FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A FRIGHTENING MOMENT AT VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Dinwiddie, Virginia--The first day
of qualifying in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series
event presented by Virginia is for Lovers brought a frightening
moment to spectators and officials alike today.

  This moment was brought on during the Super Gas category
time trials portion of the event at Virginia Motorsports Park.
The SuperGas category in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series is a varied mix of vehicles that have to drag race against
a set elapsed time of 9.90 seconds.  This means that each of the
cars wants to come as close to a 9.90 second time as possible.
The additional excitement that is brought to the fans as they
watch these drag racers compete is the fact that there are so
many types of cars in the category.  There are vehicles that
range in type from 1923 Ford Roadsters to 1985 Camaros.  

  Another exciting aspect of these racing classics is the fact
that most of these cars are able to run around 140 miles per
hour.  At these high speeds sometimes accidents can occur.
Speed was a partial factor in the crash between James Robinson
of Lutherville, Maryland, and Orlando Morris of Richmond, Virg.

  The accident happened during the third and final time trial
of the Super Gas category.  Robinson, who drives a ‘27 Ford
Roadster, was in the left lane of the track while Morris, who
drives a ‘98 Ford Mustang, was in the right lane.  The two cars
got off to a great start then at about the halfway mark of the
track a problem developed.  An NHRA official explained that
“Robinson got out of the groove (the path the tires take on the
track due to grooved tire marks) and swung out a little to the
left.  Then the car went out of control as it came back to the
right sending him straight into the path of Morris who was not
able to stop.”

  Robinson’s Roadster was hit on the driver’s side by Morris’
Mustang sending the Roadster spinning into the right lane wall
then bouncing it all the way back to the left lane wall.  Thanks
to the safety and rigid chassis and frames of the two cars, both
drivers were able to walk away from the accident with only minor
bruises.

  Qualifying continues tomorrow at Virginia Motorsports Park
with the gates opening at 9:00 a.m. and the first cars run at
10:00 a.m.  Federal-Mogul Funny Cars and Dragsters will continue
qualifying at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.   


1998 NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES
First day qualifying positions at Virginia Motorsports Park,
Dinwiddie, Virginia, the final of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA
Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing
driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds,
speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.586, 251.88
2. Gary Park, Mardela Springs, Maryland, 5.620
3. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.631, 231.00
4. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, New York, 5.675, 241.74
5. Ken Winward, Wilmington, Del., 6.185, 198.93
6. Mike Kosky, Cuddy, Penn., 7.205, 127.87
7. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 12.312, 83.21
8. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Flor., 13.170, 57.24

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Virg., 5.932, 234.86
2. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, New York, 5.964, 239.61
3. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Virg., 6.137, 229.76
4. Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., 6.246, 200.17
5. Carnie Fryfogle, Brockton, Maryland, 6.319, 228.13

COMPETITION
1. David Rampy, Piedmont, Alab., B/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.201 -(0.569)
2. Jon Aloisio, West Chester, Penn., E/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.492 -(0.568)
3. Allen Stanfield, Frederiscksburg, Virg., F/SM ‘95 TransAm, 9.240 -(0.550)
4. Ken Keir, Dunkirk, Maryland, B/SR ‘34 Chevy, 8.246 -(0.524)
5. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR ‘34 Chevy, 8.166 -(0.514)
6. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, North Carolina, D/EA ‘97 Firebird, 8.531 -(0.509)
7. Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, F/D ‘94 Pro Start, 8.353 -(0.507)
8. Tommy Porter, Cheasepeake, Virg., F/A ‘88 Firenza, 8.661 -(0.479)

SUPER STOCK
1. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/D ‘96 Beretta, 9.537 -(1.113)
2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, North Carolina, GT/AA ‘97 Firebird, 9.325 -(1.075)
3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E ‘68 Corvette, 9.499 -(1.051)
4. David Jackson, Columbus, North Carolina, GT/HA ‘92 Firebird, 10.308 -(1.042)
5. Michael Volkman, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/IA ‘98 Sebring, 10.468 -(1.032)
6. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/HA ‘93 LeBaron, 10.318 -(1.032)
7. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, Penn., GT/JA ‘88 Camaro, 10.650 -(1.000)
8. Ken Horne, Fayetteville, North Carolina, GT/EA ‘97 Acheiva, 9.976 -(0.974)

STOCK
1. Ray Valpreda, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, DT/SA ‘98 Dakota 12.264 -(1.236)
2. Dave Ribeiro, Mechanicsburg, Penn., M/SA ‘78 Firebird, 12.009 -(1.141)
3. Dean Cook, West Warwick, Rhode Island, F/S ‘72 Mustang, 10.991 -(1.110)
4. Greg Schmutz, Pompton Plains, New Jersey, V/SA ‘80 Malibu, 14.699 -(1.101)
5. Garry Glazener, Jackson, South Carolina, G/SA ‘72 Ford, 11.209 -(1.091)
6. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S ‘95 Mustang, 11.949 -(1.072)
7. Ron Thomas, Glenmoore, Penn., J/SA ‘78 Volaire, 11.730 -(1.020)
8. Jim Penta, Greenville, Rhode Island, D/S ‘97 Firebird, 10.814 -(0.986)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

GUNDERSON CONTINUES TO GUN FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Dinwiddie, Virginia--Federal-Mogul
Dragster driver Mike Gunderson was the top qualifier at the
end of today’s qualifying session in the last of the Southeast
Division NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events.  A win
at Virginia Motorsports Park this weekend will put Gunderson
one step closer to claiming the number one position in the
race for the championship title.

