FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SO FAR, WEATHER BIG WINNER AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARk

MILLINGTON,Tenn.-- Results Friday after the first rounds of
qualifying from Memphis Motorsports Park, in the fourth of
six events in the South Central Division’s NHRA Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series:

           The Federal-Mogul action at Memphis sloshed to a
halt on Friday afternoon when severe weather hit the facility.
Thunderstorms dumped heavy rain on the already soaked race
track after only Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas
and Super Street drivers saw any action.

   Racing will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the 260-mph
Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Car drivers, who were
scrubbed from today’s agenda, getting their first shots at
qualifying for Sunday’s eliminations.

Leaders at this point:

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., ‘97 Firebird, 10.926 (-1.124)
2. Tony Matraca, Memphis, Tenn., ‘97 Calais, 9.507 (-0.893)
3. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, ‘97 Firebird, 10.21 (-0.888)
4. Mike Cates, Milan, Tenn., ‘64 Mercury,11.021 (-0.879)
5. Ronnie Cardwell, Rustin, La. ‘95 Olds, 11.214 (-0.836)
6. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky.,‘66 Chevy II 10.471 (-0.829)
7. Jeff Dona, Gordonville, Mo.,‘69 Camaro 10.478 (-0.822)
8. Larry Stewart Jr., Clinton, Miss.,‘66 Chevy II, 10.729 (-0.821)
9. Zenon Kotelko, Saskatoon,Sask, CAN, ‘87 Camaro, 10.329 (-0.773)
10.Elisha Boyd, Hattiesburg, Miss., ‘95 Achieva, 9.790 (-0.760)

STOCK 
1. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., ‘98 Firebird, 10.922 (-0.928)
2. Greg Hill, Memphis, Tenn., ‘71 Camaro, 11.756 (-0.844)
3. Debbie Cardwell, Ruston, La., 69 Camaro, 11.507 (-0.793)
4. Sharla Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., ‘93 Camaro, 11.532 (-0.768)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

STARK CONTRAST IN SATURDAY’S ACTION AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK

         Results Saturday after the second day of qualifying
from Memphis Motorsports Park for the fourth of six events in
the ‘98 South Central Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series:

           The Federal-Mogul action at Memphis changed
dramatically Saturday as cool, winter-like temperatures greeted
racers and fans in the wake of Friday afternoon’s thunderstorms.
You could say there was a stark contrast -- as in Keith Stark,
who thundered to a 5.53-second run at a near-record top speed
of 264.49 mph in his nitro-burning A/Dragster to lead the
Federal-Mogul Dragster field for tomorrow’s final eliminations.
With that run, Stark, of Danville, Ill., continues his return
from injuries suffered in a near-career-ending crash over a
year ago at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Florida.

     Also on th leader board for Sunday’s racing are Tate Branch
in his New Mexico-based Federal-Mogul ‘97 Dodge Avenger Funny
Car at 5.75 seconds and 248.43 mph; Larry Pritchett in
Competition Eliminator with his D/SM ‘97 Grand Am; and Bob
Dennis, who has taken the pole for all four Federal-Mogul South
Central Division events held so far this season. 

            Sunday’s eliminations for the more than 430
competitors on site will begin at 9 a.m. with the supercharged,
Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Car drivers having at it
with their first rounds at noon.

