FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santos, Taylor Lead After First Day of Qualifying    

Bakersfield, Calif. -- Results from the first day of qualifying for the
second event of the six-event Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Series.  More
than 400 drivers are on hand to run for a share of $133,055 up from grabs
at the famed Famoso Raceway north of Bakersfield.

Rick Santos, of San Leandro, the defending Federal-Mogul Dragster national
champion took the first step toward grabbing some much-needed points toward
the 1998 championship by putting himself on the pole after the first day ow
qualifying with a 5.53-second shot at well over 250 mph that came after
many highly touted rivals had trouble getting a hold on the stubborn Famoso
Raceway racing surface.  Bur even with that impressive run Santos is not
clearly in the lead.  Two other drivers broke into the 5.50 zone at 5.55
each.  Darren Nicholson and national record holder Rick Henkelman hold down
the No. s 2 and 3 spots with those times.

Dennis Taylor of Placentia, Calif., leads a tighly packed top of the ladder
in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.  His 5.841 at 239.40 mph held up for the first
day as Brett Williams of San Jose, Doug Gordon of Paso Robles, Wayne
Stoeckel of Madera and Mert Littlefield of Garden Grove all ran withing
sixth hundredths of a second.

Gates open Saturday at 7:30 a.m. with time trials at 8:30.  The 260 mph
Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars will take two
qualifying shots at 2:30 and 6 p.m.  Sunday’s opening ceremonies leading
the final eliminations begin at 11:30.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
1.  Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif.       5.532   254.30
2.  Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif. 5.550   255.46
3.  Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif.       5.557   242.54
4.  Jeff Donnell, Anaheim, Calif.          5.872   235.41
5.  Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif. 5.874  242.06
6.  Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif.       5.899   203.11
7.  Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev.         5.936   234.31
8.  Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif.     6.093   241.15
--- not qualified ---
9.  Kelly Butler, Hemet, Calif.            6.321   179.10
10. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Callif.           6.341   194.97
11. Steve Faria, Tipton, Calif.            6.544   248.61
12. Melanie Troxel, Engelwood, Colo.(trans.) 7.736   124.58
13. Mark Woods, Kingsburg, Calif (smoked tires)  14.937
14. Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas (smoked tires)   17.858
15. Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif. (trans)       18.733

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
1.  Dennis Taylor, Placentia, Calif. ‘92 Dodge     5.841   242.45
2.  Brett Williamson, San Jose, Calif.’97 Firebird 5.877   239.40
3.  Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif. ‘97 Camaro    5.900   242.13
4.  Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif. ‘97 Camaro      5.904   242.52
5.  Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif.’95 Olds 5.906   238.03
6.  Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif.’97 Firebird        6.075   235.23
7.  Bernie Harrington, Aplle Valley, Calif. ‘97 Firebird 6.170, 249.44
8.  Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif. ‘95 Ford         6.177,  208.47
--- not qualified ---
9.  Dale VanGundy, Anaheim, Calif. ‘97 Damaro      6.236   229.00
10. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M.’97 Firebird        6.650   148.07
11. Jim Machado, Lincoln, Calif. ‘97 Firebird      6.692   181.37
12. Steve Gasperelli, West Covina, Calif. ‘97 Dodge 6.774   223.43
13. Pete Rivera, Queen Creek, Ariz. ‘90 Corvette   6.808   202.61
14. Ron August, Jr. Danville, Calif. ‘94 Olds      7.955   117.24
15. Larry Miner, Lockford, Calif.                  8.719   92.37
               
Competition
1.  Randy Jones, Dana point, Calif. E/A ‘97 Pontiac     8.352   -0.508
2.  Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif. B/EA ‘97 Pontiac       8.078   -0.492
3.  Art Hodges, Simi Valley, Calif. B/A ‘63 Chevy       7.488   -0.482
4.  Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif. C/SR ‘33 Ford        8.959   -0.461
5.  Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif. B/A ‘32 Bantam     7.552   -0.418
6.  Kyle Seipel, San Leandro, Calif. B/EA ‘92 Pontiac   8.176   -0.394
7.  Donnie Hedrick, Las Vegas, Calif. C/EA ‘96 Chevy    8.477   -0.373
8.  John Johnson, Plancetia, Calif. E/EDragster 8.894   -0.306

Super Stock
1.  Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif. SS/B ‘69 ‘Vette   9.208   -0.992
2.  Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif. GT/HA ‘89 Camaro     10.378  -0.972
3.  Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif. GT/CA ‘87 Cavlier       9.780   -0.920
4.  Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif. SS/MA ‘64 Comet     11.255  -0.895
5.  Fred Moreno, LaVerne, Calif. SS/GA ‘69 Ford 10.002  -0.848
6.  Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif.GT/EA ‘95 Ford 10.108  -0.842
7.  Tommy Erikson, Long Beach, Calif. GT/CA ‘93 Olds    9.864   -0.836
8.  Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif. GT/FA ‘87 Camaro     10.284  -0.816

