TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at
the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals, listing lane, driver
name, elapsed time, top speed, position in order following run.:
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at
the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star 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.:
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at
the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star 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.:
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top
Fuel at the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star 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.:
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at
the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at
the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
Friday's 1st Session
Left Lane: Tim Gibson Runs 10.920/ 45.76 Psn # 1
Right Lane: David Grubnic No Time Psn # 2
4:08 PM and Grubnic's ride gets pushed back to the pits,
so Gibson (in the Bill Miller Engineering entry) runs solo. He
launches, spins the tires, and shuts it off. No tire smoke, so
it may have been a clutch problem or he may have felt it start
to shake and got out of it very quickly.
Left Lane: Spike Gorr Runs 12.370/ 70.64 Psn # 2
Gorr is in the Paul Smith "school car." It's almost a
duplicate of the run in front of him, launch, tires spin and
shake, shut off quickly.
Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.938/294.88 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Doug Foxworth Runs 5.108/278.98 Psn # 2
Not much to say about either run except that their setups
looked very soft.
Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.937/287.53 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Larry Dixon, Jr. Runs 5.153/267.85 Psn # 4
Dixon has been a busy bot since losing in the first round at
Richmond, making four test runs at Houston on Wednesday and two
Thursday. His best there was a 4.67 at 309 mph.
This run was well short of that - a good start, but the car
started struggling at half track and he shut it off well before
the finish line.
Head ran it all the way through, dropping cylinders on the
top end.
Left Lane: Gary Scelzi No Time Psn # 8
Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman Runs 10.923/ 45.00 Psn # 6
Scelzi's wife, Julie, is in labor right now. It's a boy
(ultrasound). That's the good news. The bad news is that he
blew the bottom out of the engine as soon as he let the clutch
out, a flash of flame and then silence. The "bag" caught most
of the oil, but not enough to save the Safety Safari a big
cleanup job.
Rhonda launched, went a couple hundred feet, smoked the tires,
and shut it off.
4:22 PM and the parade of cleanup vehicles now has center
stage.
Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 5.485/173.97 Psn # 6
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 4.712/312.39 Psn # 1
The cleanup had nothing to do with Cruz's performance - the
car was strong to half track, then nosed over and he shut it off.
Meanwhile, there was absolutely nothing wrong with Kalitta's run,
the car clean and straight and strong all the way through.
Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 9.504/ 90.24 Psn # 7
Right Lane: Joe Amato Runs 10.594/ 89.53 Psn # 8
Fuzzy Carter is working on Herbert's car this weekend.
Tire smokers, a pair.
Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 6.725/121.58 Psn # 8
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 5.384/183.56 Psn # 6
Vandergriff had the wheels three feet in the air for the
first 300 feet, then shut it off before the 1,000 foot mark.
Schumacher shut it off before half track, the problem not
apparent - except that Vandergriff was rapidly pulling away at
the time.
Left Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 4.777/310.13 Psn # 2
Right Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 7.738/101.64 Psn #10
Dunn's header flames went out very early in the run, the
problem not apparent, but from the way the track safety folks
are picking parts up it looks like something broke. Shelly's
run was picture-perfect.
Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 8.368/ 94.42 Psn #12
Right Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 4.798/306.43 Psn # 3
Bernstein lost traction after 200 feet. Sarver made a
clean, straight, smooth pass.
Right Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 4.731/303.84 Psn # 2
4:45 PM and the driver who made this place famous by
running the first-ever four-second ET closes the first round.
He backed up from the burnout and then the car wouldn't come
out of reverse. The crew rocked the car and jerked on the
mechanism, Hill with his hands in the air while they worked on
the car. Finally, after a much longer than normal delay, the
car went into gear and he staged. The extra time burned several
extra pounds worth of fuel and lightened the front end enough
that Hill carried the front end about four feet in the air to
half track, running his best ET and speed of the year on a gutsy
pass. It took a lot of courage for a driver who went through a
high-speed blow over to stay on the throttle with the wheels that
far up in the air.
