FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cool racing heats up Beech Bend Raceway despite wet weather

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - On a weekend where the Beech Bend Raceway track record for Federal-Mogul Funny Car elapsed time (e.t.) was set and reset four times, rain delays did not dampen the action. The Thunder at the Beech event, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, boasted 584 cars from 32 states and two provinces in Canada.

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Chuck Cheeseman and Marc White traded the track e.t. record throughout the weekend. On Friday, Cheeseman, of Galena, Ohio, ran 5.798 seconds for the record while White set the track speed record at 254.28 mph. Then Saturday, White, from Glendale Hts., Ill., ran 5.787 seconds for the record and the No.1 qualifying spot. Cheeseman reclaimed the record with a 5.782-second pass in round-one of eliminations and in the final against White, Cheeseman bettered the mark with a 5.771 effort, which won the event.

White claimed runner-up points for the second consecutive year. Jeff Wilson would not be left out of the record race in Federal-Mogul Dragster. In the first round of qualifying, Wilson set both ends of the track record with a 5.560-second, 257.19 mph pass.

Wilson went on to win the event for the second straight year. Wilson is well on his way to the North Central division title with three wins and two runners-up on the season.

"I think this will wrap up the division championship for us," said a grinning Wilson. "We've had our ups and downs this year, but the team has really held it together and we've come through it all just great."

In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car title chase, Cheeseman and White are battling it out. With the win here, Cheeseman has three wins to White's two. There is one North Central divisionFederal-Mogul event to go, Sept. 22-24 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.

In Competition Eliminator, David Rampy of Piedmont, Ala., and Edmond Richardson of Goodlettsville, Tenn., in Super Comp both won this event for the second consecutive year.

Other winners are Kenny Morris, Jeffersonville, Ind., in Super Stock; Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, in Stock; Donnie Peden, Edinburg, Ill., in Super Gas; and Linn Bebout, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in Super Street.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 16.247 e.t., 57.10 mph def. 7) bye

2) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.723, 250.04 def. 
6) Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., broke

5) Bill Reichert, Owasso, Mich., 5.837, 228.46 def. 
3) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 8.435, 106.89

4) Gary Ward, cincinnati, Ohio, 5.864, 240.68 def. 
5) Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., broke

Semi-Finals
Wilson, 5.662, 250.04 def. Ward, 5.662, 250.04, red light
Federlin, 5.717, 251.44, def. Reichert, 13.739, 55.90

Final Round
Wilson, 5.624, 255.73, def. Federlin, red light

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1) Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Pontiac, 6.180 e.t., 33.20 mph def.
6) Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 7.878 e.t., 122.62 mph

2) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.782, 251.44 def. 
5) Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Ont., Can., '97 Firebird, broke

3) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.381, 202.73 def. 
4) Roger Cutler, Galesburg, Mich., '99 Firebird, red light

Semi-Finals
White, 26.244, 43.06 def. bye
Cheeseman, 5.827, 248.66 def. Fritts, 5.956, 245.94

Final Round
Cheeseman, 5.771, 251.44 def. White, 6.013, 241.97

COMP ELIMINATOR
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.566, 166.68 def. 
Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.482, 179.30

SUPER STOCK
Kenny Morris, Jeffersonville, Ind., '98 Grand Am, 9.810, 135.14 def. 
Larry Stewart, Clinton, Miss., '66 Nova, 10.168, 128.58

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '00 Camaro, 11.028, 119.05 def. 
Bob Robbins, Byrdstown, Tenn., '79 Malibu, 12.601, 103.45

SUPER COMP
Edmond Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '00 dragster, 8.901, 162.47 def.
Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., '99 dragster, 8.888, 166.07

SUPER GAS
Donnie Peden, Edinburg, Ill., '63 Corvette, 19.259, 50.90 def. 
Jimmy Fuller, Savannah, Ga., '74 Camaro, 9.895, 148.04

SUPER STREET
Linn Bebout, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, '69 Olds, 10.893, 130.07 def. 
Walter Beaumont, Naples, Fla., '72 Demon, 10.868, 123.29 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beech Bend Raceway time record changes hands for second consecutive day

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Qualifying for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car was cut short today due to a three-hour rain delay at Beech Bend Raceway Park. There were two runs scheduled today for the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event, but each team only got one in addition to the one pass they had Friday.

