BATON ROUGE RESULTS

DIVISION 4
State Capitol Dragway
Baton Rouge, La.  March 13-15


Results will be posted as soon as they are available.


Friday Qualifying

Saturday Qualifying

Sunday Race

Instant Stats
Friday Qualifying: 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PATON, SNOW TOP QUALIFYING LADDERS AT STATE CAPITOL DRAGWAY


        BATON ROUGE, La. -- Results Friday after the first
rounds of qualifying from State Capitol Dragway, in the third
of six events in the South Central Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series:

        Two weeks ago at Houston Raceway Park, Federal-Mogul
Funny Car pilot, Todd Paton had a tough race.  In the first
round of qualifying there his car caught fire.  The Paton team
worked all night to repair the damage, only to blow a motor
later in qualifying.  

        Paton, of Paris, Ontario, Canada, is off to a much
better start at State Capitol Dragway. After the initial round
of qualifying today, he is number one.  The Optima Batteries-
sponsored car ran a 6.127 elapsed time at 233.70 mph.

        In Federal-Mogul Dragster competition, long-time racer,
Gene Snow of Fort Worth, Texas, is the top qualifier so far.
Snow ran a 5.862 e.t. at 239.80 mph. 

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.862, 239.80
2. Bill Hynes, Fairview, Texas, 6.072, 181.92
3. Darrell Russell,Houston, 6.133, 171.49 
4. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 6.982, 157.72
5. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 7.339, 123.54
6. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 10.244, 81.82
7. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., 13.005, 54.44
8. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., 14.992, 57.08
9. Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas, 21.274, 32.90

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Todd Paton, Paris, Ontario, Can., 6.127, 233.70
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, 6.176, 228.13
3. George Chambers, Del City, Okla., 6.719, 206.75
4. Jackie Stidham, Chickasa, Okla., 12.191, 86.28
5. Thomas Ebersol, Kenner, La., 12.546, 74.09

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., ‘90 Pontiac, 11.753
2. Felix Acosta,Belle Rose, La., ‘96 Z-28, 10.871 
3. Richard Desmond, Cloquet, Minn., ‘74 Pontiac, 11.823
4. Jeff Ferguson, Metairie, La., ‘78 Volare, 11.870
5. J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., ‘86 Camaro, 11.386
6. Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., ‘96 Firebird, 10.937
7. Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., ‘95 Z-28, 11.240
8. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, ‘97 Trans Am, 11.103
9. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., ‘79 Aspen, 11.710
10. Tony Volpe, Jefferson, La., ‘86 Trans Am, 12.124 

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., ‘97 Firebird, 10.779
2. Mike Cates, Milan, Tenn., ‘64 Comet, 10.663
3. Brent Johnson, Pasadena, Texas, ‘66 Chevy, 11.273
4. Bucky Hess, Bunkerhill, W.V., ‘68 Barracuda, 8.887
5. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, ‘97 Firebird, 10.054 
6. Kirk Neal, Greenville, Miss., ‘89 Chevy, 9.913 
7. Bobby Cassard, Donaldsonville, La., ‘87 Firebird, 10.533
8. Clark Rand, Belton, Mo., ‘90 Camaro, 9.406 
9. Sis Bonnecarrere, Gray, La., ‘68 Dart, 9.102
10. Zenon Kotelko, Saskatoon, Sk., Can., ‘87 Camaro, 10.125 

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Ruben Celedon, Edinburg,Texas, ‘94 Cutlass, 8.030
2. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, ‘96 Camaro, 8.020 
3. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 8.322 
4. Dee Winston, Lufkin, Texas, ‘96 Dragster, 8.580
5. Joey Tanksley, Baton Rouge, La., ‘92 Dragster, 7.564
6. Buddy Nickens, Houston, ‘97 Avenger, 7.826 
7. Lacey Winston, Lufkin, Texas, ‘95 Dragster, 8.819
8. John Grosson, Syracuse, N.Y., ‘94 Chasis Craft, 8.292
9. Tom Williams, Ravenna, Texas, ‘32 Bantam, 11.003
10. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, ‘95 Frameworks, 17.394

Saturday Qualifying Final: 


FIELDS SET FOR ELIMINATIONS AT STATE CAPITOL DRAGWAY

        BATON ROUGE, La.-- Results Saturday after the final
rounds of qualifying from State Capitol Dragway, the third
of six events in the South Central Division’s NHRA Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series:

        The NHRA’s defending South Central Division Federal-
Mogul Funny Car champion, Jackie Stidham, is the number one
qualifier in the category.  Stidham, of Chickasha, Okla.,
ousted Todd Paton, who won this event last year, from the
top spot by running a 5.978 e.t. at 235.91 mph.

