FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Smith and Cannon victorious at Orlando

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - In the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event held at Orlando Speed World Dragway, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jason Cannon and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Von Smith took home the honors.

Cannon of Middleburg, Fla., defeated Chaptico, Md., driver Billy Gibson in the Top Alcohol Dragster final. To take the win, Cannon made a 5.789-second pass at 244.36 mph to Gibson's 12.588-second pass at 63.87 mph.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn., defeated Todd Veney of Indianapolis, Ind. Smith, who finished 5th last year in national points behind the wheel of his Jensen Audio Pontiac Firebird, ran a 5.893-second lap at 246.71 to defeat Veney, who ran 7.381-second pass at 131.11 mph.

Winners in other categories are Jeff Taylor of Lumberton, N.C., in Competition Eliminator; Anthony Bertozzi of Richmond, Va., in Super Stock; Bryan Valentine of Thornwood, N.Y, in Stock Eliminator; Shane Carr of Williamstown, N.J., in Super Comp; Edward Conner of Oviedo, Fla., in Super Gas and Michael Ruff of Orlando, Fla., in Super Street.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event being held at Orlando Speed World Dragway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
8) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.662 seconds, 253.95 mph def. 
1) Art Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 17.464, 50.28

2) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.559 seconds, 257.28 mph def. 
7) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., BROKE

6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.745 seconds, 242.78 mph def. 
3) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.645, 256.62 

4) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., 5.616 seconds, 254.23 mph def. 
5) Tim Slagle, Fairfax Va., 16.373, 46.28

Semifinals
Gibson, 5.632 seconds, 254.52 mph def. Gunderson, 5.607, 252.52
Cannon, 5.678 seconds, 254.08 mph def. Fiorelli, 6.470, 162.24

Final
Cannon, 5.789 seconds, 244.36 mph def. Gibson, 12.588, 63.87

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
 Round 1
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 10.649 seconds, 71.00 mph def. BYE
2) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Pontiac Firebird, 5.920 seconds, 246.17 mph  def. 
7) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Chevy Camaro, 6.017, 246.37

3) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge RT, 6.258 seconds, 240.44 mph def. 
6) Kim McKean, Shahola, Pa., '01 Dodge Avenger, BROKE

4) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Dodge, 6.207 seconds, 237.27 mph def.  
5) Greg Beckner, Chester Va., '93 Chevy Corvette, BROKE

Semifinals
Veney, 6.036 seconds, 228.89 mph def. Craig, 9.150, 95.50
Smith, 5.889 seconds, 241.48 mph def. Billington, 6.103, 247.58

Final
Smith, 5.893 seconds, 246.71 mph def. Veney, 7.381, 131.11

COMP ELIMINATOR
Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., D/SMA, '00 Grand Am, .515 reaction time, 9.333 seconds, 104.23 mph def. 
Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., D/AA, '02 Camaro, .493 (foul), 8.200, 122.76

SUPER STOCK
Anthony Bertozzi, Richmond, Va., SS/CM, '98 Grand Am, .511 reaction time, 9.295 seconds, 9.25 dial-in def. 
Mike Walter, Paris, Ohio, GT/HA, '92 Firebird, .543, 10.481, 10.46

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Bryan Valentine, Thornwood, N.Y., L/SA, '85 Camaro, .509 reaction time, 12.015 seconds, 11.97 dial-in def. 
Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., F/SA, '95 Camaro, .560, 11.268, 11.31

SUPER COMP
Shane Carr, Williamtown, N.J., '02 Mullis Dragster, .404 reaction time, 8.926 seconds def. 
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., '90 Cavalier, .415, 8.925

SUPER GAS
Edward Conner, Oviedo, Fla., '63 Corvette, .412 reaction time, 9.888 seconds def. 
Steve Turner, Oak City N.C., '69 Camaro, .395 (foul), 9.881

SUPER STREET
Michael Ruff, Orlando, Fla., '92 Camaro, .522 reaction time, 10.931 seconds 
def. Kevin Mac Nicol, North Port, Fla., '78 Trans Am, .527, 10.894

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Smith and Gallant grab top spots in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. - In the final rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event being held at Orlando Speed World Dragway, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Art Gallant and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Von Smith lead their fields.

