DRAGS: Top Qualifiers in dragster and funny car going for consecutive wins
7 August 1999
CLEVES, Ohio - Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Shawn Bowen came to Edgewater Sports Park looking for his third straight win in NHRA North Central Division competition while Marc White is looking to take his Federal-Mogul Funny Car to the winner's circle for the second time in a row. Both drivers got off to a good start today, qualifying in the top of their respective categories. Bowen, of Montrose, Mich., shook the tires off the starting line and still made it down the track with a 5.692 second elapsed time (e.t.) at 245.36 mph. White, from Glendale Hts., Ill., led a tough session of funny cars. His 6.051 second e.t. was the best of a group that generally runs in the high five-second range. Right on White's heels is John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., in the second qualifying spot. White and Lawson came into this event tied for first in the division point standings. White defeated Lawson in the final at previous event at US 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich. Top qualifiers in other categories include Ed Bennett III, of Carleton, Mich., who is also going for his third consecutive win, in Comp; Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, in Super Stock; and Bill Rink of Naperville, Ill., in Stock. Qualifying continues Saturday. Gates at Edgewater Sports Park open at 9 a.m. and competition begins at 10 a.m. F/M Dragster and Funny Cars are scheduled to run at 5 and 8 p.m. The NHRA Pro Stock Truck Invitational will begin qualifying at 1:45 p.m. The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Edgewater Sports Park: FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1. Shawn Bowen, Motrose, Mich., 5.692 sec., 245.36 mph 2. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.705 sec., 255.89 mph 3. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.762 sec., 246.30 mph 4. Mike Miller, Okemos, Mich., 5.868 sec., 231.30 mph 5. Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.986 sec., 224.60 mph 6. Bob Adam, North Branch, Mich., 6.009 sec., 219.08 mph 7. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 6.598 sec., 178.67 mph 8. Ben Barnes, Chesterland, Ohio, 7.270 sec., 134.83 mph Not Qualified Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind. FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., 6.051 sec., no speed recorded 2. John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., 6.108 sec., 235.60 mph 3. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, 6.137 sec., 242.78 mph 4. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., 7.020 sec., 158.45 mph 5. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., 7.020 sec., 111.73 mph 6. Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., 10.289 sec., 96.76 mph 7. Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., 12.773 sec., 62.34 mph COMP ELIMINATOR 1. Ed Bennett III, Carleton, Mich., AA/A, 7.201 sec., -0.499 under index 2. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A, 8.024 sec., -0.466 3. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM, 8.310 sec., -0.460 4. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., 7.564 sec., -0.456 5. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR, 8.176 sec., -0.454 6. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., C/A, 7.795 sec., -0.435 7. Jon Bowman, Hebron, Ohio, F/SM, 9.351 sec., -0.429 8. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., E/EA, 8.751 sec., -0.419 9. Tom Haueter, Chardon, Ohio, D/ED, 7.718 sec., -0.402 10. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., A/EA, 7.632 sec., -0.398 SUPER STOCK 1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/AX, 8.858 sec., -1.142 under index 2. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/IA, 10.429 sec., -1.071 3. Michael Volkman, Pga., Pa., '99 Chrysler Sebring, GT/IA, 10.445 sec., -1.055 4. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '96 Pontiac Grand Am, GT/E, 9.770 sec., -1.030 5. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, '93 Chrysler LeBaron, GT/HA, 10.413 sec., -0.937 6. Dan Kyle, Lawrenceburg, Ind., '87 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.116 sec., -0.934 7. Gordon Gillman, Walker, Mich., '90 Buick Skylark, SS/AX, 9.072 sec., -0.928 8. Mike Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 10.029 sec., -0.921 9. Melissa Butler, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, '90 Pontiac Sunbird, GT/FA, 10.207 sec., -0.893 10. Joe Skinner, Columbia Sta., Ohio, '96 Chevrolet Beretta, GT/F, 10.011 sec., -0.889 STOCK ELIMINATOR 1. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 Pontiac GTO, M/SA, 11.976 sec., -1.174 under index 2. Jennifer Dziorny, Wixom, Mich., '94 Dodge Dakota, CT/SA, 12.235 sec., -1.115 3. M.J. Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Chevy Camaro, J/SA, 11.672 sec., -1.078 4. George Widuch, Hermitage, Tenn., '78 Plymouth Volare, 11.873 sec., -1.077 5. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., '99 Dakota, 12.438 sec., -1.062 6. Clint Blenzien, Bensenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, 12.390 sec., -1.060 7. Joe Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '95 Ford Mustang, 11.949 sec., -1.051 8. Gary Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '94 Mustang, 11.949 sec., -1.051 9. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., '79 Dodge Aspen, 11.609 sec., -0.991 10. Bert Morgan, Charleston, Ill., '97 Pontiac Firebird, 12.779 sec., -0.971 --30--
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