FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WELLS AND HARTLEY QUALIFYING RUN IS NECK AND NECK

BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Brainerd, Minnesota--Friday’s
qualifying day at Brainerd International Raceway for the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series presented by Champion Auto Parts was
as exciting as the races ever get.  Federal-Mogul Dragster
drivers Scott Hartley and David Wells went down the track for
their qualifying run side by side.  This would not have been an
unusual event for any two cars racing except for the fact that
they ended up receiving almost the exact same time at the end
of the run.  They both received a 5.634 seconds elapsed time
(ET), but Wells bested Hartley by a hundreth of a second.  

  The other astonishing item that figures into this exciting
round of qualifying is the fact that Hartley was running a
Nitro-Methane Dragster, while Wells was running a Blown
Alcohol Dragster.  When asked what he thought about the fact
that Wells had won in an Alcohol Dragster Hartley replied,
“I just hope to run better over the next couple of days
whether or not I race against a Nitro-Methane Dragster, or an
Alcohol Dragster.”

  Racing continues tommorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.  Federal-
Mogul Funny Car and Dragster catagories run at 1:00 p.m. and
4:00 p.m.  Gates open at 8:00 a.m.

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

First day qualifying positions at Brainerd International
Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota, the second of six rounds in the
1998 NHRA West Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series, listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed
time in seconds, speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.634, 249.90
2. Scott Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 5.634, 240.86
3. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.753, 245.96
4. Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.789, 241.68
5. Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Col., 5.802, 240.52
6. Mark Kinser, Grimes Iowa, 5.812, 242.84
7. Billy Byee, Mclean, Tex., 6.019, 244.51

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, ‘97 Pontiac, 5.834, 248.60
2. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, ‘96 Pontiac, 5.960, 244.51
3. Sam Blue, Red Wing, Minn., ‘96 Achieva, 6.085, 243.18
4. Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., ‘91 Corvette, 6.118, 228.47
5. Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, ‘92 Trans Am, 6.240, 222.73
6. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mich., ‘97 Firebird, 6.607, 169.73
7. Kevin Richardson, Winnepeg, Col., ‘91 Cutlass, 7.878, 115.09
8. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Dodge Avenger, 12.190, 68.09

COMPETITION
1. Al Bresh, Winnipeg, Calif., C/SM ‘92 Camaro, 9.103 (-0.637)
2. John Geyer, Pardall, Calif., B/D ‘96 Ford, 6.968 (-0.592)
3. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Col., A/A ‘23 Chevy, 6.832 (-0.588)
4. Clint Sallee, Glendale, Montana, C/D ‘96 Fritz, 7.205 (-0.565)
5. John Fairleigh, Scott City, Kansas, B/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.472 (-0.558)
6. Doug Engels, Watertown, South Dakota, A/EA ‘23 Chevy, 7.564 (-.0526)
7. John Linton, Tonkawa, Okla., C/ED ‘92 Craft, 7.552 (-0.498)
8. Alan Christeson, Rockford, Iowa, B/ED ‘98 Micash, 7.236 (-0.484)

SUPER STOCK
1. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., SS/NA ‘56 Nomad, 11.512 (-1.118)
2. Randy Mans, Rogers, Minn., GT/KA ‘95 Achieva, 10.815 (-1.105)
3. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 9.110 (-1.030)
4. Don Larson, St. Paul, Minn., SS/KA ‘85 Chevy, 10.716 (-0.994)
5. Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kansas, GT/IA ‘98 Firebird 10.677 (-0.983)
6. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Minn., SS/K ‘66 Chevy II, 10.552 (-0.908)
7. Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb., GT/BA ‘96 Olds., 9.806 (-0.894)
8. Ernie Penner, Pembina, North Dakota, SS/KA ‘66 Chevy II, 10.817 (-0.893)

STOCK
1. Charles Blossom, Woodbury, Minn., BT/SA ‘91 Syclone, 12.093 (-1.297)
2. Richard Desmond, Cloquet, Minn, K/SA ‘74 GTO, 11.941 (-1.189)
3. James Burg, Deerfield, Wis., GF/SA ‘82 Aries, 16.631 (-1.609)
4. Lawrence Line, Wright, Minn., K/SA ‘85 Monte, 12.100 (-1.030)
5. Joe Alvise, Laurel, Maryland, A/SA ‘63 Chrysler, 10.463 (-0.997)
6. Steve Koppein, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, B/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.720 (-0.990)
7. John Hladky, Stewart, Neb., G/S ‘66 Nova, 11.382 (-0.988)
8. Randy Shepard, Holmen, Wis., B/S ‘69 Camaro, 10.689 (-0.971)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

ELEMENTS OF MAN AND NATURE SLOW FINAL DAY OF QUALIFYING TO
A CRAWL

BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Brainerd, Minnesota--Saturday
qualifying at Brainerd International Raceway for the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series sponsored by Champion Auto Parts was
slowed to almost a crawl due to several different factors.

