FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TRACK RECORDS,CARS TUMBLE AT FIREBIRD

   FIREBIRD RACEWAY -- Rick Henkelman and Steve Sommer are
the provisional pole sitters at the Auto Parts ‘N Stuff
Ignitor presented by Bob Rice Country NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Firebird Raceway.  Henkelman,
of San Jose, Calif., reset the Firebird Raceway track record
with a 5.565-second run in his nitro-fueled, injected
dragster.

   Henkelman’s run gave him a one-tenth-of-a-second advantage
over Englewood, Colo.’s Melanie Troxel, who recorded a 5.65-
second lap in the In-N-Out Burger-sponsored dragster out of
Southern California.

   “We had to change the entire tune-up on the car,” said
Henkelman of his pole-sitting run.  “Before coming to this
race we hadn’t had to touch the tune-up all season; but at
this kind of altitude we’ve had to re-think everything we’d
previously done.”

   Nampa’s Steve Sommer recorded Firebird Raceway’s first
five-second run with the Federal-Mogul Funny Car, hitting a
5.98-second track record during second-round qualifying to
claim the No. 1 spot.

   “I’m real proud to be the first Federal-Mogul Funny Car
driver to run a five at Firebird Raceway,” beamed Sommer.
“I know [Brian Hough] ran a five yesterday during testing,
but I’m so happy to be the first to do it officially.  This
is my home track and I really wanted to do it in front of
the home-town fans.”

   During first-round qualifying Mitch Myers’ Federal-Mogul
Funny Car went out of control at mid-track and hit the
guardwall.  The errant Funny Car slid on its roof before
coming to a halt just past the finish line.  Myers was
conscious when the NHRA Safety Safari crew reached the car,
and Myers was transported to St. Al’s Hospital in Boise for
a precautionary check-up, returning to the track later in
the afternoon.

   The Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars will receive
two more qualifying attempts Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES
Positions after the first day of qualifying at Firebird
Raceway, Boise, Idaho, the first of six rounds in the 1998
NHRA Northwest Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series,
listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in
seconds, speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.56, 236.09
2. Melanie Troxel, Englewood, Colo., 5.65, 227.44
3. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.71, 245.36
4. Mark Woods Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.73, 235.04
5. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.74, 241.80
6. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.80, 238.98
7. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.84, 235.17
8. Mike Strasburg, Lehi, Utah, 5.91, 232.37

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, ‘97 Firebird, 5.98, 240.06
2. Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore., ‘95 Firebird, 6.10, 235.29
3. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., ‘98 Mustang, 6.10, 234.74
4. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., ‘97 Firebird, 6.12, 236.40
5. Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘94 Cutlass, 6.18, 220.58
6. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ‘97 Avenger, 6.20, 232.91
7. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., ‘98 Mustang, 6.20, 232.01
8. Randy Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘97 Firebird, 6.66, 170.90

COMPETITION
1.  Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., F/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.77 (-0.58)
2. Art Hodges, Simi Valley, Calif., B/A ‘63 Corvette, 7.61 (-0.56)
3. Doug Engles, Watertown, S.D., A/EA ‘23-T Ford, 7.71 (-0.52)
4. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 9.09 (-0.51)
5. Darrin Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.56 (-0.50)
6. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, Calif., B/SM ‘87 Trans Am, 9.22 (-0.38)
7. John Edwardes, Murphy, Idaho, C/EA ‘97 Avenger, 8.73 (-0.33)
8. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., C/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 9.32 (-0.32)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.51 (-1.21)
2. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA ‘87 Cavalier, 9.97 (-1.08)
3. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac, 10.52 (-1.05)
4. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Corvette, 8.82 (-1.04)
5. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., SS/MA ‘64 Comet, 11.50 (-1.04)
6. Dwight Deausy, Maple Ridge, B.C., GT/FA ‘91 Calais, 10.43 (-1.03)
7. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA ‘96 Achieva, 9.86 (-1.03)
8. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/FA ‘87 Camaro, 10.44 (-1.03)

