FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Weekend closes with Comp, Super Stock and Stock eliminator

COMMERCE, Ga. - Mike Saye of Johnston, S.C., in Comp; Mike Trumble Jr., of Pasadena, Texas, in Super Stock; Mark Dickerson of Baltimore, in Stock; Steve Hunt of Englewood, Fla., in Super Comp; Steve Cohen of Trilby, Fla., in Super Gas; and Kris Satterwhite of Bellville, Texas, in Super Street earned wins in today's Federal Mogul Series at Atlanta Dragway.

Saye took out the number one qualifier Larry Pritchett with a run of 9.066 seconds at 149.02 mph to Pritchett's quicker 8.166, 167.30 mph pass. In Super Gas, Emporia, Kan., resident Gary Stinnett was automatically disqualified in the finals after leaving before the green light giving the win to Cohen and his '63 Corvette. Stinnett was also the runner up in Super Comp and defeated former NFL coach and football TV analyst Jerry Glanville in the first round of eliminations.

In yesterday's eliminations, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Jay Meyer and Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Jay Payne took home the honors. Freeport, Texas, resident Meyer faced Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla., in the final and laid down a 5.565-second, 254.28 mph pass to take the win.

Payne, of Claremont, Calif., took on Bobby Baucom of Charlotte, N.C. Payne's 5.785-second run at 244.60 mph was enough to turn on the win lights.

The Best Appearing Car award was given to Super Gas competitor and Naples, Fla., resident Tommy Turner for his '63 Corvette. Comp competitor George Gallimore of Memphis, Tenn., won Best Engineered Car for his '32 Bantam. The Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series makes its next stop at Bristol Dragway, in Bristol, Tenn., October 12-14.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Atlanta Dragway.

COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, G/A, 8.166 seconds, 167.30 mph. def. 
Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Grand Am, D/SM, 9.066, 149.02

SUPER STOCK
Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, '00 Cougar, GT/LA, 12.380 seconds, 78.81 mph
def. J.G. Wilson, Mocksville, N.C., '97 Firehawk, GT/AA, 9.683, 139.33

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Mark Dickerson, Baltimore, '70 Duster, G/SA, 11.477, 115.39 def. 
Sterling Simmons Jr., Midlothian, Va., '97 Camaro, D/SA, 10.909, 121.30

SUPER COMP
Steve Hunt, Englewood, Fla., '97 Dragster, 8.929 seconds, 153.60 mph. def.
Gary Stinett, Emporia, Kan., '00 Dragster, 8.923, 170.47 mph. 

SUPER GAS
Steve Cohen, Trilby, Fla., '63 Corvette, no time, def. 
Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., foul  

SUPER STREET
Kris Satterwhite, Belville, Texas, '69 Mustang, 10.937 seconds, 131.97 mph. def. 
Dan Moore, Scotts Moore, Fla., '75 Vega, 10.969, 134.74

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Momentum of qualifiers help Meyer and Payne take win in finals

COMMERCE, Ga. - Jay Meyer and Jay Payne took the win in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car at Atlanta Dragway. Freeport, Texas resident Meyer ran a 5.565-second, 254.28-mph quarter-mile to defeat Michael Gunderson from Middleburg, Fla., to earn his second division win of the season.

Going into eliminations, the audience had expected Oak Ridge, Tenn., resident, Von Smith, and Claremont, Calif., resident Jay Payne in the finals. Although Payne advanced to the finals, Smith was unsuccessful in stepping up to the challenge as he was disqualified after hitting the eighth-mile E.T. cone in the first round of eliminations.

Payne instead faced Bobby Baucom of Charlotte, N.C., where his 5.785-second, 244.60-mph run earned him his second straight win in Southeast division competition. The win helps solidify Payne's top seat in the division, where he only had a seventeen-point lead over Smith before this weekend's events.

Eliminations in the remaining categories are scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m., with Comp Eliminator Round 2 eliminations beginning at 12:00 p.m. For more information call Atlanta Dragway, (706) 335-2301.

