BANDIMERE RESULTS

DIVISION 5
Bandimere Speedway
Denver, Colo.  Sept. 5-7


Results will be posted as soon as they are available.

Friday Qualifying

Saturday Qualifying

Sunday Race

Instant Stats
Friday Qualifying: 

Results Friday after the first rounds of qualifying at
Bandimere Speedway, the final event of the West Central
Division’s six NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
schedule:
        
        As the NHRA’s season begins to wind down there
are some fierce battles being waged for both national
and divisional championships and drivers are trying to
out-maneuver each other for coveted points.  That’s the
reason some big hitters from other divisions are in
Denver this weekend for the West Central Division’s
final event in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
schedule.  

        On the first day of qualifying at Bandimere
Speedway, Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Vern Moats of
Des Moines, Iowa, who was second in the national standings
 last year, and Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Mark
Taliaferro of Odessa, Texas, who is the defending division
champion, lead their categories.  Moats ran a 6.066
elapsed time (e.t.) at 235.91 mph, while Taliaferro ran an
e.t. of 5.874 at 233.58 mph.

        In other categories in the Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series, driver who race out of the North Central
Division are in the lead.  Todd Patterson of Augusta, Kan.,
heads up Competition Eliminator,  Gary Gokey of Denver, is
in the top spot in Stock Eliminator and Gary Stinnett of
Emporia, Kan., leads in Super Stock.

        Qualifying continues tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. for
all categories with Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-
Mogul Funny Cars making two more qualifying passes at 3:00
and 6:00 p.m. Gates at Bandimere Speedway open at 8:30 a.m.
 
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Mark Taliaferro (Odessa, Texas)       5.874, 233.58
2. Rick Santos (San Leandro, Calif.)     5.936, 233.52
3. Darryl Hitchman (Hanford, Calif.)     5.945, 233.88
4. Melanie Troxel (Littleton, Colo.)     5.951, 237.09
5. Billy Bybee (McLean, Texas)           6.102, 228.71
6. Lawren Jones (Albuquerque, N.M.)      6.159, 228.65
7. Brent DuCray (Grand Junction, Colo.)  6.702, 206.56
8. David Switzer (Fort Collins, Colo.)   7.045, 194.55

MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Vern Moats (Des Moines, Iowa), ‘97 Avernger   6.066, 235.91
2. Johnny Gray (Carlsbad, N.M.), ‘97 Firebird    6.104, 237.09
3. Tate Branch (Artesia, N.M.), ‘97 Avenger      6.179, 228.48
4. Kris Hool (Casper, Wyo.), ‘96 Firebird        6.563, 214.84
5. Jim Farnsworth (Waterloo, Iowa), ‘92 Trans Am 7.091, 206.18
6. Sam Blue (Red Wing, Minn.), ‘96 Acheiva       8.543, 106.18
7. Lynn Engels (Watertown, S.D.), ‘97 Camaro     9.394, 92,89
8. L.E. LeDent (Larkspur, Colo.), ‘96 Avenger   11.573, 91.64

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1. Todd Patterson (Augusta, Kan.), ‘92 Camaro       9.089
2. Bill Henderson (Evergreen, Colo.), ‘34 Roadster  9.490
3. Lou Ficco (Wheat Ridge, Colo.), ‘97 Fritz        7.984
4. Tom Snyder (Longmont, Colo.), ‘23 Chevy          7.388
5. John Linton (Tonkawa, Okla.), ‘97 Fritz          8.058

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Gokey (Denver), ‘86 Omni                     14.421
2. John Hladky (Stuart, Neb.), ‘66 Nova              12.107
3. Fred Rector (Durango, Colo.), ‘72 Nova            12.462
4. Darin Grossi (Soulsbyville, Calif.), ‘70Barracda  11.479
5. John Cooper (Laporte, Colo.), ‘67 Fairlane        11.258

SUPER STOCK
1, Gary Stinnett (Emporia, Kan.), ‘97 Firebird          11.368
2, Billy Ingels (Colorado Springs, Colo.), ‘74 Trans Am 11.183
3, Frank Grossi (Upland, Calif.), ‘96 Achieva           10.393
4, Jim Weakland (Morrison, Colo.), ‘68 Camaro           10.837
5, Rich Ahrens (Greeley, Colo.), ‘90 Pontiac            10.998

Saturday Qualifying Final: 


Results Saturday after the final rounds of qualifying at
Bandimere Speedway, the final event of the West Central
Division’s six NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series schedule:

        Racing in the mile-high city can be a tricky business
even for the most experienced crew.  But the crews of the
Federal-Mogul Dragsters at Bandimere Speedway this weekend seem
to have found the key.  All eight of the dragster drivers who
made the cut this weekend qualified with five-second passes
and the difference between the number one spot and the eighth
position is approximately a tenth of a second.  

