Litton Leads First Day Of Qualifying
At Carquest Empire Nationals

By Summit FastNews

LEICESTER, N.Y. - Bruce Litton of Indianapolis led first-round qualifying at the IHRA CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park.

Litton set the pace with a 4.703-second pass at 311.34 mile per hour in his Top Fuel dragster. Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio qualified second at 4.717 seconds and 310.77 miles per hour.

Other top professional qualifiers include Quain Stott, Inman, S.C. in Pro Modified; Johnny Mancuso, Houston, in Nitro Harley-Davidson; Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, in Funny Car; and Gene Wilson, Canton, Ga., in Pro Stock.

The second round of qualifying begins Saturday at noon, with championship finals on Sunday.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Results Friday after qualifying for the 11th annual CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, fifth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday to establish pairings for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Bruce Litton, 4.703 seconds, 311.34 mph; 2. Jim Head, 4.717, 310.77; 3. Clay Millican, 4.801, 304.53; 4. Paul Romine, 5.330, 208.75; 5. Bobby Lagana Jr, 5.521, 264.49; 6. Grant Flowers, 6.065, 235.84; 7. Jerry Freeman, 6.521, 169.59; 8. Tracy Howard, 6.928, 136.77.

Nitro Harley -- 1. Johnny Mancuso, 6.460, 220.01; 2. Doug Vancil, 6.473, 220.15; 3. Jay Turner, 6.514, 220.04; 4. Mike Romine, 6.580, 214.66; 5. Tony Mattioli, 6.589, 221.20; 6. Bill Furr, 6.590, 205.82; 7. Stan Verheijen, 6.643, 195.00; 8. Steve Stordeur, 6.687, 206.76.

Pro Modified -- 1. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 6.267, 225.37; 2. Al Billes, Studebaker, 6.292, 224.51; 3. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.296, 224.02; 4. Mike Janis, Corvette, 6.300, 226.35; 5. Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.306, 225.15; 6. Steve Vick, Camaro, 6.309, 223.69; 7. Carl Moyer, Chevy Bel Air, 6.319, 223.28; 8. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.319, 222.36; 9. Ronnie Hood, Corvette, 6.331, 223.88; 10. Michael D Lockwood, Corvette, 6.335, 221.34; 11. Harold Martin, Pontiac Firebird, 6.345, 221.96; 12. Steve Cossis, Corvette, 6.351, 222.99; 13. Sal Passarelli, Chevy Nova, 6.356, 223.25; 14. Kevin O'Dell, Chevelle, 6.364, 221.67; 15. Mike Castellana, Bel Air, 6.367, 216.69; 16. Todd Howard, Bel Air, 6.386, 220.04.

Funny Car -- 1. Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.849, 239.02; 2. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.850, 240.34; 3. Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 5.886, 239.10; 4. John Vouros, Firebird, 5.898, 236.01; 5. Terry McMillen, Avenger, 5.918, 235.64; 6. Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.950, 238.05; 7. Terry Munroe, Firebird, 6.110, 230.02; 8. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 6.128, 232.11; 9. Dan Roman, Firebird, 6.130, 233.96; 10. Dave Ray, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.140, 227.00; 11. Fred Tigges, Camaro, 6.157, 235.68; 12. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.169, 231.12; 13. Ronnie Midyette, Firebird, 6.182, 229.55; 14. Lance Van Hauen, Firebird, 6.223, 223.95; 15. Philip Hooper, Camaro, 6.246, 228.19; 16. Mike Etter, Firebird, 6.362, 228.07.

Pro Stock -- 1. Gene Wilson, Mercury Cougar, 6.614, 210.05; 2. Carl Baker, Cougar, 6.633, 211.06; 3. Tim Nabors, Chevy Cavalier, 6.643, 209.26; 4. John Konigshofer, Ford Probe, 6.654, 210.64; 5. John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 6.662, 208.33; 6. Ron Miller, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.670, 208.52; 7. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.695, 208.39; 8. Terry Leggett, Mustang, 6.701, 207.02; 9. Angelo Alesci, Cavalier, 6.707, 208.01; 10. Dwayne Rice, Pontiac Firebird, 6.710, 208.07; 11. Jason Collins, Probe, 6.718, 207.72; 12. Elijah Morton, Probe, 6.729, 207.43; 13. Bob Holzer, Firebird, 6.733, 206.86; 14. Chris Holbrook, Mustang, 6.742, 207.21; 15. Chuck DeMory, Probe, 6.773, 205.19; 16. Anthony Paone, Chevy Camaro, 6.776, 203.95.

Larry Sullivan
larrybud1320@earthlink.net