FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEVAULT, TOWNSEND LEAD QUALIFYING AT EDGEWATER

   EDGEWATER SPORTS PARK, Cleves , OH -- Don DeVault and Danny
Townsend captured the top qualifying spots at Edgewater
Sports Park in the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.  DeVault
was two tenths of a second faster than the number two qualifier
Bill Reichert in the Federal-Mogul Dragster category. DeVault
covered the quarter mile in 5.787 seconds at 240.44 mph.  Local
favorite, Gary Ward of Cincinnati, qualified sixth in the eight
car field with a 6.122 second pass at 229.76 mph.

   Townsend led all Federal-Mogul Funny Cars with a 6.024
second run at nearly 240 mph in his Pontiac Firebird. Chuck
Cheeseman, also in a Firebird, took the number two spot
recording a 6.025 second, 240.57 mph lap. North Central Division
points leader Marc White did not make a pass today but is on
site and will make his first qualifying pass tomorrow.

   Joining DeVault and Townsend in top qualifying positions are
Ed Bennett in Comp. Eliminator, Jeff Sexton of Fairborn, OH in
Super Stock and Bert Morgan in the Stock Eliminator class.
Other local racers competing this weekend are Tom Wiley from
Cincinnati in Comp. Eliminator and Dan Kyle of Lawrenceburg, IN,
who qualified number two in Super Stock. Qualifying continues at
Edgewater Sports Park for the 550 plus cars on Saturday with 
the Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Car
scheduled to make two more qualifying attempts at 5 p.m. and 8
p.m.  Gates open at 9:00 a.m. with racing beginning at 10:00 a.m.

   CLEVES, OH. -- Provisional qualifying results Friday from
Edgewater Sports Park,  the fourth of six events in the NHRA
North Central Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver,
hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed
in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Don DeVault, Kentland, IN 5.787 seconds, 240.44 mph
2. Bill Reichert, Owosso, MI, 5.994, 237.71
3. Mile Miller, Okemos, MI, 6.000, 222.55
4. Marty Thacker, Robinson, IL, 6.039, 229.00
5. Dave Hirata, Lowell, IN, 6.039, 228.94
6. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, OH, 6.122, 229.76
7. Chris Dakin, New Carlisle, OH, 6.130, 214.59
8. Ben Barnes, Chesterland, OH, 6.322, 211.66
 --- Not qualiied --
9. Douglas Foley, Ossining, NY, 6.719, 150.27
10. Jeff Bohr, Plymoth, MI, 6.947, 217.97
11. Shawn Bowin, Montrose, MI, 8.573, 92.43 shut off
12. Bill McCornack, Lexington, KY, 10.720, 86.33 shut off

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Danny Townsend, Muncie, IN, ‘95 Firebird, 6.024, 239.17
2. Chuck Cheeseman, Columbus, OH, ‘98 Firebird, 6.025, 240.57
3. Kim Fritts, Greenup, IL, ‘98 firebird, 6.049, 232.61
4. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, OH, ‘97 Avenger, 6.448, 223.99
5. John Lawson, Joliet, IL, ‘98 Pontiac, 6.533, 150.95
6. Todd Paton, Paris Ontaio, CAN, 12.619, 58.35 shut off

