ROCKY MOUNTAIN RACEWAY, Salt Lake City, Utah --
Debuting to rave reviews from drivers, spectators and
officials, Rocky Mountain Raceway got its first taste
of major-league National Hot Rod Association drag racing
as the Federal-Mogul Series opened Friday evening.

  The pace was fast and furious with Frank Pedregon and
Lou Gasparrelli setting new track records to lead the Federal-
Mogul Dragster and  Federal-Mogul Funny Car categories,
respectively.

   Pedregon, of Alta Loma, Calif., drove Jerry Darrien's
In-Out-Burger-sponsored entry to a new track-record 5.817-
second run to claim the provisional top qualifying spot.
Pedregon's speed of 237.02-mph also was a new track record.  

   "The track is beautiful," enthused Pedregon after his
pole-position run. "I'm very impressed with just how  smooth it
is.  I was concerned about the transition ontrack from the
concrete launch pad to asphalt, but it's really smooth.
We'll run 5.70s tomorrow for sure."

   Salt Lake City's Suzie Wells currently is qualified
sixth with a 6.11-second, 229.76-mph run.

   Gasparrelli, of West Covina, Calif., also reset the
Rocky Mountain Raceway track record, taking the provisional
pole position in Federal-Mogul Funny Car with a 6.05-second
run at 224.15 mph.

   Like Pedregon, Gasparrelli commented on how smooth the
race surface is.  "It's perfect.  Of course, running at
altitude you don't make as much horsepower [as you do
at sea level], but even so, the computer [analysis] of 
the run indicates the track is about as smooth as it could
be.  It's real nice."

   The former Bonneville Raceway was razed in November
1996 and, from its ashes, rose the pristine new Rocky Mountain
Raceway.  Owner Spencer Young spent more than $12-million
rebuilding the facility which now boasts a 400-feet concrete
launch pad, concrete/aluminum bleachers, permanent restrooms,
corporate guest suites and paved pit area.

   Despite the track's high altitude (4,400 feet above
sea level) all the drivers found the track to their liking, 
commenting on how smooth the track is from starting line to
the very end of the shutdown area.

   The Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars receive two
more qualifying laps on Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Frank Pedregon, Alta Loma, Calif., 5.81, 237.02
2. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.90, 236.28
3. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 6.00, 229.18
4. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 6.08, 218.87
5. Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hills, Calif., 6.10, 226.64
6. Suzie Wells, Salt Lake City, 6.11, 229.76
7. Duane Shields, Las Vegas, Nev., 6.31, 216.81
8. Bruce Kenyon, Chandler, Ariz., 6.48, 207.56

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Lou Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '97 Avenger, 6.05, 224.15
2. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '97 Firebird, 6.26, 226.24
3. Dale Van Gundy, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.27, 224.43
4. Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.29, 227.84
5. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.37, 223.38
6. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '96 Thunderbird, 6.41, 223.71
7. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '97 Avenger, 6.43, 201.70
8. Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., 6.52, 181.26

COMPETITION:
1. Bill Henderson, Evergreen, Colo., C/SR '34 Chevrolet Roadster, 9.41 (-0.47)
2. Lou Ficco Jr., Wheat Ridge, Colo., B/A '23-T Ford, 7.90 (-0.43)
3. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., B/EA '97 Firebird, 8.54 (-0.41)
4. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., B/SR '34 Chevrolet Roadster, 8.77 (-0.39)
5. Darren  Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA '97 Firebird, 8.95 (-0.36)
6. Bart Price, Hayward, Calif., C/EA '91 Grand Prix, 8.99 (-0.32)
7. Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., C/EA '96 Cutlass, 9.02 (-0.29)
8. Dale Eaton, Phoenix, Ariz., B/EA '96 Camaro, 8.67 (-0.28)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA '89 Camaro, 10.99 (-1.02)
2. Gary  McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA '69 Camaro, 10.63 (-0.88)
3. Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., GT/DA '92 Camaro, 10.63 (-0.78)
4. Don Thomas, Spruce Grove, Alberta, GT/DA '87 Camaro, 10.66 (-0.75)
5. Don  Kennedy, Mesa, Ariz., GT/CA '92 Trans Am, 10.57 (-0.73)
6. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '96 Achieva, 10.41 (-0.73)
7. Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alberta, GT/EA '96 Camaro, 10.84 (-0.73)
8. Tom Cassen, North Platte, Neb., GT/BA '96 Achieva, 10.48 (-0.66)

