| Top Fuel Dragster
Thursday
Results for Qualifying Round 1
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the
4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top
speed, and position in order following run:
Right Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 5.141/246.71, Now #1
6:39 PM The new Peek Brothers entry made a clean pass, the header flames
out well before the finish line.
Left Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 5.123/208.68, Now #1
Right Lane: Chris KaramesinesRuns 6.300/160.02, Now #3
The total age of these two is 126 years. Lots of racing experience out
there right now. Novelli's car left first and labored to the 1,000-foot mark,
where the chute came out. Karamesines was slow off the line and shut it off at
half track.
Left Lane: Bobby Lagana No Time, Now #5
Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 11.731/58.58, Now #4
Lagana's crew had problems firing the engine and Lagana got out of the car.
Hartley launched, lost traction about 100 feet out, and coasted through.
Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith
Runs 18.111/45.29, Now #6
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 9.230/81.30, Now #4
It appeared that the throttle cable broke on Hartman-Smith's car, the car
slowly coasting down the track. Vandergriff lost traction almost
immediately.
Left Lane: Don Lampus Runs 6.425/134.38, Now #4
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 9.836/75.28, Now #6
Both cars had problems early in the run, Lampus' car laboring and Grubnic
losing traction.
Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.893/237.30, Now #1
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 5.935/144.32, Now #4
Cory Mac had a good run going, to half track, then the tires started smoking
and he shut it off. Herbert went a bit further, off the power by the 1,000-foot
mark.
Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 5.091/203.68, Now #3
Right Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.967/271.62, Now #2
Amato's car started smoking the tires before half track and he stayed with
it, smoking them all the way through the lights.
Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.882/282.66, Now #1
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.926/283.85, Now #3
The two beer cars made similar runs, both losing traction around half track
and both staying with it, pedaling, to the finish line.
Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 6.194/137.39, Now #10
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.702/284.03, Now #1
Final pair of a tire-smoking session, the track still a bit on the "green"
side. Schumacher left harder than Scelzi, but lost traction around half track and
called it quits. Scelzi went way down the track before starting to smoke the
tires, the result showing in his low ET of the session, by almost two-tenths of a
second.
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Thursday
Order for Qualifying Round 1
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel
at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Gary Scelzi Team Winston Dragster 4.702 284.03
2. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.882 282.66
3. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.893 237.30
4. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.926 283.85
5. Joe Amato Dynomax/Valvoline Dragster 4.967 271.62
6. Doug Kalitta MGM Grand Dragster 5.091 203.68
7. Luigi Novelli Dragster 5.123 208.68
8. Glenn Mikres Peek Brothers Dragster 5.141 246.71
9. Cory McClenathan MBNA Dragster 5.935 144.32
10. Tony Schumacher Exide Batteries Dragster 6.194 137.39
11. Chris Karamesines Chizler Dragster 6.300 160.02
12. Don Lampus expressautoparts.com Dragster 6.425 134.38
13. Bob Vandergriff Radiac Abrasives Dragster 9.230 81.30
14. David Grubnic Montana Express Dragster 9.836 75.28
15. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 11.731 58.58
16. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Dragster 18.111 45.29
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Thursday
Results for Qualifying Round 2
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the
4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top
speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed,
and position in order prior to run:
Left Lane: Steve Smith Runs 4.850/295.14, Now #2
No Prior Run
9:42 PM Smith didn't run in the first session. He made an easy, clean
pass here to open the nighttime session.
Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.881/257.53, Now #3
Best prior run: 11.731/58.58, Was #16
Right Lane: Bobby Lagana Runs 11.007/79.33, Now #17
No Prior Run
The Ralph White car (Lagana) broke a clutch linkage in the lanes and didn't
fire last session. Crew member Steve Warf, who injured his hand when starting the
car i n the pits at Columbus, saw the report on the internet and sent a message,
"The car wanted me to start it, so it qwouldn't start." The car started okay
here, but the run was a short one, the header flames out after 100 feet or so.
Clean pass by Hartley to move way off the bump spot.
Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.688/304.46, Now #1
Best prior run: 9.836/75.28, Was #16
Right Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 5.088/217.74, Now #9
No Prior Run
Litton also did not make a run in the first session. A full pass for
Grubnic, but Litton's header flames went out quite a way before the finish
line.
Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.655/313.00, Now #1
Best prior run: 9.230/81.30, Was #17
Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith
Runs 5.060/229.47, Now #10
Best prior run: 18.111/45.29, Was #19
Crew chief Johnny West has the Vandergriff car back to where it was at
Columbus, before it spit out a spark plug in eliminations. Smith was on a good
pass, but lost the blower belt just past half track.
Right Lane: Don Lampus Runs 4.674/315.19, Now #2
Best prior run: 6.425/134.38, Was #18
Lampus made a solo run and achieved his goal, to step up into the sixties,
matching his best ET of the year and resetting his career best speed in the
process.
Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.608/310.84, Now #1
Best prior run: 5.935/144.32, Was #16
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 10.665/78.82, Now #17
Best prior run: 6.194/137.39, Was #17
Schumacher started to spin the tires, pedaled it, spun them again, and
called it off. Cory Mac went right down the groove, clean and straight. to set a
new benchmark for the rest to shoot at.
Left Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 5.122/247.88, Now #15
Best prior run: 5.141/246.71, Was #16
Right Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 8.148/105.80, Now #16
Best prior run: 5.123/208.68, Was #15
Novelli lost traction early in the run. Mikres made a three-quarter pass,
the header flames out very early.
Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.602/313.51, Now #1
Best prior run: 4.967/271.62, Was #11
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.712/299.86, Now #7
Best prior run: 5.091/203.68, Was #14
Two full passes here, Amato pulling away on the top end to take over the
pole position. Then from the top end comes the call, "We have oil." It's in
Amato's lane, so he will get to contribute $500 to the cleanup fund.
Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.697/306.05, Now #6
Best prior run: 4.926/283.85, Was #12
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.775/282.24, Now #9
Best prior run: 4.893/237.30, Was #11
Two good-looking passes until Herbert's header flames went out, first and
well before the finish line.
Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 8.309/292.68, Now #8
Best prior run: 4.702/284.03, Was #7
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.686/315.12, Now #5
Best prior run: 4.882/282.66, Was #12
This is the pair everyone was waiting for - the final pair and a great
matchup. Two long, red dragsters, each capable of taking over the pole position.
Scelzi lost traction early in the run and coasted through - the speed is highly
suspect. Bernstein made a full, clean pass, right down the groove, the run
looking a bit better than the numbers it drew.
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Thursday
Order for Qualifying Round 2
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at
the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Joe Amato Dynomax/Valvoline Dragster 4.602 313.51
2. Cory McClenathan MBNA Dragster 4.608 310.84
3. Bob Vandergriff Radiac Abrasives Dragster 4.655 313.00
4. Don Lampus expressautoparts.com Dragster 4.674 315.19
5. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.686 315.12
6. David Grubnic Montana Express Dragster 4.688 304.46
7. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.697 306.05
8. Gary Scelzi Team Winston Dragster 4.702 292.68
9. Doug Kalitta MGM Grand Dragster 4.712 299.86
10. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.775 282.24
11. Steve Smith Steve Smith Racing Dragster 4.850 295.14
12. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.881 257.53
13. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Dragster 5.060 229.47
14. Bruce Litton Wix Filters Dragster 5.088 217.74
15. Glenn Mikres Peek Brothers Dragster 5.122 247.88
16. Luigi Novelli Dragster 5.123 208.68
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Tony Schumacher Exide Batteries Dragster 6.194 137.39
18. Chris Karamesines Chizler Dragster 6.300 160.02
19. Bobby Lagana Twilight Zone Dragster 11.007 79.33
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Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 3
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the
4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top
speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed,
and position in order prior to run:
Left Lane: Chris KaramesinesRuns 5.126/273.72, Now #17
Best prior run: 6.300/160.02, Was #18
Right Lane: Bobby Lagana Runs 9.773/82.46, Now #19
Best prior run: 11.007/79.33, Was #19
4:58 PM This session opens with Luigi Novelli on the bubble at 5.123. "The
Golden Greek" comes close with a full pass. Lagana lost traction after 100 feet
or so and shut it down.
Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 8.799/94.12, Now #8
Best prior run: 4.702/284.03, Was #8
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.497/176.03, Now #18
Best prior run: 6.194/137.39, Was #18
Normally they invert the qualified field for these qualifying sessions, so
it's unclear why Scelzi is running this early in the session, unless they decided
to invert them based on the second session times alone. Scelzi smoked the tires
then, and did so again here. Schumacher appeared to be easily in the field,
despite some tire haze around half track, and then the blower belt went sailing
through the air and the car nosed over sharply. Now the pressure is on the
defending Winston champion to get into the field on just one shot.
Left Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 4.985/297.81, Now #14
Best prior run: 5.122/247.88, Was #15
Right Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 4.812/308.14, Now #11
Best prior run: 5.123/208.68, Was #16
That's a career-best run for Novelli, both ET and speed, and a breakthrough
for the new Peek Brothers dragster in the other lane, the first run in the fours
for that new car. Now the bump spot belongs to Bruce Litton, at 5.088.
Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 8.849/90.51, Now #13
Best prior run: 4.881/257.53, Was #13
Right Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 5.401/197.73, Now #16
Best prior run: 5.088/217.74, Was #16
Two tire-smoking runs here, Hartley losing traction after 100 feet or so and
Litton closer to half track, pedaling once before giving it up.
Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 9.156/89.26, Now #7
Best prior run: 4.697/306.05, Was #7
Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith
Runs 5.017/234.04, Now #15
Best prior run: 5.060/229.47, Was #15
Another broken blower belt, this time Hartman-Smith's. Her car dropped a
cylinder from the start, then another just before the fire went out. Dixon left
hard, then smoked the tires after 100 feet or so.
Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 9.754/88.54, Now #6
Best prior run: 4.688/304.46, Was #6
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.817/286.68, Now #10
Best prior run: 4.775/282.24, Was #10
Grubnic launched, went about 100 feet, then smoked the tires. Herbert
struggled all the way through, the car not very quick off the line and sluggish
all the way down the track.
Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.727/304.46, Now #3
Best prior run: 4.655/313.00, Was #3
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 6.213/137.75, Now #9
Best prior run: 4.712/299.86, Was #9
Vandergriff made another solid pass here, this one a few hundredths slower
than yesterday's nice run. Kalitta lost traction around the 330-foot marker.
Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.687/298.93, Now #2
Best prior run: 4.608/310.84, Was #2
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.846/299.66, Now #5
Best prior run: 4.686/315.12, Was #5
Cory Mac makes the best run of the session so far, right down the slippery
groove, the car trailing tire smoke on the top end. Bernstein also trailed tire
smoke on the top end, a little heavier than Cory's.
Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 5.281/189.63, Now #1
Best prior run: 4.602/313.51, Was #1
Right Lane: Don Lampus No Time, Now #4
Best prior run: 4.674/315.19, Was #4
Final pair. Make that half-pair, Lampus shutting off after the burnout.
Amato made a sluggish launch and the engine went silent before the 1,000-foot
marker.
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Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 3
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel
at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Joe Amato Dynomax/Valvoline Dragster 4.602 313.51
2. Cory McClenathan MBNA Dragster 4.608 310.84
3. Bob Vandergriff Radiac Abrasives Dragster 4.655 313.00
4. Don Lampus expressautoparts.com Dragster 4.674 315.19
5. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.686 315.12
6. David Grubnic Montana Express Dragster 4.688 304.46
7. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.697 306.05
8. Gary Scelzi Team Winston Dragster 4.702 292.68
9. Doug Kalitta MGM Grand Dragster 4.712 299.86
10. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.775 286.68
11. Luigi Novelli Dragster 4.812 308.14
12. Steve Smith Steve Smith Racing Dragster 4.850 295.14
13. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.881 257.53
14. Glenn Mikres Peek Brothers Dragster 4.985 297.81
15. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Dragster 5.017 234.04
16. Bruce Litton Wix Filters Dragster 5.088 217.74
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Chris Karamesines Chizler Dragster 5.126 273.72
18. Tony Schumacher Exide Batteries Dragster 5.497 176.03
19. Bobby Lagana Amish on Nitro Dragster 9.773 82.46
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Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 4
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel
at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed
time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed
time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
Right Lane: Chris KaramesinesRuns 5.397/275.22, Now #17
Best prior run: 5.126/273.72, Was #17
8:52 PM The monitor shows Karamesines' age as 69, but Bob Frey claims he's
72. No matter what his true age, he's a legend of drag racing, rising to
prominence in the "glory years" of the sixties. His final effort came up short,
even legends required to run the numbers to make the field. The bump is Bruce
Litton's very soft 5.088, by the way.
