FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheeseman and Reichert earn first victories of season

Indianapolis - For the second straight day, Mother Nature provided the 674 total competitors with ideal racing weather here at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The racers were here to compete for cash and contingency prizes totaling more than $158,000 from the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

In the end, eight winners were crowned. They were Bill Reichert in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Chuck Cheeseman in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, David Billinglsey in Comp Eliminator, Stephen Belanger in Super Stock, Clint Blezien in Stock, Dave Fields in Super Comp, Tim Gillespie in Super Gas, and Bill Hanes in Super Street.

In a match-up of injected alcohol Federal-Mogul dragsters, Owosso, Mich., resident Bill Reichert captured the victory with a run of 5.505 seconds and a speed of 246.77 mph over the number six qualifier Keith Stark of Danville, Ill. Reichert ran three consecutive passes in the 5.60s before breaking through with his best run of the weekend.

"It has been a long time since I was in the winner's circle," said Reichert. "We finally got the car to do what we want, this is great!"

Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Chuck Cheeseman tore through the field and captured his first victory of the 2001 season. Cheeseman, who defeated John Foster, Rob Atchison, and Todd Veney, had his slowest run of the day with a pass of 6.081 seconds and 241.35 mph.

"What an ugly final round win, but we'll take it," said Cheeseman. "This is why we keep doing this [racing], because there is no other feeling in the world."

In other racing action, Competition Eliminator driver and Sealed Power Low Qualifier winner, Steven Ambrose of Woodhaven, Mich., was involved in a two-car crash at the end of the fabled quarter mile track. Ambrose, was racing Johnstown, Ohio, native Herb Raymond when Raymond's '93 Beretta went out of control and clipped the '23 Ford Roadster. Both drivers walked away from the wreck and were cleared after the mandatory check-up at the track medical treatment center.

Others receiving event honors were: J.R. Lambert of Louisville, Ky. and his '69 Camaro for Best Appearing Car. Earning the Best Engineered award was Tim Gillespie of Waynesville, Ohio for his '33 Ford Roadster. Finally, Shawn Bowen of Montrose, Mich. and his team received the Best Appearing Crew award.

The following are Sunday's final round results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park:

Federal-Mogul Dragster
First Round
#1 Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.657 seconds, 253.02 mph def. 
#8 Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 12.998, 56.87

#4 Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.637, 255.02 def. 
#5 Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 9.578, 86.43

#7 Chris Ricketts, H.K.C. Mo., 5.982, 234.43 def. 
#2 Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 6.086, 231.89

#6 Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.527, 247.38 def. 
#3 Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.586, 257.06

Semifinals
Reichert, 5.600, 253.73 def. Hirata, 6.112, 200.93
Stark, 5.570, 247.52 def. Ricketts, No Time

Final
Reichert, 5.505, 246.77 def. Stark, 5.813, 240.89

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
First Round
#1 Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '00 Pontiac, 5.951 seconds, 243.96 mph
def. Chris Foster, Davenport, Iowa, '01 Dodge, 6.250, 210.18

#4 Rob Atchison, London, Ontario, Can., '97 Firebird, 6.055, 228.36 def.
Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '97 Firebird, Broke

#2 Marc White, Glendale Heights, Ill., '01 Firebird, 6.111, 208.96 def.
Jeff Lancaster, '96 Firebird, 6.391, 206.65

#3 Todd Veney, Indianapolis, Ind., '98 Pontiac, 5.949, 241.22 def. 
#6 John Reikas, Glendale Heights, Ill., '96 Camaro, 8.169, 113.72

Semifinal
Cheeseman, '00 Pontiac, 5.867, 244.83 def. Atchison, '97 Firebird, 6.009, 230.17
Veney, '98 Pontiac, 6.027, 238.53 def. White, '01 Firebird, 9.827, 59.40

Final
Cheeseman, '00 Pontiac, 6.081, 241.35 def. Veney, '98 Pontiac, 12.179, 68.26


Comp Eliminator
David Billinglsey, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass C/AA, 7.729, 157.20 def.
Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 Dragster, D/D, 15.263, 51.08

Super Stock
Stephen Belanger, Louisville, Ky., '65 Chevy, SS/JA, 12.289, 77.36 def.
Kenny Morris, Jeffersonville, Ind., Pontiac Grand Am, GT/BA, 9.799, 130.51
 
Stock Eliminator
Clint Blezien, Bensenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, O/SA, 12.537, 104.82 def.
Nick Folk, Durand, Ill., '96 Camaro, F/SA, 11.718, 107.52

Super Comp
Dave Fields, Delaware, Ohio, 8.915, 166.60 def Steve Eckard, 8.947 , 166.91

Super Gas 
Tim Gillespie, Waynesville, Ohio, '33 Ford, 9.923, 136.79 def. 
Brad Tuttle, Indianapolis, Ind., '33 Roadster, 9.927, 149.80

Super Street
Bill Hanes, East Lansing, Mich., '69 Chevy, 10.908, 126.38 def. 
Dan Carter, Georgetown, Ky., '68 Camaro, 10.931, 127.78

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>Hirata and Cheeseman lead the field at Indianapolis Raceway Park

Indianapolis - With Friday's rain having ceased, the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series continued today with qualifying and time trials for all eight racing categories. The second of six events in the 2001 North Central Division is expected to attract more than 650 sportsman racers.

The day belonged to Lowell, Ind., resident and Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot Dave Hirata. Hirata claimed the Sealed Power Low Qualifier check with a scorching time of 5.48 seconds and 255.17 miles per hour. Hirata's closest pursuer was last years division champion Jeff Wilson of Winfield, Mo., who ran a pass of 5.537 seconds and 255.39 mph.

