FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Record setting race concludes at IRP

INDIANAPOLIS - Running under sunny skies and warm temperatures, with a record 703 cars, the Car Quest Spring Challenge, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, finished with a flurry at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Federal-Mogul Funny Car final was decided by 17 thousandths of a second and the Federal-Mogul Dragster final pitted a guy with a brand new, untested car against a guy whose car and trailer were stolen two weeks ago. Chuck Cheeseman of Galena, Ohio, faced No. 1 qualifier Marc White in the FM Funny Car final. At the end of the race the scoreboards on both sides of the track flashed 5.81-second elapsed times (e.t.). When the times were carried out to the thousandths place, it showed that Cheeseman's had a zero on the end while White's had a three.

"I didn't know where Marc was," said Cheeseman afterward. "I shook to about half track and when it stopped I looked around and saw him less than a half car length back. He had lane choice and took what was the better lane. I guess I must have shook a little less than him." Having run in the '70s all weekend, Cheeseman said he would have like to have made another run in that range but he is gratified with the win. "I'm sure Marc would have liked to repeat his top qualifying number of 5.732, too," said Cheeseman.

In the Federal-Mogul Dragster final, Shawn Bowen of Montrose, Mich., who just made the switch from a blown alcohol dragster to A-fuel, drove to the win over Jeff Wilson of Winfield, Mo. Bowen's car had not even been down a racetrack before Friday's first qualifying session.

Wilson left the line before Bowen, but at about half-tack the car suffered such severe tire shake that the parachutes came loose, virtually stopping the run at that point. Bowen ran 5.745 e.t. at 251.04 mph to Wilson's 12.005 e.t. at 51.51 mph.

"We should have done this before," said a grinning Bowen. "It's definitely a lot different than the other car. There's a lot more pick-up at half-track. We had a fast car before and we did pretty well, but with all the other guys making the change, we felt we had to if we were going to keep up. It's great!"

If there were such a thing as an award for the come-back driver of the race, it would have belonged to Wilson. After a win at the NHRA national event at Houston Raceway Park in Texas, Wilson's truck and trailer (with the racecar in it) were stolen from a restaurant parking lot. They were found several hours later, but two motors and various parts were gone. The team barely managed to get enough parts together to make it to this race.

Winners in other categories are Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., over Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., in Comp; Jason Tinburg, Bonner Springs, Kan., over Fred Bartoli, Elk Grove, Ill., in Super Stock; Brad McFarland, West Union, Ohio, over Nick Folk, Durand, Ill., in Stock; Patrick Mulligan, Mt. Morris, Ill., over Joshua Kamplain, N. Salem, Ind., in Super Comp; Greg Kamplain, W. Salem, Ind., over Robert Trace, New Richmond, Ohio, in Super Gas; and Linn Bebout, Gargin, Ohio, over Rudy Matthews, Ohio City, Ohio, in Super Street.

The following are the final results from the Car Quest Spring Challenge, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 8.503 e.t., 100.11 mph def. 
8) Tony Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 15.983 e.t., 47.03 mph

7) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.860 e.t., 223.58 mph def. 
2) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 6.683 e.t., 165.68 mph

3) Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.604 e.t., 259.66 mph def. 
6) Dana Stripe, no time recorded

4) Russ Lindert, Mateno, Ill., 5.654 e.t., 251.60 mph def. 
5) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 10.117 e.t., 71.25 mph

Semifinals
Wilson, 6.297 e.t., 221.62 mph, def. Lindert, broke
Bowen, 5.659 e.t, 253.80 mph def. Thacker, 5.970 e.t., 233.76 mph (foul)

Final Round
Bowen, 5.745 e.t., 251.04 mph def Wilson, 12.005 e.t., 51.51 mph  

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1) Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Pontiac, 5.762 e.t., 253.23 mph def. 
8) Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., '97 Camaro, no time recorded

2) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.703 e.t., 253.52 mph def.
7) John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 6.740 e.t., 180.36 mph

3) Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., '97 Firebird, 11.272 e.t., 75.38 mph def.
6) Mark Poyser, Ft. Wayne, Ind., '95 Mustang, no time recorded

5) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Olds, 6.143 e.t., 246.03  mph def. 
4) Fred Hagen, Chicago, '99 Dodge, 8.397 e.t., 110.24 mph

Semifinals
Cheeseman 5.858 e.t., 252.59 mph def. Townsend, 11.127 e.t., 75.83 mph
White, 5.734 e.t., 255.17 mph def. Craig 6.011 e.t., 247.04 mph

Final Round
Cheeseman, 5.810, 252.31 mph def. White, 5.813, 252.80 mph

COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.476 e.t., 176.43 mph def. 
Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '32 roadster, E/EA, 8.476 e.t., 152.59 mph

SUPER STOCK
Jason Tinburg, Bonner Springs, Kan., '68 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.370 e.t., 113.92 mph def. 
Fred Bartoli, Elk Grove, Ill., '00 Pontiac, GT/DA, 10.051 e.t., 131.02 mph

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Brad McFarland, West Union, Ohio, '71 Chevy, C/SA, 10.783 e.t., 113.69 mph def. 
Nick Folk, Durand, Ill., '95 Camaro, G/SA, 11.580 e.t., 110.30 mph

SUPER COMP
Patrick Mulligan, Mt. Morris, Ill., '99 dragster, 8.918 e.t., 155.79 mph def. 
Joshua Kamplain, N. Salem, Ind., '95 dragster, 8.894 e.t., 160.34 mph

SUPER GAS
Greg Kamplain, W.Salem, Ind., '27 roadster, 9.912 e.t., 151.95 mph, def.
Robert Trace, New Richmond, Ohio, '97 Cavalier, 9.916 e.t., 147.71 mph

SUPER STREET
Linn Bebout, Gargin, Ohio, '96 Olds, 10.893 e.t., 136.28 mph def. 
Rudy Matthews, Ohio City, Ohio, '69 Camaro, 10.883 e.t., 135.54 mph

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Record car count highlights action at Indianapolis Raceway Park

INDIANAPOLIS - With a record number of cars on-hand, qualifying and time trials continued today at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 703 entries in the race are the most ever for an NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event. The previous record was 681 in 1996, also at IRP.

In the final rounds of qualifying, Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Marc White took over the pole position from Chuck Cheeseman, while in Federal-Mogul Dragster competition, Jeff Wilson held on to the no. 1 spot despite the best efforts of his competitors. White, of Glendale Hts., Ill., made a 5.732-second pass at 254.16 mph. Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, did not better yesterday's 5.738-second run, putting him back in the number two spot.

Winfield, Mo., resident Jeff Wilson maintained Friday's 5.531-second 257.43 mph lap as well as his position over Lowell, Ind.'s, Dave Hirata

In other categories, the No. 1 qualifying drivers are John Powers of Addison, Mich., in Comp; Mike Beachy in Super Stock; and Charles Blossom, Woodbury, Minn., in Stock. All five top qualifiers will share in the $2,500 Winston Top Qualifier bonus. Eliminations begin Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car are scheduled to run round one at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $15, including a pit pass, and children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, call the track at (317) 291-4090.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the Car Quest Spring Challenge, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.531 e.t., 257.43 mph vs. 
8. Tony Zizzo, Prarie View, Ill., 6.003 e.t., 229.47 mph 

2. Dave Harata, Lowell, Ind., 5.535 e.t., 260.86 mph vs. 
7. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.963 e.t., 229.41 mph

3. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.593 e.t., 259.36 mph vs. 
6. Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., 5.949 e.t., 203.71 mph

4. Russ Lindert, Mateno, Ill., 5.690 e.t., 220.04 mph vs. 
5. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5.779 e.t., 241.67 mph

NOT QUALIFIED
T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake, Ill., 6.037 e.t., 216.76 mph
Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 6.301 e.t., 191.08 mph
Ryan Cantrell, Palmyra, Mich., 8.655 e.t., 200.89 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.732 e.t., 254.16 mph vs. 
8. Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., '97 Camaro, 16.090 e.t., 45.31 mph

2. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.738 e.t., 252.03 mph vs.
7. John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., 6.627 e.t., 207.18 mph

3. Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., '97 Firebird, 5.796 e.t., 252,73 mph vs.
6. Mark Poyser, Fort Wayne, Ind., '95 Mustang, 6.207 e.t., 217.07 mph

