DIVISION 2
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla. Feb. 18-20

Sunday Eliminations
Saturday Qualifying
Friday Qualifying

Sunday Eliminations:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bartone continues dominance Over Manzo

GAINESVILLE RACEWAY. Gainesville, Fla. -- When it came to head-to-head battles between Manhasset, N.Y.'s Tony Bartone and Morganville, N.J.'s Frank Manzo in 1999, the New Yorker chalked up an impressive 4-0 win-loss record.

Tony Bartone took Federal-Mogul Funny Car honors at Gainesville Raceway, defeating Frank Manzo in the final.
However, when the silverware was handed out at season's end it was Manzo, not Bartone, who collected the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Funny Car world title, the fifth of his storied career.

Stung by the defeat Bartone has entered the 2000 drag racing season with a resolve to stop Manzo and win his second-career title. On Sunday at Gainesville Raceway Bartone again drew first blood in the duo's personal on-track battle, downing Manzo in the final with a 5.77-second run at 251 mph. Manzo slowed to a 10-second pass.

"One win doesn't make a season, but to win the title we've got to stop Frank anywhere we can, and that's what we did here today," said Bartone.

In the dragster class Middleburg, Fla.'s Michael Gunderson cruised to an easy victory when final-round opponent and temporary teammate Jay Payne broke. Gunderson, driving a new nitro-fueled injected dragster claimed the win with a 5.47-second lap.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 

Round 1
1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 10.566 seconds, 74.93 mph def. 
8. Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., broke

3. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.619, 252.95 def. 
6. Cherrisa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.385, 217.81

2. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 12.134, 58.92 def. 
7. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 6.743, 177.51 (red-light)

5. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.097, 211.31 def. 
4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 6.569, 221.78

Round 2
3. Payne, 5.735, 246.03 def. 2. Bears, 5.792, 228.89
1. Gunderson, 6.015, 250.48 def. 5. Fiorelli, 7.310, 125.41

Final Round
1. Gunderson, 5.479, 256.62 def. 3. Payne, broke

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
Round One
2. Frank Manzo, Morganville, NJ '00 Avenger 5.877 sec. 249.58 mph def. 
3. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 10.090, 81.61

1. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, NY, '99 Camaro, 5.790, 252.03 def.
4. Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 6.723, 192.26

Final Round
1. Bartone, 5.774, 251.67 def. 2. Manzo, 10.907, 79.36 

COMP ELIMINATOR
Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.356, 148.12 def.
Bert Dawson, East Liverpool, Ohio, D/A '99 Firebird, 8.060, 156.95

SUPER STOCK
Herbie Null, Elgin, SC, GT/BA '87 Camaro, 9.717, 134.06 def. 
Dan Fletcher, Rochester, NY, SS/HA '69 Camaro, 10.141, 128.35

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Edmond Richardson, Goodlettsville, Tenn., E/SA '94 Camaro, 11.213, 110.74
def. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, NC, K/SA '90 Camaro, 11.872, 109.79

SUPER COMP
Claude DeBonis, West Palm Beach, Fla., dragster, 8.908, 155.87 def. 
Peabody Harrell, Vidalia, Fla., dragster, 8.935, 162.48

SUPER GAS
Bart Graham, Weirsdale, Fla., '74 Vega, 10.625, 101.91 def. 
Mark Horton, Millbury, Ohio, '99 Corvette, broke

SUPER STREET
Ken Etchison, Sarasota, Fla., '78 Camaro, 10.891, 121.29 def. 
Steve Beckham, Anniston, Ala., '68 Camaro, 10.887, 123.18 (break out)
Saturday Qualifying:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gunderson and Bartone lead qualifying

GAINESVILLE RACEWAY. Gainesville, Fla. -- Middleburg, Fla.'s Michael Gunderson and Manhasset, N.Y.'s Tony Bartone are the top qualifiers at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway. Gunderson paced the field in Federal-Mogul Dragster with a 5.47-second run at 262 mph and will face Cumming, Ga.'s Dan Lucas in the first round of eliminations Sunday.

Bartone led the Federal-Mogul Funny Cars with a 5.76-second pass at 251 mph and will tangle with New Market, Ala.'s Jerry Freeman in the opening round.

Manzo and Bartone battled for the world title throughout 1999 with Manzo, of Morganville, N.J., claiming his third-straight championship. Bartone finished second.

Should both Manzo and Bartone defeat their first-round competitors they will meet in the final round, renewing their fierce on-track rivalry.

Eliminations begin in all categories Sunday at 9 a.m. Gates at Gainesville Raceway open at 8 a.m. and Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars are scheduled to run at noon.

The following are Saturday's qualifying results for Sunday's eliminations from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
 1. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.473 seconds, 262.62 mph
 2. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.582, 241.87
 3. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.630, 253.30
 4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.693, 246.03
 5. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.144, 215.05
 6. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.652, 211.91
 7. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 7.018, 197.75
 8. Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 32.000, no speed recorded

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, NY, '99 Camaro, 5.761 seconds, 251.39 mph
2. Frank Manzo, Morganville, NY, '00 Avenger, 5.852, 250.27
3. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.040, 233.28
4. Jerry Freeman, New Market, Ala., '98 Avenger, 8.807, 101.62

COMPETITION

  1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.312 (-0.738)
  2. Jonathan Aloisio, West Chester, Pa., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.390 (-0.660)
  3. Larry Mayes, Greenwood, Ind., D/SM '96 Achieva, 8.224 (-0.606)
  4. Tony Terry, Forest, Va., B/SM '96 Grand Am, 8.846 (-0.584)
  5. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, NC, D/EA '97 Firebird, 8.517 (-0.573)
  6. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., A/EA '23-T Ford, 7.559 (-0.571)
  7. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., A/EA '23-T Ford, 7.567 (-0.563)
  8. Bert Dawson, East Liverpool, Ohio, D/A '99 Firebird, 8.100 (-0.530)
  9. Dan Kilheffer, Carlisle, Pa., C/ED dragster, 7.568 (-0.522)
 10. Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., B/EA '97 Pontiac, 8.101 (-0.489)

