NHRA FMDRS: Australian FMDRS Funny Car Driver Steve Harker Leads the Pack at Bristol Dragway

16 October 1999
     Joliet, Ill.- Steve Harker, a native of Gainesville, Australia, led
the pack in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Bristol Dragway Friday.

     After one run of qualifying Harker, who just came off a win at the
Advance Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kan. two weeks ago, was able
to beat out four of the top ten drivers in the country, Bob Newberry from
Schenectady, N.Y., Marc White, from Glendale Hts., Ill., Tony Bartone, from
Manhasset, N.Y., and Todd Paton, from Brantford, Ont., Can.  But staying at
that number one position will be difficult because two-time national
champion Frank Manzo, from Morganville, N.J., will be arriving Saturday to
compete for his third national championship in a row.
 
    Manzo, who is still currently leading the points chase is followed
closely by the current number two racer in the nation, Tony Bartone. 
Should Bartone take the win at this weekend's event, he will only require
one national event win to take the Federal-Mogul national championship
title away from Manzo.  But, if Manzo is able to hold off Bartone this
weekend, and Bartone does not take a win at the Matco SuperNationals in
Houston, the crown once again will remain with the champion for a third
year in a row.
 
    Qualifying continues Saturday at 9 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragsters
and Funny Cars running at 4 and 7 p.m.

     The following are the first day qualifying results from the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway, the last of six
events in the NHRA Southeast Division:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

1. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.629 seconds elapsed time, 250.69 miles per hour
2. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.666, 248.98
3. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.701, 246.08
4. Jeanie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa., 5.800, 242.67
5. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.829, 242.84
6. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.839, 233.08
7. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.964, 232.55
8. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, N.Y., 6.311, 180.69
9. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 8.647, 104.65

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Steve Harker, Gainesville, Australia, '99 Avenger, 5.782 seconds ET, 248.11 mph
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.798, 249.16
3. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '99 Avenger, 5.855, 246.39
4. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., '99 Camaro, 5.861, 242.63
5. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va., '99 Avenger, 6.358, 225.45
6. Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., '99 Firebird, 11.597, 69.05

COMP ELIMINATOR

1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM '97 Grand Am,  8.
2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., B/EDragster, 7.119 (-0.531)
3. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR '34 Suncoast, 8.211 (-0.509)
4. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '95 Trans Am, 7.829 (-0.481)
5. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.609 (-0.471)
6. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A '92 Cutlass, 9.072 (-0.468)
7. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.303 (-0.457)
8. Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., F/Dragster, 8.487 (-0.443)
9. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., D/EA '90 Trans Am, 8.646 (-0.434)
10. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., A/EA '23 T, 7.715 (-0.395)

SUPER STOCK

1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 9.037 
2. Red LeBlanc, Memphis, SS/G '69 Mustang, 9.874 (-1.006)
3. Butch Williams, Cherokee, N.C., SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.515 (-1.005)
4. Tony Matracea, Memphis, GT/B '91 Calais, 9.589 (-0.981)
5. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., SS/AM '98 Grand Am, 8.754 (-0.956)
6. Leonard Mattingly, Sheperdsville, Ky., SS/CM '98 Grand Am, 9.125 (-0.945)
7. Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., SS/G '67 Nova, 9.935 (-0.945)
8. David Jackson, Columbus, N.C., GT/GA '92 Firebird, 10.452 (-0.938)
9. John Livingston, Nashville, SS/EA '70 Corvette, 9.909 (-0.921)
10. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., SS/BS '90 Camaro, 9.271 (-0.899)

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.887 
2. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu Wgn., 12.241 (-1.129)
3. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., K/S '93 Mustang, 11.968 (-1.102)
4. Joe Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, K/S '95 Cobra, 11.977 (-1.093)
5. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.990 (-1.060)
6. Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., K/SA '85 Chevy, 12.119 (-1.051)
7. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.464 (-1.046)
8. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., K/SA '91 Camaro, 12.147 (-1.023)
9. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., I/SA '72 Camaro, 11.806 (-1.004)
10. Jack Zimmerman, Clemmons, N.C., B/SA '71 Challenger, 10.742 (-0.998)