Sat, 03 Nov 2012, 15:24 PM Nitro Harley Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Nitro Harley at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Short Line Express Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway listing lane, rider 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 Dorn Runs 6.825/169.78, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.493/215.62, Was #3
Right Lane: Tommy Grimes Runs 6.382/218.62, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.323/219.72, Was #2

12:08 p.m. Steve Ruggiero is on the bump spot at 7.252.

Grimes makes his third 6.3something run at close to 220 mph. Dorn was quicker than Grimes to half track, then he slowed.

---

Left Lane: Andy Beauchemin Runs 6.892/207.78, Now #6; Best prior run: 7.142/187.23, Was #7
Right Lane: Jay Turner Runs 6.408/215.37, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.113/144.83, Was #6

Turner struggled yesterday, but appears to have things sorted out, making a clean, full pass to move into the top half of the field. Beauchemin trailed Turner from the start, then finished strongly.

---

Left Lane: Mike Ruggiero Runs 8.328/181.45, Now #10; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Steve Heidner Runs 6.727/202.85, Now #5; Best prior run: 7.694/186.85, Was #9

This was Ruggiero's first pass of the event and his bike headed for the centerline, forcing him to roll out of the throttle. Heidner improved enough to bump into the field, but his perfiormance was off-pace on the top end.

---

Left Lane: Damian Cownden Runs 12.000/118.96, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.291/208.14, Was #1
Right Lane: Toni Froehling No Time, Now #12; Best prior run: 14.158/54.50, Was #12

Froehling's engine backfired when he started his burnout and they pushed the bike away. Cownden launched, spun the tire, and the engine backfired.

---

Left Lane: Kevin Boyer Runs 11.745/108.64, Now #11; Best prior run: 8.442/182.30, Was #11
Right Lane: Steve Ruggiero Runs 10.269/85.00, Now #9; Best prior run: 7.252/164.73, Was #9

Another oh-for-two pair. Ruggiero rattled the tires and then the engine went silent. Boyer made a decent launch, but the engine sounded sour and went silent at half track.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



LODRS: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Dec 17- Moser Engineering Extends NHRA Moser Shootout, Adds Southeast Division
Dec 17- Pro Fuel to Compete for Year-End Championship in NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series
Dec 13- Racing is All About Family for the Furr's
Dec 07- Sadie Floyd Continues Remarkable Journey, Earns NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster License
Dec 06- Page Wins East Title in Just Third Season in TA/D
Dec 06- NHRA Division 1 Standout Cultrera Reflects on Double-Up Championship Season
Dec 05- Heartland Park Topeka to Host Second Lucas Oil Series Event
Dec 05- The Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Burndown at Sundown
Dec 03- Land of the Winners Awards Banquet Moves to Indiana Convention Center at PRI Show
Nov 17- Dates for Second Season of NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series Motorcycle Series