Norwalk World Nationals qualifying

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Vestal IHRA Director of Communications World Nationals Press Room: (419) 668-2350

August 23, 1997

Muldowney leads Prolong / Ohio Lottery World Nationals qualifying

NORWALK, Ohio -- Shirley Muldowney was quickest in final round Top Fuel qualifying Saturday at the Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs. The Action Collectables driver covered Norwalk Raceway Park's quarter-mile in 4.895 seconds at 296.34 miles per hour in front of a standing-room only crowd estimated at 25,000 -- a record for single-day Norwalk Raceway Park attendance. Defending Snap-on Tools Drag Racing Series Top Fuel champion Doug Herbert was second with a 4.907, 298.80 effort.

Muldowney's pass was the highlight of an afternoon that saw single-car crashes in three different categories. Hobart, Ind.'s Dave Heuring rolled his Pro Stock Thunderbird over the guardrail during a time trial make-up run; ET racer Jason Vitez of Cheektowaga, N.Y. lost control of his Pontiac Firebird, glanced into the guardrail and caught fire; and Alcohol Funny Car driver Rudy McAdams, of Baltimore, Md., lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro, crossed the center-line and flipped over the guardrail. None of the drivers were injured. Other top qualifiers in professional categories included Floyd Cheek in Pro Stock (6.725, 206.61); Shannon Jenkins in Pro Modified (6.471, 209.20); and Jim Sickles in Alcohol Funny Car (5.905, 231.60). The 16-car Pro Modified field is the quickest in IHRA history at a 6.570-second cut, while the 16-car Pro Stock field is also the quickest ever at 6.773 seconds. Final eliminations begin Sunday at noon.

Final Professional Category Qualifying Results

TOP FUEL -- 1. Shirley Muldowney, Armada, Mich., 4.895, 296.34; 2. Doug Herbert, Cherryville, N.C., 4.907, 298.80; 3. Wayne Bailey, Leonard, Mich., 4.960, 288.09; 4. Paul Romine, Indianapolis, 4.973, 286.98; 5. Jack Ostrander, Waterford, Mich., 5.094, 284.18; 6. Dave Bieneman, Royal Oak, Mich., 5.133, 278.72; 7. Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, 5.155, 271.90; 8. Luigi Novelli, Crete, Ill., 5.228, 237.46. PRO MODIFIED -- 1. Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 6.471, 209.20; 2. Rickie Smith, King, N.C., 6.488, 213.21; 3. Tommy Mauney, Shelby, N.C., 6.494, 214.48; 4. Todd Tutterow, Lewisville, N.C., 6.499, 213.92; 5. Steve Vick, Mocksville, N.C., 6.503, 209.44; 6. Ronnie Hood, Lenior, N.C., 6.514, 215.67; 7. Quain Stott, Inman, S.C., 6.515, 214.18; 8. Ted Smith, Smithfield, Pa., 6.516, 214.08; 9. Mike Castellana, Westbury, N.Y., 6.524, 214.03; 10. John Bartunek, Pearl River, N.Y., 6.524, 212.56; 11. Chris Hunt, Killen, Ala., 6.530, 212.06; 12. Lonnie Brazell, Elgin, S.C., 6.531, 208.96; 13. Harold Martin, Southfield, Mich., 6.539, 208.67; 14. Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., 6.541, 213.82; 15. Wally Stroupe, Kings Mountain, N.C., 6.542, 210.87; 16. Tommy Gray, Baltimore, Md., 6.542, 210.72. PRO STOCK -- 1. Floyd Cheek, Chattanooga, Tenn., 6.725, 206.61; 2. John Montecalvo, Center Moriches, N.Y., 6.743, 204.82; 3. David Jenkins, London, Ohio, 6.745, 204.26; 4. Doug Kirk, Lenore, W.Va., 6.749, 204.73; 5. Tim Nabors, Lawrenceville, Ga., 6.749, 203.75; 6. Jon Yoak, Ellenboro, W.Va., 6.753, 205.76; 7. Pete Berner, Crete, Ill., 6.753, 204.35; 8. Angelo Alesci, Cleveland, Ohio, 6.754, 203.75; 9. John Nobile, Melville, N.Y., 6.755, 204.12; 10. Jerry Yeoman, Galena, Kan., 6.755, 203.29; 11. Billy Huff, Shepherdsville, Ky., 6.757, 203.66; 12. Tony Gillig, Lake Zurich, Ill., 6.769, 203.89; 13. Tom Lee, Kingsport, Tenn., 6.772, 205.47; 14. Chris Holbrook, Redford, Mich., 6.772, 204.35; 15. Ed Machacek, Atkins, Iowa, 6.772, 204.26; 16. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, La., 6.773, 204.54. ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR -- 1. Jim Sickles, Caledonia, N.Y., 5.905, 231.60; 2. Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 5.968, 236.46; 3. Mark Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, 5.976, 229.65; 4. Mick Steele, Loganville, Ga., 6.012, 233.58; 5. Jimmy Rector, Vernon, Ala., 6.012, 233.58; 6. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., 6.055, 226.81; 7. Tony Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, 6.056, 230.47; 8. Scott Weney, Spring City, Pa., 6.070, 230.00; 9. John Rose Jr., Reading, Pa., 6.083, 230.82; 10. Gerry Thalacker, Lake Wylie, S.C., 6.096, 229.59; 11. Paul Zgoda, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6.097, 231.24; 12. Larry Dobbs, Ontario, Canada, 6.109, 227.61; 13. Paul Noakes, Ontario, Canada, 6.125, 230.65; 14. Jim Lape, Myerstown, Pa., 6.184, 231.84; 15. Billy Willams, Parma, Ohio, 6.187, 223.65; 16. Mark Poyser, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 6.199, 223.49.