Fresh off a win two weeks ago at Gainesville Raceway, Gallant of Boxboro, Mass., clicked off a 5.508-second pass at a 227.44-mph. The current Southeast Division points leader will face defending Southeast Division Champion Michael Gunderson in Sunday's opening round.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn., looks to have regained some of his winning form. Smith, who is sure to be a Southeast Division Championship contender this year, recorded a 5.950-second pass at 238.91 mph to gain the top spot. Plagued by problems throughout qualifying, defending Southeast Division Champion Jay Payne, qualified in the 7th spot and will face Todd Veney in the opening round. Top qualifiers in other classes are Jeff Taylor of Lumberton, N.C., in Competition Eliminator; Charlie Westcott of Parma, Mich., in Super Stock; and Art Leong of Brooklyn, N.Y. in Stock Eliminator.

The gates at Orlando Speed World Dragway will open tomorrow at 8 a.m. with eliminations set to begin at 9 a.m. Eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car are schedules to begin at 1 p.m. For more information please contact Orlando Speed World Dragway at (407) 568-5522.

The following are the finals qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Orlando Speed World Dragway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1.  Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.508 seconds, 227.44 mph 
2.  Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.621, 256.33 
3.  David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.647, 248.96 
4.  Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., 5.758, 249.44 
5.  Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Va., 5.822, 255.68 
6.  Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.825, 230.59 
7.  Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.912, 233.40 
8.  Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.931, 246.91 
------------ Not Qualified ------------ 
9.  Brooks Brown, Houston, Texas, 6.026, 207.75 
10.Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., 6.185, 240.44 
11.Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.598, 202.70 
12.John Haley, Wayzata, Minn., 9.630, 68.69 

First-round pairings
1)  Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.508 seconds, 227.44 mph vs. 
8) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.931, 246.91

2)  Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.621 seconds, 256.33 mph vs. 
7) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.912, 233.40

3)  David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.647 seconds, 248.96 mph vs. 
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.825, 230.59

4)  Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., 5.758 seconds, 249.44 mph vs. 
5) Tim Slagle, Fairfax Va., 5.822, 255.68 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1. Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 5.950 seconds, 238.91 mph 
2. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Pontiac Firebird, 5.953, 243.30
3. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge RT, 6.071, 237.27  
4. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Dodge, 6.261, 232.55 
5. Greg Beckner, Chester, Va., '93 Chevy Corvette, 6.656, 190.19 
6. Kim McKean, Shahola, Pa., '01 Dodge Avenger, 8.982, 143.26 
7. Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Chevy Camaro, 11.364, 66.02 

First-round pairings
1) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 5.950 seconds, 238.91 mph vs. BYE

2) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind.,  '98 Pontiac Firebird, 5.953 seconds, 243.30 mph  vs. 
7) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Chevy Camaro, 11.364, 66.02

3) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge RT, 6.071 seconds, 237.27 mph vs. 
6) Kim McKean, Shahola, Pa., '01 Dodge Avenger, 8.982, 143.26

4) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '01 Dodge, 6.261 seconds, 232.55 mph vs. 
5) Greg Beckner, Chester Va., '93 Chevy Corvette, 6.656, 190.19

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR  
1.  Jeff Taylor, Lumberton N.C., D/SMA,'00 Grand Am, 8.710, -0.690 (under index) 
2.  Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., D/AA, '02 Camaro, 7.789, -0.641
3.  Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., E/SMA, '98 Grand Am, 8.846, -0.624 
4.  Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM, '98 Grand Am, 8.591, -0.619
5.  Glenn Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., E/EA, '23-T Ford, 8.527, -0.603 
6.  Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., H/SM, '98 Grand Am, 9.191, -0.589 
7.  Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., H/A, '92 Cutlass, 8.912, -0.588 
8.  Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., F/SM, '91 Calais, 9.025, -0.525
9.  Bill Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., F/SM,  '92 Camaro, 9.037, -0.513
10. Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., C/D, ProStart Dragster, 7.131, -0.499 

SUPER STOCK
1. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/F, '98 Grand Am, 9.581, -1.319 (under index) 
2. Joe Scott, Sunbury, Pa., GT/TD, '01 S-10, 10.481, -1.219 
3. Chuck Gallagher, Holly, Mich., SS/AM, '94 Sunbird, 8.380, -1.170 
4. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/IA, '00 Firebird, 10.343, -1.157 
5. Jerry Holman, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/JA, '86 Firebird, 10.160, -1.140 
6. Michael Tueffel, Englewood, Colo., SS/BM, '98 Grand Am, 8.586, -1.114 
7. Richard Beshore, Mason, Mich., SS/AA, '68 Barracuda, 8.906, -1.094 
8. Ralph Marr, Kingsland, Ga., SS/JA, '67 Corvette, 10.216, -1.084 
9. Michael Volkman, Moon, Pa., GT/IA, '99 Sebring, 10.420, -1.080 
10. Dan Larson, Vadnais Heights, Minn., SS/KA, '85 Camaro, 10.471, -1.079

