FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BAYTOWN’S SHANE GAY LEADS DRAGSTERS

   HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, Baytown, Texas -- Competing in
front of a home-town crowd, Baytown’s Shane Gay led
qualifying in the Federal-Mogul Dragster class after
one of three scheduled time-trail attempts at the
Pennzoil Winter Classic, the first of six rounds in the
1998 NHRA South Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series.

   In a wild qualifying session for the dragsters, Gay’s
In-N-Out Burger-sponsored entry recorded a 5.53-second
run at just 198 mph, narrowly avoiding a collision with
Mansfield’s Bill Ancona, whose car careened out of control
when the left-rear tire deflated at the finish line.

   “Out of my peripheral vision I could see Bill was in
trouble,” said Gay.  “I could see sparks coming from his
car, and the front wheels looked like they were simply
flapping in the air.”

   Explained Ancona, “At the 1,000-feet mark I heard a
loud bang, which was the left tire exploding.  The front
end [of the car] came around on me and I had the steering
wheel turned hard to the left.  So hard it broke the
right front wheel.  As I crossed the centerline Shane
squeezed by me.”

   Ancona admitted he expected the car to crash but a
superior driving job kept the car upright.  Damage,
however, was significant with the rear wing and
transmission broken, as well as the front end of the
race car.   Ancona’s team will assess the damage
overnight before deciding if the car can be repaired for
Saturday’s final qualifying attempts.

   In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category Artesia,
N.M.’s Tate Branch led the field with a career-best 5.73-
second run in his Dodge Avenger-bodied entry.  Branch’s
run, too, was action filled.  As the funny car approached
the finish line the windshield broke, sending pieces into
the air and the cockpit.  Adding to Branch’s problems the
engine caught fire as it kicked two connecting rods.
Branch brought the car to a safe halt and will make repairs
in time for Saturday’s qualifying attempts.

   Time Trials continue at Houston Raceway Park Saturday,
with the gates opening at 8:00 a.m.  Federal-Mogul
Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Car receive two more
qualifying attempts at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 



Positions after the first day of qualifying at Houston
Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas, the first of six rounds in
the 1998 NHRA South Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shane Gay, Baytown, Texas, 5.534, 198.76
2. Bill Ancona, Mansfield, Texas, 5.719, 252.38
3. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.782, 239.42
4. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.813, 247.79
5. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 6.670, 154.87
6. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 7.113, 117.58
7. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 7.813, 108.86
8. Darrell Russell, Cypress, Texas, 11.120, 71.20

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., ‘97 Avenger, 5.739, 249.37
2. Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., ‘98 Firebird, 6.229, 192.71
3. Ron Morrision, Oklahoma City, Okla., ‘95 Cutlass, 6.342, 192.71
4. Jackie Stidham, Chichasha, Okla., ‘98 Acheiva, 7.659, 123.16
5. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘97 Avenger, 9.868, 88.22

COMPETITION
1. Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, F/ED dragster, 8.499 (-0.611)
2. Brian Self, Durant, Okla., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.776 (-0.604)
3. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.350 (-0.570)
4. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, B/EA ‘96 Camaro, 8.007 (-0.563)
5. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.159 (-0.551)
6. Sergio Garcia, Mission, Texas, G/A ‘92 Camaro, 9.006 (-0.514)
7. Jeff Naiser, Houston, Texas, B/ED dragster, 7.206 (-0.454)
8. Arthur Sauceda, Houston, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.260 (-0.450)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA ‘97 Firehawk, 10.817 (-1.233)
2. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 8.938 (-1.062)
3. Clark Rand, Belton, Mo., GT/AA ‘90 Camaro, 9.426 (-0.974)
4. Gilbert Johnson Jr., Lecompte, La., GT/MA ‘91 Calais, 11.104 (-0.946)
5. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, GT/GA ‘97 Firebird, 10.262 (-0.938)
6. Bill Cassil, Earlville, Iowa, SS/K ‘66 Nova, 10.368 (-0.932)
7. Sal Biondo, Dix Hills, N.Y., SS/DM 95 Firebird, 9.288 (-0.912)
8. Sid Bonnecarrere, Gray, La., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 9.102 (-0.898)

