FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHEAST DIVISION POINTS LEADERS
TOP QUALIFYING AT MONTGOMERY


   MONTGOMERY MOTORSPORTS PARK, Montgomery , Ala. -- The NHRA
Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series is back
in action at Montgomery Motorsports Park after nearly four
months since their last race.  Many of the racers have been
competing outside the division for valuable points toward
both divisional and national championships.

   Michael Gunderson and Tony Bartone, both Southeast
Division Champions and winners of this event in 1997 jumped
to the number one qualifying positions in Federal-Mogul
Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car respectively.  Gunderson
covered the quarter mile in 5.711 seconds at 243.83 mph with
Jay Payne right behind him at 5.714 e.t., 245.09 mph.
Gunderson and Payne are one and two in the Southeast Division
points standings coming into this weekends event. 

  Bartone is followed by Texas racer Todd Simpson in the
Federal-Mogul Funny Car category.  Bartone raced to a 6.047
second pass at 238.85 mph with Simpson securely in the number
two spot with a 6.437 e.t. at over 210 mph.  Dana Hearn of
Conyers, Ga., did a great job of driving her Camaro when the
car made a hard move toward the centerline right off the start.
Hearn managed to pull the car back to the center and is
qualified third with a 6.866 second pass.

  The Top Qualifier in Competition Eliminator is David Rampy
of Pieedmont, Ala., in his ‘34 Chevrolet.  Brent Johnson from
Lecompte, La., leads the Super Stock class with a 11.455
second pass, 0.995 under his index while Jim Cassels is on top
of  the Stock category in his ‘85 Camaro with a run of 12.140
seconds. Local favorite, Lamar Stevenson of Montgomery, leads
the Super Street class by just 11 points over Joe Ricky
Weldon of Valley, Ala. Both Stevenson and Weldon ran time
trials today and are competing this weekend. Qualifying
continues on Saturday with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-
Mogul Funny Car scheduled to run at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Gates open at 9:00 a.m. with racing beginning at 10:00 a.m.

   Montgomery, Ala. -- Provisional qualifying results Friday
from Montgomery Motorsports Park, the fifth of six events in
the NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
listing  driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in
seconds, and speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg,Fla., 5.711 seconds, 243.83 mph.
2. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.714, 245.09
3. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., 5.85, 232.97
4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.907 239.80
5. John Rose Jr., Feasterville, Pa., 5.961, 232.55
6. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 6.160, 206.09
7. Bob Bears jr., Oldsmar, Fla., 8.710, 88.15 shut off
8. Lee Kell, Attalla, Ala., 9.551, 94.70 shut off
  --- Not qualified ---
9. Con Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 12.532, 81.08 shut off

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1.  Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., ‘98 Firebird, 6.047 seconds, 238.85 mph
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘98 Avenger, 6.437, 210.08
3. Dana Hearn, Conyers, Ga., ‘97 Camaro, 6.866, 213.11
4. Carnie fryfogle, Manchester, Md., ‘97 Firebird, 9.012, 88.80

COMPETITION
1. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., B/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 8.270, (-0.500)
2. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Va., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.310, (-0.480)
3. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., D/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.600, (0.440)
4. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., A/EA ‘23 T-Altered, 7.654, (-0.376)
5. Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., E/A ‘97 Firebird, 8.569, (-0.291)
6. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A ‘92 Cutlass, 9.355, (-0.125)
7. Don Eberly, Bruncswick, Ga., C/EA ‘96 Beretta, 8.766, (-0.084)
8. David Eaton, Merritt island, Fla., A/A ‘32 Bantam, 7.466, (0.106)
9. Steve Gretman, Trou, Texas, D/A ‘96 Corvette, broke
 
SUPER STOCK
1. Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., SS/NA ‘66 Impala, 11.455, (-0.995)
2. Nick Dennis, Jacksonville, Fla., SS/NA ‘79 Volare, 11.563, (-0.887)
3. Jerry Harris, Oxford, Ala., SS/DS ‘95 Achieva, 10.966, (-0.834)
4. Jeff Taylor, Powell, Ohio, SS/BS ‘98 Grand Am, 9.174, (-0.826)
5. Mark Potts, Houston, Texas, SS/AM ‘95 Firebird, 8.739, (-0.811)
6. Jimmy Bridges, Nachville, Tenn., SS/E ‘68 Camaro, 9.750, (-0.800)
7. Craig Ruff, Tallassee, Ala., SS/NA ‘88 Cutlass, 11.662, (-0.788)
8. Ronnie Courtney, Johnston, S.C., GT/GA ‘80 Sunbird, 10.417, (-0.783)
9. John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, SS/CM ‘98 Grand Am, 9.139, (-0.761)
10. Gilbert Johnson Jr., Lecompte, La., GT/BA ‘95 Achieva, 9.811, (-0.739)

