FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DOUGLAS, Wyoming -- The first rounds of qualifying for
the NHRA West Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
were completed with some of the best drivers in the
country having trouble getting a handle on the Douglas
Int’l Raceway surface.  

The altitude impaired track yielded some outstanding
runs, while others, such as Jay Payne from California,
a former World Federal-Mogul Champion, shook the tires
on his Federal-Mogul Dragster and couldn’t keep the car
in the groove.  Meanwhile, William Zivkovich, out of
Litchfield, Minn., temporarily sits on the pole at
6.438 seconds and 221.67 mph.

Local Federal-Mogul Funny Car Driver Kris Hool, and his
Ghost from Casper, had a run disallowed when an obvious
timing malfunction occurred with the clocks starting
when his rear tires crossed the starting line.  His run
began a series of ghostly gremlins in the electronic
timing equipment that hampered the final part of the
Funny Car session, thus keeping any of the session from
being official until some re-runs can be made.  The
problem was traced to a broken connection in the tower,
caused by the tremendous vibration set in motion by the
awesome 3,000 horsepower machines.

Bill Kent’s small-block Chevy C/Dragster leads the
Competition Eliminator list at .528 second under the NHRA
index for his class.  He went 7.582 seconds to secure
that spot.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bill Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 6.438, 221.67
2. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 6.532, 210.08
3. Suzie Wells, Salt Lake City, Utah, 6.851, 203.29
4. Joe DaMoude, Grand Island, Neb., 7.315, 178.78
5. Edwin Schmeeckie, Gothenburg, Neb., 7.842, 121.16
6. Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 7.867, 115.78
7. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 11.125, 70.18
8. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 12.446, 58.65



COMPETITION
1. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.582, (-0.528)
2. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., A/A ‘23 Ford, 7.232 (-0.508)
3. Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., C/D dragster, 7.667 (-0.443)
4. Tom, Scottsdale, Ariz., A/D dragster, 7.119 (-0.441)
5. Lou Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colo. B/A ‘23 Ford, 7.958 (-0.422)
6. Arthur Sauceda, Houston, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.692 (-0.418)
7. John Linton, Tonkawa, Okla., C/ED dragster, 8.003 (-0.397)
8. Rod Oman, Lakewood, Colo., B/ED dragster, 7.676 (-0.384)

SUPER STOCK
1. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb. SS/K ‘66 Chevy II ,11.148 (-0.882)
2. Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., GT/IA ‘98 Firebird, 11.396 (-0.844)
3. Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA ‘69 Camaro, 10.759 (-0.841)
4. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., GT/EA ‘87 Firebird, 10.820 (-0.840)
5. Billy Ingels, Colorado Sprgs, Colo., SS/JA ‘74 Trans Am, 11.202 (-0.828)
6. Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., SS/BS ‘98 Firebird, 9.851 (-0.799)
7. Carroll Warling, Arvado, Colo., SS/MA ‘74 Grand Am, 12.160 (-0.770)
8. Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb., GT/BA ‘96 Olds, 10.499 (-0.710)

STOCK
1. Kevin Helms, Byers, Colo., B/S ‘69 Camaro, 11.153 (-1.087)
2. Fred Rector, Durango, Colo., I/S ‘72 Nova, 12.330 (-0.980)
3. Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., D/SA ‘67 Mustang, 11.682 (-0.938)
4. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., M/SA ‘74 GTO, 13.099 (-0.901)
5. John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., G/S ‘66 Nova, 12.094 (-0.896)
6. Neal Rhodes, Aurora, Colo., F/SA ‘67 Fairlane, 12.087 (-0.843)
7. Randy Shepard, Holmen, Wisc., B/S ‘69 Camaro, 11.427 (-0.809)
8. Scott Welborn, Columbia, S.C., ‘68 Chevelle, 12.281 (-0.809)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

Wells, Tate beat the heat 
to lead field; Hool is cool

DOUGLAS, Wyoming -- David Wells, of LeMars, Iowa, stunned
former Federal-Mogul Dragster World Champion Jay Payne by
ripping away the pole position at the last possible moment
at 6.20, 230.06 mph to Payne’s ever-so-close 6.21, 228.07
mph performance.  They lead the field going into tomorrow’s
final eliminations at Douglas Int’l Raceway.  Gates will
open at 8 a.m., with racing in all Federal-Mogul categories
slated for 9.  The first round of the popular Federal
Dragsters and Funny Cars will be at 1 p.m.

While Tate Branch took the No. 1 qualifying spot in Federal-
Mogul Funny Car away from fellow Minnesota driver Johnny
Gray, Casper, Wyoming’s own Kris Hool showed some grit by
improving to 6.80, 209 mph to hold on to his No. 7
qualifying spot.  So now he stands more than a ghost of
chance because anything can happen on race day with a wild
track like Douglas and the hot conditions that are forecast.
Branch used at 6.20, 232.13 mph pass to wrest the top spot
away from Gray.

