FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Richmond, Va. -- Under clear-blue
skies more than 400 competitors made their first qualifying
runs at the Virginia Is For Lovers NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series event at Virginia Motorsports Park.  The pace
was fast and furious with Jeannie Booz and Frank Manzo
leading the  qualifying sheets.

   Booz, of Blooming Glen, Pa., paced the Federal-Mogul
Dragsters with a 5.69-second run at 245 mph.  Michael
Gunderson of Middleburg, Fla., who already has clinched the
NHRA Southeast division championship, follows in second
place with a 5.75-second pass.

   Morganville, N.J.'s Manzo, the 1997 NHRA Federal-Mogul
Funny Car national champion elect, leads the category with
a 5.74-second, 250-mph run in his Dodge Avenger-bodied entry.
   Manzo's initial competition this weekend looks to come
from Chester's Bobby Martindale, who ran a career-best 5.78-
second lap to place a provisional second.

   The Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars receive two
more qualifying laps on Saturday, at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Richmond, Va. -- Results Friday
after the first day of qualifying at Virginia Motorsports
Park, the final event in the 1997 Southwest Division NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, with driver, hometown,
vehicle, elapsed time and speed in mph:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER:
1. Jeanie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa.     5.69, 245.63
2. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla. 5.75, 244.89
3. Rich McPhillips, hoenixville, Pa.   5.75, 228.94
4. Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla.        7.34, 169.01
5. Jeremy Torstveit, Phoenix, Ariz.    9.38, 66.62
6. Doug Foley, Ossining, N.Y.         11.52, 63.05
7. Ned Ott, Bristol, Pa.              26.48, 30.36

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR:
1. Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '97 Avenger  5.74, 250.76 
2. Bobby Martindale, Chester, Va., '93 Daytona  5.78, 236.09
3. Jim Lape, Myerstown, Pa., '93 Cutlass        6.00, 234.43
4. Von Smith, Oakridge, Tenn., '97 Firebird     6.01, 232.91
5. Melinda Green, Norfolk, Va., '97 Avenger     6.16, 227.84
6. Rich Fenwick, Northfield, Conn., '97 Avenger 6.18, 229.35
7. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., '97 Mustang        6.32, 220.10
8. Mike Preslar, Salisbury, N.C., '97 Camaro    6.32, 193.21.

COMPETITION:
1. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., A/EA '32 Bantam 7.53 (-0.58)
2. Ian Landies, Chardon, Ohio, A/SR '34 Chevrolet   8.11 (-0.56)
3. Frank Aragona Jr., Franklin Square, N.Y., C/ED   7.45 (-0.55)
4. Chip Ippolito, Laconia, N.H.                     8.36 (-0.55)
5. Larry Kopp, Baltimore, Md., E/A '92 Cutlass      8.36 (-0.55)
6. Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., A/EA '23-T Ford  7.56 (-0.55)
7. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., B/A '92 Lumina  7.43 (-0.53)
8. Charlie Greco, Chester Springs, Pa., C/EA '95 Firebird 8.38 (-0.53)
9. Ronnie Bowler, Newport News, E/A '92 Firebird    8.39 (-0.53)
14. Allen Stanfield, Fredricksburg, F/SM '94 Trans Am 9.27 (-0.51)
19. Tony Margrum, Chesterfield, B/A '97 Probe       7.61 (-0.35)
22. Tony Terry, Forest, C/SR '27-T Ford             9.13 (-0.32)
27. Mike Clemons, Richmond, B/ED                    7.74 (0.08)

SUPER STOCK:
1. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Pa., GT/HA '93 Le Baron   10.27 (-1.07)
2. James Zane, Bordentown, N.J., SS/AX '70 Opel GT      8.95 (-1.04)
3. David Thomas, West Chester, Pa., SS/BA '69 Corvette  9.16 (-1.03)
4. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, Pa., GT/JA '88 Camaro     10.62 (-1.02)
5. Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, N.J., GT/FA '97 Firebird  10.12 (-0.97)
6. Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., SS/AA '68 Barracuda   9.06 (-0.93)
7. Wayne Truesdell, Cicero, N.Y., GT/H '97 Firebird    10.22 (-0.92)
8. Don McCallum, Vankleek Hill, Ont., SS/AA '68 Barracuda, 9.09 (-0.90)
24. Mark Alvey, Chesterfield, GT/AA '89 Camaro          9.59 (-0.80)
25. Bob Dodson Jr., Stafford, GT/LA '87 Firebird       11.04 (-0.80)
33. Anthony Bertozzi, Richmond, GT/CA '87 Camaro       10.01 (-0.68)
34. Gene Daugherty, Salem, SS/HA '67 Camaro            10.22 (-0.67)
46. Bob Harding, Glen Allen, SS/DA '55 Chevrolet       12.40 (-0.19).