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Friday's 1st Session Notes
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel
at the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
Psn Driver ET Speed
1 Scott Kalitta 4.712 312.39
2 Eddie Hill 4.731 303.84
3 Shelly Anderson 4.777 310.13
4 Bruce Sarver 4.798 306.43
5 Jim Head 4.937 287.53
6 Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.938 294.88
7 Doug Foxworth 5.108 278.98
8 Larry Dixon, Jr. 5.153 267.85
9 Bob Vandergriff 5.384 183.56
10 Cory McClenathan 5.485 173.37
11 Tony Schumacher 6.725 121.58
12 Mike Dunn 7.738 101.64
13 Kenny Bernstein 8.368 94.42
14 Doug Herbert 9.504 90.24
15 Tim Gibson 10.223 83.50
16 Joe Amato 10.594 89.53
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Rhonda Hartman 10.693 74.89
18 Spike Gorr 12.370 70.64
19 Gary Scelzi No Time
20 David Grubnic No Time
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Friday's 2nd Session
Left Lane: Larry Dixon, Jr. Runs 4.650/310.45 Now # 1
Best prior run: 5.153/267.85 Was # 8
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 7.846/100.87 Now # 7
Best prior run: 4.938/294.88 Was # 6
8:07 PM and tis could be a spectacular round - though the
stiff side wind that developed mid-way through the Funny Car
round may have more effect on the high-winged dragsters than it
did on the floppers.
Both cars picked up the front wheels and Johnson lost
traction when the wheels came down. Dixon's car stayed glued to
the strip, a pretty run, but as he crossed the finish line the
cross wind caught him and the car made a violent move to the
right, the car swerving into the right lane before he could
regain control. Fortunately that part of the lane was empty
and since it was beyond the finish line Dixon's run will stand.
Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman Runs 5.231/224.77 Now # 9
Best prior run: 10.693/ 74.89 Was #17
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 10.722/ 79.64 Now # 6
Best prior run: 4.937/287.53 Was # 6
Head smoked the tires after 200 feet. Hartman trucked on
down there, but then the engine began eating itself and the car
nosed over on the top end.
8:16 PM and the Safety Safari rolls to clean up the left
lane from mid track on, so Hartman's problems were bad enough to
lubricate the racing surface.
8:27 PM and it took a full effort to get this one cleaned
up.
Left Lane: Scott Kalitta No Time Now # 2
Best prior run: 4.712/312.39 Was # 2
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.773/304.87 Now # 4
No prior time
Kalitta's car started into a power wheelie, the front end
continuing to climb, and he had to shut it off to keep it from
blowing over. When the front end came back down there was a
shower of sparks and the front wheels splayed to the side. He
coasted to a stop before the finish line, got out, and jumped
over the wall.
Meanwhile, Scelzi's car went right down the strip, but the
engine did not sound crisp and the flames were weak.
Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 5.844/196.54 Now #13
Best prior run: 10.594/ 89.53 Was #18
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 9.142/ 82.81 Now #12
Best prior run: 5.485/173.37 Was #12
While we were down to remove Kalitta's wounded duck from
the track, we found out that the reason Dixon's car made such a
violent move was that the right front canard (wing) broke off as
he crossed the finish line and the front end started up into the
air. Fortunately he had already shut the engine off and the
chutes were coming out, which slammed the front end back down,
but the wheels were cocked because he was steering away from the
wall and when they hit, they bit.
This one was ugly, especially for Amato. Both lost traction,
Cory mac calling it off. But Amato wanted to get in the field,
so he pedaled - at least four times. The header flames went on
and off and parts spit out the pipes, but no oil.
Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 11.132/ 81.24 Now #12
Best prior run: 5.384/183.56 Was #11
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 5.071/289.38 Now # 9
Best prior run: 9.504/ 90.24 Was #17
Vandergriff's car picked the wheels up, then lost traction
when they banged down. From the sparks, it looked like he hurt
the front end, but not as severely as Kalitta.
In the other lane, Herbert made a full pass, the header
flames a bit weak on the top end.
Left Lane: Mike Dunn No Time Now #16
Best prior run: 7.738/101.64 Was #16
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.131/205.05 Now #11
Best prior run: 6.725/121.58 Was #15
Dunn's car drifted right, crossing the center line just
past 660 feet and taking out the 1,000 foot reflector.
Schumacher was on a good pass, but appeared to back off when he
saw Dunn's car getting too close to him.
Left Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 8.835/ 82.53 Now # 6
Best prior run: 4.798/306.43 Was # 6
Right Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 4.719/294.59 Now # 3
Best prior run: 4.777/310.13 Was # 5
Sarver smoked the tires early in the run. Anderson made a
clean pass, no visible problems.