STOCK
1. Joe Sorensen, Tigard, Ore., K/SA ‘86 Chevrolet, 12.05 (-1.32)
2. Jerry Mulkey, Burbank, Wash., Q/SA ‘66 Caprice, 13.41 (-1.15)
3. Bill Heard Jr., Vancouver, Wash., E/SA ‘96 Pontiac, 11.25 (-1.14)
4. Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., Q/SA ‘98 Firebird, 13.43 (-1.13)
5. Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., M/SA ‘77 Cutlass, 12.47 (-1.11)
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.98 (-1.10)
7. Sean Cour, Vancouver, Wash., E/SA ‘67 Camaro, 11.32 (-1.07)
8. Don Little, Wesfleg, Calif., A/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.62 (-1.06)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

SOMMER AND HOUGH TRADE FIREBIRD RACEWAY RECORD

   FIREBIRD RACEWAY, BOISE, IDAHO--Saturday was a day of
record-breaking runs at Firebird Raceway between Federal-
Mogul Funny Car racers Brian Hough and Steve Sommer.
Competing at the Auto Parts ‘N Stuff Ignitor presented by Bob
Rice Country NHRA Northwest Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
event, Sommer’s claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot with a track
record 5.93 -second elapsed time.  This beat the record of
5.96 seconds that had been set by Brian Hough earlier in the
day, at the time another track-record run.

  Sommer was delighted with the run and attributed his record-
breaking pass to a complete teardown and rebuild of his Funny
Car by his crew Friday. The engine and tuning changes resulted
in three consecutive five-second runs, the best being the afore-
mentioned 5.93-second lap.

   Sommer said, “[Federal-Mogul Dragster competitor] Rick
Santos likes to say, ‘Drag racing’s not easy, and it’s not
supposed to be,’ and that pretty much sums up this weekend.
We struggled in the beginning but it’s all coming together in
time for eliminations.”

   In the Federal-Mogul Dragster category Rick Henkelman held
his top position in qualifying with a 5.56-second  elapsed
time recorded Friday despite the best efforts of Melanie Troxel,
Rick Santos, and Mark Woods Jr.  Woods improved to a 5.63-second
run but was unable to knock Henkelman off the top spot.

   First-round of eliminations for the Federal-Mogul Dragsters
and Funny Cars begin Sunday at noon.

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES
Final qualifying positions at Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho,
the first of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA Northwest Division
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing driver, hometown,
state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, speed in miles per
hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.565, 236.09
2. Mark Woods, Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.637, 237.02
3. Melanie Troxel, Englewood, Col., 5.659, 227.44
4. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.687, 245.36
5. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.744, 241.80
6. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.806, 238.98
7. Mike Strasburg, Lehi, Utah, 5.829, 235.72
8. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.845, 236.53

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, ‘97 Firebird, 5.932, 240.89
2. Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore., ‘95 Firebird, 5.962, 238.15
3. Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., ‘97 Firebird, 6.036, 236.40
4. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., ‘98 Mustang, 6.074, 235.23
5. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., ‘98 Mustang,  6.103, 234.74
6. Craig Peterson, Missoula, Mont., ‘97 Avenger, 6.110, 231.89
7. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alberta, ‘97 Firebird, 6.129, 234.43
8. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ‘97 Avenger, 6.136, 232.91

COMPETITION
1. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., F/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.775 (-0.585)
2. Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., C/SM ‘90 Chevrolet, 9.333 (-0.567)
3. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 9.048 (-0.562)
4. Art Hodges, Simi Valley, Calif., B/A ‘63 Corvette, 7.610 (-0.560)
5. Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., A/EA ‘27-T Ford, 7.710 (-0.520)
6. Darrin Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.564 (-0.506)
7. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., C/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 9.166 (-0.484)
8. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., B/SM ‘87 Trans Am, 9.225 (-0.385)

