NHRA Sportsman Competition Poised for Continued Growth In 4th Year of Popular Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
31 January 2000
NHRA Sportsman Competition Poised for Continued Growth In 4th Year of Popular Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 31 -- Year 1 was all about
identifying the possibilities. Years 2 and 3 brought those goals well within
reach. With the launch this weekend of the 4th season of the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, racers and sponsors alike expect Sportsman
competition to achieve a new level of popularity across North America.
The Federal-Mogul series begins Thursday with the 40th Annual AutoZone
Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.
"This series was established at a time when Sportsman racing was ready to
step up in terms of prestige and fan involvement," said Federal-Mogul
Motorsports Manager Shelley Pepmeier. "Federal-Mogul was in a similar
position -- we had assembled many of the best-known brands and product lines
in the automotive industry, and we were looking to generate greater awareness
of our engineering and manufacturing leadership."
By all accounts, both parties are stronger as a result of the
Federal-Mogul program. NHRA Sportsman competitors -- who compete in eight
classes: Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition
Eliminator, Super Stock, Super Comp, Stock, Super Gas and Super Street -- have
enjoyed significantly larger prize purses, increased television exposure and
greater print media coverage. And Federal-Mogul, which has tied its racing
involvement to its best-known engine brands and product lines -- Champion(R)
spark plugs, Fel-Pro(R) gaskets and Sealed Power(R) and Speed-Pro(R) engine
parts -- has won the hearts of the more than 30,000 NHRA Sportsman racers.
"We've said it many times -- this is a perfect marketing partnership,"
Pepmeier said. "It allows us to participate in and enhance the growth of the
sport while reaching out to the millions of drivers, team members and fans who
live and breathe performance."
The NHRA Federal-Mogul Series covers all Sportsman competition at 23 NHRA
national events and 42 divisional events throughout the 2000 racing season.
Racers compete for national and divisional points titles and more than
$400,000 in championship award bonuses.
In addition, Federal-Mogul sponsors the year-long Federal-Mogul Allstars
Competition, which rewards NHRA Sportsman racers for their success on the
divisional level. Each year, the company invites the eight Allstars points
leaders from each NHRA division to race in a single-elimination shootout at
National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. The one-day event pays out more
than $100,000 in prize money.
"The Federal-Mogul Allstars Finals is the big event for every Sportsman
competitor, with four rounds leading to thousands of dollars in prize money,"
Pepmeier said. "But even more important is the fact that earning a trip to
the Finals means major television time and the opportunity to race before tens
of thousands of appreciative fans."
Will The Dominance Continue?
Fans who follow the NHRA Federal-Mogul racing categories can't help but
know the names Rick Santos and Frank Manzo. The two have won three
consecutive Federal-Mogul national championships -- Santos in Federal-Mogul
Dragster, Manzo in Federal-Mogul Funny Car -- and would appear to be
prohibitive favorites in 2000.
In addition, Comp driver Andy Manna Jr. and Super Stocker Jimmy DeFrank in
1999 won their second national titles in three years, Manna edging out David
Cook Jr. by 11 points and DeFrank regaining the title by a 56-point margin
over '98 champion Dan Fletcher.
"Everyone who races has dreams of some day painting the number '1' on
their car; that's the biggest reward for every Sportsman drag racer," Pepmeier
said. "But every Federal-Mogul champion will tell you that when the next
season begins, that '1' becomes a bulls-eye for every other competitor in the
field."
Others wearing that "bulls-eye" in 2000 are reigning Stock Eliminator
champion Don Little, Super Comp champion Frank Kohutek and Super Gas champion
Sheldon Gecker.
Each of the 1999 titleholders will receive a gold championship ring from
Federal-Mogul in a pre-race ceremony Sunday at Pomona Raceway.
Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Federal-Mogul is an
automotive parts manufacturer providing innovative solutions and systems to
global customers in the automotive, light truck, heavy-duty, railroad, farm
and industrial markets. The company was founded in 1899. Visit the company's
web site at http://www.federal-mogul.com for more information.