        In the Federal-Mogul Dragster class, Houston’s
Darrell Russell is the top qualifier.  Russell is coming off
a win at the last NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
event at Houston Raceway Park.  He ran a 5.777 e.t. at 244.89
mph.

        Other top qualifiers are Ronnie Cardwell of Ruston,
La., in Stock Eliminator; Bob Dennis of Shorter, Ala., in
Super Stock; and Raymond Martin of Mt. Belvieu, Texas.

        NHRA national records have been set in four Stock
Eliminator categories and two Super Stock categories over
the first two days of the race.  

        In Super Street, Brent Johnson set an e.t. record
in the N/A class.  Johnson’s record is 11.273 e.t.

        In the Stock category, records were set by Ronnie
Cardwell, K/SA, 11.753; J. Allen Sherman, 11.386; Andy
Thornburg, J/SA, 11.710; Tony Volpe, M/SA, 12.128; Frank
Weaver, GT/FA, 10.054. Thornburg, Volpe and Weaver set
speed records as well at 111.55 mph, 108.22 mph and 130.60
mph, respectively.

        Gates at State Capitol Dragway open at 8:00 a.m.
Sunday and eliminations begin at 9:00 a.m.  Federal-Mogul
Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars begin round-one
of eliminations at noon.

        
        The following are Saturday qualifying results
from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event
at Gainesville Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Darrell Russell,Houston, 5.777, 244.89
2. Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.850, 243.04
3. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.867, 236.46
4. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., 5.897, 230.47
5. Bill Hynes, Fairview, Texas, 6.072, 181.92
6. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., 6.186, 206.65
7. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 6.982, 157.72
8. Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas, 7.218, 231.24
9. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 7.339, 123.54

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Jackie Stidham, Chickasa, Okla., 5.978, 235.91
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, 5.987, 238.91
3. Todd Paton, Paris, Ontario, Can., 6.012, 238.79
4. George Chambers, Del City, Okla., 6.719, 206.75
5. Thomas Ebersol, Kenner, La., 9.022, 98.41

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, ‘92 Herndon, 8.495
2. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 8.265
3. Ruben Celedon, Edinburg,Texas, ‘94 Cutlass, 7.987
4. Lacey Winston, Lufkin, Texas, ‘95 Dragster, 8.508
5. Mike Johnson, Lowell, Ark., ‘95 Clark Dragster, 7.430
6. Maryann Austin, Lowell, Ark., ‘97 Dragster, 7.446
7. John Grosson, Syracuse, N.Y., ‘94 Chasis Craft, 7.598
8. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, ‘96 Camaro, 8.020
9. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, ‘95 Frameworks, 7.183
10. Arthur Sauceda, Houston, ‘94 Chasis Craft, 7.188

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., ‘90 Pontiac, 11.753*
2. Felix Acosta,Belle Rose, La., ‘96 Z-28, 10.871 
3. Kent LaPorte, New Iberia, La., ‘88 Cutlass, 12.151
4. Richard Desmond, Cloquet, Minn., ‘74 Pontiac, 11.823
5. Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., ‘95 Z-28, 11.240
6. Jeff Ferguson, Metairie, La., ‘78 Volare, 11.870
7. J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., ‘86 Camaro, 11.386*
8. Bobby Brannon, Bossier City, La., ‘96 Firebird, 10.937
9. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, ‘97 Trans Am, 11.103
10. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., ‘79 Aspen, 11.710*

