FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAYLOR, GRAY SET PACE AT SPEEDWORLD

   SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX, Phoenix, Ariz. -- Bobby Taylor and
Johnny Gray are the early pace setters at the NHRA Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series Copper State Championships at
Speedworld Motorplex in Phoenix, Ariz.

   Taylor, driving Gary Turner’s GT Bicycles-sponsored
dragster, is the provisional pole sitter in Federal-Mogul
Dragster with a 5.67-second run. Gray, driving his ‘97
Pontiac Firebird-bodied Funny Car, currently sits atop the
field with a 5.89-second lap.

   Taylor, of Laguna Hills, Calif., the 1996 Federal-Mogul
Dragster national champion, felt the run could have been
even quicker.  Before the finish line a connecting rod broke
inside the engine.

   “The car was really moving through the middle of the
course,” explained Taylor.  “I knew [the car] was spinning
the rear tires and as I shutoff the engine I felt the engine
begin to destruct.  There was no warning; I just happened to
be lucky and kill the power the exact same moment the engine
killed itself.”

   Making his first visit to the Arizona track, Gray, of
Carlsbad, N.M., paced the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field with
a 5.89-second run, having run an unofficial track-record of
5.76 seconds during Thursday testing.  Nampa, Idaho’s Steve
Sommer recorded the fastest speed of the day at 242.67 mph
and trails Gray by a mere nine-thousandths of a second with
a 5.90-second lap.

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

Final qualifying positions at Speedworld Motorplex, Phoenix,
Ariz., the first of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA Pacific
Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing driver,
hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, speed in
miles per hour.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bobby Taylor, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.67, 243.59
2. Steve Faria, Tulare, Calif., 5.72, 242.41
3. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.74, 240.27
4. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.83, 180.80
5. Mark Woods Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.89, 220.55
6. Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.96, 228.86
7. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 6.14, 225.00
8. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.26, 204.87

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘97 Firebird, 5.89, 238.77
2. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, ‘97 Firebird, 5.90, 242.67
3. Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif., ‘97 Camaro, 5.94, 238.81
4. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., ‘98 Avenger, 5.98, 230.83
5. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.12, 231.84
6. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.20, 226.93
7. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., ‘97 Avenger, 6.22, 230.79
8. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ‘97 Avenger, 6.28, 227.01

COMPETITION
1. John Geyer, Goleta, Calif., A/Dragster, 6.78, 183.13 (-0.52)
2. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.14, 163.94 (-0.51)
3. Randy Jones, Dana Point, Calif., D/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.15, 165.65 (-0.51)
4. Kyle Seipel, San Leandro, Calif., C/EA ‘92 Firebird, 8.49, 158.97 (-0.46)
5. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.20, 164.78 (-0.45)
6. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., C/A ‘97 Pontiac, 7.90, 170.74 (-0.43)
7. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., C/SM ‘90 Camaro, 9.32, 144.50 (-0.43)
8. Donnie Hendrick, Las Vegas, Nev., C/EA ‘96 Monte Carlo, 8.53, 157.95
(-0.42)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.41, 127.29 (-1.12)
2. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA ‘87 Cavalier, 9.85, 134.84 (-1.02)
3. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., GT/FA ‘91 Calais, 10.28, 128.33 (-1.00)
4. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac, 10.39, 128.52 (-0.99)
5. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Chevrolet, 8.73, 154.40 (-0.97)
6. Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA ‘69 Chevrolet, 10.12, 129.06 (-0.95)
7. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/FA ‘89 Camaro, 10.35, 128.07 (-0.93)
8. Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., SS/AM ‘90 Beretta, 8.77, 155.85 (-0.93)

STOCK
1. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA ‘70 Barracuda, 10.69, 122.96 (-1.04)
2. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.96, 119.30 (-0.94)
3. Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif., B/SA ‘68 Chevrolet, 10.80, 121.38 (-0.93)
4. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., F/SA ‘71 Demon, 11.44, 114.94 (-0.90)
5. Martha Thompson, Temecula, Calif., F/SA ‘97 Pontiac, 11.45, 117.37 (-0.89)
6. Bob Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA ‘74 Dodge, 11.46, 114.52 (-0.88)
7. Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif., F/SA ‘68 Camaro, 11.46, 113.82 (-0.88)
8. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., A/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.61, 122.53 (-0.87)

Saturday Qualifying:

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES
SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX, Phoenix, Ariz.

RAIN WASHES SATURDAY AWAY

   SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX, Phoenix, Ariz. -- Rain showers forecast for
Southern Arizona arrived as scheduled Saturday, washing away all qualifying
attempts at the CopperState Championships, the first round of the 1998 NHRA
Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.  NHRA officials finally
called it a day at 5:00 p.m. and will resume racing at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, a
day the weathermen are predicting will be graced by clear skies and warm
temperatures.
   Competitors in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, and
Competition eliminator will receive a final qualifying attempt Sunday,
beginning at 9:30 a.m., before beginning eliminations at noon.
   After one qualifying attempt Bobby Taylor of Laguna Hills, Calif.,
driving Gary Turner’s dragster, is the provisional pole sitter with a
5.67-second run; Carlsbad, N.M.’s Johnny Gray paces the Federal-Mogul Funny
Car field with a 5.89-second lap. 


