FMDRS from Southwestern International Raceway- Saturday

COMPETITION HEATS UP IN ARIZONA DESERT

TUCSON, Ariz.-The second day of qualifying and time trials resumed today at the beautiful Southwestern International Raceway. Under gorgeous skies, racers from ten categories: Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Super Eliminator and Motorcycle try and take the 1,320 feet and position themselves for a run for the Wally on Sunday's elimination's. Leading the way is Las Vegas resident Duane Shields in his Short Line Express Federal Mogul Dragster. Shields time of 5.494 seconds and 259.21 mph was strong enough to hold up against the hard charging newcomer, Brandon Bernstein of Lake Forest, California. Bernstein, the son of the 5-time NHRA champion Kenny, drove his Budweiser sponsored dragster to the number two qualifying position with a respectable run of 5.510 seconds at 262.23 mph. Also, making a strong qualifying run is Scottsdale, Arizona resident Mark Niver who took the quarter-mile in 5.527 seconds and 251.11 mph, which placed him in the third overall position. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Steve Gasparrelli continued his dominating season with a pass of 5.788 seconds and 246.39 mph holding off last years division champion John Weaver of Hanford, California for the top qualifying spot. Weaver drove his '99 Dream Weaver Funny Car to the number two position with a run of 5.854 seconds and 241.54 mph. However, lurking in the shadows is 4-time National Champion Pat Austin of Tacoma, Washington. Austin solidified the number five position with a time of 5.927 seconds and 235.39 miles per hour. In other racing action, earning the Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards are: Duane Shields of Las Vegas, Nevada, in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Steve Gasparrelli of Monrovia, Calif., in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, David Cook of Magnolia, Texas in Comp Eliminator, Terry Sherrill of Klamath Falls, Oregon in Super Stock, and Neil Smedley of Phoenix, Arizona in Stock. Also, winning the Best Appearing Crew award was Lawren Jones and his Dash-4-Cash Federal-Mogul Funny Car team out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Best Engineered Car award went to Dean Carter of Glendale, Arizona for his nostalgia dragster. Finally, The Best Appearing Car award went to the Federal-Mogul Funny Car of Team Eagle driven by Brett Williamson of Campbell, California.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying and first round results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event being held at Southwestern International Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.494 seconds, 259.21 mph 2) Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 5.510, 262.23 3) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.527, 251.11 4) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.604, 250.04 5) Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.607, 244.92 6) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 5.645, 248.20 7) Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 5.782, 244.87 8) Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 6.031, 232.15

FIRST ROUND 1) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.535 seconds, 255.87 def. 8) Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 6.475, 220.91 2) Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., 5.496, 263.31 def. 7) Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 7.321, 125.74 3) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.848, 238.22 def. 6) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 5.730, 245.54 4) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.657, 248.57 def. 5) Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.551, 263.05, Foul- RED LIGHT

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1) Steve Gasparrelli, Monrovia, Calif., '00 Firebird, 5.788 seconds, 246.39 mph 2) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Firebird, 5.854, 241.54 3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.890, 242.36 4) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., '01 Corvette, 5.919, 239.23 5) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '01 Pontiac, 5.927, 235.39 6) Bob Gallio, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.990, 226.28 7) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '01 Camaro, 6.022, 235.60 8) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '01 Corvette, 6.109, 232.51 9) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '01 Integra, 6.223, 232.15 10) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Camaro, 6.232, 204.42 11) Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '01 Avenger, 6.428, 219.36 12) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 6.481, 206.39

FIRST ROUND 1) Steve Gasparrelli, Monrovia, Calif., '00 Firebird, 5.998, 240.04 def. 12) John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., '99 Trans Am, 8.318, 115.67 2) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '99 Firebird, 5.964, 230.06 def. 11) Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '01 Avenger, 6.239, 230.80 3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '00 Camaro, 5.985, 244.29 def 10) Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Camaro, 6.619, 154.79, DQ 4)Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif, '01 Corvette, 5.988, 237.46 def 9) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., 6.598, 166.05 5) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '01 Pontiac, 5.941 e.t., 241.84 mph def. 8) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '01 Corvette, 6.719, 180.45 6) Bob Gallio, Anaheim, Calif., '00 Camaro, 6.040, 236.30 def. 7) Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., '01 Camaro, 10.988, 71.14

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR 1) David Cook, Magnolia, Texas, '00 Dragster, B/D, 7.017 seconds, -0.753 under index 2) Jeff Gillette, Benica, Calif., '97 Dragster, B/ED, 7.098, -0.722 3) Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '90 Camaro, B/SM, 9.028, -0.652 4) Scott Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., '90 Camaro, A/SM, 8.696, -0.644 5) Andy Manna Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif., '87 Camaro, G/SMA, 9.767, -0.633 6) Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '32 Bantam, B/AA, 7.513, -0.627 7) Jeff McClintic, Albuquerque, N.M., '96 Dragster, B/D, 7.144, -0.626 8) Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Calif., '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 8.995, -0.615 9) Randy Haggerty, Poway, Calif., '63 Corvette, A/PM, 6.604, -0.596 10) Edward Shalkowski, Hawley, Texas, '96 Dragster, F/ED, 8.714, -0.566

SUPER STOCK 1) Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '57 Corvette, SS/AM, 8.718 seconds, -1.192 under index 2) Dave Rayburn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.197, -1.173 3) Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '01 Grand Am, GT/BA, 9.769, -1.171 4) Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif., '95 Mustang, GT/EA, 10.194, -1.171 5) Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Camaro, GT/HA, 10.627, -1.143 6) Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., '90 Beretta, SS/AM, 8.799, -1.111 7) Richard Salcido, Whittier, Calif., '95 Olsmobile, GT/HA, 10.667, -1.103 8) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '98 Dodge, GT/TD, 11.090, -1.100 9) Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/IA, 10.317, -1.093 10) Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/FA, 10.423, -1.087

STOCK ELIMINATOR 1) Neil Smedley, Phoenix, Ariz., '81 Trans Am, Q/SA, 13.120 seconds, -1.510 under index 2) Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 GTO, K/SA, 12.032, -1.398 3) Marka Gallina, Las Vegas, Nev., '84 Regal, M/SA, 12.250, -1.390 4) Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., '77 Ventura, V/SA, 15.019, -1.371 5) Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.296, -1.344 6) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, B/SA, 10.683, -1.297 7) Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, A/SA, 10.476, -1.244 8) Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Aspen, J/SA, 12.017, -1.213 9) John Irving, Boulder City, Nev., '71 Dodge, E/SA, 11.259, -1.191 10) Wesley Libby, Mead, Wash., '70 Dodge, B/SA, 10.805, -1.175