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NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series-Reynolds, Ga.

1 April 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES-SOUTHEAST DIVISION
SILVER DOLLAR RACEWAY
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2000

GUNDERSON, PAYNE SET PACE AT SILVER DOLLAR RACEWAY

        REYNOLDS, Ga.-The Southeast Division took over the beautiful Silver
Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Ga. for its third stop on the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.  Four-time Southeast Division
Federal-Mogul Dragster Champion, Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla. set
the pace in Fridays Federal-Mogul Dragster qualifying and Jay Payne of
Upland, Calif. bested the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field in almost perfect
weather at Silver Dollar Raceway.
        Defending Silver Dollar Raceway Champion, Gunderson looked strong
in the first round of qualifying making a pass of 5.571 seconds at 250.74
mph.  Gunderson, sporting his new fuel-injected Federal-Mogul Dragster made
one of the few runs without tire shake to over take the run of 5.639
seconds set earlier by NHRA Pacific Division's Darryl Hitchman of Hanford,
Calif.          
        "We have two more runs tomorrow and I think we can get a little
more out of the car", said Gunderson.  "If the weather keeps up we can run
a 5.4[seconds].  I think we may need to step it up a little with all the
good cars here this weekend."
        Payne drove his 2000 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro Federal-Mogul Funny
Car to the top spot in Friday's Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying with a
tire shaking run of 5.970 seconds at 243.33 mph.  Payne beat out No. 2
qualifier, Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M. who was also a victim of tire shake
and a loose racecar but ran a respectable lap of 5.970 seconds at 241.15
mph.
        "We need some adjustments," said a concerned Payne.  "I had to
fight the tire shake to about the 330 foot mark and then the car felt fine.
 We'll change the set-up and hit it again tomorrow." 
        Qualifying and time trials will continue at Silver Dollar Raceway
on Saturday at 10 a.m.  Gates open at 9 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragster and
Funny Car will have qualifying sessions at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.   

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.571 seconds, 250.74 mph
2. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.639, 245.81
3. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.664, 249.12
4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.770, 239.02
5. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.833, 238.98
6. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.960, 218.80
7. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.133, 204.29
8. Cherissa Griffis, Gainsville, Fla., 6.517, 211.93

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.970 seconds, 243.33mph
2. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Dodge Avenger, 5.995, 241.15
3. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Olsmobile Achieva, 6.304, 214.76
4. Mike Preslar Sr., Arden, N.C., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, 8.772, 90.69 

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Mike Saye, Johnston, N.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, F/A, 8.651 seconds(0.519-seconds under Index)
2. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '97 Pontiac Firebird, D/EA, 8.622(-0.468)
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/ED, 7.157 (-0.443)
4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Chevrolet Lumina, B/A, 7.439(-0.431)
5. Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., '98 Dragster, C/D, 7.423, (-0.347)
6. Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '96 Cutlass, C/EA, 8.599 (-0.291)
7. Jeff Barrett, Lake Worth, Fla., '91 Dragster, G/D, 9.821 (-0.229)
8. Rhett Matheney, McConnelsville, Ohio, '23 Ford Roadster, A/EA, 8.272(+0.142)
9. Larry Pritchette, Clarkrange, Ind., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 10.567(+1.437)
10. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., '32 Roadster, A/EA, 10.563 (+2.433)
11. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 Ford T, A/EA, 13.110, (+4.980) 
 
SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry  Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/IA, 10.570
seconds (0.930-seconds under Index)
2. Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/FA, 9.885(-0.865)
3. Steve Tschetter, Riverdale, Ga., '64 Chevrolet Chevelle, SS/LA, 10.917(-0.833)
4. John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., '70 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/FA, 9.823(-0.827)
5. Scott Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '00 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.277(-0.823)
6. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Firebird, GT/MA, 11.228 (-0.822)
7. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/CA, 9.896(-0.804)
8. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.203 (-0.797)
9. Robert Burgin, Cuthbert, Ga., '96 Achieva, GT/BA, 9.793 (-0.757)
10. Joseph LoCicero, Lithonia, Ga, '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.948 (-0.752)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '97 Chevrolet Camaro, E/SA, 10.975
seconds (1.025-seconds under Index)
2. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '00 Pontiac Firebird, F/SA, 11.172, (-0.978)
3. Hugh Meeks Jr., Union Springs, Ala., '74 Chevrolet Nova, J/SA, 11.784(-0.966)
4. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet, T/SA, 13.835 (-0.965)
5. Sharla Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., '98 Camaro, G/SA, 11.337 (-0.963)
6. Harold Culpepper, Pine Mtn. Valley, Ga., '90 Camaro, K/SA, 11.989(-0.961)
7. Paul Dilcher, Brockport, N.Y., '78 Pontiac Firebird, L/SA, 12.059(-0.941)
8. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '66 Chevrolet Chevelle, M/S, 12.217(-0.933)
9. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., '85 Camaro, M/SA, 12.289 (-0.861)
10. Arnold Greene, Matthews, N.C.,  '69 Camaro, A/S, 10.394 (-0.856)


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