FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TROXEL, WILLIAMSON BOTH RECORD SECOND SERIES WIN OF 1999
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilots Melanie Troxel and Bret Williamson each scored their second victories of the young 1999 season. Troxel, of Littleton, Colo., won two weeks ago at Mission Raceway Park in the NHRA's Northwest Division as well as a runner-up finish in Boise, Idaho in April. Williamson, of Campbell, Calif., won the first series event in the Pacific Division at Speedworld Motorplex in Wittman, Arix., in March. He also was runner-up at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

"We struggled with our combination early in the season," said Troxel after back-to-back wins. "But after tearing everything apart a few months ago, we found what was apparently plaguing us. Now we have the consistency you need to win in such a competative class."

Troxel, who had been running 5.50s all weekend, beat Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.624 seconds at 250.71 mph to 5.754 seconds at 247.89 mph.

Williamson has also been consistent this during this event, running 5.80s. He took on West Covina, Calif.'s, Steve Gasparelli. Williamson ran 5.909 seconds at 240.21 mph to Gasparelli's tire-shaken 11.693 seconds at 67.11 mph.

Winners in other competition classes in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Sacramento Raceway Park were Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., in Comp; Jimmy DeFrank of Tarzana, Calif., who has now has three divisional and two national event Super Stock wins in 1999; Don Little, Westley, Calif., took his third consecutive event title in Stock; Geoff Hughes, Fallon, Nev.; in Super Comp; Troy Moyle with his second divisional event win in Super Gas; and Jeff Jackson in Super Street.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sacramento Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Round 1 eliminations
1) Troxel, 5.551, 249.03 mph def. 8) Hansen, 6.203, 228.73 mph
2) Wendland, 6.114, 237.25 mph def. 7) Kaiser, foul
6) Bingham, 5.683, 245.45 mph def. 3) Nicholson, 5.694, 248.26 mph
4) Henkelman, 5.507, 253.07 mph def. 5) Lane, 6.096, 173.23 mph

Round 2
Troxel, 5.586, 250.72 mph def. Henkelman, 5.601, 250.85 mph; Nicholson,
5.726, 248.12 mph def. Wendland, 5.774, 244.05 mph

Final Round
Troxel, 5.624, 250.71 mph def. Nicholson, 5.754, 247.89 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1 eliminations
8) Alexander, 5.983, 236.49 mph def. 1) Weaver, 9.291, 85.53 mph
2) Williamson, 5.879, 241.33 mph def. 7) Littlefield, 6.169, 216.52 mph
3) Gordon, 5.939, 239.54 mph def. 6) Miner, 11.337, 59.53 mph
4) Gasparelli, 5.866, 233.91 mph def., Parker, 8.969, 102.77 mph

Round 2
Gasparelli, 5.882, 237.02 mph def. Alexander, 6.050, 236.69 mph;
Williamson, 5.879, 240.24 mph def. Gordon, 6.350, 173.41 mph

Final Round
Williamson, 5.909, 240.21 mph def.Gasparelli, 11.693, 67.11 mph

COMP ELIMINATOR
Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., '92 Trans Am, 8.297 e.t., 16.57 mph def.
Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., '32 Chevy, 8.724 e.t., 147.66 mph

SUPER STOCK
Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Camaro, 10.386 e.t., 121.31 mph def.
Don Studley, Orange, Calif., '99 Dakota, 10.86 e.t., 127.97 mph

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Cuda, 10.336 e.t., 126.15 mph def.
Don Keen, Quartz Hill, Calif., '69 Mustang, 10.712 e.t., 124.82 mph

SUPER COMP
Geoff Hughes, Fallon, Nev., 8.939 e.t., 155.74 mph def.
Terry White, Half Moon Bay, Calif., 8.893 e.t., 153.84 mph

SUPER GAS
Troy Moyle, Carson City, Nev., '27 Ford, 9.905 e.t., 147.94 mph def.
Bob Harris, Dove Canyon, Calif., '55 Chevy, 9.843 e.t., 134.53 mph

SUPER STREET
Jeff Jackson, Wilsonville, Ore., '68 Mustang, 10.910 e.t., 144.80 mph def.
Dave Sullivan, Sacramento, '70 Duster, 10.858 e.t., 115.06 mph

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ELIMINATIONS BEGIN AT SACRAMENTO RACEWAY PARK
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car competitors ran a final round of qualifying this afternoon and begin the first round of eliminations tonight. In the end, the F/M dragster top qualifier, Melanie Troxel, advanced to the next round and the F/M funny car top qualifier, John Weaver, was upset by sophomore driver Rod Alexander.

