FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER DRIVER DAVE HIRATA SCORES UPSET VICTORY AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY WITH TWO OF THE FASTEST RUNS EVER RECORDED IN THAT CATEGORY
Joliet, Ill.- Dave Hirata, from Lowell, Ind., took an upset victory over some of the best drivers in the NHRA North Central Division at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway.

After qualifying eighth on Saturday, and being paired against defending NHRA North Central Division champion Bill Reichert, from Owosso, Mich., Hirata and his crew knew they would have to step up against his competitors. "I've never beaten Shawn Bowen and I don't look forward to racing against Reichert any time" Hirata said.

Hirata beat the Winston Top Qualifier with a 5.533 second pass at 254.09 miles per hour to Reichert's 6.024 second 185.49 mph run.

In the final round Hirata faced an opponent he had never beaten before, Bowen, and made an incredible 5.462 second run at 268.38 mph, the second fastest speed ever run by a Federal-Mogul Dragster. Keith Stark, from Danville, Ill., currently holds the record for fastest speed at 270.51 mph. Stark, coincidentally, is also a competitor and is working as a tuner on Hirata's car this season, which helped to make a deadly combination with Hirata's driving skills.

"This is very exciting" Hirata exclaimed. "I didn't realize we had three of the six fastest runs in Federal-Mogul Dragster."

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, 66 time national event winner Pat Austin, from Tacoma, Wash., claimed victory over Danny Townsend, from Muncie, Ind. Even Austin, through his years of experience and knowledge couldn't believe the competitive level of the bump spot for Federal-Mogul Funny Car.

"There might have been a quicker bump spot somewhere else, but I can't recall any right now" Austin said. The bump spot was the time competitors had to beat to make the eight car field of competition in Sunday's elminations. That bump spot was established in qualifying Saturday afternoon, and that spot was 5.84 seconds, possibly the quickest ever in division history.

The following are final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway, the last of six races in the NHRA North Central Division listing driver, city, state, make of car, elapsed time in seconds and miles per hour:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 
Round 1

8. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.533, 254.09 def.
1. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 6.024, 185.49

2. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.515, 254.66 def.
7. Mark Kinser, 6.453, 183.87

3. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.529, 258.27 def.
6. Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.766, 239.57

4. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.614, 252.47 def.
5. Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 11.104, 70.68

Round 2
8. Hirata, 5.424, 264.65 def. 4. Wilson, 5.650, 251.16
2. Bowen, 5.573, 254.52 def. 3. Nicholson, 6.077, 179.56

Final Round
8.  Hirata, 5.462, 268.38 def.
2. Bowen, 5.522, 253.18

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Firebird, 5.733, 252.05 def.
8. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva (No time recorded, broke)

2. John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.817, 247.61 def.
7. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 10.697, 79.41

3. Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ill., '97 Firebird, 5.906, 248.98 def.
6. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Trans Am, 5.934, 244.52

4. Todd Paton, Ontario, Can., '99 Firebird, 5.834, 247.20 def.
4. Kim  Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.877, 247.70

Round 2
1. Austin, 5.749, 252.10 def.
4. Paton, 5.861, 247.88

3. Townsend, 5.919, 250.60 (.475 reaction time) def.
2. Lawson, 5.910, 247.02  (.487 reaction time)
 
Final Round
1. Austin, 5.746, 251.86 def.
3. Townsend, 18.494, 41.04 (Broke)

COMP ELIMINATOR
Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., F/EDragster, 8.469, 153.21 def.
Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.181, 161.56

SUPER STOCK
Bo Butner, Floyd Knob, Ind., SS/AM '98 Grand Am, 8.732, 153.07 def.
Joe Covert, Saukville, Mich., SS/BX '94 Regal, 10.094, 133.34

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dave Picht, Oakdale, Minn., E/S '72 Ford, 11.203, 116.13 def.
Randy Shepard, Holmen, Wis., B/S '69 Camaro, 10.762, 124.58

