FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chesterman, Reichert score wins at BIR'S Lucas Oil event

BRAINERD, Minn. - Despite a three-hour rain delay at the Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, racers and officials persevered and finished the event. NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors in eight classes were running for valuable points leading to divisional and national titles. Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Cy Chesterman and Top Alcohol Dragster racer Bill Reichert both carried their No. 1 qualifying efforts into the winner's circle.

For Chesterman, it was his second final-round appearance in as many races. The Sioux City, Iowa, resident was runner-up at the division's season opener in Topeka, Kan. In the final round here, Chesterman beat defending division champion Kirk Williams with a 5.706-second, 251.91-mph pass. Williams' 5.796-second, 249.94 mph effort fell just short. Reichert, who claims NHRA's North Central division as his home, took the win over David Wells of Lemars, Iowa. Although Wells broke on the burnout, Reichert made a 5.390-second, 274.16-mph pass. The Owasso, Mich., racer had run consistently all weekend, never making a pass slower than 5.415 seconds.

Winners in other classes were Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., in Comp Eliminator; Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., in Super Stock; Craig Meseroll, Cloquet, Minn., in Stock; Milton Gedo, Lakewood, Colo., in Super Comp; Chris Bishop, Grand Rapids, Minn., in Super Gas; and Mike Anderson, St. Joseph, Minn., in Super Street.

Tom Gilligan of Fremont, Neb., took the win the Sportsman Motorcycle class as part of the Kerker Motorcycle Series which is run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

West Cent Division racers head to Bandimere Speedway in Denver for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, June 18-20.

The following are the final results from the Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships at Brainerd International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round one
1) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.415, 271.73 def. 
8) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 5.742, 230.80

5) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.794, 237.96 def. 
4) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, foul

2) Todd Datweiler, Herscher, Ill., 5.369, 262.03 def. 
7) William Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.527, 258.12 

3) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.418, 261.22 def. 
6) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.587, 251.77

Semifinals
Wells, 5.508, 259.21 def. Datweiler, 5.691, 250.41
Reichert, 5.404, 274.16 def. Ricketts, 5.588, 239.74

Finals
Reichert, 5.390, 274.16 def. Wells, broke

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round one
1) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.713, 249.76 def. 
8) Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., Chevy Corvette, 6.162, 220.51

2) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, Pontiac Firebird, 5.792, 248.89 def. 
7) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., Firebird, 6.079, 245.72

3) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., Trans Am, 6.039, 238.72 def.
9) Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., Firebird, broke

4) Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, Firebird, 5.741, 246.08 def. 
5) Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., Firebird, 6.359, 179.47

Semifinals
Chesterman, 5.713, 250.37 def. Brand, 5.764, 251.49
Williams, 5.830, 248.71 def. Patton, 5.931, 247.57

Finals
Chesterman, 5.706, 251.91 def. Williams, 5.796, 249.94

COMP ELIMINATOR
Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., Dragster,  D/ED, 8.656, 109.90 def. Bill
Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Wis., '99 Firebird, C/EA, 8.368, 160.79

SUPER STOCK
Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., '98 Firebird, SS/BS, 9.153, 137.51 def. Chad
Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84 Cougar, GT/EA, 10.055, 133.07
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Craig Meseroll, Cloquet, Minn., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.400, 114.90 def. Johnny
Diekema, Wilton, Iowa, '70 Nova, B/S, 10.697, 119.28

SUPER COMP
Milton Gedo, Lakewood, Colo., Dragster, 8.899, 162.20 def. Mitch Mustard,
Arvada, Colo., Dragster, 8.875, 174.32

SUPER GAS
Chris Bishop, Grand Rapids, Minn., '79 Malibu, 9.901, 143.80 def. Scott
Cowles, Fremont, Neb., '78 Chevy , 9.871, 138.34

SUPER STREET
Mike Anderson, St. Joseph, Minn., '65 Nova, 10.864, 133.28 def. Bob
Forsythe, Winnipeg, Man.,'71 Demon, 10.843, 128.48