Left Lane: Bobby Lagana No Time, Now #19
Best prior run: 9.773/82.46, Was #19
Right Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 4.999/298.80, Now #14
Best prior run: 4.985/297.81, Was #14
Lagana's car erupted in flames shortly after the launch - it looked like a
fuel fire, not oil, and Lagana pulled to a stop before the finish line, dancing
around until the Safety Safari sprayed him down. Meanwhile Mikres made another
clean run, right down the groove.
Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.718/313.00, Now #10
Best prior run: 5.497/176.03, Was #18
Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 10.541/79.43, Now #14
Best prior run: 4.881/257.53, Was #13
The last time Schumacher failed to qualify was at Reading, in 1998, where he
was 18th. This had to be a pressure-cooker for the young driver, forced to sit at
the head of the staging lanes while the Safety Safari cleaned up the mess from
Lagana's fire - no oil, just fuel, so no penalty, by the way. In this afternoon's
session he had a good run going, but lost the blower belt on the top end and
slowed to a 5.49. Ironically, Hartley came into this session safely in the field.
The cream always rises and the Exide team came through here, the header flames
steady and solid all the way through the finish line. Hartley lost traction
almost immediately. That bumps Litton, putting Rhonda Hartman-Smith on the bubble
at 5.017.
Left Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 4.789/300.20, Now #12
Best prior run: 5.088/217.74, Was #17
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.649/307.02, Now #3
Best prior run: 4.702/284.03, Was #8
Just-bumped Litton and uncharacteristically slow Scelzi showed what
champions are made of, stepping up to the challenge. Ironically, Hartman-Smith's
brother, Richard Hartman, is Litton's crew chief and Litton's run bumped her from
the field.
Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith
Runs 4.909/248.11, Now #16
Best prior run: 5.017/234.04, Was #17
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 8.905/88.75, Now #8
Best prior run: 4.697/306.05, Was #8
Just-bumped Hartman-Smith needed to beat Glenn Mikres' 4.985 to get back in.
Dixon just needed to step up higher on the ladder. Dixon failed, losing traction
after 100 feet or so. Hartman-Smith made a clutch run, and it appeared the
supercharger let go at the 1,000-foot marker, the car slowing from a speed of 255
mph at half track. But the elapsed time was good enough to make the field, on the
bubble.
Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.694/309.34, Now #8
Best prior run: 4.775/282.24, Was #11
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.696/309.98, Now #7
Best prior run: 4.688/304.46, Was #7
Two pretty good runs here, side-by-side all the way down the strip. There
were a coup-le flashes of flame and some sparklers from the rear of Herbert's
engine, possibly a clutch failure sending titanium sparks in the air.
Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.664/305.08, Now #5
Best prior run: 4.712/299.86, Was #10
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.729/305.84, Now #4
Best prior run: 4.655/313.00, Was #4
Two more good runs, side-by-side all the way to the bank. The crowd is
getting a good show this evening - including nature's fireworks as thunderstorms
skirt the area.
Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.645/311.63, Now #3
Best prior run: 4.686/315.12, Was #7
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.722/254.33, Now #2
Best prior run: 4.608/310.84, Was #2
The hits just keep coming. Two more nice runs, though Cory Mac's ended a
little sooner than he'd like, the engine spitting out some parts as he passed the
1,000-foot marker.
Left Lane: Don Lampus Runs 4.696/314.02, Now #7
Best prior run: 4.674/315.19, Was #7
Right Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.622/317.42, Now #1
Best prior run: 4.602/313.51, Was #1
And two more good runs to wrap up Top Fuel qualifying, the header flames on
both cars tall and steady all the way to the finish line.
