Sun, 29 Apr 2012, 15:01 PM Pro Modified Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5450 Steve Matusek                              Bye
E2   ****WINNER****  0.084  7.712 133.83     
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Castellana) 0.061  6.267 226.20   
 Qualified:            #14  6.132 246.21                     Bye

1:46 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 63 percent, barometer 29.97 inches, adjusted altitude 2,610 feet, track temperature 121 degrees.

Matusek pulled off a huge upset over the #1 qualifier, Mike Castellana, in round one and gets a free tuning pass here to get ready for the semifinals.

Matusek made a hard launch, but the car made a hard move about where the front end came down and he had his hands full, choosing to slow. Good choice!

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 3382 Donald Walsh                         1518 Pete Farber                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.043  6.112 249.03                     0.006  6.323 238.64
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Smith     ) 0.038  6.098 247.34      (D Martin    ) 0.062  6.052 244.87
 Qualified:            #13  6.107 250.13                        #7  5.978 245.32

This is the first time Walsh and Farber have faced each other in eliminations.

Farber had a psychic light and led for the first 500 feet, then shook and got very sideways. He pedaled and still made it close, but Walsh had fewer problems and got the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  255 Brad Brand                              4 Kenny Lang                   
E2                   0.051  5.987 249.95     ****WINNER****  0.002  6.019 241.07
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C King      ) 0.057  5.977 245.49      (J Payne     ) 0.033  5.995 239.95
 Qualified:             #4  5.958 249.12                        #5  5.960 242.63

This is the first time Brand and Lang have faced each other in eliminations.

Lang also posted a psychic light and held on for the holeshot win. Brand had an average light and a good run, but could not run him down. Kenny Lang's incremental margins: 60ft(0.096), 330 ft(0.149), 660ft(0.108), 1,000ft(0.055). MOV: 0.0171 seconds (approximately 6 feet). Lang will have lane choice against Matusek in the semifinals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Danny Rowe                             24 Troy Coughlin                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.010  5.954 245.45                     0.066  6.041 247.43
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Knowles   ) 0.145  5.951 244.92      (L Pruett    ) 0.040  5.997 247.70
 Qualified:             #3  5.940 245.14                        #9  6.000 248.52

Rowe is 1 - 0 against Coughlin in prior events.

This time the great reaction time came in the left lane - not a double-oh, but it was as close as you can get. Rowe paired the great light with a solid run and won by more than a couple of car lengths. He will have lane choice against Walsh in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Sep 30- READING - Track Drying Underway
Sep 30- READING - Rain Delay
Sep 29- READING - Legendary Funny Car Driver John Force will try to Keep Momentum Going
Sep 29- Paris Drag Strip to Join NHRA Member Track Network
Sep 29- READING - Top Fuel Standout Doug Kalitta Enjoying the Moment as Championship Race Heightens
Sep 29- READING - Done for the Day
Sep 29- READING - Rain Delay
Sep 28- READING - Fact Sheet
Sep 26- ST. LOUIS -Through the Lens of Ron Lewis
Sep 26- ST. LOUIS - Lucas Drag Racing Series Wrap Up