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NHRA FMDRS: Qualifying kicks off at Virginia Motorsports Park

22 September 2000

        DINWIDDIE, Va. - In the first rounds of qualifying at the Virginia
is for Lovers Weekend Thunder event, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series at Virginia Motorsports Park, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver
Rich McPhillips and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Jay Payne took the no. 1
qualifying positions in their classes. 

McPhillips, of Phoenixville, Pa., outran the field with a pass of 5.646
seconds at 230.49 mph.  And Upland, Calif., resident Payne made a
5.780-second, 248.66 mph run to take the pole.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Frank Aragona of Franklin Square, N.Y.,
in Competition Eliminator; Bob Dodson of Beaverdam, Va., in Super Stock;
and James Waibel of Lakeland, Fla., in Stock.

Gates open at 9 a.m. at Virginia Motorsports Park Saturday.  Qualifying and
time trials continue at 10 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car are
scheduled to run at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets, including pit pass, are $15 and children 12 and under are admitted
free when accompanied by an adult.  For more information please call
Virginia Motorsports Park, (804) 862-3174.


        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Virginia Motorsports Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.646 seconds, 230.49 mph
2. Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Va., 5.701, 244.38
3. Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.725, 240.70
4. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.143, 236.05
5. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 6.462, 225.22
6. Jeanie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa., 9.285, 88.97
7. Bob Levertich, Marysville, Mich., 9.409, 88.93 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.780 seconds, 248.66 mph
2. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.031, 229.74
3. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va., '99 Avenger, 6.312, 223.69
4. Philip Hooper, Chesterfield, Va., '97 Camaro, 28.00, 14.42
5. Melinda, Green-King, Norfolk, Va., '99 Avenger, no time recorded

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Frank Aragona, Franklin Square, N.Y., '98 dragster, G/ED, 8.314 seconds,
-0.786 under index
2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '97 roadster, A/EA, 7.410, -0.670
3. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, G/A, 8.907, -0.633
4. Greg Kozera, Monroe, Conn., '98 dragster, D/ED, 7.510, -0.610
5. Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, E/SM, 8.316, 
   -0.604
6. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksville, Va., '97 Trans Am, F/SM, 9.316, 
   -0.494
7. Pam Miskovsky, Quakertown, Pa., '94 dragster, C/D, 7.217, -0.453
8. Dave Stouse, Morganville, N.J., '97 Cutlass, B/A, 7.430, -0.440
9. Keith Roberts, Mooresville, N.C., '96 Cutlass, C/EA, 8.488, -0.402
10. Steve Szupka, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., '98 dragster, C/ED, 7.631, 
   -0.379

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dodson, Beaverdam, Va., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.543 seconds, 
   -1.207 under index
2. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, S.C., '56 Bel Air, SS/NA, 11.271, -1.179
3. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Pa., '93 LeBaron, GT/HA, 10.292, -1.058
4. Bruce Riley, Lake Echo, NS, Can., '71 Chevelle, SS/EA, 9.626, -1.024
5. Bob Cupp, Alexandria, Va., '65 Chevelle, SS/KA, 10.536, -1.014
6. Michael Volkman, Pittsburgh, Pa., '00 Sebring, GT/IA, 10.490, -1.010
7. Joe LoCicero, Lithonia, Ga., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.763, -0.937
8. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Achieva, GT/BA, 9.624, -0.926
9. Larry Jewell, Ulysses, Pa., '67 Corvette, SS/DA, 9.607, -0.893
10. Norm Hall, Waldorf, Md., '00 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.222, -0.878

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. James Waibel, Lakeland, Fla., '82 Cutlass, U/SA, 13.891 seconds, 
   -1.259 under index
2. Brandon Wood, Tallahassee, Fla., '85 Camaro, M/SA, 11.942, -1.208
3. Harold Culpepper, Pine Mtn. Valley, Ga., '91 Camaro, K/SA, 11.752, 
   -1.198
4. John Presing, North Haledon, N.J., '88 Mustang, L/S, 11.812, -1.188
5. Dean Cook II, West Warwick, R.I., '72 Mustang, F/S, 10.913, -1.187
6. Brian VanPoppel, Perry Hall, Md., '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.419, -1.181
7. Bill Hawk, Manassas, Va., '67 Shelby, D/SA, 10.709, -1.141
8. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '85 Berlinetta, 12.010, -1.140
9. Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '87 Pontiac, 12.314, -1.136
10. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., '72 Camaro, J/SA, 11.620, -1.130