FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEATHER SCRUBS FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER, FUNNY CAR
QUALIFYING AT IRP; OTHER CATEGORIES RUN ON FIRST DAY

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Friday's weather caused cancellation of the first
qualifying session for Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny
Cars at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but racers in all other categories got
at least one run.

The dragsters and funny cars will qualifying twice on Saturday, at 1:00
p.m. and 5:00 p.m., in the opening event for the North Central Division
in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

In Competition Eliminator, Larry Pritchett of Clarkrange, Tenn. posted
the best qualifying time with an 8.306 elapsed time in his D/SM '96
Pontiac, the time being .534 under his class index.

Ed Bennett III of Carlton, Mich. was second fastest at .489 under the
index for his B/A '63 Corvette at 7.481.

Brian Browell of Lafayette was the top Indiana driver in Comp qualifying
in 5th place, while Larry Mayes of Greenwood, who was the top qualifier
at the Pennzoil Nationals in Virginia last week, was ninth after the
first round.  Wayne Henderson of Indianapolis was 14th, and Bucky Burk
of Franklin was 22nd.

The Comp cars will get two qualifying passes on Saturday if the weather
permits.

Joe Skinner of Columbia Station, Ohio was the top qualifier in Super
Stock, with run at 9.819, .981 under his class index.

Bo Butner of Floyds Knobs, Ind. is fourth, Bill Schmalzt of Osgood is
6th, and Fred Allen of Winamac is 8th.

In Stock Eliminator, the top spot went to Al Provoast of Whittemore,
Mich. with a 12.392 E.T., .908 under his index.

Darrell Steiger of Indianapolis was the first Indiana qualifier in
tenth place.

A total of 24 Federal-Mogul Dragsters are entered in this weekend's
event, with ten Federal-Mogul Funny Cars entered, including the
defending champion of the event, John Lawson of Joliet, Ill.

Gates at IRP will open at 7:00 a.m. each day Saturday and Sunday.

Eliminations begin at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, with the first round of
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car set for 1:00 p.m.

TOP TEN QUALIFIERS

Competition Eliminator
Pos.	Driver/Hometown	Car	E.T.	+/- Index
1.	Larry Pritchett/Clarkrange, Tenn.	D/SM 77 Buick	8.306	-0.534
2.	Ed Bennett III/Carleton, Mich.	B/A 63 Corvette	7.481	-0.489
3.	Garth Hill/Mt. Morris, Mich.	E/ED 91 S&W Bowen	8.750	-0.450
4.	Doug Stewart/Edwardsburg, Mich.	B/ED 97 Spitzer	7.218	-0.442
5.	Brian Browell/Lafayette, Ind.	D/D 97 McKinney	7.587	-0.433
6.	Jerry Arnold/Kalamazoo, Mich.	E/EA 32 Bantam	8.743	-0.427
7.	Todd Frantz/Louisville, Ky.	D/ED 96 Spitzer	7.731	-0.419
8.	Bob Andrews/Somerset, Mich.	E/D 88 Dragster	7.784	-0.406
9.	Larry Mayes/Greenwood, Ind.	D/SM 96 Camaro	8.457	-0.383
10.	Terry Smith/Williamstown, W. Va.	A/EA 32 Bantam	7.650	-0.380

Super Stock
Pos.	Driver/Hometown	Car	E.T.	+/- Index
1.	Joe Skinner/Columbia Station, Ohio	GT/E 88 Beretta	9.819	-0.981
2.	Jeff Sexton/Fairborn, Ohio	SS/AX 84 Camaro	9.056	-0.944
3.	Charlie Westcott Jr./Parma, Mich.	GT/G 91 Chevy	10.116	-0.934
4.	Bob Butner/Floyds Knobs, Ind.	SS/AM 96 Achieva	8.642	-0.908
5.	Randy Mans/Rogers, Minn.	GT/KA 95 Olds	10.868	-0.882
6.	Bill Schmaltz/Osgood, Ind.	SS/AM 88 Pontiac	8.689	0.861
7.	Robin Brown/Madisonville, Ky.	SS/K 66 Chevy II	10.486	-0.814
8.	Fred Allen/Winamac, Ind.	SS/IA 66 Nova	10.191	-0809
9.	Gene McBean/Chardon, Ohio	SS/FA 69 Mustang	9.959	-0.791
10.	Kenny Schindler/Hendersonville, Tenn.	SS/E 68 Corvette	9.764	-0.786