Left Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 14.948/ 60.04 Now # 4
Best prior run: 4.731/303.84 Was # 4
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.930/293.15 Now # 7
Best prior run: 8.368/ 94.42 Was #17
Hill lost traction immediately. Bernstein left hard, but
the car began eating parts on the top half of the run, green
header flames signaling internal problems.
The track crew goes out and retrieves a blower belt form
just past the lights, so Bernstein spit one out at the end of
his run.
Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.903/264.47 Now # 7
No prior time
Right Lane: Spike Gorr Runs 11.558/ 68.15 Now #20
Best prior run: 12.370/ 70.64 Was #19
Grubnic didn't even get to do a burnout in the first round
while Gorr smoked the tires almost immediately. This time the
"Geronimo" dragster gets all the way down the track, despite
lots of tire and engine smoke on the top end of the run. Gorr
once again lost traction almost immediately.
Left Lane: Doug Foxworth Runs 5.126/292.68 Now #12
Best prior run: 5.108/278.98 Was #12
9:10 PM and that's it for today (except for the jet limo).
Herbert's car hiked the wheels up and smoked the tires briefly
when they came down. He pedaled it, caught it, and continued
the run.
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Friday's 2nd Session Notes
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel
at the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
Psn Driver ET Speed
1 Larry Dixon, Jr. 4.650 310.45
2 Scott Kalitta 4.712 312.39
3 Shelly Anderson 4.719 294.59
4 Eddie Hill 4.731 303.84
5 Gary Scelzi 4.773 304.87
6 Bruce Sarver 4.798 306.43
7 David Grubnic 4.903 264.47
8 Kenny Bernstein 4.930 293.15
9 Jim Head 4.937 287.53
10 Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.938 294.88
11 Doug Herbert 5.071 289.38
12 Doug Foxworth 5.108 278.98
13 Tony Schumacher 5.131 205.05
14 Rhonda Hartman 5.231 224.77
15 Bob Vandergriff 5.384 183.56
16 Cory McClenathan 5.485 173.37
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Joe Amato 5.844 196.54
18 Mike Dunn 7.738 101.64
19 Tim Gibson 10.223 83.50
20 Spike Gorr 11.558 68.15
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Saturday's 3rd Session
Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.680/300.70 Now # 2
Best prior run: 5.485/173.37 Was #16
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 12.402/ 78.70 Now # 3
Best prior run: 4.712/312.39 Was # 2
11:42 AM and we open with a wheel stand in the left lane
and a ton of tire smoke in the right. Cory Mac drove through
the wheelie to post a nice lap. Kalitta lit the tires up almost
immediately.
Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 6.150/138.84 Now #13
Best prior run: 5.071/289.38 Was #12
Right Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.592/316.56 Now # 1
Best prior run: 5.844/196.54 Was #17
What a contrast, Herbert's car laboring and then losing an
engine at half track, oiling the lane the rest of the way through,
while Amato and crew chief Jimmy Prock got their problems sorted
out and made an almost perfect run.
Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.876/260.86 Now #10
Best prior run: 5.131/205.05 Was #15
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.778/303.23 Now # 8
Best prior run: 5.384/183.56 Was #17
Amato's run reset Kenny Bernstein's track ET record, but
was a couple mph short of KB's track speed record.
Schumacher made a nice pass to about 1,000 feet and then
the engine let go with a flash of flame - but the diaper worked
and there was no oil on the track.
Vandergriff made a nice, safe pass, doing the job and
getting him in the field.
Left Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 7.892/115.81 Now # 5
Best prior run: 4.719/294.59 Was # 5
Right Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.773/284.99 Now # 8
Best prior run: 7.738/101.64 Was #18
Shelly was up in smoke before going 200 feet. Dunn made a
very nice pass, but the car nosed over around 1,000 feet.
Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 6.337/134.83 Now #13
Best prior run: 4.930/293.15 Was #13
Right Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 4.707/307.27 Now # 4
Best prior run: 4.798/306.43 Was #10
Bernstein's started to smoke the tires, pedaled, and then
the supercharger let go about 300 feet down the track. Sarver
made a nice, clean, straigt pass.
