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IHRA: Mancuso Becomes Worlds Quickest And Fastest Harley-Davidson Rider

23 April 1999

SHREVEPORT, LA.-- Top Fuel Harley rider John Mancuso gave a fine example of why hes a two-time World Champion. The 49-year old, Harley dealer from Houston, Tx., carded an unreal 6.501/215.44 (4.25/175 1/8 mile) during the first round of eliminations the for the ADBA-sanctioned event at the Shreveport, La.,-based Red River Raceway. According to Mancuso, the air was tremendous for the event.

Maybe, too good. High wind gusts scaled the second day of competition back to an eighth-mile. Eliminations on the third day returned to quarter-mile.

His initial runs had limited success and were good enough to put his new bike into the second spot in the field. He waded through a tough field that was comprised of such individuals as Doug Vancil, Jack and Mike Romine, along with Bill Furr. Furr would eventually beat Mancuso in the finals.

To say Mancuso was ecstatic about the weekends results would be an understatement.

Bill Furr ran a 213 in the opposite lane before us, explains Mancuso. This class is picking up steam in a hurry. Jay Turners 212 at Darlington is now the third fastest. What a weekend. With some more time on our clutch-transmission combination, I think our ride will be both serious and consistent.

Mancuso plans to run a 19-race schedule for 1999 and likewise plans to defend championships earned under both the IHRA/Screamin Eagle Banner and ADBA sanction. He continues his 1999 IHRA/Screamin Eagle title defense at the IHRA Amalie Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill., June 18-20. Each contestant will be afforded three qualifying runs during the course of the event and the quickest eight bikes will compete in final eliminations on Sunday. This event will be televised on ESPN2 with the dates TBA in an upcoming issue of the IHRAs Drag Review magazine. However, the defending World Champion has unfinished business in Darlington, S.C., where he must return on May 8 for the rain-delayed Prolong Winter Nationals. Mancuso and all qualifiers will be afforded one time trial run and eliminations are slated to begin later in the afternoon.

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