FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lindert, Cheeseman score at second event in a row

In the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) pilot Russ Lindert and Chuck Cheeseman in Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) each won their second consecutive races.

Lindert, a resident of Manteno, Ill., was the No. 1 qualifier in TAD and it was his third final round appearance of the season. He beat Steve Federlin of Oregon City, Ore., when Federlin red-lighted. Lindert was runner-up at the division's season opener at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., and he won the last race at Edgewater Sports Park in Cincinnati.

For Galena, Ohio, resident Cheeseman, the TAFC No. 1 qualifier, this was his fourth win of the season. He beat Muncie, Ind., resident Jeff Craig in the final round. Cheeseman also won in Joliet and Cincinnati as well as at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana.

Winners in other classes were Mike Farrell of Louisville, Ky., in Comp Eliminator; Greg Coffman of Russellville, Ky., in Super Stock; Ed Bednaz of Terryville, Conn., in Stock; David Rampy of Piedmont, Ala., in Super Comp; Charles Siegler of Villa Park, Ill., in Super Gas; and Dustin Richardson of Woodburn, Ind., in Super Street.

North Central Division racers head to National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, for their final NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, Sept. 20-23.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round 1
1) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.619 seconds, 252.85 mph def. 
8) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.656, 252.85

2) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.705, 245.94 def. 
7) Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso, Ind., 5.825, 236.88 

3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.607, 254.28 def. 
6) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, 5.821, 228.46

5) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.645, 254.28 def. 
4) Ken Perry, Toronto,Ont., 5.651, 250.04

Semifinals
Lindert, 5.714, 251.44 def. Wilson, 8.244, 109.76
Federlin, 5.681, 252.28 def. McCornack, no show

Final Round
Lindert, 5.855, 235.64 def. Federlin, 5.639, 254.28 (red light)

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1
1) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 5.940 seconds, 245.94 mph def. 8) BYE

2) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 6.023, 243.28 def. 
7) Russ Mudd, Fairdale, Ky., Mustang, 6.678, 212.29

3) Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '01 Pontiac, 6.095, 238.13 def. 
6) Drew Tarr, Louisville, Ky., '98 Trans Am, 6.609, 210.31

5) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 5.936, 239.40 def. 
4) Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.258, 234.41 

Semifinals
Cheeseman, 5.974, 243.28 def. Fritts, 6.110, 239.40
Craig, 6.048, 240.68 def. Addleman, no show 

Final Round
Cheeseman, 5.891, 247.29 def. Craig, 6.396, 182.95

COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.537, 177.88 def. Steve
Ambrose, Woodhave, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.959, 164.25

SUPER STOCK
Greg Coffman, Russellville, Ky., '67 Nova, SS/GA, 10.170, 130.82 def. Greg
Smith, Russell Springs, Ky., SS/L, 10.678, 123.97

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Ed Bednaz, Terryville, Conn., '69 Nova, B/S, 10.524, 127.13 def. Gale
Pinkston, Shelbyville, Ind.,'67 Camaro, G/SA, 11.497, 110.84

SUPER COMP
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '99 dragster, 8.881, 157.91 def. Jeff Hurst,
Fairborn, Ohio, '01 dragster, 8.863, 160.73

SUPER GAS
Charles Siegler, Villa Park, Ill., '34 roadster, 9.884, 145.17 def. Richard
Campbell, Piks Road, Ala., '01 Firebird, 9.850, 141.08

SUPER STREET
Dustin Richardson, Woodburn, Ind., '87 Olds, 10.841, 138.05 def. Allen
Sharp, Kennesaw, Ga., '93 S-15, 10.801, 121.96

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Qualifying complete, fields set for eliminations at Beech Bend Raceway

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - In the final rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Ky., Russ Lindert and Chuck Cheeseman were the No. 1 qualifiers in Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), respectively.

Galena, Ohio, resident Cheesesman was in the top spot from the first qualifying session with a 5.934-second, 245.94-mph effort. Lindert, on the other hand, came into the final qualifying session in the No. 7 position. But the Manteno, Ill., resident made a 5.601-second 248.66-mph pass to catapult him into the No. 1 position.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Jeff Taylor of Lumberton, N.C., in Comp; Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., in Super Stock; and Don Holmes of Dayton, Ohio, in Stock.

