LEE WINS FIRST, BOZZELLI REPEATS AS U.S. 13 DRAGWAY
CHAMPION
DELMAR, Del. - It was a war of attrition in Saturday's
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car eliminatons at the Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event at U.S. 13 Dragway. Federal-Mogul Dragster driver,
Cliff Bozzelli of Absecon, N.J. and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot, Paul Lee
of Bala Cynwyd, Pa. both had a free pass to the event championship due to
their opposition breaking in the semifinals. Even though each had a bye
run to the win they wanted to give the fans a show. So in the name of
entertainment the final round pitted a Bozzelli's dragster against Lee's
funny car. Bozzelli took the easy win with the quickest and fastest pass
of the day-5.714 seconds at 245.43 mph to Lee's pass of 6.433 at 192.51
mph.
No. 1 qualifier, Bozzelli, had to make only one side-by-side pass
down the track in Saturday's eliminations to collect his second consecutive
U.S. 13 Dragway Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Championship. Bozzelli
received a be in the first and final round but did meet up with
Federal-Mogul Dragster newcomer, Billy Gibson of Chaptico, Md.in the
semifinals and sent him home with a pass of 5.738 seconds at 245.36 mph to
Gibson's run of 6.046 seconds at 214.48 mph. Steve Cantrell of Wilmington,
Del. beat out John Headley of Newportville, Pa. in the semifinals to
advance to the finals but lost an engine crossing the finish line and
couldn't get it repaired before the final round. This is Bozzelli's second
win of the 2001 season after winning the NHRA Matco Tools SuperNationals in
May.
"The crew has been unbelievable all year," said a jubilant
Bozzelli. "I feel I need to bring home the wins after all the hard work
the crew puts in. Our goal this year was to win the Northeast Division
Championship-We are well on our way."
Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Lee also only made one side-by-side
pass down the track on Saturday to capture his first Federal-Mogul Funny
Car victory. Lee received the automatic win over No. 2 qualifier, Craig
English of Mt. Holly, N.J. in the first round when English brushed the
guard wall at half-track. Lee took the competition bye in the semifinals
and was ready to face Bruce Peterson Jr. in the final, but Peterson broke
and axle and brushed the wall in the semifinals after taking the win light
over defending Federal-Mogul Funny Car National Champion, Frank Manzo of
Morganville, N.J. Manzo also broke an axle after going into violent tire
shake at the start.
"This has been a long time coming," said Lee. "We had a lot of
luck today but we kept the car together and made three consistent laps. We
didn't try and over power the track and it paid off."
The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at U.S. 13 Dragway continues
tomorrow with eliminations beginning at noon. Gates open at 10 a.m.
The following are Saturday's Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car
elimination results and Competition, Super Stock and Stock final qualifying
results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at U.S. 13
Dragway:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
First Round
1) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 6.128 seconds, 239.80 mph def. Bye
7) John Headley, Newportville, Pa., 6.173, 201.65 def. Tim Slagle,
Fairfax, Va., 6.871, 161.95
6) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, De., 6.108, 180.46 def. 3) Rich
McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., Broke
4) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., 5.816, 243.83 vs. 5) Ken Winward,
Wilmington, Del., 5.975, 228.13
Semifinals
Bozzelli, 5.738, 245.36 def. Gibson, 6.046, 214.48
Cantrell, 6.121, 197.71 (.429 reation time) def. Headley, 6.045, 227.79
(.544 R/T)
Finals
Bozzelli, 5.714, 245.43 def. Cantrell, Broke
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
First Round
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '00 Dodge Avenger, 5.936 seconds, 244.89
mph def. Bye
5) Paul Lee, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., '01 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.426, 218.49
def. Craig English, Mt. Holly, N.J., '93 Firebird, 18.810, 40.03
3) Bruce Peterson, Jr., Wappingers Falls, N.Y., '98 Avenger, 6.205, 223.93
vs. 4) Darrel Cox, Whiteford, Md., '97 Firebird, 8.456, 100.10
Semifinals
Lee, 6.395, 205.05 def. Bye
Peterson Jr., 6.205, 223.93 def. Manzo, 18.416, 46.10
Final
Lee, 6.433, 192.51 def. Patterson Jr., Broke
COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Richard Schonberger, Philadelphia, Pa., '90 Pontiac Firebird, G/SM,
9.295 seconds (0.675-seconds under Index)
2. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet Roadster, B/SR, 8.183 (-0.577)
3. Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., '01 Dragster, G/D, 9.507 (-0.553)
4. Patrick Ross Sr., Avon Lake, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/A, 8.063 (-0.537)
5. Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, D/SM, 8.182
(-0.518)
6. Kevin Houghtaling, Ashland, Va., '91 Calais, G/A, 9.041 (-0.499)
7. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., '95 Pontiac Trans Am, C/A, 7.715 (-0.495)
8. Frank Aragona Jr., Franklin Square, N.Y., '32 Roadster, F/EA, 8.826
(-0.474)
9. Jim Pursglove, Westmont, N.J., '92 Firebird, D/A, 8.133 (-0.467)
10. Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '92 Camaro, C/SMA, 9.154 (-0.466)
SUPER STOCK
1. Richard Oakes, Wollwich Twp, N.J., '92 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/DS, 10.044
seconds (1.756-seconds under Index)
2. James Zane, Bordentown, N.J., '99 Chevrolet S-10, SS/TD, 10.601 (-1.149)
3. Howard Barsky, Levittown, Pa., '57 Chevrolet, SS/NA, 11.327 (-1.123)
4. Dennis Steward, Dover, Pa., '91 Dodge Daytona, GT/EA, 9.957 (-0.993)
5. Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., '68 Plymouth Barracuda, SS/AA, 9.021
(-0.979)
6. Gene McBean, Chardon, Ohio, '69 Ford Mustang, SS/FA, 9.777 (-0.973)
7. Tim Worner, Duncannon, Pa., '88 Oldsmobile Cutlass, GT/KA, 10.789
(-0.961)
8. Jeff Roell, Poughquag, N.Y., '93 Mustang, GT/FA, 10.169 (-0.931)
9. George Vignogna, Mahopac, N.Y., '97 Chrysler Sebring, SS/AS, 8.996
(-0.904)
10. Joey Warren, Clinton, N.C., '87 Camaro, 9.813, GT/CA, 9.813 (-0.887)
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bill Belden, Linden, N.J., '64 Chevrolet Chevelle, M/S, 11.895 seconds
(1.225-seconds under Index)
2. Jon Presing, North Heledon, N.J., '88 Ford Mustang, L/S, 11.764 (-1.236)
3. Bob Horgan, Tyngsborough, Mass., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.558 (-1.192)
4. Jim Reid Jr., Hanson, Mass., '85 Chevrolet Camaro, K/SA, 11.761 (-1.189)
5. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '85 Camaro, 11.978, M/SA, 11.978 (-1.172)
6. Ray Golonka, Colonia, N.J., '77 Cadillac, Q/SA, 12.946 (-1.154)
7. Billy Nees, Millmont, Pa., '70 Chevrolet Nova, V/SA, 14.653 (-1.147)
8. Gregory Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '87 Pontiac Trans Am, O/SA, 12.324
(-1.126)
9. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., '72 Camaro, J/SA, 11.634 (-1.116)
10. Brian VanPoppel, Perry Hall, Md., '86 Camaro, H/SA, 11.343 (-1.107)
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