FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santos races to victory at Thunder Valley, ties Hentges for point lead

Noble, Okla. - In the final results from Thunder Valley Raceway Park, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver and four-time national champion Rick Santos and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Todd Simpson drove to victory in their respective fields.

Santos, of Brentwood, Calif., took on current points leader Mark Hentges of Federal Way, Wash., in the final and laid down a 5.485-second, 260.79-mph pass to turn on the win light. Santos, seeking his fifth consecutive national championship, tied Hentges atop the national points standing.

"We needed this," said Santos. "Mark got me last week in Reading with a killer reaction time. I was happy to see that I gave myself a chance to win with a .425 reaction time."

Ponder, Texas, resident, Simpson squared off against Tate Branch of Artesia, N.M., in the Funny Car final. Simpson drove his '00 Avenger to victory with a pass of 5.951 seconds and 244.43 mph.

Others claiming wins here this weekend were: Don Stratton of Beloit, Ohio, in Competition Eliminator; Jimmy DeFrank of Tarzana, Calif., in Super Stock; Steven Hall of Sweeney, Texas in Stock; Shannon "Elvis" Brinkley of Highlands, Texas in Super Comp; Jimmy Lewis of Forney, Texas in Super Gas; Steve Domingues of Derby, Kan. in Super Street; and Joe Herron of Freemont, Neb., in Motorcycle.

Earning the award for Best Appearing Crew was Tulsa, Okla., resident and Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot Shelly Howard. Taking home top honors for Best Appearing Car was Tommy Costales of Houston, Texas for his immaculate Super Comp dragster. John Garner of Houston, Texas earned the Best Engineered car for his Super Comp dragster.

This is the final Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event of the 2001 season for the NHRA South Central Division. The 2002 South Central division season kicks off in Houston, Texas on March 2-4.

The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
First Round
1) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.502 seconds, 261.24 mph def. 
8) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.631, 241.67

7) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.551, 258.91 def. 
2) Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 26.926, 22.30

3) Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.455, 260.79 def. 
6) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.799, 241.15

5) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.550, 257.58 def. 
4) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.586, 253.87

Semifinals
Hentges, 5.520 seconds, 250.69 mph def. Buff, 5.583, 257.36
Santos, 5.479, 259.59 def. Bradshaw, 5.747, 227.79

Final
Santos, 5.485 seconds, 260.79 mph def. Hentges, 5.581, 258.62

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
First Round
1) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.963 seconds, 239.29 mph def.
8) Kirk, Johnson, Dallas, Texas, '98 Avenger, 7.731, 118.62

2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '00 Avenger, 6.001, 237.40 def. 
7) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '01 Corvette, 6.333, 231.30

3) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.891, 241.28 def. 
6) Kebin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Achieva, 6.587, 157.15

4) Scott Palmer, Highlandville, Mo., '98 Achieva 6.041, 241.28 def. 
5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '98 Camaro, 6.133, 236.40

Semifinals
Simpson, '00 Avenger, 5.936 seconds, 244.36 mph def. Palmer, '98 Achieva, 6.148, 237.02
Branch, '00 Avenger, 5.982, 240.00 def. Stidham, '00 Camaro, 6.020, 235.41

Final
Simpson, '00 Avenger, 5.951 seconds, 244.43 mph def. Branch, 6.013, 240.57

COMP ELIMINATOR
Don Stratton Jr., Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.160 seconds, 160.48 mph def. 
Andy Manna Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif., '90 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.474, 157.23

SUPER STOCK
Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, GT/HA, 10.484 seconds, 127.58 mph def. 
Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 9.069, 146.96 mph

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Steven Hall, Sweeney, Texas, '68 Mustang, B/SA, 10.663 seconds, 123.32 mph def. 
Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, I/S, 11.786, 111.80

SUPER COMP
Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, Texas, 8.898 seconds, 168.85 mph def. 
Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas, 8.890, 163.84

SUPER GAS 
Jimmy Lewis, Forney, Texas, '94 Brogie, 9.955 seconds, 146.15 mph def.
Frank Kohutek, Mesquite, Texas, '96 Roadster, 10.197, 140.07

SUPER STREET
Steve Domingues, Derby, Kan., '67 Camaro, 10.931 seconds, 139.83 mph def.
Delbert Hembey, Fort Worth, Texas, '77 Vega, 10.933, 128.42

MOTORCYCLE
Joe Herron, Freemont, Neb., '81 Suzuki, 10.217 seconds, 130.60 mph def.
Chris Oravecz, Arlington, Texas, '81 Suzuki, 10.131, 117.83 -0.843

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Championships being chased at Thunder Valley

Noble, Okla. - In the final rounds of qualifying at Thunder Valley Raceway Park, Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Mark Hentges and Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Todd Simpson took home top honors in the NHRA South Central division finals.