The following are the final results from the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny car categories as well as final qualifying results from other classes.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.576 seconds, 243.28 mph. def. 8) BYE 

7)  Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.010, 229.63 def. 
2) Billy Bybee, Mc Lean, Texas, 9.455, 85.71

3) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.730, 234.31 def. 
6) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.865, 239.40

4) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.567, 254.28 def. 
5) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.647, 250.04

Semifinals
1) Meyer, 5.528, 254.28 def. 4) Cannon, 5.545, 255.73 
3) Gunderson, 5.660, 250.04 def. 7) Fiorelli, 5.961, 229.63

Finals
1) Meyer, 5.565, 254.28 def. 3) Gunderson, 5.689, 243.28 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.780 seconds, 238.13 mph def. 8) BYE

7) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 8.551, 112.50 def. 
2) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac, DQ

3) Bobby Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., '98 Firebird, 6.138, 228.46 vs. 
6) Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Avenger, 6.793, 197.39

4) Kebin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Achieva, 6.086, 236.88 def. 
5) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Corvette, no time recorded

Semifinals
1) Payne, 5.926, 206.45 def. 4) Kinsley, 6.094, 236.88
3)   Baucom, 7.240, 142.87 def. 7) Billington, 7.713, 171.77

Finals
1) Payne, 5.785, 244.60 def. 3) Baucom, 6.117, 228.46

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Grand Am, D/SM, 8.189 seconds, 0.511 under index
2. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, G/A, 9.073, -0.467
3. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/D, 7.036, -0.454
4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Lumina, B/A, 7.428, -0.442
5. George Gallimore Jr, Memphis, Tenn., '32 Bantam, A/A, 6.959, -0.381
6. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '01 Undercover, E/ED, 8.731, -0.379
7. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, N.C., '98 Grand Am, B/SMA, 9.115, -0.355
8. Keith Roberts, Mooresville, N.C., '96 Cutlass, C/EA, 8.637, -0.293
9. Larry Ericksmoen, St. Petersburg, Fla., '92 Cutlass, C/A, 7.927, -0.283
10. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '98 Firebird, C/EA, 8.658, -0.272

SUPER STOCK
1. Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.062 seconds, -0.988 under index
2. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Firebird, GT/MA, 11.099, -0.951
3. Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Camaro, SS/HA, 9.986, -0.915
4. Joe Licicero, Snellvile, Ga., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.876, -0.824
5. Joey Warren, Clinton, N.C., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.879, -0.821
6. Red Le Blanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.829, -0.821
7. Herbert Null Jr, Elgin, S.C., '87 Camaro, GT/BA, 9.796, -0.754
8. J.G. Wilson, Mocksville, N.C., '97 Firehawk, GT/AA, 9.661, -0.739
9. David Jackson, Columbus, N.C., '92 Firebird, GT/GA, 10.462, -0.738
10. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.292, -0.708

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '66 Chevelle, M/S, 11.990 seconds, -1.160 under index
2. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, K/S, 11.739, -1.111
3. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Malibu, V/SA, 14.706, -1.094
4. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, D/SA, 10.862, -0.988
5. Greg Moravec, St. Elmo, Ala., '78 Volare, K/SA, 12.007, -0.943
6. Brandon Wood, Tallahassee, Fla., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 12.063, -0.937
7. Gregory Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '87 Trans Am, O/SA, 12.526, -0.924
8. Sterling Simmons Jr, Midlothian, Va., '97 Camaro, D/SA, 10.967, -0.883
9. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., '79 Aspen, J/SA, 11.874, -0.876
10. Craig Couris, Atlanta, '97 Firebird, C/SA, 10.841, -0.859
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Jay and Jay Show take top spots

COMMERCE, Ga. - In the first round of qualifying at Atlanta Dragway, Jay Meyer in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Jay Payne in Federal-Mogul Funny Car are leading the fields.

