NHRA FMDRS: Bozzelli doubles up at Atco Raceway

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 25, 2001

Atco, NJ-The torrential rains that hampered yesterday's qualifying having let up, racing was finally allowed to continue at Atco Raceway. The fans and 505 total racers, who waited patiently, were treated to fantastic side-by-side racing under ideal New Jersey conditions.

After a long, wet weekend, winners were crowned in the following classes: Cliff Bozzelli of Absecon, NJ in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Bob Newberry of Schenectady, NY in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Frank Aragona of Franklin Square, NY in Comp Eliminator, Arnie Martell of Tewksbury, Mass. in Super Stock, Joe DeMarzo of Mahopac, NY in Stock, Tony Iacono of Medford, NJ in Super Comp, John Michaels of Oakdale, NY in Super Gas and Christopher De Pascale of Sayerville, NJ in Super Street.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster, Cliff Bozzelli had a bye run in the final when Chaptico, Md. resident Billy Gibson could not make the call, handing Bozzelli the win. Bozzelli ran a crowd pleasing 5.608-second pass at 251.60 mph to capture his second win of the weekend. He also beat Tim Slagle of Fairfax, Va. earlier in the day for the make-up of the Maple Grove divisional event, making it five victories in a row.

Veteran Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot and perennial winner, Bob Newberry showed why he was a 9-time Northeast Division champion by beating Craig English of Mt. Holly, NJ. Newberry, who won 7 consecutive division championships between 1988-1994, drove his '01 Avenger to a win with a stellar pass of 5.942 seconds and 245.09 mph. English, gave it his best shot, but never had a chance after narrowly missing the guard wall and finished with an elapsed time of 9.529 seconds and 107.32 mph.

In other racing action, the $1,000 Sealed Power Low qualifier checks for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car were taken home by Troy Buff and Frank Manzo of Spring, Texas and Morganville, NJ respectively.

Other low qualifiers include: Dave Northrop of Perkasie, Pa. in Competition Eliminator, Richard Oakes of Woolwich Township, NJ in Super Stock and Jim Reid Jr. of Hanson, Mass. in Stock.

Receiving "Best of" awards here this weekend were Joe Orlando of Armonk, NY and his Super Gas Corvette for Best Appearing Car. In addition, the Best Engineered Car award went to White Plains, NY resident Frank Maiolo for his Super Gas Corvette. Finally, the Federal-Mogul Dragster team of Slagle and Cottrell from Fairfax, Va. earned the Best Appearing Crew award.

Text provided by FMDRS

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.