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NHRA FMDRS: Des Moines, Iowa's Vern Moats Continues to Dominated FM Funny Car

11 September 1999

     Earlville, Iowa- After one qualifying session Friday at the new
Tri-State Raceway track in Earlville, Iowa, the defending Federal-Mogul
Funny Car champion in the NHRA West Central Division, Vern Moats, is once
again at the top of the ladder in qualifying.
     After a record 14 NHRA division championship titles Moats has already
secured his 15th title for the 1999 season, and is now running for a better
ranking in the national standings.  Moats and all of the other
Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster drivers have never raced their cars at
the new track, but after the first day's qualifying it seems very likely
that several track records will be set over the course of the weekend by
the NHRA racers.  Both Moats and Rob Wendland, of Lawrence, Kan, readily
beat the old track speed record of 223 mph.  Wendland now holds the track
speed record with a 252.03 mph run he made in his first pass.  Moats went
down with a 243.50 mph run, but both drivers are confident that with the
excellent track conditions they will go quicker and faster Saturday and
Sunday.
     This is the first NHRA event that the track has ever hosted, after its
opening in June of 1998, and the owners as well as the fans seem to be
happy to have the new event at their track.  "Everything has turned out
better than we expected," explained track owner Reid Kuhlman.  "We didn't
have as many fans out today as I would have like but we realize that with
Friday being a work day, some people just can't make it.  But they will be
treated to two days of great racing on Saturday and Sunday, so I hope they
don't miss out on this great NHRA Federal-Mogul event."
     Qualifying continues Saturday at 8 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragsters
and Funny Cars running their 250 mph five second cars at noon and 4 p.m.


     The following are the first day qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Tri-State Raceway, the last of
six events in the NHRA West Central Division:



FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

1. Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Kan., 5.675 seconds elapsed time, 252.03 miles
per hour
2. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.819, 245.70
3. Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.881, 240.51
4. Bruce Bowler, Denver, 7.699, 113.27
5. Mark Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, 9.576, 82.87
6. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 14.311, 86.81

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 6.060 seconds elapsed time,
243.50 miles per hour
2. Lynn Engels, Watertown, S.D., '00 Camaro, 6.900, 143.26
3. Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, 8.938, 96.74
4. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 10.510, 80.49
5. Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 10.619

COMP ELIMINATOR

1. David Cook, Houston, B/Dragster, 6.922 (-0.578 seconds under index) 
2. Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., D/EDragster, 7.553 (-0.567)
3. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., A/A '23 Chevy, 6.786 (-0.554)
4. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., D/A '96 Firebird, 7.976 (-0.554)
5. Clint Sallee, Glendie, Mont., C/Dragster, 7.187 (-0.503)
6. Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., C/EA '96 Grand Prix, 8.397 (-0.413)
7. Chad Brownlow, Rochester, Minn., C/EDragster, 7.596 (-0.394)
8. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A '92 Cutlass, 9.048 (-0.392)
9. Joe Shalkowski, Thorton, Colo., F/EDragster, 8.641 (-0.389)
10. Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., A/EA '32 Bantam, 7.648 (-0.382)

SUPER STOCK

1. Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., GT/IA '99 Pontiac, 10.422 (-1.078 seconds
under index)
2. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., SS/KA '64 Corvette, 10.501 (1.049)
3. Randy Mans, Rogers, Minn., GT/JA '99 Firebird, 10.638 (-1.012)
4. Don Sofranko, Davenport, Iowa, SS/L '66 Nova, 10.616 (-0.934)
5. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA '68 Dart, 9.081 (-0.919)
6. Wayne Denklau, Wayne, Neb., SS/O '55 Bel Air, 11.610 (-0.890)
7. Randy Quam, Eagan, Minn., SS/BS '96 Acheiva, 9.139 (-0.861)
8. Dennis Nelson, Hugo, Minn., SS/LA '81 Malibu, 10.889 (-0.861)
9. Alex Denysenko, Lyons, Ill., SS/LA '65 Mustang, 10.897 (-0.853)
10. Tyler Cassil, Newton, Kan., SS/K '66 Chevy II, 10.448 (-0.852)

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1. Jim Burg, Deerfield, Wis., GF/SA '82 Aries Wagon, 16.139 (-1.311 seconds
under index)
2. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., K/SA '74 GTO, 11.735 (-1.215)
3. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., U/SA '84 Buick, 13.949 (-1.201)
4. Jerry Mulkey, Burbank, Wash., N/S '91 Z-28, 12.160 (-1.090)
5. Steve Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., B/SA '69 Camaro, 10.475 (1.075)
6. Greg Luneack, Vista, Calif., I/SA '72 Barracuda, 11.529 (-1.071)
7. Dave Picht, Oakdale, Minn., E/S '72 Ford, 10.923 (-1.027)
8. Bill Prince, Maple Grove, Minn., K/SA '87 Cutlass, 11.934 (-1.016)
9. Kevin Helms, Byers, Colo., B/S '69 Camaro, 10.493 (-1.007)
10. Lance Line, Cromwell, Minn., D/SA '70 Buick GS, 10.876 (-0.974)

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