STOCK
1. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA ‘69 Nova, 10.552 (1.148)
2. Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., E/SA ‘96 Firebird, 10.996 (-1.004)
3. Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La, G/SA ‘95 Camaro, 11.309 (-0.991)
4. Pat Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.975 (-0.975)
5. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., J/SA ‘79 Aspen, 11.786 (-0.964)
6. Sammy Pizzolato, Houma, La., F/SA ‘73 Oldsmobile, 11.189 (-0.961)
7. Joe Teuton, Houma, La., FT/SA ‘97 Dodge, 12.615 (-0.935)
8. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA ‘90 Pontiac, 12.029 (-0.921)

Saturday Qualifying First Session:

GAY RECORDS 5.39, STRENGTHENS HOLD ON POLE POSITION

   HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, Baytown, Texas -- Shane Gay,
driving the Jerry Darien-Ken Meadows-owned In-N-Out Burger
Federal-Mogul Dragster, recorded the third-quickest run in
class history with a 5.397-second lap during the second-round
of qualifying at the Pennzoil Winter Classic.  Gay’s run puts 
him three-tenths of a second ahead of his nearest competitor,
Shelly Howard, who recorded a 5.69-second pass Saturday
afternoon.

   Tate Branch’s opening 5.73-second lap recorded Friday
evening continues to lead the Federal-Mogul Funny Car pack,
although reigning NHRA South Central division champion
Jackie Stidham served notice he will contend for the No. 1
qualifying position with a 5.75-second run recorded Saturday.

   The third and final round of qualifying runs are slated
to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Positions after the second round of qualifying at Houston
Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas, the first of six rounds in
the 1998 NHRA South Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shane Gay, Baytown, Texas, 5.397, 244.10
2. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.691, 245.16
3. Bill Ancona, Mansfield, Texas, 5.719, 252.38
4. James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, 5.733, 201.25
5. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.782, 239.42
6. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.813, 247.79
7. Scott Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 5.936, 221.29
8. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 6.193, 230.12

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., ‘97 Avenger, 5.739, 249.37
2. Jackie Stidham, Chichasha, Okla., ‘98 Acheiva, 5.752, 245.90
3. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘97 Avenger, 5.954, 241.48
4. Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., ‘98 Firebird, 6.140, 231.24
5. Ron Morrision, Oklahoma City, Okla., ‘95 Cutlass, 6.342, 192.71
6. Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., ‘96 Firebird, 20.139, 35.62

COMPETITION
1. Sergio Garcia, Mission, Texas, G/A ‘92 Camaro, 8.884 (-0.636)
2. Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, F/ED dragster, 8.499 (-0.611)
3. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.312 (-0.608)
4. Brian Self, Durant, Okla., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.776 (-0.604)
5. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., C/A ‘97 Pontiac, 7.721 (-0.569)
6. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, B/EA ‘96 Camaro, 8.007 (-0.563)
7. Arturo Delgado, McAllen, Texas, B/A ‘93 Oldsmobile, 7.415 (-0.555)
8. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.159 (-0.551)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA ‘97 Firehawk, 10.817 (-1.233)
2. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 8.910 (-1.090)
3. Harvey Emmons III, SS/JA ‘95 Pontiac, 10.322 (-0.978)
4. Clark Rand, Belton, Mo., GT/AA ‘90 Camaro, 9.423 (-0.977)
5. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., SS/CM ‘95 Achieva, 8.942 (-0.958)
6. Bobby Cassard, SS/KA ‘87 Firebird, 10.599 (-0.951)
7. Gilbert Johnson Jr., GT/MA ‘91 Calais, 11.104 (-0.946)
8. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, GT/GA ‘97 Firebird, 10.262 (-0.938)

STOCK
1. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA ‘69 Nova, 10.546 (-1.154)
2. Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., E/SA ‘96 Firebird, 10.996 (-1.004)
3. Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La, G/SA ‘95 Camaro, 11.309 (-0.991)
4. Pat Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.975 (-0.975)
5. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., J/SA ‘79 Aspen, 11.786 (-0.964)
6. Sammy Pizzolato, Houma, La., F/SA ‘73 Oldsmobile, 11.189 (-0.961)
7. J. Allen Sherman, H/SA ‘86 Camaro, 11.506 (-0.944)
8. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA ‘90 Pontiac, 12.009 (-0.941)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

GAY RECORDS 5.39, PUTS LOCK ON POLE POSITION

   HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, Baytown, Texas -- Rookie driver
Shane Gay of Baytown, Texas, claimed the second No. 1
qualifying position of his short career with a career-best
5.397-second run to lead all Federal-Mogul Dragsters at
the Pennzoil Winter Classic.

