FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hirata, White score wins at National Trail Raceway

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 2 qualifiers in both Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car went all the way today in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway. Dave Hirata in F/M Dragster and Marc White in F/M Funny Car outlasted their opponents in what turned out to be the hottest day of the event, with track temperatures reaching 135 degrees. It is the first divisional win of the season for both drivers.

Hirata, of Lowell, Ind., defeated Jeff Bohr in the first round with a blistering 5.550-second pass. In the second round he took on defending division champion Jeff Wilson. In the final round he was up against Bill Reichert who got past the semifinals by winning a pedaling contest with Bill McCornack. In that last round, Hirata ran 5.618 seconds at 255.73 mph while Reichert was again lost power at about half-track.

"It feels good to get that first win," said Hirata. "It seems like it's been a long time in coming this season but maybe this will be the beginning of something."

White, a resident of Glendale Heights., Ill., is fresh off a win at the NHRA national event in St. Louis. This week, he beat Rick Krafft in the first round and Kim Fritts in the second. In the final, he faced division rival Chuck Cheeseman and beat him on a holeshot. Cheeseman was quicker and faster than White with a 5.966-second, 241.97 mph run but White had the advantage off the starting line, .455 to .507. White's final run was a 6.015-second, 240.68-mph effort.

"We can't seem to make it run but we do seem to be able to make it win," said White. "We've changed everything we can think of on that car but it doesn't work. In the end, I'd rather be lucky than good, anyway."

In Comp Eliminator, defending national champion Jerry Arnold of Kalamazoo, Mich., carried his No. 1 qualifying position through to the winner's circle, while Lawrenceburg, Ind., resident Dan Kyle took the win in Super Stock. The Stock winner was Rob Holmes, of Englewood, Ohio, and in Super Comp Dave Dahlem from Tremont, Ill., took the win. The winner in Super Gas was Mason, Ohio, resident Jim Balcom and in Super Street it was Dale Elam from Gahanna, Ohio who won. Megan Taylor of Columbus, Ohio, took home the trophy in Jr. Dragster.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
8) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 6.133 seconds, 190.70 mph def. 
1) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.791, 225.03 mph (red light)

2) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.504, 258.67 def. 
7) Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.760, 244.60

3) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.739, 252.85 vs. 
6) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.977, 238.13

4) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 7.124, 151.02 def. 
5) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 10.504, 71.09

Semifinals
Reichert, 13.18, 51.47 def. Thacker, no-show
Hirata, 5.59, 254.26 def. Wilson, 11.55, 69.88

Final Round
Hirata, 5.618, 255.73 def. Reichert, 11.451, 69.55

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '00 Pontiac, 5.964 seconds, 243.28 mph def. 
8) John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 6.312, 215.34

2) Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 6.025, 241.97 def. 
7) Rick Krafft, Union Mills, Ind., '99 Avenger, 6.381, 214.54

3) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Pontiac, 6.056, 238.13 def. 
6) Wayne Butler, Mantino, Ill., '98 Trans Am, 6.147, 225.03

4) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '00 Avenger, 7.719, 208.36 def. 
5) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, '98 Pontiac, 10.372, 84.59 (red light)

Semifinals
Cheesesman, 5.93, 241.97 def. Craig, 6.75, 235.64
White, 6.04, 243.28 def. Fritts, 6.061, 234.41

Final Round
White, 6.015, 240.68 (.455 reaction time) def. Cheeseman, 5.966, 241.97
(.507 reaction time)

COMP ELIMINATOR
Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '98 dragster, 8.609, 153.07 def. 
Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., 6.935, 192.33

SUPER STOCK
Dan Kyle, Lawrenceburg, Ind., '87 Pontiac, 10.317, 121.63 def. 
Jimbo Fields, '68 Corvette, 10.449, 126.06

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Rob Holmes, Engelwood, Ohio, '69 Chevy, 11.983, 105.64 def. 
Gary Russell, 11.180, 116.59

SUPER COMP
Dave Dahlem, Tremont, Ill., '98 dragster, 8.922, 151.53 def. 
Jeff Hurst, '01 dragster, 8.877, 166.07

SUPER GAS
Jim Balcom, Mason, Ohio, '68 Camaro, 11.331, 88.93 mph def. 
Chuck Haubiel, Gahanna, Ohio, '27 roadster, 9.907 (red light)

SUPER STREET
Dale Elam, Gahanna, Ohio, '68 Camaro, 10.897, 120.97 def. 
Dustin Richardson, Woodburn, Ind., '87 Firenza, 10.919, 140.20 (red light)

JUNIOR DRAGSTER
Megan Taylor, Columbus, Ohio, 9.536, 66.47 mph def. 
Jason Jones, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, 11.757, 54.81

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lindert sneaks up on F/M Dragster low qualifier position

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In the final rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway veteran racer Russ Lindert took the No. 1 qualifying position in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Chuck Cheeseman took the pole in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Lindert, of Manteno, Ohio, surprised everyone when he made a 5.524-second, 255.73 mph pass in the final round of qualifying to put him ahead of Lowell, Ind., resident Dave Hirata and Jeff Wilson of Winfield, Mo.

