In the final rounds of qualifying Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., and
John Lombardo Jr. Brea, Calif., grabbed the top spots and will lead
their classes into Sunday’s eliminations for this weekend’s NHRA Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 event presented by Korbel.
Ahten used a 5.270-second, 266.48 mph run to take the No. 1 position in
Top Alcohol Dragster followed by Carson City, Nev., racer Randy Eakins
at 5.303, 267.11 mph. Courtney and Brittany Force, daughters of
legendary NHRA Funny Car Racer John Force, were one and two going into
today’s final qualifying sessions and were able to hold on to the third
and fourth qualifying positions respectively.
Lombardo jumped to the No. 1 spot in the final session of a very quick
and extremely tight Top Alcohol Funny Car field with a 5.601 second
pass down the quarter mile at 251.58 mph. Second generation driver
Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., put his ’08 Mustang in the No.
2 slot at 5.603, 258.32 while Doug Gordon of Paso Robles, Calif., is
fourth behind Sean O’Bannon, Ontario, Calif., who is looking for his
fourth divisional win of the year.