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NHRA FMDRS: Dauzat remains number one after wild ride in Baton Rouge

30 April 2000

ERWINVILLE, La.-        With temperatures in the mid 80's and plenty of
sunshine, it was a perfect day for the fans, but not so for the racers and
crew chiefs at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series. Warren Dauzat came
into today's final qualifying at State Capitol Dragway in the number one
position after Friday's run of 5.986 seconds. The Baton Rouge resident was
unable to better his time or speed of 243.90 mph but gave the crowd plenty
of excitement when his Federal-Mogul Funny Car made a hard right-hand turn
60 feet into his run and headed for the wall.

        "We spun the tires right at the start," said Dauzat of his run, 
"but I had racing on my mind and got right back in the gas. That's when the
rear end came around on me, and when I knew I had to shut the car off. 
We're real happy going into eliminations in the number one position,
although (Todd) Simpson gave us a scare on that final pass of his"
 
       Simpson, came out in the heat of the day and raced to a 5.99 second
pass at 238.03 mph to jump into the number two spot.
The Federal-Mogul Dragster class had little change from Friday's
qualifying, as Jay Meyer held on to the top spot with a run of 5.626
seconds at 248.07 mph followed by Troy Buff, of Spring, Texas, with a pass
of 5.672 at 249.51 mph. Buff will face off against new teammate Joe Fuentes
in a first round match-up who is number seven with a run of 6.143, 225.50.
Greg Roberts of Kenner, La. and the defending event Federal-Mogul Dragster
champion, landed in the number six position with a pass of 5.878 seconds at
212.91 mph 

In an afternoon starting line presentation, long time NHRA South Central
Certification Crew Member Jerry Dykes was inducted into the South Central
Hall of Fame. Dykes joined the division in 1967 and has been a strong
supporter and drag racing family member ever since. Cary Menard, V.P. of
Business and Legal Affairs, and Joe Tuton, veteran South Central Division
racer, were joined by Division Director Craig Hutchinson and nearly 100
racers to make the presentation. Dykes moved to Houma, La. back in 1963
where he still lives.

Eliminations begin at State Capitol Dragway on Sunday morning with round
one of Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars at 12:00 noon. Gates open at
8:00 a.m. with racing beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The following are final qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at State Capitol Dragway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.626 seconds, 248.07 miles per hour vs. 8.
Larry Becktold, Luther, Oka., 6.362, 214.95
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.672, 249.51 vs. 7. Joe Fuentes, Leander,
Texas, 6.143, 225.50
3. Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 5.769, 226.24 vs. 6. Greg Roberts, Kenner,
La., 5.878, 212.91
4. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Oka., 5.770, 243.30 vs. 5. Lee Callaway,
Channelview, Texas, 5.797, 240.44
__________________________________________________________________________
Not qualified:
10. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 6.534, 206.51

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '93 Achieva, 5.986 seconds, 243.90
miles per hour vs. bye
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '98 Avenger, 5.996, 238.38 vs. 5. EJ
Johnson, Violet, La., '99 Achieva, 6.294, 212.21
3. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 6.131, 214.33 vs. 4. Ron
Morrison, Oklahoma City, '97 Cutlass, 6.225, 223.38

COMPETITION
1. Greg Williams, Carthage, Texas, D/SM '90 Trans Am, 8.219 seconds,
(-0.601 seconds under the Index)
2. Donald Manichia, Houston, Texas, '92 dragster, 8.639, (-0.581)
3. Buddy Nickens, Houston, Texas, C/A '97 Avenger, 7.688, (-0.562)
4. Scott Benham, Lagrange, Texas, D/A '96 Lumina, 8.072, (-0.548)
5. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, C/A '99 Camaro, 7.740, (-0.510)
6. Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, B/A '89 Cutlass, 7.393, (-0.477)
7. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., '96 dragster, 7.086, (-0.464)
8. Alan Swindoll, Laporte, Texas, '97 Firebird, 7.436, (-0.434)
9. Larry Doggett, Austin, Texas, B/ED '00 dragster, 7.142, (-0.408)
10. Dennis Smiley, Houston, Texas, B/ED '98 dragster, 7.144, (-0.406)

SUPER STOCK
1. Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., SS/NA '66 Impala, 11.345 seconds, (-1.105
seconds under Index)
2. Keith Mawhee, Carrollton, Texas, SS/CM '98 Grand Am, 8.843, (-1.057)
3. Kirk Neal, Greenville, Miss., GT/FA '89 Camaro, 9.942 (-1.056)
4. Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., SS/G '67 Chevy II, 9.665, (-1.035)
5. Tony Matracea, Memphis, Tenn., GT/B '91 Calais, 9.413, (-0.987)
6. Sid Bonnecarrere, Gary, La., SS/AA '68 Dart, 9.021, (-0.979)
7. Billy Moravits, San Antonio, Texas, GT/KA '87 Trans AM, 10.804, (-0.946)
8. Bobby Cassard, Donaldsonville, La., SS/KA '87 Firebird 10.632, (-0.918)
9. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., GT/HA '95 Achieva, 10440, (-0.910)
10. Rodger Borgdon, Tomball, Texas, SS/C '66 Corvette, 9.454, (-0.896)

STOCK
1. Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., E/SA '97 Camaro, 10.741 seconds,
(-1.259 seconds under the Index)
2. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA '90 Firebird, 11.699, (-1.251)
3. Marty Woffard, Gore, Oka., L/S '66 Nova, 11.832, (-1.168) 
4. Verne Buchanan, Conway, Ark., J/SA '73 Mustang, 11.607, (-1.143)
5. Joey Teuton, Houma, La., ET/SA '97 Ram Truck, 12.434, (-1.116)
6. Any Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., D/SA '00 Trans Am, 10.743, (-1.107)
7. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., K/SA '78 Volare, 11.851, (-1.099)
8. Sharla Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., D/SA '94 Camaro, 10.757, (-1.093)
9. Debbie Cardwell, Rustin, La., K/SA '90 Trans Am, 11.862, (-1.088)
10. Steven Hall, Sweeny, Texas, B/SA '68 Mustang, 10.473, (-1.077)

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