SAME DAY COVERAGE
MAC Tools Gatornationals
Gainesville, FL.
By Matthew Brammer and Bobby Bennett
Photos by Roger Richards & Brian Wood

Gatornationals POWERade coverage
AMS/TLR Pro Modified
Gators Photos
AMS/TLR Photos

SUNDAY FINAL - Three First-Time Winners Join the Veterans in the Gatornationals Winner’s Circle.

TAFC

Newberry does it again. - In his first race of the year in his new Jack Rousch-built Monte Carlo, Bob Newberry out-ran Mark Billington -- 5.591 seconds, 256.26 miles per hour to 5.734 seconds, 253.73 miles per hour.

“This is a brand new racecar. Brand new chassis and brand new Monte Carlo body. I think this car ranks at the top of the list for my best cars ever,” Newberry said.

“We’re really pleased with the numbers we see. We ran more speed than we ever have before, and the car is very consistent. It hooks hard and you don’t have to fight it to make it go fast,” he said.

TAD

A little more than six inches - He has never won a round before today, but Aaron Olivarez lived up to what he said – he definitely had the best team at the Gatornationals. In only his fourth event ever -- only his second National event -- Olivarez squeaked past Ashley Force by .0015 -- a little over six inches. With a 0.032 reaction time, he ran a 5.408 second/260.41 mile per hour pass compared to Force’s .040 rt and 5.401 second/ 267.37 mile per hour pass.

“Everything just came into place,” Olivarez said. “It was an amazing run. I didn’t see her ever.

“To put it all together on race day was just incredible,” he said.

Comp Eliminator

Make that two - Tony Stevenson backed up his 2004 Gatornationals win by beating Bo Nickens in the Comp Eliminator final. After a devastating crash two years ago at a divisional race, he’s taking home another Wally in Comp Eliminator. Stevenson ran 7.942 seconds/147.68 miles per hour to beat Bo Nickens.

“The final round was very intense for me. I was trying to back up from my win from last year against Bo Nickens, a vary fast car.

“He had lost a lot of index, and I had saved a lot of index – and everybody knew it, so it was actually a pretty easy win. I just had to make sure I was green,” he said.

Super Gas

About those Contingency stickers - Super Gas pilot Jeremy Preston ran a 9.923-second pass on a 9.90 index to win his first national event over Jacklyn Gebhardt with a break-out 9.886.

With his wife and two little girls in tow, Preston couldn’t contain his excitement.

“After four or five rounds in the same day, the final round just felt like any other. When I went through the line and saw the win light come on, I realized – That was it! I won it! It’s amazing.”

“I just wish I had more contingency stickers,” he said with a laugh. “I’m just happy I have my family and my wife here with me.”

Super Comp

Thanks Dr. Shugar - It helps to be able to see down the track. After fighting astigmatism for years 20-year-old Lindsey Wood underwent Lasik surgery to during the winter to solve the problem. Her doctor – Dr. Shugar – believed in her so much he used her in a promotional commercial.

“Dr. Shugar is a big part of mu success,” she said.

Wood ran an almost perfect 8.908 second run in the final against Greg Kamplain’s break-out 8.872 to earn her first NHRA National Event trophy.

“It’s exciting. I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” she said.

“I raced Jr. Dragster for eight years, and some day I’d like to run Pro Stock.”

Super Stock

Down to a Blink - Super Stock Driver Joe LoCicero added another National Event Wally to the four he has on his mantle – his most recent coming at the 2004 Mac Tools US Nationals in Indy. IN the final, LoCicero faced off against the 2004 Stock Runner Up, Dan Fletcher. LoCicero had a slightly better light and a 0.019 package, leaving Fletcher with no way to win at the other end of the track, even with a 0.025 package.

“I blew a motor up in the first round. I changed the motor and didn’t have a clue where we were. Second and third rounds I didn’t even make a complete run, so I still didn’t know where we were at,” LoCicero said.

“The whole weekend was just an unbelievable amount of work. We didn’t know where we were the whole weekend until the last two runs – and we had the car dialed in my then,” he said.

“Dan is such a first-class racer, I knew just exactly what it was going to be. He was definitely up to the call. It was just a lucky run. Between him and me, I knew it would come down to the thousandths, and that’s exactly what it was. I beet him on the line by six-thousandths.”

SUNDAY - Manzo taken to Hospital and rules feedback...

(3-20-2005) - Health Scare - After his impressive 5.523 second run that earned him the number one spot in Top Alcohol Funny car last night, Frank Manzo was taken to the hospital complaining of chest pains. After assessing his condition and giving him fluids, he was released. Because of elevated blood pressure, he was not cleared to race this morning and was forced to scratch from the event.

It seems to be working - NHRA Director of Sportsman Racing, Len Imbrogno, says they are pleased with the results of changing the A/Fuel percentage this year from 100% to 96% and then to 98%.