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Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 4
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top
Fuel at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Joe Amato Dynomax/Valvoline Dragster 4.602 317.42
2. Cory McClenathan MBNA Dragster 4.608 310.84
3. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.645 315.12
4. Gary Scelzi Team Winston Dragster 4.649 307.02
5. Bob Vandergriff Radiac Abrasives Dragster 4.655 313.00
6. Doug Kalitta MGM Grand Dragster 4.664 305.08
7. Don Lampus expressautoparts.com Dragster 4.674 315.19
8. David Grubnic Montana Express Dragster 4.688 309.98
9. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.694 309.34
10. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.697 306.05
11. Tony Schumacher Exide Batteries Dragster 4.718 313.00
12. Bruce Litton Wix Filters Dragster 4.789 300.20
13. Luigi Novelli Dragster 4.812 308.14
14. Steve Smith Steve Smith Racing Dragster 4.850 295.14
15. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.881 257.53
16. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Dragster 4.909 248.11
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Glenn Mikres Peek Brothers Dragster 4.985 298.80
18. Chris Karamesines Chizler Dragster 5.126 275.22
19. Bobby Lagana Amish on Nitro Dragster 9.773 82.46
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Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 1
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top
Fuel at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.481 6.270 135.85
(L) David Grubnic (Montana Express Dragster) 0.396(R) 6.634 124.81
4:38 PM A couple hours ago it looked pretty grim for getting this race in
today, but now it's partly cloudy and we may do the trick after all, if the
weather just holds off for six more hours.
This race was over at the start,
but for the record, Herbert got to the finish line first anyway, both cars losing
blower belts part way through the run and coasting across the finish line, like a
soap box derby race for 300-inch wheelbase cars.
(W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.465 4.734 304.19
(L) Don Lampus (expressautoparts.com Dragster) 0.468 4.826 305.01
Dixon made two good passes, then lost the handle - but Dick LaHaie has a
history of finding a tuneup that's just good enough to get down the race track and
win. They left together and Dixon pulled out to a car length lead early, opening
that slightly on the top end. Margin of victory = 0.095 seconds (approximately 42
feet).
(W) Tony Schumacher (Exide Batteries Dragster) 0.473 4.767 307.86
(L) Doug Kalitta (MGM Grand Dragster) 0.390(R) 6.236 138.87
These two have faced each other four times this year, Schumacher winning
three times. Both these cars struggled in qualifying, so this was a crapshoot.
Again the race was decided by a red light, Kalitta's first of the season. And
once again the winner was lucky, running a sub-par elapsed time and still getting
the win light.
(W) Joe Hartley (Hartley Racing Dragster) 0.481 4.809 294.95
(L) Cory McClenathan (MBNA Dragster) 0.520 5.884 175.94
Big upset here, Cory Mac never in this drag race, the rear tires slipping
from the 100-foot mark on, then up in billows of tire smoke after 330 feet. Cory
Mac pedaled, but was unable to regain traction and finally threw in the towel.
Hartley faces Dixon in round two, Dixon with lane choice.
(W) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Dragster) 0.470 4.795 292.46
(L) Joe Amato (Dynomax/Valvoline Dragster) 0.479 5.078 259.16
Four pairs, four upsets. Make that five and five, once again the mid-track
traction proving nonexistent for the car with lane choice once past the 100-foot
mark. Amato left harder than Hartman-Smith, but was behind at 330 feet and lost
ground from that point onward. Hartman-Smith advances with lane choice over
Herbert in round two.
(W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.518 4.795 289.94
(L) Steve Smith (Steve Smith Racing Dragster) 0.523 4.958 295.66
Bernstein stayed with the left lane choice, surprising given what's happened
so far. The Budweiser King team pulled it off, but not by much, the Margin of
victory = 0.168 seconds (approximately 73 feet) after Bernstein also started
smoking the tires on the top end. The difference was, Bernstein didn't start
smoking them until he was almost to the 1,000-foot marker. He wins, but loses
lane choice to Schumacher in round two.
(W) Gary Scelzi (Team Winston Dragster) 0.477 4.738 306.19
(L) Luigi Novelli (Dragster) 0.493 5.075 292.65
As with the Budweiser team, Team Winston stayed with the left-lane
preference. Give Alan Johnson a look at four or five runs in front of him and
he's a wizard with the clutch setup. "Big Red" showed no signs of tire smoke
anywhere in the run, clean and straight and smooth (and soft). Novelli tried, but
his engine puffed smoke a couple times and there was a flash of flame at mid
track, Scelzi steadily pulling away for an easy win.
