FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal-Mogul Dragster rookie Cannon lives up to his name

REYNOLDS, Ga. - It was an all Middleburg, Fla., final in Federal-Mogul Dragster: defending Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Dragster champion Michael Gunderson against Federal-Mogul Dragster rookie Jason Cannon. The battle of Middleburg, Fla. went to the rookie, Cannon. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Jay Payne avenged last year's runner-up finish due to a oil line leak after his final round burnout to take his first NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series win of the 2001 season.

FMD final: Jason Cannon, far lane, defeats Michael Gunderson

Cannon was the only racer on the premises happy to see the rains come last night after hurting his engine beyond repair to make the 10 p.m. call for the final round.

Cannon, the 1996 Southeast Division Super Comp champion, got the attention of the other racers after beating the hottest driver in the nation and the 2000 Federal-Mogul Dragster national champion runner-up, Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas, in the semifinals. His team worked all night to replace the engine and it paid off with his first win in a Federal-Mogul Dragster. Cannon had his Florida neighbor covered the entire race after Gunderson began to lose cylinders right from the start. Cannon took the win light with the fastest run of the weekend, 5.632 seconds at 258.37 to Gunderson's pass of 6.204 seconds at 185.59 mph.

"I'm still a little in shock," said an ecstatic Cannon. "We have worked so hard this year getting this team off the ground and the last couple of races have been really good for us. If we keep this up we have a shot at a top 10 national points finish."

FMFC final: Jay Payne, nar lane, defeats Von Smith

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, it's been the same story all season -- Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif., and Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn., in a head-to-head battle for the win. The last three consecutive events have seen Smith defeat Payne in the final or semifinal round. This weekend it was all Payne as he took his first Southeast Divisional Federal-Mogul Funny Car event win of the 2001 season.

The finish was a little closer than would have been predicted after Payne had the field covered by at almost two-tenth of a second all weekend. Payne almost gave the race to Smith at the start with a very slow reaction time of .575 to Smith's stellar .457. Smith had Payne covered until the 1000-foot mark when his Jensen Audio Federal-Mogul Funny Car began to skate left towards the centerline out of the groove. That was enough for a streaking Payne and his Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro to nip Smith at the finish by.017 of a second or about six feet.

Other winners on the weekend include: Mike Saye of Johnston, S.C., in Comp; Kenneth Horne of Fayetteville, N.C., in Super Stock; Gene Jordan of Reidsville, N.C., in Stock; Victor Vickers of Douglas, Ga., in Super Comp; Justin Allen of Waco, Texas, in Super Gas and Ken Etchison of Sarasota, Fla., in Super Street.

Following are the final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
Final
Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.632 seconds, 258.37 mph def. 
Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 6.204, 185.59 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
Final
Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.909, 240.94 def. 
Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 6.044, 236.22 

COMP ELIMINATOR
Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, G/A, 9.064 seconds, 148.74 mph def. 
Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 8.198, 163.29

SUPER STOCK
Kenneth Horne, Fayetteville, NC, '97 Oldsmobile Achieva, SS/DM, 9.784 seconds, 138.56 mph def. 
Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/MA, 11.148, 118.49

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Gene Jordan, Reidsville, NC, '69 Chevrolet Camaro, A/SA, 10.830 seconds, 114.60 mph def. 
Mike Mayhew, Savannah, Ga., '77 Oldsmobile Cutlass, N/SA, 12.687, 103.39

SUPER COMP
Victor Vickers, Douglas, GA., '98 Dragster, 8.918 seconds, 157.69 mph (reaction time .420) def. 
Sherman Adcock Jr., Columbus, Ga., '00 Dragster, 8.901, 163.67 (r/t .438)

SUPER GAS
Justin Allen, Waco, Texas, '92 Pontiac Trans Am, 9.917 seconds, 151.24 mph def. 
Carl Freeman, O'Neal, Fla., '90 Trans Am, 9.888, 133.08 (breakout)
 
SUPER STREET
Ken Etchinson, Sarasota, Fla., '81 Chevrolet Camaro, 10.911seconds, 130.69 mph def. 
Dan Moore, Scotts Moore, Fla., '81 Camaro, 10.934, 130.45 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Final rounds set in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car

REYNOLDS, Ga. - The second day of racing at the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway completed all but two pairs of cars due to a late downpour. Unfortunately, the two passes postponed were the final rounds of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car. The final rounds of dragster and funny car will take place immediately after an U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber fly-by at noon.