Left Lane: Tim Gibson No Time Now #19
Best prior run: 10.223/ 83.50 Was #19
Right Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 9.294/ 97.32 Now # 7
Best prior run: 4.731/303.84 Was # 7
Gibson blew the tires away immediately. Hill's car was
down on power and he clicked it off.
Left Lane: Spike Gorr Runs 15.142/ 66.45 Now #20
Best prior run: 11.558/ 68.15 Was #20
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.931/274.55 Now #13
Best prior run: 4.902/298.01 Was #14
Gorr with massive tire smoke, but a decent run for Grubnic
and the Geronimo crew.
Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.726/302.52 Now # 9
Best prior run: 4.938/294.88 Was #17
Right Lane: Doug Foxworth Runs 4.902/298.01 Now #13
Best prior run: 5.108/278.98 Was #18
A season-best for Johnson and a career-best for Foxworth.
Two nice passes.
Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.993/277.94 Now #16
Best prior run: 4.937/287.53 Was #16
Right Lane: Larry Dixon, Jr. Runs 4.762/285.80 Now # 2
Best prior run: 4.650/310.45 Was # 2
Head was fighting the car all the way on this run, the car
repeatedly moving toward the center line.
Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.703/310.55 Now # 4
Best prior run: 4.773/304.87 Was # 9
Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman Runs 4.921/282.57 Now #15
Best prior run: 5.231/224.77 Was #19
Scelzi and tuner Alan Johnson edge their way up the ladder
and Hartman posts a nice run to bump Head and put Bernstein on
the bubble.
12:28 PM and that's it.
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Saturday's 3rd Session Notes
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel
at the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
Psn Driver ET Speed
1 Joe Amato 4.592@ 316.56
2 Larry Dixon, Jr. 4.650 310.45
3 Cory McClenathan 4.680 300.70
4 Gary Scelzi 4.703 310.55
5 Bruce Sarver 4.707 307.27
6 Scott Kalitta 4.712 312.39
7 Shelly Anderson 4.719 294.59
8 Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.726 302.52
9 Eddie Hill 4.731 303.84
10 Mike Dunn 4.773 284.99
11 Bob Vandergriff 4.778 303.23
12 Tony Schumacher 4.876 260.86
13 Doug Foxworth 4.902 298.01
14 David Grubnic 4.903 264.47
15 Rhonda Hartman 4.921 282.57
16 Kenny Bernstein 4.930 293.15
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Jim Head 4.937 287.53
18 Doug Herbert 5.071 289.38
19 Tim Gibson 10.223 83.50
20 Spike Gorr 11.558 68.15
@ = Track ET Record
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Saturday's 4th Session
Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.718/304.67 Now # 7
Best prior run: 4.778/303.23 Was #11
Right Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 4.917/288.64 Now # 8
Best prior run: 4.719/294.59 Was # 7
4:26 PM and the bump is Kenny Bernstein's 4.930.
Vandergriff continues to make steady improvement with each
run, moving into the top half of the field and pushing Shelly
down a spot. Couldn't see what happened to Shelly, but Brad,
her father, walked away with his hands in his hip pockets and
his head down, clearly unhappy.
Left Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 9.879/ 86.26 Now #11
Best prior run: 4.773/284.99 Was #11
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.782/309.70 Now #12
Best prior run: 4.930/293.15 Was #16
Dunn lost traction almost immediately.
Bernstein was in the press room between rounds and did not
appear to be worried at all about struggling through three
rounds and sitting on the bubble. He said the car was on a
strong pass when the blower let go last round. Looks like he
knew what he was talking about, this run a nice, safe one and,
judging from the speed, there's plenty in reserve.
Right Lane: Vicky Fanning Runs 6.047/174.21 Now #19
No prior time
First pass for Vicky, in the usual Fanning Bovine paint
scheme - spotted black and white Holstein colors. The car
labored through the distance, the engine expiring near the
finish line.
Left Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 4.890/299.80 Now # 5
Best prior run: 4.707/307.27 Was # 5
Right Lane: Tim Gibson Runs 16.128/ 46.13 Now #20
Best prior run: 10.223/ 83.50 Was #20
Sarver started to smoke the tires and pedaled his way
through it. Gibson lost traction almost immediately, the RPMs
going way up, and then after he shut it down and was coasting
through there was a loud BANG and flames out the right side of
the engine. No oil, though.
