Jon Brazeau defeats Doug Bracey for Product Engineering Event Title at Fontana.

By Bob Johnson
Califonia Dragway Fontana, CA Feb. 15, 2004

A Southern California Pro Gas Association record number of entries made their presence known at the all-new California Dragway at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., when 110 cars went into the first round of eliminations of the Product Engineering-sponsored event to open the 2004 season.

The record turnout was in part due to the running of the event a week before the NHRA K&N Winternationals at nearby Pomona, but also due to the fact that the association would be racing at a new venue, the beautiful California Speedway.  The veteran So Cal Pro Gas racers didn’t fare as well as those getting their Winternationals warm-up laps in, with Pro Gas regulars Charlie Allen—the number one qualifier in his Vega—and Greg Ventura both lost in the semifinal round.  Jon Brazeau of St George, Utah and Doug Bracey of Vallejo, Calif., went to the final with Brazeau taking home the winner’s cash and bonus money with his ’63 Corvette.

Fourth round action began with Bracey running a 9.904 to stop former champ Dave Coapstick; Paul Wiechmann beat the Super Street race runner-up Wayne Newman; Ed DeStaute used a .411 light to beat Gene Heaton of Vancouver, Wash.; Randy Bowers edged Jim Barnes’ ’27 Ford; Charlie Allen cut a .410 light and ran a 9.900 to beat Val Torres; Greg Ventura edged Bill Ohmer’s Nova in a double break out race; and Jon Brazeau’s .404 light was too much for the reigning Pro Gas champion, Gary Mignacca as he lost with a 9.901 and .429 reaction.

Doug Bracey’s ’40 Willey’s opened the fifth round with win over the .397 red-light of Paul Wiechmann; Brazeau defeated Bowers; Ventura advanced as DeStaute drew a .398 red light; and Allen got a bye run.

The semi matched a pair of die-hard SoCal Pro Gas racers and two excellent drivers from out of this area.  Ventura paired up against Bracey, with the Willey’s driver cutting the superior reaction time and taking the win, 9.947, 140.04 (.422 r.t.) to a losing 9.925, 142.91 (.455 r.t.) for the driver of the Ventura Racing Engines Nova.  Charlie Allen had been having a remarkable day with his Vega as he posted the top qualifying spot and advanced to the semi only to have Brazeau’s ’63 Corvette take the win with a 9.894, 150.97 (.424 r.t.) to a losing 9.888, 136.50 (.444 r.t.).

In the final round, both drivers left the line with near identical reaction times—a .420 for Brazeau and a .418 for Bracey—with Brazeau getting the Product Engineering event win in a double break out match, 9.894, 158.71 to a second best of 9.889, 139.57 for the Willey’s.

Going into the second event of the season, scheduled for April 17 at L.A. County Raceway, Jon Brazeau holds the early season lead with 1006 points, Doug Bracey is second with 905, Charlie Allen has 820, Greg Ventura is fourth with 804.  The remaining drivers in the Pro Gas Top Ten include:  Randy Bowers (703); Ed DeStaute (703); Paul Wiechmann (703); Gene Heaton (617); Jim Barnes (602); and Dave Coapstick, (602).

The 2004 Pro Gas series is sponsored by: All Star Plumbing; Ameduri Racing Products; Bill Welch Welding; Borla Performance; Randy Bowers Racing; Borla Performance; Ken “Racer” Brown Transmissions; Burbank Speed & Marine; C.L. Bryant-76 Racing Gas; California Discount Warehouse; Centerline Wheels; Chip Rumis Racing; Continental Converters; Cordeiro Racing; Crane Cams; Cutting Edge Motorsports; Darrell Young Racing Transmissions; Tim & Donna Daniel; Eagle One; Eagle Rods & Crankshafts; Edelbrock Products; Fram Filters; Goodyear Tires; Harris Motorsports; Harwood; Helmet City; Hughes Performance; Russ Hester Performance; JE Pistons; Jim Shenberg Racing; Joe Roubicek Racing; K & N Filters; King’s Hawaiian Bread; Kari & P.J. Racing; L.A. County Raceway; Manton Rushrods, MacDougal Motorsports; Metro Floors; Meziere Enterprises; Mickey Thompson Tires; Mike & Robin Boner; Mike’s Transmission; Mo’s Exotic Soaps; Munsinger Torque Converters; Perma-Coil Racing; Pete Kinney Racing; Pizazz Racing; 1⁄4 Tech Electronics; Product Engineering; R & E Racing; Radiator Shop; Rally Chevrolet (Palmdale); Ross Racing Pistons; RVPO RV Parts Outlet; Smith Motorsports; Speed Graphics Signs; Steve Williams Racing; SMI; Jim Sowards Racing; Sunoco Fuels; Team C Performance; Team Smooth;  Tryon Pattern; Val Torres Motorsports; Wayne & Dave’s Automotive; West Coast Motorsports; and VP Fuels.

Ray's Notes