FMDRS Sunday Results from Topeka

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

VETERANS CASH IN AT HEARTLAND PARK

        TOPEKA, Kan. - Veteran drag racers Bruce Bowler and Cy Chesterman
picked up big victories and valuable points at this weekend's O'Reilly Auto
Parts Championships. Bowler, the NHRA West Central Federal-Mogul Dragster
Champion, ran 5.50's all day and took out number one qualifier Shelly
Howard in the dragster final. Howard, who ran great all weekend, had
problems in the finals and had to shut the car off as Bowler streaked to
the finish line at 5.571 seconds at 252.36 mph.
        "We tried some new things this weekend and everything just came
together" said Bowler after the win. "Topeka is good to us. We can't wait
to come back for the nationals in a couple of weeks."
        Chesterman, who has won numerous national and divisional events on
the NHRA circuit, took out Bob Alberty with a pass of 5.880 seconds at
246.93 mph. Alberty broke at the starting line and could only watch as
Chesterman disappeared into the night.
Prior to a lengthy rain delay, round one of the dragster and funny car
categories were completed, but not without a few surprises. The dragsters
went as planned with Howard and Bowler both advancing to the semi-finals.
Not the same for the funny cars as defending West Central Division Champion
Randy Fleming and racing veteran Vern Moats both fell to defeat.
        Fleming, who got in the field as an alternate, lost to Scott Palmer
who ran a 6.252 at 213.33 mph to Fleming's 8.250 at 116.19. Moats, the
number three qualifier lost on a hole shot when Alberty left the starting
line five one-hundredths of a second quicker which proved to be the
difference as Alberty's 6.134 beat Moats' 6.124.
 The following are final round results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event at Heartland Park Topeka:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 
Round 1
1. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.532 seconds, 254.38 miles per hour def.
9. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 6.010, 237.88
2. Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.570, 257.28 def. 7. Ed Schmeeckle,
Gothenburg, Neb., 5.894, 240.47
6. Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.697, 245.72 def. 3. Gene Snow, Ft.
Worth, Texas, 5.821, 238.47
4. Sergio Redio, El Paso, Texas, 5.819, 244.87 def. 5. Alan Bradshaw,
Odessa, Texas, 6.042, 239.02

Round 2
Howard, 5.536, 256.36 def. Recio, 5.593, 250.69
Bowler, 5.540, 256.65 def. Traugott, 6.302, 256.65

Final
Bowler, 5.571, 252.24, def. Howard, 13.687, 54.73

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Trans Am, 6.001 seconds, 243.68 mph
def. 8. Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.156, 231.95
2. Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '97 Pontiac, 6.148, 239.82 def. 7. Robert
Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 6.414, 171.71
6. Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Pontiac, 6.134, 228.31 def. 3. Vern
Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '00 Firebird, 6.124, 238.26
4. Scott Palmer, Highland, Mo., '98 Achieva, 6.252, 213.33 def. 9. Randy
Fleming, Independence, '99 Trans Am, 8.250, 116.19

Round 2
Chesterman, 5.899, 247.70 def. Palmer, 6.088, 236.67
Alberty, 6.133, 230.13 def. Williams, 6.998, 141.58

Final
Chesterman, 5.880, 246.93 def. Alberty, broke

COMPETITION
Charlie Stewart, Arlington, Texas, '99 dragster, A/ED, 8.809, 98.56 def.
Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., '98 dragster, A/ED, 13.237, 70.93 red light

SUPER STOCK
James Lee, Tulsa, Okla., '55 Chvrolet, SS/N, 11.590, 112.88 def. Jason
Tinberg, Bonner Springs, Kan., '68 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.261, 128.32

STOCK
Brad Erb, Bazine, Kan., '69 Chevelle, A/SA, 10.842, 120.17 def. Marty
Woffar, Gore, Okla., '66 Nova, L/S, 11.769, 112.27

SUPER COMP
James, Kunkel, Benton, Kan., '99 dragster, 17.601, 54.18 def. Michael
Miller, Santa Fe, N.M., '01 dragster, 12.352, 66.42 red light.

SUPER GAS
Michael Burkhart, Dodge City, Kan., '34 Ford, 9.903, 151.29 def.Martin,
Brees, Lincoln, Neb., '88 Firenza, 9.905, 150.75 mph

SUPER STREET
Chuck Fergen, Brookings, S.D., '59 Corvette, 10.847, 123.93 def., Jeremy
Lehrke, Waconia, Minn., '74 Vega, 10.847, 126.08

SUPER BIKE
Brian Johnson, Ramsey, Minn., '98 Suzuki, 9.288, 130.92 def. Carl Lewis,
Topeka, Kan., '99 Suzuki, 7.991, 158.73

JR DRAGSTER
Ryan Curran, McPherson, Kan., '01 dragster, 8.507, 71.73 def. Alex Hefner,
Topeka, Kan., '96 dragster, 10.064, 64.42