NHRA FMDRS: Manzo, Bartone Renew Rivalry at Gainesville
20 February 2000
Gainesville, Fla. - Middleburg, Fla.'s Michael Gunderson and Manhasset, NY's Tony Bartone are the top qualifiers at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway. Gunderson paced the field in Federal-Mogul Dragster with a 5.47-second run at 262 mph and will face Cumming, Ga.'s Dan Lucas in the first round of eliminations Sunday. Bartone led the Federal-Mogul Funny Cars with a 5.76-second pass at 251 mph and will tangle with New Market, Ala.'s Jerry Freeman in the opening round. Manzo and Bartone battled for the world title throughout 1999 with Manzo, of Morganville, NJ, claiming his third-straight championship. Bartone finished second. Should both Manzo and Bartone defeat their first-round competitors they will meet in the final round, renewing their fierce on-track rivalry. Eliminations begin in all categories Sunday at 9 a.m. Gates at Gainesville Raceway open at 8 a.m. and Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars are scheduled to run at noon. The following are Saturday's qualifying results for Sunday's eliminations from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway: FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.473 seconds, 262.62 mph 2. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.582, 241.87 3. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.630, 253.30 4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.693, 246.03 5. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.144, 215.05 6. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.652, 211.91 7. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 7.018, 197.75 8. Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 32.000, no speed recorded FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 1. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, NY, '99 Camaro, 5.761 seconds, 251.39 mph 2. Frank Manzo, Morganville, NY, '00 Avenger, 5.852, 250.27 3. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.040, 233.28 4. Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 8.807, 101.62 COMPETITION ELIMINATOR 1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.312 seconds(-0.738 seconds under Index) 2. Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.390 (-0.660) 3. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., D/SM '96 Achieva, 8.224 (-0.606) 4. Tony Terry, Forest, Va., B/SM '96 Grand Am, 8.846 (-0.584) 5. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, NC, D/EA '97 Firebird, 8.517 (-0.573) 6. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., A/EA '23-T Ford, 7.559 (-0.571) 7. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., A/EA '23-T Ford, 7.567 (-0.563) 8. Bert Dawson, East Liverpool, Ohio, D/A '99 Firebird, 8.100 (-0.530) 9. Dan Kilheffer, Carlisle, Pa., C/ED dragster, 7.568 (-0.522) 10. Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., B/EA '97 Pontiac, 8.101 (-0.489) SUPER STOCK 1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA '97 Firehawk, 10.820 seconds (-1.230 seconds under Index) 2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, NC, SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.205 (-1.145) 3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E '68 Corvette, 9.423 (-1.127) 4. Craig Ruff, Tallassee, Ala., SS/DA '88 Cutlass, 11.542 (-1.058) 5. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., SS/K '66 Chevy II, 10.246 (-1.054) 6. Bucky Hess, Bunkerhill, WV, SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.967 (-1.033) 7. Johnny Fogle, Norway, SC, SS/HA '67 Camaro, 9.883 (-1.017) 8. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., SS/IA '66 Nova, 10.000 (-1.000) 9. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, SC, SS/NA '56 Bel Air, 11.456 (-0.994) 10. Eric Wingo, Springfield, Tenn., 92 Grand Am, 10.060 (-0.990) STOCK ELIMINATOR 1. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., T/SA '66 Chevrolet, 13.634 seconds (-1.166 seconds under Index) 2. Woodrow Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.701 (-1.149) 3. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.153 (-1.147) 4. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, M/S '66 Chevelle, 12.006 (-1.144) 5. Larry Thomason, Union City, Tenn., I/SA '74 Corvette, 11.495 (-1.105) 6. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., L/SA '85 Camaro, 11.922 (-1.078) 7. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA '82 Cutlass, 14.072 (-1.078) 8. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu, 12.077 (-1.073) 9. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, NC, K/SA '90 Camaro, 11.917 (-1.033) 10. Jim Woods, Kissimmee, Fla., M/SA '77 Oldsmobile, 12.137 (-1.013)