FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McPhillips and Manzo winners at Atco Raceway

ATCO, N.J. - After two days of NHRA drag racing action, NHRA's Northeast Division wrapped up their final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event of the season today, crowning winners in eight racing categories.

Among the categories competing this weekend were the 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars. When the smoke had finally cleared in those two categories, Rich McPhillips was the victor in Dragster, while Frank Manzo was the winner in Funny Car.

Today's win was the first victory of the year for McPhillips, who hails from Phoenixville, Pa. In the final round, McPhillips defeated former Northeast Division Champion, Cliff Bozzelli of Absecon, N.J., with a time of 5.704 seconds at 255.63 mph.

In contrast to McPhillips, Manzo earned his fifth Northeast Division victory of the year, helping him to secure his 15th divisional championship, tying him with all-time leader Vern Moats of Des Moines, Iowa. In his final round bout, Manzo laid down a pass of 5.728 seconds at 256.55 mph to take the win over Billy Gibson of Chaptico, Md.

In other racing action, Concords, N.C., racer Jerry Hemmingson defeated West Chester, Pa., runner Jonathan Aloisio in Comp Eliminator, while the win in Super Stock was earned by Lincoln Morehead of Marlboro, N.Y., over Manalapan, N.J., racer Ray Scardelli.

Taking the Stock Eliminator win was Fred Thibeault of Annapolis, N.S., over Bill Quinn of Winfield, N.J.

In Super Comp, Doug Doll of Lititz, Pa., earned back-to-back Northeast Division wins when he defeated Old Bridge Township Raceway Park winner Ken Moses of Colonia, N.J., in the class final.

The Super Gas winner was Lenard Marshall of Orange, Va., with his '63 Corvette, In the final, Marshall eliminated Dean Mathauser of Newport News, Va.

Earning the victory on Super Street was Don Rudolph of Massapequa Park, N.Y. In the final Rudolph took out fellow New York racer Don Sabin of Maspeth.

The following are the Saturday's final elimination results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event being held this weekend at Atco Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
4) Sheila Tafur, Higganum, Conn., 5.533, 263.77 def. 
5) Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., 5.811, 199.82

2) Daniel Mercier, St. Timothee, Quebec, 6.022, 249.12 def. 
7) Paul Sylvester, Townsend, Del., 5.981, 236.80

1) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.465, 260.71 def. 
8) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.717, 242.36

3) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.573, 263.92 def. 
9) Mike Burns, Bisbee, Ariz., broke

Semifinal
McPhillips, 5.610, 261.83 def. Mercier, 6.319, 187.18
Bozzelli, 5.429, 261.88 def. Tafur, foul

Final
McPhillips, 5.704, 255.63 def. Bozzelli, 10.842, 71.88

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
5) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '03 Camaro, 6.728, 210.77 def. 
4) Eric Lourie, Terryville, Conn., '02 Camaro, 12.230, 62.64

2) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 6.037, 242.32 def. 
7) Craig English, Mount Holly, N.J., '98 Mustang, 6.425, 223.76

3) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '04 Firebird, 6.059, 246.93 def. 
6) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '00 Camaro, 6.097, 239.78

1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '02 Firebird, 5.668, 254.52 was unopposed

Semifinal
Gibson, 5.989, 249.81 def. Ferro, 6.124, 228.23
Manzo, 5.655, 256.60 def. Schuster, broke

Final
Manzo, 5.728, 256.55 def. Gibson, 14.153, 30.98

COMP ELIMINATOR
Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '02 Cavalier, B/A, 7.191, 173.41 def. 
Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, B/SM, 8.174, 166.09

SUPER STOCK
Lincoln Morehead, Marlboro, N.Y., '87 Camaro, GT/EA, 9.923, 125.08 def. 
Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 9.905, 134.23

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Fred Thibeault, Annapolis, N.S., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.319, 121.18 def. 
Bill Quinn, Winfield, N.J., '67 Camaro, F/SA, 11.106, 116.03

SUPER COMP
Doug Doll Jr., Lititz, Pa., dragster, 10.458, 93.52 def. 
Ken Moses, Colonia, N.J., dragster, foul

SUPER GAS
Lenard Marshall, Orange, Va., '63 Corvette, 9.908, 149.50  def. 
Dean Mathauser, Newport News, Va., '67 GTO, 9.902, 145.00

SUPER STREET
Don Rudolph, Massapequa Park, N.Y., '62 Nova, 10.900, 128.07  def. 
Don Sabin, Maspeth, N.Y., '80 Malibu, 10.919, 124.98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Accomplished Alcohol drivers Bozzelli and Manzo early leaders at Atco

ATCO, N.J. - NHRA's Northeast Division completed it's first day of qualifying and time trials at the division's final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, taking place this weekend at Atco Raceway. The event, which began today, is scheduled to finish tomorrow with final elimination in all categories, including the 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars.