4. Fred Hagen, Chicago, '99 Dodge, 5.863 e.t., 242.65 mph vs. 
5. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Olds, 6.004 e.t., 246.44 mph

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvett, AA/A, 7.030 e.t., -0.720 under index
2. Dave Dupps, Germantown, Ohio, '27 roadster, D/A, 8.043 e.t., -0.717
3. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich.,'32 roadster, E/EA, 8.566 e.t.,-0.704
4. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind.,'96 Olds, D/SM, 8.148 e.t., -0.672
5. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.469 e.t.,-0.661
6. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.810 e.t., -0.660 
7. Russ Wheeler, Chardon, Ohio, '34 Chevy, A/SR, 8.090 e.t., -0.640
8. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich.,'23 roadster, I/A, 7.990 e.t.,-0.600
9. Brian Browell, Lafayett, Ind., '98 dragster, D/D, 7.513 e.t., -0.587
10. Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., '98 dragster, A/ED, 6.892 e.t., -0.578

SUPER STOCK
1. Mike Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.776 e.t., -1.174
2. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Camaro, SS/AX, 8.897 e.t., -1.103
3. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Chevy, SS/KA, 10.467 e.t., -1.083
4. Donald Lasure, LaGrange, Ohio, '90 Olds, GT/HA, 10.305 e.t., -1.045 
5. Brian Butler, Dayton, Ohio, '90 Chevy, GT/GA, 10.163 e.t., -1.037
6. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill.,'64 Corvette, SS/KA, 10.517 e.t., -1.033
7. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Pontiac, SS/J, 10.076 e.t., -1.024
8. Vince Impastato, Shelby Twp., Mich.,'86 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.691 e.t., 1.009
9. Gordon Gillman, Marne, Mich., '90 Buick, SS/AX, 8.992 e.t., -1.008
10. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 9.861 e.t., -0.989

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Charles Blossom, Woodbury, Minn.,'81 GMC, AT/SA, 11.638 e.t., -1.412 under index
2. Rick Fuller, Louisville, Ky., '66 Belair, T/SA, 13.467 e.t., -1.333
3. Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.640 e.t., -1.310
4. Dave Edwards, Washington Ch., Ohio, '78 Trans Am, L/SA, 11.783 e.t., -1.217
5. Jennifer McCormack, Oxford, Mich., '94 Dakota, CT/SA, 12.193 e.t., -1.157
6. M. Joseph Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.616 e.t., -1.134
7. John Ferguson, Eaton Rapids, Iowa,'98 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.642 e.t.,-1.108
8. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '60 Ford, C/SA, 10.594 e.t., -1.106
9. Lisa Stephenson, Danville, Ill., '91 Olds, FF/SA, 15.156 e.t., -1.094
10. Gary Russell, East Sparta, Ohio,'94 Mustang, L/SA, 11.919 e.t.,-1.081

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series underway at IRP
INDIANAPOLIS - The first day of competition in NHRA's North Central Division's Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series of the 2000 season kicked off under bright, sunny skies with temperatures in the high 60s. In the first rounds of qualifying at the Car Quest Spring Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Jeff Wilson set the pace in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Chuck Cheeseman did the same in Federal-Mogul Funny Car.

Wilson's current pole position should earn him the comeback driver of the race, as the team overcome some adversity to even make it to the event. Wilson won his first-ever NHRA national event two weeks ago at Houston Raceway Park in Texas. After dinner on the final night of the race in Houston, the Winfield, Mo., resident came out of the restaurant to find his truck and race trailer had been stolen. They were found several hours later at a truck stop but two motors and various other parts were missing. The team scrambled to get enough parts together to be able to race this weekend. Wilson took the No. 1 qualifying position by four thousandths of a second over Lowell, Indiana resident Dave Hirata. Wilson ran a 5.531 to Hirata's 5.534.

Galena, Ohio's, Cheeseman made a 5.738-second run at 252.03 mph, and his nearest competitor, Mark White, Glendale Hts., Ill., was a hundredth of a second behind at 5.748 seconds at 253.59 mph. Muncie, Ind., resident Danny Townsend made a career-best pass of 5.796-seconds, to put him in third place.