        In the end Rick Santos’ crew, from San Leandro, Calif.,
found the best combination as he is the top qualifier with an
elapsed time (e.t.) of 5.874 at 236.84 mph.  Number two qualifier
Mark Taliaferro had an identical e.t., but Santos had the better
speed by 3.26 mph.

        In Federal-Mogul Funny Car action Johnny Gray from
Carlsbad, N.M., is the number one qualifier, overtaking Vern
Moats of Des Moines, Iowa.  Gray ran a 5.961 e.t. at 238.85
mph against Moats’ 5.969 e.t. at 236.46 mph.

        In other qualifying classes, all of Friday’s top
qualifiers maintained their leads.  Todd Patterson of Augusta,
Kan., in Competition Eliminator, Stock Eliminator driver Gary
Gokey of Denver and Super Stocker Gary Stinnett of Emporia,
Kan., have each earned a top qualifier’s bonus.

        Eliminations in all eight sportsman categories begin
tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-
Mogul Funny Cars run beginning at 12:00 noon.  Gates at
Bandimere Speedway open at 8 a.m.
 
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rick Santos (San Leandro, Calif.),  5.874, 236.84
2. Mark Taliaferro (Odessa, Texas),    5.874, 233.58
3. Melanie Troxel (Littleton, Colo.),  5.881, 238.60
4. Tiffani Hyland (Springfield, Ore.), 5.892, 234.61
5. Tim Baxter (Lawrence, Kan.),        5.924, 236.46
6. David Wells (LeMars, Iowa),         5.934 235.54
7. Darryl Hitchman (Hanford, Calif.),  5.945, 233.88
8. Billy Bybee (McLean, Texas),        5.955, 235.35

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Johnny Gray (Carlsbad, N.M.), ‘97 Firebird,  5.961, 238.85
2. Vern Moats (Des Moines, Iowa), ‘97 Avernger, 5.969, 236.46
3. Stan Smith (Wichita, Kan.), ‘96 Mustang,     6.046, 233.03
4. Sam Blue (Red Wing, Minn.), ‘96 Acheiva,     6.049, 234.31
5, Tate Branch (Artesia, N.M.), ‘97 Avenger,    6.050, 233.40
6. Jett Field (Pocatello, Idaho), ‘97 Avenger,  6.082, 226.47
7. L.E. LeDent (Larkspur, Colo.), ‘96 Avenger,  6.272, 228.89
8. Kris Hool (Casper, Wyo.), ‘96 Firebird,      6.392, 220.31

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1. Todd Patterson (Augusta, Kan.), ‘92 Camaro,      9.089
2. Bill Henderson (Evergreen, Colo.), ‘34 Roadster, 9.483
3. Tom Snyder (Longmont, Colo.), ‘23 Chevy,         7.339
4. Bob Panella (Stockton, Calif.), ‘94 Lumina,      8.968
5. Lou Ficco (Wheat Ridge, Colo.), ‘97 Fritz,       7.984

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Gokey (Denver), ‘86 Omni,                     14.412
2. Fred  Rector (Durango, Colo.), ‘72 Nova,           12.409
3. John Hladky (Stuart, Neb.), ‘66 Nova,              12.107
4. Darin Grossi (Soulsbyville, Calif.), ‘70 Barracda, 11.479
5. John Cooper (Laporte, Colo.), ‘67 Fairlane,        11.216

SUPER STOCK
1. Gary Stinnett (Emporia, Kan.), ‘97 Firebird,          11.342
2. Billy Ingels (Colorado Springs, Colo.), ‘74 Trans Am, 11.122
3. Frank Grossi (Upland, Calif.), ‘96 Achieva,           10.339
4. Rich Ahrens (Greeley, Colo.), ‘90 Pontiac,            10.942
5. Jim Weakland (Morrison, Colo.), ‘68 Camaro,           10.837
Sunday Results: 