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car action, Marc White stole not only the top qualifying spot from Chuck Cheeseman but the track elapsed time record as well.

Friday, White and Cheeseman ran against each other and White set the new speed mark (254.28 mph) while Galena, Ohio, resident Cheeseman set the e.t. record (5.798 seconds). However, White came out today and laid down a 5.787 pass for a new record.

"We're greedy," said George Etterman, owner of White's Rydin Decal-backed machine. "We got the speed record yesterday but we wanted the e.t., too. Chuck is a tough one to get it away from, though."

Federal-Mogul Dragster captain, Jeff Wilson of Winfield, Mo., retained his No. 1 qualifier position. His 5.560-second, 257.19 mph pass on Friday also set the track e.t. and speed records. This is Wilson's third Top Qualifier award of the season in his Starcon Federal-Mogul Dragster.

Top qualifiers in categories are Brian Browell of Lafayette, Ind., in Comp Eliminator, Don Studley of Orange, Calif., in Super Stock and Jeff Swanson of Arlington, Tenn., in Stock Eliminator.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.560 e.t., 257.19 mph mph vs. 8) bye

2) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.696, 245.94 vs. 
7) Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., 16.220, 61.81

3) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.733, 245.94 vs. 
6) Bill Reichert, Owasso, Mich., 5.950, 230.80 

4) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5.773, 230.80 vs. 
5) Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.855, 234.41

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Pontiac, 5.787 e.t., 254.28 mph vs.
6) Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 6.682 , 217.42

2) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.798, 252.85 vs. 
5) Jeff mLancaster, Hamilton, Ont., Can., '97 Firebird, 6.600, 210.31  

3) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.926, 245.94 vs. 
4) Roger Cutler, Galesburg, Mich., '98 Firebird, 6.119, 239.40

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.421 e.t.,  -0.609 under index
2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.484, -0.596
3. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.515, -0.565
4. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvette, AA/A, 7.155, -0.545
5. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Pontiac, F/SM, 9.313, -0.537
6. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '98 dragster, E/ED, 8.606, -0.534
7. Bob Book, Frankfort, Ill., '00 dragster, A/D, 6.667, -0.533
8. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., '32 roadster, D/EA, 8.571, -0.509
9. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, I/A, 8.007, -0.503
10. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Achieva, D/SM, 8.227, -0.503   

SUPER STOCK
1. Don Studley, Orange, Calif., '99 Dakota, GT/TD, 10.394, -1.356 under index
2. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '86 Camaro, GT/FA, 9.914, -1.186
3. Kirk Sneed, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '89 Chevy, GT/FA, 10.016, -1.084
4. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '97 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.735, -1.065
5. Don O'Malley, Deactur, Ill., '64 Corvette, SS/KA, 10.533, -1.017
6. Melissa Butler, Lebanon, Ohio, '90 Sunbird, ST/FA, 10.087, -1.013
7. Ernie Penner, Osborne, Man., Can., '99 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.640, -1.010
8. Red Leblanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.648, -1.002
9. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '88 Camaro, GT/GA, 10.213, -0.987
10. Brian Butler, Centerville, Ohhio, '90 Chevy, GT/GA, 10.236, -0.964

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, K/S, 11.553 e.t.,  -1.297 under index;
2. Marty Woffard, Gore, Okla., '66 Nova, L/S, 11.805, -1.195
3. Gary Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '94 Mustang, L/A, 11.824, -1.176 
4. Larry Thompson, Union City, Tenn., '75 Corvette, K/SA, 11.800,  -1.150
5. Clint Blezien, Bensenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, O/SA, 12.304, -1.146
6. Harry Doolittle, Grosse Ile., Mich., '00 Firebird, Q/SA, 12.959,  -1.141
7. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., '79 Aspen, I/SA, 11.499, -1.101
8. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '00 Camaro, F/SA, 11.062, -1.088
9. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '00 Firebird, F/SA, 11.077, -1.073
10. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '00 Firbird, F/SA, 11.088, -1.062

