NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference . Finals- Friday Results from Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn

NHRA O'REILLY AUTO PARTS JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
BRISTOL DRAGWAY
FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2004
Opening round of eliminations complete at Bristol Dragway
BRISTOL, Tenn. - After several days of preparation by racers and their families from NHRA's Northeast, Southeast and North Central divisions and selected tracks from NHRA's South Central division, the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals completed the first round of eliminations today at Bristol Dragway.
Among the first round winners today were defending NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals champions, Nick Chiles of Reedville, Va., Dylan Myers of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Marshall Fowler of Ocean City, Md.
Included in the list of those defeated in the opening round of competition was 2003 NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals Champions Kyle Fredricks of Nashua, N.H., Jarrod Downs of Mansfield, Ohio and Nicole Belmonte of Glenmoore, Pa. Defending Western Conference Finals champ Ricky Menditto of Lakeland, Fla., was also eliminated first round. 
In addition to the on track action, awards were also given for Best Appearing Car, Best Engineering Car and Best Appearing Crew.    
East Islip, N.Y., racer Robbie Madden earned Best Engineered Car honors with his Madden Automotive-sponsored '04 Half Scale Outlaw dragster. Madden, a 14-year-old student at East Islip High School, is representing Island Dragway at the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bristol Dragway regular Aaron Roberts took home the Best Appearing Car trophy. Roberts' Mike Bos dragster features a '55 Chevy Bel Air theme that includes original Bel Air paint, a Bel Air tail light, and working parachute. Roberts, 13, hails from Bluff City, Tenn., where he attends Bluff City Middle School.
Michael Steve and his Birdsboro, Pa.-based team were judged the event's Best Appearing Crew. Steve, a 14-year-old Twin Valley student, is the lone racer representing Luskville Dragway in Luskville, Que.
Once racing was complete, racers and their families then made their way over to the Bristol Dragway barbecue to fill up on hot dogs, hamburgers and some cool drinks. 
Gates will open tomorrow at Bristol Dragway at 7 a.m. Eliminations are set to continue at 10:00 a.m. For more information please call Bristol Dragway at (423) 764-DRAG or check them out on the web at www.BristolDragway.com.