Spectators at Beech Bend Raceway got a treat today when 11-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion John Force was the color commentator during the second TAD and TAFC qualifying sessions. Force is at Beech Bend Raceway this weekend cheering on his daughter Ashley who competes in NHRA's Super Comp class. After working in the announcer's booth, Force went to the starting line to watch a round of Jr. Dragsters, NHRA's class for youths 8 to 17 years old.

Racing continues Sunday at Beech Bend Raceway. Gates open at 7 a.m. and eliminations start at 8 a.m. Tickets, including pit pass, are $20. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information, call Beech Bend Raceway, (270) 782-1138. The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and Sunday's first-round pairings for TAD and TAFC at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.601 seconds, 248.66 mph
2) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.608, 252.85
3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.670, 252.85
4) Ken Perry, Toronto, Ont., 5.681, 225.03
5) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.687, 236.88
6) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, 5.734, 244.60
7) Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso, Ind., 5.770, 243.28
8) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 6.060, 169.83
Not Qualified
9) Bob Leverich, Kimball, Mich., 7.739, 148.53

Sunday's TAD Pairings
1) Russ Lindert, Manteno, Ill., 5.601 seconds, 248.66 mph vs. 
8) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 6.060, 169.83

2) Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.608, 252.85 vs. 
7) Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso, Ind., 5.770, 243.28

3) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.670, 252.85 vs. 
6) Gary Ward, Cincinnati, 5.734, 244.60

4) Ken Perry, Toronto, Ont., 5.681, 225.03 vs. 
5) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.687, 236.88

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 5.934 seconds, 245.94 mph
2) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 5.973, 244.60
3) Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '01 Pontiac, 6.021, 236.88
4) Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.159, 238.13
5) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.391, 193.99
6) Drew Tarr, Louisville, Ky., '98 Trans Am, 6.486, 215.34
7) Russ Mudd, Fairdale, Ky., Mustang, 6.523, 207.40

Sunday's TAFC Pairings
1) Chuck Cheeseman, Galena, Ohio, '01 Firebird, 5.934 seconds, 245.94 mph vs. 8) BYE
2) Jeff Craig, Muncie, Ind., '01 Dodge, 5.973, 244.60 vs. 
7) Russ Mudd, Fairdale, Ky., Mustang, 6.523, 207.40

3) Steve Addleman, Fishers, Ind., '01 Pontiac, 6.021, 236.88 vs. 
6) Drew Tarr, Louisville, Ky., '98 Trans Am, 6.486, 215.34

4) Bobby Martin, Beaver Falls, Pa., '00 Avenger, 6.159, 238.13 vs. 
5) Kim Fritts, Greenup, Ill., '98 Firebird, 6.391, 193.99

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., '02 Cavalier, D/SMA, 8.844, -0.556
2) Nathan Martin, Ft. Worth, Texas, '63 Corvette, A/PM, 6.534, -0.536
3) Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., '23 roadster, J/AA, 7.965, -0.515
4) David Billingsley, Decatur, Ill., '93 Olds, C/AA, 7.603, -0.497
5) Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., '97 dragster, D/D, 7.440, -0.490
6) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '02 dragster, B/AA, 7.344, -0.466
7) Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., '02 Grand Am, C/A, 7.616, -0.464
8) Dennis Mitchell, Huntsville, Ala., '92 Cavalier, F/A, 8.409, -0.461
9) Robert Bailey, Wabash, Ind., '99 dragster, A/ED, 6.858, -0.442
10) Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ky., '32 roadster, A/EA, 7.599, -0.431

SUPER STOCK
1) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.916, -1.084
2) Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., '01 Pontiac, SS/BM, 8.643, -1.057
3) Gary Russell, Sparta, Ohio, '98 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.550, -1.000
4) Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., '67 Nova, SS/G, 9.751, -0.999
5) Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Mustang, SS/M, 10.903, -0.997
6) Jerry Holman, Hendersonville, Ind., '86 Nova, SS/JA, 10.336, -0.964
7) Joe LoCicero, Snellville, Ga., '88 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.757, -0.943
8) Red LeBlanc, Bartlett, Tenn.,'69 Mustang, SS/G, 9.816, -0.934
9) Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.728, -0.922
10) Steven Reynolds, Pasadena, Texas, '86 Monte Carlo, ST/MA, 11.138-0.912

