FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AN OVERALL BIG DAY FOR LEBANON VALLEY

LEBANON VALLEY DRAGWAY, New Lebanon Valley, New York --Friday’s
qualifying on the day before Independence day for the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series presented by Diamond RV Centre and
America Parts brought some big numbers of both fans and racers
alike.

  The Northeast Division of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series is well known for its large numbers of participants in
its’ races.  This year’s event was no different.  There have
been no solid figures established yet but the count at this
point is well over 500 vehicles. This car count includes only
the Federal-Mogul categories of vehicles such as Super Gas,
Super Street, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp., Comp. Eliminator,
Federal-Mogul Funny Car, and Federal-Mogul Dragster.  

  There was also a new record number of people in the stands
this year in comparison to last year’s event.  In fact there
were almost 1000 more people.  Last year’s exact attendence
number was 2766 people while this year’s attendence was 3641
people the day before the 4th of July.  

  The factors that contributed to this record new number of
people ranged from the draw of exciting facts such as the high
number of cars attending the event the loud and exciting Jet-
Cars and the astonishing and amazing Benny The Bomb who blows
himself up in a car.  

  One local native of the Lebanon Valley Dragway who now lives
in California, Federal-Mogul Funny Car racer Bernie Harrington,
said “This should be a great weekend of racing.  I’m just here
to have fun and see my friends.  There should be about two-
hundred of them coming today.”

1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

First day qualifying positions at Lebanon Valley Dragway, New
Lebanon Valley, New York, the fourth of six rounds in the 1998
NHRA Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series,
listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in
seconds, speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.725, 240.70
2. Bruce Insinger, Dushore, Penn., 5.804, 229.18
3. Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Penn., 5.927, 241.87
4. John Speelman, Manassas, Vir., 5.987, 231.12
5. Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., 5.995, 230.82
6. John Rose Jr., Feasterville, Penn., 6.002, 223.10
7. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, New York, 6.120, 231.93
8. Gil Christian, Stephen City, Vir., 6.134, 221.40

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, New York, 5.860, 246.30
2. Paul Gill, Brockton, Maryland, 6.001, 228.83
3. Fran Monaghan, Willow Grove, Penn., 6.037, 238.47
4. Rich Fenwick, Northfield, Conn., 6.073, 214.69
5. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Vir., 6.242, 227.73
6. Jeff McCulloch, Oshawa, Canada, 6.363, 219.56
7. John Sieger, Willingboro, New Jersey, 6.552, 159.54
8. John Fiorini, Dalter, Maryland, 6.697, 207.46

COMPETITION
1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A ‘23 T, 7.998 -(0.612)
2. Jules Schonberger, Philadelphia, Penn., H/A ‘91 Grand Prix, 8.402 -(0.558)
3. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.136 -(0.544)
4. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Penn., H/A ‘96 Cutlass, 8.432 -(0.528)
5. Allyn Armstrong, Kingston, Canada, K/A ‘72 Opel, 9.203 -(0.527)
6. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Maryland, C/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.770  -(0.480)
7. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.299 -(0.471)
8. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Vir., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.332 -(0.458)

SUPER STOCK
1. John Armstrong, Kingston, Canada, SS/DA ‘89 Camaro, 9.510 -(0.990)
2. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, Penn., GT/JA ‘88 Camaro, 10.725 -(0.925)
3. David Thomas, West Chester, Penn., SS/BA ‘89 Corvette, 9.292 -(0.908)
4. George Vignogna, North Salem, New York, SS/AS ‘97 Sebring, 9.032 -(0.868)
5. Gary Curtis, Newburgh, New York, GT/FA ‘92 Trans Am,  10.289 -(0.811)
6. Victor Santos, North Reading, Maryland, GT/HA ‘85 Firebird, 10.543 -(0.807)
7. Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, New Jersey, GT/FA ‘98 Firebird, 10.303 -(0.797)
8. Angelo DiTocco, Bronx, New York, GT/EA ‘92 Firebird, 10.174 -(0.776)

