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NHRA FMDRS: Faria, Alexander take the early lead in Bakersfield

29 April 2000

        BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- With the first round of qualifying in the
book, Steve Faria, of Tipton, Calif., took the top spot on the
Federal-Mogul Dragster category with a career best time of 5.445 seconds at
258.91 mph, while Simi Valleys' Rod Alexander leads the field in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car with a pass of 5.897 seconds at 247.59 mph before
approx. 2,500 spectators at the Budweiser Western Shootout at Fomoso
Raceway. 

Paul Jones of Stockton, Calif., took the second spot in Federal-Mogul
Dragster with a time of 5.816 seconds at 244.36 mph while Doug Gordon of
Paso Robles, Calif., followed Alexander in Federal-Mogul Funny Car who was
clocked at 5.909 seconds at 230.35 mph.  

"It shook just a little bit at about the three hundred foot mark, then
smoothed out," said an amazed Faria. " It felt real good all the way down."
 
This was Farias' first pass in over fifteen months in a Federal-Mogul
Dragster, and his first pass in the dragster last run by current Top Fuel
Driver Melanie Troxel.  

Coming off of his first-ever event win at the Summit.com nationals in Las
Vegas, Nev., Simi Valley's Rod Alexander made the best pass of only four
solid runs today in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.  "Pete Fleming and the crew
gave me a quality car right out of the box and made my job easy," said
Alexander.  " The track was really cooling off and traction was difficult
but we were able to keep it in a straight line and make a solid pass."
Qualifying resumes in all categories on Saturday.  Gates open at Fomoso
Raceway at 7:30 a.m. and competition begins at 8:00 a.m.  Federal-Mogul
Dragsters and Funny Cars are scheduled to run at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. 


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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Steve Faria, Tipton, Calif., 5.445 seconds, 258.91 mph
2. Paul Jones, Stockton, Calif., 5.816, 244.36
3. Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.822, 242.78
4. Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.873, 244.56
5. Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 6.157, 250.20
6. Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 6.891, 173.37
7. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.975, 156.84
8. Matthew Seltzer, Brea, Calif., 7.478, 120.44
9. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 8.625, 79.14
10.  David Baca, Discovery Bay, Calif., 9.903, 84.99
11.  Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 10.999, 85.95
12.  Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 14.389, 54.03

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley Calif., 5.897 seconds, 247.59 mph
2. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 5.909, 230.35
3. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., 5.926, 245.83
4. Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 6.047, 245.49
5. Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., 6.412, 186.99
6. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., 6.656, 154.77
7. Himes Kuesel, San Jose, Calif., 7.035, 186.14
8. Dale VanGundy, Anaheim, Calif., 7.294, 197.32
9. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., 7.445, 123.84
10.  John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 7.553, 127.49
11.  John Patton, Peoria, Ariz., 7.967, 105.84
12.  Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 8.550, 95.64
13.  Ron August Jr., Danville, Calif., 8.829, 99.48
14.  Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 8.854, 87.84
15.  Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., 8.877, 97.47
16.  Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., 9.021, 144.88
17.  Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., 13.312, 66.13

COMP ELIMINATOR

1. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., C/EA '97 Firebird, 8.317 seconds, 
   (0.573 seconds under Index)
2. Rob Smith, Ftn. Valley, Calif., D/ED '98 Roadster, 7.640,(-0.560)
3. Jeff Gillete, Benicia, Calif., B/ED '97 Dragster, 7.030,(-0.520)
4. Ed Sigmon, Canoga Park, Calif., C/SR '34 Roadster, 8.893,(-0.467)
5. Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., J/A '32 Roadster, 8.301,(-0.459)
6. Scott McCLay, Tehachapi, Calif., D/ED '97 Dragster, 7.777, (-0.423)
7. Steven Wilmoth, Peoria, Ariz., D/A '97 Firebird, 8.340,(-0.280)
8. Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., B/A '96 Pontiac, 7.645,(-0.225)
9. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., C/EA '96 Grand Prix, 9.042,(+0.152)
10.  Melvin LeForbes, Bloomington, Calif., A/A '63 Corvette, 7.651,(+0.211)

SUPER STOCK

1. Phil Mandella, Upland, Calif., GT/TB '99 Dodge, 9.956 seconds, 
   (1.244 seconds under Index)
2. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., GT/TD '98 Dakota, 10.540,(-1.210)
3. Howard Thompson, Wildomar, Calif., GT/EA '95 Mustang, 9.884,(-1.066) 
4. Ronald Fruchey, Oxnard, Calif., SS/DX '87 Buick, 8.570,(-1.030) 
5. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., GT/BA '91 Calais, 9.523,(-1.027)
6. Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif., SS/B '69 Corvette, 9.201,(-0.999) 
7. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., SS/MA '64 Comet, 11.175,(-0.975) 
8. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/FA '98 Grand Am, 10.144,(-0.956) 
9. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/EA '87 Camaro, 9.995, (-0.955)
10. Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., SS/GA '69 Mustang, 9.900, (-0.950) 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., DT/SA '98 Dakota, 12.184, (1.316 seconds under Index)
2. Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., V/SA '77 Ventura, 14.690,(-1.110) 
3. David Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., P/SA '65 Chevelle, 12.686,(-1.064) 
4. Don Durham, Vacaville, Calif, G/SA '73 Duster, 11.255,(-1.045)
5. Don Little, Westley, Calif., A/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.258,(-1.042)
6. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '70 Challenger, 10.527,(-1.023)
7. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., J/SA '76 Aspen, 11.761,(-0.989) 
8. John Hennessaym, Los Angeles, Calif., G/SA '69 Camaro, 11.311,  (-0.989)
9. Scott Hilton, Sun Valley, Calif., E/S '67 Mustang, 10.992, (-0.958)
10.  Clarke Holroyd, Chino, Calif., B/SA '68 Nova, 10.615, (-0.935)