NHRA FMDRS: Manzo finishes season undefeated
27 August 2000
RISING SUN, Md.- Unlike the weather at Old Bridge Township Raceway
Park in Englistown, N.J., the conditions here at Cecil County Dragway could
not have been better. Together with temperatures in the mid 80's and a
cool breeze, devoted followers and anxious drivers eagerly await
eliminations that had begun nearly two weeks ago. All eyes being focused
on five time national champion Frank Manzo of Morganville, N.J., race fans
watched to see if he can hold off long-time rival Bob Newberry to complete
his quest for an undefeated season.
In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car division, there was no doubt as to
whom the focus was on. Frank Manzo, trying to complete a rare undefeated
season, did not disappoint the throngs of die-hard race fans posting his
tenth consecutive divisional race victory. The last driver to defeat Manzo
in a divisional race was Paul Gill of Brockton, Mass., occurring at the
first race of the 1999 season at Maple Grove Raceway. Since then, Manzo and
his Kendall Motor Oil team, have conquered anyone that stands in their way
of a sixth national championship. Paul Gill, trying to defeat the master,
gave Manzo everything he had but came up a little short.
In the end, there were eight winners: Tony Lebor of Delray Beach,
Fla., in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Frank Manzo of Morganville, N.J., in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Don Stratton of Beloit, Ohio in competition, Dan
Fletcher of Rochester, N.Y. in Super Stock, Joe DeMarzo of Mahopac, N.Y. in
Stock, Tom Stalba of Williamstown, N.J. in Super Comp, Derek Clark of
Maugansville, Md. in Super Gas, and Brett Albert of Raynham, Mass. in Super
Street.
The following are the final results from the rain delayed, NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event from Englishtown, N.J., that was
re-ran at Cecil County Dragway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Tony Lebor, Delray Beach, Fla., 5.573 seconds e.t, 253.90 mph def 8)
Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 5.848 seconds e.t, 237.88 mph
4) Cliff Bozelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.717 e.t., 245.14 mph def 5)
Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., Foul
2) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.605 e.t, 240.38 def 7) Doug Foley,
Wappinger Falls, N.Y., 9.403 e.t., 89.92
3) Jeannie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa., 5.805 e.t., 247.11 def 6) Mike Kosky,
Cuddy, Pa., 9.363 e.t., 80.60
Semi-Finals
Lebor, Delray Beach, Fla., 5.567 e.t, 251.58 mph def Booz, Blooming Glenn,
Pa., 5.651 e.t., 251.95 mph
Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.599 e.t., 251.30 def McPhillips, Phoenixville,
Pa., 5.669 e.t., 231.40 mph
FINAL ROUND
Lebor, Delray Beach, Fla., 5.490 e.t., 249.63 def Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J.,
5.631 e.t., 248.98
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
First Round
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., 5.773 seconds e.t., 253.47 mph def 8)
William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., 6.256 seconds e.t., 222.33 mph
2) Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., 5.844 e.t., 253.66 def 7) Craig English,
Mount Holly, N.J., 6.562 e.t., 179.16
3) John Fiorini, Dalton, Mass., 10.990 e.t., 76.90 def 6) Bruce Mullins,
Fredericksburg, Va., Broke
5) Fran Monaghan, Willow Grove, Pa., 5.867 e.t., 244.07 4) Bob Newberry,
Schenectady, N.Y., 5.921 e.t., 247.75
Semi-Finals
Manzo, Morganville, N.J., 5.750 e.t., 247.07 def Monaghan, Willow Grove,
Pa., Broke
Gill, Brockton, Mass., 5.791 e.t., 252.80 def Fiorini, Dalton, Mass., 6.494
e.t., 210.11
FINALS
Manzo, Morganville, N.J., 5.645 e.t., def Gill, Brockton, Mass., 5.753
e.t., 236.30
COMPETIION
Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, '34 Roadster, 8.65 e.t., 158.48 def Jonathan
Aloiso, West Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, 8.90 e.t., 160.44
SUPER STOCK
Dan Fletcher, Rochester, N.Y., '69 Camaro, 10.149 e.t., 127.43 def Norm
Hall, Waldorf, Md., '00 Firebird, 10.344 e.t., 127.93
STOCK
Joe Demarzo, Mohopac, N.Y., '69 Camaro, 11.625 e.t., 109.51 def Lloyd
Mackay, Cedar Grove, N.J., '84 Buick, 13.427 e.t., 91.54
SUPER GAS
Derek Clark, Maugansville, Md., '95 Cutlass, 9.937 e.t., 143.05 def Tom
Goldman, Allentown, Pa., '40 Willy's, 9.936 e.t., 146.38
SUPER COMP
Tom Stalba, Williamstown, N.J., '99 Undercover, 8.919 e.t., 158.02 def Kent
Hanley, Newtown, Conn., 8.924 e.t., 153.72
SUPER STREET
Brett Albert, Raynham, Mass., '27 Ford, 10.919 e.t, 131.64 def John
Schenone, Bellerose, N.Y., '70 Nova, 10.921 e.t., 139.47