Troxel, of Littleton, Colo., set and maintained the best elapsed time of the event, 5.582 seconds, in her first qualifying run Friday. In round one of eliminations, she faced Bellingham, Wash.'s Brad Hansen. Troxel pulled off another run in the 5.50s, proving the In-N-Out Burger team has found the consistency necessary for a winning season.

Although Weaver's funny car threw its blower at about half-track Alexander, of Simi Valley, Calif., had the jump on Weaver from the green light. At the top end, Alexander had a 5.983 e.t., at 236.94 mph. Weaver, Hanford, Calif., has had his share of trouble this year, having gone through two car bodies already.

As qualifying continued in other categories, the top spots belong to Phil Cocuzza, Van Nuys, Calif., in Comp; Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., in Super Stock; and Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., in Stock.

Final eliminations in all categories at Sacramento Raceway Park begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Spectator gates open at 7 a.m. For ticket information call 366-7368.

       
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 
Final Qualifying
1) Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.582 e.t., 265.79 mph 
vs. 8) Brad Hanson, Bellingham, Wash., 5.941 e.t., 231.76 mph

2) Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Kan., 5.702 e.t., 248.20 mph
vs. 7) Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif., 5.860 e.t., 238.63 mph

3) Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.715 e.t., 245.89 mph
vs. 6) Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.762 e.t., 246.84 mph;

4) Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.742 e.t., 248.53 mph vs.
5) Chris Lane, San Leandro, Calif., 5.747 e.t., 246.57 mph

Round 1 eliminations
1) Troxel, 5.551, 249.03 mph def. 8) Hansen, 6.203, 228.73 mph;
2) Wendland, 6.114, 237.25 mph def. 7) Kaiser, foul;
6) Bingham, 5.683, 245.45 mph def. 3) Nicholson, 5.694, 248.26 mph;
4) Henkelman, 5.507, 253.07 mph def. 5) Lane, 6.096, 173.23 mph

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Final Qualifying
1) John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 5.763 e.t., 245.15 mph
vs. 8) Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 5.952 e.t., 238.05 mph;

2) Bret Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 5.841 e.t., 240.73 mph
vs. 7) Bert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 5.950 e.t., 238.90 mph;

3) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 5.881 e.t., 236.82 mph vs.
6) Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 5.946 e.t., 239.76 mph;

4) Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., 5.940 e.t., 232.85 mph
vs. 5) Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., 5.945 e.t., 237.89 mph

Round 1 eliminations
8) Alexander, 5.983, 236.49 mph def. 1) Weaver, 9.291, 85.53 mph;
2) Williamson, 5.879, 241.33 mph def. 7) Littlefield, 6.169, 216.52 mph;
3) Gordon, 5.939, 239.54 mph def. 6) Miner, 11.337, 59.53 mph;
4) Gasparelli, 5.866, 233.91 mph def., 5) Parker, 8.969, 102.77 mph 

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Phil Cocuzza, Van Nuys, Calif., 7.976, 169.66, -0.544
2) Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., 8.596, 153.99, -0.544
3) Bryan Morrison, Chino Hills, Calif., 8.848, 151.59 -0.532
4) Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., 8.335, 162.40, -0.515
5) Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., 8.343,162.68, -0.507
6) Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., 8.826, 148, 29, -0.506
7) Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., 8.037, 170.03, -0.493
8) Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., 7.174, 189.92, -0.446
9) Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif., 7.456, 179.81, -0.414
10) John Chamberlin, Napa, Calif., 6.783, 203.12, -0.377

SUPER STOCK
1) Gary Willimams, Mariposa, Calif., 11.116, 119.15
2) Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., 10.346, 128.24
3) Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., 9.011, 146.90
4) Guy Czarniak, Redding, Calif., 9,543, 139.88
5) Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., 8.749, 155.65;
6) Doug Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., 9.054, 149.92
7) Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., 10.262, 128.64
8) Don Studley, Orange, Calif., 10.270, 127.64
9) Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., 8.627, 157.20
10)Howard Thomphson, Jr., Wildomar, Calif., 10.043, 133.03

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., 11.710, 113.28
2) Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., 10.511, 124.92
3) Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif., 10.557, 123.62
4) George Thompson, Canyon Country, Calif., 11.460, 113.85
5) Steve Wann, Modesto,Calif., 10.711, 122.12
6) Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., 12.765, 102.30
7) Don Little, Westley, Calif., 10.327, 128.17
8) Dwayne Scheitlin, Madera, Calif., 10.580, 124.06
9) Larry Maxwell, Salinas, Calif., 11.030, 119.22
10) Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., 10.602, 123.40

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUICK DRAGSTER AND FUNNY CAR FIELDS HIGHLIGHT ACTION AT SACRAMENTO RACEWAY PARK
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The second round of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying was a definite improvement over the first round during the heat of the day at Sacramento Raceway Park.

