Steve Parsons defeats Mike Boner in Pro Gas Final at L.A. County Raceway

By Bob Johnson
L.A. County Raceway Palmdale, CA April 24, 2005

Winternationals Super Gas champion Steve Parsons defeated Mike Boner for his first SoCal Pro Gas Assoc., victory of the season. The third event of the 8-race Pro Gas series was held at L.A. County Raceway.

The Brakcman, Bill Welch Portable Welding, Tim & Donna Daniel, and Vincent Mayeda sponsored the race. Poor weather contributed to a season-low 43 car turnout, with Mel Jones qualifying number one with a 10.201 (10.20 index), followed by Fred Kondrotas and Doug Crumlich at 10.203, Larry Burnitzki was fourth with a 10.204. Other drivers qualifying on the index included Parsons, Jim Israel, and Wayne Newman.

Parsons opened eliminations with a win over Gary Cooke, in round two he beat Greg Ventura 10.201 to a 10.204, in the third round he used a .009 reaction time to beat Rich Okerman. In the quarterfinals he beat Ryan Herem and in the semi he defeated Wayne Newman’s Lumina.

Boner drove his Chevy-powered Ford Thunderbird to the final with round wins over Doug Sedmak, Pete Kinney, Randy Marcum, Doug Spencer, and he got a bye in the semi.

In the final round, Parsons Ridgecrest-based Camaro ran a 10.210, 138.67 for the win, with Boner finishing as the runner-up with a too-quick 10.195, 147.05.

Doug Spencer holds the points lead going into the next race, scheduled for May 28 at California Dragway. Spencer has 1913 points, with race one winner Phil Miller second with 1717, Randy Fabbro has 1621, Wayne Newman is forth with 1616, John Ross has 1615, and Rich Okerman is fifth with 1610. The 2005 Pro Gas Shootout has Hubert Pierce Jr. leading with 24 points, with Randy Fabbro and Ray Cordeiro tied for second with 18 points and Randy Balough, Alan Hoefer, and Mel Jones tied for fourth with 16.

Ray's Notes