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, 9.408, 128.95 def. Cary Hoover,
Andover, Minn., '75 Kawasaki, 8.868, 146.70

JUNIOR A
Nicole Bruegger, Hudson, WI, 10.695 def. Adam McMasters,
Rose Creek, MN, 10.837

JUNIOR B
Cassie Simonton, Spring Lake Park, MN, 7.962 def. Alex Barmettler,
Maplewood, MN, 10.733

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Qualifying complete, fields set at BIR

BRAINERD, Minn. - Qualifying is complete at the Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, at Brainerd Int'l Raceway. Due to the rain-shortened day on Friday, Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) racers only had two chances to make the eight-car fields. Bill Reichert drove his TAD to the No. 1 position and TAFC driver Cy Chesterman took the top spot.

Owasso, Mich., resident Reichert made two nearly identical runs today. His first pass was 5.331 seconds at 275.51 mph and his second run was another 5.331-second effort at 274.66 mph. The No. 2 TAD racer was Todd Dateweiler of Herscher, Ill., whose best run was 5.428 seconds at 261.07 mph. Chesterman also made his best pass of the day right out of the gate. In the first round of qualifying the Sioux City, Iowa, racer ran 5.708 seconds at 238.01 mph, which was enough to keep him in the No. 1 spot. Kirk Williams of Glenwood, Iowa, was qualified second with a 5.905-second, 246.98 mph run.

The best qualifiers in other classes were Clint Sallee of Glendive, Mont., in Comp Eliminator; Dan Larson of St. Paul, Minn., in Super Stock; and Jeff Stealey of Cordova, Ill., in Stock.

In the Kerker Motorcycle Series, run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil event, Leslie Bendo of Winger, Minn., was the top qualifier in Sportsman Motorcycle. Racing continues Sunday at BIR. Gates open at 8 a.m. and eliminations begin at 9 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run first round of eliminations at noon.

Tickets are $20 and military personnel with proper ID are half price. Children 6 to 12 are $10 and kids 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, call BIR, (218) 284-7220.

The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships at Brainerd International Raceway, including first round pairings for TAD and TAFC:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.331 seconds, 275.51 mph
2) Todd Datweiler, Herscher, Ill., 5.428, 261.07
3) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.444, 262.49
4) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.483, 252.47
5) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.511, 267.64
6) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.645, 250.55
7) William Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.663, 252.80
8) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 5.682, 245.81

Not Qualified
9) Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa, 5.784, 235.27
10) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.969, 239.65
11) John Haley, Wayzata, Minn., 6.265, 153.16

First-round TAD pairings
1) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.331 seconds, 275.51 mph vs. 
8) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 5.682, 245.81

2) Todd Datweiler, Herscher, Ill., 5.428, 261.07 vs. 
7) William Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.663, 252.80

3) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.444, 262.49 vs. 
6) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.645, 250.55

4) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.483, 252.47 vs.
5) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.511, 267.64

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Trans Am, 5.708 seconds, 238.01 mph
2) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 5.905, 246.98
3) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '03 Trans Am, 5.933, 247.16
4) Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 6.020, 232.15
5) Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Firebird, 6.292, 217.95
6) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '02 Firebird, 6.315, 160.08
7) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.583, 195.93
8) Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '02 Corvette, 7.012, 136.28

Not Qualified
9) Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., '01 Firebird, (no time)

First-round TAFC pairings
1) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '03 Trans Am, 5.708 seconds, 238.01 mph vs. 
8) Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '02 Corvette, 7.012, 136.28

2) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 5.905, 246.98 vs. 
7) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.583, 195.93

3) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '03 Trans Am, 5.933, 247.16 vs. 
6) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '02 Firebird, 6.315, 160.08

4) Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 6.020, 232.15 vs. 
5) Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Firebird, 6.292, 217.95

