Sun, Oct 4, 06:34 PM Gunderson Guns for National Championship

Courtesy of NHRA Marketing at Virginia FMDRS

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, Dinwiddie, Virginia-- Federal-Mogul Dragster driver Mike Gunderson was the top qualifier at the end of today's qualifying session in the last of the Southeast Division NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events. A win at Virginia Motorsports Park this weekend will put Gunderson one step closer to claiming the number one position in the race for the championship title.

Gunderson's top qualifier placement came after several unproductive runs during yesterday and today's qualifying. The first pass that Gunderson made yesterday ended up in a severe oil down on the track as the Federal-Mogul Dragster's engine broke early as it went down the track. The second run during today's early qualifying at 4:00 p.m. also didn't give Gunderson any luck as the tires broke loose off the line giving him a non-qualifying pass. But when the pressure came on Gunderson and his Under the Gun Federal-Mogul Dragster met the challenge head on as he made a 5.513 second pass that gave him top qualifying honors this weekend.

Federal-Mogul Dragster drivers Bill Reichert, of Owosso, Mich., and Cliff Bozzelli, of Absecon, New Jersey, were second and third respectively. Reichert's 5.586 second run had held the top position during the first two qualifying runs. Bozzelli had a 5.615 second pass as he continued his pursuit of the Northeast division championship.

Bozzelli and Reichert are also chasing the national championship title as the season comes down to the last national events, and only one more NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event. At this point the national championship is up for grabs for any of the expert drivers in this tight race for the top honor of the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series.

Eliminations begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster eliminations begin at 1:00 p.m.

First day qualifying positions at Virginia Motorsports Park, Dinwiddie, Virginia, the final of six rounds in the 1998 NHRA Southeast Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, listing driver, hometown, state, vehicle, elapsed time in seconds, speed in miles per hour:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

1. Mike Gunderson, Middleburg, Flor., 5.513 seconds elapsed time, 255.46 miles per hour 2. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.586, 251.88 3. Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, New Jersey, 5.615, 249.86 4. Shawn Bowen, Montrose, Mich., 5.617, 244.96 5. Gary Park, Mardela Springs, Maryland, 5.620, 228.02 6. Ron Still, Smyrna, Del., 5.638, 247.45 7. Doug Foley, Tarrytown, New York, 5.675, 241.74 8. Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Penn., 5.717, 247.38

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR

1. Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., 5.726 seconds elapsed time, 250.83 miles per hour 2. Tim Slagle, Fairfax, Virg., 5.872, 239.87 3. Franny Monaghan, Willow Grove, Penn., 5.918, 245.90 4. Carnie Fryfogle, Brockton, Maryland, 5.929, 242.00 5. Tony Bartone, Manhasset, New York, 5.964, 239.61 6. Melinda Green, Norfolk, Virg., 5.998, 230.59 7. Bunny Burkett, Sterling, Virg., 6.137, 229.76

COMPETITION

1. Mike Saye, Johnston, South Carolina, G/A '92 Cutlass, 8.876 -(0.604) seconds under index 2. Jon Aloisio, West Chester, Penn., E/SM '92 Camaro, 8.474 -(0.586) 3. Tom Ekroth, Mahwah, New Jersey, C/A '94 TransAm, 7.673 -(0.577) 4. Jerry Hemmingson, Concord, North Carolina, B/A '94 Lumina, 7.398 -(0.572) 5. David Rampy, Piedmont, Alab., B/SR '34 Roadster, 8.201 -(0.569) 6. Mike Farrell, Louisville, Ken., B/A '32 Bantam, 7.417 -(0.553) 7. Allen Stanfield, Frederiscksburg, Virg., F/SM '95 TransAm, 9.240 -(0.550) 8. Santo Volpe, Euclid, Ohio, A/SR '34 Chevy, 8.134 -(0.546)

SUPER STOCK

1. Joe Skinner, Columbia Station, Ohio, GT/D '96 Beretta, 9.478 -(1.172) seconds under index 2. Butch Williams, Cherokee, North Carolina, GT/AA '97 Firebird, 9.311 -(1.089) 3. Kenny Schindler, Hendersonville, Tenn., SS/E '68 Corvette, 9.499 -(1.051) 4. Ken Bugaj, Lexington, North Carolina, GT/BA '82 Camaro, 9.504 -(1.046) 5. David Jackson, Columbus, North Carolina, GT/HA '92 Firebird, 10.308 -(1.042) 6. Bill Burnette, Arden, North Carolina, SS/OA '66 Belair, 11.563 -(1.037) 7. Michael Volkman, Pittsburgh, Penn., GT/IA '98 Sebring, 10.468 -(1.034) 8. Dennis Steward, Dover, Penn., GT/EA '91 Daytona, 9.917 -(1.033)

STOCK

1. Ray Valpreda, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, DT/SA '98 Dakota 12.264 -(1.236) seconds under index 2. Jon Tarrance, Bremen, Ken., V/SA '82 Monte Carlo, 14.573 -(1.227) 3. Dean Cook, West Warwick, Rhode Island, F/S '72 Mustang, 10.953 -(1.147) 4. Dave Ribeiro, Mechanicsburg, Penn., M/SA '78 Firebird, 12.009 -(1.141) 5. Matt Morgan, Faulkner, Maryland, C/SA '69 Mustang, 10.585 -(1.115) 6. Greg Schmutz, Pompton Plains, New Jersey, V/SA '80 Malibu, 14.699 -(1.101) 7. Don Himes, Clayton, New Jersey, P/SA '77 Grand Prix, 12.653 -(1.097) 8. Garry Glazener, Jackson, South Carolina, G/SA '72 Ford, 11.209 -(1.091)