SUPER GAS
Leo Zynda, Roseville, Mich., '90 Cavalier, 9.957, 131.31 def.
Steve Shaughnessy, Springfield, Ill., '27 T, 10.186, 119.17

SUPER COMP
Dan Clark, Columbus, Ohio, 8.908, 160.65 def.
Brian Folk, Durand, Ill., 8.926

SUPER STREET
Mark Hackett, Quincy, Ill., '67 Nova, 10.868, 134.87 def.
Kevin Mcdowell, Central City, Ky., '65 Mustang, 10.933, 131.00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RECORD BREAKING FIELDS OF FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER AND FUNNY CAR ARE ALSO ONE OF THE QUICKEST IN HISTORY
Joliet, Ill.- The Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster fields of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway are possibly the largest combined a divisional event has ever had.

Fans were treated Saturday to one of the largest, if not the largest, combined field of dragsters and funny cars in NHRA division series history. And as if that wasn't enough to get the fans charged up for the day's qualifying, the runs made by both categories were so quick that the bump times for both Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car might well have been the lowest in the history of divisional racing as well.

With an overall field of 35 cars in dragster and funny car, 17 in dragster, 18 in funny car, it's easy to see why competition was so fierce to make the field of eight, for tomorrow's eliminations. Some racers were surprised by the conditions of the track Friday and didn't have their cars properly tuned to adapt to those conditions. One racer's Federal-Mogul Dragster, Bill Reichert's from Owosso, Mich., shook so much on Friday that the car hit the wall at the starting line, causing minor damage to the front and rear tires.

"After Friday's disappointing run we knew that the car had to be tuned down a little so it would make it down the track" said Federal-Mogul Dragster Top Qualifier, Bill Reichert, from Owosso, Mich. "After we bumped the wall during our run Friday I knew we were being a little too aggressive, and needed to back off just a little."

Reichert's instincts weren't just right, they were dead on. He ran a personal best time of 5.508 seconds at 255.77 mph, which also set the pace as the best qualifying time in Federal-Mogul Dragster which everyone else had to follow. The qualifying time that was the bump spot was 5.724 seconds, set by injected-nitro Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Dave Hirata, from Lowell, Ind.

Federal-Mogul Funny Car's bump spot of 5.842 seconds, was set by Muncie, Illinois' Jeff Craig. The Winston Top Qualifier spot went to 66 time national event winner Pat Austin, from Tacoma, Wash. Austin was able to propel himself to that position with a 5.708 second time at 250.88 mph.

The bump spot in Federal-Mogul Funny Car was so quick that two of the best drivers in the NHRA North Central and West Central Divisions, Marc White, and Vern Moats, respectively, were not able to make the field of eight. White, from Glendale Hts., Ill. is the defending NHRA North Central Division champion in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, and Moats, from Des Moines Iowa, is a 14 time division champion.

"The competition out here is incredible," White said of the record field of Federal-Mogul Funny Cars. "I knew the bump spot was quick, I just couldn't get over how quick."

Gates open at 7 a.m. Sunday at Route 66 Raceway, and eliminations begin at 8 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car have first round eliminations beginning at 1 p.m.

The following are the final qualifying results and Sunday's elimination pairings for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car, from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway, the last of six events in the NHRA North Central Division:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.508, 255.77 vs.
8. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.724, 252.52

2. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.526, 255.73 vs.
7. Mark Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, 5.707, 253.37

3. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.569, 255.68 vs.
6. Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.693, 243.85

4. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.627, 250.37 vs.
5. Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 5.647, 254.33

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Firebird, 5.708, 250.88 vs.
8. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva, 5.842, 248.16

2. John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.776, 248.02 vs.
7. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, Ohio, '99 Avenger, 5.832, 244.07

3. Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., '97 Firebird, 5.800, 252.28 vs.
6. Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Trans Am, 5.826, 252.43

4. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.800, 246.08 vs.
5. Todd Paton, Ontario, Can., '99 Firebird, 5.812, 248.29

