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NHRA: Mike Edwards Takes Camaro Z28 to Second Straight Title Win

11 October 1999

                                        

        MEMPHIS, Tenn.; Oct. 11, 1999:  Mike Edwards, driver of the Dewco
Performance Camaro Z28, won his and the Camaro's second straight Pro Stock
title of the 1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series today, using his
quickness at the Christmas Tree again to defeat his opponent in the final
round.  Edwards eliminated Richie Stevens at the AutoZone Nationals at
Memphis Motorsports Park on a holeshot advantage with his 6.976-second pass
at 197.59 mph to Stevens' 6.935/197.22.  Edwards' .420 reaction time (.400
is perfect) to Stevens' .499 was the edge he needed to beat Stevens to the
finish line.
        In Topeka last week, Edwards claimed the victory from No. 16
qualifying position, ousting No. 1 qualifier Stevens in the first round on
a holeshot.  Edwards recovered this weekend to qualify No. 2, while Stevens
was fifth.
        This was the Camaro's fifth title win of the season (Kurt Johnson
has won three in his ACDelco Camaro Z28).  
        "We made a lot of changes to the Camaro after Indy," said Edwards,
referring to the difficulties he had early in the year adapting to a new
chassis.  "After that it seems like it really found a sweet spot.  We went
to three races in a row and hardly made changes other than clutch
adjustments and engine tuneup.  The Camaro is responding great."
        Until last week in Topeka, Edwards had not won a race since the
U.S. Nationals in '98, and now he has two in a row under his belt.   
"Before I won in Topeka, I was getting concerned about whether I'd win a
race this year as I've won at least one every year since I started Pro
Stock racing in '86," he said. "I just wanted to prove to myself that I
could do this.  I really buckled down my driving, the Camaro has turned
around, and the engine program with Steve Schmidt has really helped. 
Everything just came together."
        Kurt Johnson, in the ACDelco Camaro Z28, was defeated by Stevens in
the semifinals but gained 35 points on his dad Warren for the championship.
 Warren lost to Larry Nance in the first round, and leads Kurt by 180
points.  Edwards, sixth in points, is just 51 points out of the top five,
with three events remaining.
        Next on the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series schedule is the
O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, Oct. 22-24,
1999.