In the first rounds of qualifying at Firebird International Raceway,
local Top Alcohol Dragster pilot 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, is the first
of seven in Pacific division competition
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., is
currently qualified at the No.2 spot clocking in at 5.364 seconds at
280.08 mph.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, 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.