Results Sunday after the final day of racing at Bandimere
Speedway, the final event of the West Central Division’s
six NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series schedule:

        Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Tiffani Hyland of
Springfield, Ore. had not even planned to come to Bandimere
this weekend-- then she heard that Rick Santos would be here.
Santos is in the hunt for the national championship and
Hyland wants to stop him.  And stop him she did.  Hyland
faced Santos in the quarter finals today and took him out
with a 5.900  elapsed time (e.t.) at 238.98 mph.  Hyland then
went on to beat out defending division champion, Mark
Taliaferro of Odessa, Texas, in the final round.  Hyland ran
a 5.830 e.t. at 237.84 mph and Taliaferro, whose dragster had
sucked in a valve in his  semi-final victory, was unable to
get off the line.

        In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category Vern Moats,
from Des Moines, Iowa,  has suddenly made the race for the
division championship extremely interesting by beating out
Tate Branch in the final, 5.981 to 6.039.  You see, when points
leader, Cy Chesterman, from Sioux City, Iowa, opted out of this
weekend’s race, it looked like he handed the divisional
championship to Johnny Gray of Carlsbad, N.M.  However, Gray
was beaten in the first round of eliminations by Chris Hool, of
Casper, Wyo.  Moats’ victory has opened the door to a three-way
race for the championship and given Moats a chance to become the
West Central Division champion for the 12th time.    

        Joining Hyland and Moats in the Winners’ Circle are John
Linton, from Tonkawa, Okla., in Comp Eliminator; Dave Bogner, of
Kearny, Neb., in Super Stock; Jim Hughes, of Grand Junction,
Colo., in Stock; Kieth Camblin, from Wheat Ridge, Colo., in Super
Comp; Tom Spitzer, of Colorado Springs, Colo., in Super Gas; and
Doug Young, from Colorado Springs, Colo., in Super Street.

        Linton, who qualified in the eighth position, beat out
number one qualifier Todd Patterson, Bogner moved up from the
number 14 qualifying position to beat out Ted Romero and Hughes
bested John Mason.
Instant Stats: 


BANDIMERE RESULTS

DIVISION 5 INSTANT STATS
Bandimere Speedway, Denver, Colo.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
W: Tiffani Hyland (Springfield, Ore.), 5.830, 237.84
R/U: Mark Taliaferro (Odessa, Texas), broke

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
W: Vern Moats (Des Moines, Iowa), ‘97 Avenger, 5.981, 236.09
R/U:  Tate Branch (Artesia, N.M.), ‘97 Avenger, 6.039, 233.52

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR  
W: John Linton (Tonkawa, Okls.), ‘97 Fritz, 8.109, 154.85
R/U: Todd Patterson (Augusta, Kan.), ‘92 Camaro, foul

SUPER STOCK
W: Dave Bogner (Kearny, Neb.), ‘93 Daytona, 10.928, 120.96
R/U: Ted Romero (Denver), ‘96 Achieva, 12.693, 94.63

STOCK
W: Jim Hughes (Grand Junction, Colo.), ‘87 Chevy, 11.270, 116.95
R/U: John Mason (Denver), ‘69 Camaro, 11.536, 107.92

SUPER COMP
W: Kieth Camblin (Wheat Ridge, Colo.), ‘95 Undercover, 9.530,143.63
R/U: Doug Sterkel (Northglen, Colo.), ‘82 Dragster, 8.538, 142.92

SUPER GAS
W: Tom Spitzer (Colorado Springs, Colo.), ‘72 Vega, 10.550, 124.10
R/U: Todd Neilsen (Fremont, Neb.), ‘92 Trans Am, 10.567, 132.19

SUPER STREET
W: Doug Young (Grand Junction, Colo.), ‘67 Mustang, 11.632, 118.68
R/U: Ron Parness (Conifer, Colo.), ‘67 Nova, 11.662, 126.74

SUPER BIKE
W: Matt Hemmert (Denver), ‘83 Suzuki, 9.316, 132.35
R/U:    Brian Johnson (Friendly, Minn.), ‘86 Suzuki, 9.612, 128.90

E.T. BRACKET
W: Mike Mitamvas (Arvada, Colo.), ‘67 GTO, 11.708, 113.95
R/U:    Mark Hepp (Broomfield, Colo.) ‘68 Camaro, 10.453, 127.89