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Division 1 FMDRS Lebanon Valley Notebook
07/08/01
It's all about the party and show: More than 500 racers make the long trek from as far away as Central Florida to soak in the fun and festivity at the Lebanon Valley Dragway Diamond RV Center 4th of July Extravaganza. Lebanon Valley Dragway is tucked in the rolling hills of West Lebanon, N.Y.--about 30-miles east of Albany. Tucked in-between all the festivities is the fourth round of the NHRA Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.
Friday evening is the show-first round of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car qualifying, Pro-Mods, Wheelstander, Jet Cars and Fireworks keep the over 4.500 spectators in awe until nearly 11 p.m. Saturday night is the racer appreciation Bar-B-Que for all the racers and crews. Super Comp racers Chuck and Deb Rothermal of nearby Kinderhook, N.Y., began the annual feast many years ago as a "small" party in their pit. On Saturday, over 750 huge Bar-B-Que diners were served courtesy of the Rothermal's, Iannotti Racing and OK Food Products and everyone went home happy.
"What began as an informal gathering for racers at Rothermal's trailer many years back has evolved into one of the most popular features of the Federal-Mogul event," said Kyle Bartletta, Lebanon Valley Dragway Track Operator. "It is also an important element of our family-friendly reputation."
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Wendland takes "old" dragster out for a drive: Rob Wendland of Lawrence, Kan. thought he made his last pass in "his" In-N-Out Burger Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 1999 AAA NHRA World Finals in Pomona, Calif. The Mike Troxel-owned dragster was parked after that race until this weekend at Lebanon Valley Dragway.
The familiar red and white blown alcohol dragster still has Wendland in the cockpit and even the famous In-N-Out Burger and fries pictured on the side but the ownership of the car has changed. Longtime NHRA Comp Eliminator competitor Tom Pickett of Boston, Mass., purchased the car from the Troxel family earlier this year. Pickett brought the car to Lebanon Valley Dragway to get some shakedown laps on his newly-purchased dragster and who better to put in the driver's seat for the tune-up than the car's former driver, Wendland. Friday's first run out of the trailer was better than anyone could have expected: 5.688 seconds at 249.03mph. Wendland took the No. 3 qualifying position and went on to lose a close first-round match against Tim Slagle of Fairfax, Va.
Wendland, who finished No. 6 in the 1999 NHRA Federal-Mogul Dragster national points and runnered-up to David Wells of LeMars, Iowa, in the 1999 NHRA West Central Division Federal-Mogul Dragster points, has kept busy in the last year and a half crewing for his father-in-law, John Lawson. Lawson drives the Lucas Oil Products nitro Funny Car on the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Wendland has given Lawson a two-year commitment and then he wants to drive again.
"I would love to get a ride in Top Fuel," said Wendland. "But after getting back into the car this weekend-I would race just about anything. I have passed up some opportunities to drive early this year but I'm looking forward to getting a fulltime ride."
Wendland will ensure a little more job security late in October when his wife, Cathy gives birth to Lawson's first grandchild.
07/08/01
Dust cuts qualifying short: Controversy occurred in the final round of Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying on Saturday when dust and dirt from the Lebanon Valley Speedway (circle dirt track) began drifting onto the drag racing surface. NHRA Northeast Division Director, Bob Lang called off all further racing due to the dust on the track. The cancellation of the rest of the race day left five Federal-Mogul Funny Cars in the staging lanes without third-round qualifying attempts. John Fiorini of Dalto, Mass., Craig English of Milford, Conn., and Micky Ferro of Stamford, Conn., were on the outside looking to get in the field when racing was halted. The Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars are guaranteed at least two qualifying attempts at each event with the third optional depending on day-to-day circumstances (i.e., rain and excessive oildowns).
"The early session of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car put us 52 minutes behind schedule due to oil downs," said Lang. "Unfortunately, the excessive oil downs caused us to over lap with qualifying at the circle track. Due to the dust settling on the racing surface from the 1,000-foot mark and on-it made it unwise to continue the third round of funny car qualifying."
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Bonus awards: The Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards were awarded to Arthur Gallant of Boxboro, Mass., in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Frank Manzo of Morganville, N.J., in his '01 Dodge Avenger Federal-Mogul Funny Car each collected $1000. In Comp Eliminator, Frank Aragona of Franklin Square, N.Y., took home $200 from Sealed Power. James Zane of Bordentown, N.J., collected the $200 check for being low qualifier in Super Stock and Cecil Frazier of Canton, Mass., in Stock earned $100 bonus from Sealed Power.
Peter Stickles of Dover, N.H., won the Competition Photos Best Appearing Car honors with his beautiful Stock '80 Chevrolet Camaro. Gene Emes of Uxbridge, Ont., Canada, took home the Competition Photos Best Engineered Car/Truck award with his '01 Super Stock Chevrolet S-10 Pick-up. Best Appearing Crew award was collected by Kent Hanley of Newtown, Conn., and his Winnebago-Itasca Super Stock/Super Comp team.
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