In the first round, only Melanie Troxel in the In-N-Out Burger F/M Dragster entry was able to tame the track. Troxel, of Littleton, Colo., ran a 5.582 elapsed time (e.t.) at 256.79 mph. In their second efforts, competitors in both classes stepped up performances. Troxel's initial time, however, stood up as the best time and speed of the event to this point.

Today's F/M Funny Car qualifying ended with an all five second field and a new Sacramento Raceway Park record for the class. Hanford, Calif.'s John Weaver reset the track e.t. record at 5.763 seconds, placing him solidly in the number one position.

In other qualifying categories top qualifiers are Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., in Comp; Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., in Super Stock; and Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., in Stock.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 10 a.m., with the final F/M Dragster and Funny Car session at 1:30 p.m. Both classes will run first round of eliminations at 7 p.m. tomorrow, and continuing on Sunday.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sacramento Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.582, 256.79
2)Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.742, 248.53
3)Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.770, 247.23
4)Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.784, 248.75
5)Chris Lane, San Leandro, Calif., 5.801, 242.68
6)Rob Wendlen, Lawrence, Kan., 5.814, 221.14
7)Tony Meredyk, Cypress, Calif., 5.976, 230.18
8)Brad Hansen, Bellingham, Wash., 5.977, 225.54
--- Not Qualified ---
9)Gary Ormbsy, Jr., Granite Bay, Calif., 6.002, 196.93
10)Gary Anderson, Anaheim, Calif., 6.120, 219.12
11)David Baca, no hometown available, 6.263, 213.03
12)Mark Woods, Jr., Kingsburg, Calif., 6.415, 203.69
13)Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.461, 195.28
14)Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif., 7.873, 111.58

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1)John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., 5.763, 245.15
2)Brett Williamson, Campbell, Calif., 5.841, 240.73
3)Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 5.881, 236.82
4)Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., 5.940, 232.85
5)Russ Parker, Salem, Ore., 5.945, 237.89
6) Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., 5.952, 238.05
7)Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif., 5.955, 234.31
8)Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., 5.996, 236.91
--- Not Qualified ---
9)Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., 6.017, 235.25
10)Ed Marx, San Rafeal, Calif., 6.018, 237.72
11)Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., 6.063, 238.07
12)Mike Andreotti, Colusa, Calif., 6.069, 242.76
13)Norm Hill, La Habra, Calif., 6.329, 202.12
14)Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., 6.355, 229.79
15)Dave Hix, Central Point, Ore., 6.984, 210.36

COMP ELIMINATOR (after one round of qualifying)
1)Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., 8.596, 153.99, -0.544
2)Phil Cocuzza, Van Nuys, Calif., 7.976, 169.66, -0.544
3)not available
4)Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., 8.335, 162.40, -0.515
5)not available
6)Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., 8.037, 170.03, -0.493
7)Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., 7.228, 190.83, -0.392
8)John Chamberlin, Napa, Calif., 6.783, 203.12, -0.377
9)Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif., 8.958, 128, 37, -0.372
10)Rich Howell, Yorba Linda, Calif., 7.517, 175.92, -0.353

SUPER STOCK
1)Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., 10.346, 128.24
2)Jerry Jenkins, Modesto, Calif., 9.011, 146.90
3) Guy Czarniak, Redding, Calif., 9,543, 139.88
4) Gary Willimams, Mariposa, Calif., 11.211, 117.87
5)Don Studley, Orange, Calif., 10.270, 127.64
6)Terry Sherrill, Klamath Falls, Ore., 8.627, 157.20
7)Howard Thomphson, Jr., Wildomar, Calif., 10.043, 133.03
8)Dick Carr, Clovis, Calif., 9.455, 142.48
9) Logan Smith, Loomis, Calif., 9.819, 135.45
10)Harry Holton, Modesto, Calif., 9.322, 141.48

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1)Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., 10.511, 124.92
2)Clark Holroyd, Chino, Calif., 10.557, 123.62
3)George Thompson, Canyon Country, Calif., 11.460, 113.85
4)Steve Wann, Modesto,Calif., 10.725, 121.73
5)Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., 11.801, 111.80
6)Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif., 10.602, 123.40
7)Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., 12.805, 101.64
8)Don Little, Westley, Calif., 10.359, 127.81
9)Larry Maxwell, Salinas, Calif., 11.061, 118.49
10)Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., 10.945, 119.93