STOCK:
1. Randy Park, Four Oaks, N.C., M/SA '85 Camaro        12.00 (-1.14)
2. Garry Glazener, Jackson, S.C., G/SA '72 Mustang     11.20 (-1.09)
3. Butch DiLorenzo, Maspeth, N.Y., M/SA '78 Firebird   12.11 (-1.03)
4. Jack Zimmerman, Clemmons, N.C., B/SA '71 Challenger 10.57 (-0.97)
5. Dave Ribeiro, Mechanicsburg, Pa., L/SA '78 Formula  12.02 (-0.97)
6. Harold Culpepper, Cataula, Ga., N/SA '85 Camaro     12.35 (-0.94)
7. J. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, Md., C/SA '69 Mustang     10.76 (-0.93)
8. Kenneth Miele, Pleasantville, N.J., C/SA '68 Mustang 10.77 (-0.92)
12. Sterling Simmons, Midlothian, E/SA '67 Camaro      11.15 (-0.84)
27. Bill Lutz, Midlothian, L/SA '74 Malibu             12.41 (-0.58)
39. Larry  Munk, Poquoson, V/SA '78 Le Mans            15.39 (-0.40)
46. Whip Wilson, Mechanicsville, Va., E/S '67 Camaro   11.80 (-0.14)
47. Marshall Campbell, Richmond, F/S '70 Challenger    12.05 (-0.04)
50. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, G/SA '97 Camaro            12.45 (0.15)

Saturday Qualifying Final:

Frank Manzo set the pace Friday, while Rich McPhillips left
it until the final moments of qualifying Saturday to claim
the No. 1 qualifying spots in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car
and Federal-Mogul Dragster categories, respectively, at
Virginia Motorsports Park.

   Competing at the Virginia Is For Lovers NHRA Federal-
Mogul Drag Racing Series event Manzo, of Morganville, N.J.,
recorded a 5.74-second, 250-mph run in his Dodge Avenger-
bodied Funny Car Friday evening and never was challenged
for the pole position.  Chester, Va.'s Bobby Martindale
remained in second  position with a 5.78-second run, also
recorded Friday, while John Sieger of Maple Shade, N.J.,
leapt to third place with a 5.87-second lap Saturday evening.

   At the wheel of a nitro-injected dragster McPhillips,
of Phoenixville, Pa., thrust himself to the front of the 
Federal-Mogul Dragsters with a pole-sitting 5.53-second,
234-mph run Saturday night.

   The pole position traded hands several times during the
final qualifying session, first with Jeanie Booz leading the
way with a 5.69-second run, then Jeremy Torstveit at 5.64
seconds, and later Cliff Bozzelli with a 5.63-second pass.

   McPhillips, one of the last drivers down the track,
settled the dispute with his afore-mentioned 5.53-second charge.

   Final eliminations begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. with the
opening round of Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars
beginning at 1:00 p.m.


Results Saturday after the final day of qualifying at
Virginia Motorsports Park, the sixth and final event in
the 1997 Southwest Division NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing
Series, with driver, hometown, vehicle, elapsed time and
speed in mph:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER:
1. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa.  5.53, 234.86
2. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J.       5.63, 244.23
3. Jeremy Torstveit, Phoenix, Ariz.    5.64, 231.42
4. Jeanie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa.     5.69, 245.63
5. Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla. 5.69, 244.89
6. Doug Foley,  Ossining, N.Y.         5.79, 240.00
7. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del.             5.81, 237.59
8. Bruce Insinger, Dushore, Pa.        5.90, 232.43.