   Gay, driving the Southern California-based In-N-Out
Burger dragster owned by Jerry Darien and Ken Meadows,
made his competition debut in the Federal-Mogul Dragster
category at Pomona Raceway, Pomona, Calif., two weeks
ago, qualifying on the pole position with a 5.44-second
run. Saturday at Houston Raceway Park Gay improved on
that number with the 5.39-second run, the third-quickest
pass in class history.  Three tenths of a second
separated Gay from his nearest competitor, Tulsa, Okla.’s
Shelly Howard, who qualified second with a 5.69-second run.

   The spread between first and second places in Federal-
Mogul Funny Car was somewhat smaller as just two
hundredths of a second separated Tate Branch and Jackie
Stidham.  Branch, of Artesia, N.M., claimed the pole
position with a career-best 5.73-second lap recorded
Friday evening; Stidham ran a 5.75 Saturday.

   Eliminations begin Sunday at 9:00 a.m., with the
quarterfinals of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul
Funny Car scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.


1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

Final qualifying positions at Houston Raceway Park,
Baytown, Texas, the first of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA
South Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing
driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds,
speed in miles per hour.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shane Gay, Baytown, Texas, 5.397, 244.10
2. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.691, 245.16
3. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.710, 241.28
4. Bill Ancona, Mansfield, Texas, 5.719, 252.38
5. James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, 5.733, 201.25
6. Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.809, 214.33
7. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.813, 247.79
7. Scott Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 5.936, 221.29

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., ‘97 Avenger, 5.739, 249.37
2. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., ‘98 Acheiva, 5.752, 245.90
3. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘97 Avenger, 5.954, 241.48
4. Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., ‘98 Firebird, 5.994, 237.71
5. Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, Okla., ‘95 Cutlass, 6.342, 192.71
6. Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., ‘96 Firebird, 20.139, 35.62

COMPETITION
1. Sergio Garcia, Mission, Texas, G/A ‘92 Camaro, 8.884 (-0.636)
2. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., C/A ‘97 Pontiac, 7.657 (-0.633)
3. Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, F/ED dragster, 8.499 (-0.611)
4. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.312 (-0.608)
5. Brian Self, Durant, Okla., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.776 (-0.604)
6. Ruben Celedon, Edinburg, Texas, D/A ‘94 Cutlass, 8.009 (-0.571)
7. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, B/EA ‘96 Camaro, 8.007 (-0.563)
8. Arturo Delgado, McAllen, Texas, B/A ‘93 Oldsmobile, 7.415 (-0.555)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA ‘97 Firehawk, 10.817 seconds (1.233)
2. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 8.910 (-1.090)
3. Harvey Emmons III, South Houston, Texas, SS/JA ‘95 Pontiac, 10.322 (-0.978)
4. Clark Rand, Belton, Mo., GT/AA ‘90 Camaro, 9.423 (-0.977)
5. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., SS/CM ‘95 Achieva, 8.942 (-0.958)
6. Bobby Cassard, Donaldsonville, La., SS/KA ‘87 Firebird, 10.599 (-0.951)
7. Gilbert Johnson Jr., Lecompte, La., GT/MA ‘91 Calais, 11.104 (-0.946)
8. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, GT/GA ‘97 Firebird, 10.262 (-0.938)

STOCK
1. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA ‘69 Nova, 10.546 (-1.154)
2. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, F/SA ‘97 Trans Am, 11.142 (-1.008)
3. Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., E/SA ‘96 Firebird, 10.996 (-1.004)
4. Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La, G/SA ‘95 Camaro, 11.301 (-0.999)
5. Pat Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.975 (-0.975)
6. J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., H/SA ‘86 Camaro, 11.484 (-0.966)
7. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., J/SA ‘79 Aspen, 11.786 (-0.964)
8. Sammy Pizzolato, Houma, La., F/SA ‘73 Oldsmobile, 11.189 (-0.961)