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.750 seconds, -1.286 under index
2) Billy Lynn, Searcy, Ark., '95 S-10, GT/SA, 12.752, -1.198
3) Darrell Steiger, Clayton, Ohio, '80 Plymouth, I/SA, 11.470, -1.130
4) Tom Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/S, 10.704, -1.096
5) Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., '01 Pontiac, F/SA, 11.070, -1.080 
6) Nathan Davis, Hernando, Miss., '01 Camaro, E/SA, 11.929, -1.071
7) Bill Sempsrott, Middletown, Ohio, '66 Nova, K/S, 11.796, -1.054
8) Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '86 Camaro, H/SA, 11.405, -1.045
9) George Widuch, Hermitage, Tenn., '78 Plymouth, J/SA, 11.715, -1.035
10) Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, Ky., '79 Aspen, I/SA, 11.578, -1.022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Qualifying and time trials under way at Beech Bend Raceway

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway was cut short when a late afternoon storm moved through. Competitors in Super Stock and Stock made two qualifying runs and Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street racers got in two rounds of time trials. Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD), Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) and Comp Eliminator qualifying sessions were washed out.

"We were expecting rain late in the day," said Division Director Jay Hullinger. "But it turned out to be worse than we had originally anticipated so we decided to err on the side of caution and pull the plug. We'll pick up tomorrow as scheduled."

Super Stock driver Tim Cole of Collierville, Tenn., took the No. 1 qualifying position in Super Stock ahead of Jeff Taylor of Lumberton, N.C. In Stock qualifying, Don Holmes of Dayton, Ohio, took the No. 1 position over Tom Russell of East Sparta, Ohio.

Racing will continue Saturday at Beech Bend Raceway. Gates open at 9 a.m. and racing begins immediately. TAD and TAFC will make qualifying runs at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tickets, including pit pass, are $20 and children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information call Beech Bend Raceway, (270) 782-1138.

The following are Friday's Super Stock and Stock qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway:

SUPER STOCK
1) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.958, -1.042
2) Jeff Taylor, Lumberton, N.C., '01 Pontiac, SS/BM, 8.702, -0.998
3) Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Mustang, SS/M, 10.903, -0.997
4) Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., '67 Nova, SS/G, 9.781, -0.969
5) Jerry Holman, Hendersonville, Ind., '86 Nova, SS/JA, 10.396, -0.931
6) Gary Russell, Sparta, Ohio, '98 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.629, -0.921
7) Steven Reynolds, Pasadena, Texas, '86 Monte, GT/MA, 11.138, -0.912
8) Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Corvette, SS/EA, 9.747, -0.903
9) Rock Running, Lapeer, Mich., '96 Achieva, GT/HA, 10.456, -0.894
10) Jerry Silveus, Van Buren, Ohio, '00 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.620, -0.880

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Don Holmes, Dayton, Ohio, '78 Firebird, K/SA, 11.750, -1.200
2) Tom Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, '98 Firebird, D/S, 10.707, -1.093
3) Darrell Steiger, Clayton, Ohio, '80 Plymouth, I/SA, 11.528, -1.072
4) Bill Sempsrott, Middletown, Ohio, '66 Nova, K/S, 11.815, -1.035
5) Bruce Parsons, Lewisburg, Ohio, '86 Camaro, H/SA, 11.442, -1.015
6) Harry Doolittle, Hillsoale, Mich., '02 Firebird, Q/SA, 13.106,  -0.994
7) Nathan Davis, Hernando, Miss., '01 Camaro, E/SA, 11.021, -0.979
8) George Widuch, Hermitage, Tenn., '78 Plymouth, J/SA, 11.815, -0.961
9) Alton Minchey, Lafayette, Tenn., '73 Firebird, G/SA, 11.343, -0.957
10) Danny Holder, Chapmanboro, Tenn., '71 Camaro, K/SA, 12.000, -0.950

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA North Central Division heads to Beech Bend Raceway

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Beech Bend Raceway will host the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Aug. 23-25. More than 600 racers in eight categories will compete for points leading to national and divisional championships. Classes include 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Cars (TAFC).

When NHRA North Central Division racers finally got three NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events under their belts this season, it seemed things would start going their way. The Division's first two NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., and at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana, were postponed due to bad weather. After completing the third event on the schedule, at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Mich., without delay, racers headed back to IRP on Independence Day to finish that race and then went back to Route 66 Raceway for the completion of that event. But Mother Nature struck again when a lightning strike damaged the timing system at Edgewater Sports Park outside of Cincinnati, forcing officials to postpone eliminations for a week.

