FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin and Strasburg enjoy victory at weather-delayed event

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- With Saturday's time trials and qualifying sessions cancelled due to Mother Nature unleashing her fury, racing resumed Sunday at Firebird International Raceway. However, after the first round of elimination's, competition was postponed until Monday due to recurring inclement weather.

The Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards went to: Brandon Henkelman in Federal-Mogul Dragster (5.695 e.t., 261.52 mph), John Weaver for Federal-Mogul Funny Car (5.896 e.t., 241.28 mph), Bill Kent in Competition Eliminator (7.073 e.t.), Michael Ogburn in Super Stock (8.984 e.t.), and Bill Rink in Stock (11.775 e.t.).

In the end there were 10 winners: Mike Strasburg in Federal-Mogul Dragster, Pat Austin in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Bill Kent in Competition Eliminator, John Scheiss of North Hills, Calif., in Super Stock, Chad Loge in Stock, Billy Maddox in Super Comp, Bob Bielaszka in Super Gas, Bernie Polvadore of Peoria, Ariz., in Super Street, Bill Webber of Kingman, Ariz., in Super Eliminator, and Rich Newport of West Valley City, Utah in Motorcycle.

In Federal-Mogul Dragster competition, Lindon, Utah resident, Strasburg stormed through the field to capture his second straight divisional victory and his first of the 2001 season with a stellar run of 5.587 and 252.05 mph.

"I thought winning in Las Vegas was hard," said a jubilant Strasburg, "but this was much more difficult because of the weather conditions. It feels good nonetheless."

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, long-time competitor Austin of Tacoma, Wash. came away with the victory after holding off a tough Steve Gasparrelli of West Covina, Calif. Austin'' run of 5.752 and 248.43 mph was his best run of the weather delayed event and narrowly edged Gasparrelli's 5.735 and 256.16 mph.

In other racing news, making his racing debut in a Darien/Meadows Federal-Mogul Dragster, is Brandon Bernstein, the son of five-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein. Talking about the comparisons to his famous father, "Those are big shoes to fill, but I'm not really worried about filling them. I think I need to concentrate and focus my energy on my career and not worry about being Kenny Bernstein's son," Brandon said.

Lastly, winning the Best Appearing Car award was Dean Hoffman of Laguna Hills, Calif. Taking the Best Engineered honors was Yorba Linda, Calif. resident Kirk Kuhns for his 1963 Pro-Mod Corvette. Finally, the Best Appearing Crew award went to the Federal-Mogul Dragster team of Kevin Brown of Clearfield, Utah.

The following are Monday's final-round results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1 
1) Mike Strasburg, Lindon, Utah, 6.677 e.t., 138.56 mph def. BYE 

2) Brandon Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.695 e.t., 261.52 mph def.
13) Brian Hough, Eugene, Ore., 15.101 e.t., 39.76 mph 

12) Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forrest, Calif., 5.775 e.t., 253.90 mph def. 
3) Dale Carlson, Olympia, Wash., 5.823 e.t., 244.12 mph 

4) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.761 e.t., 219.36 mph def. 
11) Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 5.991 e.t., 241.32 mph 

5) Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 7.208 e.t., 126.14 mph def. 
10) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 10.300 e.t., 79.18 mph 

6) Sergio Recio, El Paso, Texas, 11.585 e.t., 59.29 mph def. 
9) Marshall Topping, Costa Mesa, Calif., No Show 

7) Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.800 e.t., 255.68 mph def. 
8) Gary Anderson, 11.164 e.t., 83.05 mph

Round 2
Strasburg, 8.540 e.t., 94.55 mph def. Niver, No Show 
Hitchman, 9.793 e.t., 93.41 mph def. Cantrell, 5.730 e.t., 238.17 mph 
Henkelman, 8.364 e.t., 100.95 mph def. BYE 
Recio, 5.603 e.t., 253.09 mph def Bernstein, 7.406 e.t, 253.09 mph