Stock Eliminator
Pos.	Driver/Hometown	Car	E.T.	+/- Index
1.	Al Provoast/Whittemore, Mich.	N/SA 79 Buick	12.392	-0.908
2.	Joe Russell/East Sparta, Ohio	L/S 95 Ford	12.094	-0.906
3.	Gary Russell/East Sparta, Ohio	C/SA 98 Pontiac	10.878	-0.822
4.	Darwin Hardy/Muskegon, Mich.	U/SA 84 Buick	14.330	-0.820
5.	Mike Keener/Birmingham, Mich.	B/S 69 Camaro	10.681	-0.819
6.	Judy McCormack/Milford, Mich.	DT/SA 98 Dodge	12.699	-0.801
7.	Jennifer Dziorny/Wixom, Mich.	CT/SA 94 Dakota	12.549	-0.801
8.	John Foxbower/Franklin, Ohio	C/SA 68 Mustang	10.919	-0.-781
9.	Paul Mercure/White Lake, Mich.	A/S 68 Camaro	10.508	-0.742
10.	Darrell Steiger/Indianapolis, Ind.	J/SA 80 Volare	12.054	-0.696

Saturday Qualifying Final:

BOWEN SETS NEW TRACK RECORD TO TAKE TOP SPOT IN
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER FIELD; CRAIG FIRST IN FUNNY CAR

Missing Friday's scheduled first round of qualifying in the North
Central Division opener of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at
Indianapolis Raceway Park because of the weather didn't seem to affect
the performance of the two premier categories.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster, Shawn Bowen of Montrose, Mich. blasted down
the famous quarter-mile to a new track record elapsed time of 5.656
seconds, on a run which saw him shut off before the finish line.

Noting that his speed was "only" 225 mph in the traps, Bowen explained
that he encountered a mechanical problem near the end of the run.

"Something broke in the rear end and it started shaking bad," he
commented, "and I had to shut it off early."

Keith Stark of Danville, Ill. was the second fastest qualifier at
5.684, and had the top speed for the class at 252.73.

The entire eight-car field in Federal-Mogul Dragster was under six
seconds, with Gary Ward of Cincinnati, Ohio taking the bubble spot at
5.942.

Bowen will run Ward in Sunday's first round at 1:00 p.m., with Stark
taking on the seventh fastest qualifier, Don DeVault of Kentland, Ind.

Jeff Craig of Daleville, Ind., who made his debut in Federal-Mogul
Funny Car at this race last year just a week after earning his license
and was the runner-up, earned the top spot in that category with a
5.773 clocking at 241.35 that surprised him.

"5.77? Wow!," he exclaimed.  "It was so smooth I thought it was a 6.20
or so.  That's fantastic."

John Lawson of Joliet, Ill., the winner of last year's event, was
second fastest at 5.817 and 246.98.

Larry Pritchett of Clarkrange, Tenn., held on to the top qualifying
spot in competition eliminator by running an 8.260 E.T., .580 under
his class index.

Federal-Mogul Dragster Qualifiers
	Pos.	Driver/Hometown	E.T.	Speed
	1.	Shawn Bowen/Montrose, Mich.	6.656	225.00
	2.	Keith Stark/Danville, Ill.	5.684	252.73
	3.	Tom Beecham/Downers Grove, Ill.	5.776	242.71
	4.	Jeff Wilson/Winfield, Mo.	5.810	241.80
	5.	Bill McCornack/Lexington, Ky.	5.828	240.38
	6.	Bill Reichert/Owosso, Mich.	5.834	238.79
	7.	Don DeVault/Kentland, Ind.	5.863	238.66
	8.	Gary Ward/Cincinnati, Ohio	5.942	231.06

Federal-Mogul Funny Car Qualifiers
	Pos.	Driver/Hometown	E.T.	Speed
	1.	Jeff Craig/Daleville, Ind.	5.773	241.35
	2.	John Lawson/Joliet, Ill.	5.817	246.98
	3.	Marc White/Glendale Hts., Ill.	5.844	242.84
	4.	Kim Fritts/Greenup, Ill.	5.955	235.72
	5.	Fred Mandolini/Schiller Park, Ill.	6.066	192.71
	6.	Bob Gottschalk/Toledo, Ohio	6.152	235.10
	7.	Larry Bakke/Madison, Wis.	6.305	224.43
	8.	John Reikas III/Glendale Hts., Ill.	6.432	216.81

