Mopar Eliminations

 <<Topeka Eliminations.doc>> 







NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series	    Contact David Harris -
David.Harris@sfx.com
Heartland Park Topeka	                        	          Team Mopar
NHRA Representative
Elimination Notes		                             Mobile :(704)
756-9301/Office: (704) 455-3500

Osborne Goes to Second Round

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 28, 2001) - Mark Osborne, driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge
R/T Pro Stocker advanced to the second round of eliminations before losing
to Mark Pawuk in the second round of this weekend's NHRA national event at
Heartland Park Topeka.

"We had a good weekend," Osborne said. "We shook the tires in second gear
and jumped out of the groove a little bit."

Osborne knocked out Warren Johnson in the first round of eliminations.

Osborne's teammate Darrell Alderman, driver of the Mopar Parts-sponsored Pro
Stock machine, lost on a holeshot to V. Gaines in the first round of
eliminations. The three-time Winston Pro Stock World Champion's Dodge R/T
ran low elapsed time and top speed of the round with a 6.946/198.85
combination.

"We just got beat," Alderman said. "I hate it for all the guys that work so
hard on this team. I was hoping to have a good weekend, but it didn't
happen."

Skuza Falls in Round One

The Mopar Parts Dodge R/T Nitro Funny Car of Dean Skuza fell in the first
round of eliminations to upstart driver Johnny Gray. 

The Brecksville, Ohio resident, who qualified seventh, smoked the tires and
cruised across the line behind Gray's 4.917-second elapsed time at 300.60
mph.

"We had the same set up we had during our last qualifying run," said Skuza,
who clocked a solid 4.95 during the last session. "We didn't change a thing,
but wore the clutch that run. It's pretty disappointing to lose this one."

Patterson Out Early

It was a frustrating first round for hometown hero and Dodge Motorsports
Dakota R/T driver Todd Patterson. Mike Coughlin took a starting line
advantage and ran a 7.613-second elapsed time at 177.09 to outdistance
Patterson's 7.592/179.21 combination.

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Mopar Elimination Notes
Page Two

"We got out of the groove on that run," said Patterson, who lives in nearby
Augusta, Kan., "I really wanted to run well here because its in front of all
my family and friends. We'll just go back and get ready for Chicago."

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Smith Ready For Eliminations


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