NHRA FMDRS: Hirata out-duels Wilson for win at US 131 Dragway
24 July 2000
Martin, Mich.-The Third event of the 2000 North Central Division
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series took place at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin,
Mich. As the grandstands filled to near capacity with enthusiastic race
fans, more than 400 drivers took to the track in hopes of claiming the top
spot from the eight different racing categories.
The low temperatures had some drivers eagerly anticipating some fast times.
Said Lowell, Indiana's Dave Hirata, "we really think that we can do some
damage if the weather stays cool." Hirata, remaining the dominant driver
among the pits, said, " In addition to running well and having a strong
car, I really believe that we have a mental advantage by just being here."
Adding, " I know the feeling because we had the same reaction about people
like Rick Santos." However, "The hard part will be to back-up the run we
had last night because we know that drivers like Wilson, Bowen and Stark
will be gunning for us", Hirata concluded.
Last years defending Federal-Mogul Funny Car champion, Marc White of
Glendale Heights Ill., will try for a repeat win after regaining the top
qualifying position from Bob Gottschalk of Toledo, Ohio. In other racing
news, Friday night proved scary for Funny Car pilot Larry Bakke, who after
his throttle stuck, had his car go airborn. Bakke, from Madison, Wisc.,
escaped serious injury but had to be taken to a local hospital for
overnight observation.
In the end, Hirata out-dueled Wilson for the win in the Federal-Mogul
Dragster category with a blistering run of 6.298 seconds at 232.01 mph
versus 6.982 seconds at 131.56 mph. For the Federal-Mogul Funny Car final,
the win went to last year's winner Marc White of Glendale Heights, Ill.,
with a stellar run of 241.73 mph. The runner up was Bob Gottchalk, with a
speed of 234.25 mph.
In other action, sharing the $2500 Winston Top Qualifier money were Dave
Hirata, Federal-Mogul Dragster; Marc White, Federal-Mogul Funny Car; Jerry
Arnold, Competition; Joe Skinner, Super Stock; and Vance Cummins, Stock.
The Best Appearing Car Award went to Eureka, Mo., resident Bill Rowe while
Todd Fields of Columbus, Ohio, landed the Best Engineered Car Award.
Finally, the Best Appearing Crew Award went to the Super Comp team of Frank
Yonlisky of Hudsonville, Mich.
The following are the results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event at U.S. 131 Dragway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.986 e.t., 243.15 mph def. 8) Bob Ginther,
Lansing, Mich., 6.119 e.t., 224.65 mph
2) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.843 e.t., 234.50 mph def. 7) T.J. Zizzo,
Praire View, Ill., Broke
3) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.675 e.t., 239.01 mph def. 6) Shawn Bowen,
Montrose, Mich., 5.904 e.t., 244.39 mph
5) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.704 e.t., 252.85 mph def. 4) Marty
Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 11.385 e.t., 68.59 mph
Semi-Finals
1) Hirata, 5.736 e.t., 254.20 mph def 5) Stark, 5.798 e.t., 251.41 mph
3) Wilson, 5.481 e.t., 262.91 def 2) Lindert, Broke/Abort
Final Round
1) Hirata, 6.298 e.t., 232.01 mph def 3) Wilson, 6.982 e.t., 131.56 mph
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1) Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., 5.845 e.t., 251.68 mph def 8) Jeff
Lancaster, Hamilton, Can., 6.858 e.t., 146.68 mph
2) Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, 7.657 e.t., 209.27 mph def. 7) Mark
Poyser, Fort Wayne, Ind., 10.165 e.t., 113.05 mph
6) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., 6.006 e.t., 231.70 mph def. 3) Jeff Craig,
Municie, Ind., 6.365 e.t., 196.32 mph
5) Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., 6.037 e.t., 241.75 mph def 4) Roger
Cutler, Gatesburg, Mich., 15.561 e.t., 47.12 mph
Semi-Finals
1) White, 5.865 e.t., 243.07 mph def 5) Addleman, 6.014 e.t., 246.13 mph
2) Gottschalk, 6.112 e.t., 238.18 mph def 3) Craig, 10.757 e.t., 63.44 mph
Final Round
1) White, 6.044 e.t., 241.73 mph def 2) Gottschalk, 6.151 e.t., 234.25 mph
COMP ELIMINATOR
Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., 8.536 e.t., -0.558 def Brian Browell,
Lafayette, Ind., 7.472 e.t., -0.584
SUPER STOCK
David Turner, Fresno, Ohio, 9.995 e.t, -0.565 def Jeremy Duncan,
Charleston, Ind., 10.353 e.t., -0.593
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Larry Hodge, La Place, Ill., 12.483 e.t., -0.013 def Bo Fowler, Clayton,
Ind., 12.063 e.t, -0.023
SUPER COMP
Doug Kittrel, Warsaw, Ind., 8.944 e.t., -0.044 def Rose Richardson,
Woodburn, Ind., 8.887e.t., -0.013
SUPER GAS
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., 9.882 e.t., -0.018 def John Vineyard, Almont,
Mich., 9.875 e.t., -0.025
SUPER STREET
Barney Barnhart, Wadsworth, Ohio, 10.938 e.t., -0.038 def John Bereberich,
Blacklich, Ohio, 10.897 e.t., -0.003