  Gunderson’s top qualifier placement came after several
unproductive runs during yesterday and today’s qualifying.
The first pass that Gunderson made yesterday ended up in a
severe oil down on the track as the Federal-Mogul Dragster’s
engine broke early as it went down the track.  The second run
during today’s early qualifying at 4:00 p.m. also didn’t give
Gunderson any luck as the tires broke loose off the line
giving him a non-qualifying pass.  But when the pressure came
on Gunderson and his Under the Gun Federal-Mogul Dragster met
the challenge head on as he made a 5.513 second pass that gave
him  top qualifying honors this weekend.

  Federal-Mogul Dragster drivers Bill Reichert, of Owosso,
Mich., and Cliff Bozzelli, of Absecon, New Jersey, were second
and third respectively.  Reichert’s 5.586 second run had held
the top position during the first two qualifying runs.
Bozzelli had a 5.615 second pass as he continued his pursuit of
the Northeast division championship.  Bozzelli and Reichert are
also chasing the national championship title as the season
comes down to the last national events, and only one more NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event.  At this point the
national championship is up for grabs for any of the expert
drivers in this tight race for the top honor of the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series.

  Eliminations begin tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and Federal-Mogul
Funny Car and Dragster eliminations begin at 1:00 p.m.


FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Flor., 5.513, 255.46
2. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.586, 251.88
3. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, New Jersey, 5.615, 249.86
4. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.617, 244.96
5. Gary Park, Mardela Springs, Maryland, 5.620, 228.02
6. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.638, 247.45
7. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, New York, 5.675, 241.74
8. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Penn., 5.717, 247.38

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., 5.726, 250.83
2. Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Virg., 5.872, 239.87
3. Franny Monaghan, Willow Grove, Penn., 5.918, 245.90
4. Carnie Fryfogle, Brockton, Maryland, 5.929, 242.00
5. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, New York, 5.964, 239.61
6. Melinda Green, Norfolk, Virg., 5.998, 230.59
7. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Virg., 6.137, 229.76

COMPETITION
1. Mike Saye, Johnston, South Carolina, G/A ‘92 Cutlass, 8.876 -(0.604)
2. Jon Aloisio, West Chester, Penn., E/SM ‘92 Camaro, 8.474 -(0.586)
3. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, New Jersey, C/A ‘94 TransAm, 7.673 -(0.577)
4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, North Carolina, B/A ‘94 Lumina, 7.398 -(0.572)
5. David Rampy, Piedmont, Alab., B/SR ‘34 Roadster, 8.201 -(0.569)
6. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ken., B/A ‘32 Bantam, 7.417 -(0.553)
7. Allen Stanfield, Frederiscksburg, Virg., F/SM ‘95 TransAm, 9.240 -(0.550)
8. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR ‘34 Chevy, 8.134 -(0.546)

SUPER STOCK
1. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/D ‘96 Beretta, 9.478 -(1.172)
2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, North Carolina, GT/AA ‘97 Firebird, 9.311 -(1.089)
3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E ‘68 Corvette, 9.499 -(1.051)
4. Ken Bugaj, Lexington, North Carolina, GT/BA ‘82 Camaro, 9.504 -(1.046)
5. David Jackson, Columbus, North Carolina, GT/HA ‘92 Firebird, 10.308 -(1.042)
6. Bill Burnette, Arden, North Carolina, SS/OA ‘66 Belair, 11.563 -(1.037)
7. Michael Volkman, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/IA ‘98 Sebring, 10.468 -(1.034)
8. Dennis Steward, Dover, Penn., GT/EA ‘91 Daytona, 9.917 -(1.033)

STOCK
1. Ray Valpreda, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, DT/SA ‘98 Dakota 12.264 -(1.236)
2. Jon Tarrance, Bremen, Ken., V/SA ‘82 Monte Carlo, 14.573 -(1.227)
3. Dean Cook, West Warwick, Rhode Island, F/S ‘72 Mustang, 10.953 -(1.147)
4. Dave Ribeiro, Mechanicsburg, Penn., M/SA ‘78 Firebird, 12.009 -(1.141)
5. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, Maryland, C/SA ‘69 Mustang, 10.585 -(1.115)
6. Greg Schmutz, Pompton Plains, New Jersey, V/SA ‘80 Malibu, 14.699 -(1.101)
7. Don Himes, Clayton, New Jersey, P/SA ‘77 Grand Prix, 12.653 -(1.097)
8. Garry Glazener, Jackson, South Carolina, G/SA ‘72 Ford, 11.209 -(1.091)

RAIN WASHES AWAY ALMOST ALL ELIMINATION
RUNS AT VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Dinwiddie, Virginia--Scheduled
eliminations at the final race of the Southeast NHRA Division
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Virginia
Motorsports Park were delayed and almost non-existent today.

  Rain came and went most of the day as NHRA and VMP staff
tried to get the track dried out enough to get things under
way for the elimination rounds of the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event presented by Virginia is for Lovers.  Many
drivers left the race after about 1:00 p.m.  Some drivers such
as the Federal-Mogul Funny Cars and Dragsters had more than just
the prized Wally award and the award money to compete for.  As
one Federal-Mogul Funny Car crew member said “We’ve got jobs to
get back to.  We need to know if we can stay and race because
that’s why we came here.”  Several division as well as national
champion titles are up for grabs at this point, close to the
end of the season.

  Two sessions of all sportsman categories and one round of
Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster were run today.  The rest
of the eliminations through the finals will be finished during
tomorrow’s race.

  Winston top qualifier award winners for the best qualifying
times of the event were Mike Gunderson in Federal-Mogul
Dragster, Paul Gill in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Mike Saye in
Competition Eliminator, Ray Valpreda in the Stock category, and
Joe Skinner in Super Stock.