George Etterman release from hospital, Edgewater recap

George Etterman released from hospital today
White picks up third straight win

CLEVES, Ohio - In what was a very tough weekend for the Etterman Racing team, ended on a positive note, both on and off the track. On the track, team driver Marc White won this past weekend's NHRA Division 3 Federal Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Edgewater Motorsports Park in Cleves, Ohio. Off the track, team owner George Etterman won his bout with a mild heart attack after Friday's first qualifying session, and was released from the hospital today after undergoing angioplasty surgery on Saturday.

White from Glendale Heights, Ill., who won this event last year, lead the event from start to finish, as he grabbed the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.983 second run at 243.61 mph during Friday's first session. In round one he defeated Fred Hagen with a 5.973 at 243.83 mph, then took out second generation racer Todd Veney in the semifinals with a 5.957 at 244.96 mph.

For the second straight race, White met his Division 3 rival, Chuck Cheeseman in the finals. Cheeseman lost his blower belt early in the run, giving White the easy win with a 6.083 at 228.71 mph.

"The main thing is that George is doing better," said White. "They let George out of the hospital today. He'll stay down in Cincinnati tonight, then head home tomorrow. We really missed having him there for the win. The rest of the crew, my brother Tim and Danny Bevans really picked up the slack. We got some help from some of the other teams. It was a good feeling to get a win for him."

White, the 1999 Division 3 Champ, hopes to carry the momentum from his last three wins into their next race, The Colonel's Truck Accessory Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., one of the team's favorite tracks. Etterman is expected to be able to attend.

"George will be in Brainerd with us," stated White. "We'll just play it by ear as to what he is up to doing. As long as he's there, happy, and smiling, we'll find some way to get the car prepared. We're looking forward to going up there, Brainerd is one of my favorite tracks to go to. Actually, I can't wait to get there."

For more information on the team, visit their website at EttermanRacing.com.

-ER-