STOCK
1. Brian Brinegar, Conowingo, Maryland, CF/SA ‘86 Daytona, 14.391 -(1.109)
2. Dave Casey, Hampden, Maryland, I/S ‘86 Camaro, 11.426 -(1.074)
3. Don Quinn, Rahway, New Jersey, J/SA ‘78 Nova, 11.724  -(1.026)
4. Cecil Frazier, Canton, Maryland, D/SA ‘91 Camaro, 12.611 -(0.939)
5. Jim Marshall, Rochester, New York, K/SA ‘78 Corvette, 12.042 -(0.908)
6. Ken Kopecky, Edison, New Jersey, AF/SA ‘88 Daytona, 14.158 -(0.892)
7. David LeBrun, Uncasville, Conneticut, C/SA ‘69 Camaro, 10.816 -(0.884)
8. Dean Ribeiro, Candia, New Hampshire, D/SA ‘77 Lemans, 12.580 -(0.870)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

RAIN DAMPENS FINAL DAY OF 
QUALIFYING AT LEBANON VALLEY RACEWAY

LEBANON VALLEY DRAGWAY, New Lebanon Valley, New York --The
final day of qualifying at Lebanon Valley Raceway almost made
it through without seeing a drop of rain but the clouds
released their contents at the end of the day.

  The rain waited for several hours in very dark clouds so
that racing could continue at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series presented by Diamond RV Centre and Parts America.
The luck stopped right after the second qualifying run of
Federal-Mogul Dragster finished.  This made it impossible
for the Federal-Mogul Funny Cars to run due to the fact that
such a large amount of dark threatening clouds kept
accumulating over the track.  There had been a qualifying
run for the Funny Cars earlier in the day so the top eight
qualifying positions could be established for tomorrow’s 
eliminations.

  The top qualifier in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car category
was Bob Newberry who once again had a very close competitor
in Frank Manzo.  The qualifying time for Newberry was 5.859
seconds elapsed time while Manzo received a very formidable
and close 5.879 seconds elapsed time. Eliminations tomorrow
should be an exciting finish to this close qualifying race.

  Eliminations for Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster
begin at Noon. Gates open at 8:00 a.m.  Happy 4th of July.

Final day qualifying positions at Lebanon Valley Dragway,
New Lebanon, New York, the fourth of six rounds in the 1998
NHRA Northeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series,
listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in
seconds, speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Penn., 5.669, 245.56
2. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, New Jersey, 5.678, 246.03
3. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.678, 241.48
4. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Flor., 5.729
5. Bruce Insinger, Dushore, Penn., 5.804, 229.18
6. John Rose Jr., Feasterville, Penn., 5.868, 232.61
7. Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Penn., 5.882, 242.13
8. Steve Cantrell, Wilmington, Del., 5.912, 234.68

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, New York, 5.859, 243.57
2. Frank Manzo, Morganville, New Jersey, 5.879, 244.76
3. Paul Gill, Brockton, MA, 5.962, 242.13
4. Fran Monaghan, Willow Grove, Penn., 5.974, 242.84
5. Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., 6.033, 235.66
6. Rich Fenwick, Northfield, Conn., 6.073, 214.69
7. Jeff McCulloch, Oshawa, Canada, 6.123, 223.49
8. John Sieger, Willingboro, New Jersey, 6.132, 229.82

COMPETITION
1. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, Mich., I/A ‘23 T, 7.998 -(0.612)
2. Jules Schonberger, Philadelphia, Penn., H/A ‘91 Grand Prix, 8.402 -(0.558)
3. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.132 -(0.548)
4. Dave Northrop, Perkasie, Penn., H/A ‘96 Cutlass, 8.427 -(0.5233)
5. Allyn Armstrong, Kingston, Canada, K/A ‘72 Opel, 9.203 -(0.527)
6. Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Maryland, C/A ‘97 Firebird, 7.770  -(0.480)
7. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.299 -(0.471)
8. Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Vir., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am, 9.332 -(0.458)

SUPER STOCK
1. John Armstrong, Kingston, Canada, SS/DA ‘89 Camaro, 9.510 -(0.990)
2. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, Penn., GT/JA ‘88 Camaro, 10.725 -(0.925)
3. David Thomas, West Chester, Penn., SS/BA ‘89 Corvette, 9.292 -(0.908)
4. George Vignogna, North Salem, New York, SS/AS ‘97 Sebring, 9.032 -(0.868)
5. Victor Santos, North Reading, Maryland, GT/HA ‘85 Firebird, 10.526 -(0.824)
6. Gary Curtis, Newburgh, New York, GT/FA ‘92 Trans Am,  10.289 -(0.811)
7. Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, New Jersey, GT/FA ‘98 Firebird, 10.303 -(0.797)
8. Angelo DiTocco, Bronx, New York, GT/EA ‘92 Firebird, 10.174 -(0.776)