SUPER STOCK

  1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA '97 Firehawk, 10.820(-1.230)
  2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, NC, SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.205 (-1.145)
  3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E '68 Corvette, 9.423 (-1.127)
  4. Craig Ruff, Tallassee, Ala., SS/DA '88 Cutlass, 11.542 (-1.058)
  5. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., SS/K '66 Chevy II, 10.246 (-1.054)
  6. Bucky Hess, Bunkerhill, WV, SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 8.967 (-1.033)
  7. Johnny Fogle, Norway, SC, SS/HA '67 Camaro, 9.883 (-1.017)
  8. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., SS/IA '66 Nova, 10.000 (-1.000)
  9. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, SC, SS/NA '56 Bel Air, 11.456 (-0.994)
 10. Eric Wingo, Springfield, Tenn., 92 Grand Am, 10.060 (-0.990)

STOCK
  1. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., T/SA '66 Chevrolet, 13.634 (-1.166)
  2. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.701 (-1.149)
  3. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.153 (-1.147)
  4. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, M/S '66 Chevelle, 12.006 (-1.144)
  5. Larry Thomason, Union City, Tenn., I/SA '74 Corvette, 11.495 (-1.105)
  6. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., L/SA '85 Camaro, 11.922 (-1.078)
  7. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA '82 Cutlass, 14.072 (-1.078)
  8. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu, 12.077 (-1.073)
  9. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, NC, K/SA '90 Camaro, 11.917 (-1.033)
 10. Jim Woods, Kissimmee, Fla., M/SA '77 Oldsmobile, 12.137 (-1.013)
Friday Qualifying:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Manzo, Bartone renew rivalry at Gainesville
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY. Gainesville, Fla. -- Throughout the 1999 NHRA drag-racing season New York Funny Car racers Frank Manzo and Tony Bartone clashed four times on track, each time Bartone winning.

However, when the points were tallied it was defending world champion Manzo of Morganville who added another title to his war chest, a runner-up finish in Houston in late-October ultimately costing Manhasset's Bartone the championship.

At the 2000 season-opening NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Series race at Gainesville Raceway the two racers again are set to battle. During first-round qualifying Bartone drew first blood, leading the Funny Car field with a 5.785-second lap, a heartbeat ahead of Manzo's 5.852-second run.

Clearwater, Fla.'s Bob Bears leads the dragster field with a 5.582-second pass, barely edging Middleburg, Fla.'s Michael Gunderson, who ran a 5.591.

Qualifying resumes in all categories Saturday. Gates at Gainesville Raceway open at 8 a.m. and competition begins at 9 a.m. F/M Dragster and F/M Funny Cars are scheduled to run at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Bob Bears, Clearwater, Fla., 5.582 seconds, 238.60 mph
2. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.591, 228.54
3. Jay Payne, Upland, Calif., 5.630, 253.30
4. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.693, 243.37
5. Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 7.208, 191.08
6. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 8.635, 104.89
7. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 15.943, 46.09

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, NY, '99 Camaro, 5.785 seconds, 251.39 mph
2. Frank Manzo, Morganville, NY, '00 Avenger, 5.852, 250.27
3. Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Achieva, 6.081, 229.59

COMPETITION
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., E/SM '98 Grand Am, 8.345 (-0.705)
2. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., A/EA '23-T Ford, 7.575 (-0.555)
3. Dan Kilheffer, Carlisle, Pa., C/ED dragster, 7.568 (-0.522)
4. Tony Terry, Forest, Va., B/SM '96 Grand Am, 8.923 (-0.507)
5. Michael Hardee, Wilmington, NC, D/EA '97 Firebird, 8.584 (-0.506)
6. Van Puckett, Lithonia, Ga., B/EA '97 Pontiac, 8.106 (-0.484)
7. Bert Dawson, East Liverpool, Ohio, D/A '99 Firebird, 8.153 (-0.477)
8. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, NC, B/A '94 Lumina, 7.438 (-0.432)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA '97 Firehawk, 10.864 (-1.186)
2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, NC, SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.293 (-1.057)
3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E '68 Corvette, 9.533 (-1.017)
4. Fred Allen, Winamac, Ind., SS/IA '66 Nova, 10.024 (-0.976)
5. Johnny Fogle, Norway, SC, SS/HA '67 Camaro, 9.949 (-0.951)
6. Robin Brown, Madisonville, Ky., SS/K '66 Chevy II, 10.351 (-0.949)
7. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, SC, SS/NA '56 Bel Air, 11.519 (-0.931)
8. Eric Wingo, Springfield, Tenn., 92 Grand Am, 10.169 (-0.881)

STOCK
1. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.701 (-1.149)
2. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, M/S '66 Chevelle, 12.006 (-1.144)
3. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., T/SA '66 Chevrolet, 13.685 (-1.115)
4. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.213 (-1.087)
5. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., U/SA '82 Cutlass, 14.085 (-1.065)
6. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu, 12.109 (-1.041)
7. Brandon Wood, Meigs, Ga., L/SA '85 Camaro, 11.974 (-1.026)
8. Larry Thomason, Union City, Tenn., I/SA '74 Corvette, 11.576 (-1.024)   









Return to main Federal-Mogul Series Results page

Return to the NHRA Home Page

Return to the FMDRS Home Page