TOPEKA, Kansas -- Results Friday after the first round 
of qualifying at Heartland Park, Topeka, the first of six 
events in the West Central Division in the 1997 NHRA 
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series:

After the first day of qualifying at the NHRA Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park, Mark 
Taliaferro and Cy Chesterman lead the Federal-
Mogul Dragster and Funny Car categories, respectively. 
Taliaferro is currently seated in the provisional top 
qualifying spot in Federal-Mogul Dragster with a 5.64-
second, 245-mph run.  In Federal-Mogul Funny Car
Chesterman is the early leader with a 5.82-second, 
250-mph pass.

The Federal Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars receive 
two more qualifying laps on Saturday, at 1 and 4 p.m., 
before final elimination rounds on Sunday at 9 a.m.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 
 1. Mark Taliaferro (Odessa, TX), 5.642, 245.09 
 2. Allen Hartley (Omaha, NE), 5.648 , 224.43 
 3. Darrell Russell (Cypress, TX), 5.705 , 249.58 
 4, David Wells (Lemars, IA), 5.741 , 242.91
 5. Jeff Hamelink (Savage, MN), 5.789, 224.94 
 6. Bob McCosh (Columbia, MO), 5.808, 231.60
 7. Darryl Hitchman (Hanford, CA), 5.847, 239.68
 8. Jeff Wilson (Winfield, MO), 5.900, 239.04

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
 1. Cy Chesterman (Sioux City, IA), 5.827, 250.06
 2. Sam Blue (Red Wing, MN), 5.995, 236.46
 3, Todd Simpson (Ponder, TX), 6.118, 200.80
 4, Kurt Prososki (Bellvue, NE), 7.096, 171.20
 5. Vern Moats (Des Moines, IA), 8.150,111.48

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
 1. Bill Henderson (Evergreen, CO), C/SR, 8.973
 2. Nick Ferri (Augusta, GA), A/EA, 7.573
 3. Eloy Lucero (Denver, CO), C/A, 7.768 
 4. Doug Engels (Watertown, SK), A/EA, 7.624
 5. Greg Stanfield (Bossier City, LA), C/ED, 7.517
 6. Gary Chomiski (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada), C/SM, 9.180 
 7. John Linton (Tonkawa, OK), 7.644
 8. Doug Stewart (Edwardsburg, MI), B/ED, 7.211

Saturday Qualifying Final:

TOPEKA, Kansas -- Results Saturday after the final round 
of qualifying at the Napa Auto Parts Stores Championships, 
held at Heartland Park Topeka, the first of six events in the 
West Central Division in the 1997 NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag 
Racing Series:

After the second day of qualifying at the NHRA Federal-Mogul 
Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park Topeka, Mark Taliaferro 
and Cy Chesterman remain on top in the Federal-Mogul Dragster 
and Funny Car categories, respectively. Taliaferro, from Odessa, 
Texas, qualified in his Federal-Mogul Dragster with a 5.64-
second, 245-mph run.  In Federal-Mogul Funny Car Chesterman, 
from Sioux City, Iowa, leads the field with his 5.82-second, 250-
mph pass.

Local favorite Tim Baxter, from Lawrence, Kansas, a former three-
time NHRA Division 5 champion, qualified #5 with a strong 5.75-
second run.

The Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars enter final elimination's 
on Sunday at 9 a.m.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
 1. Mark Taliaferro (Odessa, TX), 5.642, 245.09
 2. Allen Hartley (Omaha, NE), 5.648, 224.43
 3. Darrell Russell (Cypress, TX), 5.705, 249.58
 4. David Wells (Lemars, IA), 5.741, 242.91
 5. Tim Baxter (Lawrence, KS), 5.75, 240.96
 6. Jeff Hamelink (Savage, MN), 5.789, 224.94
 7. Bob McCosh (Columbia, MO), 5.808, 231.60
 8. Mark Kinser (Grimes,IA), 5.841, 238.15

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
 1. Cy Chesterman (Sioux City, IA), 5.827, 250.06
 2. Jackie Stidham (Chickasha, OK), 5.873, 244.76
 3. Sam Blue (Red Wing, MN), 5.895, 239.17
 4. Vern Moats (Des Moines, IA), 5.936, 249.86
 5. Todd Simpson (Ponder, TX), 5.990, 243.17
 6, Todd Simpson (Del City, OK), 6.478, 199.91
 7. Kurt Prososki (Bellvue, NE), 7.096, 171.20
 8. Johnny Gray (Carlsbad, NM), 7.390, 138.33

Final round results from the Napa Auto Parts Championships, 
held at Heartland Part Topeka, the first of six events in the 
West Central Division NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing 
Series.

