BELLE ROSE, La. - Nearly 550 racers took to the track today for the first rounds of qualifying for the NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway. This weekend's event, the first of its kind since 1986 when Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., hosted the NHRA SPORTSnationals, features six of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Categories along with Top Sportsman and exhibition runs in Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Activity actually started on Thursday when the track hosted the Top Stock Shootout along with a test & tune session for racers competing this weekend. Local racer Floyd Russo of Gonzales, La., qualified number one for the shootout, but it was Ohio resident Joey Wilkes taking the win over Russo in the final round with a run of 10.092 seconds at 130.28 mph. Russo tripped the clocks at 10.204 seconds, 128.80 mph but left early with a red-light giving the win to Wilkes.

In Friday's action, Greg Porter of Edmond, Okla., grabbed the number one sport in Comp Eliminator with a pass of 7.571 seconds in his '03 Cavalier. Porter is followed by Tim Freeman in the second spot and David Rampy, who has 54 NHRA national event wins to his credit, in third.

Harry Holton is on top in Super Stock with his '68 Barracuda with a pass of 8.688 seconds, 1.312 seconds under the index. Holton who runs in the SS/AA Super Stock class will join the rest of the SS/AA participants in the SS/AA Hemi Shootout, a special race within a race, on Saturday. Buz Post of Arlington, Texas, is second in Super Stock with Charlie Wescott following in third.

Local favorite Jimmy Hidalgo is twelfth in the 130-car Stock Eliminator field in his '97 Camaro with Ed O'Brien of Yorba Linda, Calif., leading the class in his '72 La Baron and Bruce Noland in third.

In the A.R.T. Top Sportsman class, Greg Lair of Canyon, Texa,s is currently qualified number one with a pass of 7.033 seconds at 197.28 mph and is followed by Ronnie Davis in his '63 Corvette. Louisiana residents Keith Raftery and Earle Folse are 3rd and 4th respectively.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 8 a.m. with Stock and Super Stock class eliminations throughout the day. In addition to the SS/AA Hemi Shootout, the U/SA shootout, Super Shootout King of the Bayou, and the Top Sportsman Quick 8 are also special features scheduled for Saturday. For more information call the track, (985) 369-3692 or visit www.noproblemraceway.com

COMP ELIMINATOR

1 Greg Porter, Edmond Okla., H/A '03 Cavalier, 8.840, 0.620 under index
2 Tim Freeman, Roan Mtn Tenn., H/SM '04 Caviler, 9.183, -0.597
3 David Rampy, Piedmont Ala., A/EA '32 Bantam, 7.410, -0.580
4 PST Brian Self, Hempstead Texas, PST '01 S-10, 7.510, -0.580
5 Cordis Johnson, Springdale Ark., G/SMA '03 Chevy, 9.041, -0.579
6 Vincent Deceglie, Alta Loma Calif,, A/A '63 Chevy, 6.625, -0.565
7 Mike Saye, Johnston S.C., H/A '92 Cutlass, 8.897, -0.563
8 Raymond Martin, Mt Belvieu TX, K/AA '32 Bantam, 8.022, -0.558
9 Tony Stephenson, Willow Sprg N.C., F/AA '02 Chevy, 8.230, -0.550
10 Brian Browell, Lafayette Ind., D/D dragster, 7.284, -0.546
 

SUPER STOCK

1 Harry Holton, Modesto Calif., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.688, -1.312
2 Buz Post, Arlington Texas, SS/AM '01 Grand Am, 8.245, -1.305
3 Charlie Wescott, Parma Mich., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.746, -1.254
4 Eddie Smith, Sandyville W.V., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.804, -1.196
5 Bo Butner III, Floyds Knobs Ind., SS/BM '02 Grand, 8.508, -1.192
6 Michael Ogburn, Mission Viejo Calif., SS/AA'68 Barracuda 8.812, -1.188
7 Gilbert Johnson Sr, Lecompte La., SS/NA '66 Chevy, 11.275, -1.175
8 John Baughman, York Pa., SS/AA '68 Dart, 8.825, -1.175
9 Jerry Jenkins, Modesto Calif., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.841, -1.159
10 Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill W.V., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.860 -1.140
 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1 Ed O'Brien, Yorba Linda Calif., BF/S '72 La Baron, 14.240, -1.210
2 Keith Lynch, West Jordan Utah, B/SA '70 Nova,10.364, -1.186
3 Bruce Noland, Leesburg Va., J/SA '72 Camaro, 11.580, -1.170
4 Jim Wahl, Deltona Fla., AF/S '91 Dodge, 13.818, -1.132
5 Amy Faulk, Collierville Tenn., C/FIA '01 Firebird, 10.872, -1.128
6 Jerry Bennett, Hickory Ky., H/SA '79 Aspen, 11.340, -1.110
7 Joe Schaechter, Moline Ill., M/S '65 Malibu, 12.053, -1.097
8 R.J. Sledge, Boerne Texas, E/SA '67 Fairlane, 10.938, -1.062
9 Daran Summerton, Panama City Fla., U/SA '89 Ponti, 14.088, -1.062
10 Jason McCormack, Oxford Mich., B/S '66 Belvedere, 10.453, -1.047
 
TOP SPORTSMAN
1 Greg Lair, Canyon Texas, '03 Grand Am, 7.033 seconds, 197.28 mph
2 Ronnie Davis, Commerce Ga, '63 Corvette, 7.104, 194.74
3 Keith Raftery, Lake Charles La., '03 Firebird, 7.177, 191.24
4 Earle Folse, Raceland La., '86 Cutlass, 7.188, 191.78
5 Don Peden, Edinburg Ill., '04 Cavalier, 7.245  191.48  
6 Phillip Muse, Tomball Texas, '97 Pontiac, 7.288  188.31 
7 Kyle Cannon, West Helena Ark., '03 Cavalier, 7.317  189.10
8 Britt Cummings, Hammond La., '98 Firebird, 7.322  188.02
9 Tommy Turner, Naples Fla., '04 Cavalier, 7.342  186.67  
10 Billy Vaughn, Knoxville Tenn., '92 Camaro, 7.396  180.28