1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

Provisional qualifying positions at Speedworld Motorplex,
Phoenix, Ariz., the first of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA
Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series,
listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in
seconds, speed in miles per hour.
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bobby Taylor, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.67, 243.59
2. Steve Faria, Tulare, Calif., 5.72, 242.41
3. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.74, 240.27
4. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.83, 180.80
5. Mark Woods Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.89, 220.55
6. Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.96, 228.86
7. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 6.14, 225.00
8. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.26, 204.87

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘97 Firebird, 5.89, 238.77
2. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, ‘97 Firebird, 5.90, 242.67
3. Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif., ‘97 Camaro, 5.94, 238.81
4. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., ‘98 Avenger, 5.98, 230.83
5. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.12, 231.84
6. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.20, 226.93
7. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., ‘97 Avenger, 6.22, 230.79
8. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, ‘97 Avenger, 6.28, 227.01

COMPETITION
1. John Geyer, Goleta, Calif., A/Dragster, 6.78, 183.13 (-0.52)
2. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.14, 163.94 (-0.51)
3. Randy Jones, Dana Point, Calif., D/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.15, 165.65 (-0.51)
4. Kyle Seipel, San Leandro, Calif., C/EA ‘92 Firebird, 8.49, 158.97 (-0.46)
5. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.20, 164.78 (-0.45)
6. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., C/A ‘97 Pontiac, 7.90, 170.74 (-0.43)
7. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., C/SM ‘90 Camaro, 9.32, 144.50 (-0.43)
8. Donnie Hendrick, Las Vegas, Nev., C/EA ‘96 Monte Carlo, 8.53, 157.95 (-0.42)

SUPER STOCK
*final qualifying order
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.41, 127.29 (-1.12)
2. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA ‘87 Cavalier, 9.85, 134.84 (-1.02)
3. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., GT/FA ‘91 Calais, 10.28, 128.33 (-1.00)
4. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac, 10.39, 128.52 (-0.99)
5. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Chevrolet, 8.73, 154.40 (-0.97)
6. Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA ‘69 Chevrolet, 10.12, 129.06 (-0.95)
7. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/FA ‘89 Camaro, 10.35, 128.07 (-0.93)
8. Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., SS/AM ‘90 Beretta, 8.77, 155.85 (-0.93)

STOCK
*final qualifying order
1. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA ‘70 Barracuda, 10.69, 122.96 (-1.04)
2. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.96, 119.30 (-0.94)
3. Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif., B/SA ‘68 Chevrolet, 10.80, 121.38 (-0.93)
4. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., F/SA ‘71 Demon, 11.44, 114.94 (-0.90)
5. Martha Thompson, Temecula, Calif., F/SA ‘97 Pontiac, 11.45, 117.37 (-0.89)
6. Bob Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA ‘74 Dodge, 11.46, 114.52 (-0.88)
7. Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif., F/SA ‘68 Camaro, 11.46, 113.82 (-0.88)
8. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., A/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.61, 122.53 (-0.87)

SPEEDWORLD RACE RESCHEDULED

   SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX, Phoenix, Ariz. -- Despite a weather
forecast that predicted clear skies and warm temperatures for
Sunday, heavy rain clouds attached themselves to Speedworld
Motorplex early Saturday, and after several attempts to dry
the track NHRA officials reluctantly postponed the race one
week.  Qualifying in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul
Funny Car, and Competition eliminator will resume Friday,
March 20, with eliminations slated for Saturday, March 21.

   After one qualifying attempt Bobby Taylor of Laguna
Hills, Calif., driving Gary Turner’s dragster, is the
provisional pole sitter with a 5.67-second run; Carlsbad,
N.M.’s Johnny Gray paces the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field
with a 5.89-second lap. 

QUICK TIMES RAIN ON SPEEDWORLD

   SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX, Phoenix, Ariz. -- One week after
rain forced a seven-day postponement of the CopperState
Championships at Speedworld Motorplex, the only thing
raining at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event
Friday was quick elapsed times and fast speeds.

   Rick Henkelman replaced early pace-setter Bobby Taylor
atop the Federal-Mogul Dragster qualifying sheets, while
John Weaver muscled around provisional pole-sitter Johnny
Gray to claim the No. 1 spot in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.

   Henkelman’s nitro-fuel-injected dragster reset the
Speedworld Motorplex track record at 5.52 seconds to hold a
fifteen-hundredths-of-a-second advantage over second-placed
Taylor.  The margin at the top of the Federal-Mogul Funny
Car qualifying sheets was not quite as large, as Weaver’s
5.87-second lap barely edged Gray’s 5.89, recorded last
weekend.