(W) Bob Vandergriff (Radiac Abrasives Dragster) 0.487 4.744 304.60
(L) Bruce Litton (Wix Filters Dragster) 0.493 6.388 135.52
Final pair. Johnny West is also a bit of a wizard with the clutch setup and
the Vandergriff dragster went smoothly down the tricky left lane with nary a trace
of tire smoke. Litton gave it a shot, but started smoking the tires as he
approached half track and shut it down. Vandergriff advances, but loses lane
choice to Scelzi by 0.006 seconds.
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Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 2
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top
Fuel at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.456 4.850 248.75
(L) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Dragster) 0.496 12.687 81.10
7:27 PM After viewing the carnage from Scott Palmer's Federal-Mogul Funny
Car oildown, Hartman-Smith's team decided to take the right lane. These two have
met twice before this season, each winning once. This time it was no contest,
Hartman-Smith up in smoke at the hit of the throttle. herbert was not without
troubles of his own, but they came at the other end of the track, the engine
silent well before the finish line.
(W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.480 4.663 316.15
(L) Tony Schumacher (Exide Batteries Dragster) 0.461 4.822 306.67
Schumacher's team also decided to switch to the right lane. This was the
fourth meeting between these two this season, Bernstein holding a 2-1 edge.
Schumacher ("the Kid of Speed" according to Bob Frey) was away first, but
Bernstein ("The King of Speed) easily made that up in the first 330 feet and then
streaked away for a surprisingly easy win, Schumacher's car surprisingly weak over
the first half of the run.
(W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.509 4.678 312.06
(L) Joe Hartley (Hartley Racing Dragster) 0.454 5.241 219.61
Dixon's crew chief Dick LaHaie trusts the Safety Safari's work and stayed
with the usually-preferred left lane here. That trust paid off, the Miller Lite
dragster on a rope all the way down the strip, no trace of tire smoke anywhere
along the way. Hartley got a big holeshot, but started to spin the tires early
in the run and pedaled at least once trying to regain traction. Bernstein will
have lane choice in the semifinal match between the beer cars.
(W) Gary Scelzi (Team Winston Dragster) 0.470 4.647 309.20
(L) Bob Vandergriff (Radiac Abrasives Dragster) 0.477 4.683 278.40
Alan Johnson chose the right lane. This was a good drag race, lane choice
apparently not a factor, Vandergriff falling off the pace a bit on the top end,
but right there most of the way, actually ahead in the first half of the run. At
the finish line the margin of victory = 0.043 seconds (approximately 18 feet).
Scelzi will have lane choice against Herbert in the semifinals.
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Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 3
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top
Fuel at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.464 4.661 313.00
(L) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.465 4.666 310.98
9:03 PM We just might get this race completed tonight after all - the skies
overhead are clear, with just a few scattered clouds, but over on the horizon are
those big, bumpy cumulo-nimbus storm clouds that could reverse course and come
back this way again, like they did last night.
This was just pain good drag
racing, Bernstein with a 0.001 second edge at the starting line and a 0.005 second
quicker elapsed time. Margin of victory = 0.006 seconds (approximately 3 feet).
That's about as close as it gets, too bad they can't all be like that.
(W) Gary Scelzi (Team Winston Dragster) 0.474 4.641 316.23
(L) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.480 5.094 213.43
This was a good drag race to half track, Herbert about half a car length
behind, then his car nosed over and there was a huge fireball as something let go
in the engine bay. The car continued to burn and the Safety Safari was on the
scene quickly to put it out, but the mess will take a little time to clean up.
The oil trail starts at half track and goes into the shutdown area. Scelzi made a
picture-perfect run and will have lane choice against Bernstein in the final
round.
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Saturday
Results for Final Round
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MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in
Top Fuel at the 4th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Gary Scelzi (Team Winston Dragster) 0.451 5.892 284.99
(L) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.465 6.010 307.09
10:59 PM Scelzi was four-for-four in prior final round appearances this
year, Bernstein two-for-one. This was their 20th career match-up, Scelzi winning
12 of them. It was Bernstein's 93rd final round appearance. The race was a
pedaling match, both cars losing traction early in the run, Bernstein first,
followed by Scelzi. Both pedaled and Scelzi managed to get his tires partially
hooked up first, both smoking their tires the rest of the way to the finish
line.
That's it, the race that looked doubtful as late as 4:30 this
afternoon is completed right on schedule. We dodged weather bullets all three
days and nights of the event to make it happen.
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