/EA, 9.470, -0.880
3) Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.698, -0.852
4) Doug Gonzales, Upland, Calif., '65 VW, SS/VX, 10.753, -0.847
5) Dan Mason, San Clemente, Calif., '85 Camaro, GT/BA, 9.405, -0.845
6) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '93 Shadow, GT/HA, 10.210, -0.840
7) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/HA, 9.760, -0.840
8) Joe Schweigert, Ontario, Calif., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.430, -0.820
9) Don Kennedy, Mesa, Ariz., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.290, -0.810
10) Stephanie Wong, Las Vegas, '97 Firebird, SS/IA, 9.897, -0.803

STOCK
1) Andy Durham, Arcadia, Calif., '11 Challenger, AA/SA, 9.637 seconds, -0.963 (under index)
2) Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., '67 Fairlane, A/S, 10.004, -0.946
3) Bill O'Connor, Huntington Beach, Calif., '80 Horizon, EF/S, 16.511, -0.939
4) Chris Whitney, Sun Valley, Calif., '67 Fairlane, B/S, 10.264, -0.936
5) John Calvert, Lancaster, Calif., '64 Fairlane, A/S, 10.027, -0.923
6) Kyle Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo, Calif., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.125, -0.875
7) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.387, -0.863
8) Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Camaro, D/SA, 10.697, -0.853
9) Brent Calvert, Lancaster, Calif., '10 Mustang, A/SA, 10.152, -0.848
10) Jeff Jerome, Los Angeles, '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.173, -0.827

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Ron Weems, Riverside, Calif., '07 GTO, 6.825 seconds, 203.06 mph
2) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 6.915, 200.98
3) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '68 Camaro, 7.010, 195.85
4) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.041, 197.16
5) Jeffrey Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '96 Firebird, 7.052, 194.41
6) Ted Carli, Temecula, Calif., '09 Cobalt, 7.060, 196.62
7) Gary Ross, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.080, 194.69
8) Johnny Matassa, Hollywood, Calif., '00 Firebird, 7.119, 193.38
9) Raul Perez, La Mirada, Calif., '01 Grand Am, 7.175, 189.58
10) Larry Scarth, Manhattan Beach, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.418, 184.12

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Stephanie Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.555 seconds, 204.45 mph
2) Russell Suyenaga, Bellflower, Calif., dragster, 6.560, 213.06
3) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.641, 204.35
4) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.674, 203.58
5) Paul Russell, Laguna Hills, Calif., dragster, 6.680, 201.40
6) Tony Jardino, San Dimas, Calif., dragster, 6.758, 200.08
7) Mera Silvia, Upland, Calif., dragster, 6.761, 201.25
8) Paul Snell, Sandy, Utah, dragster, 6.800, 199.46
9) Art Hoover, Concord, Calif., dragster, 6.844, 196.90
10) Jonathan Fiello, Yucaipa, Calif., dragster, 6.848, 196.42

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.003-second reaction time
2) Brockman Roberts, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '06 Destroyer, SMC, 0.006
3) T.J. Crocker, Henderson, Nev., '05 Hayabusa, SMC, 0.011
4) Dennis Sacco, N. Las Vegas, Nev., '05 H-D, SMC, 0.021
5) Mike Burkhart, Huntington Beach, Calif., '07 Hayabusa, SMC, 0.031
6) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '93 Suzuki, SMC, 0.034
7) Jim Bowling, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., '91 ZX7R, SMC, 0.046
8) Dave Miller, Whittier, Calif., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.049
9) Bill Burkhart, Anaheim, Calif., '08 Hayabusa, SMC, 0.051
10) Jessica Ruell, Las Vegas, '82 Katana, SMC, 0.055

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Friday

JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals kicks off

FONTANA, Calif. (May 13, 2011) – The JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters kicked off Friday at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway for the second of three JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals events in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Four-time NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. is competing in Super Comp and Super Gas this weekend in his first Pacific SPORTSnationals appearance. Coughlin made time-trial runs today in preparation for Sunday’s eliminations. Coughlin also is the 1992 NHRA Super Gas national champion.

"If we could figure out a path to the winner's circle, it would be very special for me," Coughlin said. "Not only are we proud sponsors of the event, but I know from many years of racing just how hard it is to win one of these things.”

Local racer Ron Weems, of Riverside, Calif., put his ’07 GTO on top in the Top Sportsman class, posting a run of 203.06 mph in 6.82 seconds on opening day, and Chip Rumis was right behind him at 6.94, 194.13.  Rumis is one of a number of racers pulling double duty this weekend; he is also qualified third in the Hughes Top Dragster class.

A second local racer leads the Super Stock class in Dong Gonzales, of Upland, Calif., with his ’65 VW bug. Gonzales runs in the newly created Super Stock VX class for Volkswagens. He is followed by Eric Bell in his ’70 Dodge.

Mike DePalma took the pole in Comp in his ’91 Trans Am owned and tuned by former Pacific Division champion Craig Eaton, who has tuned DePalma to three division championships, including the last two.

Russell Suyenaga leads the Top Dragster class with a 6.59, 211.56. He is followed by Stephanie Crifasi in the No. 2 spot, and 2010 Pacific Division champion and defending event champion Tony Jardino is in the fifth position.

Rounding out day one qualifying were Bill O’Conner on top in Stock and John Widmann taking the No. 1 position in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley-Davidson.

Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at Auto Club Dragway. Gates open at 7 a.m., with action beginning at 8 a.m. Hughes Top Dragster, Comp, and Top Sportsman racers will qualify at 10:30 a.m., and Stock and Super Stock class eliminations will take place Saturday afternoon. Also scheduled for Saturday afternoon are shootout eliminations for many of the other classes.

