Champions Crowned at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Houston Raceway Park

BAYTOWN, Texas (July 26, 2009) – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series wrapped up this weekend at Houston Raceway Park early Sunday morning.  Racers completed the two day event, which was the fourth of six events on the division calendar. The event featured drivers in eleven categories vying for crucial points leading to divisional and national championships.  Winning the hardware were Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Chase Copeland of Walters, Okla., and Kebin Kinsley out of Kennedale, Texas, in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class.

Copeland took a tough route this weekend making his way out of the No. 6 qualifying position and into the winner’s circle. He defeated the current divisional points leader, Malcolm Wahle of Claremore, Okla., in the first round en route to his victory. In the final, Copeland laid down a 5.517 second, 252.05 mph. pass to take out Willis, Texas, resident Michael Manners.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car action, Kinsley is making a name for himself in South Central competition and taking a shot at the points lead. His final pass of 5.867 seconds at 241.97 mph was just enough to knock out the No.1 qualifier Lee Callaway from Baytown, Texas, to pick up the holeshot victory.
 
Other top honors were awarded to Adam Hickey, Hammond, La., in Comp Eliminator; Gary Emmons of Friendswood, Texas, claimed the Super Stock trophy; and Kevin Helms, Schriever, La., won in Stock Eliminator.  Super Comp honors went to Lance Rutland of Spring, Texas; Bart Nelson, La Porte, Texas, won in Super Gas; and Tim Watson, Bedford, Texas, grabbed the Super Street title. TCI Comp Cams Top Dragster honors went to John Angelle, Breaux Bridge, La.; Keith Haney from Broken Arrow, Okla., won the Sunset RaceCraft Top Sportsman class; and the NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson title went to Ben Brown of Irving, Texas.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central division heads to No Problem Raceway Park on September 18-20.
         
The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division event at Houston Raceway Park:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1

4) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.387, 266.48 def. 5) David Brounkowski, Cypress, Texas, broke;

1) Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow, Okla., 7.600, 113.11 was unopposed;

2) Shayne Lawson, Broken Arrow, Okla., 5.403, 261.83 def. 7) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, Texas, 6.988, 195.11;

6) Chase Copeland, Walters, Okla., 5.430, 262.18 def. 3) Malcolm Wahle, Claremore, Okla., 5.481, 256.21;

Semifinals

Copeland, 5.462, 261.98 def. Lawson, 7.286, 117.31; Manners, 5.363, 268.22 def. Lewis, 16.095, 89.79;

Final

Copeland, 5.517, 252.05 def. Manners, 5.454, 266.21.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1

1) Lee Callaway, Baytown, Texas, '07 Mustang, 5.767, 249.26 was unopposed;

4) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.843, 246.80 def. 3) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.876, 244.21;

2) Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale, Texas, '02 Camaro, 5.861, 243.33 def. 5) Ro Yale, Houston, Texas, '98 Daytona, broke;

Semifinals

Callaway, 5.791, 248.02 def. Burck, 7.276, 136.54; Kinsley, 5.879, 239.06 was unopposed;

Final

Kinsley, 5.867, 241.97 def. Callaway, 5.832, 245.27.

COMP ELIMINATOR

Adam Hickey, Hammond, La., '06 Chevy Cobalt, C/SMA, 8.211, 163.14  def. Chase Williams, Carthage, Texas, '07 Pontiac GTO, C/A, 7.531, 181.47.

SUPER STOCK

Gary Emmons, Friendswood, Texas, '96 Pontiac Firebird, SS/IA, 9.981, 122.26  def. Joe Teuton Jr., Schriever, La., '68 Plymouth Barracuda, SS/AH, 9.346, 143.38.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Kevin Helms, Schriever, La., '69 Chevy Camaro, A/S, 10.353, 128.36  def. David Buckner, New Waverly, Texas, '72 Plymouth Duster, F/SA, 10.885, 119.53.

SUPER COMP

Lance Rutland, Spring, Texas, dragster, 9.354, 133.66  def. Krystal Campbell, Ennis, Texas, dragster, foul.

SUPER GAS

Bart Nelson, La Porte, Texas, '77 Pontiac Astre, 9.903, 139.49  def. Shawn Carter, Park Hill, Okla., '05 Chevy Cavalier, 9.856, 167.59.

SUPER STREET

Tim Watson, Bedford, Texas, '68 Chevy Camaro, 10.918, 127.08  def. Regan Wilson, Tyler, Texas, '69 Chevy P/U, 10.886, 136.70.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Keith Haney, Broken Arrow, Okla., '09 Pontiac GXP, 6.814, 202.85  def. Keith Daniels, Ft. Worth, Texas, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 7.329, 190.62.

TOP DRAGSTER

John Angelle, Breaux Bridge, La., dragster, 6.862, 199.14  def. Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas, dragster, 6.789, 183.49.

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

Ben Brown, Irving, Texas, '04 Hayabusa, 8.146, 158.13  def. Eddie Glaze, Houston, Texas, '90 Suzuki, 9.575, 136.69.