COMPETITION
1. Ed Bennett III, Carleton, MI, B/A ‘63 Chevy, 7.538, (-0.432)
2. Tom Haueter, Chardon, OH, D/ED ‘94 Chassis Crft., 7.721, (-0.429)
3. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, MI, I/A ‘23 Ford, 8.184, (-0.416)
4. Brian Browell, Lafayette, IN, D/D ‘97 McKinney, 7.624, (-0.396)
5. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, MI, E/ED ‘98 Kustoms, 8.750, (-0.390)
6. Garth Hill, Mt. Morris, MI, E/EA ‘91 S&W, 8.782, (-0.388)
7. Don Stratton, Beloit, OH, B/SR ‘34 Chevy, 8.421, (-0.349
8. Bob Andrews, Cement City, MI, E/D ‘88 Dragster, 7.831, (-0.339)
9. Doug Stewart, Edwardsburg, MI, B/ED ‘97 Dragster, 7.333, (-0.327)
10. John Cunningham, Wauconda, IL, E/SM ‘90 Firebird, 8.750, (-0.310)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, OH, SS/AX, ‘84 Camaro, 9.097 (-0.903)
2. Dan Kyle, Larenceburg, IN, GT/FA ‘87 Firebird, 10.199, (-0.901)
3. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, OH, GT/E ‘96 Beretta, 9.910, (-0.890)
4. Charlis Westcott, Parma, MI, GT/E ‘91 Chevrolet, 9.987, (-0.813)
5. Gene McBean, Chardon, OH, SS/GA ‘69 Ford, 10.040, (-0.810)
6. Melissa Butler, Mt. Vernon, OH, GT/FA ‘90 Sunbird, 10.311, (-0.789)
7. Fred Allen, Winamac, IN, SS/IA ‘66 Nova, 10.214, (-0.786)
8. Ron Terrell, Heborn, KY, SS/KA ‘85 Camaro, 10.788, (-0.762)
9. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, OH, GT/FA ‘86 Camaro, 10.385, (-0.715)
10. Rock Running, Lapeer, MI, GT/JA ‘96 Achieva, 10.948, (-0.702)

STOCK
1. Bert Morgan, Charleston, IL, O/SA ‘87 Pontiac, 12.618, (-0.832)
2. Al Provoast, Whittemore, MI, N/SA ‘79 Buick, 12.489, (-0.811)
3. Darwin Hardy, Muskegon, MI, U/SA ‘80 Buick, 14.343, (-0.807)
4. Gary Russell, East Sparta, OH, D/SA ‘98 Pontiac, 11.056, (-0.794)
5. Judy McCormack, Milford, MI, ET/SA ‘98 Dakota, 12.765, (-0.785)
6. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, KY, J/SA ‘79 Aspen, 11.967, (-0.783)
7. Jennifer Dziorny, Wixom, MI, CT/SA ‘94 Dakota, 12.568, (-0.782)
8. Don Holmes, Englewood, OH, L/SA ‘78 Pontiac, 12.219, (-0.781)
9. Bill Rink, Naperville, IL, M/SA ‘74 Pontiac, 12.374, (-0.776)
10. Mack Cabas, Salem, OH, J/SA ‘83 Camaro, 11.974, (-0.776)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

CHEESEMAN, BOWEN TOP QUALIFIERS -
STARK MAKES FIELD ON FINAL PASS

   EDGEWATER SPORTS PARK, Cleves , OH -- Chuck Cheeseman reset
the Edgewater Sports Park track record in Federal-Mogul Funny
Car covering the quarter mile in 5.920 seconds.  Cheeseman’s
afternoon pass at 242.26 mph held on to give him the Winston
Top Qualifier money in the Funny Car category. “We weren’t
looking for the record,” said Cheesman, “we just wanted a good
strong run and we got it.  We were looking for some extra 
power in the middle (of the track) and we found it. We’re happy.”

   Fred Mandoline jumped to the number two spot while setting
the track speed record at 246.64 mph at a time of 5.964 seconds.

  Shawn Bowen’s pass of 5.722 seconds at 245.23 mph put him on
top of the Federal-Mogul Dragster category followed by Keith Stark.
Stark came from a non-qualified number twelve to the number two
spot with a 5.770 second run at 248.61 mph.  Stark and his crew
found the right combination after exploding an engine in Friday’s
initial qualifying session and struggling to get down the track
on Saturday’s first attempt. “We needed to re-group. We did, did
and made the show.”