Dragster pilot Meyer, of Freeport, Texas, made a 5.556-second, 255.73-mph run to put him ahead of his competitors while Claremont, Calif., resident Payne took the top spot with a 5.768-second, 243.28-mph pass.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Larry Pritchett of Clarkrange, Tenn., in Comp; Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala., in Super Stock; and Tom Hemmingson of Concord, N.C., in Stock.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 9 a.m. Gates at Atlanta Dragway open at 8 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car eliminations are set to begin at 5:30 p.m. For more information call the track, (706) 335-2301.

Rain terminated Friday night's qualifying early.

"We weren't expecting this rain," said Bill Holt, NHRA Southeast Division Director. "We'll shift the schedule around a bit tomorrow, we'll be okay."

The following are first round qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Atlanta Dragway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.556 seconds, 255.73 mph
2. Billy Bybee, Mc Lean, Texas, 5.585, 255.73
3. Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.678, 250.04
4. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.834, 240.68
5. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.870, 233.20
6. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.918, 238.13
7. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 6.253, 167.30
8. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 11.622, 75.12

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Camaro, 5.768 seconds, 243.28 mph
2. Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac, 5.872, 245.94
3. Kevin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Achieva, 6.086, 236.88
4. Bobby Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., '98 Firebird, 6.130, 227.31
5. William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Corvette, 6.494, 197.39
6. Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Avenger, '98 Avenger, 7.244, 185.97
7. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 13.761, 59.13

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Grand Am, D/SM, 8.189 seconds, 0.511 under index
2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, B/D, 7.036, -0.454
3. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, G/A, 9.120, -0.420
4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Lumina, B/A, 7.530, -0.340
5. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '98 Firebird, C/EA, 8.658, -0.272
6. Larry Ericksmoen, St. Petersburg, Fla., '92 Cutlass, C/A, 7.946, -0.264
7. George Gallimore Jr, Memphis, Tenn., '32 Bantam, A/A, 7.115, -0.225
8. William Cansler, Sylva, N.C., '99 Monte Carlo, B/EA, 8.447, -0.083
9. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '90 Calais, F/SMA, 10.007, +0.107
10. Jeff Barrett, Lake Worth, Fla., '91 Dragster, G/D, 18.575, +8.515

SUPER STOCK
1. Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Firehawk, GT/MA, 11.079 seconds, 0.971 under index
2. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Firebird, GT/MA, 11.099, -0.951
3. Joe Licicero, Snellvile, Ga., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.876, -0.824
4. Joey Warren, Clinton, N.C., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.879, -0.821
5. Red Le Blanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Mustang, SS/F, 9.837, -0.831
6. Herbert Null Jr, Elgin, S.C., '87 Camaro, GT/BA, 9.809, -0.741
7. J.G. Wilson, Mocksville, N.C., '97 Firehawk, GT/AA, 9.661, -0.739
8. David Jackson, Columbus, N.C., '92 Firebird, GT/GA, 10.462, -0.738
9. Robert Burgin III, Cuthbert, Ga., '01 Firebird, GT/CA, 9.993, -0.707
10. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.304, -0.696

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '66 Chevelle, M/S, 12.007 seconds, 1.143 under index
2. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Malibu, V/SA, 14.779, -1.021
3. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, D/SA, 10.862, -0.988
4. Gregory Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '87 Trans Am, O/SA, 12.526, -0.924
5. Greg Moravec, St. Elmo, Ala., '78 Volare, K/SA, 12.026, -0.924
6. Craig Couris, Atlanta, '97 Firebird, C/SA, 10.841, -0.859
7. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., '79 Aspen, J/SA, 11.904, -0.846
8. Butch Payne, Rome, Ga., '86 Camaro, J/SA, 11.964, -0.786
9. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '99 Firebird, C/SA, 10.934, -0.766
10. Mark Dickerson, Baltimore, Md., '70 Duster, G/SA, 11.546, -0.754