Div 7 - LODRS Bakersfield Results

WHITELEY, BELLEMEUR WIN AT FAMOSO

Bakersfield, Calif. - 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.

Here are the round by round results:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1

3) Cody Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.496, 261.17 def. 6) Kevin Wayman, South Jordan, Utah, 5.752, 244.10
4) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.639, 250.76 def. 5) Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., 5.760, 252.95
2) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.483, 263.46 def. 7) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 10.693, 84.56
1) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.439, 268.81 def. 8) Dennis Swearingen, Rancho Palos Verties, Calif., 11.181, 63.54

Semifinals

Perkins, 5.466, 262.31 def. Demke, 5.447, 264.23
Whiteley, 5.393, 267.45 def. Niver, 7.430, 133.68

Final

Whiteley, 5.365, 267.61 def. Perkins, 5.428, 261.17

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1

3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.803, 254.81 def. 6) Keeter Ray, Newport Beach, Calif., '09 Mustang, 5.872, 245.56
4) John Lombardo Jr., Brea, Calif., '05 Camaro, 5.814, 243.70 def. 5) Steve Gasparrelli, W. Covina, Calif., '08 Mustang, 6.827, 131.61
2) Brian Thiel, Pleasant Grove, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.952, 201.70 def. 7) Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, foul
8) Sean Bellemeur, Tustin, Calif., '05 Firebird, 6.051, 245.49 def. 1) Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '08 Monte Carlo, 8.427, 105.85

Semifinals

Gordon, 5.826, 253.59 def. Thiel, 5.890, 243.24
Bellemeur, 10.534, 80.50 def. Lombardo Jr., foul

Final

Bellemeur, 5.790, 252.17 def. Gordon, 5.797, 252.03

Courtesy of NHRA Communications