Sun, 24 Oct 1999, 02:37 PM DALLAS - Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Ed Dykes

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 14th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Allen Johnson       6.873 200.13  Q    9 Richie Stevens      6.876 198.45
 *****WINNER***** 0.432  6.924 198.76  E1                  0.457  6.908 196.67

There's a lot of apprehension in the Pro Stock crew chief ranks -- keep in mind that these guys expected to be running about an hour ago, when it would have been not so hot and sticky. Add to that all the oil that the nitro cars have dropped, and this round is basically a big unknown. This pair were only 0.003 apart in qualifying, so this should be one of the best races of the day. The preference among most crew chiefs I talked to is for the left side, based primarily on the bumps downtrack in the right side, said to be worth 2-3 hundredths of speed according to Warren Johnson. And it's the Amoco Dodge, winning on a holeshot. In fact, Stevens has lost the last three on holeshots, a blow to his reputation of being one of the quickest off the line.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 George Marnell      6.872 200.08  Q   10 Greg Anderson       6.879 200.31
 *****WINNER***** 0.494  6.879 199.29  E1                  0.427  7.072 173.81

Greg stayed with this one a long time, almost too long, but that's what happens when you're ahead. The numbers indicate that he was still in the lead as late as the 1000' mark, but he had to lift or risk going into the wall.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Jim Yates           6.868 199.77  Q   11 Mike Thomas         6.888 199.64
 *****WINNER***** 0.459  6.875 199.82  E1                  0.517  7.367 149.52

Yates is one of the racers that has had problems with the bumps in the right side, so you can count on him to take the left whenever possible. And it works for him here, Thomas lifting at the eighth-mile.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Bruce Allen         6.860 200.49  Q   12 Darrell Alderman    6.890 199.77
                  0.469  6.869 200.08  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.439  6.893 199.02

Another holeshot win for the Dodge camp, Alderman leading by 0.03 off the line and 0.006 at the finish.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Tom Martino         6.843 201.43  Q   14 Mark Pawuk          6.898 200.08
 *****WINNER***** 0.457  6.853 200.98  E1                  0.451  6.875 200.04

Pawuk was very, very, very slow to stage, but he made it in before the starter flipped the switch and it was basically a heads-up start. Pawuk needed a holeshot to have a chance, and it didn't happen so the Century 21 car advances to the next round.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Warren Johnson      6.822 202.15  Q   16 Mike Edwards        6.916 199.86
 *****WINNER***** 0.470  6.860 201.16  E1                  0.439  6.899 199.20

And the Edwards streak is over, his holeshot not enough today. The margin at the end was 0.008 seconds, barely 2 feet. That gives WJ lane choice over Allen Johnson's Dodge in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Jeg Coughlin        6.839 201.61  Q   15 John Nobile         6.914 199.20
                  0.438  7.193 161.81  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.458  6.897 199.68

Jeggie gets loose on the top end and Nobile parlays a career-best run for the Firebird to a first round win here. Nobile is the No Bull Challenge racer today, so if he wins today he'll get a big $25,000 bonus from Winston.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Kurt Johnson        6.844 202.02  Q   13 Troy Coughlin       6.893 200.53
                  0.457  9.041 107.11  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.496  6.891 199.73

In this final pair, Troy Coughlin knocks out the #2 points guy, but Jeggie's first round loss means he won't make any progress in that regard. Kurt was loose right off the line, the car out of shape right from the start. That also gives Troy lane choice over Alderman in round two, by a mere 0.002 seconds.




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