Final Qualifying from the 2001 IHRA
Empire Nationals at Leicester, NY

By Summit FastNews

LEICESTER, N.Y. - Paul Romine of Indianapolis heads the list of top professional qualifiers at the IHRA CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park. 

Romine topped Top Fuel qualifying with a track record 4.698-second pass at a track record speed of 318.17 miles per hour. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, was second with a 4.703-second lap at 311.34 mph. 

Other top professional qualifiers include Mike Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., in Pro Modified; Doug Vancil, Albuquerque, N.M., in Nitro Harley-Davidson; Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, in Funny Car; and Gene Wilson, Canton, Ga., in Pro Stock. 

Final eliminations for the Empire Nationals, the fifth race of the 2001 IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series, begin Sunday at noon. 

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 11th annual CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, the fifth of 11 events in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. 

Top Fuel -- 1. Paul Romine, 4.698 seconds, 318.17 mph vs. 8. Steve Smith, 5.174, 273.00; 2. Bruce Litton, 4.703, 311.34 vs. 7. Roger Dean, 5.127, 281.95; 3. Clay Millican, 4.715, 314.46 vs. 6. Jim Bailey, 4.985, 254.42; 4. Jim Head, 4.717, 310.77 vs. 5. Louie Allison, 4.832, 292.52. 

Nitro Harley -- 1. Doug Vancil, 6.449, 221.85 vs. 8. Ray Price, 6.621, 217.14; 2. Johnny Mancuso, 6.460, 220.01 vs. 7. Bill Furr, 6.590, 205.82; 3. Jay Turner, 6.514, 220.04 vs. 6. Tony Mattioli, 6.589, 221.20; 4. Steve Stordeur, 6.514, 214.01 vs. 5. Mike Romine, 6.540, 214.66. 

Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Janis, Chevy Corvette, 6.221, 227.65 vs. 16. Steve Cossis, Corvette, 6.338, 222.99; 2. Alan Pittman, Willys, 6.254, 225.82 vs. 15. Paul Athey, Mercury, 6.335, 222.11; 3. Tim McAmis, Corvette, 6.266, 224.06 vs. 14. Ronnie Hood, Corvette, 6.331, 224.43; 4. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.267, 225.37 vs. 13. Harold Martin, Pontiac Firebird, 6.328, 222.77; 5. Al Billes, Studebaker, 6.275, 224.51 vs. 12. Mitch Stott, Corvette, 6.324, 223.91; 6. Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.275, 224.02 vs. 11. Michael Lockwood, Corvette, 6.309, 222.73; 7. Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.276, 224.36 vs. 10. Steve Vick, Camaro, 6.309, 223.99; 8. Ron Kammes, Corvette, 6.288, 222.29 vs. 9. Carl Moyer, Chevy Bel Air, 6.305, 223.28. 

Funny Car -- 1. Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.826, 239.02 vs. 16. Dave Ray, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.140, 227.00; 2. John Vouros, Firebird, 5.834, 237.25 vs. 15. Dan Roman, Firebird, 6.130, 233.96; 3. Mark Thomas, Dodge Avenger, 5.837, 241.32 vs. 14. Philip Hooper, Chevy Camaro, 6.118, 230.84; 4. Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.886, 239.10 vs. 13. Terry Munroe, Firebird, 6.110, 230.02; 5. Terry McMillen, Avenger, 5.918, 235.64 vs. 12. Ronnie Midyette, Pontiac Trans Am, 6.104, 229.55; 6. Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.933, 238.05 vs. 11. Joe Comella, Firebird, 6.045, 231.12; 7. Larry Dobbs, Chevy Corvette, 5.966, 233.40 vs. 10. Fred Tigges, Camaro, 6.004, 239.57; 8. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 5.968, 236.67 vs. 9. Monty Todd, Camaro, 5.996, 234.82. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Gene Wilson, Mercury Cougar, 6.614, 210.28 vs. 16. Bob Holzer, Pontiac Firebird, 6.733, 206.86; 2. Carl Baker, Cougar, 6.633, 211.36 vs. 15. Elijah Morton, Ford Probe, 6.729, 207.43; 3. Tim Nabors, Chevy Cavalier, 6.636, 209.26 vs. 14. Chris Holbrook, Ford Mustang, 6.727, 207.21; 4. John Konigshofer, Probe, 6.654, 210.64 vs. 13. Jason Collins, Probe, 6.718, 207.72; 5. Ron Miller, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.662, 208.75 vs. 12. Dwayne Rice, Firebird, 6.710, 208.39; 6. John Montecalvo, Cavalier, 6.662, 208.33 vs. 11. Angelo Alesci, Cavalier, 6.707, 208.01; 7. Terry Leggett, Mustang, 6.670, 207.98 vs. 10. Tony Fox, Mustang, 6.702, 208.10; 8. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.672, 208.39 vs. 9. John Bartunek, Grand Am, 6.692, 206.80. 

Larry Sullivan
larrybud1320@earthlink.net