Competition Eliminator Qualifiers
	Pos.	Driver/Hometown	E.T.	+/- Index
	1.	Larry Pritchett/Clarkrange, Tenn.	8.260	0.580
	2.	Bob Andrews/Somerset, Mich.	7.625	0.565
	3.	Dave Dupps/Germantown, Ohio	8.244	0.556
	4.	Brian Browell/Lafayette, Ind.	7.472	0.548
	5.	Robert Bailey/Wabash, Ind.	6.859	0.511
	6.	Mike Wharram/Morton, Ill.	7.153	0.507
	7.	Steve Ambrose/Woodhaven, Mich.	8.113	0.507
	8.	Ed Bennett III/Carlton, Mich.	7.467	0.503
	9.	Garth Hill/Mount Morris, Mich.	8.702	0.498
	10.	Ian Landies/Chardon, Ohio	8.184	0.496
	11.	Todd Frantz/Louisville, Ky.	7.660	0.490
	12.	Larry Mayes/Greenwood, Ind.	8.352	0.488
	13.	Doug Stewart/Edwardsburg, Mich.	7.188	0.472
	14.	Gary Merrick/Youngstown, Ohio	7.212	0.448
	15.	Jerry Arnold/Kalamazoo, Mich.	8.738	0.432
	16.	Frank Glusic/Mundelein, Ill.	8.448	0.412
	17.	Sherrill Huff/Shepherdsville, Ky.	8.439	0.411
	18.	Michael Coppel/East Peoria, Ill.	6.951	0.409
	19.	Ted May/Cary, Ill.	7.216	0.404
	20.	Jody Schmeisser/Zion, Ill.	8.712	0.398
	21.	Terry Smith/Williamstown, W. Va.	7.632	0.398
	22.	Dennis Meli/Poland, Ohio	8.144	0.396
	23.	Wayne Henderson/Indianapolis, Ind.	6.988	0.382
	24.	Mike Farrell/Louisville, Ky.	7.663	0.367
	25.	George Gallimore/Memphis, Tenn.	6.994	0.366
	26.	Mike Lund/Bettendorf, Iowa	8.422	0.348
	27.	Bucky Burke/Franklin, Ind.	7.916	0.344
	28.	Ed Koerner/Grand Ledge, Mich.	8.440	0.330
	29.	Burt Dawson/East Liverpool, Ohio	8.580	0.270
	30.	Steve Johnson/Milwaukee, Wis.	8.285	0.255
	31.	Russ Kelly/Omaha, Neb.	7.142	0.228
	32.	Jeff Stealy/Moline, Ill.	7.774	0.216

STARK RETURNS TO IRP IN STYLE WITH FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER WIN;
BOB GOTTSCHALK TAKES VICTORY IN FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR

	INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Keith Stark returned to Indianapolis Raceway
Park in Federal-Mogul Dragster competition for the first time in two
years on Sunday, and polished the day off with a victory in the category,
albeit probably not in the style he would have preferred.

	Stark also won the premier class in the opening event of the 1996
season North Central Division opener of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series, but missed the 1997 event along with most of the season
after suffering serious hand injuries in a crash at the Mac Tools
Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. in March of last year.

	"I really think we're back," the Danville, Ill. driver said after
the final on Sunday, echoing the statement he made after winning the
same category in the 1998 Mac Tools event about six weeks ago.

	Stark's run wasn't spectacular, and it was a single.  An
anticipated battle between Stark and the No. 1 qualifier, Shawn Bowen,
didn't materialize when the driver from Montrose, Mich. couldn't
return for the final because of mechanical problems suffered on his
semi-final win over Jeff Wilson of Winfield, Mo.

	On the launch at the green light, Stark's car encountered tire
shake and the engine sputtered, and he shut off about 200 feet out,
coasting through to an elapsed time of 9.934 seconds and a speed of
92.27 mph - far off his best run of the weekend, a 5.511 and 260.04
in a second round win over Don DeVault of Kentland, Ind.  Both the
E.T. and speed were records for the category at IRP.

