FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORLD CHAMP LEADS MISSION DRAGSTERS

   MISSION RACEWAY PARK, Mission, B.C. -- Rick Santos and Brian
Hough are the early leaders at the Lordco Auto Parts Canadian
Drag Racing Challenge at Mission Raceway Park, the second of
six events in the NHRA Northwest Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

   Santos of San Leandro, Calif., the reigning Federal-Mogul
Dragster world champion, leads the field with a track-record
5.56-second run at 406.19 k/mh.

   Said Santos of his pole-setting run, “The track was a little
greasy on that run; [the car] was spinning the rear tires all
the way downtrack. We’ll make some changes for [Saturday] and
see what it will run.  I’ll be disappointed if we can’t run at
least a 5.45 or quicker tomorrow.”

   Compounding Santos’ problems Friday, the dragster’s fuel tank
cracked on the run, a situation attributed to severe tire-shake
the previous weekend at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

   “Last weekend the car shook the tires on every run,” said
Santos, who won the California event with a career-best 5.48-
second lap.  “When the car shakes like that something has to
give and I guess that run just finished off [the fuel tank].”

   Eugene, Ore.’s Hough is the provisional pole-sitter in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car with a 5.96-second lap at 387.39 k/mh,
a heartbeat ahead of Bucky Austin of Fife, Wash., who
recorded a 5.97-second, 390.21 k/mh run.

   “All we wanted was a good, base-line run,” said Hough.
“Now the car has gone downtrack once we’ll gradually step on
the tune-up Saturday.  I’ll be happy if we can run a 5.8 on
Saturday’s first [qualifying] run, then maybe run a 5.7
during tomorrow night’s session.”

   Qualifying will continue in all categories on Saturday
beginning 9:00 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-
Mogul Funny Cars scheduled to receive two more qualifying
laps 5:00 p.m. and under the lights at 8:30 p.m.

   MISSION, B.C. -- Provisional qualifying results Friday from
Mission Raceway Park, the second of six events in the 1998 NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown,
state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles per
hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.561 seconds, 406.19 k/mh
2. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.785, 385.83
3. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.793, 388.75
4. Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif., 5.869, 376.11
5. Bob Haffner, Mission, B.C., 6.765, 226.37

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore., ‘95 Firebird, 5.964 seconds, 387.39 k/mh
2. Bucky Austin, Fife, Was., ‘97 Firebird, 5.968, 390.21
3. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., ‘98 Firebird, 5.972, 394.57
4. Randy Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘97 Firebird, 6.014, 380.27
5. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., ‘98 Mustang, 6.344, 339.37
6. Jeff Johnsen, Yarrow, B.C., ‘94 Cutlass, 6.471, 313.49
7. Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., ‘97 Cutlass, 6.546, 352.16
8. Bill Edwards Jr., Sumas, Wash., ‘92 Camaro, 6.748, 341.44

COMPETITION
1. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., F/A ‘97 Firebird, 8.761 (-0.379)
2. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 9.009 (-0.371)
3. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., C/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 9.057 (-0.363)
4. Rob Robinson, Portland, Ore., C/EA ‘96 Oldsmobile, 8.524 (-0.326)
5. Mike Robinson, Salinas, Calif., B/EDragster, 7.377 (-0.283)
6. Danny Anderson, Des Moines, Wash., C/EDragster, 7.814 (-0.176)
7. John Edwards, Murphy, Idaho, C/EA ‘96 Avenger, 8.712 (-0.138)
8. Mike Pessemier, Tacoma, Wash., B/Dragster, 7.422 (-0.078)

SUPER STOCK
1. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Corvette, 8.662 (-0.888)
2. Joe Aluise Jr., Laurel, Md., SS/BA ‘64 Plymouth, 9.368 (-0.832)
3. Peter Wille, Victoria, B.C., SS/D ‘70 Baracuda, 9.701 (-0.749)
4. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., SS/CM ‘97 Grand Am, 9.162 (-0.738)
5. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alta., GT/EA ‘96 Camaro, 10.214 (-0.736)
6. Rick McKinney, Richmond, B.C., SS/KA ‘84 Cutlass, 10.882 (-0.668)
7. Art Congdon, Calgary, Alta., GT/CA ‘91 Oldsmobile, 10.037 (-0.663)
8. Pam Haas, Bridgeport, Calif., GT/EA ‘92 Ciera, 10.296 (-0.654)