  Joining Bowen and Cheeseman in top qualifying positions are
Tom Haueter in Comp. Eliminator, Jeff Sexton in Super Stock and
Jonathan Tarrace in the Stock Eliminator class. Gary Ward of
Cincinnati, dropped to the number thirteenth spot in the
dragster category and is not qualified for tomorrow’s
eliminations.

   Final eliminations for the more than 600 racers and race
cars begin tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. with the Federal-Mogul
Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Car eliminations scheduled
for 1:00 p.m. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. 

   CLEVES, OH. -- Final qualifying  from Edgewater Sports
Park, the fourth of six events in the NHRA North Central
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series listing driver, hometown,
state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, and speed in miles
per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Shawn Bowin, Montrose, MI, 5.722, 245.23
2. Keith Stark, Danville, IL, 5.722, 248.61
3. Don DeVault, Kentland, IN 5.787, 240.44
4. Bill Reichert, Owosso, MI, 5.795, 244.43
5. Dave Hirata, Lowell, IN, 5.813, 233.22
6. Bill McCornack, Lexington, KY, 5.832, 246.23
7. Douglas Foley, Ossining, NY, 5.833, 238.53
8. Mile Miller, Okemos, MI, 5.840, 232.61
 --- Not qualiied --
9. Chris Dakin, New Carlisle, OH, 5.867, 227.38
10. Russ Lindert, Manteno, IL, 5.870, 236.22
11. Denny Hummel, Clinton Township, MI, 5.896, 231.36
12. Marty Thacker, Robinson, IL, 6.039, 229.00
13. Gary Ward, Cincinnati, OH, 6.063, 230.88
14. Jeff Bohr, Plymoth, MI, 6.072, 232.43
15. Ben Barnes, Chesterland, OH, 6.285, 217.91

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Chuck Cheeseman, Columbus, OH, ‘98 Firebird, 5.920, 242.26
2. Fred Mandoline, Schiller Park, IL, ‘98 Avenger, 5.964, 246.64
3. Danny Townsend, Muncie, IN, ‘95 Firebird, 6.024, 239.17
4. Kim Fritts, Greenup, IL, ‘98 Firebird, 6.049, 232.61
5. John Lawson, Joliet, IL, ‘98 Pontiac, 6.049, 223.65
6. Todd Paton, Paris Ontaio, CAN, ‘98 Pontiac 6.085, 239.87
7. Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, OH, ‘98 Avenger, 6.171, 223.76
8. Bob Gottschalk, Toledo, OH, ‘97 Avenger, 6.319, 232.43
 --- Not qualiied --
9. John Dunn, Monticello, IL, ‘96 Vette, Broke

COMPETITION
1. Tom Haueter, Chardon, OH, D/ED ‘94 Chassis Crft., 7.609, (-0.541)
2. Santo Volpe, Euclid, OH, A/SR ‘34 Suncoast, 8.146 (-0.534)
3. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, TN, D/SM ‘97 Pontiac 8.289, (-0.522)
4. Ed Bennett III, Carleton, MI, B/A ‘63 Chevy, 7.452, (-0.518
5. Jerry Arnold, Kalamazoo, MI, E/ED ‘98 Kustoms, 8.644, (-0.496)
6. Don Stratton, Beloit, OH, B/SR ‘34 Chevy, 8.277, (-0.493)
7. Bob Andrews, Cement City, MI, E/D ‘88 Dragster, 7.697, (-0.473)
8. Steve Ambrose, Woodhaven, MI, I/A ‘23 Ford, 8.129, (-0.471)
9. Wayne Henderson, Indianapolis, IN, A/ED ‘96 Splitzer, 6.906, (-0.446)
10. Robert Bailey, Wabash, IN, A/ED ‘95 Spitzer, 6.908, (-0.462)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, OH, SS/AX, ‘84 Camaro, 9.046 (-0.954)
2. Melissa Butler, Mt. Vernon, OH, GT/FA ‘90 Sunbird, 10.155, (-0.945)
3. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, OH, GT/E ‘96 Beretta, 9.891, (-0.909)
4. Dan Kyle, Larenceburg, IN, GT/FA ‘87 Firebird, 10.199, (-0.901)
5. Charlis Westcott, Parma, MI, GT/E ‘91 Chevrolet, 9.903, (-0.897)
6. Joey Wilkes, Zanesville, OH, GT/FA ‘86 Camaro, 10.236, (-0.864)
7. Gene McBean, Chardon, OH, SS/GA ‘69 Ford, 9.987, (-0.863)
8. Steve Matukas, Alvaton, KY, SS/HA ‘66 Nova, 10.047, (-0.853)
9. Randell Running, Lapeer, MI, SS/MA ‘88 Cutlass, 11.320, (-0.830)
10. Fred Allen, Winamac, IN, SS/IA ‘66 Nova, 10.186, (-0.814)