STOCK
1. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '71 Challenger, 11.25 (-0.95)
2. Fred  Rector, Durango, Colo., I/S '72 Nova, 12.30 (-0.91)
3. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA '70 Barracuda, 11.30 (-0.90)
4. Robert Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA '74 Dart, 11.98 (-0.86)
5. John Cooper,  Laporte, Colo., A/SA '67 Fairlane, 11.11 (-0.83)
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA '70 Plymouth, 11.53 (-0.83)
7. Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., A/SA '64 Savoy, 11.12 (-0.82)
8. Mike Coe, Grand Junction, Colo., F/SA '72 Duster, 12.06 (-0.78)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

A mid-afternoon rain delay Saturday couldn't dampen race fans'
enthusiasm at Rocky Mountain Raceway for the Pacific division
NHRA Federal-Mogul  Drag Racing Series event.

   After three qualifying attempts Frank Pedregon and Steve
Sommers led the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny
Car fields, respectively.

   Pedregon, of Alta Loma, Calif., was the pace setter from
the opening qualifying session Friday with a 5.81-second run in
Jerry Darrien's In-N-Out Burger-sponsored dragster.  Pedregon
backed up that run with a 5.82-second lap Saturday evening,
while Southern California rival Darren Nicholson closed to
second place with a 5.87-second pass at top speed of the
meet: 238.85 mph.  Joining Pedregon and Nicholson in the five-
second  zone were rookie Cliff Bingham and John Shoemaker.

   Salt Lake City's Suzie Wells qualified seventh with a 6.11-
second run and will face Nicholson in the first round of
eliminations Sunday, while Lindon's Mike Strasburg will battle 
with No. 1 qualifier Pedregon.

   After breaking a supercharger on the starting line Friday
night, Nampa, Idaho's Steve Sommer rebounded Saturday to claim
the pole position in Federal-Mogul Funny Car with a 6.01-second,
235.97 mph run.  Wayne Stoeckel, who is locked in a close
battle with Lou Gasparrelli for the 1997 NHRA Pacific division
Funny Car title, qualified second with a 6.03-second run,
while Gasparrelli, the early-leader Friday, slipped to third 
position with a 6.05-second pass.

   Final eliminations begin 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with the first
round of Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars scheduled to
commence at 11:00 a.m.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RACEWAY, Salt Lake City, Utah -- Results
Saturday from the final day of qualifying at Rocky Mountain
Raceway, the fourth of six events in the Pacific Division NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, with driver, hometown,
elapsed time and speed in mph:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER:
1. Frank Pedregon, Alta Loma, Calif., 5.81, 238.79
2. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.87, 238.85
3. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.92, 232.43
4. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 5.99, 229.24
5. Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hills, Calif., 6.01, 230.17
6. Ken Zeal, Reno, Nev., 6.02, 233.94
7. Suzie Wells, Salt Lake City, 6.11, 229.76
8. Mike Strasburg, Lindon, 6.21, 224.49

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR:
1. Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, '97 Firebird, 6.01, 235.97
2. Wayne Stoeckel, Madera, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.03, 235.41
3. Lou Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '97 Avenger, 6.05, 224.15
4. Dale Van Gundy, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.13, 227.56
5. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '97 Firebird, 6.19, 228.89
6. Jett Field, Pocatello, Idaho, '97 Avenger, 6.19, 225.00
7. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '97 Firebird, 6.24, 228.94
8. Jason Rupert, Anaheim, Calif., '97 Camaro, 6.37, 223.38

COMPETITION:
1. Bill Henderson, Evergreen, Colo., C/SR '34 Chevrolet Roadster, 9.32 (-0.56)
2. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., B/SR '34 Chevrolet Roadster, 8.63 (-0.53)
3. Lou Ficco Jr., Wheat Ridge, Colo., B/A '23-T Ford, 7.81 (-0.451)
4. Dale Eaton, Phoenix, Ariz., B/EA '96 Camaro, 8.46 (-0.49)
5. Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., B/EA '97 Firebird, 8.46 (-0.49)
6. Bart Price, Hayward, Calif., C/EA '91 Grand Prix, 8.86 (-0.45)
7. Darren Davis, Upland, Calif., C/EA '97 Firebird, 8.87 (-0.45)
8. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., '33 Chevrolet Roadster, 9.44 (-0.44)