After the first round of qualifying in the Top Alcohol classes, former division champion Cliff Bozzelli and defending national champ Frank Manzo are leading their fields.

Bozzelli, who hails from Absecon, N.J., laid down a pass of 5.562 seconds at 259.36 mph to take the top spot in dragster. Qualified second is Fanwood, N.J., resident Karen Benkovich with a 5.615 second pass at 245.63 mph. Rounding out the eight-car field is John Finke of Selkirk, N.Y.

Manzo, of Morganville, N.J., claimed the No. 1 spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car with a pass of 5.842 seconds at 254.47 mph. Among the other qualifiers in the field are N.J., residents Frank Schuster of Chesterfield, Craig English of Mount Holly and Dan Pomponio of Berlin in the No. 2, 5 and 6 spots respectively.

Other top qualifiers at this weekend's event are Tommy Ciccarone Jr., of West Chester, Pa., in Comp Eliminator, Charlie Westcott Sr., of Parma, Mich., in Super Stock and Henry Kunz of Farmingdale, N.Y., in Stock Eliminator. Eliminations in those categories, as well as Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street are scheduled to take place tomorrow beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday's racing action will also feature a final qualifying attempt for the competitors in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at 1:30 p.m., with eliminations to follow at 3:30 p.m. Eliminations in all other categories will start at 9:30 a.m. beginning with Super Street.

Gates at Atco Raceway open tomorrow at 7 a.m. General Admission tickets are $22. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Military personnel receive a $5 discount with proper I.D. All tickets include a pit pass. For more information please contact Atco Raceway at (856) 768-2167 or visit them on the web at www.AtcoRace.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event being held this weekend at Atco Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.562 seconds, 259.36 mph
2) Karen Benkovich, Fanwood, N.J., 5.615, 245.63
3) Paul Sylvester, Townsend, Del., 5.660, 254.33
4) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.675, 246.44
5) Mike Burns, Bisbee, Ariz., 5.788, 242.41
6) Wayne Morris, Lincoln University, Pa., 7.418, 212.56
7) Bruce Horner, Bergenfield, N.J., 7.527, 120.43
8) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 9.115, 87.31

Not Qualified
9) Richard Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., 14.320, 83.11
10) Daniel Mercier, St. Timothee, Quebec, 14.342, 50.74
11) Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Pa., 16.024, 46.41
12) Mark Albert, Pittsburg, Pa., 16.593, 40.83
13) Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 19.354, 38.07
14) Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., (no time)
15) Ed Fisher, Milford, Conn., (no time)

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '02 Firebird, 5.842 seconds, 254.47 mph
2) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '03 Camaro, 6.087, 238.60
3) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '01 Camaro, 6.394, 179.95
4) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '04 Firebird, 6.674, 200.23
5) Craig English, Mount Holly, N.J., '98 Mustang, 12.917, 73.24
6) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '00 Camaro, 14.766, 50.77
7) Eric Lourie, Terryville, Conn., '02 Camaro, (no time)

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Tommy Ciccarone Jr., West Chester, Pa., '03 Cavalier, E/SMA, 8.547 seconds, -0.743 (under index)
2) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.054, -0.726
3) Joe Carnasciale, Cranston, R.I., '92 Camaro, E/SM, 8.623, -0.717
4) Gerry Russo, Saddle River, N.J., '04 Cavalier, E/SMA, 8.576, -0.714
5) Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '04 Sunfire, E/SMA, 8.599, -0.691
6) Michele Costa, Freehold, N.J., dragster, G/D, 8.994, -0.676
7) Tim Freeman, Roan Mountain, Tenn., '04 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.107, -0.673
8) Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '02 Cavalier, B/A, 7.094, -0.646
9) Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., '98 Grand Am, B/SM, 8.139, -0.631
10) Bill Griffin Jr., Norwalk, Conn., '92 Camaro, E/AA, 7.834, -0.616

