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NHRA FMDRS: Santos takes center stage going into eliminations at Fomoso

30 April 2000

        BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Rick Santos of Brentwood, Calif., came out
with a vengeance today in the second round of qualifying with a track
blistering pass of 5.395 seconds at 263.31 mph. in the Federal-Mogul
Dragster category, while Ron August Jr. of Danville, Calif., made the best
pass of the weekend in Federal-Mogul Funny Car with a time of 5.765 seconds
at 244.69 mph. 

Santos amazed the crowd with his pass, earning him the Winston Top
Qualifier Award of $1,000.  " We tried to de-tune the engine from
yesterday, but it just goes to show ya, these engines are temperamental,"
said Santos.  " We shook the tires at about half track, but the run felt
good, I had no idea it was a 5.39 though." 

Ron August of Danville, Calif., has the number one spot going into
eliminations Sunday, but swerved into the right lane in the second round of
qualifying nearly colliding with Steve Gasparrelli. 

"Our first pass today was awful, we crossed the lane and almost hit (Steve)
Gasparelli at the finish," said August.  "We added some weight to the front
end for the second pass, then shook the tires at half track, but were able
to keep it in a straight line for a solid pass and we're in the show for
tomorrow."  

   Eliminations begin in all categories tomorrow at 9 a.m.  Gates to Fomoso
Raceway open at 7:30 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul
Funny Car scheduled to run at 11.30 a.m.

        The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Fomoso Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.395 seconds, 263.31 mph vs.
8. Chris Lane, San Leandro, Calif., 5.833, 190.63

2. Steve Faria, Tipton, Calif., 5.445, 258.91 vs.
7. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.822, 242.78

3. David Baca, Discovery Bay, Calif., 5.465, 267.69
6. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.816, 244.36

4. Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.538, 261.17 
5. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.683, 250.48

(Alternates)

9. Brad Hansen, Custer, Wash., 5.910, 239.10
10. Charlie Marcum, Bellflower, Calif., 5.927, 238.28
11. Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 6.198, 222.05
12. Matthew Seltzer, Brea, Calif., 6.225, 212.16
13. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.975, 156.84
14. Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 10.391, 85.95
15. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 11.044, 75.14 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Ron August Jr., Danville, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.765 seconds, 
244.69 mph vs. 8. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 5.926,
245.83

2. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '99 Firebird, 5.786, 251.88 vs.
7.  Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '00 Corvette, 5.907, 248.75

3. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley Calif., '97 Cutlass, 5.789, 249.79 vs.
6. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '00 Avenger, 5.889, 240.00

4. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 5.791, 247.38 vs.
5. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Camaro, 5.835, 250.41

(Alternates)

9. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Camaro, 5.941, 231.48
10. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '97 Firebird, 5.975, 234.80
11. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 5.985, 239.80 
12. Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., '92 Daytona, 6.085, 234.07
13. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 6.177, 227.10
14. Himes Kuesel, San Jose, Calif., '97 Firebird, 6.439, 216.81
15. Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '98 Achieva, 6.943, 186.64
16. Dale VanGundy, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Camaro, 7.294, 197.32
17. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '97 Firebird, 7.445, 123.84
18. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Firebird, 8.877, 97.47

COMP ELIMINATOR

1. Andy Manna, Covina, Calif., D/EA '33 Ford, 8.452 seconds,
   (0.628 seconds under Index)
2. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., C/EA '97 Firebird, 8.277,(-0.613)
3. Ed Sigmon, Canoga Park, Calif., C/SR '34 Roadster, 8.753,(-0.607)
4. Rob Smith, Ftn. Valley, Calif., D/ED '98 Roadster, 7.640,(-0.560)
5. Jeff Gillete, Benicia, Calif., B/ED '97 Dragster, 7.027,(-0.523)
6. Larry Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., A/SM '95 Camaro, 8.578,(-0.482)
7. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., C/EA '96 Grand Prix, 8.425,(-0.465)
8. Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., B/A '96 Pontiac, 7.407,(-0.463)
9. Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., J/A '32 Roadster, 8.301,(-0.459)
10. Scott McCLay, Tehachapi, Calif., D/ED '97 Dragster, 7.777,(-0.423)

SUPER STOCK

1. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., GT/TD '98 Dakota, 10.474 seconds,
   (1.210 seconds under Index)
2. Phil Mandella, Upland, Calif., GT/TB '99 Dodge, 9.956,(1.244)
3. Ronald Fruchey, Oxnard, Calif., SS/DX '87 Buick, 8.455,(-1.145)
4. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., SS/BS '94 Camaro, 8.903, (-1.097)
5. Howard Thompson, Wildomar, Calif., GT/EA '95 Mustang, 9.884,(-1.066)
6. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., GT/BA '91 Calais, 9.523,(-1.027)
7. Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif., SS/B '69 Corvette, 9.201,(-0.999) 
8. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., SS/MA '64 Comet, 11.167,(-0.983) 
9. Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., SS/DA '70 Barracuda, 9.539, (-0.961)
10. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/FA '98 Grand Am, 10.144,(-0.956) 

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.185 seconds, (1.365
   seconds under Index)
2. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '98 Dakota, 12.184,(-1.316)
3. Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., V/SA '77 Ventura, 14.683,(-1.117) 
4. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., J/SA '76 Aspen, 11.661,(-1.089)
5. David Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '65 Chevelle, 12.686,(-1.064) 
6. Don Durham, Vacaville, Calif, G/SA '73 Duster, 11.255,(-1.045)
7. Don Little, Westley, Calif., A/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.258,(-1.042)
8. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '70 Challenger, 10.527,(-1.023)
9. John Irving, Boulder City, Nev., E/SA '71 Dart, 10.980, (-1.020)
10.  John Hennessay, Los Angeles, Calif., G/SA '69 Camaro, 11.311,(-0.989)