Dye wins, takes points lead; Richardson also victorious

National Dragster, Jul 15, 2005 by Johnson, Bob

CALIFORNIA DRAGWAY, Fontana, Calif. (June 4-5) - John Richardson and Bobby Dye Jr. won the fourth and fifth events of the Lucas oil Super Comp Association series. Dye's victory moved him into the lead in the series points standings midway through the season. Lucas Oil Products and Symons Fire Protection Services sponsored both events.

Megan McKernan led a field of 50 entries in qualifying for the fourth event with an 8.904. She was followed by Christy Lamica and Shannon Robin, both of whom qualified with 8.905 elapsed times.

Dye defeated Les Harris, Ryan Tietz, Tom McBride, McKernan, and Val Torres en route to his first final of the season.

On the other side of the ladder, Steve Young beat Danny Aguayo, Sam Boyd, Kevin Quinlan, Gary Cooke, and Val Torres Jr. to reach the final.

Young's American Exterminating Co.-sponsored dragster got a starting-line advantage on Dye in the final, .017 light to Dye's .032, but Dye got the win by .003-second based on e.t., 8.925 to 8.943.

Don Barton was the qualifying leader for race number five of the 10-event schedule with an 8.903. Chad Langdon was second with an 8.904, and Young was third at 8.905.

Richardson's .003 reaction time with the Community Recycling dragster stopped Morgan Lucas in round one. He then used a .008 to defeat Shannon Chennault, and his 8.904 was too much for Dye in round three. In the quarterfinals, Richardson beat Harris, and in the semi's, he denied Young his second straight final.

Val Torres Jr. went to the final by defeating reigning series champ Tom Bayer, Jason Duncan, Tietz, and Langdon before getting a bye in the semi's.

In the final, Richardson picked up his first win of the season with an 8.923. Torres finished second with an 8.952 elapsed time.

Dye holds a nine-point lead over Brian Fischle in the standings. Young is third, and Richardson is fourth. - Bob Johnson