Middleburg, Fla., residents will make up the final in Federal-Mogul Dragster. Defending Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Dragster champion, Michael Gunderson against Federal-Mogul Dragster up-in-comer Jason Cannon.

Cannon had the biggest upset of the event and maybe the season by beating the 2000 runner-up Federal-Mogul Dragster National Champion, Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas. Cannon took the when light when Meyer's dragster began skate out of the groove towards the center line at half-track and had to get out of the gas. Gunderson took another big step towards his fifth consecutive NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Dragster Championship with an appearance in his second final round of the season. No. 1 in the points coming into Silver Dollar, Gunderson beat the current No. 2 in the points, Billy Bybee of McLean, Texas, to lengthen his points lead and take on Cannon in the final.

In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, it's been the same story all season--Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif. and Von Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn. in a head-to-head battle for the win. The last three consecutive events have seen Smith defeat Payne in the final or semifinal round. Payne may have the upper hand here this weekend running nearly two tenths quicker than Smith all weekend.

Larry Pritchett of Clarkrange, Tenn., collected the $200 Sealed Power Low Qualifier award in Comp Eliminator and Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala. dominated the Super Stock and Stock classes in qualifying and collected two checks for Sealed Power for a total of $300.

Eliminations will continue at the Silver Dollar Raceway on Sunday at 10 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Opening ceremonies, including a fly-by by an U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber from nearby Warner-Robins Air Force Base followed by the Final Round of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car.

The following are the first and semifinal round elimination results of Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car. Also following are the final qualifying results from Comp Eliminator, Super Stock and Stock at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at the Silver Dollar Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
First Round
1) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.592 seconds, 248.80 mph def. 
8) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 6.474, 160.19

2) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.649, 248.89 def. 
7) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.959, 233.03

3) Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.858, 219.26 def. 
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., Broke

5) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 8.809, 96.01 def. 
4) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., Red light foul

Semifinals
Cannon, 5.666, 237.09 def. Meyer, 6.361, 173.96
Gunderson, 5.656, 245.58 def. Bybee, 5.797, 229.94

Final (will run 12 noon on Saturday)
Gunderson vs. Cannon 

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
First Round
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.864, 237.55 def.
6) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.239, 218.83

2) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.232, 223.84 def. 
5) Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Dodge Avenger, 8.633, 81.64

3) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 6.012, 239.48 def. 
4) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, Broke

Semifinals
Payne, 5.909, 235.60 def. Bye
Smith, 6.167, 231.75 def. Billington, 6.268, 219.47

