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NHRA FMDRS: Santos, Simpson on top at Thunder Valley

22 September 2000


        NOBLE, Okla. - Rick Santos and Todd Simpson lead qualifying for the
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car categories respectively
at Thunder Valley's Autumn Classic. Santos, the three time National
Champion, set a new track E.T. record in the first round of qualifying with
a pass of 5.615 seconds at 251.95 mph. The old record, 5.654 seconds, was
set at this event last year by Darrell Russell . 

        "We definitely have more in the car, we got loose about 1000 feet",
said Santos.. "We would really like to wrap up the (National) Championship
this weekend"

        Santos is being chased by Jay Meyer in Federal-Mogul Dragster.
Meyer, however, has his work cut out for him as he would need a win here
this weekend and two more national events wins to catch Santos. Meyer
qualified in the sixth position with a pass of 5.896, 236.28.
        Simpson, clocked in at 5.901 seconds, at 241.41 mph to lead the
Funny Car filed. Simpson is currently third in points for this, the NHRA
South Central Division.Simpson would like nothing more than a win in Noble.

        "Tate (Branch) should have the division locked up, but we'd really
like to win this one being the final divisional event. The run was nice and
smooth, probably not quick enough to win this thing though. We'll need to
step it up a bit." voiced Simpson who won earlier this year in Dallas.

        With three wins this season, Branch is looking for his first
Divisional Championship. Branch won earlier this year in Houston, Baton
Rouge, La., and Hallsville, Texas.
Qualifying continues Saturday at Thunder Valley Raceway Park at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car
will make their final qualifying runs at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.


The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.615 seconds, 251.95 miles per hour
2. Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.658, 248.07
3. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.762, 242.78
4. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.808, 246.23
5. Joe Fuentes, Leander. Texas, 5.878, 229.76
6. Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.896, 236.28
7. Larry Traugott, Woodword, Okla., 5.956, 235.72
8. Sergio, Recio, El Paso, Texas., 6.002, 236.65
Not Qualified
9. Kent Nuckols, Albuquerque, N.M., 6.010, 237.90
10. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 6.137, 224.32
11. Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 6.189, 211.56
12. Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 7.045, 190.96
13. Bill Ancona, Mansfield, Texas, 19.336, 42.75 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.901 seconds, 241.41 mph.
2. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 5.904, 248.55
3. Lawren Jones, Albuqurque, N.M., '00 Corvette, 6.238, 208.47
4. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Achieva, 6.484, 203.29
5. Kurt Prososki, Bellveue, Neb., '96 Daytona, 6.511, 223.82
6. Richard Shaver, San Antonio, Texas, '98 Avenger, 7.161, 142.26
7. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '97 Firebird, 7.435. 127.62
8. Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '97 Camaro, 7.957, 106.34
Not Qualified
9. Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '97 Pontiac, 8.234, 114.06
10. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Avenger, 8.581, 103.51
11. Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '98 Pontiac, 14.881
12. Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., '97 Cutlass, 15.867, 60.25

COMPETITION
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '97 Grand Am, D/SM, 8.245 seconds,
-0.485 under the index
2. Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '92 Camaro, D/SM, 8.319, -0.411
3. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., '92 dragster, B/ED, 7.154, -0.396
4. Brian Self, Houston, Texas, '00 S-10, A/T, 7.789, -0.391
5. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, '99 Camaro, C/A, 7.831, -0.379
6. Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '89 Cutlass, B/A, 7.493, -0.377
7. Charlie Stewart, Srlington, Texas, '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.985, -0.375
8. Arthur Sauceda, Deer Park, Texas, '00 dragster, C/D, 7.333, -0.337
9. Alan Swindoll, LaPorte, Texas, '97 Pontiac, B/A, 7.551, -0.319
10. Dennis Smiley, Denver City, Texas, '98 Firehawk, B/ED, 7.250, -0.300

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala. '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.199 seconds, -0.851
under the index.
2. Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., '66 Impala, SS/NA, 11.636, -0.814
3. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '56 Chevy, SS/NA, 11.636, -0.812
4. Buggs Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '88 Cutlass, SS/DA, 11.829, -0.771
5. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Camaro, GT/HA, 10.597, -0.753
6. Keith Mawhee, Carrollton, Texas, '98 Pontiac, SS/CM, 9.180, -0.720
7. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, '97 Trans Am, GT/IA, 10.790, -0710
8. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/FA, 10.415, -0.685
9. Ron Taylor, Lincoln, Neb., '57 Chevy, SS/MA, 11.494, -0.656
10. Jeff Miller, Pearland, Texas, '97 Firehawk, GT/AA, 9.746, -0.654  

STOCK
1. Verne Buchnan, Conway, Ark., '73 Mustang, J/SA 11.828 seconds, -0.922
under the index.
2. Marty Woddard, Gore, Okla., '66 Nova, L/S, 12.171, -0.829
3. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, '70 Nova, C/SA, 10.876, -0.824
4. Mike Wenke, Conway Springs, Kan., '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.775, -0.775
5. Barron Gill, Winnsboro, La., '70 Nova, C/S, 10.899, -0.751
6. Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kan., '85 Camaro, I/S, 11.753, -0.747
7. Martin Burke, Flower Mound, Texas, '69 Mustang, C/SA, 10.954, -0.746
8. Martin Wilkes, Derby, Kan., '69 Fairlane, D/SA, 11.130, -0.720
9. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '97 Trans Am, F/SA, 11.473, -0.677
10. FJ Acosta, Belle Rose, La., '96 Camaro, E/SA, 11.342, -0.658