FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PAT AUSTIN, SHIELDS HAVE NEW CARS ON A MISSION AT MISSION RACEWAY PARK

MISSION, B.C.- 1999 Northwest Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car Champion, Pat Austin of Tacoma, Wash. and Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot Duane Shields of Las Vegas, Nev. took advantage of the rare air at the historic Mission Raceway Park to take home the Lordco B.C. Nationals championship.

Austin came to Mission Raceway Park this weekend to "test" his brand new Pontiac Firebird Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Austin got all A's. First qualifying attempt and first run ever in his new Federal-Mogul Funny Car Austin blew the Funny Car field away with a pass of 5.655 seconds at 253.02 mph to take the No. 1 qualifying position by a little less than two-tenths of a second. First round of eliminations Austin came out even stronger with a pass of 5.634 seconds at 254.52 mph to defeat Clint Thompson of Klamath Falls, Idaho. In the semifinals, Austin met up with Russ Parker of Salem, Ore. and put him away with a run of 5.678 seconds at 254.30 mph to advance to the final and meet up with his uncle, Bucky Austin of Fife, Wash.

Pat Austin, a fan favorite at Mission Raceway Park, came into the final looking for more of the same that got him through the weekend so far. Bucky Austin looked to squeeze all the power he could out of his Chevrolet Camaro Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Bucky Austin squeezed a little too hard as his car pushed through the starting beam early with a .369 red light. Pat Austin ran his slowest time of the weekend with a run of 5.758 seconds at 251.11 mph, but it didn't matter as the win light was already lit before he hit the finish line.

"It was a heck of a thrash getting this car done for this race," said a happy and relived Pat Austin. "We are very happy with the results and can't wait to come back in a few weeks and do it all over. This is a first class facility with first class fans and we always love coming to Mission."

Shields, a convenience store owner in Las Vegas, Nev., made short work of the Federal-Mogul Dragster field with his nearly brand new 2000 Hadman Federal-Mogul Dragster. Shield received a single run in the first round after Leo Grocock of Mission, B.C. couldn't get his car together for first round of eliminations. In the semifinals, Shields faced Steve Federlin of Oregon City, Ore. and sent him home with a pass of 5.566 seconds at 253.09 mph to Federlin's run of 5.735 seconds at 247.59 mph. Shields earned the right to face No. 1 qualifier, Dale Carlson of Olympia, Wash. in the final. Shields beat Carlson off the starting line, .457 to .489, and took the holeshot win 5.528 seconds to Carlson's run of 5.507 seconds.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round One
1) Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.525 seconds, 256.92 mph def. Bye
2) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.467, 242.71 def. 7) Leo Grocock,
Mission, B.C., (No Show-Broke)
3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.729, 250.00 def. 6) Don Clease,
Mission, B.C., 6.738, 190.07
4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 9.577, 86.88 def. 5) Kim Parker,
Graham, Wash., 11.548, 55.38 

Semifinals
Carlson, 7.039, 219.13 def. Hentges, 9.387, 76.10
Shields, 5.566, 253.09 def. Federlin, 5.735, 247.59

Final
Shields, (Reaction/Time .457) 5.528, 253.66 def. Carlson, (R/T .489) 5.507,
257.43

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round One
1) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Pontiac Firebird, 5.634 seconds, 254.52
mph def. 8) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '97 Chevrolet Camaro,
5.950, 227.67
2) John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '00 Camaro, 5.785, 250.83 def. 7) Mitch
Meyers, Hermiston, Ore., '99 Chevrolet Corvette,  5.928, 242.78 
3) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '00 Camaro, 5.872, 244.36 def. 6) Roger
Bateman, Calgary, Alberta, '97 Firebird, 9.696, 87.14 
4) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Dodge Avenger, 5.793, 243.37 def. 5) Mike
Giuliani, Abbotsford, B.C., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva 5.946, 239.29

Semifinals
Pat Austin, 5.678, 254.30 def. Parker, 5.847, 245.83
Bucky Austin, 5.872, 244.36 def. Hyland, 6.142, 184.88

Final
Pat Austin, (R/T .457) 5.758, 251.11 def. Bucky Austin, (R/T .369) 5.886,
247.04(Foul-Red Light)