Tickets are $20 Saturday or Sunday, and children 12 and younger are admitted free with a paid adult.. For more information, call Auto Club Dragway, 909-429-5060, or log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com.

The following are Friday’s qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N Filters event at Auto Club Dragway:

COMP
1) Mike DePalma, Glendale, Ariz., '91 Trans Am, I/SM, 9.019 seconds, -0.631 (under index)
2) Brian Fitzpatrick, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., dragster, H/D, 6.381, -0.589
3) Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, '23 roadster, A/AA, 6.568, -0.542
4) Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., '10 Cobalt, A/SMA, 7.967, -0.513
5) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 6.907, -0.513
6) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '07 Sunfire, D/SMA, 8.523, -0.447
7) Tyler Hogan, Santa Maria, Calif., dragster, C/DA, 7.181, -0.379
8) Tom Brown, Riverside, Calif., dragster, F/ED, 8.390, -0.330
9) Matt Hartford, Phoenix, Ariz., dragster, A/DA, 6.820, -0.310
10) Ross Wilson, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunfire, B/SMA, 8.325, -0.305

SUPER STOCK
1) Doug Gonzales, Upland, Calif., '63 VW, SS/VX, 10.764 seconds, -0.836 (under index)
2) Eric Bell, Chandler, Ariz., '70 Challenger, SS/EA, 9.538, -0.812
3) Don Kennedy, Mesa, Ariz., '05 Sunfire, GT/AA, 9.317, -0.783
4) Joe Schweigert, Ontario, Calif., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.482, -0.768
5) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '69 Barracuda, SS/HA, 9.837, -0.763
6) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '93 Shadow, GT/HA, 10.294, -0.756
7) Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., '69 Mustang, SS/GA, 9.808, -0.742
8) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '05 Sunflower, GT/AA, 9.362, -0.738
9) Stephanie Wong, Las Vegas, Nev., '97 Firebird, SS/IA, 9.963, -0.737
10) Kip Martin, Phoenix, Ariz., '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.544, -0.706

STOCK
1) Bill O'Connor, Huntington Beach, Calif., '80 Horizon, EF/S, 16.511 seconds, -0.939 (under index)
2) Chris Whitney, Sun Valley, Calif., '67 Fairlane, B/S, 10.267, -0.933
3) Andy Durham, Arcadia, Calif., '11 Challenger, AA/SA, 9.689, -0.911
4) Jimmy DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.387, -0.863
5) Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., '67 Fairlane, A/S, 10.098, -0.852
6) Brent Calvert, Lancaster, Calif., '10 Mustang, A/SA, 10.195, -0.805
7) John Calvert, Lancaster, Calif., '64 Fairlane, A/S, 10.154, -0.796
8) Bob Gullett, Calgary, Alta., '68 Nova, G/S, 11.153, -0.747
9) Jeff Jerome, Los Angeles, Calif., '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.257, -0.743
10) John Schloe, Garden Grove, Calif., '69 Firebird, D/SA, 10.817, -0.733

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Ron Weems, Riverside, Calif., '07 GTO, 6.825 seconds, 203.06 mph
2) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., '06 Cobalt, 6.945, 199.97
3) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., '68 Camaro, 7.045, 195.14
4) Chris Newman, Lancaster, Calif., '08 Cobalt, 7.053, 196.50
5) Gary Ross, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., '05 Grand Am, 7.093, 194.69
6) Jeffrey Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '96 Firebird, 7.100, 193.74
7) Raul Perez, La Mirada, Calif., '01 Grand Am, 7.175, 189.58
8) Johnny Matassa, Hollywood, Calif., '00 Firebird, 7.184, 193.38
9) Larry Scarth, Manhattan Beach, Calif., '04 Cavalier, 7.441, 181.13
10) Dave Zewe, Hesperia, Calif., '94 Lumina, 7.449, 184.60

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Russell Suyenaga, Bellflower, Calif., dragster, 6.598 seconds, 211.56 mph
2) Stephanie Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., dragster, 6.638, 203.40
3) Chip Rumis, Ramona, Calif., dragster, 6.667, 203.68
4) Joe Roubicek, Westlake Village, Calif., dragster, 6.684, 203.22
5) Tony Jardino, San Dimas, Calif., dragster, 6.758, 200.08
6) Mera Silvia, Upland, Calif., dragster, 6.761, 201.25
7) Paul Snell, Sandy, Utah, dragster, 6.829, 198.96
8) Jonathan Fiello, Yucaipa, Calif., dragster, 6.860, 196.42
9) Art Hoover, Concord, Calif., dragster, 6.864, 196.44
10) Kenny Upton, Garden Grove, Calif., dragster, 6.900, 196.50

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) John Widmann, Garberville, Calif., '97 Kawasaki, SMC, 0.003-second reaction time
2) Brockman Roberts, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '06 Destroyer, SMC, 0.006
3) Dennis Sacco, N. Las Vegas, Nev., '05 H-D, SMC, 0.030
4) Tom Medlin, La Mirada, Calif., '93 Suzuki, SMC, 0.034
5) T.J. Crocker, Henderson, Nev., '05 Hayabusa, SMC, 0.035
6) Dave Miller, Whittier, Calif., '95 Suzuki, SMC, 0.049
7) Bill Burkhart, Anaheim, Calif., '08 Hayabusa, SMC, 0.051
8) Jim Bowling, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., '91 ZX7R, SMC, 0.053
9) Jessica Ruell, Las Vegas, Nev., '82 Katana, SMC, 0.055
10) John Deck, Henderson, Nev., '01 GSXR, SMC, 0.062