Sat, 16 Oct 1999, 10:33 AM Australian Federal-Mogul Funny Car Steve Harker Leads the Pack

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Steve Harker, a native of Gainesville, Australia, led the pack in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway Friday.

After one run of qualifying Harker, who just came off a win at the Advance Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kan. two weeks ago, was able to beat out four of the top ten drivers in the country, Bob Newberry from Schenectady, N.Y., Marc White, from Glendale Hts., Ill., Tony Bartone, from Manhasset, N.Y., and Todd Paton, from Brantford, Ont., Can. But staying at that number one position will be difficult because two-time national champion Frank Manzo, from Morganville, N.J., will be arriving Saturday to compete for his third national championship in a row.

Manzo, who is still currently leading the points chase is followed closely by the current number two racer in the nation, Tony Bartone. Should Bartone take the win at this weekend's event, he will only require one national event win to take the Federal-Mogul national championship title away from Manzo. But, if Manzo is able to hold off Bartone this weekend, and Bartone does not take a win at the Matco SuperNationals in Houston, the crown once again will remain with the champion for a third year in a row.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 9 a.m. with Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars running at 4 and 7 p.m.

The following are the first day qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway, the last of six events in the NHRA Southeast Division:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

1. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Fla., 5.629 seconds elapsed time, 250.69
miles per hour
2. David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.666, 248.98
3. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.701, 246.08
4. Jeanie Booz, Blooming Glen, Pa., 5.800, 242.67
5. Bill McCornack, Lexington, Ky., 5.829, 242.84
6. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.839, 233.08
7. Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.964, 232.55
8. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, N.Y., 6.311, 180.69
9. Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 8.647, 104.65

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 

1. Steve Harker, Gainesville, Australia, '99 Avenger, 5.782 seconds elapsed
time, 248.11 miles per hour
2. Marc White, Glendale Hts., Ill., '99 Firebird, 5.798, 249.16
3. Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '99 Avenger, 5.855, 246.39
4. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, N.Y., '99 Camaro, 5.861, 242.63
5. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Va., '99 Avenger, 6.358, 225.45
6. Todd Paton, Brantford, Ont., Can., '99 Firebird, 11.597, 69.05

COMP ELIMINATOR

  1. Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., D/SM '97 Grand Am,  8.290 (-0.550
seconds under index)
  2. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., B/EDragster, 7.119 (-0.531)
  3. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR '34 Suncoast, 8.211 (-0.509)
  4. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, N.J., C/A '95 Trans Am, 7.829 (-0.481)
  5. Brian Browell, Lafayette, Ind., D/Dragster, 7.609 (-0.471)
  6. Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., G/A '92 Cutlass, 9.072 (-0.468)
  7. Don Stratton, Beloit, Ohio, B/SR '34 Chevrolet, 8.303 (-0.457)
  8. Al Ackerman, Saddle Brook, N.J., F/Dragster, 8.487 (-0.443)
  9. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., D/EA '90 Trans Am, 8.646 (-0.434)
10. Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., A/EA '23 T, 7.715 (-0.395)

SUPER STOCK

  1. Jeff Sexton, Fairborn, Ohio, SS/AX '84 Camaro, 9.037 (-1.333 seconds
under index)
  2. Red LeBlanc, Memphis, SS/G '69 Mustang, 9.874 (-1.006)
  3. Butch Williams, Cherokee, N.C., SS/CA '71 Corvette, 9.515 (-1.005)
  4. Tony Matracea, Memphis, GT/B '91 Calais, 9.589 (-0.981)
  5. Bo Butner, Floyds Knobs, Ind., SS/AM '98 Grand Am, 8.754 (-0.956)
  6. Leonard Mattingly, Sheperdsville, Ky., SS/CM '98 Grand Am, 9.125  
(-0.945)
  7. Scooter Anderson, Bartlett, Tenn., SS/G '67 Nova, 9.935 (-0.945)
  8. David Jackson, Columbus, N.C., GT/GA '92 Firebird, 10.452 (-0.938)
  9. John Livingston, Nashville, SS/EA '70 Corvette, 9.909 (-0.921)
10. Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., SS/BS '90 Camaro, 9.271 (-0.899)

STOCK ELIMINATOR

  1. Gary Russell, E. Sparta, Ohio, L/S '94 Mustang, 11.887 (-1.183 seconds
under index)
  2. Wayne Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., M/SA '83 Malibu Wgn., 12.241 (-1.129)
  3. Jeff Swanson, Arlington, Tenn., K/S '93 Mustang, 11.968 (-1.102)
  4. Joe Russell, East Sparta, Ohio, K/S '95 Cobra, 11.977 (-1.093)
  5. Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., D/SA '98 Firebird, 10.990 (-1.060)
  6. Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., K/SA '85 Chevy, 12.119 (-1.051)
  7. Dave Walther, Lanesville, Ind., H/S '69 Camaro, 11.464 (-1.046)
  8. Bud Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., K/SA '91 Camaro, 12.147 (-1.023)
  9. Bruce Noland, Leesburg, Va., I/SA '72 Camaro, 11.806 (-1.004)
10. Jack Zimmerman, Clemmons, N.C., B/SA '71 Challenger, 10.742 (-0.998)

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