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NHRA FMDRS: Top Qualifiers eliminated in semi finals at Denver

26 June 2000

 
        DENVER - Eliminations at Bandimere Speedway's Thunder on the
Mountain provided race fans with a day of upsets and national records. Both
the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car top qualifiers failed to make
their respective finals. Also, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Billy Bybee of
McLean, Texas, increased his division point lead by out-dueling
California's Darren Nicholson. Meanwhile, Federal-Mogul Dragster turned
Funny Car driver Jay Payne captured his first win in a funny car.
        Bybee dominated the field with a pass of 5.748 seconds at 249.49
mph to win for the second time this year and third overall.  Next, Payne
came from the third position to take the top spot with a run of 6.013
seconds at 240.08 mph for his first funny car victory.
        "It was a tough race, but we felt we had a good chance to win after
the first round," said Bybee.  "The win is great because we represent
Division 5 and we got a chance to redeem ourselves after the All-Stars."   
        In other action, weather prevented the remainder of the classes
from completing their rounds.  The make-up has been set for July 7-9 at
Douglas International Raceway in Wyoming.

        The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.749 e.t., 245.90 mph def. 8) Brent Ducray,
Grand Junction, Colo., 18.894, 38.99
2) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.741, 245.00 def. 7) Edwin Schmeeckle,
Gothenburg, Neb., 6.098, 233.36
3) Billy Bybee, Mclean, Texas, 5.907, 244.38 def. 6) Bruce Bowler, Denver,
6.010, 232.87
4) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.813, 242.71, 5) Paul Bishop,
Salt Lake City, 5.894, 236.26

Semi-Finals  
Nicholson, 5.796 e.t., 242.71 mph def. Wells, 5.840 e.t., 245.76
Bybee, 5.789 e.t., 246.84 mph def. Strasburg, 13.791 e.t., 55.02

Final Round
Bybee, 5.748 e.t., 249.49 mph def. Nicholson, 5.784 e.t., 245.00 mph


FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '00 Pontiac, 6.162 e.t., 236.46 mph def.
8) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '00 Corvette, 7.070 e.t., 186.92 mph
2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Trans Am, 6.019 e.t., 241.07 mph
def. 7) Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '98 Avenger, 6.238 e.t., 209.65
3) Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Camaro, 6.068 e.t., 236.92 mph def. 6)
Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '97 Pontiac, 6.127 e.t., 231.44 mph
5) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '97 Pontiac, 6.157 e.t., 234.17 mph def.
4) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, 11.868 e.t., 80.32 mph

Semi-Finals
Williams, 6.055 e.t., 236.88 mph def. Moats, 6.036 e.t., 236.71
Payne, 6.021 e.t., 237.46 mph def. Chesterman, 6.051 e.t., 240.68

Final Round
Payne, 6.013 e.t., 240.08 mph def. Williams, 6.089 e.t., 237.25 mph

COMP ELIMINATOR
Rescheduled due to rain

SUPER STOCK
Rescheduled due to rain

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Rescheduled due to rain

SUPER COMP
Rescheduled due to rain

SUPER GAS
Rescheduled due to rain

SUPER STREET
Rescheduled due to rain