Sat, 18 May 2013, 13:01 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Rick Green

TOPEKA, Kan. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 25th annual NHRA Kansas 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:

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Right Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.827/246.30, Now #11; Best prior run: 6.340/175.59, Was #14

Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 66 percent, barometer 28.68 inches, adjusted altitude 3,697 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

Gordon with his quickest pass of the weekend to move up to the number 11 spot. Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-0.994 sec., 330ft-2.594, 660ft-3.848/197.39 mph, 1,000ft-4.917.

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Left Lane: Steve Griboski No Time, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Lance Van Hauen Runs 5.864/240.38, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.923/238.55, Was #13

Griboski got a rear wheel start so his time was thrown out. He left before the tree was activated in his first two passes so he will not make the show. VanHauen with his quickest pass of the weekend, but will stay in the No. 13 spot. Lance Van Hauen's incremental times: 60ft-0.986 sec., 330ft-2.579, 660ft-3.843/195.08 mph, 1,000ft-4.932.

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Left Lane: Wayne Butler No Time, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.928/221.56, Was #14
Right Lane: Charles McLaws Runs 5.894/245.81, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.850/247.34, Was #12

Butler started to drift out of the groove and finally collected the 1000-foot timing blocks, so his run will not count. McLaws will not improve, but still with a good pass and will stay in the number 12 spot. Charles McLaws' incremental times: 60ft-1.017 sec., 330ft-2.630, 660ft-3.861/234.49 mph, 1,000ft-4.980.

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Left Lane: Kris Hool Runs 5.841/253.37, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.825/251.30, Was #10
Right Lane: Scott McVey Runs 5.705/250.92, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.777/250.37, Was #9

McVey is straight down the groove to move into the half of the ladder. Scott McVey's incremental times: 60ft-0.976 sec., 330ft-2.531, 660ft-3.759/200.74 mph, 1,000ft-4.812. hool with another good pass, but will not improve. Kris Hool's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.636, 660ft-3.892/198.44 mph, 1,000ft-4.951.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.604/257.73, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.652/256.65, Was #5
Right Lane: Terry Ruckman Runs 5.702/253.56, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.757/250.13, Was #8

Bartone launched hard and keep it hooked up to go to the number one spot. Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-0.961 sec., 330ft-2.495, 660ft-3.701/205.72 mph, 1,000ft-4.731. Ruckman with his quickest pass of the weekend to move up the ladder a couple spots. Terry Ruckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.988 sec., 330ft-2.541, 660ft-3.766/201.67 mph, 1,000ft-4.815.

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Left Lane: Jirka Kaplan Runs 5.662/253.66, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.625/256.60, Was #3
Right Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 5.779/251.25, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.707/251.86, Was #8

Kaplan with another good pass, straight down the groove. He will not improve and holds on to the number three spot. Jirka Kaplan's incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.509, 660ft-3.731/202.30 mph, 1,000ft-4.776. Bellemeur doesn't improve, but still has a good clean pass. Sean Bellemeur's incremental times: 60ft-0.991 sec., 330ft-2.581, 660ft-3.823/199.40 mph, 1,000ft-4.883.

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Left Lane: Jay Payne Runs 5.675/254.42, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.620/255.53, Was #2
Right Lane: John Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.653/256.70, Now #5; Best prior run: 5.642/257.73, Was #5

A couple clean passes straight down the groove, but neither driver improves. Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.972 sec., 330ft-2.526, 660ft-3.746/203.16 mph, 1,000ft-4.790.
John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.534, 660ft-3.745/203.92 mph, 1,000ft-4.778.

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Right Lane: Shane Westerfield Runs 5.677/252.99, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.641/256.21, Was #4

Westerfield was skating around a little, but stayed with it. He will not improve and will start from the number four spot. Bartone grabs his 44th National event No. 1 and his 42nd in Top Alcohol Funny car.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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