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NHRA FMDRS: Bowler, Chesterman turn up the heat at Nebraska Motorplex

13 August 2000


        SCRIBNER, Neb. - After winning the first NHRA West Central Division
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Heartland Park Topeka back in
May, Bruce Bowler of Denver, Colo. has had some tough luck in his A-Fuel
Federal-Mogul Dragster. His luck changed for the better in Saturday's
qualifying for the Nebraska Motorplex Summer Sizzle as he collected the
$1000 bonus check from Winston for capturing the No. 1 qualifying position
in his Phoenix Custom Apparel Federal-Mogul Dragster.  Cy Chesterman of
Sioux City, Iowa was the only Federal-Mogul Funny Car to break the
five-second barrier to secure the top qualifying position for Sunday's
eliminations.
        The first Federal-Mogul Dragster qualifying session was by far the
quickest after the track was cooled by a short ten-minute thunderstorm
passed overhead.  Bowler took advantage of the cool track and ran the
quickest pass in the history of Nebraska Motorplex , 5.692 seconds at
246.57 mph to move into the Federal-Mogul Dragster No. 1 qualifying
position.  Bowler broke the record of 5.74 seconds set two years ago by Rob
Wendland of Topeka, Kan. David Wells of LeMars, Iowa also took advantage of
the cool track to take the No. 2 qualifying position with a run of 5.751
seconds at 246.91 mph.  In the second Saturday qualifying session no driver
improved due to the 95-degree heat and 70% humidity.
        "After the rain ended and the track cooled, we were in the staging
lanes and Scott [Bowler, crew chief] was under the car changing the fuel
system to a leaner set-up," said Bowler.  "We have never been to this track
before and I have to say this is now one of my favorite tracks and the fans
are some of the best on the series. 
        Chesterman bettered his Friday qualifying attempt to keep his
Coca-Cola Federal-Mogul Funny Car in the No. 1 qualifying position with a
pass of 5.983 seconds at 242.52 mph.  Defending West Central Division
Federal-Mogul Funny Car Champion, Vern Moats of Des Moines, Iowa, came the
closest to knocking Chesterman out of the No. 1 position with a pass of
6.048 seconds at 237.71 mph.
         The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at the Nebraska
Motorplex continues tomorrow with eliminations beginning at 9 a.m.  Gates
open at 8 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars will
begin first round of eliminations at 1 p.m.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.692 seconds, 246.57 mph vs. 8) Edwin
Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 6.082, 226.30
2)   David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.751, 246.91 vs. 7) Ziggy Zivkovich,
Litchfield, Minn., 6.073, 236.15
3)   Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.769, 243.77 vs. 6) Mark Kinser, Grimes,
Iowa, 5.833, 242.91
4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.804, 247.18 vs. 5) Shelly Howard,
Tulsa, Okla., 5.830, 241.02

Alternate
Calvin Friesen, Headingly, Man., Canada, 7.434, 164.68

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1)   Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac Trans Am, 5.983 seconds,
242.52 mph vs. 8) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Pontiac Firebird,
6.413, 228.89
2)   Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '00 Firebird, 6.048, 237.71 vs. 7) Kris
Hool, Casper, Wy., '97 Firebird, 6.261, 230.88
3)   Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 6.159, 235.23 vs. 6)
Kurt Prososki, Bellveue, Neb., '96 Dodge Daytona, 6.245, 230.41
4)   Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '98 Dodge Avenger, 6.173, 231.95
vs. 5) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '97 Avenger, 6.232, 231.83

Alternates 
1.    Scott McVey, Winnepeg, Man., Canada, '96 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.515,
217.02
2. Michael Oliver, Evergreen, Colo., '81 Chevrolet Monza, 6.536, 213.06