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federal-Mogul Funny Car records melt in the heat at Beech Bend Raceway

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - In the first rounds of qualifying at Beech Bend Raceway, both ends of the track record were reset in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Galena, Ohio's Chuck Cheeseman made a 5.798-second run right out of the box for the new e.t. record and No. 1 qualifying position, while his opponent, Marc White of Glendale Hts., Ill., set the speed record at 254.28 mph.

Cheeseman and White have two wins each in North Central division competition this season. Cheeseman won the first races of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana and Quaker City Dragway in Salem, Ohio. White won the next two at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich., and Edgewater Sports Park in Cleves, Ohio.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster competition, Jeff Wilson, who is fresh off a win at Edgewater Sports Park, is in the No. 1 spot looking for his third win of the season. He made a 5.560-second, 257.19 mph pass to take the pole.

Top qualifiers in other classes are David Rampy of Piedmont, Ala., in Comp Eliminator, Don Studley of Orange, Calif., in Super Stock and Jeff Swanson of Arlington, Tenn., in Stock Eliminator.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.560 e.t., 257.19 mph
2. Steve Federalin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.696, 245.94
3. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.733, 245.94
4. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5.773, 230.80
5. Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.855, 234.41
6. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.950, 230.80

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.798 e.t., 252.85 mph
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Pontiac, 5.823, 254.28
3. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.926, 245.94
4. Roger Cutler, Galesburg, Mich., '99 Firebird, 6.119, 239.40
5. Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Ont., Can., '97 Firebird, 6.600, 210.31
6. Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 11.629, 71.31

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.484 e.t., -0.596 under index
2. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.453, -0.577
3. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.515, -0.565
4. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvette, AA/A, 7.159, -0.541
5. Robert Book, Frankfort, Ill., '00 dragster, A/D, 6.667, -0.533
6. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Pontiac, F/SM, 9.341, -0.509
7. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, I/A, 8.007, -0.503
8. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '98 dragster, E/ED, 8.652, -0.488
9. Billy Huff, Sheperdsville, Ky., '97 Firebird, C/A, 7.744, -0.476
10. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Achieva, D/SM, 8.254, -0.476   

SUPER STOCK
1. Don Studley, Orange, Calif., '99 Dakota, GT/TD, 10.394, -1.356 under index
2. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '86 Camaro, GT/FA, 9.926, -1.174
3. Don O'Malley, Deactur, Ill., '64 Corvette, SS/KA, 10.533, -1.017
4. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '97 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.788, -1.012
5. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Camaro, SS/AX, 9.059, -0.941
6. Red Leblanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.727, -0.923
7. Bo Butner, Floyd Knobs, Ind., '98 Grand Am, SS/AM, 8.631, -0.919
8. Jeff Dona, Gordonville, Mo., '69 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.419, -0.881
9. Jim Boudreau, Tewksbury, Mass., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.522, -0.878 
10. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., '66 Chevy II, SS/K, 10.433, -0.867

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, K/S, 11.462 e.t.,  -1.208 under index;
2. Clint Blezien, Bensenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, O/SA, 12.304, -1.146
3. Gary Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '94 Mustang, L/A, 11.895, -1.105 
4. Larry Thompson, Union City, Tenn., '75 Corvette, K/SA, 11.847,  -1.103
5. Harry Doolittle, Grosse Ile., Mich., '00 Firebird, Q/SA, 13.010,  -1.090
6. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '00 Firbird, F/SA, 11.088, -1.062
7. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '00 Camaro, F/SA, 11.107, -1.043
8. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., '79 Aspen, I/SA, 11.568, -1.032
9. Scott Welborn, W. Columbia, S.C., '68 Chevelle, G/SA, 11.286, -1.014
10. Vern Buchanan, Conway, Ark., '73 Mustang, J/SA, 11.742, -1.008