Taliaferro, Chesterman and Ferri dominate at Topeka 
Advancing from the number one qualifying positions, Mark 
Taliaferro and Cy Chesterman claimed top honors today at 
Heartland Park Topeka in the Federal-Mogul Dragster and 
Federal-Mogul Funny Car categories respectively. Joining 
them in the winners circle was fellow top qualifier Nick Ferri 
who won the Competition Eliminator class.

Taliaferro's victory came at the expense of Bob McCosh who 
had to abort his run due to severe tire shake. In the final 
round, Taliaferro recorded a strong 5.64-second, 243 mph, 
to take the win. 

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Cy Chesterman continued his 
bracket race-like performance by running a fine 5.80-
second time defeating Jackie Stidham who gave his best 
with a run of 5.901 seconds.

Nick Ferri had a dream weekend as he qualified number 
one, set a new national record, and continued his pace 
to the winners circle. In the final round, Ferri defeated Greg 
Stanfield.

The NHRA-Winston Divisional Top Qualifier Bonus
A $105,000 overall series bonus fund, pays $2,500 per event
 to top drivers in five classes of cars. At Heartland Part Topeka 
this weekend, bonus payouts include $1,000 each to Federal-
Mogul Funny Car driver Cy Chesterman and Federal-Mogul 
Dragster driver Mark Taliaferro, $200 each in Competition 
Eliminator and Super Stock awarded to Nick Ferri and Steve 
Couch, and $100 in Stock awarded to Patrick Steve Couch.

MILHOUS & MIDWEST Motorsports Shoot-Out
A high stakes mini-series that gives previous race finalists in 
Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street a chance to "shoot 
it out", was won by Danny Rosenthal of Carthage, MO. 
Rosenthal was handed an effortless victory when Terry Barton 
fouled by leaving the starting line early.

TOPEKA RESULTS
DIVISION 5 INSTANT STATS
Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Mark Taliaferro (n/a) - 5.648, 243.63
	R/U: Bob McCosh (n/a) - 6.913, 142.22


Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Cy Chesterman (n/a) - 5.807, 249.30
	R/U: Jackie Stidham (n.a) - 5.901, 244.10


Competition
	W: Nick Ferri (n/a) - 7.637, 163.33
	R/U: Greg Stanfield (n/a) - 7.611, 173.27

Super Stock
	W: Jason Tinberg (n/a) - 10.349, 125.82
	R/U: Tom Cassen (n/a) - 9.941, 133.33

Stock
	W: Jeffery Hefiler (n/a) - 11.669, 108.72
	R/U: Kevin Helms (n/a) - 10.716, 119.28

Super Comp
	W: Jeff Cheney (n/a) - 9.06, 138.07
	R/U: Gary Stinnett (n/a) - 9.553, 142.72
 
Super Gas
	W: David Schorr (n/a) - 9.945, 151.85
	R/U: Jim White (n/a) - 9.960, 148.80

Super Street
	W: Vernon Rowland (n/a) - 10.91, 128.29
	R/U: PJ Walter (n/a) - 10.896, 123.10

Motorcycle
	W: Tracy Helmhold (n/a) - 8.572, 152.54
	R/U: Brian Johnson (n/a) - 9.760, 127.44

Junior Dragster (13-17 Years)
        W:  AJ Waggle       10.541  dial: 10.44  speed: 63.10
      R/U: VeeJay Booth   9.183    dial: 9.12   speed:  71.31
Junior Dragster (8-12 Years)
	W: Justus Rucker (n/a) - 10.695
	R/U: Heather Schorr (n/a) - 13.695