Final (will run 12 noon on Saturday)
Payne vs. Smith

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 8.091 seconds (0.619-seconds under Index)
2. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, G/A, 9.003 (-0.577)
3. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '01 Dragster, E/ED, 8.619 (-0.531)
4. Wayne Hutton, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '92 Oldsmobile Achieva, A/SM, 8.725 (-0.335)
5. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '98 Pontiac Firebird, E/AA, 8.614 (-0.326)
6. Jeff Barrett, Lake Worth, Fla., '91 Dragster, G/D, 9.832 (-0.228)
7. Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '96 Achieva, C/EA, 8.743 (-0.187)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Pontiac Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.994 (1.056-seconds under index)
2. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/MA, 11.048 (-1.002)
3. Glenn Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '85 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/JA, 10.374 (-0.926)
4. Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Ford Mustang, SS/L, 10.662 (-0.888)
5. Andy Fogle, Norway, SC, '67 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.050 (-0.850)
6. Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '98 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/BA 9.715 (-0.835)
7. Joey Warren, Clinton, NC, '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.870 (-0.830)
8. Steve Tchetter, Riverdale, Ga., '64 Chevrolet, SS/LA, 10.920 (-0.830)
9. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/EA, 9.829 (-0.821) 
10. Joe LoCicero, Snellville, Tenn., '87 Camaro, 9.883 (-0.817)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass, U/SA, 13.865 seconds (1.285-seconds under Index)
2. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, NC, '66 Chevelle, M/S, 11.950 (-1.200)
3. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Ford Mustang, K/S, 11.707 (-1.143)
4. Jeff Teuton, Houma, La., '69 Super Bee, ET/SA, 12.231 (-1.119)
5. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Dodge Malibu, V/SA, 14.717 (-1.083)
6. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Pontiac Firebird, D/SA, 10.770 (-1.080)
7. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet Wagon, T/SA, 13.653 (-1.047)
8. Hugh Meeks Jr., Union Springs, Ala., '73 Chevrolet Nova, I/SA, 11.628 (-0.972)
9. Jimmy Hidalso Jr., Donaldsonville, La., '97 Chevrolet Z28, E/SA, 11.032 (-0.968)
10. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '99 Firebird, C/SA, 10.734 (-0.966)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

It's The Jay Show: Meyer and Payne keep up hot streaks

REYNOLDS, Ga. - The infamous Georgia heat and humidity welcomed 250 racers to Reynolds' Silver Dollar Raceway for the fourth event of the six race 2001 NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series. Two of the hottest NHRA drivers in the country, Jay Meyer of Freeport, Texas, and Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif., kept their hot streaks alive by capturing the $1,000 Sealed Power Low Qualifier awards in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car, respectively.

Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot, Meyer, showed the Silver Dollar Raceway crowd why at this point in the season he is by far the hottest driver in any NHRA category. Meyer dominated the eight-car field by more than a tenth of a second and captured the No. 1 qualifying position with a run of 5.542 seconds at 248.57 mph in his final qualifying attempt.

Meyer, who destroyed his dragster in a horrific crash at the first NHRA South Central Division Federal-Mogul event at Houston Raceway Park, has made an amazing comeback by taking wins in three of the four races he has entered since he rebuilt his Federal-Mogul Dragster.

"Were No. 1 qualifier, but it cost us an engine," said a dejected Meyer. "I'm not sure we can get it together for tomorrow's eliminations. We lost an engine two weeks ago in Atlanta [Southern Nationals] and now this. We are getting thin on parts."

Payne is looking for some good luck here at Silver Dollar Raceway after last year's hard-luck runner-up finish. At the 2000 event, Payne was the quickest and fastest Funny Car all weekend-only to wind up with a runner-up finish to Baton Rouge, La., racer Warren Dauzat after breaking an oil line on the starting line while staging for the final round race.

After almost scoring his first ever Federal-Mogul Funny Car win here last year, Payne had to wait until June for his first Funny Car win in Denver. Payne collected his first NHRA Federal-Mogul Funny Car National event win a couple weeks back at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Like Meyer, Payne dominated the Funny Car field with the only sub-six second pass of the day. Payne took the No. 1 qualifying position for tomorrows eliminations with a stellar pass of 5.887 seconds at 242.41 mph.

"I'm not even thinking about last year-this year we are low qualifier and tomorrow we go from there," said Payne. "We have been working hard and putting long hours in this year and its starting to payoff."

One incident occurred on the first day of time-trials at Silver Dollar Raceway. Tallahassee, Fla. resident, Sidney Gibson Jr.'s Super Gas '97 Chevrolet Camaro lost control past the finish line, crossed over into the right lane, made contact with the right guardwall and vaulted over into the grass. An alert Gibson was removed from the car by NHRA Safety Safari and transported to Houstin County Medical Center in stable condition with a broken left leg and left arm. Gibson will need surgery on his broken leg, but will most likely be released from the hospital tomorrow.