In an unusual turn of events, the No. 1 position in the class changed hands with every session. Owosso, Mich., resident Bill Reichert had been in the top spot after Friday's qualifying session and Wilson took it from him in today's early run. In the end, it will be Lindert who collects the $1,000 Sealed Power Low Qualifier bonus.

In the second session of Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying, Cheeseman of Galena, Ohio, took over the No. 1 spot from Marc White of Glendale Heights., Ill. Cheeseman made a 5.894-second, 245.94-mph run to better White's 5.897-second, 243.28-mph effort.

Low qualifiers in other classes were Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., in Comp Eliminator; Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., in Super Stock; and Clint Blezien, Bensenville, Ill., in Stock.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's F/M Dragster and F/M Funny Car pairings from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.524 seconds, 255.73 mph. vs.
8) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.765, 216.38

2) Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.524, 254.28 vs. 
7) Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.687, 247.29

3) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.539, 261.67 vs. 
6) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.651, 255.73

4) Bill Reichert, Owasso, Mich., 5.592, 252.85 vs. 
5) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.595, 243.28

Not Qualified
Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., 5.791, 244.60
Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.802, 241.97
Kenneth Perry, Gormley, Ont., 5.806, 243.41
Bryan Weber, Vermillion, Ohio, 5.850, 229.63
Mick Snyder, DeMotte, Ind., 6.016, 235.64
Ben Marshall, Tipp City, Ohio, 6.025, 243.28
Tim Rudy, Loveland, Ohio, 6.276, 214.31
Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 6.457, 157.91
Ron Dixon, Norton, Ohio, 6.632, 201.82 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '00 Pontiac, 5.894 seconds, 245.94 mph vs. 
8) John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 9.620, 86.54

2) Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 5.897, 243.28 vs. 
7) Rick Krafft, Union Mills, Ind., '99 Avenger, 6.272, 219.54

3) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Pontiac, 5.965, 241.97 vs. 
6) Wayne Butler, Mantino, Ill., '98 Trans Am, 6.085, 221.71

4) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '00 Avenger, 6.030, 220.62 vs. 
5) Todd Veney, Indianapolis, '98 Pontiac, 6.048, 239.40

Not Qualified
Ryan Sheridan, Vienna, Ohio, 7.043, 198.26

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '98 dragster, E/ED, 8.500 seconds,  -0.610 under index
2. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, I/AA, 7.963, -0.597 
3. Michael Smith, Mineral Wells, W. Va., '63 Corvette, E/AA, 8.317,  -0.593
4. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.443, -0.587
5. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass, C/AA, 7.595, -0.545
6. Bob Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.844, -0.536
7. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '01 dragster, A/ND, 7.473, -0.527
8. William Lawrence, Cincinnati, '34 roadster, B/SR, 8.228, -0.522
9. Wayne Henderson, Fishers, Ind., '00 dragster, A/ED, 6.871, -0.509
10. Charlie Westcott Jr., Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, F/SM, 9.291,  -0.489

SUPER STOCK
1. Charlie Wescott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.659 seconds,  -1.141 under index
2. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.550, -1.100
3. Jim Boburka, Coraopolis, Pa., '00 Firebird, GT/DA, 9.722, -1.078
4. James McBean, Chardon, Ohio, '69 Ford, SS/GA, 9.971, -1.059
5. Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.959, -1.041
6. Melissa Butler, Miamisburg, Ohio, '90 Pontiac, GT/FA, 10.079, -1.021
7. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '97 Cutlass, SS/AX, 8.982, -1.018
8. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.104, -0.996
9. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 9.859, -0.991
10. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ill., '96 Olds, SS/AM, 8.567, -0.983

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Clint Blezien, Benesenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, O/SA, 12.073, -1.377
2. Mark Hinz, Warren, Mich., '00 Dakota, DT/S, 11.782, -1.268
3. Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '85 Camaro, K/SA, 11.692, -1.258
4. Jim Paquet, Eaton Rapids, Mich., '99 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.425, -1.225
5. MJ Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.525, -1.225
6. Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '69 Nova, K/SA, 11.802, -1.148
7. Lewis Conkey, London, Ohio, '88 Camaro, N/S, 12.120, -1.130
8. David Edwards, Washington Ct. Hts., Ont., '78 Trans Am, K/SA, 11.829, -1.121
9. Dave Edwards, Trenton, Ohio, '73 Duster, H/SA, 11.396, -1.054
10. Tom Russell, Sparta, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/S, 10.759, -1.041

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reichert, White lead qualifying at National Trail Raceway

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In the first rounds of qualifying at National Trail Raceway, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Bill Reichert and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Marc White took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes.