GAY WINS FOR FIRST TIME IN SECOND TRY

   HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, Baytown, Texas -- Shane Gay of
Baytown, Texas, claimed his first victory in the Federal-
Mogul Dragster category at just his second race in the five-
second, 250-mph machines.  Competing at the Pennzoil Winter
Classichttp://www.nhraonline.com South Central division Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event, and facing drag-racing legend Gene Snow
in the final round, Gay sprinted to a 5.70-second victory
when Snow’s dragster spun the rear tires just off the
starting line.

   Joining Gay in the Houston Raceway Park winners’ circle
was another first-time winner, Tate Branch, who edged
opponent Todd Simpson in a close final-round duel, 5.87-
seconds to 5.98 seconds.

   Driving the Southern California-based In-N-Out Burger-
sponsored entry, Gay qualified on the pole position with
a career-best 5.39-second run, the third quickest run in
class history, and proceeded to march through eliminations.

   Before facing Gay in the final, Snow, of Fort Worth,
Texas, speculated his only hope of a win lay with a
possible malfunction for the Burger car.  Said Snow, “The
only chance I’ve got is if he smokes the [rear] tires or
breaks.  I can’t live with them; the best I will run is a
5.50.”

   As the Christmas Tree starting system blinked green it
was Snow, not Gay, whose car smoked the rear tires. Gay’s
car shook the rear tires, forcing Gay to momentarily lift
off the throttle, then charge to the finish line for the
win.

   “[Houston Raceway Park] is where I scored my first NHRA
win four years ago in a Super Comp dragster, and now I’ve
scored my first win in the Federal-Mogul Dragster here,”
enthused Gay.  “We were afraid of smoking the tires
because the track [surface] was so cold.  The car violently
shook the tires at 200 feet, and I had to get completely
off the throttle.  I didn’t see Snow go by so I got back
on the gas.”

   For Branch of Artesia, N.M., it was a case of sixth time
is a charm.  A former Super Comp racer like Gay, Branch’s
Mack Energy-sponsored Dodge Avenger had been to the final
round five times in the Federal-Mogul Funny Cars previosuly
before taking the win light.  The excitement of the moment,
however, almost cost him the win.

   Branch explained, “I had a feeling I’d got the lead and
then I messed up.  I shifted [the car] into high gear too
soon.  I was excited I might win and I punched it into
high gear about 1,000 rpm too soon.  I knew I’d made a
mistake and I just had to hope [Simpson] wouldn’t come by;
I just wanted to get to the finish line as quickly as I
could.”

HOUSTON RESULTS
DIVISION 4 INSTANT STATS
Houston Raceway Park, Houston, Texas

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas, dragster, 5.707, 242.52
	R/U: Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, dragster, 22.700, 45.92

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., ‘97 Dodge Avenger, 5.875, 243.50
	R/U: Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘97 Dodge Avenger, 5.982, 243.50

Competition
 	W: Ruben Celedon, Edinburg, Texas, D/A ‘94 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 8.138, 153.11
	R/U: Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Pontiac Firebird, 12.195, 73.20

Super Stock
 	W: Paul Blackmon, San Antonio, Texas, GT/GA ‘91 Oldsmobile, 10.392, 127.33
	R/U: Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA ‘97 Firehawk, 10.861, 122.11

Stock
 	W: Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA ‘69 Nova, 10.715, 121.35
	R/U: Gary Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, J/SA ‘69 Chevrolet, foul-start.

Super Comp
 	W: Gina Mundt, Longview, Texas, dragster, 8.906, 128.57
	R/U: Sammy Esch, Boyle, Miss., dragster, 8.942, 154.61

Super Gas
 	W: Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, ‘92 Trans Am, 10.010, 138.84
	R/U: Shannon Brinkley, LaPorte, Texas, ‘69 Camaro, 9.994, 135.48

Super Street
 	W: Don Hartwick, Dickinson, Texas, ‘89 Thunderbird, 10.901
	R/U: Chris Derrick, Hallsville, Texas, ‘69 Camaro, 10.923