Sunday

Top Fuel Results for Elimination Round 1

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 49th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.058 4.623 317.12 (L) Paul Romine (CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster) 0.030 NT-Broke After Staging As the mid field runners meet this is the 7th Indy start for Romine and his best starting position ever. Russell won in TAD in 97 and is 6-0 against Romine. Only three thousandth's separated this pair in qualifying Current weather conditions: 77degrees, 52 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.10 inches, with a track temperature of 97 degrees. Romine's car barely moved before blowing the tires off so violently that the motor revved up and exploded in a ball of flame. The trucks rolled but were not needed at the start line where some small debris was all that was left on the track surface. A quick clean up is taking place at the 1000' mark where the Carquest entry rolled to a halt. While everyone's attention was on Romine, Russell made a tidy run to advance. (W) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.084 4.612 310.34 (L) Cory McClenathan (N.Y. Yankees/Berryman Drag0.087 5.054 259.91 This is Rhonda's best ever start at Indy while it is also the lowest that McClenathan has ever qualified here. He has won twice here. 11:17 and we are back after a final trip down the right lane by the tractor. Cory puffed the tires just past the half track clocks and Hartman advances.The Berryman car left some "stuff" on the track in the shut down area and the trucks are rolling again. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.064 4.519 327.59 (L) John Smith (Prestone Dragster) 0.059 5.777 171.47 Rhonda's husband is next up and has a tough opponent in two time and defending champ Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher. Schumacher made four 4.5 runs during qualifying here, missing out only on the second run where he smoked the tires. 11.25 and the third pair are fired. Smith was spinning the tires before the 330' clocks and had a great view of Schumacher making his best run of the event and setting top speed and the track mph record in the process. (W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.079 4.566 324.51 (L) David Grubnic (BME Dragster) 0.088 14.103 71.50 Dixon was won here twice but this is his lowest qualifying positions since Englishtown. Grubnic is making his 4th start at this event. Instant smoke for Aussie Dave while Dixon runs a safe and clean lap. (W) Scott Kalitta (Mac Tools/Jesse James) 0.075 4.575 322.88 (L) Clay Millican (104+ Octane Boost Dragster) -9.999(R) NT-No Show Scott Kalitta get a free pass here as scheduled opponent Clay Millican is in Epping, NH today at the IHRA race. Scott carries the wheels at the launch and keeps it hooked and clean through the traps. The run will give him lance choice over Rhonda in round two. (W) David Baca (American Racing Dragster) 0.120 4.567 318.02 (L) Mitch King (Dragster) 0.069 7.815 94.98 Baca's dad was a winner here in 1977 while King is making his 8th start on the NHRA tour with just one round win to his credit. King is up in smoke before the 330 mark and Baca advances with a clean and dry pass to take lane choice over Russell. (W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.166 4.594 321.81 (L) Scott Weis (RaceGirl Dragster) -9.999(R) NT-Broke Before Staging Kenny's first Indy was in 1978 and he has won here in both fuel categories. Weis has problems and the engine flares before the car is shut off after backing up from the burnout. KB will give up lane choice to Larry Dixon after his solo victory. (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.090 4.541 321.04 (L) Jim Head (Head Racing Dragster) 0.078 8.722 91.99 This is Kalitta's sixth Indy start but he only has a 2-4 record against Head. Head strikes the Goodyears early in the run and make one attempt to pedal before giving up.Kalitta had a quick flash of flame from the back of the motor at the 1000' mark but that does not appear to slow the car. He did lose lane choice to Schumacher however.

Top Fuel Results for Elimination Round 2

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 49th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Scott Kalitta (Mac Tools/Jesse Jame) 0.102 4.564 327.59 (L) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)-9.999(R) NT-Broke Before Staging In his return to the NHRA tour Scott Kalitta is the definite favorite here based on his prior efforts this weekend. Rhonda had problems after the burnout and can not get the car in reverse. The crew run to the car but there is nothing that they can do and a dejected Rhonda climbs out and over the wall. Kalitta clinches the deal with anther stout and clean pass to move into the semi. (W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.086 4.579 319.82 (L) David Baca (American Racing Dragster) 0.076 5.462 175.25 Baca was a little off his qualifying pace in round one but that may have just been crew chief Johnny West playing it safe. More trouble in the right lane as the crew have to push Russell back to the line, making it in plenty of time. This is why they don't race these things on paper. Russell keeps his cool, leaves just a tad behind Baca and drives around him as the Hunter's Hope car puffs the tires at half track. (W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.089 5.477 239.10 (L) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.053 5.885 211.10 "Beer Wars" part 'x'x'x' here at the world's biggest drag race. This one was wild. Dixon lit the tires up early, slowing just past the 60' clocks, but then the big red car followed suit before Bernstein got to the 330 timers. As Dixon attempted to run Bernstein down both cars were alternately smoking and making some progress but the motor in the Miller car expired in a gout of flame and Bernstein took the victory. The trucks are out in Dixon's lane from just short of the 100' timers as one of LaHaie's motors leaves stuff on the track for the first time in who knows how many races. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.064 4.526 326.40 (L) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.054 4.552 328.86 Scott Kalitta is one the line for this one to check his cousin's efforts and also, co-incidentally to see who gets lane choice in the semi. Kalitta was first out of the gate but defending event champ Schumacher was quicker at every incremental and took the win by a scant 8 feet. Kalitta will probably not be content with his top speed of the event 328.86 as once again he will not have a chance to make the final round here. The Sarge will pick his lane over Scott K and Russell has his choice against Bernstein when they come back for the semi.

Top Fuel Results for Elimination Round 3

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 49th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.069 4.612 315.64 (L) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.086 5.280 193.52 Russell finally gets lane choice and crew chief Wayne Dupuy moves over to the left lane. Russell has been a winner here in TAD and is looking for a chance to visit the winner's circle again. Russell is out first and never headed as Bernstein again smokes the tires at the 400 foot mark. A dropped cylinder slowed Russell but he is at least in the money round. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.044 4.523 326.16 (L) Scott Kalitta (Mac Tools/Jesse James) 0.071 4.549 327.82 The fathers of both of these second generation racers have won here but only the Sarge has won for the current generation. The Army car leaves first and is again in the 4.5's as Tony takes out another Kalitta. This is the sixth straight 4.5 for Schumacher and all of his runs today have been within .007 of each other.

Top Fuel Results for Final Round

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 49th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.075 4.498 328.54 (L) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.049 4.613 290.19 Current weather conditions: 78 degrees, 47 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.07 inches, with a track temperature of 107 degrees. Predictably Alan Johnson has put Schumacher in the left lane for the last race of the event. The Amato car has eaten up a couple of bullets today but crew chief Wayne Dupuy is ready to win this event after making it to the final round with Jim Epler in 1999. Amato has a small group of supporters watching while the multi car Schumacher operation has a cast of thousands in their lane. Russell left first but the Army car was trucking, running quicker to every increment as Schumacher was about 38 feet ahead in the traps on his way to his first 4.4 which is also low elapsed time of the event by a mere one thousandth. Schumacher joins an elite group of three time top fuel winners as only Gary Beck, Don Prudhomme and Don Garlits are prior members of that club.

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