NOVEMBER 2002

Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman Thunder Valley Lucas Oil results New class to debut at 2003 Lucas With more than 525 racers at the last Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Oil Drag Racing Series events event of the season, it was nothing The first new category in many years in the South Central short of great. We spent the first two Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be run next season. days under sunshine and beautiful Designed for 8.00-second and quicker door cars, drivers in the weather, then on Sunday we had overcast skies and rain. Many Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman class will qualify dur- out-of-division racers joined in the fun; some drivers walked ing the Comp eliminator and alcohol sessions. away with division championships, and one put the national title Tracy Dennis, owner of Sunset Racing Engines, is very excit- in the bag. Congratulations to all the winners, and a special ed to be involved in this new program and has signed a three- thanks to Thunder Valley Raceway Park for all the improvements year sponsorship agreement. Shortly, we will be posting on the that made the event so much better. division website, www.nhradiv4.com, the rules, purse, and mis- Race results cellaneous information about the class. Class Winner Runner-up Competitors will be racing for event Wallys, prize monies, and TAD Ed Schmeeckle Larry Traugott possibly contingency monies. The overall class champion will earn TAFC Steve Gasparrelli Tate Branch year-end bonus money, a Gold Card, jacket, and divisional cham- Comp Robert Freeman Brian Self pionship Wally. The points format will follow that of the Lucas Oil Super Stock Anthony Bertozzi Gilbert Johnson Jr. Stock Ron Watson Bobby Roper Series events, and the purse will be comparable to the current Super Comp Jeremy Siffring Tony Gray Comp eliminator purse. The 2003 year-end bonus will be $1,000 Super Gas Frank Kohutek Jeff Franklin for the champion and $500 for second place; the bonuses will Super Street Bryan Sandlin Doug Baumgardner increase the next two years. Kerker Motorcycle Brian Johnson Gerald Jordan

Buz Post Jr. Finals Denton Dragway, just north of Fort Worth, Texas, again hosted the Buz Post Jr. Finals, and Larry, Nick, and the entire crew again worked hard to produce another great event. More than 125 racers made it a challenge to Kerker Motorcycle reach the final rounds, and they produced great side-by-side action. A big standings thanks goes to all the Denton crew, who worked so hard to make the event effective11/1/02 happen when Mother Nature tried to put one on us. Congratulations to all our Jr. champions, and we look forward to seeing you at the South Central Division Champions Banquet in January. 1. William Keele Jr...... 370 2. Larry Eperjesi ...... 324 Race results 3. Shane Eperjesi ...... 251 Class Winner Runner-up 4. Gerald Jordan ...... 250 Race of Champions Ryan Perry Jonah Begnaud 8-9-Year-Olds Chucky Wier Michelle Powers 5. Eddie Glaze ...... 250 10-Year-Olds Austin Fuess Ryan Perry 6. Robert Sanders ...... 239 11-Year-Olds Austin Lindsey William Davis 7. Ben Brown ...... 219 12-Year-Olds Michael Meeks Amanda Swain 8. Demetria Brooks Glaze . . . 205 13-Year-Olds Taylor McMillen Justin Endicott 9. Michael Nash ...... 176 14-Year-Olds Mallori McCullar Kevin Cook 15-to-17-Year-Olds Tyler West Scooter Hamlin 10. David Pulley ...... 174 Consolation Race Logan Smart Travis Bell

Division 4 office Division 4 tech Division office: (936) 856-6958 Craig Hutchinson, division director Chuck Nelson, division tech director Office hours [email protected] (936) 756-5250, fax and phone Dale House, division services coordinator [email protected] 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 9 a.m.-noon Fri. [email protected] Monday & Friday, 7-9 p.m. Division fax, (936) 856-7325 501 W. Montgomery, #190 Jim Anderson, assistant division tech director NHRA headquarters, (626) 914-4761 Willis, TX 77378 (936) 856-8682 [email protected] Field Office contact: Nina Kenyon 2002 Popular Ballot

DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2002 E.T. BRACKET RACER SPONSOR OF THE YEAR Top Alcohol Dragster OF THE YEAR [ ] 1. Lucas Oil [ ] 1. Shelly Howard 1.______[ ] 2. Buz Post [ ] 2. Lee Callaway [ ] 3. Summit [ ] 3. James Copeland WRENCH OF THE YEAR [ ] 4.______[ ] 4.______Top Alcohol Dragster [ ] 1. Tom Conway/Mark Gardner ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Top Alcohol Funny Car [ ] 2. Dennis Piranio 1.______[ ] 1. Jackie Stidham [ ] 3. Gene Snow [ ] 2. Tate Branch [ ] 4.______BUZ POST JR. [ ] 3. Jimmy Jones SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD [ ] 4.______Top Alcohol Funny Car This award is to honor the person who [ ] 1. Jerry Wilson has stood out in the Jr. Drag Racing pro- Competition eliminator [ ] 2. David Scheelk gram (racer, parent, sponsor, etc.). [ ] 1. Robert Freeman [ ] 3. Paul Castle 1.______[ ] 2. Rodger Brogdon [ ] 4.______[ ] 3. Mike Trumble CRAWFORD BENHAM [ ] 4.______Competition Eliminator SPORTSMAN AWARD [ ] 1. Mike Trumble [ ] 1. Gene Snow Super Stock [ ] 2. Jim Hayter/Royce Freeman [ ] 2. Sharon Bogues [ ] 1. Terry Pearson [ ] 3. Paul Smith [ ] 3. Donna Eperjesi [ ] 2. Larry Stewart [ ] 4.______[ ] 4.______[ ] 3. Elisha Boyd [ ] 4.______Super Stock 2003 DIVISION 4 [ ] 1. Harvey Emmons Sr. DRIVERS COMMISSION Stock [ ] 2. Larry Stewart Sr. Listed below is the ballot for the [ ] 1. Kevin Helms [ ] 3. Gilley Johnson Division 4 Drivers Commission for [ ] 2. Chris Jackson [ ] 4.______2003. Please circle your racing [ ] 3. Jerry Hefler category and write in the two [ ] 4. ______Stock people who you feel will best [ ] 1. Gail Helms represent you during the 2003 Super Comp [ ] 2. Rusty Hall racing season. [ ] 1. Ricky Kyles [ ] 3. David Pack [ ] 2. Shannon Brinkley [ ] 4. ______Category [ ] 3. Tommy Phillips TAD TAFC Comp S/S [ ] 4. Frank Kohutek Super Category (Super Comp, [ ] 5.______Super Gas, Super Street) STK S/C S/G SST M/C [ ] 1. Joe Harper Super Gas [ ] 2. Ken Risk 1.______[ ] 1. Frank Kohutek [ ] 3. Frank Kohutek [ ] 2. Joe Harper [ ] 4. Jimmy Paul 2.______[ ] 3. Gary Risk [ ] 5. June Brinkley [ ] 4.______[ ] 6. David Hughes SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION [ ] 7. Ron Sandlin HALL OF FAME Super Street [ ] 8.______Applications for the South Central [ ] 1. Bryan Sandlin Division Hall of Fame are [ ] 2. Brian Hughes OTHER AWARDS available from the Division 4 office. [ ] 3. Ray Todd Inductees are selected by the South [ ] 4.______GOOD GUY OF THE YEAR Central Division Hall of Fame [ ] 1. Oly Gotcher Committee. Kerker Motorcycle [ ] 2. Tom Conway [ ] 1. William “Henry” Keele [ ] 3. Tracy Dennis MAIL BALLOTS TO: [ ] 2. Larry Eperjesi [ ] 4.______South Central Division Ballot [ ] 3. Shane Eperjesi 501 W. Montgomery, #190 [ ] 4.______Willis, TX 77378 Ballot deadline: Dec. 12, 2002 2003 National Event Entry Request Form