  The first and most formidable of those factors was the
weather.  Weather forecasts had called for a cool day but with
mostly clear skies throughout the day.  Rain did come down
however in two showers that emptied the grand stands and
soaked the staff of Division Five and the track.  These
showers came at 12:15 p.m. and 2:07 p.m. with an average
down time of racing of about fifty minutes.  The hard-
working event staff of this Federal-Mogul Drag Race Series
helped to keep the race moving as quickly as was possible.

 Rob Parks Division Five Director said this about the staff
and facilities of the track; “The Brainerd track facility
is well equiped to handle these kinds of situations.  They
have a jet engine on a trailer, a helicopter, and a few
acetelyne torches to help get the track dry as quickly as
possible.  Those benefits of the track along with the
outstanding efforts of the Safety Safari Crew and Track
Staff helped to keep the race going.”

  The weather was not the only factor in the day’s problems.
There was also a fuel leak on the track from a Federal-Mogul
Dragster, and a very frightening fire that was caused by an
oil leak in a Federal-Mogul Funny Car that completely
destroyed that car.  Fortunately the driver walked away from
the devastating accident safely.  These accidental spills
were also quickly taken care of by the skilled hands of the
Safety Safari Crew and Staff of the Brainerd International
Raceway.

  Eliminations begin tommorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.  Federal-
Mogul Funny Car and Dragster begin eliminations at Noon
(12:00 p.m.)

Final day qualifying positions at Brainerd International
Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota, the second of six rounds in the
1998 NHRA West Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series, listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time
in seconds, speed in miles per hour.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.634 seconds, 249.90 miles per hour
2. Scott Hartley, Omaha, Neb., 5.634, 240.86
3. Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Col., 5.727, 242.20
4. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.753, 245.96
5. Billy Bybee, Mclean, Tex., 5.769, 233.08
6. Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.789, 241.68
7. Mark Kinser, Grimes Iowa, 5.812, 242.84

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, ‘97 Pontiac, 5.806, 250.04
2. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Dodge Avenger, 5.946, 245.86
3. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, ‘96 Pontiac, 5.960, 244.51
4. Sam Blue, Red Wing, Minn., ‘96 Achieva, 6.085, 243.18
5. Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, ‘92 Trans Am, 6.107, 228.31
6. Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., ‘91 Corvette, 6.118, 228.47
7. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mich., ‘97 Firebird, 6.367, 213.11
8. Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., ‘95 Olds., 6.575, 168.06

COMPETITION
1. Al Bresh, Winnipeg, Calif., C/SM ‘92 Camaro, 9.103 (-0.637)
2. John Fairleigh, Scott City, Kansas, B/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.435 (-0.595)
3. John Geyer, Pardall, Calif., B/D ‘96 Ford, 6.968 (-0.592)
4. Clint Sallee, Glendale, Montana, C/D ‘96 Fritz, 7.181 (-0.589)
5. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Col., A/A ‘23 Chevy, 6.832 (-0.588)
6. Doug Engels, Watertown, South Dakota, A/EA ‘23 Chevy, 7.534 (-.0556)
7. Tom Suggs, Vadnais Hgts., Minn., C/EA ‘95 Grand Prix, 8.399 (-0.521)
8. John Linton, Tonkawa, Okla., C/ED ‘92 Craft, 7.552 (-0.498)

SUPER STOCK
1. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., SS/NA ‘56 Nomad, 11.417 (-1.213)
2. Randy Mans, Rogers, Minn., GT/KA ‘95 Achieva, 10.796 (-1.124)
3. Randy Hopkins, Scandia, Minn., SS/AA ‘68 Dart, 9.110 (-1.030)
4. Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kansas, GT/IA ‘98 Firebird 10.657 (-1.003)
5. Don Larson, St. Paul, Minn., SS/KA ‘85 Chevy, 10.710 (-1.000)
6. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Minn., SS/K ‘66 Chevy II, 10.502 (-0.958)
7. Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb., GT/BA ‘96 Olds., 9.758 (-0.942)
8. Jason Tinberg, Bonner Springs, Kansas, SS/HA ‘68 Camaro, 10.139 (-0.911)