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., Fritz, B/D, 6.794 seconds, -0.606 (under index)
2) Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.457, -0.533
3) Brad Klein, Amarillo, Texas, '03 Cavalier, B/A, 7.283, -0.517
4) Bill Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Wis., '99 Firebird, C/EA, 8.342, -0.498
5) Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '33 Ford, C/SR, 8.780, -0.490
6) Paul Anderson, Erie, Colo., Fritz, C/ED, 7.492, -0.468
7) Mike Nahan, Sartell, Minn., Tuttle, E/D, 7.693, -0.467
8) Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., Spitzer, D/ED, 7.554, -0.456
9) Paul Pittman, Bloomington, Minn., '01 Firebird, B/AA, 7.381, -0.419
10) Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Alpine, F/A, 8.429, -0.411

SUPER STOCK
1) Dan Larson, St Paul, Minn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.486 seconds, -1.064 (under index)
2) Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., '88 Cutlass, SS/NA, 11.414, -1.036
3) Tyler Cassil, Belton, Mo., '66 Nova, SS/K, 10.298, -1.002
4) Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., '98 Firebird, SS/BS, 9.066, -0.984
5) Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84 Cougar, GT/EA, 9.982, -0.968
6) Ted Romero, Denver, '98 Grand Am, GT/IA, 10.557, -0.943
7) Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.573, -0.927
8) Randy Hopkins, Cable, Wis., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.096, -0.904
9) Tom Meyer, Pierce, Neb., '66 Chevy II, SS/LA, 10.876, -0.874
10) David Bogner, Kearney, Neb., '98 Avenger, GT/FA, 10.228, -0.872

STOCK
1) Jeff Stealy, Cordova, Ill., '86 Camaro, H/SA, 11.336 seconds, -1.114 (under index)
2) Lance Line, Cromwell, Minn., '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.443, -1.107
3) Ron Mattson, Cloquet, Minn., '72 Nova, I/SA, 11.525, -1.075
4) Keith Lynch, Mt Ayr, Iowa, '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.527, -1.023
5) Dan Jeska, Eagan, Minn., '72 Duster, G/SA, 11.296, -1.004
6) Jack Briner, Waterloo, Iowa, '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.617, -0.983
7) Lyn Johnson, Cloquet, Minn., '70 Mustang, C/S, 10.679, -0.971
8) Dan Zrust, Maple Grove, Minn., '02 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.734, -0.966
9) Tom Brook, Regina, Sask., '89 Daytona, BF/S, 14.220, -0.930
10) William Prince, Maple Grove, Minn., '87 Cutlass, K/SA, 12.020, -0.930

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1) Leslie Bendo, Winger, Minn., '00 Yamaha, KMC, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2) Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., '78 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.004
3) Jeff Lanoue, Zimmerman, Mexico, '00 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.005
4) Dave Keiffer, Spring Lake Park, Minn., '86 Suzuki, KMC, 0.005
5) Ken Niesen, Brooklyn Park, Minn., '82 Suzuki, KMC, 0.008
6) Brian Johnson, Burns Township, Minn., '03 Suzuki, KMC, 0.009
7) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '97 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.010
8) Dale Detlie, Owatonna, Minn., '83 Suzuki, KMC, 0.012
9) Willie Braddy, Savage, Minn., '99 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.012
10) Toby Giese, Big Lake, Minn., '00 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First day of qualifying a washout

BRAINERD, Minn. - The first rounds of qualifying at Brainerd Int'l Raceway were cut short by rain today. The Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, will continue Saturday and Sunday as scheduled.

Some competitors in Super Stock and Stock were able to get one shot at the track before officials were forced to call it a day but the majority of cars were still being checked by the NHRA tech department.

According to division officials, tomorrow's schedule will remain unchanged giving Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) competitors two qualifying runs before going into eliminations on Sunday.

