Sun, 8 Oct 2000, 03:14 PM MEMPHIS - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By David Rowe

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the 13th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Chuck Cheeseman     5.823 251.20  Q    6 Dale VanGundy       6.003 231.83
 *****WINNER***** 0.468  5.750 250.09  E1                  0.046  8.916 106.24

1:48 PM VanGundy leaves way too early, gets out of shape and finally aborts the run. Cheeseman makes his quickest run of the weekend and takes the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Randy Fleming       5.764 249.67  Q    7 Jerry Freeman      15.367  46.42
 *****WINNER***** 0.459  5.887 245.18  E1                  0.418  7.079 150.46

Freeman gets a big holeshot but he rattles the tires and has too pedal the car. Fleming slows a little from his earlier run but takes the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Todd Veney          5.856 244.65  Q    5 Tate Branch         5.920 250.32
 *****WINNER***** 0.483  5.885 240.55  E1                  0.440  5.994 244.16

Veney gives up a little on the tree and the car moves around for the first 300 feet. Branch had the early lead but starting skating around at half-track. Margin of victory = 0.066 seconds (approximately 24 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Jay Payne           5.661 252.14  Q    8 Lynn Engels        15.384  47.18
 *****WINNER***** 0.478  5.827 247.61  E1                  0.482  6.105 241.63

Payne heads for the centerline right off the line. He never lifts off the throttle but finally gets it straightened out. Engels had no apparent problems.