COMP ELIMINATOR
Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., '87 Pontiac Trans Am, C/SM, 9.107, 149.42
def. Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., '97 Dragster, G/D, 9.459, 132.25

SUPER STOCK
Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '91 Achieva, GT/CA, 9.948, 132.13 def. Dave
Wren, Lynden, Wash., '68 Plymouth, SS/AA, 9.223, 133.53

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Randy Hutchings, Calgary, Alb., '81 Dodge, ET/SA,  12.411, 84.35 def.
Jackie Alley, Eagle, Idaho, '69 Chevrolet, F/SA, 12.576, 80.09

SUPER COMP
Dick VanderMeer, Boise, Idaho, 8.905, 167.34 def. Terry Giese, Milwaukie,
Ore., 8.891, 162.27

SUPER GAS
Joe Mellof, Maple Ridge, B.C., '63 Chevrolet Corvette, 9.897, 155.35 def.
Dave Kelly, Walla Walla, Wash., '67 Chevrolet Nova, 9.896, 143.63

SUPER STREET
Bob Munoz, Tacoma, Wash., '55 Chevrolet, 10.922, 119.85 def. Paul Nero,
Eugene, Ore., '93 Ford Mustang, 10.907, 127.11

TOP COMP
Marty Zazula, Surrey, B.C., '89 Dragster, 9.077, 194.59 def. Greg
Pessemier, Tacoma, Wash., '96 Dragster, Broke

PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Wayne Stebing, Marysville, Wash., '78 Kawasaki, 9.147, 133.82 def. Dan
Temple, Chilliwack, B.C., '84 Suzuki, 9.090, 141.53

SUPER PRO
Greg Marshall, White Rock, B.C., '61 Ford Falcon, 10.930, 123.13 def.
Marsha Band, Boise, Idaho, '68 Chevrolet Camaro, 11.184, 118.65

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New car, one run, Austin on the pole

MISSION, B.C.- It took Pat Austin and his Tacoma, Wash., based crew five 24-hour days to assemble the team's new Federal-Mogul Funny Car in time for the Lordco Auto Parts B.C. Nationals at Mission Raceway Park.

It took Austin just a single five-second run to claim the pole position at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event, to firmly establish himself as favorite to claim Sunday's title, and to determine he has the best race car he has ever driven.

"We only took delivery of the car at the beginning of this week," said Austin, who sold his previous racer, the quickest Federal-Mogul Funny Car in the world with a 5.56-second lap to its credit, to a driver in Sweden. "We've been working day and night to get everything together, to make sure everything fits."

Having spent all day Friday and most of Saturday dodging rainshowers, Austin finally got a shot at the famed Mission Raceway Park quarter-mile late Saturday and reeled off a 5.65-second run, nearly two-tenths of a second quicker than second-placed John Hyland, who recorded a 5.84-second lap.

"Looking at the [computer] data the car was really spinning the tires on that pass," Austin said of his first run in the car. "I'd have liked to have made a run in the second qualifying session Saturday evening, but the track was getting too cold and we simply would have spun or shaken the rear tires."

Austin paused, the added, "You know, if the track temperature was better I think this car could run a low 5.50, maybe even a 5.40."

Olympia, Wash.'s Dale Carlson set the pace in the Federal-Mogul Dragster field with a 5.54-second pass. After beginning the year with a runner-up finish at the AutoZone Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. the Giant Bicycle Federal-Mogul Dragster team has been looking for some answers. Carlson finished 1999 number eight in the world in his Federal-Mogul Dragster. In Carlson's final qualifying attempt on Saturday he made a strong pass that could have been even stronger if not for his dragster skating all over the Mission quarter-mile

"We could of run in the 5.40s but we went an extra 100 feet with all of the skating we did," said Carlson. "We have been struggling the last few races and it feels good to get the numbers back. I am looking forward to tomorrow."