Gates at BIR open at 8 a.m. Saturday and qualifying and time trials will start at 9 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets for the Grand Casino/Coca Cola Championships are $15. Children 6 to 12 years old are half price and kids 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, call BIR, (218) 284-7220.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA West Central Division Lucas Oil racers move north to BIR

BRAINERD, Minn. - NHRA's West Central Division racers continue their 2003 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season at Brainerd International Raceway with a three-day event June 6-8. The Grand Casino/Coca-Cola Championships is the second of six races in West Central Division competition and will feature more than 450 drivers in eight categories competing for points leading to divisional and national titles as well as a share of the $561,000 champion's purse.

Classes that will run include 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) as well as Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. The Kerker Motorcycle Series, featuring the Sportsman Motorcycle class, will also run in conjunction with the event.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, defending division champion Alan Bradshaw comes into the event leading the point standings. The chiropractor from Odessa, Texas, took the win at the division's season opener in Topeka, Kan., beating division newcomer, Gary Cooper of Wichita, Kan. Bradshaw's win came on the heels of an out-of-division win in Dallas.

LeMars, Iowa, racer David Wells is just behind Bradshaw in the point standings. The former division champion won an out-of-division race in Joliet, Ill., and went to the semifinals in Topeka.

Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Dale Brand of Sully, Iowa, comes into Brainerd in first place in the point standings. Brand has two semifinal round appearances to his credit; one out-of-division in Joliet, and the other in Topeka.

Defending division TAFC champion Kirk Williams is just 10 points out of first place. The Glenwood, Iowa, racer was runner-up here last year en route to his first division title. So far this season, Williams suffered a first-round loss at the out-of-division event in Joliet and he went to the semi's in Topeka.

Right behind Williams - by one point - is Vern Moats, a veteran racer out of

Des Moines, Iowa. Moats was also in Joliet where he went to the semifinals, but he lost in the opening round in Topeka. Moats is no stranger to points battles, however. The intrepid driver has more division championships to his credit - 15 - than any other racer. He earned all his titles in TAFC.

Gates at Brainerd International Raceway open at 8 a.m. each day. Qualifying and time trials begin Friday at 9 a.m. with TAD and TAFC running at 4 p.m. The action continues Saturday at 9 a.m. TAD and TAFC have qualifying runs scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 8 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run first round at noon.

General admission tickets, including pit pass, are $10 Friday, $15 Saturday and $20 Sunday. Children 6 to 12 are half off the general admission price each day and kids 5 and under are admitted free. Military personnel with proper ID also get in for half price.

Brainerd International Raceway is located at 4343 Highway 371 North in Brainerd. For more information call the track, (218) 284-7220, or visit the web site, www.BrainerdRace.com.

NHRA West Central division racers will head to Denver for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Bandimere Speedway will host the third out of six races on the division's schedule June 20-22. NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: Grand Casino/Coca-Cola Championships, 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 second of six in West Central Division competition. The division's Sportsman Motorcycle class will also run in conjunction with the event.

WHERE: Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn. Track is located at 4343 Highway 371 North in Brainerd.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 6-8, 2003

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the Grand Casino/Coca-Cola Championships:

FRIDAY, June 6 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 7 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 8 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations begin at 9 a.m. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at noon.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $10 Friday, $15 Saturday, $20 Sunday. Children 6 to 12 are half off general admission each day. Kids 5 and under are admitted free. Military personnel with proper ID receive half off general admission. For more information please call Brainerd International Raceway, (218) 284-7220.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $152,705, part of the 45-race, $6.5 million series.

2002 EVENT WINNERS: Ed Schmeekle, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jay Payne, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Lucky Snyder, Comp Eliminator; Mike Bogina, Super Stock; Gene Mosbek, Stock Eliminator; Steve Swenson, Super Comp; Bill Cawsey, Super Gas; Mike Anderson, 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 2003 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 $215,500 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 43 of 45 divisional events and 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 2003 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 2003 Jeg's Allstars. 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 2003, the All-Star invitational will be run in November during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Thunder Valley Raceway in Noble, Okla. 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 450 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.