Federal Mogul driver Rob Wendland adds another win to his rookie season
14 September 1999
Earlville, Iowa- The In-N-Out Burger team of Jerry Darien, Ken
Meadows, and the Troxels, Mike and Barb have experienced a year of racing
in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series that has been nothing less
than sensational. The team owners of the blown alcohol Federal-Mogul
Dragster of Rob Wendland, from Lawrence, Kan., and the injected-nitro
Federal-Mogul Dragster of Melanie Troxel, from Littleton, Colo., have been
able to put together a winning season that will not soon be forgotten.
Wendland, who is in his rookie season as a driver in dragster, has
positioned himself to finish the 1999 season in the top ten national points
standings, an accomplishment seasoned veterans look forward to after their
years of experience. But with a little luck, and a very positive attitude
the Mike and Barb Troxel owned In-N-Out dragster has taken Wendland to four
wins this season, two at national events, and two at divisional events
including this weekend's race at Tri-State Raceway.
"I try to not look at it as work, I actually have a lot of fun racing
in this dragster," Wendland said. "Every time I do a burn out I wave at
the starter, and once I've finished the burnout I try and talk to the NHRA
West Central Division Director, Rob Park for a few seconds." "I guess I
haven't really started thinking too much about where I am in the points
nationally because I'm having so much fun, and that has brought success to
our team with all the hard work everyone has put in."
Wendland will be running the rest of season toward a top five finish
and attributes that thinking to his team; "I'm proud to be a part of such a
great team," Wendland said. "I realize that between Melanie and myself we
have had a great year, and we're looking forward to a lot more." Melanie
Troxel is the second half of the In-N-Out team and has made a name for
herself as Wendland has, between the two there is a lot to look for out of
these two young drivers for many years to come.
The following are final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Tri-State Raceway, the last of six races in the NHRA West
Central Division listing driver, city, state, make of car, elapsed time in
seconds and miles per hour:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.601 seconds elapsed time, 250.00 miles per
hour def. 8. Bruce Bowler, Denver, 5.768
2. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.899, 242.58 def. 7. Mark Kinser, Grimes,
Iowa, 12.140, 67.85
3. Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Kan., 5.818, 242.26 def. 6. Ziggy Zivcovich,
Litchfield, Minn., 5.922, 235.29
4. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 6.160, 200.13 def. 5. Billy Bybee,
Mclean, Tex., 5.886, 241.09
Round 2
1. Wilson, 5.598, 250.76 def. 5. Bybee, 5.896, 242.84
3. Wendland, 5.722, 231.95 def. 2. Wells, 5.647, 250.76
Final Round
3. Wendland, 5.722, 231.95 def. Wilson, 5.662, 250.83
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1. Sam Blue, Red Wing, Minn., '97 Achieva, 9.564 seconds elapsed time,
91.84 miles per hour (Bye run)
2. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 6.229, 242.32 def. 7. Gage
Chaffee, Clear Lake, Minn., '96 Supreme, 6.634, 205.52
3. Lynn Engels, Watertown, S.D., '00 Camaro, 5.999, 239.23 def. 6. Kirk
Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, 6.027, 241.48
4. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 6.201, 239.42 def. 5.
Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.425, 226.35
Round 2
4. Fleming, 5.903, 246.50 def. 1. Blue, 5.962, 246.44
3. Engels, 12.639, 69.78 def. 2. Moats, 9.160, 93.05
Final Round
4. Fleming, 6.119, 238.98 def. 3. Engels, 12.539, 69.78
COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A '92 Cutlass, 8.887, 151.87 def. David Cook,
Houston, B/Dragster (No time recorded, broke)
SUPER STOCK
Kevin Erickson, Lincoln, Neb., SS/FA '70 Camaro, 10.441, 123.93 def. Jason
Tinberg, Bonner Springs, Kan., SS/FA '68 Camaro, 10.256, 129.14
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Richard Myers, Farlbault, Minn., U/SA '65 Belvedere, 14.367, 92.92 def. Ron
Prince, McGregor, Minn., E/SA '68 Firebird, 11.142, 112.65
SUPER GAS
Rod Fuller, Rogers, Ark., '27 T, 9.926, 147.97 def. Martin Brees, Lincoln,
Neb., '88 Firenza, 9.919, 146.93
SUPER COMP
Ike Hamma, Davenport, Iowa, 8.913, 163.13 def. Frank Kohutek, Mesquite,
Texas, 8.896, 164.83
SUPER STREET
Tim Law, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, '68 Camaro, 10.910, 122.48 def. Brad Rose,
South Sioux City, Neb., '73 Barracuda, 10.878, 122.63
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