Atlanta Notes

>From the Prodigy Auto Racing BB aand Newsgroup. Notes, Pro Stock Bike winner John Myers Birmingham, Ala., born Feb 19, 1958, Close Call Phone Card SuzukiGSXR *Has won two NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event this season. *Ended his losing streak in the final of the Fram Nationals, after eight final rounds here. *Last final round came at the Slick 50 Nationals presented by Western Auto at Houston. *Earned approximately $10,000 for today's victory. *Has one victory in eight final rounds at this event during his career. Was runner-up here from 1990 through 1996. *Has 32 career victories in 54 final rounds. *Has appeared in two final rounds this season (Slick 50 Nationals presented by Western Auto and Fram Nationals) *Three-time NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle champion(1990, 1992, 1995). *Crew chief is Ken Johnson.

Notes, Pro Stock winner Jim Yates Alexandria, Va., born July 9, 1953, McDonald's Pontiac Firebird *Has won three NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series events this season. *Other wins this season came at ATSCO Nationals at Phoenix, Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla, and Fram Nationals Commerce,Ga. *Last victory came at 1997 Mac Tools Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla., Fram Nationals at Commerce, Ga. *Earned approximately $25,000 for today's victory. *Has 1 victory in 2 final rounds at this event during his career. *Has 13 career victories in 27 final rounds. *Has appeared in three final rounds this season (ATSCO Nationals, Mac Tools Gatornationals, Fram Nationals). *Last final round came at the Fram Nationals Commerce, Ga. *1996 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Champion. *Set the elapsed-time national record of 6.947 seconds at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals, quickest time by a pro stock in NHRA history. *Set the elapsed-time track record at the Fram Nationals during qualifying at 6.940 seconds. *Serves as own co-crew chief with Jerry Bickel.

Notes, Top Fuel winner Kenny Bernstein Dallas, Tx., born Sept. 6, 1944, Budweiser King Dragster *Claimed first NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series victory this season. *Last national event victory came at 1996 Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals at Reading, Pa. *Won 1997 Winston Invitational, a non-points special event. *Earned approximately $40,000 for today's victory. *Has four victories (2 in Funny Car, 2 in Top Fuel) in six final rounds at this event during his career. *Has 47 career victories in 79 final rounds (30-for-48 in Funny Car; 17-31 in Top Fuel). *Has appeared in one other final round this season (ATSCO Nationals). *1996 NHRA Winston Top Fuel champion. Four-time NHRA Funny Car champion (1985-88). Only driver in NHRA history to win Top Fuel and Funny Car championships. *First NHRA driver to record speed of 300 mph with pass of 301.70 mph at 1992 Mac Nationals at Dallas. *Crew chief is Dale Armstrong.

Notes, Funny Car winner Randy Anderson Ontario, Ca., born Oct 19, 1964, Parts America Pontiac Firebird *Claimed first NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event victory of his career in pro competition. *Has one career victory in one final round. *Earned approximately $40,000 for today's victory. *His sister, Shelly, posted her first career victory in Top Alcohol Dragster in 1992. *First year in professional category. *Two-time NHRA Winston Top Alcohol Funny Car champion (1993-94). *Crew Chief is Larry Frazier

1997 Fram Nationals Special Awards: Best Appearing Car: The Beam Racing 1997 Chevy Cavalier Super Gas entry, owned and driven by Vicki Beam, Honey Brook, PA. Best Appearing Crew: The Paton Motorsports 1997 Pontiac Firebird Federal-Mogul Funny Car entry, owned and driven by Todd Paton, Paris, Ontario, Canada Best Engineered Award: The Jeg's Performance Mail Order Parts '34 Chevy Roadster Super Gas entry, driven by John Coughlin, Columbus, OH Budweiser Classic Award ($4000 to the No. 1 Qualifier in Top Fuel): Gary Scelzi, Team Winston Top Fuel Dragster, 4.669 seconds, 304.46 mph Big Bud Shootout Award ($4000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car) - John Force, Yorba Linda, CA, Castrol GTX FOrd Mustang, 4.997 seconds, 298.21 mph Dupont Automotive Finishes Pro Stock Challenge Award ($3000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Warren Johnson, Duluth, GA, GM Performance Parts Pontiac Firebird, 6.945 seconds, 199.46 mph The Wax Shop Pro Bike Dash Award ($1000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle) - Angelle Seeling, Americus, GA, Close Call Suzuki, 7.351 seconds, 181 mph Slick 50 Performance Award ($500 bonus to drivers in any of the four professional categories who win a round of eliminations, using a better reaction time at the starting line to offset a performance advantage - none Sears Craftsman Crew Chief of the Race Awards ($1000 to the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock crew chiefs of the race) - Allan Johnson for the Team Winston Top Fuel Dragster driven by Gary Scelzi; Larry Fraizer for the Parts America Funny Car driven by Randy Anderson; Bickle/Purdy for the McDonalds Firebird driven by Jim Yates. TRW/Federal Mogul Grand 900 Award ($1000 to the Super Comp or Super Gas driver who runs 8.900 or 9.900 respectively during final eliminations) - The Super Comp entry of Mitch Smith, Anderson, Ind. Estimated four-day event attandance was 88,500