Topeka Race Notes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, TOPEKA, KANSAS
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2001

RACE NOTES

FLEMING, MOATS OUT EARLY AT SEASON OPENER

        Defending NHRA West Central Division Funny Car Champion Randy
Fleming could not fine the right combination for the quarter mile drag
strip at Heartland Park Topeka at this weekend's West Central season
opener. Fleming's best run of 6.233 seconds left him in the ninth
qualifying spot, just outside the eight-car field. 
        Fleming got a break when the number five qualifier Michael Heckert
hurt a motor during his final qualifying pass giving Fleming a birth into
Sunday's eliminations as the first alternate. Performance problems
continues for the driver from Independence, Mo. as Fleming experienced
sever tire shake in round one giving Scott Palmer an easy win with a run of
6.252 seconds to Flemings 8.250.
        Fifteen time West Central Division Champion Vern Moats was looking
to regain his championship from Fleming, qualifying in the number three
position with a run of 6.022 seconds at 237.17. Moats met up with Bob
Alberty in round one loosing on a hole shot as Alberty's 6.134 beat out
Moats' 6.124. Both Moats and Fleming are expected to return to Heartland
Park later this month for the Advanced Auto Part Nationals.

SHAWNEE HIGH WINS FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

        The 2001 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition was held at
Heartland Park Topeka in conjunction with this weekend's Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series O'Reilly's Auto Parts Championships. Ten teams, of two high
schools students each, competed for the Kansas State Championship and the
right to represent Kansas at the national finals in Washington D.C. next
month. 
        The competition began with a written automotive test of fifty
questions with the top ten scoring teams advancing to the finals where the
students competed in a timed hands-on diagnosis and repair of identically
"bugged" vehicles. The vehicle problems ranged from engine performance to
safety features. 
After 90 minutes of intense competition, it was Shawnee Mission North High
School who came out on top and took home the championship. Justin Sadler
and Steven Jahnke make up the team led by instructor James Chapman who will
now compete for the national championship and more than $70,000 in
scholarship money, awards, and prizes.
        The Manhattan High School team of Daniel Soldan, Drew Muller and
instructor Steve Barnes took 2nd place while Bill Mills led his Newton High
team of Jeff Walter and Chris Beyer to a 3rd place finish. The competition
began in 1949 with AAA coming on board as a sponsor in 1984.


SPECIAL AWARDS PRESENTED AT WEST CENTRAL OPENER

        Shelly Howard and Cy Chesterman picked up $1,000 each as they
grabbed the number one spots and the Sealed Power Low Qualifier Awards in
the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car Categories
respectively. Howard posted a qualifying time of 5.558 seconds at 254.18
mph while Chesterman lead the field with a 5.910 at 243.77 mph. 
        Joining Howard and Chesterman as low qualifiers were Tom Snyder in
his '23 Chevy roadster in Comp. Eliminator, Ernie Penner in Super Stock,
and Marty Woffard of Gore, Okla., in Stock.
        Rich Schnabel and his '70 Plymouth GTX took home the Mad Cap Racing
Best Engineered Award while Doug Woody's beautiful '67 Camaro captured the
Baldwin Auto Best Appearing Car trophy. The Lockman Family Racing team,
campaigning their Super Gas entry and a brand new Super Comp dragster, was
awarded the Wyoming Methanol Best Appearing Crew.