Wayne Newman Drives Lumina to Pro Gas Points Contention with Win at LACR.

By Bob Johnson
L.A. County Raceway Palmdale, Calif. June 27,2004

Wayne Newman did a superb job of driving his ’94 Chevy Lumina to the winner’s circle at the fifth event of the 2004 Southern California Pro Gas Assoc., series, defeating Randy Fabbro ’78 Pinto in the final round at L.A. County Raceway in Palmdale, Calif.  With the exception of his third round .042 reaction time that he overcame with a 10.206 elapsed time (10.20 index), Newman averaged a .007 in five of the six rounds contested.

Forty-nine cars entered the Meziere Enterprises sponsored event, with Mike Blodgett Sr. running right on the 10.20 index with a 10.200, Randy Fabbro and Greg Ventura were next with 10.201s.  In all, 10 cars qualified on the index.

Newman drove the Wayne & Dave’s Automotive-sponsored Lumina to the final with a first round win over Wayne Silvia (.008 reaction time), he beat Al Aguiar in round two using a .001 reaction, and beat Pete Bothe in the third round with a 10.206 elapsed time.  In the fourth round his .007 r.t. sent Las Vegas racer Jimmy Lentz home, and in the semifinal his .011 reaction and 10.229 defeated Gary Williams, losing with a 10.219 (.023 reaction).

Fabbro went to his first series final by defeating Brad Pierce in round one, he got a bye in the second round, and beat Ray Cordeiro’s Corvette in round three when he was .003 too quick at the line.  Fabbro beat Woody Tryon in round four with a 10.205, and in the semifinal he beat Randy Marcum’s ’90 Beretta, 10.271 (.023 r.t.) to a losing 10.313 (.014 reaction).

In the final round Newman had a superior reaction time (.009 to a .052), and he held on for the win with a 10.296, 138.99 to Fabbro’s second best of 10.320, 129.98.  Ventura Racing Engines sponsored the event trophy.

The next race for the SoCal Pro Gas Association will be August 14^th at California Dragway in Fontana, Calif.

 Ray's Notes