FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLENTOWN'S VOLPE OPENS SEASON WITH BIG WIN
MOHNTON, Penn. - Santo Volpe, of Allentown, Penn., took home a big win at the Coca-Cola Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Maple Grove Raceway. Vople, the defending NHRA Northeast Division Competition Eliminator Champion, took the win at this weekend's season opener as he out ran Al Ackerman with a pass of 8.068 seconds at 155.54 mph to Ackerman's 8.347 at 154.47 mph.

"This is Great!" exclaimed Volpe "to win here at home, and this track is home, is just great. These guys (the crew) had this car dialed in perfectly every pass. It was my race to win or loose. I almost lost it a couple times, I'm just glad we pulled it off."

The big upset of the weekend came in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car Final when Paul Gill took out number one qualifier and defending National and Divisional Funny Car Champion Frank Manzo. Gill set a new track elapsed time record of 5.716 at 249.86 mph in the final round, as he out powered Manzo, who recorded a 5.766 second pass at 248.27 mph. Gill just missed grabbing the mph record that was set by Manzo in Saturday's qualifying at 250.76 mph.

When asked about the final, Gill said surprisingly, "The slower passes felt better. I never saw Manzo the entire run, I didn't know if he broke or if we just out ran him.

Michael Gunderson, last year's Federal-Mogul Dragster Champion at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals here at Maple Grove, held on to beat Mike Mosky of Cuddy, Penn. in the dragster final. Kosky broke at half track allowing Gunderson to pull away before his "Under The Gun" dragster made a loud pop, and shut off just prior to the finishline. Gunderson recorded a 6.129 seconds, 178.18 mph pass to Kosky's 8.841, 92.63.

MOHNTON, Penn., -- Final results Sunday from Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six events in the 1999 NHRA Northesat Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 6.129, 178.18
Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Penn., 8.841, 92.63. 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., '96 Dodge Avenger, 5.716, 249.86
Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '98 Avenger, 5.766, 248.27.

COMPETITION
Santo Volpe, Allentown, Penn., A/SR '34 roadster, 8.068, 155.54
Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., F/D '94 dragster, 8.347, 154.47.

SUPER STOCK
Lincoln Moorehead, Newburgh, N.Y., GT/GA '87 Chevrolet Camaro, 10.584, 109.21
Kent Hanley, Newton, Conn., GT/C '94 Chevrolet Cavalier, 10.370, 129.18

STOCK
John Presing, N. Holedon, N.J., C/S '68 Ford Mustang, 10.906, 110.25
Don Himes, Clayton, N.J., P/SA '77 Pontiac Grand Prix, 12.879, 98.44.

SUPER COMP
Ed Quay, Pottstown, Penn., '99 dragster, 8.922 161.49
JeanAnn Zetterberg, Little Falls, N.J., '97 dragster, 8.934, 159.91

SUPER GAS
Jerry Pierre, Albany, N.Y., '97 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 9.995, 146.98
Ray Fordyce, Glassboro, N.J., broke

SUPER STREET
Billy Curton, West Hempstead, N.Y., '70 Chevelle, 10.886,
142.15 def. Lee Zane, Elmer, N.J., '69 Corvette, 10.834, 130.45.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANZO LOOKS TO DOMINATE AGAIN IN 1999
MOHNTON, Penn. - Frank Manzo, defending National and Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car Champion set the pace at the Coca-Cola NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Maple Grove Raceway. Manzo drove his Kendall sponsored funny car to a track record 250.76 miles per hour in 5.747 seconds.

The New Jersey resident, who won five out of six Northeast Division events last year, is looking for his second win of the year as he leads the rest of the funny car field by more than a tenth of a second going into Sunday's eliminations. Manzo won the Checker Shuck's Kragen Nationals earlier this year in Phoenix, Ariz.

Michael Gunderson, of Middleburg, Fla., jumped to the number one qualifying spot in Federal-Mogul Dragster to take the $1,000 Winston Top Qualifier money. In doing so, he bumped the defending Northeast Division Champion Cliff Bozzelli down to the number two spot. Bozzelli recorded a pass of 5.625 seconds at 246.50 mph to lead qualifying after the earlier session. Local favorite, Santo Volpe, of Allentown, Penn., fell to the number two qualifying spot, as he was unable to improve on his 8.030 second pass at 160.14 mph from yesterday. The new top qualifier in the Comp. Eliminator category is Victor Cagnazzi, who covered the quarter mile in 7.263 seconds with his '92 Oldsmobile.