STOCK
1.  Art Leong, Brooklyn, N.Y., EF/SA, '91 Dodge, 14.372, -1.528 (under index)  
2. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, D/SA, '01 Firebird, 10.437, -1.413 
3.  Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, K/SA, '85 Camaro, 11.608, -1.342 
4.  Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., J/SA, '85 Camaro, 11.466, -1.284 
5.  Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., R/SA, '75 Buick Wagon, 13.067, -1.283 
6.  Tom Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, D/S, '98 Firebird, 10.520, -1.280 
7.  Jeff Teuton, Houma, La., ET/SA, '97 Ram, 12.013, -1.237 
8.  John Presing, N. Haledon N.J., L/S, '68 Mustang, 11.774, -1.226 
9.  Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., O/SA, '87 Trans Am, 12.250, -1.200 
10. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA, '98 Firebird, 10.655, -1.195

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series lands in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. - The 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series continues this weekend at Orlando Speed World Dragway for the second of seven events in NHRA's Southeast Division.

After Friday's opening rounds of qualifying at Orlando Speed World Dragway, Charlie Westcott, Jr., of Parma, Mich., leads the Comp Eliminator field. Westcott drove his '98 Grand Am to a 9.191-second elapsed time for the top spot. Leading the field in Super Stock is Westcott's father, Charlie Sr. His '98 Grand Am leads with a 9.637-second elapsed time. In Stock Eliminator, Art Leong, of Brooklyn, N.Y., grabbed the number one spot behind the wheel of his front-wheel-drive Dodge.

Saturday's racing action will feature 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars, as well as the continuation of qualifying in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street.

Gates at Orlando Speed World Dragway open Saturday at 8 a.m. with qualifying set to begin at 9 a.m. Qualifying sessions in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information please call Orlando Speed World Dragway at (407) 568-5522.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Orlando Speed World Dragway:

 COMP ELIMINATOR
1.   Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., H/SM, '98 Grand Am, 9.191, -0.589 (under index)  
2.   Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., H/A, '92 Cutlass, 8.912, -0.588 
3.   Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., D/AA, '02 Camaro, 7.878, -0.552 
4.   Johnny Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., E/EA, Undercover, 8.597, -0.533 
5.   Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM, '98 Grand Am, 8.688, -0.522 
6.   Don Eckel, Piscataway, N.J., C/D, Pro Start, 7.131, -0.499 
7.   Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., D/EA, '32 Bantam Roadster, 8.531, -0.489 
8.   Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., E/SMA, '98 Grand Am, 8.998, -0.472 
9.   Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., F/SM, '91 Calais, 9.094, -0.456 
10.  Bill Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., F/SM, '92 Camaro, 9.138, -0.412 

SUPER STOCK
1.   Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/F, '98 Grand Am 9.637, -1.263 (under index) 
2.   Joe Scott, Sunbury, Penn., GT/TD, '01 S-10 10.486, -1.214 
3.   Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/IA, '00 Firebird10.343, -1.157 
4.   Chuck Gallagher, Holly, Mich., SS/AM, '94 Sunbird 8.397, -1.153 
5.   Richard Beshore, Mason, Mich., SS/AA, '68 Barracuda 8.906, -1.094 
6.   Michael Volkman, Moon, Penn., GT/IA, '99 Sebring 10.420, -1.080 
7.   Ralph Marr, Kingsland, Ga., SS/JA, '67 Corvette 10.232, -1.068 
8.   Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., SS/JA, '64 Corvette 10.238, -1.062 
9.   Jerry Holman, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/JA, '86 Fir 10.241, -1.059 
10.  Michael Tueffel, Englewood, Colo., SS/BM, '98 Grand 8.653, -1.047 

STOCK 
1.  Art Leong, Brooklyn, N.Y., EF/SA, '91 Dodge, 14.372, -1.528 (under index) 
2.  Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, D/SA, '01 Firebird 10.450 11.85 -1.400 
3.  Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., J/SA, '85 Camaro 11.466 12.75 -1.284 
4.  Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, K/SA, '85 Camaro 11.680 12.95 -1.270 
5.  Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., R/SA, '75 Buick Wgn13.107 14.35 -1.243 
6.  Tom Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, D/S, '98 Firebird 10.561 11.80 -1.239 
7.  Jeff Teuton, Houma, La., ET/SA, '97 Ram 12.013 13.25 -1.237 
8.  John Presing, North Haledon, N.J., I/S, '68 Mustang 11.774 13.00 -1.226 
9.  Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA, '98 Firebird 10.655 11.85 -1.195 
10. Al Corda, Elk Mound, Wis., C/SA, '01 Firebird 10.516 11.70 -1.184