FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

        RISING SUN, MD -- Results Friday after the first rounds of
qualifying from Cecil County Dragway, the first of six events in the
Northeast Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

        Rain led to the cancellation of all afternoon qualifying
sessions at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series presented by
NuCar NewCastle Performance Center. The weather halted the action
just after mid-day, but not before four national records were set
in the Stock Eliminator class.

        The new records were set by Cecil Frazier, Canton, MA,
N/SA, 12.193 elapsed time; Briane Philbrick, Vineland, ON CAN,
T/SA, 13.731 e.t.; Jim Henderson, Pittsburgh, PA, N/S, 12.485 e.t.
and William Spanakos, Christiana, PA, O/SA, 12.828 e.t.

        Qualifying will continue in all categories on Saturday
beginning at 8:30 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-
Mogul Funny Car qualifying at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m.

SUPER STOCK
1. Dennis Steward, Dover, PA, ‘91 Daytona, 10.026, -0.924
2. John Gallina, Marco Island, FL, ‘87 Buick, 8.742, -0.858
3. Sal Biondo, Maspeth, NY, ‘95 Achieva, 9.365, -0.835 
4. Robert Herman, Brewster, NY, ‘95 Achieva, 9.717, -0.833
5. Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, NJ,‘98 Firebird, 10.279 e.t.,-0.821  
6. Wayne Truesdell, Cicero, NY, ‘98 Firebird, 10.330, -0.820
7. Vito Savino, Brewster, NY, ‘97 grand Am, 10.304, -0796
8. Thomas Ciccarone Jr., Westchester, PA, ‘98 Grand Am, 9.138, -0.762
9. Ed Hawkins, Marion, NY, ‘87 Camaro, 10.194, -0.756
10. Carl Cirillo, Utica, NY, ‘86 Camaro, 10.212, -0.738

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Arthur Leong, Brooklyn, NY, ‘88 Dodge, 13.923, -1.377
2. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, MD, ‘69 Mustang, 10.574, -1.126
3. Cecil Fraizer, Canton, MA, ‘91 Camaro, 12.193, -1.107
4. Braine Philbrick, Vinland, ON CAN, ‘75 Monza, 13.731, -1.069
5. Don Quinn, Rahway, NJ, ‘78 Nova, 11.571, -1.029
6. David LeBrun, Uncasville, CT, ‘69 Camaro, 10.708, -.0992
7. Grag Schmutz, Pompton Plains, NJ, ‘80 Malibu, 14.810, -0.990
8. James Roberts, Portsmouth, RI, ‘69 Camaro, 11.510, -0.990
9. Marty Bernard, Brewerton, NY, ‘66 Caprice, 13.012, -0.938
10. Jim Marchall, Rochester, NY, ‘78 Corvette, 11.817, -0.933

Saturday Qualifying Final:

  The Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event presented by NuCar
NewCastle Performance Center got off to a slow start with rain
delays throughout qualifying on both Friday and Saturday. The
weather held off just long enough to complete the second
qualifying session for both the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny
Car categories, allowing 1997 Federal-Mogul National Champion
Frank Manzo to streak to the pole position in Federal-Mogul
Funny Car. Manzo came from a non-qualifying nineth position to
take the Winston Top Qualifier money with a 5.817 second pass at
over 245. Bob Newberry held on to the second position with a pass
of 5.851 seconds at 245.09.

 Cliff Bozzelli re-gained the number one position after losing it
to Jay Payne who recorded a 5.654 second, 249.03 pass which was
good enough to hold on to the number two spot.  Bozzelli run of
5.621 seconds at 246.80 mph knocked Payne from the pole by less
then three hundreths of a second.

