FMDRS: Tacoma's Pat Austin Wins at Big Sur
28 June 1999
KENT, Wash., - Pat Austin could not have asked for a better weekend
as he captured the Federal-Mogul Funny Car title at Seattle International
Raceway, his home track. Austin, the number one qualifier, took out Roger
Bateman in the final round with a pass of 5.778 at 253.13 mph to Bateman's
6.574 second, 152.76 mph run.
Austin's semi-final match-up with Pacific Division's John Weaver
proved to be the run of the day though, as the SIR fans witnessed the
quickest Federal-Mogul Funny Car side-by-side race in history. Austin left
the starting line first and recorded a lap of 5.633 seconds at 251.93 mph
with Weaver just one one-thousandths of a second behind clocking a 5.644
second pass at 250.63 mph.
"What a great weekend" were the first words from Austin, "the side
by side run was incredible, Weaver's really running great. The track
actually got better for the final, we blew through the clutch and shook
(the tires) or we'd have run better."
Melanie Troxel ran in the 5.40's all day to take the win in
Federal-Mogul Dragster as she defeated Dale Carlson in the final round with
a 5.486, 253.13 lap down the quarter mile. Carlson broke at half-track and
slowed to a 9.729 second pass. Troxel ran a pair of 5.44's on her way to
the final taking out Steve Federlin in round one and local favorite Mark
Hentges of Federal Way, Wash., in the semi-final.
This is Troxel's second win in NHRA's Northwest division. Her first
win came at Mission Raceway Park in May after a runner-up finish at the
season opener in Boise, Idaho.
Jody Lang, of Puyallup, Wash., took on brother Toby Lang of Auburn,
Wash., in the final in the Stock eliminator class. Jody drove his Chevelle
wagon to a 12.698 second, 103.04 mph pass but took the win immediately off
the start when Toby red lighted giving the win to his brother.
Randy Fries from Federal Way, Wash. captured the win in Super
Street as he defeated Bob Platzkow with a run of 11.046 at 127.86 mph.
COMP ELIMINATOR - Rick Braun, Redlands, Wash., C/EA '97 Firebird, 8.261,
159.53 def. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., C/SM '95 Camaro, 9.125, 150.88
SUPER STOCK - Rod Stults, Marysville, Wash., SS/MA '64 Chevelle, 11.449,
114.35 def. Steve Polack, Enumclaw, Wash., GT/FA '92 Camaro, red light
STOCK - Jody Lang Puyallup, Wash., M/SA '79 Chevelle wagon, 12.698, 103.04
def. Toby Lang, Auburn, Wash., G/SA '69 Chevelle, red light
SUPER COMP - Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., '96 dragster, 8.901, 161.53
def. Dan Lafferty, Wendell, Idaho, '96 dragster, 8.906, 164.35
SUPER GAS - Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., '96 Pontiac, 9.907, 152.52 def.
Anthony Castillo, Grandview, Wash., '27 roadster, 9.898, 151.73
SUPER STREET - Randy Fries, Federal Way, Wash., '64 Falcon, 11.046, 127.86
def. Bob Platzkow, Payallup, Wash., '80 Camaro, red light
TOP COMP - Todd Hoerner, Spokane, Wash., '91 Probe, 7.743, 177.87 def. Gary
Olson Hillsboro, Ore., '95 Beretta, 7.693, 178.86
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE - Lloyd, Malovec, Vicotoria. B.C., '82 Suzuki, 9.057,
141.30, def. Randy Morken, Columbia Falls, Mont., '82 Suzuki, 9.075, 146.14
SUPER PRO - Bob Warnke, Seattle, Wash., '68 Camaro, 10.140, 131.23 def.
Richard, Henke, Forks, Wash., '55 Chevy, 10.895, 144.00
PRO SPORTSMAN COMBO - Don Larson, Tacoma, Wash., '69 Camaro, 12.151,
97.202, def. Chris Woods, Covington, Wash., '69 Plymoth, 11.860, 116.614
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