Eliminations continue at Maple Grove Raceway Sunday at 9:00 a.m., with the first round of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car scheduled to begin at 12 noon.

MOHTON, Penn.--Final qualifying results Saturday from Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six events in the 1999 NHRA Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.574, 221.45
2. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.625, 246.50
3. Jeanie Bozz, Blooming Glen, Penn., 5.661, 244.16
4. Bruce Insinger, Dushore, Penn., 5.705, 248.48
5. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Penn., 5.771, 234.86
6. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del. 5.771, 216.29
7. Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Penn., 5.816, 243.63
8. Frank Iattarelli, River Vale, N.J., 5.939, 232.55
9. Stephen Newcomb, Pembroke, Mass., 6.178, 216.13
10. John Headley, New Portville, Penn., 6.624, 201.88
11. Dave DeAngelis, Bridgewater, N.J., 6.994, 158.67
12. Steven Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 12.642, 57.87

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '98 Dodge Avenger, 5.747, 250.76
2. Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., '96 Avenger, 5.835, 247.32
3. Jim Lape, Myerstown, Penn., '97 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.917, 233.76
4. Craig English, Mt Holly, N.J., '93 Pontiac Firebird, 6.427, 226.58
5. Darrel E. Cox, Whiteford, Md., '97 Firebird, 6.543, 194.00
6. Sam Leland, Jarrettsville, Md., '96 Avenger, 6.816, 167.62
7. Butch Kernodle, Virginia Beach, Va., '96 Firebird, 7.363, 132.52
8. Fred Tigges, Holbrook, Mass., '98 Camaro, 7.605, 124.58
9. James Libby, Kingston, Mass., '96 Firebird, 13.429, 59.87

COMPETITION
1. Victor Cagnazzi, Huntington, N.Y., B/A '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.263, -0.637
2.  Santo Volpe, Allentown, Penn., A/SR '34 roadster, 8.030, -0.620
3. Frank Aragona, Franklin Square, N.Y., E/ED '98 dragster, 8.521, -0.619
4. Jules Schonberger, Philadelphia, Penn., H/A '91 Pontiac Grand Prix, 8.349, -0.611
5. Dave Strouse, Morganville, N.J., B/A '95 Cutlass, 7.312, -0.588
6. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '95 Pontiac Trans Am, 7.463, -0.587
7. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Penn., H/A '96 Cutlass, 8.378, -0.582
8. Grag Kozera, More, Conn., D/ED '98 dragster, 7.587, -0.553
9. Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., F/D '94 dragster, 8.310, -0.550
10. Paul Jannoni, Burlington, Maine, B/D '95 dragster, 6.982, -0.518

SUPER STOCK
1. James Zane, Bordentown, N.J., SS/TD '99 S-10 Truck, 10.604, -1.246
2. John Armstrong, Kingston, NS CAN, '69 Camaro, 9.280, -1.220
3. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/E '96 Pontiac, 9,611, -1.189
4. Joe Skinner, Columbia Startion, Ohio, GT/F '96 dragster, 9.724, -1.176
5. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/A '93 dragster, 10.232, -1.118
6. Ray Scardelli, Manalpan, N.J., '97 Ford Probe, 10.050, -1.100
7. Howard Barsky, Levittwon, Penn., SS/ '57 Chevrolet, 11.359, -1.091
8. Wayne Truesdell, Cicero, N.Y., GT/G '98 Firebird, 9.969, -1.081
9. Jom Boruka, Coraopolis, Penn., GT/DA '99 Firebird, 9.765, -1.035
10. Anthony Cretella, Nweington, Conn., GT/AA '86 Chevrolet, 9.185, -1.015 

STOCK
1. Ray Valpreda, Lawrenceville, N.J., ET/SA '98 Dodge Dakota, 12.360, -1.190
2. Fred Vetter, Princeton, N.J., G/SA '98 Pontiac, 11.14, -1.154
3. Jim Marshall, Rochester, N.Y., H/SA '80 Corvette, 11.326, -1.124
4. Don Quinn, Rahway, N.J., J/SA '78 Nova, 11.633, -1.117
5. Fred Thibeault, Annapolis, CO NS CAN, B/SA '69 Chevrolet, 10.445, -1.095
6. Rusty Canfield, Downington, Penn., FF/SA '84 Charger, 15.175, -1.075
7. Ray Golonka, Colonia, N.J., Q/SA '77 Cadillac, 13.039, -1.061
8. Jim Penta, Pawtucket, R.I., D/S '98 Firebird, 10.753, -1.047
9. Ed Bednaz, Terryville, Conn., B/S '69 Nova, 10.455, -1.045
10. Billy Baker, Lewis City, Ohio, G/SA '71 Buick, 11.256, -1.044

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLENTOWN'S SANTO VOLPE TAKES TOP SPOT IN QUALIFYING
MOHNTON, Penn. - Santo Volpe, the defending NHRA Federal-Mogul Northeast Division Competition Eliminator Champion, sits in the number one spot going into Saturday's final qualifying for the Coca-Cola NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event. Volpe, of Allentown, Penn., recorded a pass of 8.030 seconds at 160.14 mph to lead the number two qualifier Tom Ekroth with a 7.643 second pass.