STOCK
1. Brian Brinegar, Conowingo, Maryland, CF/SA ‘86 Daytona, 14.191 -(1.109)
2. Dave Casey, Hampden, Maryland, I/S ‘86 Camaro, 11.426 -(1.074)
3. Don Quinn, Rahway, New Jersey, J/SA ‘78 Nova, 11.724  -(1.026)
4. Evan Smith, Old Bridge, New Jersey, K/S ‘93 Mustang, 11.851 -(0.999)
5. Cecil Frazier, Canton, Maryland, D/SA ‘91 Camaro, 12.51 -(0.939)
6. Ken Kopecky, Edison, New Jersey, AF/SA ‘88 Daytona, 14.115 -(0.9335)
7. Jim Marshall, Rochester, New York, K/SA ‘78 Corvette, 12.042 -(0.908)
8. Bob Kemp, Carmel, New York, F/S ‘72 Mustang, 11.196 -(0.904)

MANZO RACES AGAINST HIMSELF AFTER AN EARLY NEWBERRY WITHDRAWAL

   LEBANON VALLEY DRAGWAY, New Lebanon, New York -- Bob Newberry
had to withdraw from this year’s Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
event at Lebanon Valley Dragway due to illness.  Newberry withdrew
after winning the Top Qualifier award for the best elapsed time of
5.859 seconds.  Newberry’s illness was blamed on stomach pains
caused possibly by a flu bug.

  Frank Manzo and Newberry are well known for their close
competitions throughout each drag race they attend.  Manzo said
about Newberry’s withdrawal “I’m really nervous about the race now.
There have been about ten people who have come up to me and asked
me how I feel.  I feel like I’m going to be out there today racing
against myself because I have so many things that I am thinking
about.”

  Bob Frey from the NHRA Today show said “Since Newberry has
withdrawn from the race there is a very good chance that Manzo can
take the whole Division One Championship.  It’s going to be a very
close race.”

  The pressure was on when Manzo raced against Paul Gill in the
semi-finals.  Race fans got a fantastic show as these two racers
came within six one-hundreths of a second of each other. Gill
inched by with a 5.84 to Manzo’s 5.86 to get the win.

  The winner in Federal-Mogul Funny Car was Paul Gill with a
5.829 seconds elapsed time while the winner in Federal-Mogul
Dragster was Ron Still with a 5.729 seconds elapsed time.

WEST LEBANON RESULTS
DIVISION 1 INSTANT STATS
Lebanon Valley Dragway, West Lebanon, N.Y.

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., ‘89 S&W, 5.729, 241.15
	R/U: Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Flor., ‘97 Uyehara, 5.801, 243.11

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Paul Gill, Brockton, MA, ‘96 Avenger, 5.829, 243.57
	R/U: Fran Monaghan, Willow Gove, Penn., ‘97 Avenger, 10.777, 75.10
         (Engine broke mid-track)

Competition
 	W: Allen Stanfield, Fredericksburg, Vir., F/SM ‘95 Trans Am 9.320, 143.86
	R/U: Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.160, 160.31

Super Stock
 	W: Gianni Cantusci, Stittsville, Canada, GT/IA ‘98 Firebird, 10.749, 123.98
	R/U: Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, MA, SS/CM ‘97 Grand Am, 9.156, 148.17

Stock
 	W: Bob Mullaney, Rockaway, New Jersey, R/SA ‘66 Impala, 14.230
	R/U: John Gray, Hudson, MA, D/SA ‘69 Nova, 11.317, 115.87

Super Comp
 	W: Scotty Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., ‘98 Undercover, 8.928, 156.95
	R/U: Ken Moses, Colonia, New Jersey, ‘98 Quay, 8.914, 159.12

Super Gas
 	W: Marty Krohn, Stewartsville, New Jersey, ‘72 Opel, 9.908, 134.18
	R/U: Aduane La Fleur, Clarence Ctr., New York, ‘67 Firebird, 9.880, 143.76

Super Street
 	W: Bob Farrell, Pequannock, New Jersey, ‘69 Camaro, 10.868, 131.73
	R/U: John Schenone, Bellerose, New York, ‘70 Nova, 10.888, 136.40