NHRA FMDRS: Wells captures West Central Chammpionship at Firebird Raceway
8 November 1999
PHOENIX, Arizona -David Wells of LeMars, Iowa came from nowhere to
take the West Central Division Federal-Mogul Dragster Championship at
Firebird Raceway. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Bucky Austin of Fife, Wash.,
took his second win of the year and moved into third place in the Northwest
Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car point standings.
It has been a long year for Wells. He missed the first three West
Central Divisional events due to major heart surgery and an explosion at
his Blue Bunny ice cream factory. However, Wells came back to the
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series with a vengeance, winning his first race
back at Douglas, Wy. and a runner-up at his second race at Nebraska
Motorplex. Wells came into the final event of the year knowing only a win
would give him the points lead over Rob Wendland of Lawrence, Ks. Wendland
made the trip west with all intentions of knocking Wells out of contention.
Wendland got his chance in the semifinals where he faced Wells. Wells got
the best of Wendland at the finish line with a run of 5.568 seconds at
252.52 mph to Wendland's run of 5.674 seconds at 247.02 mph. Wells earned
the right to face the quickest Federal-Mogul Dragster of the weekend, Mark
Woods of Kingsbury, Calif. Wells took off on Woods at the starting line
and never looked back with a run of 5.771 seconds at 249.30 mph to Woods'
run of 5.872 seconds at 237.00 mph.
"I got out of the car after the final and could hardly walk, this
is unbelievable", said an overjoyed Wells. "We had a bad start to our
year, but this makes things easier to take. Now we go on to the Finals in
Pomona and try for a top ten finish nationally."
Bucky Austin not only took his second Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series win of the year, he helped his nephew, Pat Austin of Tacoma, Wash.,
secure the Northwest Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car Championship. Bucky
Austin beat Roger Bateman of Calgary, Alb., Canada in the semifinals to
give the division championship to Pat Austin. Bucky Austin met up with
Sears Point Raceway Champion, Mert Littlefield of Garden Grove, Calif. in
the final and took the easy victory after Littlefield shut off at
half-track due to severe tire shake.
"This was a good way to end the year", said a relieved Bucky
Austin. "We finally got the car right at out last two races and I am
looking forward to next year."
Andy Manna Jr. of Covina, Calif. secured the Competition Eliminator
National Championship and the Pacific Division Championship with his
runner-up finish at Firebird Raceway.
Frank Kohutek of Mesquite, Tex. captured the Super Comp National
Championship and West Central Division Championship with a fourth round
appearance at Firebird Raceway.
Sheldon Gecker of Phoenix, Az. Came from nowhere to take the Super
Gas National Championship and West Central Division Championship by winning
at Firebird Raceway.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Firebird International Raceway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round One
1) Mark Woods, Kingsbury, Calif., 5.460 seconds, 251.63 mph def. 8) Darren
Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 10.114, 75.74
7) Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Ks., 5.594, 251.58 def. 2) Rick Henkelman,
San Jose, Calif., 6.190, 186.90
2) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.520, 253.28 def. 6) Kent Nuckols,
Albuqerque, N.M., 5.659, 248.52
5) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.587, 242.98 def. 4) Dale
Carlson, Olympia, Wash., red light
Semifinals
Woods, 5.550, 252.52 def. Hitchman, 6.226, 206.83
Wells, 5.568, 252.52 def. Wendland, 5.674, 247.02
Final
Wells, 5.771, 249.30 def. Mark Woods, 5.872, 237.00
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round One
1) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., Canada, '97 Pontiac, 5.733 seconds, 244.92
mph def. 8) Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '97 Oldsmobile, Broke
2) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.759, 246.98 def. 7)
Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Pontiac, 5.892, 240.68
3) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.861, 241.15
def. 6) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 6.264, 191.19
4) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '98 Pontiac, 5.782, 245.18 def. 5) John
Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '99 Chevrolet, 5.839, 244.87
Semifinals
Austin, 6.101, 242.98 def. Bateman, 6.341, 244.69
Littlefield, 5.933, 240.17 def. Weaver, 6.180, 228.89
Final
Austin, 5.798, 238.13 def. Littlefield, 10.521, 79.86
COMP ELIMINATOR
David Cook Jr., Houston, Texas, '99 Dragster, 6.891, 194.27 def. Andy Manna
Jr., Covina, Calif., '90 Pontiac, 8.773, 147.29
SUPER STOCK
Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/GA, 10.294 def. Steve Wann,
Modesto, Calif., '98 Dodge, GT/TD, 11.092
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Bernie Cunningham, Riverside Calif., '98 Pontiac, H/SA, 11.908 def. Cal
Method, Kennewick, Wash., '70 Dodge, C/SA, 10.825
SUPER COMP
Steve Casner, Sheridan, Calif., '99 Dragster, 8.973 def. Kevin Quinlan,
Yucca Valley, Calif., '93 Dragster, 8.955
SUPER GAS
Sheldon Gecker, Phoenix, Az., '91 Dodge, 9.973 def. Rick Beckstrom,
Novato, Calif., '91 Altered, 9.960
SUPER STREET
Keith Manoque, Phoenix, Az., '63 Chevrolet, 11.018 def. Fred VanOrnum,
Sacramento, Calif., '72 Chevrolet, 11.044
SUPER ELIMINATOR
Bill Webber, Golden Valley, Az., 14.675 def. Jon Brazeau, St. George, Utah,
Broke
PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Gary Oaks, Las Vegas, Nevada def. Brian Hudson, Kenniwick, Wash.
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