FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stidham takes home all the honors at the Texas Motorplex

Clear blue skies and cool air greeted the racers as they took the track for the final day of the Dash for Cash Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex.

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Jackie Stidham of Chickasha, Okla., made it two wins in two days after beating Todd Simpson yesterday in the rain postponed final round from two weeks ago at Houston Raceway Park and taking out a local newcomer Kebin Kinsley of Arlington, Texas in today's final round. Federal-Mogul Dragster driver and Shelly Howard of Tulsa, Okla. took the win in today's final round after losing yesterday to Troy Buff of Spring, Texas in the rain postponed final round from Houston.

The biggest winner of the weekend was Stidham and his Stidham Bros. Time Machine Federal-Mogul Funny Car. On Saturday, Stidham won the rain delayed final round from Houston and collected the Sealed Power Low Qualifier award. And in todays eliminations, Stidham was unstoppable running three consecutive 5.89 seconds runs. In the final, Stidham met up with long time Fuel Hydro Boat racer, Kebin Kinsley of Arlington, Texas. Kinsley took a big lead at the start but the engine slowly started eating its self allowing Stidham to streak by for the win light.

"I've been telling everyone that we win in the odd numbered years", said a happy Stidham. "Last year we couldn't get anything to go right and this year we collect two wins in two days-unbelievable."

Howard on the other hand had something to prove after losing in the rain delayed Federal-Mogul Dragster final from Houston to Troy Buff of Spring, Texas. She knocked out Buff in the semifinal round when Buff's engine started to go away at half-track. In the final, Howard met up with Joe Fuentes of Leander, Texas. After qualifying No. 3, Fuentes made his way through the quick field to compete in his first Federal-Mogul Dragster final round. Fuentes got the holeshot on Howard at the line and it was a close side-by-side race until the 1,000-foot mark when Fuentes blew a burst panel. Howard drove on to the win and the NHRA South Central Division Federal-Mogul Dragster points lead after two of six events.

Other winners from the Dash for Cash Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex include: Scott Benham, Lagrange, Texas in Comp; Kevin Helms of Minzola, Texas in Super Stock; Jim Cimarolli of Sulphur Springs, Texas in Stock; Steve Echols of Ft. Worth, Texas in Super Comp; Clark Mundt of Longview, Texas in Super Gas; Jeff Todd of Jacksonville, Texas in Super Street; and Mike Hullet of Maypearl, Texas in Pro Sportsman Motorcycle.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round One
1) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.544 seconds, 247.72 mph def. 
8) Gary Cooper, Wichita, Kan., 6.399, 151.20

2) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.526, 251.81 def. 
7) Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 26.998, 36.33

3) Joe Fuentes, Leander, Texas, 5.595, 247.32 def. 
6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.671, 247.25

4) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.752, 245.76 def. 
5) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 6.104, 238.22

Semifinals
Howard, 5.752, 245.76 def. Buff, 5.544, 247.72
Fuentes, 5.595, 247.32 def. Wells, 5.526, 251.81

Finals
Howard, 5.503, 256.92 def. Fuentes, 5.989, 171.72

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
First Round
1) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.893 seconds, 239.61 mph def. 
8) Michael Heckert, Pittsburg, Kan., '97 Pontiac Firebird, 6.146, 237.59

7) Kebin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.063, 230.06 def. 
2) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Dodge Avenger, 6.140, 184.69 

3) Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo. '99 Pontiac Trans-Am, 5.874, 238.53 def. 
6) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '97  Camaro, 6.288, 173.44

2) Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Firebird, 6.019, 232.37 def. 
5) Jody Austin, N. Richland Hills, Texas, '97 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.540, 225.56

Semifinals
Kinsley, 6.063, 230.06 def. Fleming, 5.874, 238.53
Stidham, 5.893, 239.61 def. Alberty, 6.019, 232.37

Finals
Stidham, 5.898, 242.91 def. Kinsley, 5.990, 233.22

COMP ELIMINATOR
Scott Benham, Lagrange, Texas, '96 Chevrolet Lumina, D/AA, 8.446, 130.87 def. 
Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., '91 Dragster, B/ED, 17.914, 45.13

SUPER STOCK
Kevin Helms, Minzola, Texas, ’69 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/CA, 9.851, 129.77 def.
Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, ’00 Mercury Cougar, GT/LA, 11.219, 116.18 
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Pat Joffrion, Belle Rose, La., ’94 Chevrolet Camaro, D/SA, 10.601, 122.73 def.
Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, ’70 Chevrolet Nova, C/SA, 11.003, 119.69 

SUPER COMP
Steve Echols, Ft. Worth, Texas, '22 Roadster, 8.953, 155.44 def. 
James Paul, Ft.Worth, Texas, '97 Dragster, 8.938, 155.44

SUPER GAS
Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, '92 Pontiac Trans Am, 9.899, 151.92 def.
Jesse Serna, El Paso, Texas, '87 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 9.869, 146.31