Left Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 4.984/249.23 Now #10
Best prior run: 4.731/303.84 Was #10
Right Lane: Spike Gorr Runs 4.987/277.17 Now #18
Best prior run: 11.558/ 68.15 Was #21
Gorr was trying to better Rhonda Hartman's 4.921 and came
up a bit short. And we've got oil in the lights in the left
lane, Hill's engine expiring as he passed the 1,000 foot marker.
Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 5.351/195.95 Now #15
Best prior run: 4.903/264.47 Was #15
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.812/300.70 Now # 9
Best prior run: 4.726/302.52 Was # 9
4:57 PM and we're running again. Grubnic shut it off just
past half track, the problem not apparent. Johnson made a nice,
strong pass, dropping a cylinder on the top end.
Left Lane: Doug Foxworth No Time Now #14
Best prior run: 4.902/298.01 Was #14
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.941/301.70 Now #17
Best prior run: 4.937/287.53 Was #17
Tough break for Foxworth, problems on the burnout and
forced t drive it out the other end. Tough break for Head, the
car shaking on the launch, forcing him to pedal it briefly and
kill his ET.
Left Lane: Larry Dixon, Jr. Runs 4.734/303.74 Now # 2
Best prior run: 4.650/310.45 Was # 2
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.760/286.16 Now # 4
Best prior run: 4.703/310.55 Was # 4
Dixon's run was a clean one. Scelzi suffered engine
problems on the top end of the run, trailing lots of smoke but
no oil.
Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman Runs 4.803/300.30 Now #13
Best prior run: 4.921/282.57 Was #16
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.761/281.33 Now # 3
Best prior run: 4.680/300.70 Was # 3
Nice run by Hartman, moving off the bump spot and putting
Grubnic on the bubble at 4.903.
Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 4.695/310.98 Now # 4
Best prior run: 4.712/312.39 Was # 6
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 5.007/269.94 Now #19
Best prior run: 5.071/289.38 Was #19
Nice pass by Kalitta, the car clean and straight and
smooth. Herbert stepped up again, but ran out of rounds.
Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.974/273.97 Now # 1
Best prior run: 4.592/316.56 Was # 1
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.877/291.54 Now #14
Best prior run: 4.876/260.86 Was #14
5:22 PM and this is the final pair. Amato launched, smoked
the tires briefly around 200 feet out, pedaled, and continued.
Meanwhile Schumacher shows nice consistency and no engine damage
this time around.
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Saturday's 4th Session Notes
ENNIS, TX - RIS - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in
Top Fuel at the Inaugural NHRA Lone Star Nationals:
Psn Driver ET Speed
1 Joe Amato 4.592@ 316.56
2 Larry Dixon, Jr. 4.650 310.45
3 Cory McClenathan 4.680 300.70
4 Scott Kalitta 4.695 310.98
5 Gary Scelzi 4.703 310.55
6 Bruce Sarver 4.707 307.27
7 Bob Vandergriff 4.718 304.67
8 Shelly Anderson 4.719 294.59
9 Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.726 302.52
10 Eddie Hill 4.731 303.84
11 Mike Dunn 4.773 284.99
12 Kenny Bernstein 4.782 309.70
13 Rhonda Hartman 4.803 300.30
14 Tony Schumacher 4.876 260.86
15 Doug Foxworth 4.902 298.01
16 David Grubnic 4.903 264.47
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Jim Head 4.937 287.53
18 Spike Gorr 4.987 277.17
19 Doug Herbert 5.007 269.94
20 Vicky Fanning 6.047 174.21
21 Tim Gibson 10.223 83.50
@ = Track ET Record
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Sunday's 1st Round
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Shelly Anderson 0.512 4.720 292.87
(L) Tommy Johnson Jr. 0.471 7.012 112.98
11:02 AM and we're right on schedule under bright
sunshine. TJ Jr. got the holeshot, but then things went bad,
raw fuel spewing from the pipes and the blower belt snaking
across the lane. Shelly's run was nothing of beauty either,
the aluminum gods getting a major sacrifice on the top end and
the car nosing over.
(W) Bob Vandergriff 0.498 4.673 303.03
(L) Eddie Hill 0.523 9.484 77.08
Hill lost traction almost immediately in a dense cloud
of tire smoke. No such problems for Vandergriff, however, his
car on a rope, right down the groove with all eight candles lit.