Volpe joined forces with Lariccia Racing last year and hopes the success the team experienced in 1998 continues here at his home track, for the Northeast Division opener.

Joining Volpe as number one qualifiers are James Zane of Bordentown, N.J., in his '99 Chevy S-10 Super Stock Truck and Paul Dilcher from Brockport, N.Y in the Stock category. Zane recorded a pass of 10.622 seconds, while Dilcher's '78 Firebird covered the Maple Grove Raceway quarter mile in 11.801 seconds.

Defending Federal-Mogul Funny Car event champion and NHRA National champion Frank Manzo, will take his first shot at the quarter mile on Saturday. Manzo and rest of the Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Federal-Mogul dragster competitors are scheduled to make qualifying runs at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Gates open at 8:00 a.m. with qualifying resuming in all other categories at 8:30 a.m.

MOHNTON, Penn. -- Provisional qualifying results Friday from Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six events in the 1999 NHRA NorthEast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles per hour.

COMPETITION
1. Santo Volpe, Allentown, Penn., A/SR '34 roadster, 8.030, -0.620
2. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '95 Pontiac Trans Am, 7.463, -0.587
3. Dave Strouse, Morganville, N.J., B/A '95 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.316, -0.584
4. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Penn., H/A '96 Cutlass, 8.378, -0.582
5. Grag Kozera, More, Conn., D/ED '98 dragster, 7.587, -0.553
6. Frank Aragona, Franklin Square, N.Y., E/ED '98 dragster, 8.611, -0.529
7. Ken Keir, Dunkirk, Md./EA '32 roadster, 7.520, -0.510
8. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Va., '95 Trans Am, 9.284, -0.496
9. Paul Jannoni, Burlington, Maine, B/D '95 dragster, 7.007, -0.493
10. Chip Banney, Staton Island, N.Y., F/SM '91 Camaro, 9.297, -0.483

SUPER STOCK
1. James Zane, Bordentown, N.J., SS/TD '99 S-10 Truck, 10.604, -1.246
2. John Armstron, Kingston, NS CAN, '69 Chevy Camaro, 9.280, -1.220
3. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/E '96 Pontiac, 9,611, -1.189
4. Joe Skinner, Columbia Startion, Ohio, GT/F '96 dragster, 9.776, -1.124
5. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/A '93 dragster, 10.232, -1.119
6. Howard Barsky, Levittwon, Pann., SS/ '57 Chevrolet, 11.359, -1.091
7. Wayne Truesdell, Cicero, N.Y., '98 GT/G Firebird, 9.973, -1.077
8. Ray Scardelli, Manalpan, N.J., '97 Ford Probe, 10.090, -1.060
9. Jom Boruka, Coraopolis, PA, GT/DA '99 Firebird, 9.765, -1.035
10. David Thomas, Wast Chester, PA '69 Corvette 9.187, -1.013

STOCK
1. Paul Dilcherk, Brockport, N.Y., L/SA '78 Firebird, 11.801, -1.199
2. Ray Valpreda, Lawrenceville, N.J., ET/SA '98 Dodge Dakota, 12.360, -1.190
3. Fred Vetter, Princeton, N.J., G/SA '98 Pontiac, 11.14, -1.154
4. Jim Marshall, Rochester, N.Y., H/SA '80 Corvette, 11.347, -1.103
5. Don Quinn, Rahway, N.J., J/SA '78 Nova, 11.676, -1.074
6. Ray Golonka, Colonia, N.J., Q/SA '77 Cadillac, 13.050, -1.050
7. Billy Baker, Lewis City, Ohio, G/SA '71 Buick, 11.256, -1.044
8. Tom Baird, Blue Point, N.Y., A/S '69 Camaro, 10.212, -1.038
9. Jim Penta, Pawtucket, R.I., D/S '98 Firebird, 10.777, -1.023
10. Ed Bednaz, Terryville, Conn., B/S '69 Nova, 10.483, -1.017