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '99 Dragster, E/ED, 8.701 seconds
(0.519-seconds under Index)
2. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, D/SM, 8.293
(-0.517)
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Roadster, A/EA, 7.683 (-0.467)
4. Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., '32 Roadster, A/EA, 7.796 (-0.354)
5. John Linton, Tonkawa, Okla., '97 Dragster, C/ED, 7.738 (-0.342)
6. Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '89 Oldsmobile Cutlass, B/A, 7.608 (-0.332)
7. Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., '98 Dragster, A/ED, 7.115 (-0.315)
8. Bub Miller, Edwardsville, Kansas, '97 Oldsmobile Cutlass, D/EA, 8.875
(-0.285)
9. Duane Robison, Gardner, Kansas, '97 Firebird, C/A, 8.007 (-0.283)
10. Steve Kalkowski, Ogallala, Neb., '97 Pontiac Firebird, B/A, 7.671
(-0.269)
11. Chad Brownlow, Rochester, Minn., '99 Dragster, C/ED, 7.842 (-0.238)
12. Al Bresch, Stonewall, Man., Canada, '92 Chevrolet Camaro, C/SM, 9.489
(-0.191)
13. Bill Harris, Nebraska City, Neb., '00 Chevrolet S-10, E/A, 8.792
(-0.178)
14.  Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '90 Camaro, B/SM, 10.155 (+0.705)

SUPER STOCK
1. Ernie Penner, Osborne, Man., Canada, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/JA, 10.744
seconds (1.086-seconds under Index)
2. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/KA, 10.653
(-1.077)
3. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.263 (-0.977)
4. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., '87 Pontiac Firebird, GT/EA, 10.160
(-0.960)
5. Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., '88 Oldsmobile Cutlass, SS/NA, 11.686
(-0.954)
6. Ted Romero, Denver, Colo., '98 Firebird, GT/KA, 11.002 (-0.928)
7. Randy Mans, Rogers, Minn., '88 Cutlass, SS/OA, 11.876 (-0.914)
8. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '56 Nomad Wagon, SS/NA, 11.735 (-0.905)
9. Tom Cassen, Berrytown, Kansas, '98 Oldmobile Achieva, GT/BA, 9.860
(-0.850)
10. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb. '66 Chevrolet II, SS/K, 10.647 (-0.823)

15. Ron Taylor, Lincoln, Neb., '57 Chevrolet, SS/MA, 11.561 (-0.779)
16. Wayne Denklau, Wayne, Neb., '55 Bel Air, SS/O, 11.931 (-0.759)
24. Marlin Bogner, Kearney, Neb., '92 Dodge Daytona, GT/FA, 10.656 (-0.614)
28. Dave Smith, Kearney, Neb., '66 Nova, SS/L, 11.180 (-0.550)
29. Tom Meyer, Pierce, Neb., '66 Chevrolet II, SS/LA, 11.397 (-0.533)
34. Stan White, Lincoln, Neb., '66 Nova, SS/KA,  11.281 (-0.449)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bob Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '85 Chevrolet, U/SA, 14.036 seconds
(1.344-seconds under Index)
2. Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dodge Dakota, DT/SA, 12.466 (-1.244)
3. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 GTO, K/SA, 11.993 (-1.157)
4. Marty Woffard, Gore Okla., '66 Chevrolet Nova, L/S, 11.915 (-1.135)
5. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass, U/SA, 14.252 (-1.128)
6. Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kansas, '85 Chevrolet Camaro, J/S, 11.803(-1.037)
7. Steve Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.750 (-0.980)
8. John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., '66 Nova, G/S, 11.495 (-0.895)
9. Matt Wenke, Conway Springs, Kan., '69 Torino, D/SA, 11.167 (-0.863)
10. Mike Smith, Osage Beach, Mo., '71 Plymouth, E/SA, 11.336 (-0.844)

20. Bob Ruther, Yutan, Neb., '69 Camaro, J/S, 12.073 (-0.767)
24. Tom McHale, Seward, Neb., '71 Plymouth Duster, E/SA, 11.458 (-0.722)
34.  Ray Kohout, Dwight, Neb., '69 Plymouth, C/SA, 11.260 (-0.620)
36. Gordon Breithaupt, Fremont, Neb., '69 Camaro, E/SA, 11.538 (-0.592)
37. Jim Stewart, Ord, Neb., '66 Nova Wagon, H/SA, 12.094 (-0.546)

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