NHRA FMDRS: Records fall at US 131 Dragway
23 July 2000
Martin, Mich.-The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series made its third stop of the year today and the weather, with temperatures in the mid 70's, was ideal for drag racing. More than 400 racecars from eight racing categories made the trip to U.S. 131 Dragway to take a run at the quarter mile track and the $158,000 in prize money up for grabs this weekend. Dave Hirata of Lowell Ind., who took the top qualifying position with a new track speed and E.T. record run of 5.482 seconds at 261.99 mph, remained the one to beat in the Federal-Mogul Dragster division. Meanwhile, in the Funny Car field, Marc White of Glendale Heights, Ill., hoping to repeat as last years champion with a run of 5.825 seconds and 245.73 mph, out-dueled Toledo, Ohio, resident Bob Gottschalk to capture the number one position. The number one qualifying position in Competition Eliminator went to Jerry Arnold of Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a run of 8.510 seconds which was -0.640 under index. The rest of the competitors will try and knock him off when qualifying resumes on Saturday. In Super Stock, Joe Skinner of Columbia Station, Ohio, drove his '95 Cavalier to the No. 1 qualifying position narrowly beating out Charlie Westcott of Parma, Michigan. Vance Cummins of Grand Haven, Mich., took the top qualifying spot from the other 78 competitors in Stock Eliminator on Friday. Cummins drove his '95 Dakota to the top position with a run of 12.197 seconds on a 13.35 index. Qualifying and time trials will continue Saturday at U.S. 131 Dragway beginning at 11 a.m. Eliminations in the Sportsman class begins at 2 p.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car eliminations get underway at 6 p.m. The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at U.S. 131 Dragway: FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.482 e.t., 261.99 mph 2. Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.548 e.t., 252.74 mph 3. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.556 e.t., 257.35 mph 4. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.788 e.t., 240.42 mph 5. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.807 e.t., 288.50 mph 6. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.865 e.t., 239.12 mph 7. T.J. Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.021 e.t., 232.97 mph 8. Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.148 e.t., 203.79 mph Alternates 9. Tony Zizzo, Praire View, Ill., 6.380 e.t., 193.90 mph 10. Ryan Cantrell, Palmyra, Mich., 6.533 e.t., 224.90 mph 11. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 10.389 e.t., 78.09 mph 12. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 11.374 e.t., 84.92 mph FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1. Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.825 e.t., 245.73 mph 2. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 6.138 e.t., 217.53 mph 3. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva, 6.149 e.t., 240.99 mph 4. Larry Bakke, Madison, Wisc., '97 Camaro, 6.226 e.t., 235.66 5. Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '97 Pontiac, 6.342 e.t., 216.18 mph 6. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.446 e.t., 202.81 mph 7. Mark Poyser, Fort Wayne, Ind., '97 Mustang, 6.511 e.t., 222.92 mph 8. Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Can., '99 Firebird, 6.698 e.t., 164.30 mph Alternates 9. Roger Cutler, Gatesburg, Mich., '99 Firebird, 6.917 e.t., 190.01 mph 10. Dave Kovar, New Lenox, Ill., '99 Firebird, 8.156 e.t., 115.95 mph 11. Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 17.435 e.t., 43.05 COMP ELIMINATOR 1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '32 Bantam, E/ED, 8.452 seconds, --0.698 (under index) 2. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvette, AA/A, 7.029, -0.671 3. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 Dragster, D/D, 7.392, -0.638 4. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 Dragster, A/ED, 6.803, -0.557 5. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Achieva, D/SM, 8.190, -0.540 6. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, G/A, 9.025, -0.515 7. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '23 Ford, A/EA, 7.580, -0.500 8. Douglas Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., B/ED, 7.073, -0.477 9. Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., '97 Herndon, F/ED, 8.553, -0.467 10. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 Ford, I/A, 8.054, -0.456 SUPER STOCK 1. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, '95 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.648 seconds, -1.152 (under index) 2. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '97 Pontiac, GT/E, 9.684, -1.116 3. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '98 Pontiac, GT/JA, 10.578, -1.072 4. Mike Beachy, Greentown, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.892, -1.058 5. Melissa Butler, Richmond, Ind., '90 Sunbird, GT/FA, 10.080, -1.020 6. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.083, -1.017 7. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Chevy, SS/AX, 9.005, -0.995 8. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '86 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.112, -0.988 9. Brian Butler, Centerville, Ohio, '90 Beretta, GT/GA, 10.217, -0.983 10. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., Achieva, GT/KA, 10.797, -0.953 STOCK ELIMINATOR 1. Vance Cummins, Grand Haven, Mich., '95 Dakota, CT/SA, 12.197 seconds, -1.153 (under index) 2. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., '00 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.349, -1.151 3. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 Pontiac, K/SA, 11.856, -1.094 4. John Ferguson, Eaton Rapids, Mich., '97 Dodge, GT/SA, 12.873, -1.077 5. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.625, -1.075 6. Lisa Stephenson, Danville, Ill., '91 Delta, FF/SA, 15.179, -1.071 7. Bob Gipson, Bettendorf, Iowa, '65 Malibu, N/S, 12.208, -1.042 8. Harry Doolittle, Grosse Ile, Mich., '00 Firebird, Q/SA, 13.061, -1.039 9. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., '84 Buick, U/SA, 14.128, -1.022 10. John Cavataio, Macomo, Mich., '94 Camaro, D/S, 10.786, -1.014