SUPER STREET
Jeff Todd, Jacksonville, Texas, '67 Chevrolet Camaro, 10.908, 125.19 def.
Marcus Sandlin, Baytown, Texas, '67 Chevrolet Nova, 10.922, 132.13

PRO SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Mike Hullett, Maypearl, Texas, '84 Suzuki 1100, 9.957, 125.24 def. 
Chris Oravecz, Arlington, Texas, '94 Suzuki 1166, 9.980, 128.44
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Buff, Stidham take home the cash at Texas Motorplex

This morning at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Dash for Cash event at the Texas Motorplex was more like a run and hide from the wind and rain for the over 450 competitors. At 12:30 p.m. the weather cleared up and the Dash for Cash was back on, especially for Federal-Mogul Dragster driver, Troy Buff of Spring, Texas and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot, Jackie Stidham of Chickasha, Okla. Both drivers took home all the cash on Saturday by winning their respective postponed final rounds of the rain plagued Houston Raceway Park event from two weeks ago and added another $1000 to their take for capturing the Sealed Power Low Qualifier award.

Buff was set to take on Shelly Howard of Tulsa, Okla. in the final round at the Houston Raceway Park Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event two weeks ago when the rains came. It was agreed that the final round would be completed Saturday night after qualifying for the Texas Motorplex event. Due to the rains on Saturday morning it was agreed that their second qualifying attempt would also decide the Houston dragster champion. Buff left on Howard as her tires when up in smoke and shut-off. Buff made the quickest and fastest run of the day with a pass of 5.439 seconds at 261.62 mph to take the low qualifier award away from David Wells of LeMars, Iowa and collect the winners check from Houston.

"Its been a nervous two weeks for me and my team", said Buff. "We broke a lot of parts to even make the final round in Houston and we have been working so hard these past two weeks to get the car together for this race. Its been a great day and I hope we can keep the momentum going tomorrow."

For Stidham it was the same story. Stidham took on Todd Simpson of Ponder, Texas during the second round of qualifying for not only the Houston Federal-Mogul Funny Car championship but the low qualifier award. Simpson got off the line first but went into severe shake at mid-track while Stidham cruised to the quickest and fastest pass of the day, 5.841 seconds at 244.63 mph.

"This is a great was to begin the 2001 season", said Stidham. "Last year was tough for our team and today's run gives us a positive we didn't have all last year. We are just looking forward to tomorrow." Others collecting a Sealed Power Low Qualifier bonus check are Comp Eliminator driver, Mike Johnson of Lowell, Ark., Super Stock driver Brent Johnson of Lecompte, La. and stock driver Amy Faulk of Memphis, Tenn. Eliminations will begin at the Texas Motorplex on Sunday at 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will begin at noon.

The following are the rain delayed final rounds from the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Houston Raceway Park completed at Texas Motorplex on Saturday evening:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER: Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.439 seconds, 261.62 mph def. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 15.514, 54.76

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR: Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.841 seconds, 244.63 mph def. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Dodge Avenger, 6.095, 238.15

COMP ELIMINATOR: Scott Benham, Lagrange, Texas, '96 Chevrolet Lumina, D/AA, 8.012 seconds, 161.92 mph def. Keith Hall, Ravenna,Texas, '90 Chevrolet Camaro, B/SM, 8.909, 149.97

The following are final qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.439 seconds, 261.62 mph vs. 
8) Gary Cooper, Wichita, Kan., 5.836, 203.85

2) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.475, 257.80 vs. 
7) Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 5.709, 213.92

3) Joe Fuentes, Leander, Texas, 5.533, 253.37 vs. 
6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.598, 246.17
4) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.574, 254.59 vs. 
5) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.596, 255.68

Alternates
1. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 11.048, 71.55
2. Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.280, 198.58
3. Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 6.562, 161.55
4. Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 8.441, 187.11

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.841 seconds, 244.63 mph vs. 
8) Michael Heckert, Pittsburg, Kan., '97 Pontiac Firebird, 6.270, 233.70

2) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Dodge Avenger, 5.906, 244.63 vs. 
7) Kevin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.094, 227.50

3) Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo. '99 Pontiac Trans-Am, 5.966, 240.00 vs.
6) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '97  Camaro, 6.081, 239.55

4) Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Firebird, 6.014,221.94 vs. 
5) Jody Austin, N. Richland Hills, Texas, '97 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.061, 227.67

Alternates
1. EJ Johnston, Violet, La., '99 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.630, 204.35
2. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Achieva, 6.430, 219.99
3. Ray Heffron, Ft. Worth, Texas, '97 Chevrolet Camaro, 7.811, 166.08
4. Richard Shaver, San Antonio, Texas, '99 Camaro, 17.751, 26.39

