FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal-Mogul Funny Car "rookie" Smith, makes it three in a row

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car "rookie" Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn., is making his first full year racing in the NHRA a memorable one after taking his third divisional win of the year at the Dixie Nationals NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Montgomery Motorsports Park.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster, three-time NHRA Southeast Division Champion Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla., drove his Under the Gun Racing dragster to his first win of the 2001 season. Smith, only a rookie in NHRA ranks, has a very successful past in drag racing. Smith made the move to the NHRA this year after winning the IHRA Funny Car National Championship in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The weekend did not start out well for Smith and his Jensen Audio Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Smith qualified No. 3 in the first qualifying session on Saturday with a run of 6.009 seconds at 235.84 mph. Smith had the car put together for his final attempt and the engine "just didn't sound right." Smith and his crew decided to skip the final qualifying session and immediately begin to tear the engine apart from the ground up.

The hard work paid off as Smith roared through the first round and semifinal round of eliminations with identical 5.83-second passes.

In the final, Smith faced the defending Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Funny Car Champion Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif. In the closest race of the day, Smith took the win light and laid down the quickest run of the event with a pass of 5.791 seconds at 243.44 mph to the second quickest run of the event by Payne, 5.813 seconds at 244.16 mph.

"My crew chief, Howard Moon, and my terrific crew have been chasing gremlins all weekend and they get all the credit for the win," said Smith. "The track was absolutely awesome today-like driving on glass. This was a big win for us and now I am looking forward to our next event at Silver Dollar [Raceway]."

Gunderson, who had struggled in the first two events of the season, took charge of this event from his first pass. Gunderson and his nitro-injected Federal-Mogul Dragster seemed to get better every pass. Gunderson, after qualifying No. 1 with a 5.662 seconds run, came out of the box hot in the first round with the quickest and fastest run of the day, 5.571 seconds at 250.97 mph to beat Duke McDonald of Gainesville, Fla. Marty Thacker of Robinson, Ill. made it close in the semifinals, but Gunderson beat him on a holeshot 5.940 to a 5.938 seconds pass to advance to the final.

Gunderson took the win in the final with a run of 5.672 seconds at 247.72 mph after Palm Bay, Fla. resident, Don Fiorelli's dragster began to lose cylinders near the finish line.

Other event champions include: Mike Saye of Johnston, S.C., in Comp; Don Barber of Hohenwald, Tenn., in Super Stock; Gary Emmons of Pasadena, Texas, in Stock; Len King of Langley, S.C., in Super Comp; Scott Richardson of Goodlettsville, Tenn., in Super Gas; and Montgomery resident, Lamar Stevenson III in Super Street.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
First Round
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.571 seconds, 250.97 mph def. 
8) Duke McDonald, Gainesville, Fla., 6.283, 215.56

2) Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.803 seconds, 246.03 def. 
7) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 12.198, 55.22

6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.831, 242.13 def. 
3) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.807, 245.36 

4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.803, 239.48 def. 
5) Eric Edelmann, Clearwater, Fla., 5.970, 239.36

Semifinals
Gunderson, 5.940, 238.53 (reaction time .488) def. Thacker, 5.938, 227.10 (r/t .499)
Fiorelli, 5.963, 235.78 def. Bybee, 11.355, 65.34

Final
Gunderson, 5.672, 247.72 def. Fiorelli, 5.986, 209.10

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
First Round 
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.031 seconds, 237.27 mph def. 
8) Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Dodge Avenger, 6.776, 189.75

2) Monty Todd, Montgomery, Ala., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.676, 128.66 def.
7) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, Broke 

3) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 5.833, 243.77 def. 
6) Greg Beckner, Chester, Va., '93 Chevrolet Corvette, 19.650, 52.69

5) Andy Kelly, Piedmont, S.C., '00 Dodge Avenger, 6.046, 227.67 def. 
4) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.067, 229.00

Semifinals 
Payne, 5.861, 241.02 def  Kelly, 6.110, 224.43
Smith, 5.832, 244.03 def. Todd, 6.042, 244.03

Final
Smith, 5.791, 243.44 def. Payne, 5.813, 244.16

COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, G/A, 9.002 seconds, 145.77 mph def. 
Rob Slavinski, Munford, Tenn., '96 Pontiac Grand Prix, B/AA, 7.405, 185.10

SUPER STOCK
Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/BA, 9.780, 125.97 def. 
Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Pontiac Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.963, 121.63

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Gary Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '98 Pontiac Firebird, E/SA, 11.226, 112.78 def. 
Scott Welborn, West Columbia, N.C., '68 Chevrolet Chevelle, G/SA, 11.849, 109.02

