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Pro Stock Notebook (PRO/STOCK)

From: NHRA Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761 SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS PRO STOCK NOTEBOOK --For the boys: While Bob Glidden says he is satisfied with his career, he has extra ...

From: NHRA Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761

SEARS CRAFTSMAN NATIONALS PRO STOCK NOTEBOOK

--For the boys: While Bob Glidden says he is satisfied with his career, he has extra motivation while searching for a new sponsor: his sons, Bill and Rusty.

"I could walk away, because I feel good about wht I've done," Glidden said. "But my sons have been doing this since they were in diapers. I owe it to them to try to find something and continue."

Bill Glidden, 31, is 20th in the NHRA Winston point standings in a Ford Quality Care Ford Probe. Rusty Glidden, 28, works for the Glidden Racing team and raced a family Pro Stock sporadically this decade.

--It's not over: Jim Yates may lead Warren Johnson by 168 points with just three races remaining this season, but WJ isn't ready to concede his throne.

And Yates isn't ready just yet to start getting sized for the crown.

"We'll just go to Topeka and do whatever it takes," Johnson said.

Johnson must make up nearly eight rounds of eliminations in three events, an almost-impossible task considering there are only 12 rounds left this year.

"He'll come back, I know that," Yates said. "You can't count him out. Not now. Not ever."

--McRecord: Jim Yates set a NHRA elapsed-time national record of 6.947 seconds in the McDonald's Pontiac Firebird at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals earlier this month at Reading, Pa.

Yates, from Alexandria, Va., broke the record of 6.948 set by Warren Johnson at the Slick 50 Nationals in March 1995 at Houston. Yates earned $7,500 from the MBNA World Record Club.

"We try to swing for the fence every time we get to the starting line," Yates said. "To get the record is just an honor. This car works extremely well. I just get to go along for the ride."

--Quick field: The Pro Stock field was the quickest in NHRA history at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals, as Warren Johnson was No. 1 at 6.984 in the GM Performance Parts Pontiac Firebird and Danny Coffman No. 16 at 7.037 in the Coffman Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The previous quickest field came at the Northwest Nationals in August 1996 at Seattle, where Jim Yates was No. 1 at 6.995 and Ray Franks No. 16 at 7.046.

--Six-sational: There were nine six-second runs by a Pro Stock at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals, a NHRA record. Warren Johnson had five -- a NHRA record for one driver at an event -- and Jim Yates four.

The first six-second pass by a Pro Stock at Heartland Park Topeka remains elusive. The track record is 7.033 seconds by Warren Johnson at the 1995 Western Auto Nationals presented by Slick 50.

--What a race: The semifinal between Jim Yates and George Marnell at the Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals was the quickest Pro Stock race in NHRA history. Yates finished in 6.947 seconds, Marnell 7.033.

The previous quickest race came at the Northwest Nationals in August 1996 at Seattle, where Yates finished at 6.994 and Mike Edwards 7.009.

--Hang on: Denver Nuggets power forward Tom Hammonds was unhurt in an accident during qualifying at the NHRA Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals earlier this month at Reading, Pa.

Hammonds lost control of his Above The Rim Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass Pro Stock immediately after leaving the starting line in the left lane. The car crossed to the right lane, hit the right retaining wall and rolled.

"Right off the line, the car made a move to the left, and I fought the car to correct it," Hammonds said. "I stayed with it too long and overcorrected, and the rest was just holding on and riding it out."

An NHRA rookie, Hammonds was competing in his third race of the season. He failed to qualify in all three. He made his NHRA debut at the Mopar Parts Mile- High Nationals in mid-July at Denver.

"This was my last NHRA race of the '96 season," Hammonds said. "I'm sorry it ended on such a sour note. We'll build another car and be back. Hopefully, the Denver Nuggets will continue to let me pursue my racing goals."

--Schedule: Pro qualifying starts at 3 p.m. Sept. 27 and is followed by a night-qualifying session at 7 p.m. that evening. Qualifying ends with sessions at noon and 4 p.m. Sept. 28, with final eliminations starting at 11 a.m. Sept. 29. Sportsman competition starts at 9 a.m. Sept. 26.

--Tickets: Tickets are available for the Sears Craftsman Nationals. Call (800) 43-RACES for ticket information. Tickets also can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets.

--On TV: The Nashville Network (TNN) will televise 60 minutes of live final-round competition from the Sears Craftsman Nationals at 5 p.m. (CDT) Sept. 29.

--On the Web: The NHRA home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.goracing.com/nhra/ offers more information about NHRA Winston Drag Racing, including qualifying and eliminations results, news, point standings, statistics, driver biographies and video clips. -30-

Jack Durbin indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us Motorsport News International jackd@motorsport.com (Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info") Homepage http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/users/indy500/index.html

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