Whiteley and Harker Triumph at Route 66

JOLIET, Ill., (June 14, 2010) – In the final results from Route 66 Raceway and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., and Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively.

Whiteley, worked his way through the field and ran 5.339 seconds at 266.85 mph in his final round victory over Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., who clocked in at 5.415 seconds, 263.67 mph. Whiteley is coming off a big win last weekend at Route 66 Raceway and the NHRA JEGS Allstars and won earlier this year in Tucson, Ariz.

Harker faced off in a close race against Andy Bohl, Racine, Wis., and posted a winning run of 5.676 seconds, 253.80 mph in his '06 Monte Carlo. Bohl drove to a 5.678 second, 251.95 mph lap for his runner up finish. The win marks Harker's second of the year in three final round appearances winning at the Lucas Oil divisional in Gainesville, Fla., and advancing to the final round in Bradenton, Fla.

Other racers visiting the winner’s circle this weekend were Ray Vierheller, Barberton, Ohio, in Comp Eliminator; Ryan Haag, Memphis, Ind., in Super Stock; Leo Zynda, Clinton Twp, Mich., in Super Comp; Tommy Mattingly, Louisville, Ky., in Stock Eliminator; David Tatum, Palmetto, Ga., in Super Gas; and Craig Meyer, Kendallville, Ind., in Super Street. In the division’s Top Sportsman class it was John Scali, Chicago, taking the win while James Monroe, Bloomington, Ind., won in Top Dragster. Jeremy Hannen, Durand, Ill., took the win in Pro Stock Snowmobile.

North Central Division racers head to Mid Michigan Motorplex for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, July 10-11.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Round 1

4) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.457, 259.46 def. 5) Brandon Booher, Urbana, Ill., 5.484, 257.09;

2) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.487, 264.80 def. 7) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.615, 253.42;

3) Ken Perry, Richmond Hill, Ont., 5.418, 261.32 def. 6) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 5.546, 250.83;

1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.382, 266.79 def. 8) Dave Hill, Valparaiso, Ind., 5.744, 251.91;

Semifinals

Thacker, 5.426, 263.00 def. Perry, broke; Whiteley, 5.319, 267.91 def. Reichert, 15.439, 60.21;

Final

Whiteley, 5.339, 266.85 def. Thacker, 5.414, 263.67

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Round 1

1) Andy Bohl, Racine, Wis., '07 Mustang, 5.656, 255.00 def. 8) Fred Hagen Jr., Des Plaines, Ill., '10 Mustang, 6.020, 191.70;

2) Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., '08 Mustang, 6.116, 181.64 def. 7) Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., '03 Camaro, 6.291, 228.50;

3) Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.647, 255.10 def. 6) Ray Drew, Hales Corner, Wis., '04 Firebird, 5.920, 210.28;

4) Brent Henry, Breckenridge, Colo., '09 Charger, 5.682, 256.02 def. 5) John Bojec, Chardon, Ohio, '10 Monte Carlo, 5.699, 256.65;

Semifinals

Bohl, 5.672, 253.47 def. Henry, 5.725, 253.66; Harker, 5.661, 253.47 def. Gill, broke

Final

Harker, 5.676, 253.80 def. Bohl, 5.678, 251.95

COMP ELIMINATOR

Ray Vierheller, Barberton, Ohio, dragster, D/ED, 7.429, 177.32 def. Doug Warren, Carmi, Ill., Spitzer, A/DA, 6.585, 206.70.

SUPER STOCK

Ryan Haag, Memphis, Ind., '67 Camaro, SS/EA, 9.708, 134.58 def. Brad Zaskowski, Belmont, Mich., '87 Camaro, GT/G, 10.081, 127.64.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Tommy Mattingly, Louisville, Ky., '96 Corvette, C/SA, 10.587, 124.73 def. Tim Mosbek, Andover, Minn., '72 Demon, F/SA, 11.148, 114.58.

SUPER COMP

Leo Zynda, Clinton Twp, Mich., dragster, 8.913, 172.67 def. Chris Bishop, Grand Rapids, Minn., dragster, 8.894, 158.86.

SUPER GAS

David Tatum, Palmetto, Ga., '05 Cavalier, 9.938, 162.96 def. Rusty Cook, Cynthiana, Ky., '99 Corvette, 9.871, 166.66.

SUPER STREET

Craig Meyer, Kendallville, Ind., '62 Fury, 10.887, 136.33 def. Rick Shipp, Whiteland, Ind., '72 Nova, 10.843, 128.18.

TOP SPORTSMAN

John Scali, Chicago, Ill., '67 Camaro, 6.972, 194.41 def. Jerry Albert, Avon, Ohio, '97 Camaro, broke.

TOP DRAGSTER

James Monroe, Bloomington, Ind., dragster, 6.758, 187.39 def. Ray Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., dragster, 6.779, 197.02.

PRO STOCK SNOWMOBILE

Jeremy Hannen, Durand, Ill., '09 Ski Doo, 8.434, 151.63 def. Rich Daly, Union Springs, N.Y., '02 Ski Doo, 10.435, 90.24.