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Federal Mogul Series Opens at Heartland Park Topeka

6 May 2000

TOPEKA, Kan.- Veteran driver Cy Chesterman and Denver, Colorado's Bruce
Bowler grabbed the pole positions after first round qualifying at Heartland
Park Topeka as the NHRA West Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series kicks
off the season this weekend. Chesterman recorded a time of 5.729 seconds at
252.80 mph in his Federal-Mogul Funny Car to out qualify division rival and
defending division champion Vern Moats. Moats sits in the number two spot
with a pass of 5.981 seconds, 238.22 mph.

        "The track did some work on the quarter mile during the off-season
and we really hooked up", said the Iowa resident. "That was basically the
first run of the season; we're real happy but it's a long season. We're
just going to take it one lap at a time.

        Bowler jumped out to the early lead in the Federal-Mogul Dragster
category as he covered the quarter mile in 5.431 seconds at 253.37 mph to
lead Billy Bybee and David Wells who are number two and three respectively.
Bybee was clocked at 5.645, 251.88 while Wells ran 5.673 seconds at 250.90
mph.

        The real action came from the Super Gas category as Tony Jackson of
Shawnee, Kansas had a wild ride in his '97 Camaro. Jackson got into the
right wall just past the finish line then came up on two wheels as the car
crossed the track and hit the left guard wall before coming to a stop on
the track. He was checked out by paramedics at the track and was released. 

        In a separate incident, the Super Gas entry of Mike Ricke rolled
several times after his car got loose in the shut down area causing the car
to get sideways and barrel roll.  Ricke, the Super Gas Champion at the 1999
Colonel's Truck Accessories Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., was transported
to a local hospital where he was checked out and released.

Qualifying continues at Heartland Park Topeka, the first of six events in
the NHRA West Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, Saturday
with the Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars receiving two more
qualifying laps, at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. with racing
beginning at 8:00 a.m.



        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Heartland Park Topeka:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bruce Bowler, Denver. Colo., 5.431 seconds, 253.37 miles per hour
2. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.645, 251.88
3. David Wells, La Mars, Iowa, 5.673, 250.90
4. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.773, 245.70
5. Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.846, 235.78
6. Bob McCosh, Columbia, Mo., 6.122, 227.61
7. Mark Kinser, Grines, Iowa, 6.487, 169.65
8. Calvin Friesen, Winnipes, Man CAN, 7.059, 201.92
Not qualified:
9. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 7.406, 121.76
10. Bill Ancona, Mansfield, Texas, 28.572, 24.58

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 5.729 seconds, 252.80
miles per hour
2. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 5.981, 238.22
3. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 6.098, 226.07
4. Kirk Williams, Gleenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 6.115, 243.11
5. Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., '97 Cutlass 6.186, 229.18
6. Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '97 Pontiac, 6.415, 227.67
7. Ken Davis, Corrales, N.M., '94 Daytona, 6.422, 219.03
8. Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '98 Avenger, 6.506, 222.82
Not qualified:
9. Michael Heckert, Pittsburgh, Kan., '97 Firebird, 7.834, 113.59
10. Ban Harper, Arroyo Grande, Calif., '98 Firebird, 9.039, 93.64
11. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 11.355, 72.53
12. Lynn Engles, Watertown, S.D., '00 Camaro, 17.426, 53.60
13. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, S.D., '97 Firebird, no time recorded

COMPETITION
1. Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., D/ED '98 dragster, 7.630 seconds, (-0.570
seconds under index)
2. Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., A/ED '98 dragster, 6.961, (-0.489)
3. Clint Sallee, Glendie, Mich., C/D '00 dragster, 7.196, (-0.474)
4. Bub Miller, Edwardsville, Kan., D/EA '97 Cutlass, 8.607, (-0.473)
5. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., A/A '23 Chevy roadster, 6.992, (-0.448)
6. David Meyers, Dallas, Texas, C/A '99 Camaro, 7.786, (0.434)
7. Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., A/EA '32 roadster, 7.663, (-0,417)
8. Anthony Busch, Manitoba, Canada, C/SM '92 Camaro, 9.317, (-0.413)
9. Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., C/EA '96 Grand Prix, 8.516, (-0.374)
10. Mike Nahan, Sartell, Minn, E/D '47 roadster, 7.822, (-0.348)
  
SUPER STOCK
1. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn. SS/KA '85 Camaro, 10.545, (-1.005 seconds
under the index)
2. Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., SS/NA '88 Cutlass, 11.612, (-0.838)
3. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., SS/NA '56 Nomad, 11.649, (-0.801)
4. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., GT/EA '87 Firbird, 10.187, (-0.763)
5. Tom Cassen, Berryton, Kan., GT/BA '98 Achieva, 9.810, (-0.740)
6. Dennis Nelson, Hugo, Minn., SS/LA '81 Malibu, 11.022, (-0.728)
7. Abe Loewen, Regina, SK CAN, SS/DM '98 Grand Am, 9.481, (-0.719)
8. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb., SS/K '66 Chevy II, 10.596, (-0.704)
9. Bob Jaspersen, Lakeville, Minn., SS/IA '67 Nova, 10.308, (-0.692)
10. Delmar Wood, Tulsa, Okla., GT/GA '90 Camaro, 10.529, (-0.671)

STOCK
1. Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., DT/SA '00 Dodge, 12.374, (-1.126 seconds
under the index)
2. Bob Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., U/SA '85 Chevy, 14.103, (-1.047)
3. Steve Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., B/SA '69 Camaro, 10.610, (-0.940)
4. Stewart Tiggs, Fremont, Neb., GF/S ''83 Dodge, 16.060, (-0.940)
5. Steve Brock, Lawrence, Kan., I/S '86 Camaro, 11.651, (-0.849)
6. Mike Wenke, Conway Springs, Kan., B/SA '69 Mustang, 10.716, (-0.834)
7. Marty Burke, Flower Mounds, Texas, C/SA '69 Mustang, 10.882, (-0.818)
8. John Cooper, Laporte, Colo., A/SA '67 Fairlane, 10.484, (-0.816)
9. Lawrence Line, Wright, Minn., K/SA '85 Monte Carlo, 12.154, (-0.796)
10. Neal Roberts, Aurora, Colo., F/SA '67 Ford, 11.358, (-0.792)
 
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