Notes from FMDRS--Texas Motorplex

NOTES FROM THE NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES-TEXAS MOTORPLEX

DEFENDING DIVISION CHAMPION, JAY MEYER MISSES COMEBACK AT TEXAS Ennis, Texas- The NHRA South Central Division Federal-Mogul Dragster champion and runner-up Federal-Mogul Dragster national champion, Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas was slated for a comeback this weekend at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex after a horrible accident two weeks ago at Houston Raceway Park. Meyer who walked away from his mangled dragster to weeks ago with only a cracked vertebrae was read to get back to racing after taking a couple weeks off to rest his back. South Central Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Warren Dauzat of Baton Rouge, La. offered his old Federal-Mogul Dragster to Meyer for use until his new Dave Uyehara chassis is delivered. Meyer's crew has worked for the past two weeks getting the borrowed dragster ready for Meyer to run at the Texas Motorplex. The dragster was ready but Meyer couldn't fit into the drivers seat. The drivers compartment was made to fit a smaller Dauzat and just wasn't comfortable for Meyer and his stiff back. Meyer should receive his new dragster in time to defend his 2000 Gatornationals Federal-Mogul Dragster championship.

EXCESSIVE BRAKING IS BECOMING A POINT OF CONCERN Ennis, Texas-Due to the growing problem with "excessive braking" at the finish line the NHRA has begun to crack down. NHRA Division Directors will police the events with authority to disqualify a driver for the event if he/she is driving unsafe. This is a published rule but is rarely enforced. It has come to the forefront due to the increase of incidents caused by braking at the finish line. There is a select handful of drivers that use a little too much brake at the finish to not break out. It has been a growing problem to the NHRA officials and participants alike. After the first infraction a driver will receive a "pink slip" or warning from the division director. There is only one warning per season. After a warning is issued and a second infraction is noticed the driver will be disqualified from the event.

FUNNY CAR DRIVER SHAVER IS ALRIGHT AFTER CONTACT WITH WALL Ennis, Texas- Former Fuel Drag Boat pilot and current Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Richard Shaver of San Antonio, Texas walked away with only a bruised ego after some significant contact with the guard wall in Saturday's first qualifying attempt. Shaver in the right lane-launched hard and his beautiful '99 Chevrolet Camaro immediately lurched right and into the wall. Besides crushing the header pipes and a little body damage, Shaver hit hard enough to bend the frame-thus ending his chances to qualify for Sunday's eliminations. THE SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION WELCOMES ALLSTATE RV AS SPONSOR Ennis, Texas-Allstate RV of Spring, Texas has joined the NHRA South Central Divison as sponsor of the awards for Best Appearing Car, Best Appearing Crew and Best Engineered Car. The Best Appearing Car award went to Craig Anderson of Waxahachie, Texas and his Super Gas '63 Chevrolet Corvette built new this year by Worthy. The Best Enginerred award went to Joe Scarlata of Ft. Worth, Texas and his newly build Don Davis Super Gas '57 Cevrolet Corvette. The Best Appearing Crew award went to Jimmy Arabie's Super Gas and Super Street team of Baytown,Texas. The Sealed Power Low Qualifier bonus awards went to the following: Federal-Mogul Dragster driver, Troy Buff of Spring, Texas collected $1000; Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Jackie Stidham of Chickasha, Okla. collected $1000; Comp Eliminator driver, Mike Johnson of Lowell, Ark. took home $200; Super Stock driver, Brent Johnson of Lecompte, La. took away $100; and Stock driver, Amy Faulk of Memphis, Tenn. Walked away with $100.

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