Stock
1.  Martha Thompson, Temecula, Calif. D/SA ‘97 Pontiac  10.894  -0.956
2.  Don Little, Westley, Calif. A/SA Plymouth   10.3881 -0/912
3.  Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif. B/SA ‘68 Chevy 10.6701 -0.880
4.  Scott Hilston, Burbank, Calif. E/S ‘67 Ford 11.094  -0.856
5.  Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif. F/SA ‘68 Camaro        11.327  -0.823
6.  Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif. C/SA ‘70 Plymouth       10.883  -0.817
7.  Christopher Whitney, Burbank, Calif. F/S ‘67 Ford   11.309  -0.791
8.  Jim Durham, Vacaville, Calif. G/SA ‘72 Plymouth     11.528  -0.772     

Saturday Qualifying Final:

Weaver Dreaming up a Big Weekend

Bakersfield, Calif. -- Final qualifying results for the second
event of the six-event Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Series.
A total of 466 drivers are on hand to run for a share of $133,055
up from grabs at the famed Famoso Raceway north of Bakersfield.

Hanford’s John Weaver, used a home field advantage to pound out a
5.74 second run at 247 mph to take the lead in Federal-Mogul Funny
Car.  Running on what he considers his home track, Weaver elected
not to run on Friday so his pole-winning run came on his first
attempt of the weekend.  He will still be hard-pressed tomorrow by
a field of drivers who all have recorded qualifying times quicker
than 5.90 seconds.  To add a firmness to his grip on the No. 1 spot
he improved on the second run of the day, as the sun set, to 5.741
seconds, again running nearly 250 mph in his aptly named “Dream
Weaver” car.  

“It is always nice to do well,” said Weaver after the run.  “But it
is even better when you do it at your home track in front of your
friends.  And the top quality competition in the Pacific Division
Federal-Mogul Series even adds more frosting on the cake.  We won
this race last year and we can win it again tomorrow.” 

Rick Santos, of San Leandro, the defending Federal-Mogul Dragster
national champion kept himself on the pole by ripping off a
stunning 5.48-second run at well over 250 mph.  He was head and
shoulders above the rest of the field even thoug young Texan Sane
Gay stepped up to a 5.53 pass.  The two drivers figure to be in
the hunt for the national Federal-Mogul title, so this weekend’s
shoot-out at Bakersfield should be pivotal.  Also in the field is
the current NHRA national record holder (5.37) in the class, San
Jose’s Rick Henkelman, who is currently qualified fourth behind
Darren Nicholson.  Both Gay and Henkelman drive the thundering
nitro-methane-powered Federal-Mogul Dragsters, while Santos and
Nicholson opt for the more conventional Supercharged engines that
must, by rule,  run methanol.

Defending national Federal-Mogul champion in the Competition
category, Andy Mann Jr. of Covina is currently the No. 1 qualifier
in that portion of the event.  His highly modified ‘33 Ford runs
in the C/Street Roadster class an is currently a little more than
a half second under his national Index at 8.90 seconds.

Tomorrow’s opening ceremonies leading the final eliminations
for the 250 mph Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars begin at
11:30.  Gates open at 7:30 and early eliminations are at 8:30 a.m.


Final qualifying:

Federal-Mogul Dragster 
1.  Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif.    5.485   255.46
2.  Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas 5.534   243.70
3..  Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif.     5.550   255.46
4.  Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif.    5.557   242.54
5.  Steve Faria, Tipton, Calif. 5.701   250.06
6.  Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif.     5.701   243.50
7.  Jeff Donnell, Anaheim, Calif.       5.770   235.41
8.  Mark Niver, Scottdale, Ariz.        5.815   245.86
--- not qualified --
9.  Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif.  5.823   241.15
10. Duane Shield, Las Vegas, Nev.       5.876   234.61
11. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif.    5.882   222.55
12. Mark Woods Jr., Kingburg, Calif.    5.924   226.13
13. Kelly Butler, Hemet, Calif. 6.145   220.64
14. Melanie Trosel, Engelwood, Colo.    6.251   181.56
15. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif. 6.341   208.38
16. Brad Hansen, Bellevue, Wash.        6.421   222.33
17. Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif.      6.640   186.91

