8:15 AM

Before we get serious with this report, here's the NHRA preview for the race; it's got some details to whet your appetite for the race weekend.

Division 6 racers in the groove at Pacific Raceways

Kent, WA - Pacific Raceways will host a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series presented by Dollarwise, June 18-20. The race is the fourth of seven in Northwest division competition where drivers in eight categories, including 270 mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), will compete for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships.

The division's Top Comp class and the Kerker Motorcycle Series, featuring the Sportsman Motorcycle category, will also run in conjunction with the race.

John Weaver, of Orting, WA, hopes to build on his Northwest Division Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) points lead, after a big win last month at Mission Raceway, with his Pontiac Firebird. Standing firmly in Weaver's way will be defending division champion Bucky Austin. After qualifying in the top spot at Mission, the six-time Northwest Division Champion from Fife, WA, suffered rare mechanical problems in the second round of competition and watched Weaver move on to defeat Klamath Falls, OR's Clint Thompson in the final. Austin won the Pacific Raceways event and four others in 2003 to run away with the division title.

Former Northwest Division Champ Steve Federlin, of Oregon City, is in first place in the Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) points after taking the win at Mission over former division champ Mark Hentges after the Federal Way, WA, racer had mechanic problems in the class final.

Gates at Pacific Raceways open at 8 a.m. each day. Qualifying and time trials will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and continue Saturday at the same time. TAD and TAFC will have three qualifying sessions on Friday at 3, 6 and 9 p.m. with eliminations slated to begin Saturday at 3 p.m. Eliminations in all other categories begin Sunday at 10 a.m.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series are $15 Friday, $20 Saturday and $20 Sunday. Children 6 to 14 are $5 each day and children 5 and under are admitted free. There is also a special $40 three-day pass, which is available for advance purchase only.

Pacific Raceways is located at 31001 144th Ave., SE, in Kent. For more information call the track, (253) 639-5927, or visit www.PacificRaceways.com. For detailed results, go to Summit Racing's www.dragracecentral.com. And for a live on the internet broadcast from the track, check out www.rsbn.net.

10:00 AM

We're running late, as usual, but the truck is loaded and ready to go and we'll be in motion in just a few minutes. Cross your fingers that the next update on this page happens later today, instead of Sunday.