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Mopar Morning Notes

 <<Chicago Notes.doc>> 






MOPAR PARTS & DODGE MOTORSPORTS NHRA NOTES

EATON'S TAKING CHICAGO OFF

JOLIET, Ill. (June 1, 2001) -- The father-son NHRA Pro Stock Truck tandem of
Dale and Craig Eaton will miss this weekend's Route 66 NHRA Nationals at
Route 66 Raceway, located just outside Chicago.

Dale Eaton, father, team owner and driver of the Mopar Parts Dodge Dakota
R/T, and Dodge Motorsports Dakota R/T pilot Craig Eaton will spend some time
back at their Phoenix, Ariz., race shop to prepare for the arrival of their
first next-generation Dodge Dakota R/T and regroup as a team.

"We needed some time to prepare our new P-5 engine," D. Eaton commented.
"The new engine will be the best piece we've ever run, and we needed the
extra week to get it ready. The extra time will also allow us to figure out
what it will take to get the new truck up to speed quickly. We felt it was
in our best interest to spend more time in development.

"We expect to have Craig's new truck in St. Louis," said D. Eaton, talking
about the June 21-24 Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International
Raceway in Madison, Ill. "I should have my new race truck three weeks after
that. We'll really be able to get some development done during our nine-week
break between St. Louis and Indianapolis."

C. Eaton has qualified for two events, while D. Eaton has yet to qualify
this season. 

"We intend on being in Columbus," continued D. Eaton, on preparing for the
NHRA national event at National Trail Raceway in Kirkersville, Ohio. "I'd be
surprised if we don't get both trucks qualified for that show. Even though
were at an aero disadvantage, we have the power to be dangerous. We just
haven't been able to show it on the track so far this season."

Dodge Motorsports driver Todd Patterson received his next-generation Jerry
Haas-built Dodge Dakota R/T just prior to the SummitRacing.com NHRA
Nationals at The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this year.
Patterson took the steel truck, which the molds were made from, while the
Eaton's will run the first carbon fiber trucks. 

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Mopar Route 66 Notes							Page
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"We also expect to see our new Hemi heads real soon," D. Eaton said. "Even
though they won't be ready until Indy, the new Hemi heads will also take
some time to develop. We want to be ready."

FIRST PRO STOCK NEON IMPRESSION

GALESBURG, Ill. (June 1, 2001) -- Mopar Parts factory drivers Darrell
Alderman and Mark Osborne got their first glimpse of the new Pro Stock Neons
at Rick Jones' Chassis shop on Thursday. 

The Hemi-powered machines are close to debuting.

"From the looks of it, they are going to be extremely fast race cars," said
Alderman, a three-time Winston Pro Stock World Champion. "With the
aerodynamic numbers they've had from the wind tunnel, they should be real
good. The car's are also using a four-link suspension, which will also make
them extremely fast."

Osborne, who currently sits seventh in the Winston Pro Stock title chase,
was also complementary about his new machine.

"I was very impressed with all of the body lines," Osborne commented. "The
fenders, tail lights and windows are really tucked in tight. We should run
some real good speed and elapsed times with that car.

"There's not much comparison with our current Dodge R/T's," Osborne
continued. "Across the rear of the Pro Stock Neon, I can put my chest on the
back bumper and spread my arms the whole length. With the R/T, that's
doesn't happen."

David Nickens, car owner for Alderman and Osborne, should be taking delivery
of the first Pro Stock Neon immediately following the Sears Craftsman
Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., on June 21-24.


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Contact: David Harris, SFX/Cotter Group
Team Mopar NHRA Representative
(704) 455-4291 - office
(704) 756-9301 - mobile
David.Harris@sfx.com