NIVER, O'BANNON, DELEHAY LEAD QUALIFYING AFTER FRIDAY AT PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. (February 27, 2009) – In the first rounds of qualifying at Firebird International Raceway, local Injected Nitro Dragster driver and National Event winner  Mark Niver of Phoenix, Ariz., and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean O'Bannon from Ontario, Calif.,  took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes. This weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, which runs through Sunday and is the opening race of the Division.

Niver owned the track today, by running a 5.350-second, 264.23 mph pass to take the top spot.  The local racer ran only a limited schedule last year and is hoping to start off divisional competition with a win on Sunday.  The always competitive Del Cox Jr. of Downey, Calif who made his debut as Top Fuel racer at the NHRA Winternationals returned to his roots and drove his nitro injected digger.to  the No.2 spot clocking a 5.364 seconds at 280.08 mph.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car competition there are 16 cars vying for the eight available slots. Seanj O’Bannon made a 5.651-second, 257.87 mph run to claim the pole.  Preseason testing at Firebird earlier this year has definitely paid off for the team, in which valuable passes and data have been collected and analyzed.  Dropping into the No.2 qualifying position is Roger Bateman of Calgary, Alb. Also making an apperance at this event was New Yorker Tony Bartone who for the last few seasons has been driving a Nitro Funny car and drove for "Big Jim" Dunn in the big show last season.

Comp Eliminator is lead by Joe Delehay, Calgary, Alb.; Tibor Kadar from Peoria, Ariz., took the top spot in Super Stock; and Jack Foshee, Taylor, Ariz., drove to the top of the list in Stock Eliminator. Canyon, Texas, resident Greg Lair outran the field in Top Sportsman; Denny Hills, Gilbert, Ariz., leads Top Dragster.

Friday's qualifying  from the NHRA LODR Series, Pacific Division  opener at Firebird International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Mark Niver, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.350 seconds, 264.23 mph
2) Del Cox Jr., Downey, Calif., 5.364, 280.08
3) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 5.390, 262.59
4) Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., 5.399, 265.27
5) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.492, 260.66
6) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.497, 265.17
7) Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.527, 260.41
8) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.915, 181.37
Not Qualified
9) Art Trautman, Wadell, Ariz., 7.296, 152.35
10) Eugene Tumbarello, Denver, Colo., 15.501, 32.75

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '08 Monte Carlo, 5.651 seconds, 257.87 mph
2) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '08 Mustang, 5.699, 250.64
3) Tony Bartone, Long Island City, N.Y., '09 Mustang, 5.732, 253.04
4) Mark Woznichak, Riverside, Calif., '03 Camaro, 5.736, 249.30
5) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.746, 252.61
6) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '03 Trans Am, 5.802, 225.60
7) Keeter Ray, Newport Beach, Calif., '08 Mustang, 5.819, 246.84
8) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.820, 249.44
Not Qualified
9) Leif Andreasson, Solna, Sweden, '06 Stratus RT, 5.828, 248.75
10) Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif., '03 Firebird, 5.944, 224.10
11) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '08 Mustang, 6.392, 203.28
12) Charles McLaws, Winslow, Ariz., '03 Firebird, 6.500, 215.96
13) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 8.548, 105.75
14) Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., '07 Monte Carlo, 9.581, 80.22
15) Paul Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., '02 Firebird, (no time)
16) Ken Webster, Red Deer, Alb., '08 Monte Carlo, (no time)