Sunday from Memphis- FMDRS event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES- SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK Sunday, April 01, 2001

HOWARD AND FLEMING SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL TO VICTORY IN MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS- After two days of rain and cold weather, racing was finally allowed to resume under clear blue skies Sunday at the Memphis Motorsports Park. The competitors that waited patiently to test their skills against each other and the 1,320-foot track to emerge victorious are: Shelly Howard of Tulsa, Okla., in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Randy Fleming of Independence, Mo., in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Due to unsafe track temperatures, the other categories will be completed on Monday, April 2, 2001. Claiming his first win of the season in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car class, Fleming used everything he had to claim victory over perennial winner and past division champion Todd Simpson of Ponder, Texas. Fleming drove his 1999 Firebird to a victory with a 5.932 e.t at 244.21 mph compared to Simpson's run of 6.079 e.t at 235.15 mph in his '99 Avenger. In Federal-Mogul Dragster, number one qualifier Jay Meyer, did not make a pass down the track during final round elimination's. While doing his burnout, the burst panel from his car blew apart ending any chance of victory for last season's divisional champion. On the other hand, Shelly Howard earned her second victory of the year in her third final round appearance by out-gunning division three hard-charger Keith Stark of Danville, Ill. Howard ran her third consecutive pass in the 5.40's, defeating the injected alcohol car with a pass of 5.466 seconds and 259.16 mph versus Stark's 8.469 and 107.87 respectively. In addition to the Federal-Mogul classes that were contested, and taking advantage of the special 50th Anniversary celebration of the NHRA, Memphis Motorsports Park invited last years top eight E.T. racers from their Super Pro and Pro categories and paired them off to win a commemorative "Wally" trophy. Winning the trophy from the Pro class was J.L. Blackard from Olive Branch, Miss. in his Chevy Nova and taking home the trophy from the Super Pro category was Ron Minton of Millington, Tenn. driving his '86 Buick Regal. In other racing news, claiming the Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards were Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Randy Fleming of Independence, Mo. in Federal Mogul Funny Car, Brian Browell of Lafayette, Ind. in Comp, Jerry Silveus of Van Buren, Ohio in Super Stock and Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala. in Stock. Finally, The Best Appearing Crew award went to Audie Wood's Super Comp team out of Dallas, Texas. Additionally, earning Best Appearing Car honors was the 1999 Chevy S-10 driven by Springfiled, Tenn. resident Kenny Threatt. Next, winning the Best Engineered honors award was Bill Sanders of Benton, Ky. for his 1933 Willy's.

The following are the final round results from the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Memphis Motorsports Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER Round 1 5) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.450 seconds, 257.38 mph def 4) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.613, 253.33

3) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.489 e.t., 257.78 mph def. 6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Ks., 11.145 e.t., 74.46 mph

8) Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 6.438 e.t., 210.08 mph def. 1) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, Broke

2) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.586 e.t., 231.28 def. 7) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.945 e.t., 247.93

SEMI-FINALS Howard, 5.464 e.t., 259.71 def. Buff, 5.475 e.t., 254.09 mph

Stark, 6.161 e.t., 208.46 mph def. Becktold, 6.571 e.t., 207.66 mph

FINALS Howard, 5.466 e.t., 259.16 mph def. Stark, 8.469 e.t., 107.87 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR Round 1 3) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Avenger, 5.903 e.t., 241.24 mph def. 6) Earl Johnston, Violet, La., '99 Achieva, 6.403 e.t., 213.67 mph

1) Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Firebird, 7.839 e.t., 241.24 def. 8) Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Firebird, Red Light

4) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Achieva, 10.92 e.t., 92.83 mph def. Jody Austin, Richland Hills, Texas, '97 Cutlass, Broke

2) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.980 e.t., 229.51 mph def. 7) Ray Heffon, Fort Worth, Texas, 9.483 e.t., 101.84 mph

SEMI-FINALS Fleming, '99 Firebird, 6.069 e.t., 200.86 mph def. Dauzat, '96 Achieva, 6.076 e.t., 236.67 mph

Simpson, '99 Avenger, 6.034 e.t., 238.72 mph def. Stidham, '00 Camaro, 10.446 e.t., 81.06 mph

FINALS Fleming, '99 Firebird, 5.932 e.t., 244.21 mph def. Simpson, '99 Avenger, 6.079 e.t., 235.15 mph

COMPETITION Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

SUPER STOCK Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

STOCK Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

SUPER COMP Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

SUPER GAS Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

SUPER STREET Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

MOTORCYCLE Will Be completed on Monday 4/2

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