“So far, the results look pretty good,” Imbrogno said. “At the events we’ve had to date, there looks to be equality between the A/Fuel and Blown Alcohol cars, so I don’t see any changes in the foreseeable future.

“What we did worked,” he said.

“It was an unproven thing – we didn’t have any data to go back on, just tests here and there that racers had done, so, initially it was an educated guess. We knew we could change it up or down depending on the results, but we don’t see any changes

“The racers for the most part have been happy with it as well, which is good. And that’s what it’s all about,” Imbrogno said.

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SATURDAY - Some tidbits from the Alcohol ranks and elsewhere...

(3-19-2005) - I thought there was something wrong...- Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Tate Branch explained his sub-par performance yesterday in the only qualifying session of the day. "It shook really hard and I thought there was a problem with the car, so I clicked it off,” Branch said.

"When we got back to the pit and looked at the computer, I was on a high-50/low 60 pass, and the shake was just the clutch grabbing," he explained. "This car is hopped up for today - I know we'll run some good numbers if we can just grab the track."

Are we running or aren't we? - Top Alcohol schedule is being juggled again. First thing this morning, Funny car was told they only had one more qualifying run today to set the field, and then run the first round of eliminations this evening. Dragster was told it had two qualifying runs today because of the number of entries, and there would start eliminations in the morning.

CompetitionPlus.com was just informed by the NHRA that the schedule has changes yet again - and both Funny car and Dragster will only make one final qualifying pass today, and eliminations will commence Sunday morning. We'll keep you updated with the latest schedule changes and ladders as we learn them.

The schedule changes yet again! - Top Alcohol qualifying has been pushed to after the Funny Car session which is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. Gainesville time.

A deal maker with a dream - Aaron Olivarez decided on January 28, 2004 that he was going Top Fuel racing in a couple of years, and he’s well on his way. He’s already put together a major Top-Fuel deal, leased a top performing team, and run impressive numbers in Gainesville.

In his best pass of the weekend, Olivarez ran the former Morgan Lucas A/Fuel Dragster to the No. 8 position with a 5.372/262.69 run.

“I decided that I was going Top Fuel racing, and I was interested in leasing a top-notch team, and keep the team together. As far as I’m concerned, we’re the best team out here. I’m really happy with where we’re at,” Olivarez said.

“I’ve got some good people around me. Between myself and a friend, we put the Zantrex-3 deal together -- initiated the deal and got it over to and brought it to Dave Grubnic. We’ve worked pretty closely with Kalitta’s guys and they have been great to work with,” he said.

I went to the Phoenix race about four years ago and got the itch to get back in the car. I had been racing a Pro class Camaro, bracket racing and knew I wanted to go faster. I got in a dragster and it felt so comfortable, I knew I wanted to go top fuel racing.”

Waiting Makes Me Hungry - When asked about the effect of schedule changes and the long waits the Alcohol has endured, Frank Manzo summed it up: “It makes me very hungry. Seriously, I’ve already had two ice cream sandwiches, a cheese burger, fries, and I’m thinking about going and getting another ice cream sandwich.”

Obviously he was hungry for the number one slot – Manzo ran a 5.523 second, 260.94 mile per hour pass to claim bragging rights this weekend.

Branch has an incredible day. - After lifting early yesterday in the first qualifying session, Tate Branch posted both his personal best in quickest and fastest runs to earn the No. 3 spot. Branch ran a blistering 5.564 second 257.58 mile per hour.

A Family Affair - For the first event of the year, Jonathan Aloisio was just looking to advance to the next round. Aloisio, a former top-ten competitor from West Chester PA, drove his 98 Pontiac Grand Am to the No. 15 qualifying spot.

"We came down to get some of that Florida sun," he said with a laugh. With his whole family in tow, Aloisio advanced to tomorrow¹s eliminations when his opponent red lit.

Aloisio will face off with Willow Springs, NC resident, Tony Stephenson, on Sunday morning.

Seventeen and 17 - Seventeen-year-old high school senior, Ryan Little, out of Wilton Manors, FL, made his entire family proud by driving his '89 Corvette to the No. 17 spot in the first round of Super Gas Eliminations Saturday night. Little said, “I hope this will be a career for me -- something like that. I’m not exactly sure right now.”

Little will compete Sunday morning in the second round of Super gas eliminations, facing off against Savannah Gerogia’s Jimmy Fuller and his '74 Camaro.

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FRIDAY - Richert paces Top Alcohol Dragster; Manzo, Nickens and Hames also lead qualifying

(3-18-2005) ­ In a day marked by freezing temperatures, long waits, changing schedules and session cancellations, there were near record runs and impressive qualifying times. Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Bill Richert ran a blistering 5.181 second/276.07 mile per hour pass to top the field. Right behind him were Michael Gunderson and Arthur Gallant with impressive runs of 5.208/276.48 and 5.304/270.92, respectively. After losing one qualifying run to scheduling and weather, tomorrow's 1:30 p.m. final qualifying is make or break for the seven cars that didn¹t make the field.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Frank Manzo and Jay Payne topped the list with 5.568/261 and 5574/260 passes. Bringing up the rear in the thirteen car field was Tate Branch, smoking the tires and pedaling through at a 9.442 second, 95 mile per hour.