   Eliminations in all categories begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday,
with the first round of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car
slated to begin at midday.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.52, 230.02
2. Bobby Taylor, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.67, 243.59
3. Steve Faria, Tulare, Calif., 5.72, 242.41
4. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.74, 240.27
5. Bruce Kenyon, Chandler, Ariz., 5.75, 214.39
6. Mark Woods Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.77, 233.66
7. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.79, 238.09
8. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 5.81, 237.65

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 5.87, 238.83
2. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘97 Firebird, 5.89, 238.77
3. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, ‘97 Firebird, 5.90, 242.67
4. Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif., ‘97 Camaro, 5.94, 238.81
5. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., ‘98 Avenger, 5.98, 230.83
6. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.00, 231.28
7. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., ‘97 Firebird, 6.11, 230.07
8. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., ‘96 Achieva, 6.20, 210.24

COMPETITION
1. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., C/SR ‘33 Chevrolet, 9.00 (-0.55)
2. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.12 (-0.53)
3. John Geyer, Goleta, Calif., A/Dragster, 6.78 (-0.52)
4. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.14 (-0.51)
5. Kyle Seipel, San Leandro, Calif., C/EA ‘92 Firebird, 8.44 (-0.51)
6. Randy Jones, Dana Point, Calif., D/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.15 (-0.51)
7. Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., B/EDragster, 7.26 (-0.47)
8. Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., C/SM ‘90 Camaro, 9.28 (-0.47)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Chevrolet, 10.41, 127.29 (-1.12)
2. Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., GT/CA ‘87 Cavalier, 9.85, 134.84 (-1.02)
3. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., GT/FA ‘91 Calais, 10.28, 128.33 (-1.00)
4. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac, 10.39, 128.52 (-0.99)
5. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., SS/AM ‘57 Chevrolet, 8.73, 154.40 (-0.97)
6. Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA ‘69 Chevrolet, 10.12, 129.06 (-0.95)
7. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif., GT/FA ‘89 Camaro, 10.35, 128.07 (-0.93)
8. Curt Auman, Yorba Linda, Calif., SS/AM ‘90 Beretta, 8.77, 155.85 (-0.93)

STOCK
1. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA ‘70 Barracuda, 10.69, 122.96 (-1.04)
2. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA ‘70 Plymouth, 10.96, 119.30 (-0.94)
3. Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif., B/SA ‘68 Chevrolet, 10.80, 121.38 (-0.93)
4. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., F/SA ‘71 Demon, 11.44, 114.94 (-0.90)
5. Martha Thompson, Temecula, Calif., F/SA ‘97 Pontiac, 11.45, 117.37 (-0.89)
6. Bob Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA ‘74 Dodge, 11.46, 114.52 (-0.88)
7. Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif., F/SA ‘68 Camaro, 11.46, 113.82 (-0.88)
8. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., A/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.61, 122.53 (-0.87)

HENKELMAN TOO TOUGH AT RERUN

   It took a little longer than expected, but the CopperState
Championships at Speedworld Motorplex was completed Saturday
evening, getting the first round of the 1998 NHRA Pacific
Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series into the ledger.

   After rain washed away the first weekend’s action March
12-14, more than 300 racers returned seven days later to
the North Phoenix track to complete eliminations.

   San Jose, Calif.’s Rick Henkelman snared the Federal-
Mogul Dragster title in an all-A/Fuel Dragster duel,
defeating Mark Woods Jr. for the event crown in a 5.51-
seconds to 5.63 seconds heat.  Henkelman was the class
of the field, recording a track-record 5.47-seconds at
234 miles per hour during the first round of eliminations.

   Johnny Gray of Carlsbad, N.M., overcame a semifinal
engine explosion and ensuing fire to defeat John Weaver
in the final round of Federal-Mogul Funny Car.  In one
of the day’s closest races Gray beat Weaver to the finish
line by a heartbeat, 5.84-seconds to 5.85 seconds.

PHOENIX RESULTS
DIVISION 7 INSTANT STATS
Speedworld Motorplex, Phoenix, Ariz.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.51, 231.75
	R/U: Mark Woods Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 5.63, 234.38

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘98 Firebird, 5.84, 242.48
	R/U: John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., ‘98 Firebird, 5.85, 240.91

Competition
 	W: Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., C/SR ‘33 Chevrolet, 8.91 (-0.54)
	R/U: Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., B/EA ‘97 Pontiac, 8.13 (-0.49)

Super Stock
 	W: Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA ‘96 Achieva, 9.78, 134.43
	R/U: John Calvert, Lancaster, Calif., SS/G ‘68 Mustang, 10.45, 123.63.

Stock
 	W: Bob Elliott, San Marcos, Calif., A/SA ‘63 Plymouth, 14.88
	R/U: Pul Wong, Las Vegas, Nev., STK ‘68 Torino, 13.67 (foul start)

Super Comp
 	W: Eddie Brown, Fairbanks, Alaska, dragster, 8.99 seconds
	R/U: J.R. Leerkamp, Olympia, Wash., dragster, 8.98 (break-out)

Super Gas
 	W: Jon Brazeau, St. George, Utah, ‘27-T Ford, 10.01, 134.05
	R/U: Pete Bothe, Long Beach, Calif., ‘78 Porsche, 9.99, 132.57 (break-out)

Super Street
 	W: James Brown, Channel Islands, Calif., ‘81 Chevrolet, 11.03
	R/U: Tim Landis, Glendale, Ariz., ‘67 Chevrolet II, 10.96 (break-out)