STOCK
1. Charles Blossom, Woodbury, Minn., BT/SA ‘91 Syclone, 12.093 (-1.297)
2. Richard Desmond, Cloquet, Minn, K/SA ‘74 GTO, 11.941 (-1.189)
3. John Sien, Winnipeg, Calif., G/SA ‘71 Camaro, 11.309 (-1.161)
4. Jason Line, Wright, Minn., D/SA ‘85 Monte Carlo, 10.931 (-1.089)
5. James Burg, Deerfield, Wis., GF/SA ‘82 Aries, 16.631 (-1.069)
6. Steve Koppein, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, B/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.662 (-1.048)
7. Lawrence Line, Wright, Minn., K/SA ‘85 Monte, 12.100 (-1.030)
8. John Hladky, Stewart, Neb., G/S ‘66 Nova, 11.341 (-1.029)

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER DRIVER
SCOTT HARTLEY EARNS FIRST WIN EVER

   BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Brainerd, Minnesota --
Eliminations of the Federal-Mogul Drag Race Series sponsored
by Champion Auto Parts were filled with emotion as a twenty-
one year old Scott Hartley won his first event ever.

   Hartley has been racing for over a year and a half but
hadn’t found the winning combination in his Dragster to take
an event.  Today’s race showed Hartley that his time had
indeed come to earn his first win.  

  Hartley drives a Nitro Methane Dragster against a field of
mostly Blown Alcohol Dragsters which is considered by some to
be a great benefit.  But Hartley soon found that he was in
competition with some excellent drivers.

  The first run Hartley had was against David Wells in
qualifying which ended up being a loss by one-thousandth of a
second and the second was against Melanie Troxel in
eliminations that Hartley won by one-hundredth of a second.
These created some very nerve-wracking moments for the young
man who had never made his way to a final round.  When asked
what was different about this race from the others Hartley
replied; “My dad [Allen Hartley] is tuning the car just
right so I can do my job in the driver’s seat.”  Hartley also
said, “I didn’t even know I had won the race until my dad told
me over the radio.”

  Hartley’s win came after a very intense moment as Billy
Bybee crossed the center line at mid track and came racing
down the right-hand lane where Hartley had just finished his
run.  Thanks to Bybee’s fast reactions in pulling his chutes
and getting the car under control  both drivers came away
from the incident without any injuries.

BRAINERD RESULTS
DIVISION 5 INSTANT STATS
Brainerd Int'l Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Scott Hartley, Omaha, Neb., ‘98 Dragster, 5.604, 227.27
	R/U: Billy Bybee, Mclean, Tex., ‘98 Hadman, 4.041, 147.48
        (Crossed center line at mid track)

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Avenger, 6.066, 243.04
	R/U: Dale Brand, Sully, Iowa, ‘92 Trans Am, 25.01, 25.09 (Blown engine)

Competition
 	W: Bill Harris, Nebraska City, Neb., E/A ‘96 Grand Prix, 8.578, 155.10
	R/U: Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., A/ED ‘98 Spitzer, 6.965, 193.13 (Broke out)

Super Stock
 	W: Don Thomas, Alberta, Canada, GT/FA ‘89 Camaro, 10.521, 127.49
	R/U: Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Minn., SS/K ‘66 Chevy II, 10.451, 124.64 (Broke out)

Stock
 	W: Roger Knudsen, Waterloo, Iowa, B/SA ‘69 Camaro 10.709, 123.31
	R/U: Jason Line, Wright, Minn., D/SA ‘70 Buick, 11.028, 115.35 (Broke out)

Super Comp
 	W: Marvin Rouse, Garden City, Kansas, ‘91 Spitzer, 9.082, 130.79
	R/U: Rod Fuller, Rogers, Ariz., ‘97 Dragster, 9.473, 127.49

Super Gas
 	W: Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash., ‘96 Pontiac, 9.998, 139.41
	R/U: Rod Fuller, Rogers, Ariz., ‘98 Chevy, 10.005, 147.14

Super Street
 	W: Terry Barton, Lincoln, Neb., ‘67 Nova, 11.018, 124.69
	R/U: Tony Fuller, Rogers, Ariz., ‘94 Pounds, 10.972, 129.55 (Broke out)