Federal-Mogul Drag Racers to Mark NHRA's 50th With Rare Summer Stop in Pomona

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SOUTHFIELD, MI USA 05/25/2000
    POMONA, Calif., July 3 The 50th Anniversary edition of
NHRA drag racing brings hundreds of Federal-Mogul sportsman drivers and teams
to legendary Pomona Raceway here this week (July 5-8) for the inaugural Pep
Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals.  Time trials and qualifying begin
Thursday, with eliminations in the sportsman and professional classes Friday
and Saturday.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000525/DETH025LOGO )
    The 13th of 24 national events in the annual NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series, the 50th Anniversary Nationals is the signature stop in a
season-long celebration of the founding of the world's largest motorsports
sanctioning body.  Series sponsor Federal-Mogul Corporation , a
global manufacturer of automotive components, is partnering with NHRA in
several promotions and special programs to involve automotive aftermarket
professionals and racing fans in commemorating the achievement.
    "NHRA's 50th Anniversary coincides with what's turning out to be the most
exciting sportsman drag racing season in history," said Jay Burkhart, vice
president of marketing for Federal-Mogul.  "The partnership between NHRA,
sportsman racers and Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power(R) engine parts, Champion(R)
spark plugs and Fel-Pro(R) gaskets brands is stronger than ever."
    One of the 50th Anniversary promotions -- the Sealed Power "Power Team" --
allows professional engine rebuilders to qualify for three levels of exclusive
NHRA 50th Anniversary premiums, including a custom-embroidered leather jacket
with classic "biker cut," numbered collector's trading-card sets featuring
NHRA drivers and events, and a die-cast Top Fuel Dragster.
    Racing fans can purchase a full range of exclusive collectibles by
visiting Federal-Mogul's new Web site link at
http://www.federal-mogul.com/promotions .
    The Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series covers all competition within NHRA's
largest categories: Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car,
Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Super Comp, Stock, Super Gas and Super
Street.
    In addition to title sponsorship of all sportsman competition, Federal-
Mogul's strategic marketing partnership with NHRA includes the Sealed Power
Low-Qualifier Award, which rewards top qualifiers in five categories at
divisional and national events.
    Sealed Power engine parts -- Federal-Mogul's premier brand of internal
engine components -- also is an official brand of NHRA, the first marketing
partnership of its kind within the engine components category.  The Sealed
Power product family comprises a complete system of internal parts --
including pistons, piston rings, camshafts, bearings, valves and valvetrain
components, timing products and oil pumps -- for virtually any domestic or
import engine.
    Unlike most years, NHRA's second national-event stop in Pomona brings
plenty of suspense in two of its premier categories -- Federal-Mogul Dragster
and Federal-Mogul Funny Car.  Those classes might very well be locked up -- as
they have in each of the past four years -- by the time drivers return to town
for November's NHRA Finals, but for now they're wide open, with any of perhaps
a dozen drivers holding legitimate chances at a season title.
    To get there, of course, they'll have to unseat a pair of four-time
defending champions -- in Federal-Mogul Dragster it's Rick Santos, San
Leandro, Calif., and in Federal-Mogul Funny Car it's Frank Manzo, Edison, N.J.
Santos, who has dominated class competition since 1997, currently stands third
in points after just 8 events.  Mark Hentges currently is first after 10 races
and Brandon Bernstein -- son of NHRA Top Fuel legend Kenny Bernstein -- is
second after 11 event appearances.  The gap between Hentges and Santos -- now
at 102 points -- will almost certainly narrow as Santos adds to his event
total, particularly in divisional competition.
    After eight events in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Manzo stands fourth behind
Jay Payne (14 events), Von Smith (nine) and Steve Gasparelli (nine).  Manzo
has competed in just three divisional events compared to Payne's six.
    "It's hard to gauge where these drivers really stand in the points race
until all of NHRA's divisional schedules are well underway," said Brian
Tarnacki, director of brand development for Federal-Mogul.  "Regardless of
where they stand now, you can bet that Santos and Manzo will make serious runs
at their fifth straight championships.  They're too good -- and their engine
and chassis programs are too sophisticated -- for them not to be the favorites
at this stage of the season."
    Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Federal-Mogul Corporation is an
automotive parts manufacturer providing innovative solutions and systems to
global customers in the automotive, small engine, heavy-duty and industrial
markets.  The company was founded in 1899.  Visit the company's Web site at
http://www.federal-mogul.com for more information.  Federal-Mogul's press
releases are available by fax through Company News On-Call; call 800-758-5804,
ext. 306225.