	"I shut it off after it shook so bad," he commented.  "There
wasn't any reason to punish it on a single."

	The Federal-Mogul Funny Car final featured a pair of veterans -
Fred Mandoline of Schiller Park, Ill. and Bob Gottschalk of Toledo,
Ohio.

	It was close only at the start, as Mandoline's car tossed a
supercharger belt at about 300 feet and Gottschalk raced to a 6.097
at 240.04.

	In Competition Eliminator, Mike Wharram of Morton, Ill. drove
his dragster to a 7.149 E.T. at 185.56 to defeat another dragster
driven by last September's NHRA U.S. Nationals champion, Todd
Frantz of Louisville, Ky.  Frantz posted a 7.607 at 170.87.

	The Super Stock title went to Randy Mans of Rogers, Minn.,
whose '95 Oldsmobile ran a 10.813 at 125.31 in the final while
defeating Bo Butner of Floyds Knobs, Ind.  Butner's '96 Olds
Achieva recorded an 8.575 at 160.19 in the handicap format.

	Jerry Bennett of Mayfield, Ky. was the winner in Stock
Eliminator with his '79 Aspen, recording an 11.771 at 105.28 to
beat Chris Hardy of Muskegon, Mich., who had an E.T. of 15.208
at 84.48 in his '71 Chevelle.

	In Super Comp, with an 8.90 index, Forrest Lipke of
Middletown, Wis. drove his dragster to an 8.964 and 158.36 to top
Bill Leahey of Columbus, Ohio and his dragster.  Leahey had a
9.004 and 160.59 against the 8.90 index.

	Greg Kamplain of North Salem`, Ind., a regular competitor at
IRP, won the Super Gas title with a 9.955 pass against the 9.90
index at 137.13 in his '27 Roadster, with Carl Root of
Washington, Ill. getting the runner-up spot in his '63 Chevy II
at 8.959 and 137.59.

	The Super Street final saw a double breakout, as Rich Pica
of Coshocton, Ohio and his '67 Chevrolet ran a 10.879 and
126.49 to Ron Folk's 10.867 and 135.23, giving Pica the win on
the lesser of the two breakouts against the 10.90 index.

	A total of 640 cars were entered in the event.

CLERMONT RESULTS
DIVISION 3 INSTANT STATS
Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind.  May 1-3

Federal-Mogul Dragster
W:	Keith Stark/Danville, Ill.	'98 Spitzer	.624	9.343	92.27
R/U:	Shawn Bowen/Montrolse, Mich.	'97 Bowen	BROKE

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
W:	Bob Gottschalk/Toledo, Ohio	'98 Dodge	.432	6.097	240.44
R/U:	Fred Mandoline/Schiller Park, Ill.	'96 Dodge	.479	9.148	94.93

Competition Eliminator
W:	Mike Wharram/Morton, Ill.	'95 Dragster	.504	7.149	185.56
R/U:	Todd Frantz/Louisville, Ky.	'96 Spitzer	.557	7.607	170.87

Super Stock
W:	Randy Mans/Rogers, Minn.	'95 Olds	.518	10.813	125.31
R/U:	Bo Butner/Floyd Knobs, Ind.	'96 Achieva	.529	8.575	160.19

Stock Eliminator
W:	Jerry Bennett/Mayfield, Ky.	'79 Aspen	.503	11.771	105.28
R/U:	Chris Hardy/Muskegon, Mich.	'71 Chevelle	.554	15.208	84.46

Super Comp
W:	Forrest Lipke/Middletown, Wis.	'96 Dragster	.438	8.964	158.36
R/U:	Bill Leahey/Columbus, Ohio	'93 Dragster	.405	9.004	160.59

Super Gas
W:	Greg Kamplain/North Salem, Ind.	'27 Roadster	.403	9.955	137.13
R/U:	Carl Root/Washington, Ill.	'63 Chevy II	.421	9.959	137.59

Super Street
W:	Rick Pica/Coshocton, Ohio	'67 Chevrolet	.514	10.879	126.49
R/U:	Ron Folk/Durand, Ill.	'89 Cavalier	.521	10.867	135.23