SUPER STOCK:
1, Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA '89 Camaro, 10.99 (-1.02)
2, Jim Grossi Jr., Wheatlamp, Calif., GT/CA '91 Calais, 10.31 (-0.99)
3, Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., SS/BS '90 Camaro, 9.62 (-0.94)
4, Gary McGlasson, Cuba, N.M., SS/HA '69 Camaro, 10.63 (-0.88)
5, Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., GT/BA '96 Achieva, 10.29 (-0.85)
6, Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., GT/DA '92 Camaro, 10.60 (-0.81)
7, Byron Setters, Red Deer, Alberta, GT/EA '96 Camaro, 10.81 (-0.76)
8, Don Thomas, Spruce Grove, Alberta, GT/DA '87 Camaro, 10.66 (-0.75)

STOCK:
1. Robert Turner, Riverside, Calif., F/SA '74 Dart, 11.81 (-1.03)
2. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., B/SA '71 Challenger, 11.18 (-1.02)
3. Fred Rector, Durango, Colo., I/S '72 Nova, 12.30 (-0.91)
4. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., B/SA '70 Barracuda, 11.29 (-0.91)
5. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., C/SA '70 Plymouth, 11.49 (-0.87)
6. John Cooper, Laporte, Colo., A/SA '67 Fairlane, 11.08 (-0.86)
7. Gene Buell, Hesperia, Calif., A/SA '64 Savoy, 11.12 (-0.82)
8. Aldon Miller, Idaho Falls, Idaho, C/SA '68 Mustang, 11.54 (-0.82)

Ken Zeal and Steve Sommer were winners at the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Rocky Mountain Raceway Sunday.

   Reno, Nev.'s Zeal, driving a nitro-fueled, injected dragster,
wasn't the quickest race car on the grounds but still defeated
John Shoemaker in the final round in a 5.93-second, 227.90-mph
to 6.02, 229.94 duel.  Number-one qualifier Frank Pedregon
destroyed an engine in round one and could not make a full
run against  semifinal opponent Shoemaker.  Zeal defeated Darren
Nicholson in the other semifinal after Nicholson, who had reset 
the track record at 5.811 seconds and 240.00 mph in the first
round, drew a red-light foul start.

   Sommer, of Nampa, Idaho, advanced to the winners' circle
from the No. 1 qualifying position spot and in the semifinals
smashed his own track record with a 5.97-second, 237.84-mph run
to defeat opponent John Weaver.

   Facing Lou Gasparrelli in the final round Sommer's '97
Firebird-bodied Funny Car violently shook the rear tires away
from the starting line and slowed to just a 12-second run at 70 
mph.  However, Sommer still claimed the win as Gasparrelli left
before the green 'go' light was activated and wasted what would
have been a winning 6.18-second pass.



The star of the Pacific division NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event at Rocky Mountain Raceway was the facility
itself.  The former Bonneville Raceway, purchased by Spencer
Young in November 1996, was  razed to the ground and in its
place is a shiny new multi-purpose facility that boasts a
state-of-the-art drag racing track and a paved, high-banked
1/2-mile oval.  Young spent $12-million redeveloping the
site, which is  about a 15-minute drive from downtown Salt
Lake City, and hasn't finished spending yet.  Projects still
to be  completed at the facility include increasing the
paved pit area, paving the parking lots, increasing the
size of  the corporate suites (which are located on the
side of the track and overlook both the drag strip and the
oval),  and landscaping the property; all projects Young
expects to have done before the start of the 1998 season.

At 4,400 feet above sea level there were no record-breaking
runs from either the Federal-Mogul Dragsters nor Funny Cars.
However, the track records were continually assaulted
throughout the three-day event with  Darren Nicholson
claiming the dragster marks at 5.811 seconds and 240.00 
mph, while Steve Sommers reset the Funny Car record at
5.975 seconds and 237.84 mph.

Because of the track's location, competitors from the
host NHRA's Pacific division were joined by racers from 
NHRA's Northwest and West-Central divisions, too.  The
total competitor count was 272, with 56 drivers entering
from the West-Central region, 44 from the Northwest, and
the balance of 172 from the Pacific division.  Despite 90-
degree temperatures throughout the weekend, attendance for
the three-day event was put  at 7,000.

The drag strip received high marks from all the competitors,
most all commenting that it was the smoothest track they had
ever competed on.  Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver Lou
Gasparrelli opined the track surface was smoother than the
all-concrete Texas Motorplex, considered by most competitors
to be THE smoothest surface in the nation.  Said Gasparrelli,
"It really is perfect.  The drive-shaft readings [from the
computer] are the best we've ever seen; there's not a ripple
in the track.  Of course, you have to remember at altitude
you don't  make as much horsepower [as at sea level] but
that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a very
smooth  track."