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Mike Johnson, Lowell, Ark., '95 Dragster, C/ED, 7.403 seconds (0.707seconds under Index)
2. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.014 (-0.706)
3. Dean Howerton, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.028 (-0.692) 
4. Maryann Austin, Lowell, Ark., '97 Dragster, C/ED, 7.497 (-0.613)
5. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., '91 Dragster, B/ED, 7.044 (-0.566)
6. Scott Benham, Lagrange, Texas, '96 Chevrolet Lumina, D/AA, 8.995 (-0.565)
7. Joe Swindoll, LaPorte, Texas, '63 Chevrolet Corvette, B/AA, 7.356 (-0.564)
8. Alan Swindoll, LaPorte, Texas, '98 Pontiac Firebird, B/AA, 7.356 (-0.564)
9. Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '89 Oldsmobile Cutlass, B/A, 7.341 (-0.559)
10. Charlie Watson, Humble, Texas, '96 Lumina, F/A, 8.700 (-0.520)

SUPER STOCK
1. Brent Johnson, Lcompte, La., '66 Chevrolet Impala, SS/NA, 11.309 seconds (1.141-seconds under Index)
2. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '55 Nomad Wagon, SS/NA, 11.334 (-1.116)
3. John Clegg, Victoria, Texas, '73 Firebird, SS/AM, 8.550 (-1.000)
4. Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Pontiac Firebird, SS/JA, 10.313 (-0.987)
5. Jeff Miller, Pearland, Texas, '97 Firehawk, GT/AA 9.429 (-0.971)
6. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., '95 Oldmobile Achiva, GT/HA, 10.400 (-0.950)
7. Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '98 Pontiac Grand Am, SS/CM, 9.043 (-0.857)
8. Steven Reynolds, Pasadena, Texas, '86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, GT/MA, 11.227 (-0.823)
9. Paul Blackmon, San Antonio, Texas, '91 Oldsmobile Calais, GT/HA, 10.563 (-0.787)
10. Keith Mawhee, Carrollton, Texas, '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/DA, 10.025 (-0.775)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., '00 Pontiac Firebird, F/SA, 10.940 seconds (1.210-seconds under Index)
2. George Cox, Memphis, Tenn., '97 Firebird, E/SA, 10.806 (-1.194)
3. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., '90 Firebird, K/SA, 11.821 (-1.129)
4. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, '70 Chevrolet Nova, C/SA, 10.610 (-1.090)
5. Verne Buchanan, Conway, Ark., '73 Ford Mustang, I/SA, 11.548 (-1.052)
6. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Firebird, F/SA, 11.127 (-1.023)
7. J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., '86 Chevrolet Camaro, H/SA, 11.462 (-0.988)
8. Gary Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '98 Firebird, E/SA, 11.041 (-0.959)
9. Steven Hall, Sweeny, Texas, '68 Mustang, B/SA, 10.607 (-0.943)
10. Gary Slaton, Liberty, Texas, '96 Camaro, E/SA, 11.074 (-0.926)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday qualifying at Texas Motorplex cut short due to rain

The more than 400 competitors who converged on the Texas Motorplex for the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Dash for Cash event were treated to a cold and rainy Friday qualifying session. All competitors except for Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Competition Eliminator received one time trial lap before the rains began.

Qualifying and time trials will continue at the Texas Motorplex on Saturday at 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will have qualifying sessions at 1 and 4 p.m.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Did not Run

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Did not run

COMP ELIMINATOR
Did not run

SUPER STOCK
1. Brent Johnson, Lcompte, La., '66 Chevrolet Impala, SS/NA, 10.420 seconds (1.030-seconds under Index)
2. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '55 Nomad Wagon, SS/NA, 11.446 (-1.004)
3. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., '95 Oldmobile Achiva, GT/HA, 10.433 (-0.917) 
4. Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '98 Pontiac Grand Am, SS/CM, 9.115 (-0.785)
5. Steven Reynolds, Pasadena, Texas, '86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, GT/MA, 11.274 (-0.776)
6. Gilbert Johnson Jr., Lecompte, La., '91 Oldsmobile Calais, GT/IA, 10.830 (-0.670)
7. Steve Davis, Lousdale, Ark., '97 Achiva, GT/BA, 9.880 (-0.670)
8. Phillip G. Collins, Idependence, Mo., '67 Dodge, SS/EA, 10.053 (-0.597)
9. Ronnie Marlow, Mabank, Texas, '68 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/IA, 10.417 (-0.583)
10. Kevin Helms, Minzola, Texas, '69 Camaro, SS/CA, 9.893 (-0.457)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., '00 Pontiac Firebird, F/SA, 10.948 seconds (1.202-seconds under Index)
2. George Cox, Memphis, Tenn., '97 Firebird, E/SA, 10.890 (-1.110)
3. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., '90 Firebird, K/SA, 11.864 (-1.086)
4. Verne Buchanan, Conway, Ark., '73 Ford Mustang, I/SA, 11.577 (-1.023)
5. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Firebird, F/SA, 11.147 (-1.003)
6. Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '69 Chevrolet Camaro, B/S, 10.659 (-0.841)
7. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, '84 Pontiac Trans-Am, K/SA, 12.109 (-0.841)
8. Justin Cardwell, Ruston, La., '85 Camaro, K/SA, 12.129 (-0.821)
9. Heather Ford, Austin, Texas, '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.773 (-0.777)
10. Greg Hill, Tyler, Texas, '72 Camaro, I/SA, 11.829 (-0.771)