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., E/EDragster, 8.538 (-0.592)
2. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A '23 Ford, 7.925 (-0.565)
3. Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., A/A '23 Chevrolet, 6.775 (-0.565)
4. Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., A/EDragster, 6.819 (-0.551) 
5. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.478 (-0.542)
6. Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., F/EDragster, 8.491 (-0.539)
7. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.133 (-0.537)
8. Jason Coan, Greentown, Ind., F/EDragster, 6.843 (-0.527)
9. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., C/A '93 Cutlass, 7.718 (-0.512)
10. Bob Andrews, Somerset, Mich., E/Dragster, 7.560 (-0.510)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 8.926 (-1.074)
2. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/E '96 Grand Am, 9.743 (-1.057)
3. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/IA '99 Pontiac, 10.455 (-1.045)
4. Gordon Gillman, Marne, Mich., SS/AX '90 Buick, 8.996 (-1.004)
5. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., SS/KA '85 Camaro, 10.561 (-0.989)
6. Brian Butler, Centerville, Ohio, GT/GA '90 Beretta, 10.222 (-0.978)
7. Dan Kyle, Lawrenceburg, Ind., GT/FA '87 Firebird, 10.123 (-0.977)
8. Melissa Butler, Lebanon, Ohio, GT/FA '90 Sunbird, 10.125 (-0.975)
9. Vince Impastato, Shelby Twp., Mich., GT/CA '86 Camaro, 9.726 (-0.974)
10. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/BA '95 Cavalier, 9.597 (-0.953)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.777 (-1.223)
2. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., K/SA '74 GTO, 11.798 (-1.152)
3. Vance Cummins, Grand Haven, Mich., CT/SA '95 Dakota, 12.218 (-1.132)
4. Jennifer Dziorny, Wixom, Mich., CT/SA '94 Dakota, 12.231 (-1.119)
5. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., DT/SA '99 Dakota, 12.410 (-1.090)
6. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, F/SA '99 Firebird, 11.066 (-1.084)
7. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, C/SA '68 Mustang, 10.637 (-1.063)
8. Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, K/SA '78 Firebird, 11.887 (-1.063)
9. Dave Edwards, Washington, Ohio, L/SA '78 Trans Am, 11.943 (-1.057)
10. Jerry Mulkey, Burbank, Wash., N/S '91 Z-28, 12.203 (-1.047)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RACERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COMPETE AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
Joliet, Ill.- The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series has come back to Route 66 Raceway this weekend, bringing with it fierce competition for championship titles in Federal-Mogul Funny Car from all over the country.

This weekend's NHRA drag race is one of the last races in the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series season, so points and championships are in the sights of drivers from all over the country in Federal-Mogul Funny Car. Drivers have come from as far as Tacoma, Wash. and Ontario, Can. to go for the best national and divisional placements they can get for the 1999 season.

Federal-Mogul Funny Car driver, Pat Austin, from Tacoma, Wash. holds the record for most national event wins, 66 victories, and is still a driving force in the funny car category. Austin is currently ranked third in the national points standings, while fellow competitor, Todd Paton, from Ontario, Can. trails by only three points placing him in fourth. Paton, as well as Austin, are racing out of their ordinary home divisions at the Route 66 race to keep one another from gaining a better position over the other.

"I could have gone to Virginia for their race and been in division, but Pat Austin is running here and I have an opportunity to block him at this event and take over third place in the national standings" Paton said.

Along with the race at Route 66 Raceway there are two other NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events taking place where drivers are competing for championship titles, but placement in the top five of the national standings has special meaning for these racers.

"Even though the national championship has been all but won by Frank Manzo (this will be Manzo's third championship in a row), our team is working to finish in as high a spot as possible" Paton explained. "I'm here to run against Austin so I can move into the third place position."

Paton is off to a good start as he finished Friday's qualifying in the top spot, while Austin was placed in third. But with two more qualifying sessions Saturday as well as eliminations starting on Sunday its anyone's race.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 8 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars running at 1 and 4 p.m.