Hentges of Federal Way, Wash., made the 1,320-foot run in 5.467 seconds at 260.11 mph to put him ahead of the other 19 competitors while also claiming the $1,000 low qualifier check from Sealed Power. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Simpson of Ponder, Texas, earned the low qualifier honors when he made a 5.975-second 242.78 mph pass in his '00 Avenger to put him at the top of his category.

Sealed Power low qualifiers in other classes are Don Stratton of Beloit, Ohio, in Competition Eliminator; Buz Post of Arlington, Texas in Super Stock; and Mike Wenke of Conway Springs, Kan., in Stock.

In other racing action, Federal-Mogul Dragster pilot Shelly Howard of Tulsa, Oklahoma was involved in a crash during second round of qualifying. Howard, who is currently fifth in points nationally, crashed into the right guardwall as her car burst into flames. The NHRA Safety Safari was quick to the scene as Howard walked away from the accident.

"I am upset that my car is destroyed," said Howard., "I think I tore a tendon in my hand but Paul [husband and doctor] can go in and fix that. Hopefully, we can get a car ready for Dallas next week."

Eliminations begin Sunday at Thunder Valley Raceway Park at 9:00 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car are scheduled to run at noon. For more information call the track, (405) 872-3429.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1) Mark Hentges, Federal Way, Wash., 5.467 seconds, 260.11 mph vs. 
8) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.697, 252.52

2) Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.480, 255.39 vs. 
7) Alan Bradshaw, Odessa, Texas, 5.673, 248.55

3) Rick Santos, Brentwood, Calif., 5.504, 257.65 vs. 
6) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.620, 252.17

4) Jay Meyer, Freeport, Texas, 5.554, 250.20 vs. 
5) Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.572, 254.30

Alternates
Kent Nuckols, Albuquerque, N.M., 5.707, 249.37
Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.768, 243.04
Brian Ratliff, Hulbert, Okla., 5.908, 239.29
Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.944, 234.49
Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.987, 239.48
Mike Bowers, Plano, Texas, 6.362, 222.33
Larry Becktold, Luther, Okla., 6.474, 212.76
Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 6.553, 161.40
Nick Copeland, Red Oak, Texas, 6.672, 156.68
Jeff Hamelink, Savage, Minn., 7.383, 127.24
James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, DQ

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
1) Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, '00 Avenger, 5.975 seconds, 242.78 mph vs.
8) Bob Alberty, Muskogee, Okla., '99 Firebird, 6.334, 201.47

2) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '00 Avenger, 6.043, 239.36 vs. 
7) Lawren Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '01 Corvette, 6.202, 233.22

3) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 6.089, 237.15 vs. 
6) Kebin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Achieva, 6.161, 231.00

4) Kebin Kinsley, Arlington, Texas, '98 Acheiva, 6.161, 225.33 vs. 
5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '98 Camaro, 6.114, 233.94

Alternates
Kirk Johnson, Dallas, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.438, 216.34
Ron Rice, Oklahoma City, Okla., '98 Daytona, 6.599, 215.41
Steve Rurck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.735, 212.41
Thomas Frickenschmidt, Lockwood, Mo., '97 Firebird, 9.185, 96.67

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Don Stratton Jr., Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.159 seconds, -0.591 under index
2) Andy Manna Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif., '90 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.498, -0.522
3) Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.206, -0.424
4) Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., '01 Dragster, D/D, 6.998, -0.422
5) Dean Howerton, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.209, -0.421
6) Charles Watson, Humble, Texas, '96 Lumina, F/A, 8.794, -0.416
7) Robert Baldwin, Aurora, Colo., '90 Camaro, B/SM, 8.941, -0.399
8) Joseph Swearengin, Overland Park, Kan., '97 Cutlass, D/EA, 8.623, -0.397
9) Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '99 Camaro, C/AA, 7.712, -0.388
10) Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '89 Cutlass, B/A, 7.430, -0.380

SUPER STOCK
1) Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '93 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.748 seconds, -0.952 under index
2) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 9.090, -0.910
3) Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Pontiac, SS/JA, 10.450, -0.850
4) Ernie Penner, Osborne, Manitoba, Can., '99 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.651, -0.849
5) Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, ST/HA, 10.565, -0.785
6) Doug Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '92 Chevrolet, SS/BS, 9.219, -0.781
7) Robert Cruzen, Cleveland, Ohio, '01 S-10, GT/TC, 10.685, -0.765
8) Tony DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/FA, 10.363, -0.737
9) Don Bevers, Tucson, Ariz., '91 Probe, SS/BM, 8.964, -0.736
10) Bob Lambeck, Northridge, Calif., '98 Oldsmobile, SS/CM, 9.181, -0.719