"What a difference a run makes when you have all eight cylinders working," said Hirata. "All the hard work that we did on the car really paid off."

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car competition, Galena, Ohio, resident Chuck Cheeseman took home the money with his run of 5.880 seconds and 242.65 miles per hour in his '98 Pontiac. Cheeseman leapfrogged divisional rival Marc White for the $1,000 Sealed Power Low Qualifier check. White, from Glendale Heights, Ill., ran an elapsed time of 6.009 seconds and 228.07 mph to remain in the number two position.

"Show me the money!" said an ecstatic Cheeseman. "This feels really good because our team has put a lot of time and effort into getting this car to run well."

Others claming Sealed Power Low Qualifier money were: Steve Ambrose from Woodhaven, Mich., in Competition Eliminator with an elapsed time of 7.955 and -0.605 under index; Jerry Silveus of Van Buren, Ohio, in Super Stock; and Bruce Parsons of Lewisburg, Ohio, in Stock.

The gates will open at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow with sportsman eliminations set to begin at 8:00 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car eliminations are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

The following are Saturday's final round qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rain hampers qualifying at Indianapolis Raceway Park

Indianapolis - Friday's first round of time trials was cancelled today because of persistent rain. The forecast for Indianapolis Raceway Park calls for continued showers lasting until later this evening, preventing any of the 500 expected competitors from testing the newly renovated facility.

According to North Central Division Director Jay Hullinger, "Unfortunately, the rain will not let up for the rest of the day." Adding, "Hopefully, we will continue tomorrow with qualifying and time trials."

The gates will open at 7:00 a.m. Saturday with qualifying and time trials to begin at 8:00 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.481 seconds, 255.17 mph
2. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.537, 255.39
3. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.561 , 257.14 
4. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.639, 249.16
5. Bill McCornack, Lexington, KY., 5.688, 240.64
6. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.723, 243.70
7. Chris Ricketts, H.K.C., Mo., 5.763, 215.82
8. Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.899, 230.82
Alternates
9. T.J. Zizzo, Round Lake, Ill., 5.921, 233.10
10. Tony Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.110, 232.55
11. Ben Marshall, New Carlisle, Ohio, 6.164, 234.80
12. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 6.627, 152.77
13. Bob Ginther, Lansing, Mich., 8.688, 105.63
14. Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., DQ

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1   Chuck Cheeseman, Galena OH, '98 Firebird      5.880  242.65
2   Marc White, Glendale Hts. IL, '01 Pontiac Fi  6.009  228.07
3   Todd Veney, Indianapolis IN, '98 Pontiac Fir  6.013  239.61
4   Rob Atchison, London ON, '97 Pontiac Firebird 6.043  229.06
5   Steve Addleman, Fishers IN, '97 Pontiac Fire  6.059  233.58
6   John Reikas III, Glendale Hts. IL, '96 Chevy  6.197  220.04
7   Wayne Butler, Manito IL, '98 Pontiac Trans Am 6.220  227.33
8   John (Chris) Foster, Davenport IA, '01 Dodge  6.321  227.67

 ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 9  Mike McGee, Ft. Wayne IN, '01 Chevy Corvette  6.548  211.81
10  Fred Hagen, Chicago IL, '99 Dodge Avenger     6.886  152.15
11  Jeff Lancaster, Hamilton ON, '96 Pontiac Fir  9.506   91.09
12  Mark Poyser, Fort Wayne IN, '98 Ford Mustang   DQ



COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Steven Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 Ford, I/AA, 7.955 seconds, -0.605 under index
2. Mike Hazlett, Indianapolis, Ind., Cutlass, B/A, 7.329, -0.571
3. Wayne Henderson, Fishers, Ind., '00 Dragster, A/ED, 6.879, -0.571
4. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '00 Dragster, E/ED, 8.581, -0.569
5. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass, C/AA, 7.626, -0.544
6. George Gallimore, Memphis, Tenn., '32 Bantam, A/A, 6.885, -0.525
7. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 Dragster, D/D, 7.507, -0.523
8. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., '00 Pontiac, E/AA, 8.427, -0.513
9. William Lawrence, Cincinnati, Ohio, '34 Dodge, B/SR, 8.264, -0.496
10. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 Dragster, A/ED, 6.962, -0.488

SUPER STOCK
1. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.548 seconds, -1.102 under index
2. Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 9.011, -0.989
3. Michael Beachy, Kokoma, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/DA, 9.859, -941
4. Brad Allen, Winamac, Ind., '00 S-10, GT/TB, 10.261, -0.939
5. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 9.912, -0.938
6. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '92 Camaro, GT/EA, 10.012, -0.938
7. Don O'Malley, Decatur, Ill., '01 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.579, -0.921
8. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.186, -0.914
9. Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., '96 Oldsmobile, GT/HA, 10.450, -0.900
10. Brad Zaskowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., '87 Camaro, GT/H, 10.256, -0.894

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '85 Camaro, K/SA, 11.717 seconds, -1.233 under index
2. Dave Edwards, Washington, Ohio, '78 Pontiac, K/SA, 11.736, -1.214 
3. Bob Gipson, Bettendorf, Iowa, '65 Chevelle, N/S, 12.173, -1.077
4. Tom Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '98 Firebird, C/S, 10.592, -1.058
5. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 GTO, C/S, 11.913, -1.037
6. M.J. Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.581, -1.019
7. Dave Edwards, Trenton, Ohio, '73 Duster, H/SA, 11.433, -1.017
8. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., '01 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.148, -1.002
9. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, Mich., '84 Buick, U/SA, 14.180, -0.970
10. Lewis Conkey, London, Ohio, '88 Camaro, N/S, 12.284, -0.966