Semifinals 
Strasburg, 5.585 e.t., 251.30 mph def. Hitchman, 5.915 e.t., 189.31
Henkelman, 5.638 e.t., 261.78 mph def. Recio, 6.230 e.t., 157.87

Final Round
Strasburg, 5.587 e.t., 252.05 mph def. Henkelman, 5.735 e.t., 256.16 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round 1 
1) Pat Austin, 10.354 e.t., 80.42 mph def. BYE 

13) Ray Heffron, Fort Worth, Texas, 9.314 e.t., 112.12 mph def. 
2) Bucky Austin, 9.859 e.t., 61.04 mph 

3) Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., 5.903 e.t., 217.74 mph def. 
12) Pete Rivera, No Show 

4) John Weaver, 5.896 e.t., 241.28 mph def. 
11) John Patton, 6.575 e.t., 224.81 mph 

5) Doug Gordon, 6.269 e.t., 229.51 mph def. 
10) Jimmy   Bartoli, No Show 

6) Bernie Harrington, , 6.488 e.t., 218.94 mph def. 
9) Brett Williamson,  31.179 e.t., 32.52 mph 

7) Jason Rupert, 6.754 e.t., 172.39 mph def. 
8) Lawren Jones, 9.967 e.t., 81.96 mph

Round 2
Austin, 5.790 e.t., 242.58 mph def. BYE 
Gordon, 6.009 e.t., 237.75 mph def. Weaver, 25.117 e.t., 24.85 mph
Rupert, 9.154 e.t., 77.21 mph def. Heffron, No Show 
Gasparelli, 5.692 e.t., 240.81 mph def. Harrington, 6.282 e.t., 227.04 mph

Semifinals
Austin, 5.822 e.t., 237.09 def. Gordon, 5.843 e.t., 240.34 Gasparelli, 5.800 e.t., 239.40 def. Rupert, 6.333 e.t., 214.28

Final Round 
Austin, 5.752 e.t., 248.43 mph def. Gasparelli, 5.819 e.t., 247.19 mph

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR 
Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, '00 Dragster, 7.232 e.t, 162.53 def Ed Sigmon, Chatworth, Tenn., 9.395 e.t., 121.37

SUPER STOCK 
John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, 9.703 e.t., 132.24 mph def. Ron Courtney, Johnston, S.C., '80 Pontiac, 10.471 e.t., 123.08 mph 

STOCK ELIMINATOR 
Chad Loge, Livermore, Calif., '79 Volare, 11.747 e.t., 110.66 mph def. Scott Loge, Livermore, Calif., '78 Volare, 12.919 e.t., 99.49 mph   

SUPER COMP 
Billy Maddox, Sidney, Neb., '99 Dragster, 8.993 e.t., 167.20 mph def. Rick Beckstrom, Novato, Calif., 8.996 e.t., 174.28 mph

SUPER GAS
Bob Bielaszka, Lancaster, N.Y., '96 Grand Prix, 9.987 e.t., 141.34 mph def. Dave Coatsick, Ontario, Calif., '27 Ford, 9.937 e.t., 137.99

SUPER STREET 
Bernie Polvadore, Peoria, Ariz., '78 Pinto, 10.998 e.t., 119.25 mph def. Keith Manogue, Phoenix, Ariz., 10.983 e.t., 135.02

MOTORCYCLE
Rich Newport, West Valley City, Utah, '97 Suzuki, 8.239 e.t, 160.33 mph def. Phillip Nasca, Chico, Calif., '93 Ninja, 9.825 e.t., 132.87 mph

SUPER ELIMINATOR 
Bill Webber, Kingman, Ariz., '00 Dragster, 7.947 e.t., 179.88 mph def. Jim Luttrell, Apache Junction, Ariz., '97 Dragster, 7.914 e.t., 184.52 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Firebird International Raceway hosts NHRA'S season opener

CHANDLER, Ariz.-The Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series begins in the NHRA'S Pacific Division with the Magnificent Seven Season Opener. The event is expected to draw more than 500 competitors in eight racing categories, vying for national and divisional honors totaling more than $560,000.

