FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dauzat, gunderson drive through the rain for wins at silver dollar raceway

REYNOLDS, Ga.- A three hour rain delay couldn't put a damper on a great day of racing or on the first win by Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Warren Dauzat of Baton Rouge, La. Dauzat had only made a Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event as an alternate and had never made is past the second round of racing. In Sunday's eliminations, Dauzat won three rounds including the final against No. 1 qualifier Jay Payne of Upland, Calif. Four-time Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Dragster Champion, Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla. took his second win of the year defeating Bob Bears of Clearwater, Fla.

Dauzat didn't know he was coming to Silver Dollar Raceway until three days before the event was to start. He used a little luck and determination to take home the win in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. In round one, Dauzat faced Mark Billington of Apopka, Fla. and took the win when Billington slowed at half-track after losing an engine. Dauzat was to face fellow South Central Division racer, Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M. in round two, but Branch couldn't get his car back together in time, giving Dauzat the free-pass to the finals. Dauzat faced the daunting task of besting number No. 1 qualifier Payne, but Payne lost an oil line on his burnout and Dauzat made the single pass for his first ever victory in Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Competition.

"I've been racing for twelve years, been to one final round in Super Comp and never won a Federal-Mogul event," said an estatic Dauzat. "I came here with a crew of two, my crew chief, Mike Hill and old time racer, Terry Sanders, they deserve this win more than I do. We worked hard this weekend and everything fell into place."

Defending Silver Dollar Raceway Champion, Gunderson won his second race of the season in Federal-Mogul Dragster beating Bob Bears in a close final. Bears took the advantage at the line with a .474 reaction time to Gunderson's reaction time of .531. Gunderson had a car length lead at half-track when he started losing cylinders. He had enough at the finish line with a run of 5.795 seconds at 226.73 mph to Bear's run of 5.993 seconds at 232.23 mph.

"We broke a lifter after our burnout and I thought we had problems," said a relieved Gunderson. "The car started losing cylinders and I just held on until the finish. I guess it is better to be lucky than good."

The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round One
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.563 seconds, 251.30 mph def. 8)
Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 6.274 seconds, 
221.82 mph   
7) Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 6.056, 234.90 def. 2) Billy Bybee, McLean,
Texas, 8.546, 116.52   
6) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 6.101, 228.77 def. 3) Darryl Hitchman,
Hanford, Calif., 6.210, 229.86 
5) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.882, 233.24 def. 4) Bill McCornack,
Lexington, Ky., 5.869, 246.17

Semifinals
Gunderson, 5.712, 247.34 def. Fiorelli, 5.905, 229.00 
Bears, 6.011, 233.08 def. Allen, 6.469, 220.84

Final
Gunderson, 5.795, 226.73 def. Bears, 5.993, 232.23

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round One
1)  Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.546 seconds, 151.90
mph def. 6) Mike Preslar Sr., Arden, N.C., '00 Chevrolet Corvette,  (Broke)
2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Dodge Avenger, 5.920, 234.94 def. 5)
Jerry Freeman, Mew Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 6.461, 212.73 
3) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96  Achieva, 6.212, 231.08 def. 3)
Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, 9.529, 89.60

Semifinals
Payne, 5.830, 227.00 def. Bye
Dauzat, 14.041, 62.93 def. Branch, (Broke)

Final
Dauzat, 6.639, 221.78 def. Payne, (Broke)  

COMP ELIMINATOR
Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva, D/SM, 8.237 seconds,
148.07 mph def. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/ED, 7.070,
178.97

SUPER STOCK
Jerry  Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/IA, 10.679
seconds, 124.89 mph def. Herbie Null, Elgin, S.C., '87 Chevrolet Camaro,
GT/BA, 9.889, 133.09

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Scott Bailey, Seffner, Fla., '72 Ford Mustang, G/S, 11.578 seconds, 103.23
mph def. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., '68 Chevrolet Camaro, F/SA,
14.587, 63.92

SUPER COMP
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., 8.914 seconds, 162.70 mph def. Ed Richardson,
Bradenton, Fla., 8.900, 155.78

SUPER GAS
Peabody Harrell, Vidalia, Ga., '29 Roadster, 9.887 seconds, 136.93 mph def.
Don Barrett, Gainesville, Fla., '64 Chevrolet II, 9.878, 136.30

SUPER STREET
Al Holt, Holly Hill, Fla., '71 Mercury Comet, 10.919 seconds, 130.39 mph
def. Dwight Limbaugh, Decherd, Tenn., 10.952, 129.23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Payne resets Federal-Mogul Funny Car track records

REYNOLDS, Ga.- In Saturday's NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series final qualifying at Silver Dollar Raceway, Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Jay Payne of Upland, Calif. broke Todd Paton's track record in E.T. and reset his own speed record set in 1999. In Federal-Mogul Dragster, Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla. secured the No. 1 qualifying position because not one other dragster could come within two-hundredths of his run in Fridays qualifying session.