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., ‘97 Firebird, 10.751
2. Mike Cates, Milan, Tenn., ‘64 Comet, 10.663
3. Brent Johnson, Pasadena, Texas, ‘66 Chevy, 11.273
4. Bucky Hess, Bunkerhill, W.V., ‘68 Barracuda, 8.887
5. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, ‘97 Firebird, 10.054 
6. Kirk Neal, Greenville, Miss., ‘89 Chevy, 9.907 
7. Sid Bonnecarrere, Gray, La., ‘68 Dart, 8.998
8. Harvey Emmons III, S. Houston, Texas, ‘97 Formula, 10.303
9. Clark Rand, Belton, Mo., ‘90 Camaro, 9.406
10. Zenon Kotelko, Saskatoon, Sk., Can., ‘87 Camaro, 10.125 

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
1. Chris Bowen, Plano, Texas, ‘86 Yamaha
2. Monty Mullenix, Houston, ‘83 Suzuki
3. Paul Holman, Houston, ‘84 Suzuki
4. Michael Mathews, Simenton, Texas, ‘84 Suzuki
5. Chris Oravecz, Arlington, Texas, ‘81 Suzuki
6. Mike Hullett, Lancaster, Texas, ‘84 Suzuki
7. Lee Patterson, Bayou Vista, Texas, ‘85 Suzuki
8. Gerald Jordan, Humble, Texas, ‘92 Suzuki
9. Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., ‘96 Kawasaki
10. William Keele, San Antonio, Texas, ‘82 Kawasaki
* National Record
Sunday Results: 

TOP QUALIFIERS PREVAIL AT STATE CAPITOL DRAGWAY 

        BATON ROUGE, La.-- Final results Sunday from State
Capitol Dragway, the third of six events in the South
Central Division’s NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
schedule:

        Three out of the five top qualifiers at the NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at State Capitol
Dragway did what they were expected to do -- they won.

        Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Darrell Russell, of
Houston, qualified in the top spot yesterday and went on
to beat Shelly Howard in the final today.  “We both had
some tire shake, mine just wasn’t as severe as Shelly’s
and she had to shut off,” said Russell.  Russell, who is
has now won back-to-back Federal-Mogul events, ran a 5.72
e.t. at 246.30 mph.

        In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, it was the number two
qualifier, Todd Simpson, who prevailed over the man who
was number one yesterday, Jackie Stidham.  Simpson, of
Ponder, Texas, ran a 5.980 e.t. at 239.93 mph.  Like
Russell, Simpson also won the last Federal-Mogul event at
Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas.

        Other top qualifiers who ended the weekend in the
winner’s circle were Raymond Martin, in Competition
Eliminator and Bob Dennis, in Super Stock.  Martin, of Mt.
Belvieu, Texas, ran an e.t. of 8.54 at 137.90 mph while
Dennis, of Shorter, Ala., ran 10.853 at 112.03 mph.

        Winners in other categories include Jarrod Grainer
in Stock Eliminator; G.S. Abbott in Super Street; Graig
Abbott in Super Gas; Shannon Brinkley in Super Comp; and
Dan Clark in Sportsman Motorcycle.
Instant Stats: 


BATON ROUGE RESULTS

DIVISION 4 INSTANT STATS
State Capitol Dragway, Baton Rouge, La.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Darrell Russell, Houston, 5.742, 246.30
	R/U: Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 13.246, 60.39

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, 5.980, 239.93
	R/U: Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., 6.552, 168.41 

Competition
 	W: Raymond Martin, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, 8.540, 137.90
	R/U: Steve Benoit, Lafayette, La., 8.606, 151.26

Super Stock
 	W: Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., 10.853, 122.80
	R/U: Brent Johnson, Pasadena, Texas, 11.408, 115.38

Stock
 	W: Jarrod Grainer, Labadieville, La., 11.462, 114.15
	R/U: Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., 11.926, 110.26

Super Comp
 	W: Shannon Brinkley, LaPorte, Texas, 8.932, 161.95
	R/U: Vincent Catalanotto, Metairie, La., 8.973, 155.44

Super Gas
 	W: Craig Abbott, Strawn, Texas, 9.929, 148.61
	R/U: Larry Nelson, Pasadena, Texas, 9.896, 143.95

Super Street
 	W: G.S. Abbott, Strawn, Texas, 10.911, 144.60
	R/U: Bob Gulitti, Spring, Texas, no time recorded

Sportsman Motorcycle
 	W: Dan Clark, Corpus Christi, Texas, 9.608, 129.96
	R/U: Paul Holman, Houston, 10.770, 114.85