Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals Bandimere Speedway Elimination No tes

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Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals
Contact David Harris - David.Harris@sfx.com
Bandimere Speedway
Team Mopar NHRA Representative
Elimination Notes
Mobile: (704) 756-9301/Office: (704) 455-3500

Skuza Advances to Semifinals

MORRISON, Colo. (July 22, 2001) - Dean Skuza and his Mopar Parts Dodge R/T
Nitro Funny Car drove to the semifinals of today's Mopar Parts Mile-High
Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

The Brecksville, Ohio, resident moved to the semifinals after a first-round
victory over Gary Densham and a second-round triumph against Whit Bazemore.
Skuza smoked the tires versus Bob Gilbertson in the semifinal.

"Every year, the Mopar race here at Bandimere is the most important of the
season," Skuza said. "We're happy with the performance of our team and it
will set the table for the second half of the season.

"We're starting to find some of the consistency that we have sought all
season long," Skuza added. "I can't wait until Seattle because we're looking
better every weekend.

"We have been doing this with an aged R/T body," Skuza continued. "Once we
get the new Stratus body later this year, we'll be able to make a lot of
noise."

Alderman Drives to Second Round
Osborne Out Early

It was a solid debut weekend for the new Pro Stock Dodge Neon R/T.
Three-time Winston Pro Stock World Champion and Mopar Parts driver Darrell
Alderman advanced to the second round of competition before falling to
defending Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals Pro Stock winner Kurt Johnson. 

After posting an impressive fourth-place qualifying effort, Alderman
defeated 2000 Winston Pro Stock World Champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the first
round of eliminations. Alderman clicked off a .416 reaction time and drove
to a 7.338-second elapsed time at 188.89 mph. 

"We had a real good weekend here for Mopar," Alderman said. "We didn't
advance as far as we would like, but these new Neons are great cars. We
shook the tires in the second round and it cost us a shot at it. I had to
shut the car off before it cause any trouble."

Teammate Mark Osborne and his Hemi-powered Pro Stock Dodge Neon R/T lost to
Mike Edwards in the first round of eliminations. The Abingdon, Va., resident
posted a 7.344-second elapsed time at 189.20 mph, the top speed of the
round.

"We made a nice run, but it just wasn't enough with the right lane," Osborne
noted. "We got a lot of great information this weekend and I think we'll be
able to take it to the next race. I couldn't be more thankful to all the
great Mopar people here to root us on this weekend."

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