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Mike Wenke, Conway Springs, Kan., '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.581 seconds, -0.969 under index
2) Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '76 Volare, I/SA, 11.656, -0.944
3) Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kan., '86 Chevrolet, I/S,  11.559 , -0.941
4) Floyd Colley, Waco, Texas, '84 Daytona, CF/SA, 14.410, -0.890
5) Neal Rhodes, Aurora, Colo., '67 Ford, F/SA, 11.264, -0.886
6) Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., '93 Mustang, I/S, 11.614, -0.886
7) Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.233, -0.867
8) Stuart Goertzen, Buhler, Kan., '67 Cougar, E/S, 11.089, -0.861
9) Mike Cotten, Broken Arrow, Okla., '73 Duster, G/SA, 11.444, -0.856 
10) Gary Emmons, Pasdena, Texas, '98 Firebird, E/SA, 11.157, -0.843

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rain halts qualifying at Thunder Valley

Noble, Okla. - The first rounds of qualifying in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car were postponed due to rain.

"Unfortunately we could not get it in," said South Central Division Director Craig Hutchison. "We'll give them all [Federal-Mogul Dragster and Funny Car pilots] two shots tomorrow."

Meanwhile, top qualifiers in other classes are Don Stratton of Beloit, Ohio, in Comp; Tim Cole of Collierville, Tenn., in Super Stock; and Steve Brack of Lawrence, Kan., in Stock.

Qualifying continues Saturday at Thunder Valley Raceway Park at 9:00 a.m. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car are scheduled to run at 1 and 5 p.m. For more information call the track, (405) 872-3429.

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

 Federal-Mogul Dragster
Postponed due to rain

Federal-Mogul Funny Car
 Postponed due to rain

Comp Eliminator
1. Don Stratton Jr., Beloit, Ohio, '34 Chevrolet, B/SR, 8.171 seconds, -0.579 under index
2. Andy Manna Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif., '90 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.558, -0.462
3. Clint Salley, Glendive, Mont., '01 Dragster, D/D, 7.006, -0.414
4. Dean Howerton, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.238, -0.392
5. Thomas Kent, Lawrenceburg, Ind., '00 Dragster, C/D, 7.238, -0.392
6. Pete Carbery, Odessa, Texas, '89 Cutlass, B/A, 7.430, -0.380
7. Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '96 Lumina, D/AA, 8.097, -0.363
8. Sean Dodd, Lewisville, Texas, '99 Camaro, C/AA, 7.756, -0.344
9. Charlie Stewart, Arlington, Texas, '99 Dragster, A/ED, 7.013, -0.337
10. Buddy Nickens, Laporte, Texas, '00 Firebird, B/AA, 7.536, -0.334

Super Stock
1. Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 9.091 seconds, -0.909
2. Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '93 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.873, -0.827
3. Terry Emmons, Pasadena, Texas, '96 Pontiac, SS/JA, 10.514, -0.786
4. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, ST/HA, 10.568, -0.782
5. Robert Cruzen, Cleveland, Ohio, '01 S-10, GT/TC, 10.685, -0.765
6. Tony DeFrank, Chatsworth, Calif., '98 Grand Am, GT/FA, 10.363, -0.737
7. Don Bevers, Tucson, Ariz., '91 Probe, SS/BM, 8.964, -0.736
8. Jeffrey Miller, Pearland, Texas, '97 Formula, GT/AA, 9.689, -0.711
9. Justin Jenkins, Marysville, Kan., '91 Calais, GT/F, 10.320, -0.580
10. Rick Ellinger, Brie, Colo., '66 Nova, SS/IA, 10.481, -0.519

Stock Eliminator
1. Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kan., '86 Chevrolet, 11.559 , -0.941
2. Ken Etter, Riverside, Calif., '76 Volare, 11.660, -0.940
3. Neal Rhodes, Aurora, Colo., '67 Ford, 11.264, -0.886
4. Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 12.233, -0.867
5. Stuart Goertzen, Buhler, Kan., '67 Cougar, 11.089, -0.861
6. Dennis Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '67 Camaro, 11.389, -0.811
7. Gary Emmons, Pasdena, Texas, '98 Firebird, 11.219, -0.782
8. Timothy Woods, Claremore, Okla., '71 Nova, 11.843, -0.757
9. Leon Philpot, Grand Praire, Texas, '94 Chevy, 11.117, -0.733
10. Mike Dobrovich, Little Rock, Ark., '69 Camaro, 11.567, -0.733
11. Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Pontiac, 11.419, -0.731