Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series

Jan. 15, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761

NEW ERA TO START AT NHRA FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAG RACING SERIES OPENER

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The money -- big money -- is there. Now it's time for NHRA sportsman racers to go get it.

A lucrative new era of NHRA competition will begin Feb. 7-9 at Gainesville Raceway as the new NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series starts with a Southeast Division event. More than 500 competitors will race, including 1996 Southeast Division champions Jay Payne and Tony Bartone.

The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series is comprised of 42 divisional events, with six races in each of NHRA's seven geographic regions. More than 36,000 drivers will race for a total series purse of more than $4,000,000 in 1997, easily the largest sum ever available to sportsman competitors.

Federal-Mogul announced its sponsorship of the nationwide series for NHRA sportsman racers, the rising young stars and "weekend warriors" who form the backbone of the sport, in October 1996. The company has increased awards and bonuses more than 50 percent as part of its ambitious program to create more growth and exposure for sportsman racing.

Federal-Mogul will provide racers with $719,550 in cash bonuses and awards this season. Competitors will race for a total championship point fund of $400,250 in the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, and $319,300 will be provided by Federal-Mogul through bonus programs and contingency awards.

National champions in all categories will earn bonuses from a $122,000 point fund posted by Federal-Mogul, an increase of 50 percent. Divisional championship purses have been increased 78 percent to $278,250, with a $39,750 total purse for each of the seven NHRA geographical divisions. Divisional championship bonuses will be awarded to third-place finishers for the first time.

Winston, for more than 20 years a supporter of NHRA drag racing, has thrown its weight behind the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series by posting $105,000 in low-qualifier cash bonuses at divisional events in 1997.

The NHRA Winston Divisional Low Qualifier Awards program will offer racers in five categories -- Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition, Super Stock and Stock -- $2,500 in cash awards for qualifying on the pole at NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events. Bonuses are available at all 42 NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events.

Federal-Mogul racing will continue in eight categories at national and divisional events: Federal-Mogul Dragster, Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Competition, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car were known as Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car before this season.

Federal-Mogul Corporation, based in Southfield, Mich., is a $2 billion worldwide manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of original equipment and replacement products for automobiles, trucks, and agricultural and industrial equipment.

--Schedule: Qualifying starts at 11 a.m. Feb. 7, with a session for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car at 5 p.m. The final day of qualifying starts at 9 a.m. Feb. 8, with the last sessions for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car at 3 and 6 p.m. The first round of eliminations starts at 9 a.m. Feb. 9, with the first round for Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car at noon.

--Tickets: Tickets are available for the inaugural Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event in the Southeast Division. Call Gainesville Raceway at (352) 377-0046 for ticket information. -30-