In the final rounds of competition for the NHRA Pacific Division Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series Jim Whitely and Sean Bellemeur took home wins
and the trophies this weekend at Auto Club Famoso Dragway.
Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., qualified No. 1 and recorded his
quickest pass of the weekend in his final round against Cody Perkins,
Bluffdale, Utah, with a 5.365 second run at 267.61 mph. With the win,
Whiteley picks up valuable points in the race for the national
championship where he is in a battle with defending national champion
Bill Reichert. Perkins qualified third and also ran his best elapsed
time of the event, 5.428, 261.17, but fell short to Whiteley.
Bellemeur out of Tustin, Calif., knocked off No. 1 qualifier Sean
O’Bannon, Ontario, Calif., in round one then went on to a final round
match up with former NHRA Pacific Division Champion Doug Gordon.
Bellemeur, a former division champion himself posted a run of 5.790
seconds at 252.17 to hold off Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif. in an
extremely close race. Gordon ran 5.797 at 252.03 mph.