FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hirata out-duels Wilson for win at U.S.131

Martin, Mich.-The third event of the 2000 North Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series took place at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich. As the grandstands filled to near capacity with enthusiastic race fans, more than 400 drivers took to the track in hopes of claiming the top spot from the eight different racing categories. The low temperatures had some drivers eagerly anticipating some fast times.

In other racing news, Friday night proved scary for Funny Car pilot Larry Bakke, who after his throttle stuck, had his car go airborne. Bakke, from Madison, Wis., escaped serious injury but had to be taken to a local hospital for overnight observation.

In the end, Dave Hirata out-dueled Wilson for the win in the Federal-Mogul Dragster category with a blistering run of 6.298 seconds at 232.01 mph versus 6.982 seconds at 131.56 mph.

In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car final, the win went to last year's winner, Marc White of Glendale Heights, Ill., with a stellar run of 241.73 mph. The runner-up was Bob Gottchalk.

In other action, sharing the $2500 Winston Top Qualifier money were Hirata, Federal-Mogul Dragster; White, Federal-Mogul Funny Car; Jerry Arnold, Competition; Joe Skinner, Super Stock; and Vance Cummins, Stock.

The Best Appearing Car Award went to Eureka, Mo., resident Bill Rowe while Todd Fields of Columbus, Ohio, landed the Best Engineered Car Award. Finally, the Best Appearing Crew Award went to the Super Comp team of Frank Yonlisky of Hudsonville, Mich.

The following are the results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at U.S. 131 Dragway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.986 e.t., 243.15 mph def. 
8) Bob Ginther, Lansing, Mich., 6.119 e.t., 224.65 mph

2) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.843 e.t., 234.50 mph def. 
7) T.J. Zizzo, Praire View, Ill., Broke

3) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.675 e.t., 239.01 mph def. 
6) Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.904 e.t., 244.39 mph

5) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.704 e.t., 252.85 mph def. 
4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 11.385 e.t., 68.59 mph

Semifinals  
1) Hirata, 5.736 e.t., 254.20 mph def 5) Stark, 5.798 e.t., 251.41 mph
3) Wilson, 5.481 e.t., 262.91 def 2) Lindert, Broke/Abort

Final Round
1) Hirata, 6.298 e.t., 232.01 mph def 3) Wilson, 6.982 e.t., 131.56 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
1) Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., 5.845 e.t., 251.68 mph def 
8) Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Can., 6.858 e.t., 146.68 mph

2) Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, 7.657 e.t., 209.27 mph def. 
7) Mark Poyser, Fort Wayne, Ind., 10.165 e.t., 113.05 mph

6) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., 6.006 e.t., 231.70 mph def. 
3) Jeff Craig, Municie, Ind., 6.365 e.t., 196.32 mph

5) Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., 6.037 e.t., 241.75 mph def 
4) Roger Cutler, Gatesburg, Mich., 15.561 e.t., 47.12 mph

Semifinals
1) White, 5.865 e.t., 243.07 mph def 5) Addleman, 6.014 e.t., 246.13 mph
2) Gottschalk, 6.112 e.t., 238.18 mph def 3) Craig, 10.757 e.t., 63.44 mph

Final Round
1) White, 6.044 e.t., 241.73 mph def 2) Gottschalk, 6.151 e.t., 234.25 mph
 
COMP ELIMINATOR
Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., 8.536 e.t., -0.558 def 
Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., 7.472 e.t., -0.584

SUPER STOCK
David Turner, Fresno, Ohio, 9.995 e.t, -0.565 def 
Jeremy Duncan, Charleston, Ind., 10.353 e.t., -0.593

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Larry Hodge, La Place, Ill., 12.483 e.t., -0.013 def 
Bo Fowler, Clayton, Ind., 12.063 e.t, -0.023

SUPER COMP
Doug Kittrel, Warsaw, Ind., 8.944 e.t., def 
Rose Richardson, Woodburn, Ind., 8.887e.t.

SUPER GAS
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., 9.882 e.t., def 
John Vineyard, Almont, Mich., 9.875 e.t.

SUPER STREET
Barney Barnhart, Wadsworth, Ohio, 10.938 e.t. def 
John Bereberich, Blacklich, Ohio, 10.897 e.t., 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Records fall at U.S.131 Dragway

Martin, Mich.-The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series made its third stop of the year today and the weather, with temperatures in the mid 70s, was ideal for drag racing. More than 400 racecars from eight racing categories made the trip to U.S. 131 Dragway to take a run at the quarter-mile track and the $158,000 in prize money up for grabs this weekend.

Dave Hirata of Lowell Ind., who took the top qualifying position with a new track speed and E.T. record run of 5.482 seconds at 261.99 mph, remained the one to beat in the Federal-Mogul Dragster division. Meanwhile, in the Funny Car field, Marc White of Glendale Heights, Ill., hoping to repeat as last years champion with a run of 5.825 seconds and 245.73 mph, out-dueled Toledo, Ohio, resident Bob Gottschalk to capture the number one position.