SUPER COMP
Len King, Langley, S.C., '97 Dragster, 8.906, 160.68 def. 
Barbara Byrd, Venice, Fla., '00 Dragster, 8.877, 168.50

SUPER GAS
Scott Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '63 Chevrolet Corvette, 9.917, 144.46 def. 
Ed Richardson, Bradenton, Fla., '63 Corvette, 9.919, 144.74

SUPER STREET
Lamar Stevenson III, Montgomery, Ala., '69 Chevrolet Camaro, 10.916, 119.87 def. 
Leland Poppell, Odum, Ga., '86 Camaro, 10.894, 126.03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gunderson, Payne put on a show at Montgomery Motorsports Park

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Nearly 4000 NHRA Drag Racing fans made it out to Saturday's Dixie Nationals NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series qualifying at Montgomery Motorsports Park. Each and everyone of the fans left the track happy due to the great show track owner, George Howard put down the track.

In addition to the great side-by-side racing put on by the over 400 NHRA sportsman competitors, including a full field of Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars-the track showcased three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Shirley Muldowney match racing Steve Smith, an eight car field of Pro-Mods and two 300 mph passes from the Mississippi Madman Jet Car.

Michael Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla. and Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif. captured the No. 1 qualifying positions for tomorrows eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car, respectively. In Federal-Mogul Dragster, Gunderson took the $1000 Sealed Power Low Qualifier bonus check away from Second Wind Racing Dragster driver Billy Bybee of McLean, Texas, in his final qualifying attempt with a blistering pass of 5.662 seconds at 245.23 mph. Gunderson and his nitro-injected Federal-Mogul Dragster took advantage of the cooler air in the final qualifying session to pick up nearly one-tenth of a second on his previous qualifying run. This was enough to knock Bybee to the No. 2 position with his final qualifying pass of 5.707 seconds at 246.23 mph.

"The crew did a wonderful job on the set-up of the car today", said Gunderson. "The track came to us in the final session and we took full advantage of it. We are looking for more of the same tomorrow,"

California racer Payne piloted his Valvoline Federal-Mogul Funny Car to the No. 1 qualifying position and the $1000 bonus check from Sealed Power with a pass of 5.891 seconds at 240.38 mph. Payne is looking for his first win of the season after three-time IHRA Funny Car World Champion and NHRA Federal-Mogul Funny Car Rookie, Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn. captured the first two Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events in 2001.

Smith qualified his Jensen Car Audio Funny Car No.3 with a pass of 6.009 seconds at 235.84 mph. Local Funny Car driver, Monty Todd of Montgomery came out of nowhere to take the No. 2 qualifying position with a run of 5.940 seconds at 235.23 mph. Eliminations will begin at Montgomery Motorsports Park on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will begin at noon.

The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Montgomery Motorsports Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.662 seconds, 245.23 mph vs. 
8) Duke McDonald, Gainesville, Fla., 6.275, 214.43

2) Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.707 seconds, 246.23 mph vs. 
7) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.271, 193.29

3) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.741, 243.44 vs. 
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.132, 187.77

4) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 6.009, 234.37 vs.
5) Eric Edelmann, Clearwater, Fla., 6.013, 230.94

Alternate
1.  Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 12.072, 62.83

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.891 seconds, 240.38 mph vs. 
8) Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Dodge Avenger, 6.731,
207.13
2) Monty Todd, Montgomery, Ala., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.940, 235.23 vs. 
7) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.708, 209.83

3) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 6.009, 235.84 vs. 
6) Greg Beckner, Chester, Va., '93 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.674, 213.01

4) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.045, 228.54 vs.
5) Andy Kelly, Piedmont, S.C., '00 Dodge Avenger, 6.075, 223.60

