SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1969
Top Three Fuel-Eliminators Meet
     In First Round Of World Series

By LARRY REA

The National Hot Rod Association's top three Top Fuel-Eliminators from the NHRA's Southeast Division II will spin their tires tonight at Shelby County International Raceway.

   It's the first round action in the NHRA's World Championship Series points meet at SCIR.

   The entry list includes Dave Chenevert of Metairie, La., Preston Davis of Memphis, Pete Robinson of Atlanta, Jack Peebles of Hurst, Texas, and the Heim-Butler special of Little Rock.

   Chenevert is the current leader on NHRA's Division II circuit with 900 points.  Davis who'll drive Godman's Bo-Weevil, is second with 700 points, while Robinson has totaled 600 points.

   The track gates open a 2 this afternoon, with qualifying set to begin at 3.  Top Fuel-Eliminations get underway at 8:45.

   Lelan Stanton, SCIR's general manager, said that the AA-Fuels will pair off at 45-minute intervals with the final running tentatively set for 10:45 p.m.  "It should be a great show," Stanton said.

   The winner of the Top Fuel-Eliminator match will receive  $750, with the runnerup taking home $500.  An additional prize of $100 has been offered for the top time and top speed.

   The Bo-Weevil, the defending Southeast Division champion, recently turned times equal to the NHRA AA-FD record of :06:68 elapsed time at 225 miles per hour.

   Robinson is the former NHRA World Champion.

   Tomorrow's schedule includes a special Funny Car match race between Bobby Wood, the track record holder, and Don Nicholson.

   Another battle is expected in Street Eliminator between points leader Bo Laws of Orlando, Fla., and Ronnie Stewart of East Point, Ga.  All other eliminations will be run tomorrow when the gates open at 10 a.m. with eliminations set for 2:30 p.m.

   SCIR's event is fifth in a series of six in the Southeast.

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Entry List

   TOP FUEL: Dave Chenevert, Metairie, La.; Preston Davis, Memphis; Pete Robinson, Atlanta; Jack Peebles, Hurst, Texas; Helm-Butler, Little Rock.

   TOP GAS: Ron Martin, St. Louis; Bill Webb, Decatur, Ga; Durel-Randazzo-Puneky, Kenner, La.

   SUPER-ELIMINATOR: Joe Yarini, Tucker, Ga; Holt-Suski, Athens, Ala.

   COMPETITION: Bob Callehan, Atlanta; Sherill Huff, Lebanon Junction, Ky.; David Major, Nashville; Charlie Kruse; Bill Brannon, Atlanta; Farley Brothers, Camp Hill, Penn.; Bob Stratman, Miami, Fla.; Bo Turner, Memphis; Bob Lee-Tom Buford, Hollywood, Fla.; Cox-Mize, Birmingham; Protamo-Salvaggio, New Orleans; Archie Marchman, Atlanta; Jerry Brinsfield, Tuckerman, Ark.

   STREET: Bow Laws, Orlando, Fla.; Ronnie Stewart, East Point, Ga.; Buddy Houston, Palmetto, Ga.; Hugh Green, Somerville, Ala; Butch Luther, Decatur, Ga.; Charles Baggett, Cunningham, Tenn.; Dicky Byrd, Macon Ga.; Charles R. Beasley, Apopka, Fla.; M.A. Madden, Anniston, Ala.; H.L. McDole, Hermitage, Tenn.; Buddy Criscoe, Fern Creek, Ky.; Chuck Hamilton, Millington; Bobby Vaughn, Nashville; Ronald Albright, Bartlett; Grooms Brothers, South Fulton, Tenn.; Lindell Hearn, Chicago.

   SUPER STOCK: Wyman Barnett, Stone Mountain, Ga.; John Smith, Dunwoody, Ga.; Otis Deck Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn.; Reid Whisnant, Atlanta, Ga.; J.C. South, Birmingham; Frank Dettmering, Atlanta; Herb McCandless, Memphis; Sam Carroll, Smyrna, Ga.; Henry Hallman-Pete Sciro, Birmingham; J.E. Reese, Nashville; Bill Tanner, Norcross, Ga.; Chuck Hamilton, Millington; Vaughn Currie, Memphis.

   STOCK: Jim Waibel, Lakeland, Fla; Keith Hodge, Hartsville, Ala.; Charlie Carson, Lakeland, Fla; Gene H. Norris, Orlando, Fla.; John Tharpe, Phoenix City, Ala.; Roger Wilder, Memphis; Ivars Smiltnieks, Memphis; Sherman L. Adcock, Columbus, Ga.; Russell Kauerz Jr., Memphis; George Widuck, McMinnville, Tenn.; Max Hatt, Montgomery, Ala.; J.C. Cook Jr., Memphis; Jackson, Miss.; Mike Hallman, Millington; Stan Summerfield, Memphis; Tab Beazley, Nashville; W.W. Bunce, Fayetville, N.C.; Gorman G. Smith, Russellville, Ark.; Junior Qoaries, Rome, Ga.; Mike Connally, Pensacola, Fla.; Tommy Shinholster, Titusville, Fla.; Melvin Yow, Lillington, N.C.; Waibel Competition, Lakeland, Fla.; R. Ayres, Little Rock; Jerry Hollman, Birmingham; Jimmie D. Wilkerson, Memphis; Cart Pinch, Little Rock; Richard Noble, Beebe, Ark; Van Zandt-Walker, Birmingham; Larry Abbott, Marietta, Ga.; Larry Dodd, Nashville; Ray Hamilton, Memphis.