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NHRA FMDRS: Rocky Mountain Nationals Return to Salt Lake City

16 September 2000

SALT LAKE CITY- The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series made its
second to last stop of the year today at the beautiful Rocky Mountain
Raceway. As Mother Nature blanketed the track with temperatures in the mid
to low 90's, more than 300 drivers from the Western United States and
Canada came to compete for more than $142,000 in cash and contingency
awards. 

Friday's qualifying and time trials at Rocky Mountain Raceway's Rocky
Mountain National's event, had Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot and three time
defending national champion Rick Santos leading the field into Saturday's
elimination's. Santos of San Leandro, Calif., drove his Oakwood Homes
dragster to the number one spot and remained the man to beat with a run of
5.580 seconds at 254.45 mph. Next, in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field,
Larry Miner of Woodbridge, Calif. out-raced the 16 other competitors with
an elapsed time of 5.881 seconds and 246.71 mph to set the pace for this
weekends activities by claiming Friday's top position. 

        In Competition Eliminator, Brian Hyerstay of Eugene, Ore., was the
number one qualifier with a stellar run of 9.771 seconds.  Hyerstay's run
was .062 seconds quicker than his closest competitor Longmont, Colo.'s, Tom
Snyder. The remaining competitors were left to fight for the other
positions. 

        In Super Stock, Rick Ryan of Aberdeen, S.D., drove his '88
Oldsmobile to the top qualifying position narrowly beating out Frank Grossi
of Upland, Calif., by .018 seconds. Ryan had a run of 12.011 seconds
(-1.149 under index) compared to Grossi's 10.019 (-1.131 under index)

        Stock Eliminator driver Steve Couch overcame a strong field to grab
Friday's top position. Couch of Sidney, Neb., drove his Dodge to the No. 1
qualifying position with a run of 12.687 seconds, -1.583 under index.  

        Gates open at 7:30 a.m. with elimination's beginning at 10:00 a.m.
at Rocky Mountain Raceway.

        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Rocky Mountain Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.641 seconds, 251.46 mph 
2. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.715 seconds, 249.30 mph
3. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.743 seconds, 244.23 mph
4. Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.747 seconds, 248.48 mph
5. Bob Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.807 seconds, 240.64 mph
6. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.816 seconds, 238.60 mph
7. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.853 seconds, 236.65 mph
8. Brent Ducray, Grand Junction, Utah, 5.936 seconds, 229.65
ALTERNATES
9. Jaren Mott, Salt Lake City, Utah, 6.143, 198.58

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 5.881, 246.71
2. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Camaro, 5.910, 241.74
3. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '97 Cutlass, 5.959 seconds, 240.51
mph
4. Jimmy Bartoli, Duarte, Calif., '97 Olds, 5.969, 236.84
5. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Firebird, 5.984, 240.89
6. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wyo., '00 Camaro, 6.008, 235.72
7. Roger Bateman, Calgary Alberta, Can., '97 Firebird, 6.012, 242.58
8. Ed Marx, Stockton, Calif., '95 Camaro, 6.048, 239.17

ALTERNATES
9. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '99 Firebird, 6.052, 239.93
10. Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '98 Avenger, 6.086, 235.29
11. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.086, 235.25
12. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '98 Avenger, 6.193, 207.61
13. Jason Rubert, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.216, 224.66
14. Pete Duhart, Huntington Beach, Calif., '92 Pontiac, 6.588, 210.32
15. Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '00 Corvette, 6.591, 183.97
16. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '95 Thunderbird, 7.029, 228.71

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., '96 Dragster, G/D, 9.771, -0.729 
2. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '23 Chevrolet, A/A, 7.063 seconds, -0.667
(under index)
3. Andy Manna, Covina, Calif., '90 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.861, -0.629
4. John Chamberlin, Napa, Calif., '88 Uyehara, A/D, 6.920, -0.610
5. Ed Sigmon, Chatworth, Calif., '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 9.191, -0.589
6. Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '95 Camaro, B/SM, 9.391, -0.409
7. Steven Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., '97 Firebird, D/A, 8.546, -0.404
8. Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.620, -0.400
9. Jeff Gillette, Benecia, Calif., '97 Dragster, B/ED, 7.507, -0.383
10. Ken Justice, Phoenix, Ariz., '99 firebird, B/ED, 8.430, 0.200

SUPER STOCK
1. Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., '88 Olds, SS/NA, 12.011 seconds, -1.149
(under index)
2. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '00 Pontiac, GT/BA, 10.019, -1.131        
        
3. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., '87 Firebird, GT/EA, 10.532, -1.048
4. Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '98 Olds, SS/CM, 9.436, -1.034
5. Jimmy Defrank, Tarzana. Calif., '89 camaro, GT/HA, 10.970, -1.030
6. Howard Thompson, Wildomar, Calif., '95 Mustang, GT/EA, 10.564, -1.016
7. Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.592, -0.978
8. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/FA, 10.764, -0.976
9. Don Bevers, Tucson, Ariz., '91 Probe, SS/BM, 9.284, -0.976
10. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.584, -0.936

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb.,  Dodge, DT/SA, 12.687 seconds, -1.583(under
index)
2. Marka Gallina, Henderson, Nev., '84 Buick, L/SA, 12.534, -1.206
3. Chuck Raybuen, Castro Valley, Calif., '71 Dodge, B/SA, 11.005, -1.205
4. Robert Pond, Riverside, Calif., '67 Fairlane, A/S, 10.729, -1.161
5. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.829, -1.121
6. Fred Rector, Durango, Calif., '72 Nova, I/S, 12.112, -1.108
7. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, '70 mustang, D/S, 11.359, -1.121
8. Neal Rhodes, Aurora, Calif., '67 Fairlane, F/SA, 11.758, -1.092
9. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif.,  C/SA, 11.371, -0.999
10. Bob Swan, Belle Fourche, S.D., '67 Shelby, D/SA, 11.477, -1.053