SUPER STOCK
1.  Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.515 (-1.215)
2. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA Chevrolet, 9.977 (-1.083)
3. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/FA ‘87 Camaro, 10.399 (-1.071)
4. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac, 10.520 (-1.050)
5. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Corvette, 8.825 (-1.045)
6. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA ‘96 Achieva, 9.855 (-1.045)
7. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., SS/MA ‘64 Comet, 11.509 (-1.041)
8. Dwight Deausy, Maple Ridge, B.C., GT/FA ‘91 Calais, 10.437 (-1.033)

STOCK
1. Joe Sorensen, Tigard. Ore., K/SA ‘86 Chevrolet, 12.057 (-1.323)
2. Jerry Mulkey, Burbank, Wash., Q/SA ‘66 Caprice, 13.412 (-1.158)
3. Bill Heard, Jr., Vancouver, Wash., E/SA ‘96 Pontiac, 11.256 (-1.144)
4. Bill Nelson, Tucson, Ariz., Q/SA ‘98 Firebird, 13.433 (-1.137)
5. Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., M/SA ‘77 Cutlass, 12.472 (-1.118)
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA ‘70 Plymouth 10.985 (-1.105)
7. Sean Cour, Vancouver, Wash., E/SA ‘67 Camaro, 11.315 (-1.085)
8. Don Little, Wesfleg, Calif., A/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.620 (-1.060)

SANTOS USES SUPERIOR REACTIONS TO WIN

   FIREBIRD RACEWAY, Boise, Idaho -- Rick Santos and Jett
Field were the big winners at the Auto Parts N’ Stuff Ignitor
presented by Bob Rice Country NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series event at Firebird Raceway.

   Federal-Mogul Dragster racer Rick Santos won the final
race by one tenth of a second away the starting line.  His
elapsed time of 5.67 seconds beat opponent Melanie Troxel’s
run of 5.66 seconds.  However, Santos’ superior 0.407 reaction
time compared favorably to Troxel’s 0.514 reaction time; that
slight difference in reflexes helped Santos to come away with
the win.

   “Sometimes you need luck to win, and this was one of those
days,” said Santos, the reigning Federal-Mogul Dragster
national champion.  “This sport can be very humbling, and I’m
delighted to have scored this victory.”

   Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Field’s exciting win against
Roger Bateman came after a disappointing day of qualifying
Saturday.  Field’s eighth-place qualifying spot was turned
into a fantastic first-place finish with a 6.27 second elapsed
time.  Bateman’s car crossed the centerline at mid-track,
handing Field an easy victory.

   Said Field, “I felt the car should have been running fives
all weekend.  [Crew chief] Dan Hutchmeier was not used to how
we usually tune our car, but by the end of the weekend we had
arrived at a combination that liked the track.”

BOISE RESULTS
DIVISION 6 INSTANT STATS
Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.67, 246.30
	R/U: Melanie Troxel, Englewood, Colo., 5.66, 231.42

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ’97 Avenger, 6.27, 219.88
	R/U: Roger Bateman, Calgary Alberta, ‘97 Firebird, 7.91, 112.23

Competition
 	W: Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.50, 157.09
	R/U: Rob Robinson, Portland, Ore. ‘97 Oldsmobile, 8.64, 152.85

Super Stock
 	W: Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.51, 126.17
	R/U: Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA ‘87 Cavalier, 9.98, 132.64

Stock
 	W: Steve Cozakos, Maple Valley, Wash., ‘72 Oldsmobile, 11.98, 108.66
	R/U: Joe Sorensen, Tigard, Ore., ‘86 Chevrolet, 12.77, 105.57

Super Comp
 	W: Luke Shumard, Santa Clarita, Calif., dragster, 9.16, 147.56
	R/U: Terry Giese, Milwaukie, Ore., dragster 9.13, 153.89 (break-out)

Super Gas
 	W: Mike Henderson, Tacoma, Wash., ‘69 Camaro, 10.23, 142.97
	R/U: Troy Moyle, Carson City, Nev., ‘27-T Ford, 10.20, 140.64

Super Street
 	W: Terry Reed, Spanaway, Wash., ‘70 Nova, 11.16, 121.14
	R/U: Ron Cross, Springfield, Ore., ‘67 Camaro, 11.14, 126.56 (break-out)