FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Howard and Fleming shake, rattle, and roll to victory in Memphis

MEMPHIS- After two days of rain and cold weather, racing was finally allowed to resume under clear blue skies Sunday at the Memphis Motorsports Park. The competitors that waited patiently to test their skills against each other and the 1,320-foot track to emerge victorious are: Shelly Howard of Tulsa, Okla., in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Randy Fleming of Independence, Mo., in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Due to unsafe track temperatures, the other categories will be completed on Monday, April 2.

Claiming his first win of the season in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car class, Fleming used everything he had to claim victory over perennial winner and past division champion Todd Simpson of Ponder, Texas. Fleming drove his 1999 Firebird to a victory with a 5.932 e.t at 244.21 mph compared to Simpson's run of 6.079 e.t at 235.15 mph in his '99 Avenger.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster, number one qualifier Jay Meyer, did not make a pass down the track during final round eliminations. While doing his burnout, the burst panel from his car blew apart ending any chance of victory for last season's divisional champion. On the other hand, Shelly Howard earned her second victory of the year in her third final-round appearance by out-gunning Division 3 hard-charger Keith Stark of Danville, Ill. Howard ran her third consecutive pass in the 5.40s, defeating the injected alcohol car with a pass of 5.466 seconds and 259.16 mph versus Stark's 8.469 and 107.87 respectively.

In addition to the Federal-Mogul classes that were contested, and taking advantage of the special 50th Anniversary celebration of the NHRA, Memphis Motorsports Park invited last year's top eight E.T. racers from their Super Pro and Pro categories and paired them off to win a commemorative "Wally" trophy. Winning the trophy from the Pro class was J.L. Blackard from Olive Branch, Miss., in his Chevy Nova and taking home the trophy from the Super Pro category was Ron Minton of Millington, Tenn., driving his '86 Buick Regal.

In other racing news, claiming the Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards were Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Randy Fleming of Independence, Mo. in Federal Mogul Funny Car, Brian Browell of Lafayette, Ind. in Comp, Jerry Silveus of Van Buren, Ohio in Super Stock and Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala. in Stock. Finally, The Best Appearing Crew award went to Audie Wood's Super Comp team out of Dallas, Texas. Additionally, earning Best Appearing Car honors was the 1999 Chevy S-10 driven by Springfiled, Tenn. resident Kenny Threatt. Next, winning the Best Engineered honors award was Bill Sanders of Benton, Ky. for his 1933 Willy's.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1
5) Keith Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.450 seconds, 257.38 mph def 
4) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.613,  253.33

3) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.489 e.t., 257.78 mph def. 
6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Ks., 11.145 e.t., 74.46 mph

8) Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 6.438 e.t., 210.08 mph def. 
1) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, Broke

2) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.586 e.t., 231.28 def. 
7) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.945 e.t., 247.93

Semifinals
Howard, 5.464 e.t., 259.71 def. Buff, 5.475 e.t., 254.09 mph

Stark, 6.161 e.t., 208.46 mph def. Becktold, 6.571 e.t., 207.66 mph

Final
Howard, 5.466 e.t., 259.16 mph def. Stark, 8.469 e.t., 107.87 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1
3) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Avenger, 5.903 e.t., 241.24 mph def. 
6) Earl Johnston, Violet, La., '99 Achieva, 6.403 e.t., 213.67 mph

1) Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Firebird, 7.839 e.t., 241.24 def.
8) Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Firebird, Red Light

4) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Achieva, 10.92 e.t., 92.83 mph def.
5) Jody Austin, Richland Hills, Texas, '97 Cutlass, Broke

2) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.980 e.t., 229.51 mph def. 
7) Ray Heffon, Fort Worth, Texas, 9.483 e.t., 101.84 mph

Semifinals
Fleming, '99 Firebird, 6.069 e.t., 200.86 mph def. 
Dauzat, '96 Achieva, 6.076 e.t., 236.67 mph

Simpson, '99 Avenger, 6.034 e.t., 238.72 mph def. 
Stidham, '00 Camaro, 10.446 e.t., 81.06 mph

Final
Fleming, '99 Firebird, 5.932 e.t., 244.21 mph def. Simpson, '99 Avenger, 6.079 e.t., 235.15 mph

COMP
Don Stratton, Benoit, Ohio, '34 Chevy, 8.314, 155.24 def.
Larry Pritchett, '98 Grand Am, 8.322, 152.45

SUPER STOCK
Jeff Miller, Pearland, Texas, '97 Firebird, 9.471, 137.06 def.
Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Firebird, 10.286, 128.16

STOCK
Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Firebird, 11.128, 110.62 def.
Brian Rogers, Franklin, Tenn., '69 Camaro, 11.401, 113.57

SUPER COMP
Todd Senseney, Clarksville,Texas, dragster, 8.916, 169.38 def.
Don Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., dragster, 8.885, 162.67 (breakout)