With all eyes focusing on four-time defending national champion Rick Santos, the Federal-Mogul Dragster category is tougher than it has been in years. Said Lehi, Utah resident Mike Strasburg, "We know the Oakwood Homes team is the one to beat. Adding, the success that they have had the past few years has set the bar to unbelievable heights."

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, last years divisional champion John Weaver will have his hands full fending off rivals Larry Miner and Doug Gordon for this year's championship.

"With the new rule changes, we just hope to be as competitive as we were last year," said Weaver. Also, making the Dragster and Funny Car class more competitive is the change from an eight-car field to a sixteen-car field."

"In our efforts to try and respond to the wants and needs of our membership, the NHRA Pacific Division will be implementing 16-car Dragster and Funny Car fields for the seven Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events within the division. It is our sincere hope that this change will help bolster the participation within these classes." Said NHRA Pacific Division Director, Brian Stickel.

Three of the top four finishers in last year's national standings in the Super Stock category are here to try and improve on their position from last year. The DeFrank brothers, Jimmy and Tony, along with their teammate John Scheiss, figure to be strong candidates for the Super Stock national championship title in 2001.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
No qualifying runs today
 
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
No qualifying runs today

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.073 seconds, -0.757
2. Kirk Kuhns, Yorba Linda, Calif., '63 Corvette, AA/PM 6.453, -0.697
3. David Cook, Magnolia, Texas, '00 Dragster, A/D 6.693, -0.667
4. Dean Howerton, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.181, -0.649
5. Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills, Calif., '38 Chevrolet, AA/PM,6.504, -0.646
6. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, Calif., '96 Dragster, A/ND, 7.443, -0.627
7. Jeff McClintic, Albuquerque, N.M., '96 Dragster, B/D, 7.028, -0.592
8. Phil Cocuzza, Acton, Calif., '95 Firebird, D/AA, 8.081, -0.579
9. Ed Sigmon, Chatsworth, Tenn., '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 8.865, -0.565
10.John Edwards, Claremont, Calif., '96 Avenger, E/AA, 8.477, -0.533

SUPER STOCK
1. Michael Ogburn, Mission Viejo, Calif., '68 Plymouth, SS/AA,  8.984 seconds, -1.156 under index
2. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '01 GM, GT/BA, 9.556, -1.144
3. Gary McGlasson, Los Lunas, N.M., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 9.911, -1.139
4. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, GT/HA 10.425, -1.085
5. Howard Thompson, Wildomar, Calif.,  '95 Mustang, GT/EA, 10.022, -1.078
6. Dave Raybourn, Modesto, Calif., '68 Dodge Dart, SS/AA, 9.081, -1.059
7. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif.,  '98 Chevrolet, GT/FA, 10.217, -1.043
8. Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '92 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.153, -0.987
9. Don Bevers, Tucson, Ariz., '91 Ford, SS/BM, 8.856, -0.984
10.Abe Loewen, Regina, Sascathewan, Can., '98 Pontiac, 9.380, -0.960


STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bill Rink, Naperville, Ill., '74 Pontiac GTO, 11.775 seconds, -1.355 under index.
2. Don Sarrett, Glendale, Ariz., '77 Ventura, 14.746, -1.274
3. Bobby DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., '69 Camaro, 10.200, -1.260
4. Joseph Aluise, Laurel, Md., '63 Chrysler, 10.223, -1.237
5. Dave Irvin, Glendale, Ariz., '65 Chevelle, 12.719, -1.221
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, 10.648, -1.212
7. Chris Whitney, Sun Valley, Calif., '67 Fairlane, 10.469, -1.191
8. Marka Gallina, Las Vegas, Nev., '84 Buick, 12.014, -1.166
9. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Aspen, 11.876, -1.054
10. Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '76 Volare, 11.737, -1.054