Top qualifiers in other classes are John Powers, Addison, Mich., in Comp; Mike Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., in Super Stock; and Rick Fuller, Louisville, Ky., in Stock. Qualifying and time trials continue tomorrow at Indianapolis Raceway Park with gates opening at 7 a.m. Cars begin running at 8 a.m. and Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car are scheduled to run at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $15, including pit pass, and children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information please call the track at (317) 291-4090.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from Car Quest Spring Challenge, a round of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.531 e.t., 257.43 mph
2. Dave Harata, Lowell, Ind., 5.535 e.t., 260.86 mph
3. Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., 5.949 e.t., 203.71 mph
4. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.963 e.t., 229.41 mph
5. Tony Zizzo, Prarie View, Ill., 6.003 e.t., 229.47 mph
6. Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 6.301 e.t., 191.08 mph
7. Ryan Cantrell, Palmyra, Mich., 8.655 e.t., 200.89 mph
8. Russ Lindert, Mateno, Ill., 32.001 e.t., 16.30 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 5.738 e.t., 252.03 mph
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.748 e.t., 253.59 mph
3. Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., '97 Firebird, 5.796 e.t., 252,73 mph
4. Fred Hagen, Chicago, '99 Dodge, 6.645 e.t., 222.05 mph
5. John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., 6.759 e.t., 210.03 mph
6. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Olds, 8.460 e.t., 107.56 mph
Larry Bakke, Madison, Wis., '97 Camaro, 25.781 e.t., 45.67 mph

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvett, AA/A, 7.095 e.t., -0.655 under index
2. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.826 e.t., -0.644
3. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.515 e.t.,  -0.615
4. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '32 roadster, E/EA, 8.660 e.t.,  -0.610
5. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Olds, D/SM, 8.216 e.t., -0.604
6. Russ Wheeler, Chardon, Ohio, '34 Chevy, A/SR, 8.151 e.t., -0.579
7. Russ Kelly, Omaha, Neb., '98 dragster, A/ED, 6.916 e.t, -0.556
8. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, I/A, 8.035 e.t., -0.555
9. Ed Bennett, Carlton, Mich., '00 dragster, A/D, 6.654 e.t., -0.546
10. Brian Browell, Lafayett, Ind., '98 dragster, D/D, 7.566 e.t., -0.534

SUPER STOCK
1. Mike Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.776 e.t., -1.174
2. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Camaro, SS/AX, 8.947 e.t., -1.053
3. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Chevy, SS/KA, 10.526 e.t., -1.024
4. Donald Lasure, LaGrange, Ohio, '90 Olds, GT/HA, 10.333 e.t., -1.017 
5. Vince Impastato, Shelby Twp., Mich., '86 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.691 e.t., -1.009
6. Brian Butler, Dayton, Ohio, '90 Chevy, GT/GA, 10.207 e.t., -0.993
7. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Pontiac, SS/J, 10.124 e.t., -0.976
8. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., '64 Corvette, SS/KA, 10.599 e.t.,  -0.951
9. Dan Kyle, Lawrenceburg, Ind., '87 Firebird, GT/FA, 10.159 e.t.,  -0.941
10. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., '96 Olds, GT/JA, 10.711 e.t., -0.939
         

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Rick Fuller, Louisville, Ky., '66 Belair, T/SA, 13.480 e.t., -1.320 under index
2. Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.640 e.t., -1.310
3. Dave Edwards, Washington Ch., Ohio, '78 Trans Am, L/SA, 11.783 e.t., -1.217
4. M. Joseph Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.616 e.t.,  -1.134
5. Jennifer McCormack, Oxford, Mich., '94 Dakota, CT/SA, 12.253 e.t.,  -1.097
6. John Ferguson, Eaton Rapids, Iowa, '98 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.703 e.t., -1.047
7. Gary Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '94 Mustang, L/SA, 11.963 e.t., -1.037
8. John Cavataio, Malcomb, '94 Camaro, D/S, 10.778 e.t., -1.022
9. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '60 Ford, C/SA, 10.710 e.t., -0.990
10. Judy McCormack, Oxford, Mich., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.529 e.t.,  -0.971