The following are the first day qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway, the last of six events in the NHRA North Central Division:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shawn Bowen, Montose, Mich., 5.546, 252.46
2. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.794, 244.16
3. Randy Bayne, Elwood, Ind., 5.831, 233.80
4. Phil Mass, Gurnee, Ill., 5.849, 239.02
5. Dave Hirata, Lowell, Ind., 5.877, 249.86
6. Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.978, 227.84
7. Dave Hedges, Plainwell, Mich., 6.138, 228.85
8. Mark Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, 6.166, 242.67
9. Tony Zizzo, Prairie View, Ill., 6.476, 222.91
10. Don Devault, Kentland, Ind., 6.770, 199.02
11. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 9.816, 96.62
12. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 11.256, 63.27

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., '99 Firebird, 5.833, 248.98
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.903, 245.67
3. Pat Austin, Tacoma, Wash., '99 Firebird, 5.904, 248.57
4. Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '96 Achieva, 5.956, 245.58
5. Fred Hagen, Chicago, '99 Avenger, 6.023, 233.08
6. Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.257
7. Richard Krohn, Monee, Ill., '97 Firebird, 6.321, 212.59
8. Steve Addleman, Sioux Falls, S.D., '97 Firebird, 6.364, 237.30
9. John Reikas, Glendale Hts., Ill., '96 Camaro, 6.430, 222.03
10. Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.440, 196.47
11. John Dunn, Monticello, Ill., '97 Firebird, 7.117, 196.07
12. John Lawson, Joliet, Ill., '99 Firebird, 7.959, 116.72
13. Don Gerardot, Monroeville, Ind., '99 Avenger, 9.260, 87.96
14. Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '98 Firebird, 13.060
15. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '99 Firebird, 27.674, 35.92

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, Mich., E/EDragster, 8.549 (-0.581)
2. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.478 (-0.542)
3. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.133 (-0.537)
4. Bob Andrews, Somerset, Mich., E/Dragster, 7.560 (-0.510)
5. David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., C/A '93 Cutlass, 7.734 (-0.496)
6. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., F/SM '98 Grand Am, 9.311 (-0.469)
7. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., A/EA '23 Ford, 7.573 (-0.457)
8. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., B/A '32 Bantam, 7.436 (-0.434)
9. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A '23 Ford, 8.076 (-0.414)
10. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W. Va., D/EA '32 Bantam, 8.581 (-0.409) 

SUPER STOCK
1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 8.926 (-1.074)
2. Charlie Westcott, Parma, Mich., GT/E '96 Grand Am, 9.743 (-1.057)
3. Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, GT/IA '99 Pontiac, 10.455 (-1.045)
4. Gordon Gillman, Marne, Mich., SS/AX '90 Buick, 8.996 (-1.004)
5. Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., SS/KA '85 Camaro, 10.561 (-0.989)
6. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/BA '95 Cavalier, 9.597 (-0.953)
7. Randy Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, GT/GA '92 Camaro, 10.256 (-0.944)
8. Vince Impastato, Shelby Twp., Mich., GT/CA '86 Camaro, 9.757 (-0.943)
9. Gary Tompa, Saginaw, Mich., SS/J '84 Firebird, 10.171, (-0.929)
10. Randy Quam, Eagan, Minn., SS/BS '96 Achieva, 9.093 (-0.907)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.777 (-1.223)
2. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., K/SA '74 GTO, 11.798 (-1.152)
3. Vance Cummins, Grand Haven, Mich., CT/SA '95 Dakota, 12.237 (-1.113)
4. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, Ohio, F/SA '99 Firebird, 11.100 (-1.050)
5. Judy McCormack, Milford, Mich., DT/SA '99 Dakota, 12.473 (-1.027)
6. Jeff Potts, Minford, Ohio, F/SA '97 Camaro, 11.146 (-1.004)
7. John Foxbower, Franklin, Ohio, C/SA '68 Mustang, 10.717 (-0.983)
8. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.328 (-0.972)
9. Chris Sniesak, Wales Township, Mich., FT/SA '99 Dakota, 12.785 (-0.965)
10. John McCormack, Highland, Mich., DT/S '99 Dakota, 12.394 (-0.956)