STOCK
1. Sean Cour, Gresham, Ore., E/SA ‘67 Camaro, 10.992 (-1.008)
2. Shawn Towner, Lynwood, Wash., K/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.983 (-0.967)
3. Don Little, Westley, Calif., A/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.356 (-0.944)
4. Ron Durham, Cameron Park, Calif., B/SA ‘71 Chevelle, 10.622 (-0.928)
5. Joe Aluise, Laurel, Md., A/SA ‘63 Plymouth, 10.389 (-0.911)
6. Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., M/SA ‘77 Cutlass, 12.239 (-0.911)
7. Mary Ann Method, Kennewick, Wash., C/SA ‘70 Nova, 10.802 (-0.898)
8. Tom Skjonsberg, Ft. McMurray, Alta., B/SA ‘71 Baracuda, 10.665 (-0.885)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

AUSTIN, SANTOS SET PACE AT MISSION

   MISSION RACEWAY PARK, Mission, B.C. -- After a day of clear
blue skies and 25-degree temperatures, the competitors in the
NHRA Northwest Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series completed their
qualifying attempts under the lights at Mission Raceway Park.

   Pat Austin and Rick Santos set the pace in Federal-Mogul
Funny Car and Federal-Mogul Dragster, respectively, to claim
the No. 1 qualifying positions at the Lordco Auto Parts
Canadian Drag Racing Challenge.

   Austin, of Tacoma, Wash., led the Funny Cars with a 5.81-
second run at 409.52 k/mh to lead his uncle, Bucky Austin of
Fife, Wash., who recorded a 5.83-second lap.  Pat Austin will
race Mitch Myers in the first round, while Bucky will face off
against John Hyland.

   San Leandro, Calif.’s Santos set the pole position with a
5.56-second lap recorded during Friday’s qualifying session.
Santos will face Don Clease in the first round of eliminations
Sunday.

   Final eliminations in all categories begin 9:00 a.m. Sunday,
with quarterfinals of Funny Car and Dragster scheduled to begin 

at 12 noon.

   MISSION, B.C. -- Provisional qualifying results Friday from
Mission Raceway Park, the second of six events in the 1998 NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown, state,
vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in kilometres per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.561, 406.19 k/mh
2. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.785, 386.16
3. Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.793, 388.75
4. Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif., 5.869, 376.11
5. Bob Haffner, Mission, B.C., 6.039, 313.77
6. Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 6.419, 272.03
7. David Trimble, Morinville, Alta., 6.756, 322.65
8. Don Clease, Mission, B.C., 6.911, 286.80

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., ‘98 Firebird, 5.810, 409.52 k/mh
2. Bucky Austin, Fife, Was., ‘97 Firebird, 5.832, 400.68
3. Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore., ‘95 Firebird, 5.884, 393.70
4. Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘94 Cutlass, 5.919, 371.21
5. Randy Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘97 Firebird, 5.957, 385.95
6. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., ‘97 Firebird, 6.019, 387.18
7. John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., ‘98 Mustang, 6.024, 386.35
8. Mitch Myers, Hermiston, Ore., ‘97 Cutlass, 6.118, 382.16

COMPETITION
1. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., B/EA ‘95 Pontiac, 8.039 (-0.531)
2. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., C/SR ‘34 Chevrolet, 8.929 (-0.491)
3. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., F/A ‘97 Firebird, 8.659 (-0.481)
4. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., B/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.937 (-0.443)
5. Mike Robinson, Salinas, Calif., B/EDragster, 7.229 (-0.431)
6. Rob Robinson, Portland, Ore., C/EA ‘96 Oldsmobile, 8.444 (-0.406)
7. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., B/SM ‘87 Trans Am, 8.978 (-0.402)
8. Dean Lindvig, Talent, Ore., C/A ‘91 Cutlass, 7.864 (-0.396)

SUPER STOCK
1. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Corvette, 8.662 (-0.888)
2. Rick Pike, Langley, B.C., SS/NA ‘56 Chevrolet, 11.592 (-0.858)
3. Joe Aluise Jr., Laurel, Md., SS/BA ‘64 Plymouth, 9.368 (-0.832)
4. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., SS/CM ‘97 Grand Am, 9.082 (-0.818)
5. John Heida, Richmond, B.C., GT/FA ‘86 Mustang, 10.327 (-0.773)
6. Peter Wille, Victoria, B.C., SS/D ‘70 Baracuda, 9.701 (-0.749)
7. Buck Kinney, Port Coquitlam, B.C., SS/JA ‘71 Chevelle, 10.555 (-0.745)
8. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alta., GT/EA ‘96 Camaro, 10.214 (-0.736)