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR:
1. Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '97 Avenger  5.74, 250.76 
2. Bobby Martindale, Chester, Va., '93 Daytona  5.78, 236.09
3. John Sieger, Maple Shade, N.J., '96 Achieva  5.87, 236.65
4. Jim Lape, Myerstown, Pa., '93 Cutlass        6.00, 234.43
5. Von Smith, Oakridge,  Tenn., '97 Firebird    6.01, 232.91
6. Melinda Green, Norfolk, Va., '97 Avenger     6.16, 227.84
7. Butch Kernodle, Virginia Beach, Va., '96 Firebird 6.16, 230.298
8. Rich Fenwick,Northfield, Conn., '97 Avenger  6.18, 229.35

COMPETITION:
1. Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., D/EA '97 Firebird   8.48 (-0.59)
2. Ian Landies, Chardon, Ohio, A/SR '34 Chevrolet   8.08 (-0.59)
3. Terry Smith, Williamstown, W.V., A/EA '32 Bantam 7.53 (-0.58)
4. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '94 Trans Am       7.71 (-0.57)
5. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, N.C., B/A '92 Lumina  7.40 (-0.56)
6. Frank Aragona Jr., Franklin Square, N.Y., C/ED   7.45 (-0.55)
7. Chip Ippolito, Laconia, N.H.                     8.36 (-0.55)
8. Larry Kopp, Baltimore, Md., E/A '92 Cutlass      8.36 (-0.55)
Others include:
12. Ronnie Bowler, Newport News, E/A '92 Firebird   8.39 (-0.53)
16. Allen  Stanfield, Fredricksburg, F/SM '94 Trans Am 9.27 (-0.51)
26. Tony Margrum, Chesterfield, B/A '97 Probe       7.60 (-0.36)
30. Tony Terry, Forest, C/SR '27-T Ford             9.13 (-0.32)
32. Gene Holt, Midlothian, E/A '86 Firebird         8.79 (-0.12)

SUPER STOCK:
1. Carl Schodde, Pittsburgh, Pa., GT/HA '93 Le Baron  10.27 (-1.07)
2. James Zane, Bordentown, N.J., SS/AX '70 Opel GT     8.95 (-1.04)
3. Brian Tilburg, Trout Run, Pa., GT/JA '88 Camaro    10.62 (-1.02)
4. Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, N.J., GT/FA '97 Firebird 10.12 (-0.97)
5. Bob Reed, Salisbury, N.C., SS/A '68 Barracuda       8.99 (-0.95)
6. Wayne Truesdell, Cicero, N.Y., GT/H '97 Firebird   10.20 (-0.94)
7. Bucky Hess, Bunker Hill, W.V., SS/AA '68 Barracuda  9.05 (-0.94)
8. Bob Cupp, Alexandria, SS/KA '65 Chevelle           10.62 (-0.93)
Others include:
16. Mark Alvey, Chesterfield, GT/AA '89 Camaro         9.53 (-0.87)
32. Bob Dodson Jr., Stafford, GT/LA '87 Firebird      11.04 (-0.80)
38. Gene  Daugherty, Salem, SS/HA '67 Camaro          10.13 (-0.76)
41. Glen Myers, Manassas, SS/KA '64 Chevrolet II      10.81 (-0.74)
43. Dean Stanfield, Stafford, SS/HA '67 Camaro        10.17 (-0.72)
47. Anthony Bertozzi, Richmond, GT/CA '87 Camaro      10.01 (-0.68)
60. Bob Harding, Glen Allen, SS/DA '55 Chevrolet      12.36 (-0.23)

STOCK:
1. Randy Parker, Four Oaks, N.C., M/SA '85 Camaro      11.97 (-1.17)
2. Garry Glazener, Jackson, S.C., G/SA '72 Mustang     11.17 (-1.12)
3. Butch DiLorenzo, Maspeth, N.Y., M/SA '78 Firebird   12.10 (-1.05)
4. Harold Culpepper, Cataula, Ga., N/SA '85 Camaro     12.27 (-1.02)
5. Dave Ribeiro, Mechanicsburg, Pa., L/SA '78 Formula  12.01 (-0.98)
6. Jack Zimmerman, Clemmons, N.C., B/SA '71 Challenger 10.57 (-0.97)
7. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, Md., C/SA '69 Mustang        10.72 (-0.97)
8. Don Himes, Clayton, N.J., P/SA '77 Grand Prix       12.80 (-0.94)
Others include:
11. Sterling Simmons, Midlothian, E/SA '67 Camaro      11.08 (-0.91)
20. Danny Lattimore, Beaverdam, G/SA '72 Cutlass       11.50 (-0.79)
26. Bill Lutz, Midlothian, L/SA '74 Malibu             12.26 (-0.73)
52. David Audet, Alexandria, F/SA '69 Camaro           11.71 (-0.43)
54. Larry Munk, Poquoson, V/SA '78 Le Mans             15.39 (-0.40)
57. Chester Fincke, Ashburn, E/SA '66 Chevrolet II     11.65 (-0.34)
64. Whip Wilson, Mechanicsville, Va., E/S '67 Camaro   11.75 (-0.19)
69. Marshall Campbell, Richmond, F/S '70 Challenger    12.05 (-0.04)
72. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, G/SA '97 Camaro            12.45 (0.15)