STOCK
1. Jonathan Tarrance, Bremen, KY, V/SA ‘82 Chevy, 14.749, (-1.051)
2. Larry Hausch, N. Canton, OH, K/SA ‘76 Cutlass, 11.995, (-0.995)
3. Jerry Bennett, Mayfield, KY, J/SA ‘79 Aspen, 11.782, (-0.968)
4. M.J. Quinn, Louisville, KY, J/SA ‘85 Camaro, 11.795, (-0.955)
5. Bernie Emling, Bay village, OH, E/S ‘97 Firebird, 11.027, (-0.932)
6. Al Provoast, Whittemore, MI, N/SA ‘79 Buick, 12.429, (-0.871)
7. Bert Morgan, Charleston, IL, O/SA ‘87 Pontiac, 12.584, (-0.866)
8. Bobby Michael, Lebanon, OH, M/SA ‘78 Trans Am, 12.297(-0.853)
9. Judy McCormack, Milford, MI, DT/SA ‘98 Dakota, 12.650, (-0.850)
10. Bill Rink, Naperville, IL, M/SA ‘74 Pontiac, 12.301, (-0.849)

POLE SITTERS TAKE WINS AT EDGEWATER

   EDGEWATER SPORTS PARK, Cleves , OH -- Shawn Bowen and Chuck
Cheeseman went from the top qualifying positions straight to
the winner’s circle at Edgewater Sports Park for the Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series.  Bowen overcame a starting line
advantage from Don DeVault to take the win with an event low
5.675 seconds at 247.04 mph.

   “He strapped a good light on me with a .419 reaction time
(.400 is perfect), but I was able to get by him at the finish
line” said Bowen of his pass.  “This puts us 40 points behind
(Keith) Stark in the division. We want the division championship
and hopefully at top ten, maybe top five, in the national
standings.

  Chuck Cheeseman scored his first win since 1994 when he won
the Spring Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.  Cheeseman stayed
consistent all day with a 5.936 second, 242,71 mph final round
pass.  Danny Townsend beat Cheeseman off the line only to lose
with a 6.002 second run at 244.36 mph.  “The car ran good, real
consistent this weekend.  He got out on me. I saw the nose of
his car the right there with me. I thought my foot was going to
push the throttle through the firewall.” Cheeseman said after
the run.

Notes from Edgewater
   Shawn Bowen and Chuck Cheeseman went from the top qualifying
positions straight to the winner’s circle at Edgewater Sports
Park for the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.  Bowen overcame
a starting line advantage from Don DeVault to take the win in
Federal-Mogul Dragstrer with an event low 5.675 seconds at
247.04 mph.

   “He strapped a good light on me with a .419 reaction time
(.400 is perfect), but I was able to get by him at the finish
line” said Bowen of his pass.  “This puts us 40 points behind
(Keith) Stark in the division. We want the division championship
and hopefully at top ten, maybe top five, in the national
standings.