Frank Pedregon, driver of the In-N-Out Burger Federal-Mogul
Dragster, qualified No. 1 with a 5.817-second run recorded
Friday evening.  The track features a 400-feet concrete launch 
pad before transitioning to asphalt.  Sometimes that transition
can unsettle the race cars, but Pedregon admitted he was
impressed.  "I was curious  about [the transition] but, like
the rest of the track, it's very smooth; you don't notice it.
This certainly is one  of the best tracks I've ever run on."

Media interest in the event was high, with several of the
local television and radio stations visiting the track 
throughout the weekend.  Fox Rocky Mountain was at the track
all three days taping for a 30-minute television special on
the event to be broadcast Labor Day weekend.

The track also boasts its own monthly magazine and, for the
NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event, produced a
glossy 28-page race program that was updated with an eight-
page insert Sunday featuring qualifying results and
elimination ladders.

Super Street racer Jay Don Baker generated the most interest
among the local media, not so much for his driving prowess
but moreso because he is a regular on the PGA golf tour.
From Rocky Mountain Raceway Baker was traveling to Milwaukee
to compete in the Greater Milwaukee Open, then the following
weekend to  Montreal to contest the Canadian Open.  Baker's
last major victory on the greens came at the San Diego
Sheirson & Lehman Open in 1991, just about the same time he
began drag racing.  Baker, of St. George, Utah,  attended Frank
Hawley's Drag Racing School at Gainesville Raceway in Florida
and purchased a '57 Chevy  with which he competes at selected
divisional and bracket (e.t. racing) events.  At Salt Lake
City Baker was  competing in the Super Street (10.90-second
Index) category, losing in the second round.  Before the end of 
the season Baker will debut a new Tim McAmiss-built '57 Chevy
that will run in Super Comp (8.90-second Index).

Detroit-headquartered Federal-Mogul picked up sponsorship of
the NHRA divisional series at the beginning of 1997, boosting
national and divisional championship prize funds by more than
50-percent.  Winston, the  previous sponsor of the divisional
program, still is involved in the sport at the regional
level, posting $2,500  per event in low qualifier awards.
At Rocky Mountain Raceway Frank Pedregon and Steve Sommer
claimed  $1,000 each in award money for Federal-Mogul Dragster
and Funny Car, respectively, Bill Henderson (Competition
Eliminator) and Jimmy DeFrank (Super Stock) $200 each, and 
Robert Turner (Stock) $100.

WEST VALLEY CITY
DIVISION 3 INSTANT STATS
Rocky Mountain Raceways, West Valley City, Utah

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Ken Zeal, Reno, Nev., 5.93, 227.90
	R/U: John Shoemaker, Sacramento, Calif., 6.02, 229.94

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Steve Sommer, Nampa, Idaho, '97 Firebird, 12.09, 70.51
	R/U: Lou Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '97 Avenger, 6.18, 231.95 (foul start)

Competition
	W: Bill Henderson, Evergreen, Colo., C/SR '34 Chevrolet Roadster, 9.35, 135.89
	R/U: Craig Eaton, Glendale, Ariz., B/EA '97 Firebird, 8.52, 159.51 (foul start)

Super Stock
	W: Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., GT/HA '89 Camaro, 10.94
	R/U: Jim Grossi Jr., Wheatlamp, Calif., GT/CA '91 Calais, 10.09(foul start)

Stock
	W: Bob Elliott, San Marcos, Calif., A/SA '63 Savoy, 11.27
	R/U: Jim Hughes, Grand Junction, Colo., A/S '67 Camaro, 11.21 (break out)

Super Comp
	W: Luke Shumard, Santa Clarita, Calif., dragster, 9.31
	R/U: Ed Cappello, Claremont, Calif., '27-T Ford, 9.32.

Super Gas
	W: Dennis Fuller, LaGrande, Ore., '97 Mustang, 10.35
	R/U: Jim Spernak, Yuba City, Ariz., '64 Landcruiser, 10.37.

Super Street
	W: Fred Van Ornum, Sacramento, Calif., '72 Vega, 11.45
	R/U: Chet Vandewater, New Plymouth, Idaho, '65 Chevrolet II, 11.39