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NHRA: The stage is set for Sunday and the FMDRS championship at Bristol Dragway

16 October 1999


      Bristol, Tenn.- The pairings of Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster
have been set for Sunday's elimination rounds at the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway.

     The national Federal-Mogul Funny Car champion, Frank Manzo, from
Morganville, N.J. finished Saturday's qualifying in the fifth position,
opposite the current number two Federal-Mogul Funny Car racer, Tony
Bartone, from Manhasset, N.Y.  Bartone is in the number two position of the
qualifying ladder, so it is likely that these two rivals could meet in the
semi-final round of competition.

     "I know that a lot of people consider this to be a big deal, because
Tony and I are so close in the points right now, but I'm just here to
race," Manzo said.  "I know that he's [Bartone] a competitive racer but we
might not even have to run him, for all I know we could go out in the first
round."

     Gates open at 8 a.m. Sunday at Bristol Dragway, and eliminations begin
at 10 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car have first round
eliminations beginning at 1 p.m.  

        The following are the final qualifying results and Sunday's
elimination pairings for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car, 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. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.571 seconds elapsed time, 253.23 miles per
hour vs. 8. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.839, 233.08
2. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.584, 253.42 vs. 7. Bill McCornack,
Lexington, Ky., 5.757, 245.09
3. Darrell Russell, Houston, 5.591, 252.24 vs. 6. Doug Foley, Tarrytown,
N.Y., 5.757, 245.09
4. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.701, 246.08 vs. 5. Jeanie Booz, Blooming
Glen, Pa., 5.748, 247.79
(Did not qualify)
9. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.845, 235.35
10. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 7.101, 186.95 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '99 Avenger, 5.722 seconds elapsed
time, 250.32 miles per hour vs. 8. Craig English, Mt. Holly, N.J., '93
Firebird, 6.026, 242.36
2. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., '99 Camaro, 5.766, 243.33 vs. 7. Fran
Monaghan, Willow Grove, Pa., '99 Camaro, 5.996, 240.38
3. Steve Harker, Brisbane, Australia, '99 Avenger, 5.782, 248.11 vs. 6.
Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., '99 Firebird, 5.957, 244.38
4. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.798, 249.16 vs. 5.
Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., 5.800, 248.20
(Did not qualify)
9. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va., '99 Avenger, 6.119, 225.90 

COMP ELIMINATOR

1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM '97 Grand Am,  8.245 (-0.595
seconds under index)
2. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Pa., H/A '96 Cutlass, 8.409 (-0.571)
3. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., D/EA '90 Trans Am, 8.518 (-0.562)
4. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., A/EDragster, 6.891 (-0.559)
5. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.208 (-0.552)
6. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., B/EDragster, 7.099 (-0.551)
7. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR '34 Suncoast, 8.171 (-0.549)
8. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.538 (-0.542)
9. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '95 Trans Am, 7.771 (-0.539)
10. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A '92 Cutlass, 9.029 (-0.511)

SUPER STOCK

1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 8.996 (-1.174 seconds
under index)
2. Johnny Fogle, Norway, S.C., SS/HA '67 Camaro, 9.952 (-1.128)
3. Steve Matukas, Alvaton, Ky., SS/GA '66 Nova, 9.919 (-1.111)
4. Butch Williams, Cherokee, N.C., SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.444 (-1.076)
5. Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., SS/G '67 Nova, 9.810 (-1.070)
6. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E '68 Corvette, 9.671
(-1.059)
7. Tony Matracea, Memphis, GT/B '91 Calais, 9.526 (-1.044)
8. Red LeBlanc, Memphis, SS/G '69 Mustang, 9.849 (-1.031)
9. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., SS/AM '98 Grand Am, 8.690 (-1.020)
10. Leonard Mattingly, Sheperdsville, Ky., SS/CM '98 Grand Am, 9.063
(-1.007)

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.751 (-1.319 seconds
under index)
2. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.302 (-1.208)
3. Joe Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, K/S '95 Cobra, 11.863 (-1.207)
4. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., K/S '93 Mustang, 11.897 (-1.173)
5. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu Wgn., 12.208 (-1.162)
6. Steve Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., M/SA '85 Camaro, 12.245 (-1.125)
7. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.927 (-1.123)
8. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., I/SA '72 Camaro, 11.727 (-1.083)
9. Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., K/SA '85 Chevy, 12.100 (-1.070)
10. Jack Zimmerman, Clemmons, N.C., B/SA '71 Challenger, 10.676 (-1.064)

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