STOCK
1. Jim Cassels, Cairo, Ga., M/SA ‘85 Camaro, 12.140, (-1.010)
2. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., T/SA ‘66 Belair Wgn, 13.798, (-1.002)
3. Jeff Ferguson, Matairie, La., K/SA ‘78 Volare, 11.962, (-0.988)
4. Jeff Hairrington, Perry, Ga., D/SA ‘97 Firebird, 10.946, (-0.904)
5. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA ‘82 Cutlass, 14.252, (-0.898)
6. Randy Parker, Four Oaks, N.C., L/SA ‘85 Camaro, 12.149, (-0.851)
7. Danny Johnson, Pascagoula. Miss., M/SA ‘86 Trans Am, 12.311, (-0.839)
8. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA ‘69 Nova, 10.888, (-0.812)
9. Steven Wilson, Collierville, Tenn., E/S ‘94 Camaro, 11.139, (-0.811)
10. Gregory Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., M/SA ‘’89 Camaro, 12.351, (-0.799)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

BARTONE / GUNDERSON LEAD QUALIFYING AT MONTGOMERY

   MONTGOMERY MOTORSPORTS PARK, Montgomery , Ala. - Michael
Gunderson held off Jayne Payne in the Federal-Mogul Dragster
category to capture the number one spot and the Winston top
Qualifier money at Montgomery Motorsports Parks.  Gunderson
stayed consistent throughout qualifying at Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event recording a best pass of 5.711 second
pass at 243.83 mph.  Jay Payne remains in the number two spot
with a 5.714 at 245.09 mph.  Payne trails Gunderson by just 45
points for the NHRA Southeast Division Championship going into
tomorrow’s eliminations.

  Mike Bowers had a wild ride when his Federal-Mogul Dragster
got loose at half track.  “I saw (Jay) Payne next to me and
thought we were on a good pass.  Next thing I know, I was
staring at the guard wall and really had a struggle to get it
straightened out and keep it off the wall. That’s what happens
when you get oil under the tires at half track” voiced Bowers
of the run.

  Tony Bartone took the pole position in Federal-Mogul Funny
Car covering the quarter mile strip in 6.021 seconds at 238.91
mph. Bartone looks to clinch the division championship as Phil
Burkart, number two in the points, is not competing this
weekend.  Carnie Fryfogle is in the number two position with a
time of 6.045 seconds at 234.86 mph.

   The Top Qualifier in Competition Eliminator is David Rampy
of Piedmont, Ala., in his ‘34 Chevrolet.  Mike Cates leads the
Super Stock class while Jonathan Tarrance is the top qualifier
in the Stock category.

   Eliminations for the 566 competitors  begin on Sunday at 9:00
a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car
scheduled to run at 1:00 p.m.  Gates open at 8:00 a.m.

   Montgomery, Ala. -- Finals qualifying results Friday from
Montgomery Motorsports Park, the fifth of six events in the NHRA
Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing
driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and
speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg,Fla., 5.711, 243.83
2. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.714, 245.09
3. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.734, 228.89 
4. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., 5.785, 241.22
5. Bob Bears Jr., Oldsmar, Fla., 5.866, 233.88
6. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.907 239.80
7. John Rose Jr., Feasterville, Pa., 5.941, 233.40
8. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 6.078, 218.55
   --- not qualified ---
9. Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.153, 199.15
10. Lee Kell, Attalla, Ala., 6.317, 222.16
11. Con Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 8.641, 106.67

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., ‘98 Firebird, 6.047, 238.85
2. Carnie fryfogle, Manchester, Md., ‘97 Firebird, 6.045, 234.86
3. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., ‘95 Achieva, 6.119, 225.86
4. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘98 Avenger, 6.414, 218.87
5. Dana Hearn, Conyers, Ga., ‘97 Camaro, 6.586, 222.49
6. Ed Marx, Norcross, Ga., ‘95 Uyehara, 6.590, 220.21

COMPETITION
1. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., B/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 8.270, (-0.500)
2. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A ‘92 Cutlass, 8.987, (-0.493)
3. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Va., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.310, (-0.480)
4. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., D/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.596, (0.444)
5. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., A/EA ‘23 T-Altered, 7.626, (-0.404)
6. Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., E/A ‘97 Firebird, 8.569, (-0.291)
7. Jim Dupuy, Metairie, La., C/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 9.217, (-0.183)
8. Don Eberly, Bruncswick, Ga., C/EA ‘96 Beretta, 8.766, (-0.084)
9. Dean Dunaway, Madison, Miss., A/ED ‘97 Racecraft, 7.652, (-0.020)
10. David Eaton, Merritt island, Fla., A/A ‘32 Bantam, 7.350, (-0.010)