Please check the events you wish to attend below. Complete all blanks or form will be returned. IMPORTANT Event Date Requested Category No entries will be sent to anyone who has not attended at least one K&N Filters Winternationals February 6-9 LODRS Divisional Event or Pomona, California TAD, TAFC Divisional Special Series. Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals February 20–23 NHRA Membership # Phoenix, Arizona PSB, SS Class, STK Class, SST Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals March 13–16 Exp. Date Gainesville, Florida PSB, TAD, TAFC, SS Class, STK Class NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals April 3–6 Name Las Vegas, Nevada TAD, TAFC, STK Class ❏Check here if competitor is a minor. O’Reilly Spring Nationals April 10–13 Address Baytown, Texas TAD, TAFC, SS Class, STK Class, SST ❏Check here if new address. Mac Tools Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals April 25-27 City State Zip Bristol, Tennessee SS Class, STK Class, SST Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals May 1-4 Phone Commerce, Georgia PSB, TAD, TAFC, STK Class, SST NHRA Matco Tools SuperNationals May 15-18 Email Address Englishtown, New Jersey PSB, TAD, TAFC, SS Class, SST O’Reilly Summer Nationals May 22-25 Category & Number Topeka, Kansas TAD, TAFC, STK Class, SST Chicagoland NHRA Nationals May 29-June 1 Exp. Date Chicago, Illinois PSB, SS Class, SST Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals June 12-15 If you need multiple entries (max. two) you must request an entry in every category you Columbus, Ohio PSB, TAD, TAFC want to compete in. Please check here and Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals June 27-29 list other categories & numbers. Madison, Illinois PSB Mile-High NHRA Nationals July 18-20 Denver, Colorado PSB, SS Class, STK Class, SST Please list all categories/numbers you have used in Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals July 25-27 competition so we may check your credits. Seattle, Washington TAD, TAFC, SST Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals August 1-3 Sonoma, California PSB, TAD, TAFC Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals August 14-17 Brainerd, Minnesota PSB, TAD, TAFC, SS Class, STK Class List all NHRA LODRS divisional events Category (points races) that you ran in 2002. & Number Mac Tools U.S. Nationals August 27-September 1 Indianapolis, Indiana PSB, TAD, TAFC, SS Class, STK Class 1. Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals September 11-14 Reading, Pennsylvania PSB, TAD, TAFC, STK Class 2. O’Reilly Midsouth Nationals September 18-21 Millington, Tennessee PSB, SS Class 3. Route 66 NHRA Nationals September 25-28 Chicago, Illinois TAD, TAFC, SST 4. O’Reilly Fall Nationals October 9-12 Dallas, Texas TAD, TAFC, SS Class, STK Class, SST 5. ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals October 23–26 Las Vegas, Nevada PSB, SS Class, SST 6. Automobile Club of Southern November 6-9 California NHRA Finals Divisional Special Series Category & Pomona, California PSB, TAD, TAFC (Must have category and number) Number

1. PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 WEEKS PROCESSING TIME Please do not request entry forms for events that you do not intend to run! 2. Schedule/sponsors subject to change. Please mail or fax completed form to: 3. NATIONAL EVENT ENTRY DEADLINE NHRA Division 4 4. IS GENERALLY ONE MONTH PRIOR 501 W. Montgomery, #190 TO THE EVENT DATE Willis, TX 77378 OFFICIAL USE ONLY Fax, (936) 856-7325 GRADE: 2000 2001 2002 2003 South Central Division 501 W. Montgomery, #190 2003 South Central Division events Willis, TX 77378 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series South Central Division E.T. championships Raceway Park Feb. 28-March 2 Summit Racing Series Finals Sept. 26-28 Memphis Motorsports Park March 21-23 Buz Post Jr. Finals TBA April 25-27 State Capitol Dragway May 16-18 NHRA national events TBA June 6-8 O’Reilly Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil No Problem Raceway Sept. 12-14 April 10-13 South Central Division Thunder Valley Raceway Park Oct. 3-5 O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil official trailer supplier Memphis Motorsports Park Sept. 18-21 O’Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec Texas Motorplex Oct. 9-12

FIRST CLASS PRESORTED U.S. POSTAGE FIRST CLASS MAIL PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT NO. 21

2002 South Central 2002 South Central Division Division Champions Champions Banquet ticket order form Banquet schedule Reception 6 p.m. Banquet Dinner 7 p.m. Awards presentation 8 p.m. It’s time to order your tickets for the Division 4 Champions Banquet, to be held Jan. 11, 2003. A Name: ______Texas-style buffet meal will be offered, and following the awards presentation, we will adjourn to the Address: ______lounge. Dress is casual to formal, depending on City: ______State: ______ZIP: ______your tastes. Please leave the T-shirts and clutch dust in the drawer. Photos will be taken of all cham- Phone: ______pions, so please try on your suit and tie. Please send ____ tickets @ $30 each for a total of $______Greenspoint Marriott Make checks payable to NHRA 255 N. Sam Houston Parkway East Deadline to order tickets is Jan. 5, 2003 Houston, TX 77060 (281) 875-4000 Mail to: Located just off I-45 and the Sam Houston Toll South Central Division Champions Banquet Road on the north side of Houston, the Greenspoint 501 W. Montgomery, #190 Marriott is close to Bush Intercontinental Airport Willis, TX 77378 and offers shuttle transportation. To receive the group rate of $70 per night, mention the NHRA If 10 tickets are purchased, you may reserve a private table South Central Division Champions Banquet. [ ] Check here if reserving a table