The final rounds are set in the Federal-Mogul Dragster
and Federal-Mogul Funny Car categories at the Virginia
Is For Lovers NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event
at Virginia Motorsports Park.

   In the dragster category the final will be between
newly-crowned NHRA Southeast division champion Michael
Gunderson and Jeremy Torstveit. Gunderson set low e.t.
of eliminations at 5.71-seconds in his first-round
defeat of Jeanie Booz.

   The Funny Car title will be decided between Frank
Manzo and Bobby Martindale.

   Martindale claimed the semifinal victory when
opponent John Sieger red-lighted but exploded in his
engine just past the starting line and faces a lot of
work to repair the car in time to make the final round.

   The NHRA Southeast Division Competition eliminator
championship was clinched by Scott Tidwell.  In the
second round of eliminations Tidwell's title rival Ian
Landies lost to Charlie Greco; to claim the championship 
Tidwell had to win his second-round heat over Glen
Treadwell, which he did when Treadwell drew a red-light
foul start.

   In the Super Street category Jimmy Fuller locked the
division championship title.

Sunday update

Michael Gunderson and Frank Manzo were winners at the Virginia
Is For Lovers NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at
Virginia Motorsports Park Sunday.

   In winning the event Gunderson clinched the 1997 NHRA
Southeast division Federal-Mogul Dragster championship.
 Facing newly-crowned NHRA Northeast division champion Jeremy 
Torstveit in the final round, Gunderson, of Middleburg, Fla.,
claimed the victory with a 5.71-second pass at 245.76 mph.
Torstveit, of Phoenix, Ariz., trailed across the finish line
with a 5.86-second, 216.19-mph run.

   Manzo, of Morganville, N.J., tightened his grip on the 1997
Federal-Mogul Funny Car national title by taking an
uncontested 5.77-second, 250.06-mph victory run.  Manzo should 
have faced Chester, Va.'s Bobby Martindale in the final round,
however, Martindale's Dodge Avenger-bodied Funny Car exploded
an engine in the semifinals and the team was unable to make
repairs in time for the final.

NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Richmond, Va. -- Final elimination results from
Virginia 
Motorsports Park, the final round of the Southeast Division NHRA
Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, with 
driver, hometown, elapsed time and speed in mph:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
W - Michael Gunderson, Middleburg, Va., 5.71, 245.71
L - Jeremy Torstveit, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.86, 216.19

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
W - Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J. '97 Avenger, 5.77, 250.06
L - Bobby Martindale, Chester, Va., '93 Daytona, broke (did not show)

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
W - Scott Tidwell, Pinson, Ala., D/EA '97 Firebird, 8.50, 152.43
L - Randy Daniels, Grantsboro, N.C., C/A '94 Cutlass, 7.68, 174.82

SUPER STOCK
W - Peter Biondo, Clarksburg, N.J., GT/FA '97 Firebird, 10.19, 128.02
L - Gene Daugherty, Salem, Va., SS/HA '67 Camaro, 10.21, 122.73

STOCK
W - Donald Sabin, Maspeth, N.Y., L/SA '76 Cutlass, 12.35, 103.03
L - Rich Hoerth, Old Bridge, N.J., K/SA '78 Volare, 12.18, 107.42

SUPER COMP
W - Ed Quay, Pottstown, Pa., dragster, 8.90, 156.82
L - Russ Leach, Oley, Pa., dragster, 8.96, 161.60

SUPER GAS
W - Todd Beam, Honey Brook, Pa., '76 Vega, 9.89, 130.66
L - Chuck Rothermel, Kinderhook, N.Y., '95 Achieva, 9.88, 152.41 (foul; broke out)

SUPER STREET
W - Bob Williams, Cape Coral, Fla., '70 Chevelle, 10.89, 120.09
L - Alan Billings, Milford, Del., '67 Firebird, 10.95, 126.52 (foul start)