SUPER STOCK
1. Mike Cates, Milan, Tenn., SS/M ‘64 Comet, 10.889, (-1.011)
2.  Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., SS/NA ‘66 Impala, 11.443, (-1.007)
2. Johnny Fogle, Weeses, S.C., SS/HA ‘67 Camaro, 9.955, (-0.945)
4. Nick Dennis, Jacksonville, Fla., SS/NA ‘79 Volare, 11.540, (-0.910)
5. Kenneth Horne, Fayetteville, N.C., GT/EA ‘97 Achieva, 10.064, (-0.886)
6. Jerry Harris, Oxford, Ala., SS/DS ‘95 Achieva, 10.924, (-0.876)
7. Joey Warren, Clinton, N.C., GT/CA ‘87 Camaro, 9.846, (-0.854)
8. Craig Ruff, Tallassee. Ala., SS/NA ‘88 Cutlass, 11.596, (-0.854)
9. Mark Potts, Houston, Texas, SS/AM ‘95 Firebird, 8.697, (-0.853)
10.  Jeff Taylor, Powell, Ohio, SS/BS ‘98 Grand Am, 9.157, (-0.843)

STOCK
1. Jonathan Tarrance, Bremen, Ky., V/SA ‘82 Monte Carlo, 14.673, (-1.127)
2. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., T/SA ‘66 Belair Wgn, 13.745, (-1.055)
3. Randy Payne, Rome, Ga., E/SA ‘97 Firebird, 10.953, (-1.047)
4. Jim Cassels, Cairo, Ga., M/SA ‘85 Camaro, 12.140, (-1.010)
5. Jeff Ferguson, Matairie, La., K/SA ‘78 Volare, 11.962, (-0.988)
6. J-Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., H/SA ‘86 Camaro, 11.543, (-0.907)
7. Jeff Hairrington, Perry, Ga., D/SA ‘97 Firebird, 10.946, (-0.904)
8. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA ‘82 Cutlass, 14.246, (-0.904)
9. Gregory Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., M/SA ‘’89 Camaro, 12.255, (-0.895)
10. Garry Glazener, Jackson, S.C., G/SA ‘72 Mustang, 11.409, (-0.891)

MARX AND BUFF POST UPSET WINS AT MONTGOMERY

MONTGOMERY MOTORSPORTS PARK, Montgomery, Ala. -- Troy Buff of
Spring, Texas took out the number one qualifier and Southeast
Division points leader to capture the win in the Federal-Mogul
Dragstrer class at Montgomery Motorsports Park.  Buff posted
a time of 5.813 seconds at 238.91 mph to beat Michael
Gunderson’s 5.940, 233.03 mph.  Buff had a bye in the first
round before beating John Rose Jr. in the semi final and
advancing to the final against Gunderson.

  “It’s great to beat Gunderson, especially down here in
Division 2. He’s the man to beat around here.  Everyone came
together and did their job today” Buff voiced.

  Gunderson did however, gain valuable points toward the
southeast Division Championship as Jay Payne, number two in the
points chase, was upset by John Rose Jr. in round one.

   Ed Marx came from the sixth qualifying postion to take the
win in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.  Marx meet up with number one
qualifier Tony Bartone in round one and took the easy victory
when Bartone broke a camshaft on the burnout.  

   In a semi final match up between Todd Simpson and Carnie
Fryfogle both drivers had problems ending both drivers hopes
of the event championship.  Simpson shook hard disconecting the
coil wire which shut the car off.  In the opposite lane,
Feyfogle took the win but broke the transmission and was unable
to make the call for the finals giving Marx a bye run for the
championship.

  Mike Saye qualified number one in the Comp. Eliminator category
and never looked back.  The South Carolina resident beat the
number three qualifier Allen Stanfield in the final with a 8.986
second pass at 150.05 mph to Stanfield’s 9.314, 144.55.

MONTGOMERY RESULTS
DIVISION 2 INSTANT STATS
Montgomery Motorsports Park, Montgomery, Ala.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.813, 238.91
	R/U: Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.940, 233.03

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Ed Marx, Norcross, Ga., ‘95 Uyehara
	R/U: Carnie Fryfogle, Manchester, Md., ‘97 Firebird, (no show-broke)

Competition
 	W: Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A ‘92 Cutlass, 8.986, 150.05
	R/U: Allen stanfield, Fredricksburg, Va., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.134, 144.55

Super Stock
 	W: Brent Johnson, Lecompte. La., SS/NA ‘66 Impala, 11.485, 113.46
	R/U: John Coughlin, Columbus, Ohio, SS/CM ‘98 Grand Am, 9.297, 141.17

Stock
 	W: Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA ‘83 Malibu Wgn, 12.466, 98.65
	R/U: Jeff Hairrington, Perry, Ga., D/SA ‘97 Firebird, 10.946, 119.80

Super Comp
 	W: Todd Senseney, Clarksville, Tenn., ‘96 Mullis, 8.943, 163.84
	R/U: Ray Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., ‘98 Ray Miller, 8.922, 158.20

Super Gas
 	W: Vasil John, New Orleans, La., ‘96 Pontiac, 9.909, 156.49
	R/U: Wayne Bogle, Cocoa, Fla., ‘57 Chevy, 9.857, 147.22

Super Street
 	W: Bob Krummel, Deer Park, Texas, ‘67 Camaro, 10.883, 128.73
	R/U: Greg Glenn, Cape Coral, Fla., ‘86 Chevy S-10, 10.879, 119.80