The number one qualifying position in Competition Eliminator went to Jerry Arnold of Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a run of 8.510 seconds, which was .640 under index. The rest of the competitors will try and knock him off when qualifying resumes on Saturday.

In Super Stock, Joe Skinner of Columbia Station, Ohio, drove his '95 Cavalier to the No. 1 qualifying position narrowly beating out Charlie Westcott of Parma, Michigan.

Vance Cummins of Grand Haven, Mich., took the top qualifying spot from the other 78 competitors in Stock Eliminator on Friday. Cummins drove his '95 Dakota to the top position with a run of 12.197 seconds on a 13.35 index.

Qualifying and time trials will continue Saturday at U.S. 131 Dragway beginning at 11 a.m. Eliminations in the Sportsman class begins at 2 p.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car eliminations get underway at 6 p.m. The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at U.S. 131 Dragway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.482 e.t., 261.99 mph 
2. Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.548 e.t., 252.74 mph
3. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.556 e.t., 257.35 mph
4. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.788 e.t., 240.42 mph
5. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.807 e.t., 288.50 mph 
6. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.865 e.t., 239.12 mph
7. T.J. Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.021 e.t., 232.97 mph
8. Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.148 e.t., 203.79 mph

Alternates
9. Tony Zizzo, Praire View, Ill., 6.380 e.t., 193.90 mph
10. Ryan Cantrell, Palmyra, Mich., 6.533 e.t., 224.90 mph
11. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 10.389 e.t., 78.09 mph
12. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 11.374 e.t., 84.92 mph


FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.825 e.t., 245.73 mph
2. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 6.138 e.t., 217.53 mph
3. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva, 6.149 e.t., 240.99 mph
4. Larry Bakke, Madison, Wisc., '97 Camaro, 6.226 e.t., 235.66
5. Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '97 Pontiac, 6.342 e.t., 216.18 mph
6. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.446 e.t., 202.81 mph
7. Mark Poyser, Fort Wayne, Ind., '97 Mustang, 6.511 e.t., 222.92 mph
8. Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton, Can., '99 Firebird, 6.698 e.t., 164.30 mph

Alternates
9. Roger Cutler, Gatesburg, Mich., '99 Firebird, 6.917 e.t., 190.01 mph
10. Dave Kovar, New Lenox, Ill., '99 Firebird, 8.156 e.t., 115.95 mph
11. Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 17.435 e.t., 43.05
        

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '32 Bantam, E/ED, 8.452 seconds, --0.698 (under index)
2. John Powers, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvette, AA/A, 7.029, -0.671
3. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 Dragster, D/D, 7.392, -0.638
4. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 Dragster, A/ED, 6.803, -0.557
5. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., '96 Achieva, D/SM, 8.190, -0.540
6. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, G/A, 9.025, -0.515
7. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., '23 Ford, A/EA, 7.580, -0.500
8. Douglas Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., B/ED, 7.073, -0.477
9. Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., '97 Herndon, F/ED, 8.553, -0.467
10. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 Ford, I/A, 8.054, -0.456

SUPER STOCK
1. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, '95 Cavalier, GT/DA, 9.648 seconds, -1.152 (under index)
2. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., '97 Pontiac, GT/E, 9.684, -1.116
3. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '98 Pontiac, GT/JA, 10.578, -1.072
4. Mike Beachy, Greentown, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/EA, 9.892, -1.058
5. Melissa Butler, Richmond, Ind., '90 Sunbird, GT/FA, 10.080, -1.020 
6. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.083, -1.017
7. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '84 Chevy, SS/AX, 9.005, -0.995
8. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '86 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.112, -0.988
9. Brian Butler, Centerville, Ohio, '90 Beretta, GT/GA, 10.217, -0.983 
10. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., Achieva, GT/KA, 10.797, -0.953

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Vance Cummins, Grand Haven, Mich., '95 Dakota, CT/SA, 12.197 seconds, -1.153 (under index)
2. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., '00 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.349, -1.151
3. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 Pontiac, K/SA, 11.856, -1.094
4. John Ferguson, Eaton Rapids, Mich., '97 Dodge, GT/SA, 12.873, -1.077
5. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.625, -1.075
6. Lisa Stephenson, Danville, Ill., '91 Delta, FF/SA, 15.179, -1.071
7. Bob Gipson, Bettendorf, Iowa, '65 Malibu, N/S, 12.208, -1.042
8. Harry Doolittle, Grosse Ile, Mich., '00 Firebird, Q/SA, 13.061, -1.039
9. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., '84 Buick, U/SA, 14.128, -1.022
10. John Cavataio, Macomo, Mich., '94 Camaro, D/S, 10.786, -1.014