NHRA FMDRS: Bowler, Moats jump to early lead in points chase at Topeka

8 May 2000
TOPEKA, Kan - Bruce Bowler and Vern Moats took home big wins at the All-Pro
Auto Parts Championships, the NHRA West Central Division Opener for the
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series. Bowler, of Denver, blew past Billy Bybee
in the Federal-Mogul Dragster final with a quarter mile time of 5.682
seconds at 248.20 mph. Bybee lost a blower belt at half track and coasted
to a 7.418 at 116.38.

        "Friday was great, like a dream!" said Bowler. "Everything was
perfect including the track, but that all changed on Saturday. We had two
different problems with the car, leaving us in the dark for Sunday's
eliminations. My crew was phenomenal though and here we are in Winner's
Circle."

        Vern Moats took out South Central Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car
Champion Jackie Stidham in the first round then got a bye run in the
semi-final when number one qualifier Cy Chesterman hurt his motor in the
first round and was a no show. Moats outran Randy Fleming in the final with
a 5.974 second pass at 240.00 mph to Fleming's 6.107, 218.65.

        "It didn't really run like we wanted it to this weekend, but it's
great to start out the season with a win" said Moats, a fifteen time Funny
Car Division Champion. Cy (Chesterman) runs his car real hard and it got
him this weekend. I run pretty conservatively and it worked out."
 
       Rob Wendland who ran Federal-Mogul Dragster last year and has
worked as a crew chief for many years has joined forces with Moats this
year and is currently working on his Funny Car license. The team is still
not sure who will drive the car, but it looks as though Wendland will see
some driving time later this year.
 
       The NHRA West Central Division Allstar team was finalized this
weekend, as this was the final event to earn points for the event held in
June. Locking up positions on the 2000 team were Gary Stinnett of Emporia,
Kan, in both Super Stock and Super Comp., Billy Bybee in Federal-Mogul
Dragster, Vern Moats in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Thomas Snyder in Comp.
Eliminator, Kevin Helms in Stock, and Tim Law in Super Street. The drivers
have not yet been confirmed as to whether they will attend and compete in
the Allstars held at National Trails Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.


        The following are final round results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series All-Pro Auto Parts Championships at Heartland Park
Topeka:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

Round 1
1. Bruce Bowler, Denver. Colo., 5.781 seconds, 235.91 miles per hour def.
8. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 6.613, 154.42
2. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.681, 249.44 def. 7. Ed Schmeeckle,
Gothenburg, Neb., 5.885, 239.55
3. Calvin Friesen, Winnipes, Man CAN, 5.638, 230.47 def. 6. Shelly Howard,
Tulsa, Okla., 5736, 246.50
4. David Wells, La Mars, Iowa, 5.6.376, 246.98 def. 5. Bob McCosh,
Columbia, Mo., 16.930, 46.25

Round 2
Bowler, 5.672, 244.43 def. Wells, 7.469, 125.48
Bybee, 5.702, 246.57 def. Friesen, 6.021, 219.78

Final
Bowler, 5.682, 248.20, Bybee, 7.418, 116.38

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR

Round 1
1. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 5.783 seconds, 250.76
miles per hour def. 8. Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., '97 Cutlass
6.319, 227.38
4. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 5.967, 242.78 vs. 5. Jackie
Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 6.008, 240.00
7. Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '97 Pontiac, 6.211, 230.29 def. 2. Steve
Addleman, Sioux Falls, S.D.,       '97 Firebird, 6.453, 242.72
6. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Trans Am, 6.020, 237.65 def. 5.
Kirk Williams, Gleenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 6.870, 144.48 

Round 2
Moats, 7.480, 220.85 def. Chesterman, no show-broke
Fleming, 6.083, 236.46 def. Hool, 9.468, 86.68


Final
Moats, 5.974 240.00def. Fleming 6.107 218.65

COMPETITION
Tom Snyder Longmont, Colo., A/A '23 roadster, 6.977, 189.55 def. Doug
Engels, Watertown, S.D., D/ED '98 dragster, 7.726, 170.61
  
SUPER STOCK
Randall, Klein, Lincoln, Neb., SS/NA '56 Nomad, 11.772, 110.07 def. James
Kunkel, Benton, Kan., SS/TB '99 S10, 9.819, 136.98

STOCK
Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, B/S '69 Camaro, 10.823, 121.34 def. Mike
Cotton, Broken Arrow, Okla., 11.629, 111.24

SUPER COMP
Steve Swenson, Valley Springs, S.D., '95 dragster, 8.938, 164.65, Bob
Sackuvich, Kansas City, Mo., 8.937, 160.42

SUPER GAS 
Gary Risk, Waxahachie, Texas, '87 Buick, 9.931, 148.53 def. Gary Hagan,
Sapulpa, Okla., 9.907, 144.36
 
SUPER STREET
Dolly Wilson, York, Neb., '72 Camaro, 11.035, 109.80 def. Tom Richters,
Seward, Neb., '69 Nova, broke

MOTORCYCLE
Chris Oravecz, Arlington, Texas, '81 Suzuki, 10.224, 113.35 def. Donnie
Durenberger, Dayton, Minn., 9.898, 131.06

JR. DRAGSTERS 13-17(B) 
Porscha Waggle, Topeka, Kan., 8.152, 74.46 def. John Pelfrey, Rossville,
Kan., 10.029, 63.65

JR DRAGSTER 8-12(A)
Michelle Brewer, Osawatomie, Kan., 9.427, 67.49 def., Ryan, Curran,
McPerson, Kan., 10.148, 60.68 red light