Mustangs look to tame Beech Bend quarter-mile

Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 21, 2000

Drag racing returns to Beech Bend Raceway Park on Friday for the National Mustang Racers Associations Holley World Finals. Besides some of the most exciting stock and modified drag racing there will be a car show and swap meet. Titles this weekend will be decided as Joe Silva looks to displace legendary Pro 5.0 division driver Billy Glidden. Silva hopes to continue his late-season charge over his nearest competitor, Brandon Switzer, but Glidden is expected to bring his new legal car that debuted at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis. Silva leads Switzer by 90 points; Glidden is 190 marks back. In the Super Street Outlaw Class, the fields have grown so much that the normal elimination field of 16 has been expanded to 32.After three events, there have been three winners. Tim Lynch won in Columbus, Ohio, Chris Derrick was first at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Mich., and Job Spetter Jr. topped the field at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.Chris Derrick currently is leading Tim Lynch by 25 points (900-875). Keith and Roger Szabo are 90 points behind Lynch after they had a season-opening crash in Ohio. Bob Hanlon and Sam LaManna are looking to decide this years winner of the hot street category. Hanlon leads the title chase 1,380 to 1,120. Tom Payn has a 120-point lead in the pure street category, but could have had a bigger advantage if it hadnt been for two disqualifications for weight violations in the first and third events of the season. This years car show will feature 39 classes, with trophies awarded for first, second and third places. The first 250 participants also will receive goody bags with items from this years car show sponsors. The show is expected to have cars ranging from a T-bucket to the rugged Ranger truck. Registration for the car show is at 9 a.m. Saturday. Award judging is set for 11 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Some of the award categories include best paint, best interior, best engine, longest haul, best of show, peoples choice, best stereo and editors choice.

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