Reichert, of Owosso, Mich., outran the field with a pass of 5.599 seconds at 252.85 mph. And Glendale Hts., Ill., resident White made a 5.897-second, 243.28 mph run to take the pole.

Low qualifiers in other classes were Steve Ambrose of Woodhaven, Mich., in Comp Eliminator; Charlie Westcott of Parma, Mich., in Super Stock; and Bruce Parsons of Lewisburg, Ohio, in Stock.

Qualifying and time trials for the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event continue Saturday at National Trail Raceway. Gates open at 8 a.m. and racing starts with Jr. Dragsters, a class for kids 8 to 17 years old, at 9 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets for Saturday's event are $15 and children 11 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information call National Trail Raceway, (740) 928-5706.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bill Reichert, Owasso, Mich., 5.599 seconds, 252.85 mph
2. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.626, 254.28 
3. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.631, 250.04
4. Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.651, 255.73
5. Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.765, 216.38
6. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.802, 241.97
7. Ken Perry, Gormley, Ont., Can., 5.952, 213.30
8. Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 6.013, 236.88 

Not Qualified
Ben Marshall, Tipp City, Ohio, 6.025, 243.28
Dana Stripe, Columbia, Mo., 6.080, 188.31
Jared Dreher, Clinton, Ind., 6.457, 157.91
Tim Rudy, Loveland, Ohio, 6.495, 204.57
Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 10.031, 81.37 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '01 Firebird, 5.897 seconds, 243.28 mph
2. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '00 Pontiac, 5.912, 247.29
3. Todd Veney, Indianapolis, '98 Pontiac, 6.048, 239.40
4. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Pontiac, 6.288, 209.33
5. Rick Krafft, Union Mills, Ind., '99 Avenger, 6.403, 207.40
6. John Reikas III, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 9.620, 86.54
7. Ryan Sheridan, Vienna, Ohio, '97 Chevy, 9.913, 81.08
8. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '00 Avenger, 10.551, 75.63

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, I/AA, 7.963 seconds,  -0.597 under index
2. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., '98 dragster, E/ED, 8.577, -0.533
3. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.500, -0.530
4. Wayne Henderson, Fishers, Ind., '00 dragster, A/ED, 6.881, -0.499
5. Michael Smith, Mineral Wells, W. Va., '63 Corvette, E/AA, 8.437,  -0.473
6. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Cutlass, C/AA, 7.675, -0.465
7. Doug Stewart, Edwardsburg, Mich., '00 dragster, B/D, 7.052, -0.458
8. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '01 dragster, A/ND, 7.549, -0.451
9. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W. Va., '32 roadster, D/EA, 8.587, -0.443
10. Santo Volpe, Addison, Mich., '63 Corvette, AA/A, 7.216, -0.334

SUPER STOCK
1. Charlie Wescott, Parma, Mich., '98 Grand Am, GT/E, 9.680 seconds,  -1.120 under index
2. Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.959, -1.041
3. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, '97 Cutlass, SS/AX, 8.982, -1.018
4. Brian Olson, Peru, Ind., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 9.859, -0.991
5. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., '84 Firebird, SS/J, 10.115, -0.985
6. Michael Beachy, Kokomo, Ind., '82 Firebird, GT/DA, 9.747, -0.953
7. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Firebird, GT/JA, 10.699, -0.951
8. James McBean, Chardon, Ohio, '69 Ford, SS/GA, 9.903, -0.947
9. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, '92 Camaro, GT/FA, 10.200, -0.900
10. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ill., '96 Olds, SS/AM, 8.666, -0.884

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '85 Camaro, K/SA, 11.692 seconds,  -1.258 under index
2. Jim Paquet, Eaton Rapids, Mich., '99 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.425, -1.225
3. MJ Quinn, Louisville, Ky., '85 Camaro, J/SA, 11.525, -1.225
4. Mark Hinz, Warren, Mich., '00 Dakota, DT/S, 11.844, -1.206
5. Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '69 Nova, K/SA, 11.802
6. Lewis Conkey, London, Ohio, '88 Camaro, N/S, 12.120, -1.130
7. Tom Russell, Sparta, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/S, 10.759, -1.041
8. Joe Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, '95 Ford, K/S, 11.815, -1.035
9. Clint Blezien, Benesenville, Ill., '91 Camaro, O/SA, 12.432, -1.018
10. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, '68 Mustang, C/SA, 10.705, -0.995