For second week in a row NHRA event is weather plagued, this time by rain. Wet stuff cuts short TF and FC qualifying as those drivers get two shots only -- second session comes during rare Sunday AM revised schedule. Despite the cutback TF field is still a quick one as it takes a 4.756 secs run or better to make the show. Pro Stock cars get only three qualifiers however still produce an all six second field (6.980 secs bump.)

Top Fuel 2nd round racing is marred by a spectacular crash involving seasoned veteran racer Kenny Bernstein. Bernstein’s "Bud King" blows a rare slick which takes down wing and unloads car at the finish line. Bernstein’s car lays on it’s side and backs into guardwall at 300 mph before sliding to a fiery stop. Thankfully McKinney built chassis and stringent NHRA safety minimums do their job once again allowing Bernstein to walk away from the incident. Ironically Bernstein had won the race taking out points leader Tony Schumacher who was in the other lane.

Doug Herbert wins in Top Fuel. He takes full advantage of the early exits by incumbent points leaders to vault back into serious Winston championship contention. While Schumacher, Amato and Scelzi are all gone after round two, Herbert makes up ground and moves his Snap-On car to fourth in points. It is third consecutive weekend that the "Red Hot" Herbert has won a Top Fuel title (won IHRA Rockingham, NHRA Topeka and now this).

Australia’s David Grubnic qualifies on the pole for the first time in his career -- hits a 4.570 secs track record driving John Mitchell’s Montana Express. Tony Schumacher sets top speed of the event for the tenth time this season -- this time at 316.75 mph in Exide Batteries car.

Star Racing/Team Winston Pro Stock Bike team owner George Bryce plays perfect strategy at Memphis to put his lady rider Angelle Seeling back on top in Winston points after a crucial event win. Bryce introduces second Suzuki motorcycle at the event which is driven by unheralded Fred Collis as a blocker. Move pays perfect dividends in semifinals as Collis takes out points leader Matt Hines in huge match up -- Collis has a .401 RT while winning. For final team states that Seeling and Collis will race straight up -- however no one believes that nor does it happen has Collis has a .513 light and Angelle speeds to victory. Runner-up for Collis comes in his first career NHRA race.

2nd round of FC qualifying sees Frankie Pedregon cross lanes and strike a glancing blow to Gary Densham at half track. Both drivers do a great job and prevent what could have been catastrophe. Frankie is a DNQ but Densham makes repairs and goes to second round in eliminations.

Mike Dunn’s Winston Championship title hopes fade to a flicker after he is a DNQ in Team Mopar dragster. Dunn, who led Top Fuel points for most of the 1999 season had a best run of 4.795 secs but that misses the cut. He falls to sixth in points.

Brothers Harvey and Terry Emmons, from Pasadena, TX., both win eliminators at Memphis. Harvey wins in Stock driving ‘98 Firebird and Terry takes Super Stock in ‘96 Firebird.

David Hirata breaks though in Federal Mogul Dragster class winning his first career title. Hirata wins all injected nitro final beating last week’s winner from Topeka, Melanie Troxel, in the final round. Hirata runs top speed of the meet at 264.39 mph in the final. He also sets low ET at 5.372 secs.

Tommy Johnson Jr. makes his third straight NHRA final round driving Joe Gibbs’s Interstate/Hot Rod Magazine Pontiac -- winning for the second time. Johnson takes out both Castrol cars -- John Force in the semis and Tony Pedregon in final. Cristen Powell, who won her first career round win in FC class at Topeka one week earlier scores her second -- beating Whit Bazemore. She is however taken out by Johnson Jr. in the quarter finals.