Qualifying and time trials will continue at the Silver Dollar Raceway on Saturday at 10 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car will be at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.

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

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.542 seconds, 248.57 mph vs. 8) 
Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 8.409, 106.93

2) Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.659, 251.16 vs. 
7) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 6.924, 235.56

3) Billy Bybee, McLean, Texas, 5.683, 238.13 vs. 
6) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 5.895, 237.63

4) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.712, 243.85 vs. 
5) Jason Cannon, Middleburg, Fla., 5.795, 200.68

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '01 Chevrolet Camaro, 5.887, 242.41 vs. 
6) Warren Dauzat, Baton Rouge, La., '96 Oldsmobile Achieva, 28.000, 00.00

2) Mark Billington, Apopka, Fla., '95 Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.082, 228.58 vs.
5) Dave Ryan, Palatka, Fla., '98 Dodge Avenger, 6.689, 207.46

3) Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '01 Pontiac Firebird, 6.210, 231.83 vs. 
4) William Fulford, Virginia Beach, Va., '00 Chevrolet Corvette, 6.570, 179.78

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Oldsmobile Cutlass, G/A, 9.015 seconds (0.565 seconds under Index)
2. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '98 Pontiac Grand Am, A/SM, 8.304  (0.406)
3. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '01 Dragster, E/ED, 8.764 (-0.386)
4. Wayne Hutton, Goodlettsville, Tenn., '92 Oldsmobile Achieva, A/SM, 8.889 (-0.171)
5. Jeff Barrett, Lake Worth, Fla., '91 Dragster, G/D, 9.918 (-0.142)
6. Van Puckett, Snellville, Ga., '98 Pontiac Firebird, E/AA, 8.828 (-0.112)

SUPER STOCK
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '97 Pontiac Firehawk, GT/MA, 10.999 seconds (1.051-seconds under Index)
2. Johnny Moore, Montgomery, Ala., '99 Pontiac Firebird, GT/MA, 11.048 (-1.002)
3. Wayne Hayes, Elgin, SC, '56 Chevrolet, SS/NA, 11.465 (-0.985)
4. Glenn Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., '85 Chevrolet Camaro, SS/JA, 10.403 (-0.897)
5. Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Ford Mustang, SS/L, 10.662 (-0.888)
6. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., '68 Chevrolet Corvette, SS/EA, 9.835 (-0.815) 
7. Joey Warren, Clinton, NC, '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.886 (-0.814)
8. Joe LoCicero, Snellville, Ga., '87 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.950 (-0.750)
9. Robert Burgin III, Cuthber, Ga., '01 Firebird, GT/CA, 9.958 (-0.742)
10. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., '93 Oldsmobile Achieva, GT/BA, 9.826 (-0.724)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass, U/SA, 13.786 seconds (1.364-seconds under Index)
2. Tom Hemmingson, Concord, NC, '66 Chevelle, M/S, 12.107 (-1.043)
3. Lee Tuttle, Albany, Ga., '66 Chevrolet Wagon, T/SA, 13.658 (-1.042)
4. Peter Noriega, Hialeah, Fla., '80 Dodge Malibu, V/SA, 14.767 (-1.033)
5. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Pontiac Firebird, D/SA, 10.862 (-0.988)
6. Hugh Meeks Jr., Union Springs, Ala., '73 Chevrolet Nova, I/SA, 11.628 (-0.972)
7. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '99 Firebird, C/SA, 10.756 (-0.944)
8. Butch Payne, Rome, Ga., '86 Chevrolet Camaro, I/SA, 11.699 (-0.901)
9. Mark Lewis, Inman, SC, '74 Nova, J/SA, 11.871 (-0.879)
10.  Brandon Wood, Thomasville, Ga., '85 Camaro, L/SA, 12.146 (-0.854)