STOCK
1. Shawn Towner, Lynwood, Wash., K/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.936 (-1.014)
2. Sean Cour, Gresham, Ore., E/SA ‘67 Camaro, 10.992 seconds (-1.008)
3. Ron Durham, Cameron Park, Calif., B/SA ‘71 Chevelle, 10.601 (-0.949)
4. Don Little, Westley, Calif., A/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.356 (-0.944)
5. Gary Johnson, Eatonville, Wash., L/SA ‘71 Oldsmobile, 12.056 (-0.944)
6. Joe Aluise, Laurel, Md., A/SA ‘63 Plymouth, 10.389 (-0.911)
7. Bill Kost, Renton, Wash., M/SA ‘77 Cutlass, 12.239 (-0.911)
8. Mary Ann Method, Kennewick, Wash., C/SA ‘70 Nova, 10.802 (-0.898)

AFTER WEEKEND OF WOES, SANTOS WINS

   MISSION RACEWAY PARK, Mission, B.C. -- Overcoming a myriad of
problems, reigning Federal-Mogul Dragster national champion Rick
Santos finally found the performance he was looking for to win
the Lordco Auto Parts Canadian Challenge at Mission Raceway Park,
Mission, B.C., the second of six events on the 1998 NHRA
Northwest Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

   Joining Santos in the winners’ circle was Calgary, Alta.’s
Roger Bateman who scored an upset victory in Federal-Mogul Funny
Car.

   Santos of San Leandro, Calif., was thwarted throughout
qualifying and eliminations by problems that included a cracked
fuel tank, bad magnetos, and tire shake so severe that on one
run his right foot slipped off the throttle pedal.

   Facing veteran racer John Shoemaker of Sacramento, Calif., in
the final round, Santos sped to a track-record 5.551-second run at
410.45 k/mh. Shoemaker stayed with Santos all the way downtrack but
his 5.739, 388.21 trailed across the finish line.

   Bateman reached the winners’ circle the hard way, beating highly
favored opponents in all three rounds of competition: Brian Hough in
the quarterfinals; Bucky Austin in the semifinals; and Russ Parker
in the final.

   In one of the day’s best races, Bateman overcame Parker’s starting-
line advantage to claim the victory by just 21-thousandths of a
second with a 5.927-second run to Parker’s 5.970-second lap.

   Mission Raceway Park officials estimated more than 14,000
spectators attended the three-day event.

MISSION RESULTS
DIVISION 6 INSTANT STATS
Mission Raceway, Mission, B.C.  May 1-3

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.551, 410.45 k/mh
	R/U: John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.739, 388.49

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alta., ‘97 Firebird, 5.927, 388.63
	R/U: Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., ‘94 Cutlass, 5.970, 367.43

Competition
 	W: Dean Lindvig, Talent, Ore., ‘91 Cutlass, 7.815, 281.39
	R/U: Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., ‘95 Pontiac, 8.041, 273.62.

Super Stock
 	W: Steve Polack, Enumclaw, Wash., ‘92 Camaro, 10.499, 207.04
	R/U: Rick Pike, Langley, B.C., ‘56 Chevrolet, 11.597, 184.98 (foul start)

Stock
 	W: Sean Cour, Gresham, Ore., ‘67 Camaro, 11.043, 185.43
	R/U: Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, ‘71 Mustang, 11.008, 190.50

Super Comp
 	W: Tory Lea, Vancouver, Wash., dragster, 8.870, 253.11
	R/U: Jim Morris, Olympia, Wash., dragster, 8.833, 262.37 (foul start).

Super Gas
 	W: Doug Turnbull, Puyallup, Wash., ‘69 Corvette, 9.897, 220.23
	R/U: Joe Mura, Vancouver, B.C., ‘63 Chevrolet II, 9.870, 229.00 (break out)

Super Street
 	W: Jason Heard, Vancouver, Wash., ‘70 Maverick, 10.903, 214.52
	R/U: John Peterson, Basin City, Wash., ‘55 Chevrolet, 10.948, 219.86