The top qualifying positions at events like the one at
Douglas, because they are worth more than the No. 1 spot at
a big national meet such at the Mile-High Nationals.  For
instance, Wells and Branch will each receive a $1,000 bonus
check from the Winston Top Qualifier bonus program.

Admission to see the nearly 400 cars, motorcycles,
snowmobiles and Jr. Dragsters race for the  $136,315 purse
posted for this weekend.  It’s all part of the $6.5 million
that racers are fighting for all year long in the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series. 

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 6.204 seconds, 230.06 mph
2. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 6.211, 227.50
3. Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 6.269, 198.10 
4. Bill Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 6.438, 221.67
5. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 6.44, 192.06
6. Brent DuCray, Grand Junction, Colo., 6.455, 214.64
7. Suzie Wells, Salt Lake City, Utah, 6.700, 218.76
8. Gerald Gossman, Garden City, Kan., 6.981, 189.31 
   --- Not Qualified---
9. Joe DaMoude, Grand Island, Neb., 7.315, 178.78
10. Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 7.656, 124.04

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M. ‘97 Avenger, 6.201, 232.13
2. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘98 Firebird, 6.245, 230.35 
3. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., ‘97 Firebird, 6.387, 217.65
4. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Avenger, 6.394, 230.23
5. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ‘97 Avenger, 6.492, 222.77
6. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, S.D., ‘97 Firebird, 6.522, 223.15
7. Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., ‘96 Firebird, 6.807, 209.64
8. Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., ‘91 Oldsmobile, 6.832, 209.98
   --- Not Qualified---
9. Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mich., ‘92 TransAm, 6.956, 215.10
10. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., ‘97 Pontiac, 6.965, 209.93
11. Ken Davis, Corrales, N.M., ‘93 Daytona, 7.020, 193.25
12. Kurt Prososki, Bellvue, Neb., ‘94 Daytona, 7.281, 187.30

COMPETITION
1. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.537, (-0.573)
2. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., A/A ‘23 Ford, 7.225 (-0.515)
3. Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., C/D dragster, 7.605 (-0.505)
4. John Farleigh, Scott City, Kan., B/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.899 (-0.481)
5. Tom Haner, Scottsdale, Ariz., A/D dragster, 7.119 (-0.441)
6. Jason Tinberg, Bonner Springs, Kan. D/EA ‘94 Cutlass, 9.085 (-0.425)
7. Lou Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colo. B/A ‘23 Ford, 7.958 (-0.422)
8. Joe Angelo, Simmerman, Minn., B/ED dragster, 7.640 (-0.420)
9. Arthur Sauceda, Houston, Texas, C/D dragster, 7.692 (-0.418)
10.Rod Oman, Lakewood, Colo., B/ED dragster, 7.642 (-0.418)
7. John Linton, Tonkawa, Okla., C/ED dragster, 7.993 (-0.407)

SUPER STOCK
1. Billy Ingels, Colo. prgs, Colo., SS/JA ‘74 Trans Am, 11.044 (-0.985)
2. Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., GT/IA ‘98 Firebird, 11.302 (-0.938)
3. Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., SS/BS ‘98 Firebird, 9.726 (-0.924)
4. Gene Bichlmeier, Norfolk, Neb. SS/K ‘66 Chevy II ,11.119 (-.911)
5. Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA ‘69 Camaro, 10.692 (-0.908)
6. Ritch Ahrens, Greeley, Colo., GT/EA ‘87 Firebird, 10.793 (-0.867)
7. Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb., GT/BA ‘96 Olds, 10.396 (-0.834)
8. Carroll Warling, Arvado, Colo., SS/MA ‘74 Grand Am, 12.160 (-0.770)

STOCK
1. Kevin Helms, Byers, Colo., B/S ‘69 Camaro, 11.101 (-1.139)
2. Bob Johnson, Aurora, Colo., D/SA ‘67 Mustang, 11.593 (-1.027)
3. Fred Rector, Durango, Colo., I/S ‘72 Nova, 12.317 (-0.993)
4. John Hladky, Stuart, Neb., G/S ‘66 Nova, 12.023 (-0.967)
5. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., A/SA ‘69 Camaro 11.075 (-0.955)
6. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., M/SA ‘74 GTO, 13.064 (-0.936)
7. Randy Shepard, Holmen, Wisc., B/S ‘69 Camaro, 11.360 (-0.880)
8 Neal Rhodes, Aurora, Colo., F/SA ‘67 Fairlane, 12.050 (-0.880)

DOUGLAS, Wyoming -- Bill “Ziggy” Zivkovich, of Linchfield Minn.,
and Roger Bateman, of Calgary, Alta., took home the Federal-Mogul
Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car points in a surprising day
of racing at Douglas Int’l Raceway.  The race track has a
reputation as being a “racer’s racetrack, and it lived up to its
billing, as favorites fell by the wayside all day long in tight,
wheel-to-wheel, tire-smoking runs.  As Bateman put it, we took
what the race track would give us.”