Leaders at this point:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
 1. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., ‘98 Spitzer, 5.530, 264.49 mph
 2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, ‘96 Dragster, 5.584, 254.52 mph
 3. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., ‘98 Uyehara, 5.631, 2334.25 mph
 4. Mike Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, ‘94 Ford, 5.694, 245.63 mph
 5. Darrell Russell, Cypress, Texas, ‘97 Meyer, 5.699, 249.21 mph
 6. Bobby Taylor, Laguna Hills, Calilf., ‘98 Hadman, 5.77, 226.43 mph
 7. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, ‘95 URC, 5.803, 247.07 mph
 8. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., ‘98 Dragster, 5.870, 226.96 mph
--- Not Qualified ---
 9. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., ‘96 Uyehara, 6.101, 165.60 mph
10. Brian Ratliff, Tahlequah, Okla., ‘94 Uyehara, 6.130, 225.11 mph
11. Larry Reep, Austin, Texas, ‘97 McKinney, 6.189, 223.21 mph
12. Dana Stripe, Paris, Tenn., ‘97 Canode, 6.425, 218.19 mph
13. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., ‘93 Hadman, 7.036, 142.67 mph
14. James Thompson Jr., Vernon, Texas, ‘98 Dragster, 8.317, 101.67 mph
15. Bill Hynes, Fairview, Texas, ‘97 Dragster, 24.020, 21.27 mphy

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
 1.  Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., ‘97 Avenger, 5.752, 248.43 mph
 2.  Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, ‘98 Avenger, 5.766, 245.90 mph
 3.  Todd Paton, Paris, Ont., CAN, ‘98 Firebird, 5.872, 246.03 mph
 4.  Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., ‘98 Firebird, 5.917, 236.96 mph
 5.  Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, ‘97 Camaro, 6.038, 236.80 mph
 6.  Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Avenger, 6.05, 240.08 mph
 7.  Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., ‘96 Firebird, 6.065, 242.15 mph
 8.  George Chambers, Del City, Okla., ‘93 Dodge, 6.342, 232.51 mph
--- Not Qualified ---
 9.  Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., ‘98 Achieva, 8.875, 97.29 mph
10.Thomas Ebersole, Norco, La., ‘94 Pontiac, 8.178, 198.15 mph

COMPETITION
1.  Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Ind.,D/SM ‘97 Grand Am, 8.285, -.575
2.  David Meyers, Dallas, Texas, B/EA ‘96 Camaro, 8.01, -.560
3.  Brian Self, Houston., Texas, B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.834, -.546
4.  Maryann Austin, Lowell, Ark., C/Econo Dragster, 7.453, --.537
5.  Doug Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., C/Dragster, 7.133, -.527
6.  Arthur Suceda, Houston, Texas, C/Dragster, 7.184, -.526
7.  Ruben Celedon, Edinburg, Texas, ‘94 Cutlass, 8.025, -.515
8.  Raymond Martin, Mt. Belview, Texas, F/Econo Dragster, 8.516, -.514
9.  Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., E/A ‘90 Firebird, 8.393, -.467
10. Buddy Nickens, Houston, Texas, C/A ‘97 Avenger, 7.796, -.464

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., ‘97 Firebird, 10.836, -1.214
2. Steve Matukas, Alvaton, Ky., ‘66 Chevy Nova, 9.900, -1.000
3. Tony Matraca, Memphis, Tenn., ‘97 Calais, 9.409, -0.991
4. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., ‘56 Chevy Nomad, 11,465, -0.985
5. Kirk Neal, Greenville, Miss., ‘89 Camaro, 9.968, -0.982
6. Red Leblanc, Bartlett, Tenn., ‘69 Mustang, 9.722, -0.978
7. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, ‘97 Firebird, 10.133, -0.967
8. Ronnie Cardwell, Rustin, La. ‘95 Olds, 11.094, -0.959
9. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky.,‘66 Chevy II 10.372, -0.928
10.Harvey Emmons III Pasadena, Texas, ‘97 Firebird, -0.925
(53 cars in category)

STOCK 
1. Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., ‘97 Trans Am, 10.935, -1.215
2. Jonathan Tarrance, Bremen, Ky., ‘82 Monte Carlo, -1.135
3. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., ‘98 Firebird, 10.749, -1.101
4. Verne Buchanan, Conway, Ark., ‘73 Mustang, 11.687, -1.063
5. Greg Moravec, St. Elmo, Ala., ‘78 Plymouth, 11.898, -1.052
(99 cars in category)

