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NHRA FMDRS: Wilson leads the way as mother nature pours on Route 66 Raceway

24 September 2000


        JOLIET, Ill.- The second day of qualifying at Route 66 Raceway got
underway after mother nature decided to make her presence felt.  After
numerous rain and weather delays, more than 550 drivers tried to beat the
clock and take the ¼ mile track before the torrential rains returned.

        Federal-Mogul dragster pilot and perennial winner Jeff Wilson of
Winfield, Missouri continues to lead the way as qualifications were
shortened to one pass because of the weather.  Wilson whose run of 5.484
seconds and 259.86 mph kept him atop the leader board for Sunday's round of
elimination's.  Additionally, fan favorite and last years Route 66 Raceway
Champion Dave Hirata of Lowell, Indiana remains within striking distance
with a run of 5.670 seconds and 262.85 mph.  Hirata, who last week at the
Reading, Pa., National event ran the fastest ever speed in Federal-Mogul
Dragster with a scorching 270.86 miles per hour eclipsing Keith Stark's
record that had stood for four years.

        In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category, Cy Chesterman  of Sioux
City, Iowa dominated the rain shortened session on Saturday with an elapsed
time of 5.689 seconds and 255.68 miles per hour.  In second place is
Galena, Ohio resident Chuck Cheeseman who had a terrific run of 5.701
seconds at 253.04 mph.  Said Funny Car pilot and division points leader
Cheeseman, "The rain makes it hard to stay focused, trying to find the
right set-up for the car takes 95% of our time, but what are you going to
do? That's racing."

         In competition Eliminator, Brian Browell of Lafayette, Indiana,
overtook Friday's number one qualifier Mike Farrell of Louisville, Kentucky
with an elapsed time of 7.363 seconds (-0.647 under index).  Runner up
after Saturday's qualifying is Decatur, Illinois resident, David
Billingsley who ran a 7.572 e.t. (-0.638 under index).

        Dayton, Ohio's own Don Holmes drove his '78 Firebird to the number
one spot in the Stock Eliminator category with an elapsed time of 11.612
seconds and -1.338 under index.  Meanwhile, Super Stock competitor Michael
Beachy of Kokomo, Indiana drove his '82 Firebird faster than 80 other
drivers to take the top qualifier bonus with a 9.730 e.t. and -1.220 under
index.

Gates open at 7:00 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny
Car Elimination's scheduled at 1:00 p.m. at Route 66 Raceway. (Schedule
subject to change)

        The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway:

Federal-Mogul Dragster

1) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.581 e.t., 256.02 mph
2) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5.660 e.t., 244.92 mph
3) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.661 e.t., 248.71 mph
4) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.670 e.t., 262.85 mph
5) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.719 e.t., 253.52 mph
6) Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.755 e.t., 239.95 mph
7) T.J. Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 5.884 e.t., 217.77 mph
8) Tony Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.007 e.t., 232.55 mph
Alternates
9) Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.439 e.t., 202.05 mph
10) Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 13.918 e.t., 54.99 mph
11) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 15.413 e.t., 45.25 mph
12) Kenneth Perry, Gormley Ontario, Can., Did not Qualify

Federal-Mogul Funny Car

1) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Trans Am, 5.689, 255.68
2) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.701, 253.04 
3) Don Gerardot, Monroeville, Ind., '99 Avenger, 6.059, 230.37
4) Roger Cutler, Galesburg, Mich., '99 Firebird, 6.093, 249.67 
5) Dave Kovar, New Lenox, Ill., '99 Firebird, 6.141, 230.69
6) Fred Hagan, Chicago, Ill., '99 Avenger, 6.369, 188.15
7) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '99 Avenger, 6.374, 168.60
8) John Hart, Hicksville, Ohio, '00 Dodge, 6.546, 216.69
Alternates
9) John Freikas, Glendale Heights, Ill., '96 Camaro, 6.546, 216.69
10) Jeff Lancaster, Chicago, Ill., '97 Pontiac, 6.664, 203.61
11) John Hart, Hicksville, Ohio, '00 Dodge, 7.440, 130.15

12) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., Did not Qualify

Competition

1) Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 McKinney, D/D, 7.363, -0.647
2) David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass, C/A, 7.572, -0.638
3) Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.457, -0.623 
4) Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., '97 Dragster, F/ED, 8.408, -0.612
5) Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., '32 Bantam, D/EA, 8.469, -0.611
6) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 Ford, I/A, 7.899, -0.611
7) Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '32 Bantam, E/ED, 8.533, -0.607
8) Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '23 T, A/EA, 7.486, -0.594
9) Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevy, B/SR, 8.155, -0.513
10) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Pontiac, F/SM, 9.246, -0.564

Stock Eliminator

1) Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.612, -1.338 (under
Index)
2) Christopher Sniesak, Wales Township, Mich., '99 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.216,
-1.284
3) Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 GTO, L/SA, 11.809, -1.191
4) Dave Edwards, Washington, Ohio, '78 Trans Am, L/SA, 11.838, -1.162
5) Jennifer McCormack, Wixom, Mich., '00 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.344, -1.156
6) Charles Blossom, Woodbury, Minn., '91 GMC, AT/SA, 11.923, -1.127
7) John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.589, -1.111
8) Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '99 Firebird, G/SA, 11.214, -1.086
9) Mike Baker, Waterloo, Iowa, '82 Dodge, GF/SA, 16.370, -1.080
10) Harry Doolittle, Grosse Isle, Mich., '85 Camaro, GF/SA, 11.525, -1.075

Super Stock

1) Michael Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.730, -1.220 (under
index)
2) Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '86 Camaro, GT/FA, 9.900, -1.200
3) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.513, -1.137
4) Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '00 S-10, GT/TB, 10.150, -1.050
5) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '97 Pontiac, GT/E, 9.753, -1.047
6) Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Camaro, SS/AX, 8.957, -1.043
7) Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 9.808, -1.042
8) Ernie Penner, Osbourne MB, Can., '99 Firebird, SS/GA, 10.627, -1.023
9) Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Pontiac, SS/J, 10.093, -1.007
10) Gene McBean, Chardon, Ohio, SS/FA, '69 Mustang, 9.748, -1.002
11) Scott Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '99 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.182,
-0.918