This is the third Federal-Mogul Series win for Bateman and his
Firebird.  The combination currently leads the Northwest Division
Federal-Mogul points standings, as he ventured into the West
Central Division at Douglas but, through NHRA’s points structure
still added to his Northwest points lead.  The veteran was
obviously pleased with himself after the race.  “I know that
people are going to look at the times in the results across the
country and think: ‘Hey, I should have been there,’” he said.
“But the truth is we had four cars here leading or nearly
leading in four different divisions.  It was tough out there.”
He was referring the Vern Moats (West Central), Tate Branch
(South Central), Johnny Gray (Pacific), and himself (Northwest).

Zivkovich is nearly as much unlike Bateman as possible.  He
not only won his first Federal-Mogul Dragster title ever, he
won his first Federal-Mogul Dragster round ever.  And he did
it with a hole-shot 6.33 to 6.28 final.  He was all smiles as
he caressed his first NHRA trophy in his second year of trying
in the FMD.  He had run in Super Comp Dragster for seven years 
before moving up to the alky-burning monster he drives now.

But Ziggy didn’t back into anything either, as he had to get
through No. 1 qualifier David Wells to face another surprise
finalist Brent DuCray in the final.  DuCray had come up the
other side of the ladder and took out No. 2 qualifier Jay
Payne on the way.

Joining Zivkovich and Bateman in the winners circle, where
they received not only the coveted NHRA trophy but the equally
prized “Jack-a-lope” wall mount from Douglas Int’l Raceway’
John Kunkle, were Clint Sallee (Comp), James Powers (Super
Comp), Bryan Downing (Super Gas), John Steffen (Super Street),
Abe Loewen (Super Stock), Scott Welborn (Stock), Tracy Helmshold
(Super Bike), Todd Sheppard (Bracket One), Sarah Jivan (Bracket
Two), Jim Etler (Snowmobile), Town Bowen (Junior Dragster), and
Terry Ekart (Midwest/Compulink Super Shootout).  

DOUGLAS RESULTS
DIVISION 5 INSTANT STATS
Douglas Int'l Raceway, Douglas, Wyo.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
   W: Bill Zivkovich, Linchfield, Minn., 6.331, 224.21
   R/U: Brent DuCray, Grand Junction, Colo., 6.283, 214.54

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
   W: Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., ‘97 Firebird, 6.340, 218.97
   R/U: Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, ‘98 Avenger, 6.592, 218.65

Competition
   W: Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., C/Dragster, 7.595, 175.71
   R/U: John Farleigh, Scott City, Kan., B/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.901, 175.05

Super Stock
   W: Abe loewen, Regina, Sask., SS/EM ‘97 Achieva, 10.394, 128.07
   R/U: Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb. GT/BA ‘96 Achieva 10.469, 127.49

Stock
   W: Scott Welborn, Columbia, S.C. G/SA ‘68 Chevelle, 12.498, 101.14
   R/U: Bob Swan, Belle Forche, S.D., C/SA ‘67 Shelby Mustang, 11.753, 114.41

Super Comp
   W: James Powers, Pocatello, Idaho, dragster, 9.36, 155.17
   R/U: Rod Fuller, Rogers, Ark., dragster 9.38, 153.95

Super Gas
   W: Bryan Downing, Glendale, Ariz., ‘70 Challenger, 10.45, 143.44
   R/U: Ben Raymond, Aurora, Colo., ‘68 Camaro, 10.46, 119.74

Super Street
   W: John Steffen, Littleton, Colo., ‘67 Chevelle, 110.40, 122.29
   R/U: Glenn Dilday, Sibley, Mo. red-light

Super Bike
   W: Tracy Helmsold, Morrison, Colo., ‘86 Ninja, 9.11, 135.68
   R/U: Shannon Purviance, Casper, Wyo., ‘88 Ninja, 9.89, 131.69

E.T. Box
   W: Todd Sheppard, Casper, Wyo., dragster, 8.82, 149.90
   R/U: Gary Stinson, Douglas, Wyo., ‘62 Chevy II, 11.90, 111.71

E.T. No Box
   W: Sarah Jivan, Castle Rock, Colo., ‘72 Chevy, 11.71, 112.03
   R/U: Wade Stricklin, Mills, Wyo., ‘70 Demon, 11.55, 117.20

Snowmobile
   W: Jim Etlaer, Kremmling, Colo., ‘95 ZRT, 10.21, 128.71
   R/U: Paul Valdez, Boulder, Colo. ‘97 SkiDo, 11.55, 109.90

Junior Dragster
   W: Town Bown, Preston, Idaho, 9.78, 58.67
   R/U: Chad Sikes, Broomfial, Colo., 12.84, 46.87