The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Mission Raceway Park continues Sunday with eliminations beginning at 8:30 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 Mission Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.544 seconds, 254.38 mph vs. Bye

2) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.599, 251.81 vs. 
7) Leo Grocock, Mission, B.C., 7.473, 127.06

3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.686, 251.04 vs. 
6) Don Clease, Mission, B.C., 6.722, 197.36

4) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.953, 231.89 vs. 
5) Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., 6.272, 216.50 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Pontiac Firebird, 5.655 seconds, 253.02 mph vs.
8) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '97 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.033, 225.05

2) John Hyland, Springfield, Ore., '00 Camaro, 5.829, 246.91 vs. 
7) Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, Ore., '99 Chevrolet Corvette,  6.015, 237.40 

3) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '00 Camaro, 5.848, 246.37 vs. 
6) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alberta, '97 Firebird, 5.955, 249.79 

4) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Dodge Avenger, 6.060, 232.97 vs. 
5) Mike Giuliani, Abbotsford, B.C., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva 5.919, 239.23

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Brian Hyerstay, Eugene, Ore., '97 Dragster, G/D, 9.273 seconds (0.767-seconds under Index)
2. Bruce Perkin, Maple Ridge, B.C., '87 Pontiac Trans Am, C/SM,9.031(-0.699)
3. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., '95 Pontiac Firebird, B/EA, 7.907 (-0.643)
4. Craig Schuck, Eugene, Ore., '95 Dragster, C/ED, 7.376 (-0.634)
5. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.149 (-0.611)
6. Rob Smith, Anaheim, Calif., '98 Dragster, D/ED, 7.594 (-0.606) 
7. Jim Warter, Fox Island, Wash., '92 Chevrolet Camaro, B/SM, 8.771 (-0.599)
8. John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '96 Dodge Avenger, CE/A, 8.399 (-0.491)
9. Mike Pessemier, Graham, Wash., '99 Dragster, B/D, 7.007 (-0.473)
10. Ralph Van Paepeghem, Boise, Idaho, '32 Chevrolet, A/EA, 7.608 (-0.472)


SUPER STOCK
1. Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., '57 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/AM, 8.586 seconds (0.964-seconds under Index)
2. Rick McKinney, Richmond, B.C., '84 Oldsmobile Achieva, SS/KA, 10.645 (-0.905)
3. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alberta, '96 Chevrolet Camaro, GT/DA, 9.903 (-0.897)
4. Don Thomas, Spruce Grove, Alberta, '89 Camaro, GT/DA, 9.915 (-0.885)
5. Dave Wren, Lynden, Wash., '68 Plymouth, SS/AA, 9.158 (-0.842)
6. Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., '91 Achieva, GT/CA, 9.888 (-0.812)
7. Bill Stewart, Marysville, Wash, '74 Plymouth, SS/KA, 10.787 (-0.763)
8. Art Congdon, Calgary, Alberta, '91 Chevrolet Calais, GT/BA, 9.816 (-0.734)
9. Gordon Merkley, Langley, B.C., '66 Chevrolet, SS/F, 9.918 (-0.732)
10. Gale Sasser, Meridian, Idaho, '66 Chevrolet, SS/HA, 10.216 (-0.684)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Randy Hutchings, Calgary, Alb., ET/SA '81 Dodge, 12.085 (1.465-seconds under Index)
2. Calvin Queahpama, Portland, Ore., T/SA, '65 Chevrolet, 13.428 (-1.372)
3. Bruce Flodin, Abbotsford, B.C., CT/SA '94 Dakota, 12.023 (-1.327)
4. Joe Aluise Jr., Larvel, Md., A/SA '63 Belvedere, 10.019 (-1.281)
5. Adam Bowdish, Lake Oswego, Ore., P/SA '66 Chevrolet, 12.545 (-1.205)
6. Don Elgin, Des Moines, Wash., N/SA '74 Pontiac, 12.130 (-1.170)
7. Sean Cour, Brush Prairie, Wash., E/SA '97 Camaro, 10.849 (-1.151)
8. Tom Skjonsberg, Red Deer, Alb., A/SA '70 Barracuda, 10.184 (-1.116)
9. Fred Deuchar, Brush Prairie, Wash., K/S '65 Malibu, 11.748 (-1.102)
10. Steve Hanby, Salem, Ore., M/SA '85 Camaro, 12.053 (-1.097)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAINS WASH OUT FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT MISSION RACEWAY PARK
MISSION, B.C.-Over 125 cars made it down the Mission quarter-mile before the rains came to cancel Friday qualifying at the Lordco B.C. Nationals. NHRA Northwest Division Director, Chris Blair, called the race at 4 p.m. and has rescheduled a full day of qualifying for Saturday.