FFMDRS Southwestern International Raceway- Friday results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES- PACIFIC DIVISION SOUTHWESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY Friday, February 23, 2001

NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES THUNDERS INTO TUCSON

TUCSON, Ariz.-The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series made its second stop in the Pacific Division today at the Southwestern International Raceway. More than 400 drivers, in eight racing categories, are expected to compete for cash and contingency awards of more than $143,000. With the notable absence of four-time national champion, and last year's winner of this event, Rick Santos, the dragster class is anyone's for the taking. Said Las Vegas resident Duane Shields, "Performance-wise we have one of the best cars in the country. Adding, we're real proud of the performance of the car and we feel comfortable coming in here and making sure the combination is working on the track. Hopefully, if we keep the car on a straight arrow down the track and run a couple of rounds, we can leave here with our first win of the year." Reigning Pacific Division Funny Car champion, John Weaver of Hanford, CA is going to have his hands full with what is expected to be a very tough field. For instance, straight from a victory at the Phoenix national event is 73-time winner Pat Austin of Tacoma, Wash. In addition to winning last week, Austin has already claimed a victory at the Pacific Division season opener in late January. Also looking to claim their first win of the year is Steve Gasparelli of Monrovia, Calif. His Prism's Unlimited team has twice finished as runner-up to Austin in as many races.

Qualifying and time trials will continue at Southwestern International Raceway on Saturday at 8 a.m. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Federal- Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car final qualifying session is scheduled at noon, with first round of elimination's at 6 p.m. The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Southwestern International Raceway.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.520 e.t, 259.21 mph 2) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.746, 236.55 3) Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 5.782, 244.87 4) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 5.815, 230.65 5) Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 5.846, 259.66 6) Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 6.399, 189.95 7) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 10.911, 81.89

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '01 Pontiac, 5.927 e.t, 235.39 mph 2) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '98 Firebird, 5.955, 241.28 3) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 6.063, 234.78 4) Steve Gasparelli, Monrovia, Calif., '00 Firebird, 6.097, 237.67 5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '00 Camaro, 6.239, 219.36 6) Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.428, 219.36 7) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '01 Camaro, 6.942, 136.54 8) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '01 Integra, 8.532, 94.01 9) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 9.003, 103.10 10) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, NM, '01 Corvette, 11.288, 71.22 11) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Pontiac, 14.992, 76.04

COMP ELIMINATOR 1) David Cook, Magnolia, Texas, '00 Dragster, B/D, 7.068 seconds, -0.753 under index 2) Jeff Gillette, Benica, Calif., '97 Frameworks, B/ED, 7.199, -0.651 3) Andy Manna Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif., '87 Camaro, G/SMA, 9.790, -0.633 4) Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '32 Bantam, B/AA, 7.5113, -0.627 5) Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '90 Camaro, B/SM, 9.135, -0.624 6) Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 9.031, -0.614 7) Edward Shalkowski, Hawley, Texas, '96 Frameworks, F/ED, 8.714, -0.566 8) Scott Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., '90 Camaro, A/SM, 8.813, -0.527 9) Vincent Deceglie, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., '01 S-10, A/A, 7.147, -0.473 10) Jeff McClintic, Albuquerque, NM, '96 Dragster, B/D, 7.327, -0.458

SUPER STOCK 1) Dave Rayburn, Modesto, Calif., SS/AA, '68 Dart, 9.197 seconds, -1.173 under index 2) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA, '01 Grand Am, 9.769, -1.171 3) Terry Sherril, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM, '57 Corvette, 8.756, -1.171 4) Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif., GT/EA, '95 Mustang, 10.235, -1.125 5) Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA, '89 Camaro, 10.671, -1.099 6) Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., SS/AM, '90 Beretta, 8.830, -1.080 7) Richard Salcido, Whittier, Calif., GT/HA, '95 Oldsmobile, 10.696, -1.074 8) Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/FA, '98 Pontiac, 10.444, -1.066 9) Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, NM., SS/IA, '69 Camaro, 10.354, -1.056 10) Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., SS/CM, '98 Oldsmobile, 9.259, -1.011

STOCK ELIMINATOR 1) Marka Gallina, Las Vegas, Nev., M/SA, '84 Regal, 12.297 seconds, -1.343 Under index 2) Neil Smedley, Phoenix, Ariz., Q/SA, '81 Trans Am, 13.298, -1.332 3) Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., V/SA, '77 Ventura, 15.096, -1.294 4) Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., K/SA, '74 Pontiac GTO, 12.162, -1.268 5) Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., DT/SA, '00 Dodge, 12.386, -1.254 6) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., B/SA, '70 GTX, 10.773, -1.207 7) Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, NM., A/SA, '69 Camaro, 10.553, -1.167 8) Dave Bridgewater, Devore, Calif., E/SA, 11.305, -1.145 9) Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA, '98 Dodge, 12.534, -1.106 10)Bob Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA, '74 Dart, 11.498, -1.102

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