  RISING SUN, MD -- Final qualifying results Saturday from Cecil
Country Dragway, the first of six events in the Northeast
Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

  Eliminations begin in all categories on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car
elimination’s scheduled for 12 noon. Gates open at 8 a.m.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, NJ, 5.621, 246.80
2. Jay Payne, Upland, CA, 5.654, 248.43
3. Mike Kosky, Cuddy, PA, 5.702, 241.50
4. Douglas Foley, Tarrytown, NY, 5.762, 232.11
5. Ken Winward, Wilmington, DE, 5.943, 231.00 
6. Ned Ott, Bristol, PA, 5.953, 214.11
7. Gil Christian, Stephen City, VA, 6.319, 217.14
8. Stephen C Newcomb, Pembroke, Ma, 6.365, 210.05
---- Not Qualified ----
9. Skip Gladstone, West Chester, PA, 9.238, 84.26 
10. Fred Ahrberg, Bergenfield, NJ, 9.791, 74.14

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Frank Manzo, Morganville, NJ, ‘98 Avenger, 5.817, 246.80
2. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, NY, ‘98 Avenger, 5.851, 245.09
3. Fran Monaghan, Willow Grove, PA, ‘97 Avenger, 6.146, 233.48 
4. Sam Leland, Jarrettsville, MD, ‘96 Avenger, 6.182, 225.18
5. Rich Fenwick, Northfield, CT, ‘98 Avenger, 6.237, 233.56
6. Carnie Fryfogle, Manchester, MD, ‘97 Firebird, 6.249, 235.84 
7. John Sieger, Willingboro, NJ, ‘96 Achieva, 6.358, 216.00
8. Paul Gill, Brockton, MA, ‘96 Avenger, 6.453, 217.00
---- Not Qualified ----
9. Darrel Cox, Whiteford, MD, ‘96 Firebird, 6.486, 221.60
10. Eddie Fisher, Milford, CT, ‘95 Firebird, 6.747, 213.00

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, PA, H/A ‘96 Cutless, 8.442, -0.528
2. Rob Slavinski, Newark, OH, C/EA ‘93 Grand Prix, 8.344, -0.506
3. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, VA, F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.299, -0.491
4. Charlie Greco, Chester Springs, PA, C/EA ‘96 Firebird 8.370, -0.480
5. Larry Perkins, Collegeville, PA, B/EA ‘93 Cutless, 8.105, -0.465
6. David Strouse, Morganville, NJ, B/A ‘93 Cutless, 7.520, -0.450
7. Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, PA, E/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.633, -0.427
8. Bob Rossi Woodbridge, NJ, A/A ‘92 S & W, 6.950, -0.410
9. Frank Aragona, Franklin Square, NY, C/ED ‘94 Dragster, 7.582, -0.408
10. Mark Hopkins, Phoenixville, PA, C/A ‘92 Beretta, 7.863, -0.397

SUPER STOCK
1. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, PA, GT/HA ‘93 LeBaron, 10.339, -1.011.
2. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, PA, GT/JA ‘88 Camaro, 10.657, -0.993
3. Ray Scardelli, Manalapan, NJ, GT/J ‘97 Probe, 10.376, -0.974
4. Richard Diorio, South River, NJ, SS/PA ‘55 Chevrolet, 12.017, -0.933
5. Dennis Steward, Dover, PA, GT/EA ‘91 Daytona, 10.026, -0.924 
6. Russell Linke, Old Bridge, NJ, SS/JA ‘73 Corvette, 9.731, -0.922
7. Leon Miranian, Davidsonville, MD, SS/EA ‘68 Corvette, 9.731, -0.919
8. Joe Scott, Sunbury, PA, GT/IA ‘98 Firebird, 10.609, -0.891
9. Angelo DiTocco, Bronx, NY, GT/EA ‘92 Firebird, 10.077, -0.873
10. Bob Cupp, Alexandria, VA, SS/KA ‘65 Chevelle, 10.678, -0872