INVADERS RE-BUFFED AT MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK

         MILLINGTON,Tenn.-- Final results Sunday, April 5,
from Memphis Motorsports Park for the fourth of six events
in the ‘98 South Central Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series:

   Upon arrival at the NHRA/Federal-Mogul Series South Central
event at Memphis Motorsports Park last Thursday a fan would
swear he had stumbled into a national event as the Federal-
Mogul Dragster pits were stuffed with the likes of former world
champion Bobby Taylor and the screaming fuel car of Keith Stark
on hand to do battle with the “local” cars.   When the it came
time for the finals on Sunday, however, it was Texas racers Troy
Buff and Darrell Russell who squared off .  Buff took the win
with a 5.53-second run at 253.85 mph when Russell popped a
burst plate out of his supercharger before the finish line.
Buff probably wouldn’t’ have been caught, though, as his
performance nearly matched his own best elapsed time of the event,
a 5.51 that he had turned the previous round against Stark.

    Stark shook the tires hard is run against Buff.  Hard enough,
in fact, to jar his safety parachutes loose, thus leaving his
car defenseless after running speeds in excess of 260 mph on his
only qualifying pass and in the first round.  “We ran strong,
and we got the breaks.  and that’s tough to beat at any event,”
said Buff., whose father Willard’s career in the same category
goes back more than 20 years.  Taylor lost in the first round
when a blower belt came off.

    In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car competition, Canadian Todd
Paton, who has adopted the South Central Division in recent
times, continued to rebound on a season that began with a
flaming, near-disastrous run in Texas, turned into a top
qualifying spot in Baton Rouge and has now moved to the winners
circle at Memphis.  He defeated No. 1 qualifier Tate Branch
of New Mexico in the final.  Branch smoked the tires.
“Consistency,” was all Paton said when asked how his day went.

     Also making it to the winners circle was Texan Keith
Hall, who outlasted a strong field of Competition Eliminator
drivers that included very familiar names like Raymond Martin,
Buddy Nickens, Brian Self and No. 1 qualifier Larry Pritchett,
who brought out a brand new car, made one run for top
qualifier honors and then found some mechanical problems that
put him out of competition before the first round even began.

     Other winners were Indiana’ Ricky Decker in Super Stock;
Kentucky’s Jerry Bennett in Stock; David Rider, who took Super
Comp honors in his first Federal-Mogul outing in the category;
and Texans Jimmy Lewis in Super Gas and Bob Krummel in Super
Street. 

MEMPHIS RESULTS
DIVISION 4 INSTANT STATS
Memphis Motorsports Park, Memphis, Tenn.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.535, 253.85
	R/U: Darrell Russell, Cypress, Texas, 5.790, 200.02
	Low E.T.: 5.519 Buff
	Top Speed: 264.49 Stark

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Todd Paton, Paris, Ontario, Canada, 5.848, 247.07
	R/U: Tate Branch, 9.874, 87.45
	Low E.T.: 5.752
	Top Speed: 249.81 Branch

Competition
 	W: Keith Hill, Ravana, Texas, B/SM, 8.496, 146.15
	R/U: Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, D/SM 8.417, 142.78.

Super Stock
 	W: Ricky Decker, Jeffersonville, In., GT/BA 9.737
	R/U: Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., GT/BA 9.706.

Stock
 	W: Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., I/SA 11.582 (11.57)
	R/U: Jeff Harrington, Perry, Ga., E/SA 11.001 (11.00)

Super Comp
 	W: David Rider, Palastine, Texas, 8.954
	R/U: T. J. Tracey, Bartlett, Tenn., 8.948 155.44

Super Gas
 	W: Jimmy Lewis, Mesquite, Texas, 9.902 (4.00 reaction)
	R/U: robert Cool, La Place, La., 9.918

Super Street
 	W: Bob Krummel, Deer Park, Texas, 10.922
	R/U: Wayne Henry, Baker, La. 10.936