On another beautiful day in Reynolds, Ga., Payne was in a giving mood in Saturday's first round of qualifying giving up his No. 1 qualifying position to Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M. Branch made a run of 5.909 seconds at 246.30 mph to take over the top spot in Federal-Mogul Funny Car for the moment. Payne was in the taking mood a little later in the day, blowing away the Funny Car field with a track-record run of 5.737 seconds at 248.20 mph to collect the Winston Top Qualifier Award of $1000. This broke Paton's E.T. record of 5.800 seconds and crushed his old speed record of 246.67 mph set last year.

"The track record is great, but it doesn't mean much if I don't take care of business tomorrow in eliminations," said Payne. "The left lane is great and overall the track is in good shape so we will go with the same setup tomorrow."

In Federal-Mogul Dragster, Gunderson could not better his run of 5.571 seconds at 250.74 mph, but either could the competition. Billy Bybee of McLean, Texas came the closest in his final qualifying attempt with a run of 5.590 seconds at 254.14 mph.

Byron resident, Woodro Josey made some major adjustments on his 2000 Pontiac Firebird and collects $200 from Winston for securing the No. 1 qualifying position in Stock Eliminator. Also claiming the No. 1 qualifying positions are Larry Mayes of Greenwood, Ind. in Competition Eliminator and Andy Fogle of Norway, S.C. in Super Stock.

The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Silver Dollar Raceway continues tomorrow with eliminations beginning at 9 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars will begin first round of eliminations at 12 noon. The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.571 seconds, 250.74 mph vs. 
8) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 6.106 seconds,  231.20 mph

2) Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.590, 254.14 vs.
7) Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.918, 229.59

3) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.639, 245.81 vs. 
6) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.833, 238.98

4) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.770, 239.02 vs. 
5) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.820, 240.89

Alternates
1) Cherissa Griffis, Gainsville, Fla., 6.517, 211.93
2) Bob Leverich, Marysville, Mich., 7.006, 206.42
3) Tim Slagle, Fairfex, Va., 14.331, 67.50

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.737 seconds, 248.20 mph vs. 
6) Mike Preslar Sr., Arden, N.C., '00 Chevrolet Corvette,  8.772 seconds, 90.69 mph 

2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Dodge Avenger, 5.878, 245.18 vs. 
5) Jerry Freeman, Mew Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 6.687, 197.22 
 
3) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva,  6.089, 226.35 vs. 
4) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La.,  '96  Achieva, 6.176, 230.76

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva, D/SM, 8.218 (-.612)
2. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Ind., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 8.539 (-0.591)
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/ED, 7.034 (-0.566)
4. Mike Saye, Johnston, N.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, F/A, 8.613 (-0.557)
5. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 Ford T, A/EA, 7.618 (-0.512) 
6. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '97 Pontiac Firebird, D/EA, 8.605 (-0.485)
7. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '97 Firebird, D/A, 8.147 (-0.473)
8. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Chevrolet Lumina, B/A, 7.435 (-0.435)
9. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., '32 Roadster, A/EA, 7.704 (-0.426)
10. Jeff Wilkerson, Athens, Ala., '00 Pontiac Trans Am, B/A, 7.484, (-0.386)

SUPER STOCK
1. Andy Fogle, Norway, N.C., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/HA, 9.877 (-1.023)
2. Kenny Schindler, Hedersonville, Tenn., '68 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/E, 9.537 (-1.013)
3. Jerry  Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/IA, 10.509 (-0.991)
4. Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Camaro, SS/FA, 9.840 (-0.910)
5. Everette Keesley, Edgefield, S.C., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 10.045 (-0.905)
6.  John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., '70 Corvette, SS/FA, 9.778 (-0.872)
7. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.134 (-0.866)
8. Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '98 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/BA, 9.694 (-0.856)
9. Steve Tschetter, Riverdale, Ga., '64 Chevrolet Chevelle, SS/LA, 10.905
(-0.845) 10. Scott Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '00 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.265 (-0.835)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '00 Pontiac Firebird, F/SA, 11.066 (-1.084)
2. Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '97 Chevrolet Camaro, E/SA, 10.975 (-1.025)
3. Paul Dilcher, Brockport, N.Y., '78 Firebird, L/SA, 11.975 (-1.025)
4. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., '85 Camaro, M/SA, 12.133 (-1.017)
5. Sharla Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., '98 Camaro, G/SA, 11.307 (-0.993)
6. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet, T/SA, 13.825 (-0.975)
7. Hugh Meeks Jr., Union Springs, Ala., '74 Chevrolet Nova, J/SA, 11.784 (-0.966)
8. Harold Culpepper, Pine Mtn. Valley, Ga., '90 Camaro, K/SA, 11.989 (-0.961)
9. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '66 Chevrolet Chevelle, M/S, 12.197 (-0.953)
10. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Chevrolet Malibu, V/SA, 14.896 (-0.904)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gunderson, Payne set pace at Silver Dollar Raceway
REYNOLDS, Ga.-The Southeast Division took over the beautiful Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Ga. for its third stop on the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series. Four-time Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Dragster Champion, Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla. set the pace in Fridays Federal-Mogul Dragster qualifying and Jay Payne of Upland, Calif. bested the Federal-Mogul Funny Car field in almost perfect weather at Silver Dollar Raceway.