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Arthur Leong, Brooklyn, NY, CF/SA ‘88 Dodge, 13.923, -1.377
2. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, MD, C/SA ‘69 Mustang, 10.574, -1.126
3. Cecil Fraizer, Canton, MA, N/SA ‘91 Camaro, 12.193, -1.107
4. Braine Philbrick, Vinland, ON CAN, T/SA ‘75 Monza, 13.731, -1.069
5. Don Quinn, Rahway, NJ, I/SA ‘78 Nova, 11.558, -1.042
6. Billy Nees, Wharton, NJ, V/SA ‘70 Nova, 14.763, -1.037
7. James Roberts, Portsmouth, RI, I/S ‘69 Camaro, 11.490, -1.010
8. David LeBrun, Uncasville, CT, C/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.708, -.0992
9. Grag Schmutz, Pompton Plains, NJ, V/SA ‘80 Malibu, 14.810, -0.990
10. Marty Bernard, Brewerton, NY, Q/S ‘66 Caprice, 12.969, -0.981

  RISING SUN, MD -- Sunday brought both relief from the weather
and  hard fought racing action to the more than 475 racres at
The Federal-Mogul  Drag Racing Series event presented by NuCar
NewCastle Performance Center.  Number one qualifiers Cliff
Bozzelli in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Frank Manzo in Federal-
Mogul Funny Car marched their way though the fields and into
the winner’s circle at Celcil County Dragway.  

  Bozzelli and runner-up Jay Payne ran virtually identical elapsed
times all day and were set for a battle in the final round.
Disaster struck Payne when he broke a blower belt on the burn
out, leaving him stranded at half track.  With Payne’s car still
on track and thinking of the safety first, Bozzelli coasted to a
win at his first event of the season.  Bozzelli was quoted as “To
run with Jay all day, that’s awsome in itself, Jay’s always tough.
Everyone did their job today, hats off to my team.”

  Manzo faced off against Bob Newberry and set the Funny Car
top speed of the event at 248.61 mph covering the quarter-mile
strip in 5.809 seconds. Newberry shook the tires hard and had to
shut off at half track.  Prior to the final round all Manzo had
to say was, “We have to step it up, I know Bob will, and if he 
hooks up... watch out.”

RISING SUN RESULTS
DIVISION 1 INSTANT STATS
Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, Md.  May 1-3

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, NJ
	R/U: Jay Payne, Upland, CA, Broke
(Bozzelli coasted down track as Payne’s dragster remained on track
when he broke on his burn out).

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Frank Manzo, Morganville, NJ, ‘98 Avenger, 5.809, 248.61
	R/U: Bob Newberry Schenectady, NY, ‘98 Avenger, 11.983, 68.91

Competition
 	W: Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, VA, F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.250, 145.19
	R/U: Charlie Greco, Chester Springs, PA, C/EA ‘ 96 Firebird, 8.383, 161.15

Super Stock
 	W: Dan Fletcher, Rochester, NY, SS/JA ‘69 Camaro, 10.489, 125.25
	R/U: Angelo DiTocco, Bronx, NY, GT/EA ‘’92 Firebird, 10.057, 128.66

Stock
 	W: John Leach, Jarrettsville, MD, C/SA ‘69 Roadrunner, 11.044, 120.38
	R/U: George Tamasi Jr., Downington, PA, H/SA ‘69 Camaro, 11.959, 103.02

Super Comp
 	W: Dave Muller, Ewing, NJ, ‘96 Dragster, 8.900, 158.73
	R/U: James DiCiacco, Hopewell Jct. NY, ‘96 Dragster, 8.894, 162.02 (broke-out)

Super Gas
 	W: George Donhauser, Bel Air, MD, ‘79 Arrow, 9.912, 137.86
	R/U: Dan Northrop, Doylestown, PA, ‘74 Astre, 9.875, 134.26 (broke out).

Super Street
 	W: Jerry Pierie, Albany, NY, ‘97 Cutlas, 10.906, 139.83
	R/U: Bob Ferrell, 10.882, 132.58 (break-out)