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
1.  John Weaver, Hanford, Calif. ‘97 Camaro     5.741   248.96
2.  Larry Minor, Lockford, Calif. ‘97 Dodge     5.836   247.79
3.  Dennis Taylor, Placentia, Calif. ‘92 Dodge  5.841   242.45
4.  Brett Williamson, San Jose, Calif.’97 Firebird 5.877   239.40
5.  Jonny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., ‘97 Firebird    5.895   245.49
6.  Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif. ‘97 Camaro 5.900   242.13
7.  Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif. ‘97 Camaro   5.900   239.29
8.  Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif.’95 Olds  5.906   238.03
--- not qualified --
9.  Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif.’97 Firebird     5.947   241.74
10.Steve Gasperelli, West Covina, Calif.’97 Dodge 5.968   240.00
11.Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif. ‘95 Ford       5.989   238.66
12.Ron august Jr., Danville, Calif. ‘94 Olds    6.048   238.53
13.Dale VanGundy, Anaheim, Calif.‘97 Camaro     6.077   230.06
14.Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif. ‘92 Camaro    6.139
15.Jason Rupert, Placentia, Calif.      6.152
16.Bernie Herrington, Apple Valley, Calif.      6.170
17.Pete Rivera, Queen Creek, Ariz.      6.235
18.Jim Machado, Lincoln, Calif. 6.692 

Competition
(top 10 of 17 qualifiers)
1.  Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif. C/SR ‘33 Ford        8.909   -0.511
2.  Randy Jones, Dana point, Calif. E/A ‘97 Pontiac     8.352   -0.508
3.  Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif. B/EA ‘97 Pontiac       8.078   -0.492
4.  Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif. B/Econo Dragster     7.174   -0.482
5.  Art Hodges, Simi Valley, Calif. B/A ‘63 Chevy       7.488   -0.482
6.  Keil Seipel, San Leandro, Calif. B/EA ‘92 Pontiac   8.094   -0.476
7.  Bill Maropulos, Simi Valley, Calif. D/Econo Dragster  7.727 -0.423
8.  Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif. B/A ‘32 Bantam     7.552   -0.418
9.  Bart Price, Hayward, Calif. B/EA ‘98 Pontiac        8.159   -0.411
10.Mike Robinson, Salinas, Calif. B/Econo Dragster      7.261   -0.399

Super Stock
(top 10 of 44 qualifiers)
1.  Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif. SS/B ‘69 ‘Vette   9.167   -1.033
2.  Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif. GT/HA ‘89 Camaro     10.378  -0.972
3.  Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif. GT/CA ‘87 Cavlier       9.748   -0.952
4.  Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif. SS/MA ‘64 Comet     11.200  -0.950
5. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif. GT/GA ‘98 Pontiac      10.265  -0.935
6.  Fred Moreno, LaVerne, Calif. SS/GA ‘69 Ford  9.979  -0.871
7.  Tommy Erikson, Long Beach, Calif. GT/CA ‘93 Olds     9.851  -0.849
8.  Howard Thompson Jr., Wildomar, Calif.GT/EA ‘95 Ford 10.108  -0.842
9.  John Schiess, North Hills, Calif. GT/BA ‘91 Olds    9.724   -0.826
10. Bill Bennett, Mt. View, Calif. GT/FA ‘87 Camaro     10.284  -0.816

Stock
(top 10 of 61 qualifiers)
1. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif. B/SA ‘71 Dodge  10.491  -1.059
2.  Martha Thompson, Temecula, Calif. D/SA ‘97 Pontiac  10.894  -0.956
3.  George Thompson, Agoura Hills, Calif. H/SA ‘73 Mustand 11.500 -0.950
4.  Don Little, Westley, Calif. A/SA Plymouth   10.3881 -0/912
5.  Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif. B/SA ‘68 Chevy 10.640  -0.910
6.  Scott Hilton, Burbank, Calif. E/S ‘67 Ford  11.094  -0.856
7.  Chuck Norton, Covina, Calif. F/SA ‘68 Camaro        11.327  -0.823
8.  Denny Sanders, Victorville, Calif. B/S ‘64 Dodge    10.676  -0.824
9.  Jim Durham, Vacaville, Calif. G/SA ‘72 Plymouth     11.478  -0.822     
10. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif. C/SA ‘70 Plymouth       10.883  -0.817

Santos Punches Out Gay for Important Win ;
Weaver’s Dream Turns to Nightmare  

Bakersfield, Calif. -- Final results for the second event of the
six-event NHRA Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Series.  A total
of 466 drivers ran for a share of $133,055 up from grabs at the
famed Famoso Raceway north of Bakersfield.

In a race that could have a direct bearing on who wins the 1998
Federal-Mogul Dragster national title, Rick Santos, of San
Leandro, drove Jack O’Bannon’s supercharged alcohol to a win
over the In ‘N’Out Burger-backed machine of Shane Gay, which is
owned by Californians Chess Bushey, Jerry Darien and Ken Meadows.  

Gay, who usually runs in  the South Central Division of the
National Hot Rod Association came to Bakersfield in hopes of
meeting up with Santos, who won the national title last year.
He got his wish. But when Santos qualified No. 1 and Gay No. 2
it meant the two wouldn’t meet unless they got the final.  So
by staying away from each other for three rounds, they both kept
pace until Santos dropped the hammer on the invading Texan.
Santos also gets 5 bonus points for winning in his home division
in a system devised by NHRA to discourage non-professional teams
from making expensive national tours.

