Sat, Mar 27, 07:08 AM Memphis Brings in Drivers Looking for a Test Run or a Second Shot

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing Communications

MEMPHIS,Tenn. --

The first day of qualifying at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event presented by Pennzoil brought in drivers from four different geographic divisions to Memphis Motorsports Park.

NHRA is separated into seven geographic regions for competition in the Federal-Mogul Series ranging from the Northeast Division which covers the upper East Coast, to the Pacific Division, which covers the mid to southern area of the West Coast.

Drivers from as far as Des Moines, Iowa, and Clearwater, Fla., came to race at this weekend's event. Part of the reason for so many racers coming in to participate in this event is the fact that the race season has not even started for certain divisions such as the North Central Division (Division 3) and the West Central Division (Division 5). Both of those divisions begin their six race season in only a few months.

"It's an opportunity to test out our dragster on a good track" Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Bill Reichert said. Reichert, who drove down from Owosso, Mich., wanted took this opportunity to race his dragster so he could test out a new engine. Reichert feels that planning ahead is the best way for him to win another North Central Division championship title in Federal-Mogul Dragster. He was the 1998 champion.

"In order for the Bars Leak Racing team to have a chance at winning the division championship again this year we have to start early and make sure that our dragster is race-ready when the season begins" Reichert explained.

A new race season was not the only reason for drivers to make an extra trip to Memphis. Some drivers, from this division (South Central Division), ended up attending this race because of a recent rainout at State Capital Raceway in Baton Rouge, La. Several drivers had planned to make that their first event but because of the bad weather never had the opportunity to run. So drivers who normally might not have attended Memphis' event made the trip to compete.

Qualifying and time trials continue Saturday for all categories. Gates open at 8 a.m. with cars running at 9 a.m. Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster continue qualifying at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES

First day qualifying positions at Memphis Motorsports Park, Memphis, Tennessee, the second of six events in the 1999 NHRA South Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, speed in miles per hour.

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

1. Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.530 second elapsed time, 236.17 miles per 
hour
2. Troy Buff, Spring, Texas, 5.626, 253.56
3. Bob Bears Jr., Clearwater, Fla., 5.771, 236.92
4. Mark Kinser, Grimes, Iowa, 5.790, 204.79
5. Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.972, 227.77
6. Billy Bybee, Mclean, Texas, 5.974, 237.59
7. Bob McCosh, Columbia, Mo., 6.006, 218.97
8. Chris Dakin, Tipp City, Ohio, 6.464, 225.63
9. Greg Roberts, Kenner, La., 7.926, 105.22
10. Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 8.057, 108.51
11. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 9.346, 73.69
12. Brian Ratliff, Tahlequea, Okla., 13.062, 59.96
13. Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 13.996, 46.50
14. Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 16.088, 81.72

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR

1. Randy Fleming, Independence, Mo., 5.956 seconds elapsed time, 238.72 miles 
per hour
2. Todd Simpson, Ponder, Texas, 6.029, 240.00
3. Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., 6.154, 185.36
4. Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., 6.296, 217.04
5. Skater Chambers, Del City, Okla., 6.749, 198.85
6. Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, 7.060, 142.85
7. Doug Markham, Del City, Okla., 9.900, 77.98
8. Scott Palmer, Highlandville, Mo., 15.418, 67.30

COMPETITION

1. David Myers, Dallas, Texas, B/EA '99 Camaro, 7.952 (-0.568) seconds under 
index
2. Joey Tanksley, Greenwell Springs, La., B/ED '92 Chassis Craft, 7.096 
(-0.524)
3. Bill Kent, Midland, Texas, C/D '95 Frameworks, 7.220 (-0.480)
4. Larry Doggett, Austin, Texas, B/ED '94 Frameworks, 7.182 (-0.438)
5. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/D '97 McKinney, 7.675 (-0.345)
6. Keith Hall, Ravenna, Texas, B/SM '90 Camaro, 9.041 (-0.339)
7. Donald Manichia, Houston, E/ED '93 Neils & Park, 8.837 (-0.303)
8. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., A/ED '99 Racecraft, 7.254 (-0.116)
9. Jim Smiley, Springfield, Tenn., E/SM Chevy, 9.310 (0.320)
10. George Gallimore, Memphis, Tenn., A/A '32 Bantam, 7.946 (0.586)

SUPER STOCK

1. Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., SS/NA '56 Nomad Wagon, 11.214 (-1.236) 
seconds under index
2. Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., GT/MA '97 Firehawk, 10.918 (-1.132)
3. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Chevy, 8.913, (-1.087)
4. Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., SS/OA '66 Chevy, 11.560 (-1.040)
5. Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., SS/AX '96 Corvette, 8.969 (-1.031)
6. Red Leblanc, Bartlett, Ind., SS/G '69 Mustang, 9.707 (-0.993)
7. Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., GT/FA '98 Olds, 10.129 (-0.971)
8. Dave Dupuis, Baton Rouge, La., SS/BM '98 Acheiva, 8.768 (-0.932)
9. Jeff Dona, Gordonville, Mo., SS/JA '69 Camaro, 10.372 (-0.928)
10. David Haag, Jeffersonville, Ind., SS/GA '68 Camaro, 9.935 (-0.915)

STOCK

1. Ronnie Cardwell, Ruston, La., K/SA '90 Firebird, 11.748 (-1.202) seconds 
under index
2. J. Allen Sherman, Donaldsonville, La., H/SA '86 Camaro 11.265 (-1.185)
3. Billy Lynn, Searcy, Ark., K/SA '79 Malibu, 11.828 (-1.122)
4. Jim Cimarolli, Sulphur Springs, Texas, C/SA '69 Nova, 10.617 (-1.083)
5. Greg Hill, Memphis, Tenn., I/SA '71 Camaro, 11.542 (-1.058)
6. George Cox, Memphis, Tenn., E/SA '97 Pontiac, 10.950 (-1.050)
7. Frank Weaver, Waco, Texas, K/SA '84 Trans Am, 11.909 (-1.041)
8. Amy Faulk, Memphis, Tenn., D/SA, '98 Trans Am, 10.836 (-1.014)
9. Delmer Wood, Tulsa, Okla., C/SA '69 Camaro, 10.691 (-1.009)
10. Ronald Charnes, Memphis, Tenn., C/SA '69 Camaro, 10.724 (-0.976)

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