Marred by a rib-breaking, dual-wall slamming run by Jerry Hemmingson, Competition Eliminator will move into eliminations at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with Bo Nickens at the top of the field with a 7.285 run against an 8.02 index, placing him at ­0.735.

More than 100 cars in Super Stock will duel it out Saturday with JW Hames of Madison, Mississippi, powering his '89 Dodge Daytona to ­1.273 under his 11.60 index, posting a 10.327 second pass.

Pits and spectator gates open at 7:00 a.m on Saturday with eliminations starting at 7:30 a.m.

FRIDAY - The Class Racing Blues; More Alcohol Rumors and Hemmingson crashes...

(3-18-2005) - Lenny sets the record straight - Are the Alcohol qualifying runs being cut to only two sessions? Squashing the rumor that had some Top Alcohol teams up in arms, NHRA Director of Sportsman Racing, Len Imbrogno, said, "Absolutely not. There are no plans to change anything from the current system. We are definitely not changing the number of qualifying runs. The only reason there would be a change is in case of weather or unforseen circumstances, and that is up to the race director."

In the interest of fair reporting, weather caused the second Friday session to be cancelled.

It Makes Sense To Us - If you think the NHRA's decision to limit sportsman participation hasn't made an impact on the divisional series, think again. Traditionally, the NHRA always hosts a divisional race in Orlando a week before. In 2003, this event attracted over 100 Stock entries. With Stock facing its time to "sit out" in 2005, the car count was half the amount.

That didn't take long - Just 10 pairs into Friday's qualifying action, a Super Stock entry oiled the track, bringing forth the first delay in action.

Hemmingson okay after crash - Comp Eliminator racer Jerry Hemmingson hit both walls in his qualifying run, breaking his 44-year streak of being crash-free. Nursing two broken ribs and bumps and bruises, he is planning his next move. Last year, Hemmingson fought to the number 11 position in division 2 Comp Eliminator.

"The track ain't real good," Hemmingson explained. " I was going straight and when I hit third gear, it started shaking. Normally I can drive right through it, but it didn't go. It just went crazy! The track was just that loose. It instantly turned into the wall, and when it hit, I lost the brakes and I just couldn't stop it.

"I hit the bar next to my seat really hard, and I thought, 'I hope that hurt goes away.' I was grabbing the brake, but nothing was happening. I didn't want to hit the other wall, but it did. The car was just going on its own then.

"I think I've got a couple of broken ribs and some bad bruises - I'll get it checked out when I get home. They checked me out and thought it they might be broken, but they let me go.

"I've been racing for 44 years, and I've never crashed yet. I didn't want it to be the first, but I guess there had to be one," he said.

Hemmingston's personal best in this car is 7.09 seconds at 193 miles per hour. "It's a fast car, and we were on a fast run. Now I just have to see what it will take to get it fixed, and make some decisions," he said.

That's Gonna Leave A Mark, But Not On The Car...

(3-18-2005) - John Mischuch got a little squirrelly during Competition eliminator qualifying and how he managed to keep off of the wall is beyond us. (Roger Richards)

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THURSDAY - Rain Headlines Opening Day Qualifying

(3-17-2005) - Sportsman qualifying was halted before it ever got underway at the 36th annual MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. As of 1:30 PM, EST., the only vehicles that had made a pass down the track were those of the Safety Safari. With a forecast looking dismal at best, it appears today will be a wash pending a miracle.

THURSDAY, March 17, 2005

Pit and Spectator Gates Open 7:00 AM
Registration and Tech Inspection continues (all categories) 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sportsman Qualifying 8:30 AM
Comp Eliminator Qualifying Sessions (2) 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM
Secure Track 7:00 PM

FRIDAY, March 18, 2005

Pit and Spectator Gates Open 7:00 AM
Final Registration and Tech Inspection (Pro's, TAD/TAFC & Comp only) 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sportsman Qualifying 7:30 AM
Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session 10:30 AM
TAD/TAFC Qualifying Session 1:30 PM
TAD/TAFC Qualifying Session 5:00 PM
Secure Track 6:00 PM

SATURDAY, March 19, 2005

Pit and Spectator Gates Open 7:00 AM
Sportsman Eliminations 7:30 AM
Comp Eliminator - Round 1 10:30 AM
TAD/TAFC Qualifying Session 1:30 PM
TAD/TAFC - Round 1 5:00 PM
Comp Eliminator - Round 2 6:00 PM
Sportsman Eliminations continue 6:15 PM
Secure Track 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, March 20, 2005

Pit and Spectator Gates Open 8:00 AM
Sportsman Eliminations 9:00 AM   

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