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NHRA FMDRS: National and Divisional Championships on the line at Firebird

4 November 2000

        CHANDLER, Ariz.- Its now or never for the over 600 racecars at the
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series World Series of Drag Racing event at
Firebird Int'l Raceway.  The 600 drivers came from as far away as New
Jersey to compete for precious championship points in the final
Federal-Mogul event of the season.  NHRA West Central division heavy
hitter, Bruce Bowler of Denver, Colo. and John Weaver of Hanford, Calif.,
took the No. 1 qualifying positions in Federal-Mogul Dragster and
Federal-Mogul Funny Car, respectively.
               Bowler made the trip west to Firebird Int'l Raceway for a
chance at winning the NHRA West Central Division Federal-Mogul Dragster
championship.  Bowler is in a dogfight with Billy Bybee or McLean, Texas
for the No.1 spot in division five. To win the division Bowler needs to win
the event and Bybee made the long trip to Phoenix to block.  Bowler took
the first step to that win on Friday by running the quickest e.t. of the
day with a run of 5.462 seconds at 260.97 mph.  Bowler was No. 2 with a run
of 5.540 seconds at 254.76 mph.  
               "We have had some trouble keeping the car together the last
couple of races," said Bowler.  "But today was perfect-the run was
straight, clean and fast.  We have a big weekend in front of us."
        In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Weaver like Bowler has a championship
on the line.  In Friday's qualifying he stepped up and let everyone know he
won't be taken lightly.  Weaver, currently No. 1 in the NHRA Pacific
Division Federal-Mogul points standings, captured the No. 1 qualifying
position with a pass of 5.797 seconds at 248.16 mph.  No.2 in the division
seven points standing is Larry Miner of Lodi, Calif.  He is right on the
heels of Weaver with a pass of 5.847 seconds at 248.75 mph in the No. 2
qualifying position.

Qualifying and time trials will continue at Firebird International Raceway
on Saturday at 8 a.m.  Gates open at 7:30 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragster and
Funny Car will have qualifying sessions at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. 
The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Firebird International Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.462 seconds, 260.97 mph
2. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.540, 254.76
3. David Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.557, 256.50
4. Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.603, 259.91
5. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.606, 248.71
6. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.608, 251.16
7. Gregg Lawrence, Salem, Ore., 5.719, 250.74
8. Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.815, 236.17

Alternates
1. Duane Shileds, Las Vegas, Nev., 5,848, 230.06
2. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 6.017, 230.13
3. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 6.075, 221.42
4. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 8.045, 162.02
5. Sergio Recio, El Paso,Texas, 10.821, 65.86
6. Marshall Topping, Costa Mesa, Calif., 10.922, 68.51

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '00 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.797 seconds,
248.16 mph
2. Larry Miner, Lodi, Calif., '00 Dodge Avenger, 5.847, 248.75
3. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., Canada, '97 Pontiac Firebird, 5.849
seconds, 246.30 mph
4. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.863, 246.71
5. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '97 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 5.883,
247.52
6. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '00 Camaro, 5.931, 241.24
7. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Firebird., 6.050, 230.92
8. John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Pontiac Trans Am, 6.160, 238.26
Alternates
1. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '97 Firebird, 6.177, 215.20
2. Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '00 Camaro, 6.324, 206.54
3. Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., '94 Dodge Daytona, 7.130, 228.27
4. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '00 Avenger, 10.617, 90.15
5. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '00 Avenger, 11.764, 69.56

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., '90 Pontiac Trans Am, D/EA, 8.446
seconds (0.684 seconds under Index)
2. David Meyers, Dallas, Texas, '99 Chevrolet Camaro, C/A, 7.605 (-0.665)
3. David Cook, Magnolia, Texas, '00 Dragster, A/D, 6.606 (-0.654)
4. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., '00 Dodge Dakota, A/T, 7.633 (-0.607)
5. Ed Sigmond, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Roadster, C/SR, 8.837 (-0.593)
6. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., '91 Dragster, B/ED, 7.030
(-0.580)
7. Clint Neff, Arvada, Colo., '99 Dragster, C/D, 7.151 (-0.579)
8. Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '99 Pontiac Firebird, C/A, 7.715
(-0.555)
9. Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.195 (-0.535)
10. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '96 Dodge Avenger, C/EA, 8.451
(-0.509)

SUPER STOCK
1. Don Studley, Orange, Calif., '99 Dodge Dakota, GT/TD, 10.479 seconds
(1.441-seconds under Index)
2. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '00 Pontiac Grand Am, GT/BA, 9.610
(-1.090)
3. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet Camaro, GT/HA, 10.469
(-1.041)
4. Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '98 Oldsmobile Cutlass, SS/CM, 9.001
(-1.039)
5. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., '90 Pontiac Firebird, GT/EA, 10.079
(-1.021)  
6. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, GT/FA, 10.239
(-1.021)
7. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., '91 Cutlass, SS/BS, 9.164 (-0.976)
8. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '57 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/AM,
8.706 (-0.974)
9. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.085 (-0.965)
10. Ave Loewen, Regina, Sk., Canada, '98 Grand Am, SS/DM, 9.418 (-0.922)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '98 Dodge Dakota, DT/SA, 12.213 seconds
(1.477-seconds under index)
2. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 Pontiac Trans Am, K/SA, 11.709 (-1.421)
3. Marty Woffard, Gore, Okla., '66 Chevrolet Nova, L/S, 11.904 (-1.276)
4. George Thomson, Van Nuys, Calif., '73 Ford Mustang, H/SA, 11.366
(-1.264)
5. Robert Pond, Rancho, Calif., ''67 Mustang, A/S, 10.158 (-1.252)
6. Dave Irwin, Glendale, Ariz., '95 Chevrolet, P/SA, 12.711 (-1.229)
7. Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., '77 Ventura, V/SA, 14.804 (-1.216)
8. Bobby Dettermond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.28 (-1.180)
9. F.J. Acosta, Belle Rose, La., '96 Camaro, E/SA, 10.999 (-1.171)
10. Al Corda, Elk Mound, Wis., '99 Pontiac Firebird, C/SA, 10.755 (-1.105)

                                                                           
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