“The car ran great,” Santos understated in the winner’s circle.
“We started getting into some tire-shake today because it got
hotter than it had been during qualifying.” 

The race also wrote the latest chapter in the saga of  nitro
versus methanol in Federal-Mogul Dragster.  The category has been
controversial this year as the nitro-powered but un-supercharged
cars become stronger. The nitro-burning configuration holds both
ends of the national record but NHRA recently added 150 pounds
them in an effort to even the playing field.  The move was like
NASCAR adding wing size to its different body styles. Santos
defeated record-holder Rick and then Gay, both of whom drive the
now heavier nitro-powered cars.

The situation is ironic in light of the fact Santos use to drive
his family’s small-block Chevy dragster that was allowed to run
lighter than the Chrysler-powered car he currently drives.
When his Chevy became dominant in the class populated by
Chryslers weight was added to the Chevy combination.  This
time Santos won out in the weighting game. 

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car with it’s front-engine configuration,
nitro is not allowed.  Therefore the intrigue was simply in who
would win at Famoso Raceway in the always strong Pacific
Division.  John Weaver’s performance was almost cliché in that he
made it look so easy.  The Hanford driver, racing at his home
track, qualified No. 1 at 5.74 and then ran 5.73 and 5.75 on his
way to the final against young Doug Gordon, who has taken over
for his father Mike at the wheel of the family Firebird from
Paso Robles. However, when the two drivers stabbed the throttle
in the final, it was Gordon who streaked down the track while
the Pontiac body on Weaver’s car rattled in the sunshine as his
tires shook and he was forced to shut-down the engine.  A
faulty air shifter was thought to be the gremlin that 
spoiled the dream that the team had hoped to weave.

“We really didn’t expect to qualify,” said Gordon’s father.
“And here we are in the winner’s circle.  We just dusted of the
ol’ car and came on over to Bakersfield.  Drag racing can sure
be a funny game.”  

Another defending national Federal-Mogul Series Champion didn’t
hold serve like Santos  when Andy Manna Jr. lost the Competition
Eliminator final to Randy Jones.

In Super Stock, Jimmy DeFrank, yet another defending Federal
Mogul Champ showed he’s still on his game when he took the win
over John Schiess in a battle of DeFrank & Sons entries.  The
task was made easier when No. 1 qualifier Dick Carr broke the
transmission on his SS/B Corvette.  Carr set a new National
Record of 9.167 but could make repairs for eliminations. 

Justin Rash, a former Team Pomona Jr. Dragster driver was
runner-up in Super Comp to Ryan Tietz a 20-year-old former High
School eliminator winner.

BAKERSFIELD RESULTS
DIVISION 7 INSTANT STATS
Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, Calif.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.57, 252.45
	R/U: Shane Gay, Dickinson, Texas, 5.62, 237.59

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., ‘97 Firebird 5.96, 240.19
	R/U: John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., ‘97 Firebird  9.00, 97.60

Competition
 	W: Randy Jones, Dana Point, Calif., E/A ‘97 Pontiac, 8.37, 161.34
	R/U: Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif. C/SR ‘33 Ford, 8.99, 141.91

Super Stock
 	W: Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA ‘89 Camaro 10.43, 127.17
	R/U: John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., GT/BA ‘91 Olds 9.84, 134.50

Stock
 	W: Don Keen, Quartz Hill, Calif., B/S ‘69 Mustang, 11.03, 110.19
	R/U: Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA ‘71 Dodge, 10.54, 124.36

Super Comp
 	W: Ryan Tietz, Ontario, Calif., dragster, 8.909, 156.14
	R/U: Justin Rash, Chino, Calif.,  8.937, 160.94

Super Gas
 	W: Shawn Steele, Tracy, Calif., ‘68 Camaro, 9.89, 135.13
	R/U: Fred Kondrotas, Lancaster, Calif., ‘92 Pontiac, 11.08, 91.39. 

Super Street
 	W: Richard Collins, Los Altos Hills, Calif., ‘68 Chevelle, 10.85, 137.78
	R/U: Janis Hogan, Orangevale, Calif. broke.


Super Eliminator
 	W: Pat Jone, Yorba Linda, Calif., dragster, 7.91, 166.75
	R/U: Mil LeForbes, Riverside, Calif. ‘92 Camaro, 7.87, 171.23

Sportsman Motorcycle
 	W: Steve Kleinberg, Scottsdale, Ariz., ‘85 Suzuki, 10.16, 129.16
	R/U: Greg Liskey, Salinas, Calif. ‘83 Suzuki, 10.43, 120.57