Defending Silver Dollar Raceway Champion, Gunderson looked strong in the first round of qualifying making a pass of 5.571 seconds at 250.74 mph. Gunderson, sporting his new fuel-injected Federal-Mogul Dragster made one of the few runs without tire shake to over take the run of 5.639 seconds set earlier by NHRA Pacific Division's Darryl Hitchman of Hanford, Calif.

"We have two more runs tomorrow and I think we can get a little more out of the car", said Gunderson. "If the weather keeps up we can run a 5.4[seconds]. I think we may need to step it up a little with all the good cars here this weekend."

Payne drove his 2000 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro Federal-Mogul Funny Car to the top spot in Friday's Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying with a tire-shaking run of 5.970 seconds at 243.33 mph. Payne beat out No. 2 qualifier, Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M., who was also a victim of tire shake and a loose racecar but ran a respectable lap of 5.970 seconds at 241.15 mph.

"We need some adjustments," said a concerned Payne. "I had to fight the tire shake to about the 330 foot mark and then the car felt fine. We'll change the set-up and hit it again tomorrow."

Qualifying and time trials will continue at Silver Dollar Raceway on Saturday at 10 a.m. Gates open at 9 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will have qualifying sessions at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.571, 250.74 mph
2. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.639, 245.81
3. Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.664, 249.12
4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.770, 239.02
5. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.833, 238.98
6. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.960, 218.80
7. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.133, 204.29
8. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.517, 211.93

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., '00 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.970, 243.33
 2. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '99 Dodge Avenger, 5.995, 241.15
3. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.304, 214.76
4. Mike Preslar Sr., Arden, N.C., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, 8.772, 90.69 

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Mike Saye, Johnston, N.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, F/A, 8.651 (-.519-seconds under Index)
2. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '97 Pontiac Firebird, D/EA, 8.622
(-0.468)
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/ED, 7.157 (-0.443)
4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Chevrolet Lumina, B/A, 7.439
(-0.431)
5. Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., '98 Dragster, C/D, 7.423, (-0.347)
6. Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '96 Cutlass, C/EA, 8.599 (-0.291)
7. Jeff Barrett, Lake Worth, Fla., '91 Dragster, G/D, 9.821 (-0.229)
8. Rhett Matheney, McConnelsville, Ohio, '23 Ford Roadster, A/EA, 8.272
(+0.142)
9. Larry Pritchette, Clarkrange, Ind., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 10.567
(+1.437)
10. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., '32 Roadster, A/EA, 10.563 (+2.433)
11. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 Ford T, A/EA, 13.110, (+4.980) 
 
SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry  Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/IA, 10.570 seconds (-.930)
2. Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/FA, 9.885
(-0.865)
3. Steve Tschetter, Riverdale, Ga., '64 Chevrolet Chevelle, SS/LA, 10.917
(-0.833)
4. John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., '70 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/FA, 9.823
(-0.827)
5. Scott Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '00 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.277
(-0.823)
6. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Firebird, GT/MA, 11.228 (-0.822)
7. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/CA, 9.896
(-0.804)
8. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.203 (-0.797)
9. Robert Burgin, Cuthbert, Ga., '96 Achieva, GT/BA, 9.793 (-0.757)
10. Joseph LoCicero, Lithonia, Ga, '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.948 (-0.752)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '97 Chevrolet Camaro, E/SA, 10.975 seconds (-1.025)
2. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '00 Pontiac Firebird, F/SA, 11.172, (-0.978)
3. Hugh Meeks Jr., Union Springs, Ala., '74 Chevrolet Nova, J/SA, 11.784
(-0.966)
4. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet, T/SA, 13.835 (-0.965)
5. Sharla Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., '98 Camaro, G/SA, 11.337 (-0.963)
6. Harold Culpepper, Pine Mtn. Valley, Ga., '90 Camaro, K/SA, 11.989
(-0.961)
7. Paul Dilcher, Brockport, N.Y., '78 Pontiac Firebird, L/SA, 12.059
(-0.941)
8. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '66 Chevrolet Chevelle, M/S, 12.217
(-0.933)
9. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., '85 Camaro, M/SA, 12.289 (-0.861)
10. Arnold Greene, Matthews, N.C.,  '69 Camaro, A/S, 10.394 (-0.856)