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 8.409 seconds (0.671-seconds under Index)
2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 Dragster, C/ED, 7.461 (-0.639)
3. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 8.957 (-0.633)
4. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 Ford Roadster, I/A, 7.947 (-0.613)
5. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., '94 Chevrolet Lumina, B/A, 7.305 (-0.595)
6. Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., '01 Pontiac Trans Am, C/AA, 7.588 (-0.592)
7. Brad Warren, Texarkana, Texas, '98 Pontiac Firebird, D/AA, 7.911 (-0.549)
8. Rob Slavinski, Munford, Tenn., '96 Pontiac Grand Prix, B/AA, 7.378 (-0.532)
9. Wayne Hutton, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '92 Oldsmobile Achieva, A/SM, 8.615 (-0.465)
10. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '01 Dragster, E/ED, 8.732 (-0.458)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Pontiac Firebird, GT/JA, 10.474 seconds (1.176-seconds under Index)
2. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Pontiac Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.932 (-1.118)
3. Andy Fogle, Norway, S.C., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/HA, 9.825 (-1.075)
4. Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/FA, 9.714  (-1.036)
5. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Firebird, GT/MA, 11.089 (-0.961)
6. Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.346 (-0.954)
7. Red Leblanc, Memphis, Tenn., '69 Ford Mustang, SS/F, 9.701 (-0.949)
8. Glenn Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '84 Pontiac Trans Am, SS/JA, 10.351 (-0.949)
9. Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.614 (-0.936)
10. Jeffrey Miller, Pearland, Texas, '97 Firebird, GT/AA, 9.470 (-0.930) 

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass, U/SA, 13.842 seconds (1.308-seconds under Index)
2. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Dodge Malibu, V/SA, 14.600 (-1.200)
3. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Ford Mustang, K/S, 11.683 (1.167)
4. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., '79 Dodge Aspen, J/SA, 11.587 (-1.163)
5. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, NC, '66 Chevelle, M/S, 12.000 (-1.150)
6. George Cox, Memphis, Tenn., '97 Pontiac Firebird, E/SA, 10.873 (-1.127)
7.  Brandon Wood, Thomasville, Ga., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 11.883 (-1.117)
8. John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., '90 Chevrolet Camaro, K/SA, 11.650 (-1.100)
9. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet Wagon, T/SA, 13.630 (-1.070)
10. Bobby Warren, Clinton, N.C., '97 Camaro, D/SA, 10.799 (1.051) 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yesterday's rain halts racing at Montgomery Motorsports Park

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Nearly 400 cars were on hand at the Dixie Nationals NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the warm and humid Montgomery Motorsports Park in Montgomery, Ala. Unfortunately, only about 100 cars made it down the track due to water seeping up through the track surface. This is due to the four days of heavy rain this area received just prior to this weekend. Super Stock and Stock were the only classes that qualified due to the water on the track.

"The water just began bubbling up on the track near the finish line after about an hour of racing", said NHRA Southeast Division Director, Bill Holt. "The track has had so much rain in the past week and the water table is so high the ground couldn't absorb any more water. The track will work through the night to alleviate the problem so we can go racing tomorrow."

Qualifying and time trials will continue at the Montgomery Motorsports Park on Saturday at 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will have qualifying sessions at 6 and 9 p.m. Top Fuel, Pro-Mods and Jet Cars are scheduled to run at 7 and 10 p.m. A fireworks show is planned at 10:30 p.m.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Montgomery Motorsports Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Did not qualify

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Did not qualify

COMP ELIMINATOR
Did not qualify

SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Pontiac Firebird, GT/JA, 10.491 seconds (1.159-seconds under Index)
2. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Pontiac Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.997 (-1.053)
3. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/MA, 11.094 (-0.956)
4. Glenn Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '84 Pontiac Trans Am, SS/JA, 10.397 (-0.903)
5. Robert Burgin III, Cuthber, Ga., '01 Firebird, GT/CA, 9.845 (-0.855)
6. Cliff Reigle, Ashland City, Tenn., '67 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/FA, 9.896 (-0.854)
7. Mike Cates, Milan, Tenn., '91 Chevrolet Calais, GT/A, 9.481 (-0.819)
8. Mike Cruthfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.209 (-0.791)
9. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/BA, 9.778 (-0.772)
10. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Chevrolet Corvette, 9.902 (-0.748)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass, U/SA, 13.864 seconds (1.286-seconds under Index)
2. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Dodge Malibu, V/SA, 14.639 (-1.161)
3. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, NC, '66 Chevelle, M/S, 12.000 (-1.150)
4. John Livingston, Nashville, Tenn., '90 Chevrolet Camaro, K/SA, 11.650 (-1.100)
5. Andy Thornburg, Wilmer, Ala., '79 Dodge Aspen, J/SA, 11.651 (-1.099)
6. Bobby Warren, Clinton, N.C., '97 Camaro, D/SA, 10.799 (1.051)
7. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet Wagon, T/SA, 13.665 (-1.035)
8. Ronnie Temento, Westwego, La., '97 Pontiac Firebird, D/SA, 10.839 (-1.011)
9. Al Provoast, Whittemore, Mich., '79 Buick, N/SA, 12.291 (-1.009)
10. Brandon Wood, Thomasville, Ga., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 12.012 (-0.988)