NHRA FMDRS event goes out with a bang at US 13 Dragway

        DELMAR, Del. - Nearly eight hours of racing and 400 racers later,
the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at U.S. 13 Dragway concluded
Sunday with eight drivers taking home the NHRA "Wally" trophy.  After three
days of racing in perfect weather eight drivers--Federal-Mogul Dragster
pilot, Cliff Bozzelli of Absecon, N.J., Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver,
Paul Lee of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., Competition driver, Don Stratton of Beloit,
Ohio, Super Stock driver, Peter Biondo of Mt. Laurel, N.J., Stock driver,
Wallace Dent Jr. of Walford, Md., Super Comp driver, Thomas Stalba Jr. of
Williamstown, N.J., Super Gas diver, Jeff Brooks of Fredricksburg, Va. and
Super Street driver, Keith Bowers of Islp, N.Y. went home with a big check,
trophy and a smile.  The other 392 racers went home thinking about what
could be at the next NHRA Northeast Division event June 22-24th at Atco
Raceway in Atco, N.J. 
        In Saturday's Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car eliminations,
broken parts were the story of the day.  In dragster, Steve Cantrell of
Wilmington, Del. Hurt his engine in the semifinals to give defending U.S.
13 Dragway Federal-Mogul Dragster champion, Bozzelli a repeat win at the
famous Delaware dragstrip.  Lee kept his Cape Codder Federal-Mogul Funny
Car consistent all day and benefited from a broken axle from semifinal
winner Bruce Peterson Jr.of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. to collect his first
NHRA event win.  Both drivers wanted to give the fans a show, so the first
ever dragster vs. funny car final in Federal-Mogul Drag Racing history went
to a streaking Bozzelli with a  pass of 5.714 seconds at 245.43 mph to
Lee's pass of 6.433 seconds at 192.51 mph.  
        "We wanted to give the fans their moneys worth," said Bozzelli. 
"Paul and I decided that we both rather line up against another car-so we
did.  I think it gave everyone a thrill."                                  

The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at U.S. 13 Dragway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER(completed on Saturday)
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(completed on Saturday)
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
Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet Roadster, B/SR, 8.227 seconds,
160.19 mph def. Patrick Ross Sr., Avon Lake, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/A,
8.114, 165.07

SUPER STOCK
Peter Biondo, Mt. Laurel, N.J., '00 Pontiac Firebird, GT/FA, 20.544
seconds, 53.24 mph def. Dennis Steward, Dover, Pa., '91 Dodge Daytona,
GT/EA, Broke

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Wallace Dent Jr., Waldorf, Md., '69 Chevrolet Camaro, 11.885 seconds,
101.89 mph def. Lee Zane, Pittsgrove, N.J., '73 Buick Apollo, 12.411,
107.02 

SUPER COMP
Thomas Stalba Jr., Wiliamstown, N.J., '01 Dragster, 8.901 seconds, 164.68
mph def. Bryan Sorce, Orangeville, Pa., '00 Dragster, 8.921 seconds, 161.57

SUPER GAS
Jeff Brooks, Fredricksburg, Va., '51 Henry J, 9.940 seconds, 148.00 mph
def. Scott Roth, Perkasie, Pa., '63 Chevrolet Corvette, 9.951, 152.77

SUPER STREET
Keith Bowers, Islip, N.Y., '67 Plymouth Barracuda, 10.935 seconds, 128.38
mph (.519 reaction time) def. Stephen Taxis, Old Bridge, N.J., '67
Chevrolet Camaro, 10.928, 126.29 (.557 R/T)


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