SUPER STOCK
1) Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.451 seconds, -1.349 (under index)
2) Joseph Franco III, N. Babylon, N.Y., '85 Camaro, SS/JA, 9.959, -1.341
3) David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., '69 Corvette, SS/CA, 9.010, -1.340
4) Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, N.J., '97 Probe, GT/H, 9.831, -1.319
5) Angelo Ditocco, Mahopac, N.Y., '02 Firebird, GT/FA, 9.808, -1.292
6) Brian Oakes, Williamstown, N.J., '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.219, -1.281
7) Charlie Wescott Jr., Parma, Mich., '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.624, -1.276
8) Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.129, -1.271
9) John Armstrong, Kingston, N.S., '69 Corvette, SS/BA, 8.933, -1.267
10) Jim Pancake, Delaware, Ohio, '68 Barracuda, SS/AA, 8.635, -1.265

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Henry Kunz, Farmingdale, N.Y., '69 Nova, H/SA, 11.074 seconds, -1.376 (under index)
2) William Kennedy, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., '84 Trans Am, K/SA, 11.628, -1.322
3) Joe Cokinos, Elmwood Park, N.J., '96 S-10, J/FI, 12.950, -1.300
4) Cecil Frazier, Canton, Mass., '92 Camaro, E/FIA, 11.320, -1.280
5) Jim Marshall, Scottsville, N.Y., '81 Corvette, G/SA, 11.033, -1.267
6) Barry Parker, Southwick, Mass., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.285, -1.265
7) Fred Thibeault, Annapolis, N.S., '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.288, -1.262
8) Bob Horgan, Tyngsboro, Mass., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.520, -1.230
9) Don Quinn, Howell, N.J., '78 Nova, J/SA, 11.522, -1.228
10) Rich Aman, Cedar Run, N.J., '86 Camaro, H/S, 11.078, -1.222

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Northeast Division closes out 2004 Lucas Oil season

ATCO, N.J. - Atco Raceway will host the final NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event on the Northeast division schedule, October 22-23, 2004. Drivers in eight categories, including 260 mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), will run for valuable points leading to divisional and national championships.

Coming into the event, former Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Art Gallant is leading the points on the strength of three final-round appearances. The Boxboro, Mass., racer was runner-up at the season-opener at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., and at the next event in West Lebanon, N.Y., and he took the win at Numidia Raceway in Numidia, Pa.

Rich McPhillips of Phoenixville, Pa., is in second place in the point standings, just 81 points behind Gallant. McPhillips was runner-up at an out-of-division race in Gainesville, Fla., and was a semifinalist Reading and West Lebanon.

Perennial Top Alcohol Funny Car champion, Frank Manzo is again leading the charge in the division. The Morganville, N.J., resident is trying to earn his 10th consecutive Northeast division Funny Car title. He has 14 division championships in his career, as well as nine national titles in the class. This year Manzo won in Reading, West Lebanon and at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., as well as Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, Md.

Manzo's longtime rival, Bob Newberry of Schenectady, N.Y., is 105 points back. Newberry took the win over Manzo in Numidia and was runner-up to him in West Lebanon and Englishtown.

Super Gas Competitor Jeff Szilagyi of Hellertown, Pa., is looking for his third straight final-round appearance. He was runner-up in Englishtown and won the event in Rising Sun.

Gates at Atco Raceway open at 7 a.m. each day. Qualifying and time trials start at 10 a.m. Friday with TAD and TAFC scheduled at 7 p.m. Eliminations for all categories begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run a final qualifying session at 1:30 p.m. with eliminations set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series are $15 Friday, $22 Saturday and $17 on Sunday. There are 2-day tickets available for $35 and 3-day tickets for $50. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Military personnel receive a $5 discount each day.

Atco Raceway is located at 1000 Jackson Drive in Atco. For more information call the track, (856) 768-2167 or visit www.AtcoRace.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet
WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the last of seven in Northeast Division competition.

WHERE: Atco Raceway, Atco, N.J. Track is located at 1000 Jackson Drive, Atco, N.J.

WHEN: Friday through Saturday, Oct. 22-23, 2004

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:

FRIDAY, Oct. 22 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 10 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying is scheduled for 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, Oct. 23 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will run final qualifying at 1 p.m., with eliminations to begin at 3:30 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $15 Friday, $22 Saturday. A two-day ticket is $35. Children 11 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Military personnel receive a $5 discount each day. For more information please call Atco Raceway, (856) 768-2167.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $160,360, part of the 46-race, $6.5 million series.

2003 EVENT WINNERS: Mike Kosky, Top Alcohol Dragster; Michael Ferro, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Frank Aragona, Comp Eliminator; Sam Biondo, Super Stock; Bill Nees Jr., Stock Eliminator; Kent Hanley, Super Comp; Iggie Boicesco, Super Gas; Jeff Livezey Jr., Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1,000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2005 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2005 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

Event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, has offers a "double up" bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class that go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled.

FEATURES: More than 500 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.