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CANADIAN RON HOUNIET GRABS THE JIMS TOP FUEL TROPHY AND THE POINTS LEAD AT THE KRESTO PACIFIC NATIONALS Presented By DESTINATION HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND EASTSIDE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Winston-Salem, NC, July 12, 2002- Seattle skies threatened rain, but the AHDRA pulled off a powerful weekend of racing with commanding crowd approval as Ron Houniet of Mission, B.C. rode his JIMS Top Fueler, (still under fire) directly to victory lane at the Kresto Pacific Nationals presented by Destination Harley-Davidson and Eastside Harley-Davidson. The win moved Houniet's Fast Lane Racing team into first place in the JIMS Top Fuel National Points Series, where a tight battle is underway with fellow Canadian, Dave O'Hara.
The pair finished one and two just weeks earlier in Denver, with O'Hara taking the win and coming to Pacific Raceways with the point's lead. Houniet answered early in Seattle with the #1 qualifying spot (6.890) and O'Hara was the #2 qualifier with a 7.006. It appeared a repeat final was in the works, but after a flame-throwing pass in Round 3 for O'Hara, #3 qualifier, George Welch landed the final round bid with Houniet. O'Hara torched a cylinder head , but elected to stay in it, providing the fiery finish. "I felt the heat and saw the flames, so I figured if I went faster, it would go out", O'Hara humorously commented. Houniet 's winning number was a 6.929 at 200.14 miles-per-hour over Welch's, 7.024 at 185.18 miles-per-hour. Houniet's round one 6.778 was the JIMS Top Fuel Low E.T. and O'Hara's 204.73 mph pass was the Top Speed.
Tim Kerrigan and Red Line Oil Racing made it two in a row with their Seattle win over Bob Thomas. Kerrigan, the #1 qualifier finished with a Pro Fuel Low E.T. of 7.041 and the top speed of 183.42 miles-per-hour.
Scott Truett of Wichita, KS is back in top form in Pro Drag competition with a win in Denver and a healthy points lead, but John McMillin of South Beach, OR provided a challenge for the former champion, during Sunday's final. Truett had the early advantage with a .520 light to a slower .549 McMillin start, but McMillin overcame the drowsy light, finishing with a 7.508 at 172.36 miles-per-hour to Truett's 8.067 at 167.30 miles-per-hour. Local rider, Toni Froehling had a frightening fall from his Pro Dragster after lifting a cylinder, but following a brief visit to a near-by hospital, he was able to return to the track with several bumps and bruises in tow.
Canadian, Lee Uhrich dominated the Pro Stock competition with a win over Matt Guidera of Rocklin, CA. Uhrich posted the Low E.T. of 8.096 and Top Speed at 159.04 miles-per-hour.
"Bad" Dave Boss was hoping for back-to-back wins in the Pro Gas category, but Rick Maney of Phoenix, AZ snatched the win with a 7.766 at 170.30 miles-per-hour, while Boss suffered mechanical demons in the final. Maney scored the Low E.T. of 7.654 and Top Speed at 172.06 miles-per-hour.
Cliff Dwy of Madras, OR was top dog in Joker Machine Pro Modified with a Low E.T. of 8.383 and Top Speed of 153.96 miles-per-hour. He faced #2 qualifier, Darren Mauldin in the final and although Mauldin had the quicker light, Dwy made up the difference with an 8.411 over Mauldin's 8.683 E.T.
The "West Coast Boys" owned the show, when Champion, Travis Lummus of Asheville, N.C took a break from Spyke Street Pro competition. Randy Borho of Beaver Creek, OR qualified #1 and advanced to the final against Kieth Burley of Ridgecrest, CA (#2 qualifier). Borho's quick .506 lead to his 9.976 win over Burley's .594, 10.007 finish.
Sunday's race action was kicked off with the arrival of nearly 1,000 riders taking part in Children's Ride 7 at Pacific Raceways. The ride roared down the return road for nearly one half hour and stretched for miles. Children's Ride 7 raised over $100,000 to benefit the Children's Regional Medical Center in Seattle.
Lending a hand in the excitement of this year's event was Kresto (Hand Cleaning Products), Destination Harley-Davidson and Eastside Harley-Davidson who's sponsorship support made the event a success. Kresto, a first time sponsor with the AHDRA has already announced plans to return as next year's title sponsor. The staff from Performance Corner, also a first time sponsor, showed up in full force to experience a full weekend of the quickest and fastest Harley's on earth and will no doubt be ready for more in 2003!
For more information on the Kresto Pacific Nationals presented by Destination Harley-Davidson and
Eastside Harley-Davidson, visit www.ahdra.com.
Final Results-Seattle
| JIMS Top Fuel |
| Winner | Ron Houniet | .551 | 6.929 | 200.14 |
| R/U | George Welch | .557 | 7.024 | 185.18 |
| Pro Fuel |
| Winner | Tim Kerrigan | .794 | 7.115 | 179.73 |
| Bob Thomas | (Broke) | | |
| Pro Stock |
| Winner | Lee Uhrich | .422 | 13.419 | 59.27 |
| R/U | Matt Guidera | .129 | 8.17 | 147.01 |
| Pro Drag |
| Winner | John McMillin | .549 | 7.508 | 172.36 |
| R/U | Scott Truett | .520 | 8.067 | 167.30 |
| Pro Gas |
| Winner | Rick Maney | .556 | 7.766 | 170.30 |
| R/U | Dave Boss | .757 | 10.624 | |
| Joker Machine Pro Modified |
| Winner | Cliff Dwy | .499 | 8.411 | 153.39 |
| R/U | Darren Mauldin | .433 | 8.683 | 149.66 |
| Spyke Street Pro |
| Winner | Randy Borho | .506 | 9.976 | 129.49 |
| R/U | Kieth Burley | .594 | 10.007 | 135.55 |
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| Rivera-Primo Super Gas (9.90) |
| Winner | Matt Spencer | .461 | 10.032 |
| R/U | Dan Dalke | .436 | 10.073 |
| Nonpareil Super Sport (10.50) |
| Winner | BR Nalley | .455 | 10.637 |
| R/U | Scooter Rajowski | .541 | 10.569 |
| Performance Corner Super Eliminator (10.90) |
| Winner | Rick Baldwin | .528 | 11.308 |
| R/U | David St. Clair | .418 | 13.104 |
| Screamin' Eagle SEP (11.50) |
| Winner | Dan Dahl | .431 | 11.578 |
| R/U | Kerry Drost | .409 | 11.816 |
| Andrews's ET |
| Winner | Robert Wegman | .590 | 12.138 |
| R/U | Jack Luoma | .593 | 94.41 |
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