Sun, 7 Oct 2001, 07:10 PM READING - Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 17th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals presented by Greased Lightning:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Scott Weis          4.665 307.37  Q    2 Kenny Bernstein     4.496 332.18
   (D Russell   ) 0.467  4.564 316.67  E1   (B Kalivoda  ) 0.495  4.494 327.35
   (D Kalitta   ) 0.505  5.358 175.18  E2   (L Dixon     ) 0.470  4.511 329.58
                  0.448  4.638 315.19  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.489  4.517 322.19

2:59 PM Bernstein beat Weis in the opening round of the U.S. Nationals, the only other time they faced each other this season. Weis left first and gave Bernstein a good race, but Bernstein is "in the zone" today and ran him down to win handily. Margin of victory = 0.080 seconds (approximately 37 feet). Weis got very close to the centerline at the end of the quarter-mile and crossed it after crossing the finish line, but Bernstein was far enough ahead to avoid a collision between the two cars.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Gary Scelzi         4.513 316.90  Q    1 Mike Dunn           4.494 320.97
   (S Smith     ) 0.478  4.527 315.71  E1                  0.521 11.825  80.15
   (T Schumacher) 0.469  5.186 260.76  E2   (R Hartman-Sm) 0.503  4.498 329.67
 *****WINNER***** 0.503  5.220 269.94  E3                  0.512  5.460 253.66

THis was a pedaling contest, Scelzi's car puffing the rear tires about 200 feet out, then Dunn's losing traction around the 330-foot marker. Both drivers pedaled and steered and yanked on the brake to get to the other end, Scelzi doing the better job of it for the win. He goes to the finals, where Bernstein has lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Jul 20- DENVER - Racing At Home Track Still Has Big Challenges for Pro Stock's Deric Kramer
Jul 19- Media Expert Desser Named to NHRA Board of Directors
Jul 19- DENVER - For Jack Beckman it Was Love at First Sight for Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway
Jul 19- Morgan & Katie Lucas to Host 9th Annual Eric Medlen Golf Tourney
Jul 18- DENVER - Top Fuel Points Leader Steve Torrence Banking on Recent Success at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals to Keep Hot Streak Going
Jul 18- DENVER - Fact Sheet
Jul 17- Homegrown Top Fuel Dragsters Part III
Jul 14- Homegrown Top Fuel Dragsters Part II
Jul 12- Original NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Competitor Returns to Where it All Began
Jul 12- DENVER - Pro Stock's Allen Johnson Looks to Add to Unprecedented Level of Success on The Mountain