By the end of the race in Joliet, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Ken Perry found himself atop the point standings. The Gormley, Ohio, resident made it to the semifinals at Mid-Michigan and then helped himself with a win at IRP and another semifinal round appearance at Route 66 Raceway. Perry is just 14 points ahead of Winfield, Mo., resident Jeff Wilson who won at Mid-Michigan, but did not make the eight-car field at IRP and suffered first-round losses in Joliet and at an out-of-division race in Topeka, Kan.

Many of the division's "big hitters" in TAD have yet to make any significant moves this season. Both defending division champion Bill Reichert of Owasso, Mich., and Shawn Bowen of Grand Blanc, Mich., failed to make the field at Mid-Michigan Motorplex and at Route 66 Raceway. Then, Reichert lost in the first round at IRP while Bowen made it to the second round at the make-up event. Dave Hirata, a second-generation driver from Lowell, Ind., fared slightly better, making it to the second round at Mid-Michigan and taking a first-round loss at IRP. But he also failed to make the field at Route 66 Raceway.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Glendale Heights, Ill., resident Marc White is leading the points after scoring a win at Mid-Michigan and placing second to arch rival Chuck Cheeseman at IRP. White was also the runner-up at an out-of-division race in Dallas and went to the semifinals in Joliet. Besides the win at IRP, Cheeseman, who resides in Galena, Ohio, went to the semifinals at Mid-Michigan and won the make-up race in Joliet. The veteran racer is currently in second place, 79 points behind White.

In other news, Super Gas competitor David Connolly and Super Street driver Robert Richardson each scored back-to-back wins in the division. The wins have given Connolly, of Elyria, Ind., the lead in the Super Gas points. Richardson, who resides in Fort Wayne, Ind., is currently second in the point standings, but has not lost a round of racing this season.

Gates at Beech Bend Raceway open at 11 a.m. Friday. Qualifying and time trials begin immediately and TAD and TAFC are scheduled to qualify at 5 p.m. Saturday, gates open at 9 a.m. and racing starts at 9 a.m. TAD and TAFC will have two qualifying sessions Saturday, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 8 a.m. TAD and TAFC will run first round of eliminations at 1 p.m.

Adult tickets, including pit pass, are $10 Friday, $20 Saturday, and $20 Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information call Beech Bend Raceway, (270) 782-1138 or visit www.BeechBend.com.

The event is part of a 45-race, $6.5 million series contested across the country. Drivers in all classes, including Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street, are competing for a part of a $561,000 champions' purse. They will earn points leading to national and division titles as well as a berth on the team that will represent the North Central division at the Jeg's Allstar race which will be held in conjunction with the NHRA national event at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., in September.

Beech Bend Raceway is located 2.5 miles from Downtown Bowling Green. Take exit 22 or 28 off I-65, continue through downtown and follow the signs to the track entrance.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the fifth of six in North Central Division competition.

WHERE: Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Ky. Track is located 2.5 miles from downtown Bowling Green. Take exit 22 or 28 off Interstate 65 and continue through downtown and follow signs to track entrance.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Aug. 23-25, 2002

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:
FRIDAY, Aug. 23 -- Gates open at 11 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 11 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 24 -- Gates open at 9 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 25 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations begin at 8 a.m. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at 1 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $10 Friday, $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday. Children 12 and under admitted free with a paid adult. For more information please call Beech Bend Raceway Park, (270) 782-1138.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $164,500, part of the 45-race, $6.5 million series.

2001 EVENT WINNERS: Randy Bayne, Top Alcohol Dragster; Chuck Cheeseman, Top Alcohol Funny Car; David Rampy, Comp Eliminator; Steve Matukas, Super Stock; John Gray, Stock Eliminator; Lynn Ellison, Super Comp; Keith McPherson, Super Gas; Lamar Stevenson, Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $220,500 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 45 Lucas Oil events and the 23 NHRA national events: $1,250 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $400 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $200 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 16 of 23 national events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2002 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2002 Jeg's Allstars, held in conjunction with the NHRA Nationals in Chicago, Sept. 26-29, 2002. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

FEATURES: More than 600 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.