SUPER GAS
Clark Mundt, Longview, Texas, '92 Firebird, 9.918, 150.06 def.
Scotty Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., 9.910, 152.00

SUPER STREET
Jeff Todd, Jacksonville, Texas, '67 Camaro, 10.889,127.62 def.
Dan Dittmer, Venus, Texas, '63 Falcon, 10.887, 136.37 (breakout)

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Mike Hullett, Maypearl, Texas, '84 Suzuki, 9.896, 126.98 def.
Eddie Glaze, Houston, Texas, '90Suzuki, 8.661, 151.49

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rain halts racing...again

MEMPHIS - The constant rain and cold that plagued Memphis Motorsports park yesterday returned and made final round qualifying impossible. The weather prevented racers in nine classes: Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Motorcycle from trying to take the quarter-mile and earn valuable points towards divisional and national championships.

Jay Meyer is the low qualifier in Federal-Mogul Dragster.

Leading the field so far in Federal-Mogul Dragster is last year's winner of this event and the driver that finished number two nationally, Jay Meyer. Meyer from Freeport, Texas, ran a blistering run down the quarter mile track clocking an elapsed time of 5.394 seconds at 260.01 mph. Not only was his elapsed time a personal best, it was good enough to hold off hard-charging Spring, Texas, native Troy Buff for the top spot after the first round. Buff, who remains in the number two position with a time of 5.450 seconds and 259.51 mph.

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Randy Fleming of Independence, Mo., leads the field with a 5.985-second run at 245.23 mph. Fleming has the only sub-six-second pass of the day in first round qualifying. The following are Saturday's results after the first round of qualifying from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Memphis Motorsports Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.394 seconds, 260.01 mph
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.450, 259.51
3. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.566, 253.33
4. Keith, Stark, Danville, Ill., 5.620, 253.66
5. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.751, 248.71
6. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.784, 238.68
7. Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 6.664, 207.66
8. James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 9.095, 91.93
9. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 9.278, 94.65

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., '99 Firebird, 5.985 seconds, 245.23 mph
2. Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Achieva, 6.093, 239.10
3. Earl Johnston, Viloet, La., '99 Achieva, 6.434, 205.35
4. Jody Austin, Richland Hills, Texas, '97 Cutlass, 7.386, 132.84
5. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '99 Avenger, 7.389, 131.54
6. Ray Heffron, Fort Worth, Texas, '97 Camaro, 8.834, 133.12
7. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 10.868, 77.28

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 Dragster, D/D, 7.322 seconds, -0.758 under index
2. Brad Warren, Texarkana, Texas, '98 Firebird, D/AA, 7.829, -0.721
3. Don Stratton Jr., Benoit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.113, -0.677
4. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Grand Am, E/SM, 8.323, -0.647
5. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, C/ED, 7.466, -0.634
6. Donald Baskin, Brighton, Tenn., '99 Olds, F/A, 8.631, -0.589
7. Rob Slavinski, Newark, Ohio, '96 Grand Prix, B/AA, 7.338, -0.582
8. Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '96 Lumina, D/AA, 7.990, -0.560
9. Joe Swearengin, Overland Park, Texas, '97 Oldsmobile, D/EA, 8.480, -0.550
10. Wayne Hutton, Portland, Tenn., '92 Oldsmobile, A/SM, 8.542, -0.538

SUPER STOCK
Postponed until Sunday due to rain

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Cutlass, U/SA,   13.712 seconds, -1.438 under index
2. Marty Woffard, Gore, Okla., '66 Nova, L/S, 11.707, -1.293
3. George Cox, Memphis, '97 Trans Am, E/SA, 10.846, -1.154
4. Amy Faulk, Memphis, '00 Firebird, F/SA, 11.006, -1.144
5. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, K/S, 11.715, -1.135
6. Verne Buchanon, Conway, Ark., '73 Mustang, I/SA, 11.494, -1.106
7. Larry Thomason, Union City, Tenn., '74 Corvette, J/SA, 11.655, -1.095
8. Eric Wingo, Springfield, Tenn., '67 Camaro, H/S, 11.226, -1.074
9. Nathan Davis, Hernando, Miss., '00 Chevrolet, G/SA, 11.234, -1.066
10. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., '79 Aspen, I/SA, 11.546, -1.054

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday qualifying at Memphis Motorsports Park cancelled due to rain

MEMPHIS- More than 300 racers arrived at a cold and wet Memphis Motorsports Park in hopes of laying claim to the cash and contingency awards totaling more than $151,000. Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate as Friday's qualifying was cancelled.

"The rain just would not let up and we were unable to dry the track for any type of racing," said South Central Division Director Craig Hutchinson. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a different story."

With dry weather forecasted for Saturday, gates to Memphis Motorsports Park will open at 8 a.m. with qualifying in all categories slated to begin at 9 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.