  Chuck Cheeseman scored his first win Federal-Mogul Funny Car
since 1994 when he won the Spring Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
Cheeseman stayed consistent all day with a 5.936 second, 242,71
mph final round pass.  Danny Townsend beat Cheeseman off the line
only to lose with a 6.002 second run at 244.36 mph.  “The car
ran good, real consistent this weekend.  He got out on me. I saw
the nose of his car the right there with me. I thought my foot
was going to push the throttle through the firewall.” Cheeseman
said after the run.

   Wittnauer International awarded Wittnauer watches to the
North Central mid-season points leader, part of the Wittnauer
Every Second Counts program. Receiving watches during the
startingline ceremony were: Keith Stark, Federal-Mogul Dragster;
Marc White, Federal-Mogul Funny Car; Bob Andrews, Comp. Eliminator;
Ricky Decker, Super Stock; Jerry Bennett, Stock; Glenn Julius, Super
Comp.; Richard Bateman, Super Gas; John Berberich, Super Street.
Presenting the watches was Joe LoCicero, driver of the Wittnauer
Super Stock Chevrolet.

   Shawn Bowen and Chuck Cheeseman  also captured the Winston Top
Qualifier Awards in the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car
categories respectively. The top qualifier in Competition
Eliminator was Tom Haueter who was joined by Jeff Sexton in Super
Stock and Jonathan Tarrance in Stock to take home the Winston money.

   The Super Shootout race within a race, was held on Saturday
night for the Super Comp., Super Gas, and Super Street.  Forrest
Lipke took the win in Super Comp. while Ohio racers Bryan Johnson
and Jeff Ruzicka grabbed the wins in Super Gas and Super Street
respectively.

   An event record 613 racers came out to compete at the Cleves,
Ohio track crushing last years mark of 535 cars.  There were full
fields in each of the eight categories including 139 Super Comp.
entries.  Twenty-three Jr. Dragsters competed in a one day
elimination meet on Friday with David Shepperd of Hamilton,
Ohio taking home the championship.

  The local media was invited out to participate in a Media
Challenge on Friday of the event.  Representatives from ABC
Channel 9, WLW Radio, the Cincinnati Post, the Cincinnati
Enquirer and the local law enforcement competed in identical
Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles.  Sheriff Simon Leis faced off
against Bill Cook from the Cincinnati Post with Sheriff Leis 
taking the win.

CLEVES RESULTS
DIVISION 3 INSTANT STATS
Edgewater Sports Park, Cleves, Ohio

Federal-Mogul Dragster
 	W: Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.675, 247.04
	R/U: Don DeVault, Kentland, Ind., 5.818, 241.22

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 	W: Chuck Cheeseman, Columbus, Ohio, 5.936, 242.71
	R/U: Danny Townsend, Muncie, Ind., 6.002, 244.36

Rain canceled the remaining eliminations at Edgewater Sports
Park for the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.  The event will
be finished at the following North Central Division event at
Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, August
28-30.

Competition
 	W: Bob Andrews, ‘88 Dragster, 7.633,  171.95
	R/U: Mike Farrell, ‘32 Bantam, 7.484, 177.58

Super Stock
 	W: Jeff Taylor, ‘98 Grand Am, 9.319, 130.44
	R/U: Johnny Fogle, ‘67 Chevy, 19.438, 41.07

Stock
 	W: Dick Kincaid, ‘97 Firebird, 11.089, 118.90
	R/U: Jonathan Tarrance, ‘82 Chevy, 14.714, 88.10

Super Comp
 	W: Brain Folk, ‘98 Racecraft, 8.932, 156.86
	R/U: Brent Nelson, ‘95 Nelson Dragster, 8.887, 156.55

Super Gas
 	W: Tim Garrison, ‘86 Daytona, 9.901, 142.24
	R/U: Clark Mundt, 140.87

Super Street
 	W: Rudy Matthews, ‘69 Camaro, 10.884, 138.30
	R/U: Billy Curtin, ‘70 Chevy, 10.877, 139.89