FMDRS Saturday Results from Gainesville

MANZO JUMPS TO THE TOP OF FUNNY CAR FIELD

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Federal-Mogul Funny Car National Champion Frank Manzo jumped to the top of the field during a late night final qualifying session at the Gainesville Raceway Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event. Manzo jumped from the seventh position to number one with a 5.691 seconds pass at 249.44 mph. NHRA Southeast Division Champion Jay Payne held on for the number two spot in his Valvoline funny car with a 5.867 at 242.13 mph while Von Smith is in third with a 6.004, 239.80 in his first NHRA race in several years. In the Federal-Mogul Dragster category, it was Mark Hentges taking the early lead and holding on to take home the Sealed Power Low Qualifier $1,000 with a run of 5.532 seconds at 256.04 mph. Michael Gunderson, defending event champion, is in the number two sport with a mark of 5.621, 264.39. Mike Saye is the number one qualifier in Comp. Eliminator, covering the quartermile in 8.852 seconds, 0.738 seconds under his index. Larry Pritchett, David Rampy and Rob Slavinski follow in the two through four spots respectively. Bob Dennis of Shorter, Ala., held on to the number one spot in not one but two classes with his '82 Cutlass in Stock and his '97 Firehawk in Super Stock. Gates open tomorrow at 8 a.m., eliminations begin at 9 a.m. with round one of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Cars set for 1 p.m.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.532 seconds, 256.04 miles per hour 2. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.621, 264.39 3. Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Va., 5.654, 236.84 4. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.672, 241.93 5. Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.808, 186.18 6. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.879, 236.28 7. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.883, 242.58 8. Cherissa Griggis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.126, 184.46 Not qualified 9. Atrie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla, 6.298, 214.95 10. Bob Leverich, Marysville, Mich., 7.941, 158.28 11. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 13.067, 74.04 12. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 15.328, 35.03

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1. Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '00 Avenger, 5.691 seconds, 249.44 miles per hour 2. Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.867, 242.13 3. Von Smith, Oal Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac, 6.004, 239.80 4. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.065, 228.42 5. Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., '01 Firebird, 6.269, 235.47 6. Edward Preslar, Arden, N.C., '00 Corvette, 6.504, 163.69 7. William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Corvette, 6.671, 216.24 8. Greg Beckner, Chester, Va., '93 Corvette, 6.940, 206.46 Not qualified 9. Bobby Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., '97 Firebird, 7.388, 125.08 10. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 18.399, 41.63

COMPETITION 1. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A, '92 Cutlass, 8.852 seconds, -0.738 seconds under the index. 2. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., E/SM, '98 Grand Am, 8.274, -0.696 3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., A/EA, '32 roadster, 7.445, -0.625 4. Rob Slavinski, Mundord, Tenn., B/AA, '96 Grand Prix, 7.298, -0.622 5. Bob Rossi, Woodbridge, N.J., A/A, '92 dragster, 6.810, -0.600 6. Wayne Hutton, Portland, Tenn., A/SM, '92 Olds, 8.497, -0.583 7. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., A/EA, '23 Ford, 7.493, -0.577 8. Doug Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., B/ED, '00 dragster, 7.078, -0.532 9. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., B/AA, '96 Cutlass, 7.401, -0.519 10. Dan Leveto, Meadville, Penn., B/A, '00 Firebird, 7.403, -0.497

SUPER STOCK 1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA, '97 Firehawk, 10.830 elapsed time, 1.220 under the index. 2. Brad Allen, Winamac, Ind., GT/TB, '01 S-10, 10.010, -1.190 3. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., SS/AM '96 Achieva, 8.391, -1.159 4. Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., SS/G, '67 Chevy II, 9.620, -1.130 5. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/JA, '00 Firebird, 10.529, -1.121 6. Joe Skinner, Colmbia Station, Ohio, GT/BA, '94 Calalier, 9.484, -1.066 7. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA '68 Dart, 8.946, -1.054 8. George Vignogna, Mahopac, N.Y., SS/AS, '97 Sebring, 8.846, -1.054 9. Mark Nowicki, Gaylord, Mich., GT/HA, '98 Avenger, 10.319, -1.031 10. Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., SS/HA, '67 Camaro, 9.874, -1.026

STOCK 1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA, '82 Cutlass, 13.659 seconds, -1.491 under the index. 2. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., M/S, '66 Malibu, 11.904, -1.246 3. John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., K/SA, '91 Camaro, 11.735, -1.215 4. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., M/SA, '85 Camaro, 11.940, -1.210 5. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., V/SA, '80 Malibu, 14.610, -1.190 6. Brandon Wood, Thomasville, Ga., M/SA, '85 Camaro, 11.968, -1.182 7. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA, '98 Firebird, 10.676, -1.174 8. Jimmy Shepard, Kinston, N.C., I/SA, '86 Camaro, 11.460, -1.140 9. Jim Boudreau, Tewksbury, Mass., C/SA, '69 Camaro, 10.575, -1.125 10. Jeff Teuton, Houma, La., ET/SA, '97 Dodge, 12.236, -1.114