NHRA FMDRS: Racers from all over the country compete at Route 66 Raceway
25 September 1999
Joliet, Ill.- The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series has come back
to Route 66 Raceway this weekend, bringing with it fierce competition for
championship titles in Federal-Mogul Funny Car from all over the country.
This weekend's NHRA drag race is one of the last races in the
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series season, so points and championships are in
the sights of drivers from all over the country in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.
Drivers have come from as far as Tacoma, Wash. and Ontario, Can. to go for
the best national and divisional placements they can get for the 1999
season.
Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Pat Austin, from Tacoma, Wash. holds
the record for most national event wins, 66 victories, and is still a
driving force in the funny car category. Austin is currently ranked third
in the national points standings, while fellow competitor, Todd Paton, from
Ontario, Can. trails by only three points placing him in fourth. Paton, as
well as Austin, are racing out of their ordinary home divisions at the
Route 66 race to keep one another from gaining a better position over the
other.
"I could have gone to Virginia for their race and been in division,
but Pat Austin is running here and I have an opportunity to block him at
this event and take over third place in the national standings" Paton said.
Along with the race at Route 66 Raceway there are two other NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events taking place where drivers are
competing for championship titles, but placement in the top five of the
national standings has special meaning for these racers.
"Even though the national championship has been all but won by Frank
Manzo (this will be Manzo's third championship in a row), our team is
working to finish in as high a spot as possible" Paton explained. "I'm
here to run against Austin so I can move into the third place position."
Paton is off to a good start as he finished Friday's qualifying in the
top spot, while Austin was placed in third. But with two more qualifying
sessions Saturday as well as eliminations starting on Sunday its anyone's
race.
Qualifying continues Saturday at 8 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragsters
and Funny Cars running at 1 and 4 p.m.
The following are the first day qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway, the last of six
events in the NHRA North Central Division:
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shawn Bowen, Montose, Mich., 5.546 seconds elapsed time, 252.46
2. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.794, 244.16
3. Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.831, 233.80
4. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 5.849, 239.02
5. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.877, 249.86
6. Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.978, 227.84
7. Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.138, 228.85
8. Mark Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, 6.166, 242.67
9. Tony Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.476, 222.91
10. Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 6.770, 199.02
11. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 9.816, 96.62
12. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 11.256, 63.27
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., '99 Firebird, 5.833 seconds elapsed time
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.903, 245.67
3. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Firebird, 5.904, 248.57
4. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva, 5.956, 245.58
5. Fred Hagen, Chicago, '99 Avenger, 6.023, 233.08
6. Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.257
7. Richard Krohn, Monee, Ill., '97 Firebird, 6.321, 212.59
8. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, S.D., '97 Firebird, 6.364, 237.30
9. John Reikas, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 6.430, 222.03
10. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.440, 196.47
11. John Dunn, Monticello, Ill., '97 Firebird, 7.117, 196.07
12. John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., '99 Firebird, 7.959, 116.72
13. Don Gerardot, Monroeville, Ind., '99 Avenger, 9.260, 87.96
14. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 13.060
15. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 27.674, 35.92
COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., E/EDragster, 8.549 (-0.581 seconds under index)
2. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.478 (-0.542)
3. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.133 (-0.537)
4. Bob Andrews, Somerset, Mich., E/Dragster, 7.560 (-0.510)
5. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., C/A '93 Cutlass, 7.734 (-0.496)
6. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., F/SM '98 Grand Am, 9.311 (-0.469)
7. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., A/EA '23 Ford, 7.573 (-0.457)
8. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., B/A '32 Bantam, 7.436 (-0.434)
9. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A '23 Ford, 8.076 (-0.414)
10. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W. Va., D/EA '32 Bantam, 8.581 (-0.409)
SUPER STOCK
1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 8.926 (-1.074 seconds under index)
2. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/E '96 Grand Am, 9.743 (-1.057)
3. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/IA '99 Pontiac, 10.455 (-1.045)
4. Gordon Gillman, Marne, Mich., SS/AX '90 Buick, 8.996 (-1.004)
5. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., SS/KA '85 Camaro, 10.561 (-0.989)
6. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/BA '95 Cavalier, 9.597 (-0.953)
7. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, GT/GA '92 Camaro, 10.256 (-0.944)
8. Vince Impastato, Shelby Twp., Mich., GT/CA '86 Camaro, 9.757 (-0.943)
9. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., SS/J '84 Firebird, 10.171, (-0.929)
10. Randy Quam, Eagan, Minn., SS/BS '96 Achieva, 9.093 (-0.907)
STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.777 (-1.223 seconds under index)
2. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., K/SA '74 GTO, 11.798 (-1.152)
3. Vance Cummins, Grand Haven, Mich., CT/SA '95 Dakota, 12.237 (-1.113)
4. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, F/SA '99 Firebird, 11.100 (-1.050)
5. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., DT/SA '99 Dakota, 12.473 (-1.027)
6. Jeff Potts, Minford, Ohio, F/SA '97 Camaro, 11.146 (-1.004)
7. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, C/SA '68 Mustang, 10.717 (-0.983)
8. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.328 (-0.972)
9. Chris Sniesak, Wales Township, Mich., FT/SA '99 Dakota, 12.785 (-0.965)
10. John McCormack, Highland, Mich., DT/S '99 Dakota, 12.394 (-0.956)
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