(W) Bruce Sarver 0.502 5.115 226.81
(L) Mike Dunn 0.482 8.030 89.49
Both these drivers had problems during qualifying, but
also turned in at least one good lap. Today Dunn had problems
first, the front wheels in the air for 100 feet and then the
rear tires chattering when the front end came down, followed by
a total loss of traction. Sarver was on a good pass, then at
1,000 feet there was raw fuel from the headers, followed by a
flash of flames. No major damage, however.
(W) Cory McClenathan 0.512 4.667 303.23
(L) Tony Schumacher 0.466 6.942 117.46
Schumacher's run was almost a duplicate of Dunn's.
McClenathan's was almost a duplicate of Vandergriff's.
Schumacher pedaled and tried to continue the run, but by then
Cory Mac was long gone. McClenathan will have lane choice over
Sarver in round two.
(W) Joe Amato 0.483 4.666 313.69
(L) David Grubnic 0.503 6.338 132.86
Major mismatch here, the "Geronimo" car a few tenths
slower than Amato's Jimmy Prock-tuned entry. And that's the
way it played out, Amato running only slightly slower than his
qualifying lap while Grubnic lost a cylinder on the right side,
and then lost traction completely. The RPMs went up and then
the engine let go, leaving a trail of oil from 330 feet on
through the course. That gives Amato lane choice over Anderson
in round two.
11:15 AM and the Safety Safari freight train is treating the left lane.
(W) Larry Dixon, Jr. 0.785 4.769 305.60
(L) Doug Foxworth 0.075(R) 4.942 295.66
11:30 AM and that was a major oildown - doesn't usually take
that long any more.
Foxworth leaves a year early and Dixon shows his growing
maturity as a driver by collecting his thoughts and making a
good, clean pass. But he loses lane choice to Vandergriff in
round two anyway.
(W) Scott Kalitta 0.480 4.688 310.13
(L) Rhonda Hartman 0.497 4.795 294.59
Both drivers did their job and both cars ran up to their
qualifying numbers, so this one came out the way you'd predict
from their timeslips. Good drag race, Hartman showing that
their team is serious about "running with the big boys."
(W) Gary Scelzi 0.501 4.701 301.40
(L) Kenny Bernstein 0.391(R) 4.796 306.85
This is one of those first-round matchups that can make
a big difference in the Winston points because one of these
drivers will have a chance to make a big gain on the other.
This one was over early, Bernstein with an
uncharacteristic red light. Scelzi had the better performance
anyway, but the header flames were mixing it up a bit on the top
end and he lost lane choice to Kalitta in round two.
11:39 PM and Top Fuel is complete.
(R) = Red light foul
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Sunday's 2nd Round
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Gary Scelzi 0.471 4.675 311.09
(L) Scott Kalitta 0.484 4.695 309.38
1:55 PM and we open the second round with a whale of a
drag race. Alan Johnson appears to have found the tuneup that
has eluded him through qualifying and the first round, and
Scelzi does his usual good job of driving to hold off an equally
solid tuneup and driving job to win by about 15 feet.
(W) Larry Dixon, Jr. 0.488 4.814 306.10
(L) Bob Vandergriff 0.502 5.405 178.14
This one promised to be another good one, and the first 330
feet were just that, the cars right together. But then
Vandergriff's engine started to go away, the header flames
flickering, and he shut it off as he passed half track.
(W) Cory McClenathan 0.482 4.679 310.88
(L) Bruce Sarver 0.489 4.725 295.17
That was the first time Dixon has advanced to the
semifinals this year.
Cory Mac's car is running like a bracket racer, a very
quick, very fast bracket racer. Sarver gave him a good battle,
with him to half track, but then the car started trailing
reddish-brown smoke and McClenathan pulled away to win by almost
23 feet. That run gives McClenathan lane choice over Dixon in
the semifinals.
(W) Joe Amato 0.513 4.647 313.80
(L) Shelly Anderson 0.524 11.960 106.73
This one looked strange, Shelly just sitting there when the
light turned green, then slowly accelerating and driving through.
The car was wounded, no oil pressure, and she knew it, but
staged to see if Amato would red light. He didn't, his car also
running like a very quick, very fast bracket racer, quick enough
to earn lane choice against Scelzi in the semifinals.
2:07 PM and that's it for now.
RIS/AZ-Larry Sullivan
